Reiseliv 05 - Report from the Norway International Meeting and Travel Fair - Part 1 of 2!

The doors opened for the 18th Norway International Meeting and Travel Fair - Reiseliv 05 - on 13 January at the Norway Trade Fairs exhibition centre in Lillestrøm just outside Oslo. This event was bigger than ever and featured the largest professional programme of presentations, meeting and seminars in its history. 

Even there has been a growing interests among Norwegians for travelling in the own country, Norwegians interest for travelling to exotic countries as Cuba, Egypt, South-Africa and China have also grown. It was on the travel exhibition possible to get special offers on several kinds of tours. By ordering tours here you could save several thousand Norwegian Krones.

The first day was for companies. In the opening speech the Norwegian industry and trade minister Børge Brende talked about the Future frame conditions for the travel industry, with the focus on Norway.

The variety of this exhibition was bigger than ever, with focus on adventures and activities, says the project manager Sissel Korstad Weng (referred from the website Reiseliv05 - www.messe.no/reiseliv).

Over 100 exhibitors from more that 60 countries attracted people from 14 - 16 January. For the first time exotic countries as Greenland, Shetland, Uganda, Bio Botswana, Sri Lanka, Slovakia and Aruba, were represented on the exhibition.

Prizes
Prizes were awarded into two categories: national and international exhibitors. The winner among international exhibitors was the Danish tour operator Store Verden and the winner among national exhibitors was Kuoni Apollo. VestfoldReis become specially commended. Read more about the prizes on www.messe.no/reiseliv.

Photo. Stand personnel from Portugal in a beautiful costume. © Travel Explorations.

From the largest companies to the smallest companies, Reiselivsmessen (travel fair) has become an affordable option for all and a fantastic opportunity to raise their profile within an industry that desperately needs a highly profitable year.

Photo. Entrance on the fair. © Travel Explorations. It was real full packed sometimes, and the visitors seemed to have an enjoyable time.

Travel companies here needed a clear communication to reach out to potential clients in this "jungle" of stands and vendors.

Photo. Per Henriksen, the manager and editor in the top Norwegian travel guide Reiseliv - www.Reiseliv.no, got most out of less space! His son Karl assisted him with handing out brochures. © Travel Explorations.

Per Henriksen was very effective in distribution of brochures with the same design as his famous website Reiseliv (www.Reisliv.no ). He really knew how to attract and collect name and addresses for distribution of his popular Newsletters.

Photo. Wikstrøm Reiser had one the biggest and most creative stands. It gave an authentic feeling of the Far East and people really loved this stand. © Travel Explorations.

Eventyrreiser & Hvitserk had a popular stand. These two well-known and pioneering Norwegian travel companies have recently joined their resources to promote their travel offers in a more powerful way. They are complementary and show best examples of how marketing and selling work should be done. Both companies are well focused based on a clear defined target group and very structured in their sales work.

Photo. Eventyrreiser & Hvitserk had a popular stand. © Travel Explorations. They were real successful!

Eventyrreiser & Hvitserk have together a designed a creative stand, with a clear profile, and that created imaginations about unique adventures and exciting activities. They attracted a lot of visitors. Some of the days they had a big Masai man on the stand in traditional costumes. He was real impressing.

Their adventurous tours are designed to include a total package. For example if you consider climbing Kilimanjaro, you can also combine it with wild life safaris and visiting of Masai tribes. Tours like this is just what the people want now a days. Their experienced guides take travellers to remote and untouched places around the world.

Photos. Eventyrreiser & Hvitserk attracted a lot of visitors to its stand. © Travel Explorations.

This company`s tours are for people who like challenges and great adventures. The stand personnel collected names and addresses for Newsletters, invitation to presentations and travel offers. Another thing is that the stand personnell invited people to their presentation during the travel exhibition on an own room. They conducted several presentations in a very professional way and at the same time built relations to the attendees.

This fair is definitely the place to be if for travel companies which want the opportunity to meet represents for travel companies and potential clients. The organisator has succeeded to create an environment for both travel executives to tackle the challenges facing the industry, and for travel interested people looking for travel offers.

This article (report) continues in part 2 - read about the travel fair, marketing work and see more photos.  

Stein Morten Lund, 22 January 2005

Additional information
Information about the International Norwegian Travel Fair: www.messe.no/reiseliv.

For information about Travel Exhibitions around the world:
Reed Travel Exhibitions is part of Reed Exhibitions Ltd. who organise over 430 events in 32 countries, serving 49 different industries in 13 key sectors, attracting over 90,000 exhibiting companies and more than 4 million visitors every year. Click on the link http://travel.reedexpo.com.

Another link about exhibitions: www.citydiscovery.net/world_travel_fairs.htm

Informasjon fra websiden til Reiseliv05:

Kontaktpersoner:
• Norges Varemesse, prosjektsjef Sissel Korstad Weng tel. 66 93 91 78,
• Norges Varemesse, Markeds- og informasjonskonsulent Merete Rustad, Reiseliv05, tlf. 66 93 91 79.

Økende interesse for reiser i Norge:
Vi ferierer mer i Norge enn noensinne. I år skal hundreårsmarkeringen av unionsoppløsningen få enda flere til å velge norgesferie. Nordmenn brukte i 2003 til sammen 37 milliarder kroner på ferier i hjemlandet, og foreløpige tall fra Statistisk sentralbyrå (SSB) for i fjor viser fortsatt vekst.

Promote your tour offers through us in Travel Explorations
Our comapany is a highly specialized travel guide and marketing consultancy focusing on promoting opportunities for unique travel adventures and exciting travel companies. We offer smart solutions for advertising, targeted e-mail campaigns and more. Please contact us for more ideas and useful information: stein@travelexplorations.com .