Brazilian companies spend US$2 billion on incentive programmes every year. Annual investment in meetings and events amounts to some 18 billion Brazilian Reals (currently about US$6.21 billion). These estimates are from event organiser and promoter Reed Exhibitions Brazil, which has launched LACIME 2004, the first Latin American & Caribbean Incentive & Meetings Exhibition, scheduled to be held in June in São Paulo. Some of these statistics refer to the entire universe of organisations belonging to industry and trade associations for every sector of the Brazilian economy. Six of these associations have reserved personalised exhibition halls and booths at LACIME 2004. This strategy means that not just the large corporations but small and medium companies too will have a chance to meet buyers who are especially interested in their products and services. This is because LACIME 2004 includes a programme that is completely new to Brazil: the Hosted Buyer® Programme, thanks to which more than 300 executives with senior authority for purchasing decisions in the Americas and Europe will attend the event as guests of Reed Exhibitions Brazil. According to the Group’s international statistics, 36% of the Hosted Buyers who attend its travel and tourism industry shows are responsible for incentive budgets of US$1 million or more. “The investment deals we expect Hosted Buyers to close at LACIME 2004 match the attractions of the Region, which has a significant exchange-rate spread in its favour,” says Juan Pablo De Vera, managing director of Reed Exhibitions Brazil. Including LACIME 2004, the Group organises 13 trade shows for the travel and tourism industry worldwide. Reed Exhibitions Brazil is partnering with ABAV Nacional, the Brazilian association of travel agencies, to produce this event. LACIME 2004: June 23-25 at Transamerica Expo Center, São Paulo (www.lacimexpo.com).

The following Brazilian associations have confirmed their presence at LACIME 2004:

ABEOC (Brazilian Association of Event Organisers)

ABGEV (Brazilian Association of Corporate Travel Managers)

ABIH (Brazilian Hotel Industry Association)

ABLA (Brazilian Association of Car Rental Firms)

AMPRO (Brazilian Promotional Marketing Association)

Braztoa (Brazilian Association of Travel Operators)