Judges are looking for the very best new and up-and-coming technology in the MICE industry to be crowned winner of the industry’s longest-standing technology awards.

Entries are now open for  IBTM World’s prestigious annual Tech Watch Award for companies with a new and innovative technology product or service with an application within the MICE industry.

Corbin Ball, a tech industry stalwart, will chair the illustrious judging panel which includes Michelle Bruno, President of Bruno Group Signature Events; Dahlia El Gazzar, Founder of DAHLIA+ Inc; Ruud Janssen, Founder of TNOC.org and co-founder EMG; Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner at SoolNua; James Morgan founder of Event Tech Lab and Michael Shapiro from Northstar Meetings Group.

Each entry is scored against innovation, concept/business model and value to the MICE industry. The judges will select six finalists who will get the opportunity to exhibit at IBTM World, giving them a platform to showcase their product to an audience of over 15,000 high profile global MICE industry buyers, influencers and media. The overall winner will be announced during IBTM World, which takes place from 27 – 29 November in Barcelona.

Shane Hannam, Portfolio Director, IBTM, commented: “The IBTM World Tech Watch Award offers businesses a great opportunity to showcase exciting new products and solutions to a highly engaged global audience. Entering the awards is a great chance for organisations to capitalise on the fact that our attendees have a huge appetite to discover and experience the latest exciting technologies that could really make a difference to their business. Past finalists and winners have told us that being part of our on-site technology showcase has been of tangible benefit to growing their business.”

The Tech Watch Award is extremely well recognised across both the MICE and technology industries, thanks to the exposure winners receive as well as its high-profile judges.

Robert Caldwell, Founding Partner of Sciensio, winners of the 2017 award, said: “We exhibited at IBTM last year and were thrilled with the response.  Not only did we get good foot traffic as part of the Tech Showcase, we found attendees to be interested, engaged, and seeking solutions. The show was a fantastic ROI for us on its own – however, we were humbled to have won the 2017 IBTM Tech Watch Award.  Aside from getting great coverage during the event, we found clients globally reaching out to us specifically because we had participated and won.  IBTM World is a great event to introduce your solution to the industry for the first time or continue to build your brand.  We will be back in 2018!”

IBTM World 2018 will take place from 27 – 29 November at Fira Barcelona. Deadline for entries is September 7; for more information and to enter, visit: www.ibtmworld.com/techwatch.