IBTM World 2026: Connect Every Venue Contact to an Event Brief
IBTM World 2026 runs November 17–19 in Hall 3 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via. For an event planner, a venue contact becomes useful when it stays linked to dates, delegate numbers, room layouts and the proposal still to come. This guide covers the practical access details and a Habsy workflow for keeping that brief with each supplier, so the first follow-up can move a venue or destination discussion forward.
Habsy11 min read
IBTM World at a glance
- Dates
- November 17 to 19, 2026Tuesday to Thursday
- Exhibition hours
- Nov 17: 08:45–18:00; Nov 18: 08:45–19:00; Nov 19: 08:45–17:00Published show hours, local time
- Venue
- Fira Barcelona Gran Via, Hall 3Accés Sud; L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona area
- Entry
- Relevant professional/business visitors; register aheadBadge required. Under-18s need prior written organiser approval; buyer programmes have separate terms.
- Official website
- ibtmworld.comConfirm details before you travel
Who exhibits and who attends IBTM World?
A corporate planner may be comparing meeting rooms and hotel capacity, while an association or agency may need a destination partner and a longer proposal process. Record the event brief before sorting a contact as promising: dates, delegate numbers, room setup, accommodation requirements, decision owner and the document or availability check requested. This makes the next message specific without turning the follow-up template into a long form.
Who exhibits
- Convention bureaus and destination teams
- Hotels and meeting venues
- Destination management companies
- Event-technology providers
- Event services and hospitality suppliers
Who attends
- Corporate meetings and events planners
- Association event teams
- Agency and incentive-travel buyers
- Venue sourcing professionals
- Event-technology decision-makers
The organiser lists Hall 3 and the Accés Sud entrance. Group appointments by destination or supplier type, and allow time between meetings using the current floor plan. Keep your own registration category separate from Hosted Buyer qualification, and note that Wednesday’s published show hours extend later.
How to prepare for IBTM World with Habsy
Most of the work happens before you reach Barcelona. Set up Habsy once and every conversation at the show ends with a saved contact, the context you need and a next step.
If you are visiting
Before you fly
- 1
Create your Professional digital card
Share your details by QR code, NFC or link instead of paper cards.
- 2
Add your Business digital card
Your company profile and brochures, for partners and suppliers you meet.
- 3
Create a IBTM World category
Plus the visitor intent signals below, to sort vendors by fit later.
- 4
Turn on Send my digital card back
Everyone you scan gets your card automatically.
If you are exhibiting
Before you fly, for every rep
- 1
Install Habsy on every rep's phone
Give each rep a digital card, plus one Business digital card for the company.
- 2
Set up intent signals and templates
Every rep qualifies and follows up the same way, by email or WhatsApp.
- 3
Add an enquiry form to your card
Print its QR code on the booth so visitors leave details when you are busy.
- 4
Create a IBTM World campaign
Bringing several reps? Every scan lands in one live list.
How to set up Habsy before IBTM World
Five steps, in the order the app walks you through them. Visitors need steps 1 to 3. Exhibitors should do all five.
1. Create your digital business cards
Every Habsy account includes two free digital cards under MyQR: a Professional digital card for you and a Business digital card for your company, with your services and brochures. Habsy's AI builds them from your LinkedIn profile and website, or from a photo of your own business card. Share them by QR code, NFC or link. The person you share with opens your card in their browser, with no app needed, and saves your contact in one tap. Add an enquiry form so visitors who scan your card leave their details and are saved as a new contact.

1Your Professional digital card

2Your Business digital card

3Share by QR code, NFC or link
2. Add intent signals
Intent signals are tap-to-answer questions you fill in for every contact, so every rep records the same details in seconds. In Settings, open Manage Intent Signals, then tap Create with AI to get suggestions from your website, or Create Manually to add the set below.

1Open Manage Intent Signals

2Review the signals Habsy suggests

3Tap the answers after each scan
- Corporate buyer
- Association
- Event agency
- Incentive agency
- Venue operator
- Event director
- Meeting planner
- Sourcing manager
- Association manager
- Meeting venues
- Destinations
- Incentive programmes
- Event technology
- Event services
- Within 3 months
- 3 to 6 months
- 6 to 12 months
- Researching
- Request a proposal
- Send venue details
- Arrange a site discussion
- Introduce a colleague
- Meeting venues
- Destinations
- Incentive programmes
- Event technology
- Event services
- Hall 3
- Hotel Pavilion
- Exhibit hall booth
- Session or reception
- Strong fit
- Possible fit
- Not a fit
- Book a demo
- Request pricing
- Share with my team
- No follow-up
Add them in Settings, Manage Intent Signals, with Create Manually, or start with Create with AI and adjust the options to match what you sell or what you are looking for.
3. Create a IBTM World category
Create a category called IBTM World and set it as your default for the days of the event, so every contact you scan at the show is filed under it automatically. After the show, use it as a filter to export only your IBTM World contacts to Excel, CSV or VCF in one step. Exhibitors on Habsy Platform can also use the IBTM World category to track how the event performed: contacts captured, companies reached, intent signals and each rep's results.

