| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 15/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 47 |
| Copyright: Other |
German travel show
GTS2000 pins hopes on high visitor figures
Report by MATTHEW HAMPTON
Trade visitors to the fourth German Travel Show in London next month can spend more time schmoozing with exhibitors, with opening times extended to 7pm.With an expected attendance of up to 500 people, including 60 separate exhibitors, the German National Tourist Office will be trying a new tactic to ensure it is at the centre of attention.
GNTO event manager Steffi Teichmann said: “People tend to think of Germany as straightforward and boring, but this is not the case. This year we will be trying to make certain parts of the show more fun.”
The fun will include a competition to win a German food hamper, as well as a chance to settle old scores with an England v Germany penalty shoot-out.
Operators will be concentrating hard on targeting agents at the show. DER business development manager Babette Braun said: “We need to meet agents and get across what Germany can offer. People associate Germany with BMW and Mercedes and assume it is very industrialised.”
She added that most of DER’s clients have been to Germany before, usually on business, and want to go back after seeing what it can offer in terms of relaxing, scenic breaks.
The German Travel Centre took the decision not to take a stand this year, and will instead exhibit from the Maritim Hotels stand.
Managing director Mohammed Bhimani said: “The travel show mainly attracts incoming operators and suppliers and these are not the people that the German Travel Centre, as a specialist operator, needs to reach. We feel we can achieve more by supporting our partner Maritim Hotels.”
The German Travel Centre will be promoting a range of millennium packages at the show, including packages to Expo 2000, and the Munich Beer Festival.
The ultimate millennium event is the Oberermmagau Passion Play, which has been performed every 10 years since 1634. The play has lost none of its passion, and most operators report good sales.
The German Travel Centre is offering one-night packages which include a ticket to the play from £490 per person, return flights to Munich, bed and breakfast, one lunch and one evening meal.
Extra nights in Munich are available from £50.
Munich Beer Festival: promotions planned
Factfile
GTs 2000
Visitors expected: 500.
How to get there: the organisers stress that public transport is advisable as parking space is limited. GTS 2000 is 2mins walk from Angel tube station (go out of the station and turn right down Upper Street, the Business Design Centre is on the left).