EIBTM (www.eibtm.com), the annual global hub for the meeting and events industry, has announced that applications are open for the annual EIBTM Technology Watch Award 2013. Now in its 14^th year, the award is the longest running and most high profile technology recognition scheme for the meetings and events industry worldwide.

Comprised of influential leaders, and chaired by meetings technology expert Corbin Ball, the EIBTM Technology Watch judging panel will be looking for organisations to demonstrate new and innovative technology solutions that will make a significant contribution to shaping the future of the industry.

“As society and this industry adopts technology at an exponential rate, this award scheme helps to showcase the very latest innovations that could shape the future for meetings professionals.  As we know, meetings and events are early adopters of technology, and at Reed Travel Exhibitions we recognise the value of enabling the developers to showcase their products in front of our panel of judges, and the opportunity to win a place at EIBTM to demonstrate their products, in helping to create more effective meetings with greater impact and ROI,” commented Graeme Barnett, Reed Travel Exhibitions, EIBTM Exhibition Director.

The Technology Watch winner will be awarded an exhibition stand in the Technology and Events Services Village at the 2013 edition of the show, showcasing their product to the 15,000 international industry professionals expected to attend the event.

As the winner is chosen before EIBTM, the prize also includes a pre-show global publicity and marketing campaign and high visibility onsite. The winner will receive:

• Exposure to EIBTM’s database of over 28,000 industry professionals
• Inclusion on the EIBTM website which receives over 1.56 million page views per year
• Exposure to global industry media
• Inclusion in the official EIBTM catalogue (printed and online)
• Presentation of the winning innovation and award ceremony at EIBTM 2013
• An article in the official EIBTM Show Daily which is distributed to all attendees

Free to enter, the application process for submissions is now open at www.eibtm.com/techwatch. Entry for the EIBTM 2013 Technology Watch Award will close on Friday September 6, 2013

In 2012, the Technology Watch Award winner was BOBtv by bXb Online, a global online event platform designed specifically for events and associations. “Our industry is currently on the rise as content aggregation and video streaming are becoming increasingly important. BOBtv is uniquely designed for the industry to create new value for all stakeholders. We are grateful for this important recognition by EIBTM at this stage in our journey. As a company, we are working hard to earn EIBTM’s spotlight on BOBtv,” commented Tony Lorenz, CEO, bXb Online.

The Technology and Events Services Village is a specialist area on the show floor dedicated to showcasing the industry’s most technologically advanced products and additional planning services. To enquire about booking a stand or for further information please visit www.eibtm.com/tech or contact shane.lewis@reedexpo.co.uk.

EIBTM 2013 will take place from November 19 – 21, a week earlier than in previous years. The EIBTM Forum will take place the day before the exhibition on November 18.