ABAV Nacional discloses the innovations and edges of the leading tourism and travel international business show of the Americas

The Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies (ABAV Nacional) has just launched the 42nd ABAV – International Tourism Expo in a press conference at its headquarters. The entity’s directors presented the edges and key innovations for the next edition of the event, to be held from September 24 to 28 at the Anhembi Exhibition Pavillion in São Paulo.

Six months ahead of the event, over 60% of the spaces have already been sold. The show’s area has been expanded, from 58,000 sq.m. (2013) to 76,300 sq.m., which has made the entity strive to achieve the mark of 65 countries participating in the event. In addition, the international repercussion and the solid business generation of the last edition have encouraged several destinations to invest in a larger space compared to 2013.

Business Rounds

The positive figures of the 2013 edition have consolidated the show’s image as the leading international business show of the industry in the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere.

In this context, the 42nd edition will also have a Business Lounge, a space close to the food court that will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for pre-scheduled meetings with hosted buyers at intervals of 15 minutes. In the afternoon, the same area may be used for meetings pre-scheduled by exhibitors.

Last year, a study by the Tourism Observatory, a research center of the Universtity of São Paulo, showed that according to 74% of the exhibitors, ABAV 2013 has resulted in new business opportunities.

Corporate Segment

ABAV Nacional and the Brazilian Association of Business Travel Agencies (Abracorp) have renewed their alliance and, for the third consecutive year the event will have the Abracorp Corporate Island, whose mission is to meet the increasing demand of the business, event and incentives sector. Sponsored by airline Gol, and with the presence of IT solution suppliers that contribute to the improvement of the services provided by travel agents, the space will have six support rooms, lounges, a VIP room, exhibitor stations and individual stations.

Abracorp will continue to support the “Hosted Buyers” Program, the largest of the continent. In this edition, it will also count on the support of Embratur and airlines GOL, TAM, and TAP, among other international airlines. In all, 1,200 corporate buyers, mostly from South and North America, are expected to attend the event. Travel agencies affiliated to Abracorp find in this program the chance to get their clients closer to the largest and most comprehensive shopping window of suppliers from the whole production chain of the industry. Interested hosted buyers can register starting in April.

Knowledge Village

The space reserved for the Knowledge Village will be once again located at the entry of the show. Addressing the requirements of the participants, seven rooms—with capacity for 70 to 150 people—will have acoustic treatment, making it more comfortable for participants.

This space will be sponsored by the National Confederation of Goods, Services and Tourism Commerce (CNC), and will have informative panels using the same technology as in airports, showing the program of the Brazilian Travel Agencies Congress and other qualification and professional updating activities.

The Knowledge Village will have an innovative program, including carefully selected themes based on the topics that interest travel agencies the most, and the interval between training will be longer, allowing for a greater interaction, analysis depth, and audience benefit. Qualification programs will begin at 10:00 a.m., two hours earlier than last year, enhancing the public’s participation in the show.

The Knowledge Village is also important in that it disseminates information for the development of the tourism and travel entrepreneurship, attracting existing and future professionals.

Wellness Station

One of the key innovations of the show is the Wellness Station, located at the central street of the Pavillion. Exclusively developed for well-being items, the space will have a food court and areas dedicated to treetop canopy, canoeing, surf, and ice skating. The space will also have a test drive track alluding to trekking and adventure sports activities.

There will also be workshops on themes like health tips and the benefits of a balanced and healthy diet, signed by renowned chefs. In a spa format, exhibitors specializing in this segment will offer massages and personal use products. A total of 15 sales positions will be available to sell to the public, in a partnership with the Brazilian Association of Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism (Abeta).

Feirão ABAV

For the first time, ABAV Expo will promote the Feirão, a special sale, on September 27 and 28. The goal is to encourage the consumption of tourism products through a travel agency, by offering the best prices, available only at the event. Only the travel agencies associated to the ABAV will be allowed to sell products during the Feirão.

“This way, not only do we leverage the travel industry, but we can also show the public the advantages of being advised by a travel agency, and also strengthen our relationship with consumers,” said Antonio Azevedo, CEO, ABAV.

Exclusive Spaces

To make it easier for participants to walk through the show and optimize their time, ABAV has changed the layout of the event, this time adopting visual communication that makes it easier for participants to identify the themed spaces that make the show.

The ABAV Agent VIP Room has been expanded, form 252 sq.m. to 570 sq.m.. The goal of this space is to promote networking among the professionals of the tourism trade, and it will also be a meeting spot for agents that come in groups. The room will offer support services and internet access, in addition to food and beverage. Previously dedicated only to the travel agencies associated to ABAV, the benefits will now be extended to travel agencies associated to ABAV partner entities, like Aviesp.

Institutional Profile

The 42nd ABAV International Tourism Expo is promoted by the Brazilian Travel Agencies Association (ABAV Nacional), with the support of the Tourism Ministry, the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur), the São Paulo City Government, and São Paulo Turismo (SPTuris), the city’s tourism and events company, which manages the Anhembi Exhibition Park.

An international partner of BTL (Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa) and ITB Berlin, ABAV Expo, the largest and most important international travel and tourism business fair of the Americas is sponsored by the Brazilian Support Service to Micro and Small Companies (Sebrae) and the National Confederation of Goods, Services and Tourism Trading (CNC), which manages one of the world’s largest social development systems—the Commerce Social Service (Sesc), operating in the education, health, culture and leisure fields, and the National Commercial Learning Service (Senac), which is the leading professional education agent in the goods, services and tourism trading sector.