1Create the category

2Pick it when you save a contact

3Find it on every contact
4. Set up your email and WhatsApp templates
Connect your email account or WhatsApp Business account in Settings before the show. Then, with Send email or WhatsApp template turned on in your Card Preferences, your follow-up goes out from your own account the moment you save a scanned contact. The visitor often has your message, and your digital card, before they leave your booth. It shows you are organized and quick to respond, and it puts you ahead of every exhibitor who follows up next week. To write the template, open Email Templates or WhatsApp Templates in Settings, describe the message, and Habsy's AI writes it. Add variables such as the contact's name and company so every message is personal. Here is a template you can copy for IBTM World:
Hi {{recipient.name}},
It was good meeting you at IBTM World in Barcelona.
I would be happy to share venue and destination information to help {{recipient.company}} review options for its meetings and events.
Would room layouts and accommodation details be useful first, or would you prefer a short discussion about your dates, delegate numbers and proposal requirements?
Best regards,{{user.name}}{{user.company}}
Hi {{recipient.name}}, this is {{user.name}} from {{user.company}}. Good meeting you at IBTM World.
Would venue layouts or accommodation information help with your event brief? Happy to discuss your preferred dates, group size and the next step for a proposal.
Words in braces are variables. Habsy fills them in from each contact and from your profile when you send.

1Let AI write the template

2Save your WhatsApp templates

3Save your email templates
5. Set your Card Preferences
Choose what Habsy does each time you save a contact, once in Settings or per save. It runs in the background while you move on to the next conversation.
Elena Torres saved at IBTM World · 4 steps running in the background
Email, WhatsApp and CRM steps need the matching integration.
How to capture every contact at IBTM World
Use one app for every contact you make, wherever you make it: at the booth, in a session, at a reception or over dinner. Every rep and every visitor captures contacts on their own phone, free and with no scan limit, and every contact lands in one list with your category, intent signals and notes.

1Scan a business card

2Scan a badge QR code

3Type it in with manual entry
- Badges: point the Habsy scanner at a badge and Habsy reads the attendee's details from its QR code. If a badge holds only a registration number, scan the person's business card or type them in.
- Business cards: scan each card in seconds, or switch to Batch and scan up to 150 cards in about 5 minutes without leaving the camera. Habsy reads cards in 200+ languages.
- QR codes: scan digital business cards from any provider, LinkedIn QR codes and contact QR codes.
- NFC: turn on NFC on the scan screen, then hold an NFC business card or an NFC event badge to the back of your phone. Habsy reads the contact and saves it, with no camera needed.
- Manual entry: no card and no QR code? Choose Manual and type the details in.
- Offline: capture continues when the hall Wi-Fi is busy, and contacts process once you reconnect.
IBTM World also offers official lead retrieval through Lead Manager App, ordered through the exhibitor services. Habsy works on its own or next to it. For more, read lead capture vs lead retrieval.
How to add context while you talk
A contact without context is hard to follow up. Before the next conversation starts, add what you discussed and what you promised.
- Intent signals: tap the answers on the review screen after each scan.
- Voice notes: tap Add Voice Note and say what they need. Habsy turns it into a searchable transcript.
- Text notes: type a quick note, such as "Venue layouts and dates for 3 meetings".
- Reminders: in 1 hour, in 4 hours, tomorrow at 9 AM or any date and time, with a repeat and an alarm. All of them appear in My reminders.
Here is what a contact from IBTM World looks like with context added:
Elena Torres
Event Director, Blue Lantern Events
Intent signals
- Corporate buyer
- Event director
- Meeting venues
- 3 to 6 months
- 3 meetings
- Request a proposal
Notes
Sourcing venues for 3 meetings; needs room layouts, availability and a proposal discussion.
0:42 · "Send layouts and availability for our 3 meetings, then we can agree a proposal call."
Reminder
Friday, 9:00 AM · Send venue layouts and availability
Illustrative example: fictional person, company and buying requirements; not an actual attendee record.
Going to IBTM World?
Your digital card and lead capture in one app.
Unlimited scanning, text notes, reminders and exports are free. Categories, voice notes, intent signals and templates require Habsy Plus. Habsy Platform is separately priced for teams.
What to do in Habsy after IBTM World
The show ends on Thursday, November 19. What you do in the next 48 hours decides how many of those conversations turn into meetings, partners or deals.
If you visited: pick up the conversations you started
- See who looked at your card: open QR analytics to see how many people viewed and saved your digital card, how they engaged and where.
- Save and call back: save vendors to your phone contacts, and set a reminder to call back the ones you want to hear more from.
- Drop a message: Habsy writes a short email or WhatsApp message for any contact, mentioning where you met.
- Export and share: export your IBTM World category to Excel, CSV or VCF, by date range, with a copy sent to your email, and share the shortlist with your team.
Top locations
Example numbers.

