More than 48,000 people from 140 countries will attend IBC 2011, including over 1,000 members of the media. 13 themed Halls containing the latest advances from leading brands is not all IBC is offering. Participating in the exciting activities IBC has on offer is a must: the IBC Connected World, the IBC Production Village, the 3D demonstrations at the impressive IBC Big Screen and of course the gala event – IBC Awards.

Registration for IBC 2011 is now open, so is the reservation for hotel accommodation. Keep in mind that Amsterdam is known to be very busy during IBC and it is highly recommended to book your hotel well in advance.

51st  IFA Berlin starts on 2 September 2011 and will again offer a comprehensive overview of the international market and attract the attention of trade visitors each year from more than 100 countries.  The event features seven different segments: IFA Home Entertainment, IFA Audio Entertainment, IFA Home Appliance, IFA My Media, IFA Public Media, IFA Communication and IFA Technology and Components, presenting the comprehensive range of brands, products and novelties.  IFA offers as usual a clear and simple structure, visitors will obtain detailed technical information from the leading figures in the industry and of course, the  shows and concerts in the IFA Summer Garden organised by exhibitors will ensure top-class entertainment.

The new  traffic management system will ensure easy deliveries to Messe. Contractors delivering supplies to Messe Berlin can take advantage of this online booking system starting from 25 July and benefit from shorter delivery times to the fairgrounds.

On the market is also the advance sales single ticket, which can be bought online or from 1st Aug from eight S-Bahn customer centres and any S-Bahn ticket machine in Berlin.  As part of its mobile marketing campaign, IFA is also offering visitors ticket purchases using a  Quick Response Code (“QR”). This barcode contains information which a smartphone can read. The user’s phone decodes this information and displays it. Following payment the ticket shop sends a 2-D code to the customer’s smartphone which is scanned at the entrance and the visitor is admitted.

With 2,400 exhibitors from 48 countries and 46,621 visitors from 135 countries, the 2009 Vinexpo exhibition turned out to be a huge successful. In 2011, Vinexpo invites wine and spirits trade professionals and associated businesses to again take advantage of the views of world experts and develop your business.

Confirming your participation is just the first step in preparing for your trip to Bordeaux.

Next comes the selection of the exhibitors you want to meet, the events you want to visit and last but not least – to book the hotel you want to stay.

Bordeaux hotels encompassed more than 5,300 rooms, and range from hotels, resorts, bed-and-breakfast inns, furnished apartments, and vacation rentals. But if during any other time of the year it will be not so hard to find available rooms on reasonable rate, during the days of Vinexpo that can be a real challenge. The only advice we can give is:  “Book in Advance!” If you book early you can decide whether to stay in hotel adjusted to the exhibition, or in one walking distance to the city centre pedestrian precinct with its bars, restaurants and shops.

Bordeaux is quite a big city; however, most of the interesting attractions are in the town center. It is not recommended that visitors drive as it is always a hassle to park (and car parks are expensive), and there are often traffic jams in the narrow, old streets of the city.

The main railway station, Gare de Bordeaux Saint-Jean, is near the centre of the city. It is served by the French national (SNCF) railway’s high speed train, the TGV, that gets to Paris in three hours, with connections to major European centres such as Lille, Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Geneva and London.  Most tourist hotels are close to the railway station . There are some luxury hotels close to Gambetta square and Quinconces square, which are really nice but rather expensive.

A free shuttle service is available to provide easy travel to the Exhibition Centre and Convention Centre, so wherever you stay, you will be able to convenient go to the fairgrounds.