The inaugural ITB India this April will take on a hybrid model, becoming one of the first exhibitions in India to do so.

The physical exhibition will be held from April 7-9 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai, while the virtual event is set to take place five days later, from April 15-16.

The live event is expected to welcome over 8,000 attendees, more than 400 exhibitors, over 500 buyers, and an array of over 150 top speakers. The virtual event, which will be hosted on the ITB Community in Asia, is set to complement the live event by reuniting a much wider audience accompanied by digital innovations to improve audience engagement and connectivity.

“We see how trade fairs are changing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Personal contact remains the heart of a trade fair. At the same time, however, the trade fairs of the future will be hybrid events. Classic meetings of exhibitors and visitors will be accompanied by digital events,” said Sonia Prashar, deputy director-general of Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, the organizer of ITB India.

Attendees can expect business matching opportunities. On-site pre-scheduled appointments are coupled with additional virtual appointments connecting exhibitors and buyers during the live and virtual events.

The live event will also feature a line-up of key industry speakers and showcases of innovative technology and solutions. Exclusive access for selected audience profiles and focused sessions on niche topics will also be available in both live and virtual events.

All ITB India exhibitors will also be given a complimentary virtual booth, while all attendees of the ITB India live event will be entitled to complimentary access to the virtual event.