The first ITB travel trade exhibition after COVID is about to open in Berlin, Germany, Georgia style. There may be a deeper reason behind it.
The prime minister of Georgia will open ITB Berlin on March 6, 2023.
In 2017 the prime minister of Georgia was at FITUR Madrid kicking of the UNWTO Secretary General election campaign by his Ambassador, Zurab Pololikashvili.
As a soccer fan, Zurab loves challenges and loves to win. Therefore two terms as UNWTO Secetary-General may not be enough for Georgia and Zurab Pololikashvili.
For the Government of Georgia, spending the big money to be the official partner country for ITB 2023 Berlin may be an investment with a deeper meaning – lobbying for a third term for Zurab Pololikashvili as UNWTO Secretary- General. As a country holding on to a UN leadership for tourism is more than just prestigious.
As reported by eTurboNews previously, reliable sources told suggest Zurab was working on changing UNWTO statues to allow him to run for a third term.
Also ITB 2023 is not just another ITB.
ITB 2023 can be seen as the official relaunch for the travel sector.
On February 24, eTurboNews publisher Juergen Steinmetz predicted ITB 2020 would be canceled due to the spread of the Coronavirus in Italy at that time.
This was immediately disputed by Messe Berlin’s CEO, Christian Göke. He publicly accused Steinmetz in 2020 of creating confusion and issued a press release disputing eTurboNews article, assuring everyone in the world, ITB 2020 would be taking place. This was echoed by other travel and tourism leaders from large travel association, ministers and other leaders from around the world.
Sadly, just four days later, on February 28, 2020, eTurboNews broke the news. ITB Berlin was canceled days before the German capital was supposed to welcome the world of tourism.
With Messe Berlin’s mistakenly guaranteeing ITB 2020 was taking place, eTN partnered with PATA, and invited travel professionals to a breakfast to the Grand Hyatt Berlin on March 5, 2020 to discuss the consequences for the travel industry with the spread of the new COVID virus imminent.
Without PATA attending, 42 travel professionals from various countries also stranded in Berlin did show up and officially launched the rebuilding travel discussion.
Hundreds of online Zoom meetings during COVID lockdowns came out of this initial discussion. It kept travel trade together and travel leaders relevant during COVID. On January 1, 2021 the rebuilding travel discussion launched the World Tourism Network.
Today, WTN has members in 130 countries and advocates for SMEs in travel and tourism. WTN just announced TIME 2023, its own summit in Bali from September 29- October 1, 2023.
Three years later, the eTurboNews team made the Grand Hyatt Berlin its headquarters again for ITB this year.
Nostalgia or a clear sign for a better future?
The official ITB opening ceremony on 6 March 2023 will kick off with a spectacular show of traditional dance and music performances from Georgia.
Dr. Robert Habeck, Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey, and Dirk Hoffmann, Managing Director of Messe Berlin, will welcome invited guests from all over the world to this year’s ITB Berlin.
Under the heading “Infinite Georgian culture – from the beginnings of viniculture to modern avant-garde art”, an impressive journey through the cultural and ethnic diversity of the country in the Caucasus awaits the audience.
The official opening show includes a conceptual and contemporary performance of masterpieces of Georgian performing arts from various genres. From ethnic jazz and classical music to part-singing and electronic music, as well as performances by the world-famous Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet.
Divided into six acts, in addition to ballet dancers showcasing the diversity of Georgia on stage, the Rustavi Ensemble will present traditional Georgian polyphony and impress with its unique Georgian polyphonic singing style.
The audience can also look forward to the artistic director and chief conductor of the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra Nikoloz Rachveli, the internationally renowned opera soprano Nino Machaidze, and the Georgian pianist Dudana Mazmanishvili, who is causing a sensation in the world’s stages with her lyrical talent and extraordinary virtuosity.
Other notable artists include the Georgian violinist Liza Batiashvili, the Georgian composer and musician Dato Evgenidze, and Nika Machaidze, a musician, filmmaker, and artist. He produces electronic music (IDM) that uses breakbeat rhythms to create harmonies and melodies that reference Georgian folk music.