1Export to Excel, CSV or VCF

2Set a reminder to call back

3Send a quick message
If you exhibited: follow up within 48 hours
- Thursday evening: batch scan any cards left in your pockets and check that every contact has a note.
- Friday: filter by intent signals, such as "Book a demo" and "Within 3 months", and send your IBTM World template to the hottest contacts first.
- Send at scale: select several contacts on the home screen, choose email or WhatsApp and a template, and send to all of them.
- Next week: work through the rest by reminder, sync qualified contacts to your CRM, and export the list to Excel, CSV or VCF.

1Write the follow-up with AI

2Pick a template for each contact

3Select several contacts and send
For more message ideas, see our follow-up email templates.
Exhibiting with a team? Run IBTM World on Habsy Platform
When several reps work the booth, the hard part is not capturing leads. It is knowing, during the show and after it, who met whom, who is hot and who follows up. Habsy Platform is the web dashboard for that, at app.habsy.ai. Reps keep scanning in the app, and the manager sees everything in one place.
app.habsy.ai

- One campaign for IBTM World: every rep's contacts land in one live list, by rep and by day.
- Clear ownership: assign contacts, set reminders, and get alerts when two reps meet the same person.
- Follow-up from one place: sync to your CRM and run email sequences, WhatsApp and LinkedIn outreach for the whole team.
The IBTM World post-event report
When the show ends, Habsy turns your IBTM World contacts into a post-event report: what your team captured, who you met, what they told you through your intent signals, and a dossier on every company with how well it fits your business. Use it to decide who to call first and whether the next edition is worth the booth. Here is what it could look like for IBTM World, with example data:
Post-event report · IBTM World
Overview: what your team captured at IBTM World, how complete it is, and what stands out.
Analytics: the kinds of organizations and the seniority of the people your team met at IBTM World.
Intent signals: what contacts at IBTM World are interested in, when they plan to buy and the next step your reps agreed.
Habsy Platform has one team price, with no per-event or per-lead fees. See Habsy for teams or explore the platform.
Bottom line
Save the event brief, space requirements, decision date and proposal owner with each venue or destination contact so IBTM World meetings lead to useful follow-up. Visitors: create your digital card and scan every card and badge you collect. Exhibitors: set up intent signals and templates before you fly, capture every contact in one app, and follow up within 48 hours. See event lead capture with Habsy.
Bringing a team to IBTM World and other events this year? See how Habsy works for sales teams, or book a demo of Habsy Platform.
Habsy is not affiliated with RX. Event details come from the official IBTM World website and can change.
Keywords
- IBTM World 2026
- IBTM Barcelona
- IBTM venue and hours
- event planner contacts
- venue sourcing
- IBTM supplier follow-up
- Lead Manager IBTM
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is IBTM World 2026?
IBTM World runs November 17–19 in Hall 3 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, accessed through Accés Sud. The venue is in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat in the Barcelona area, Spain.
What are the daily IBTM World opening hours?
Published hours are Tuesday, November 17, 08:45–18:00; Wednesday, November 18, 08:45–19:00; and Thursday, November 19, 08:45–17:00, local time. Wednesday closes later, so do not assume the same timetable on all three days.
Who is eligible to attend, and can under-18s enter?
Admission is restricted to professionals with a relevant industry connection or interest, and attendees need registration and a badge. Under-18s require prior written organiser approval. Read the current admission policy and the conditions of your registration route before travelling.
Is a visitor registration the same as Hosted Buyer approval?
No. Hosted Buyer participation has its own application, qualification and programme terms. Do not assume visitor registration includes hosted travel, accommodation or a pre-arranged meeting diary. Follow the confirmation and obligations for your own participation category.
What information should accompany a venue or destination contact?
Keep the event type, preferred dates, delegate numbers, destination flexibility, meeting-room setup, accommodation needs and decision timing with the contact. Record which availability check or proposal was requested and who owns the next response. These are suggested briefing fields, not a fixed IBTM booking form.
How should I compare venue enquiries after the show?
Use the same brief for each shortlisted supplier, then separate confirmed information from questions still awaiting a response. Compare room layouts, capacity, accommodation options and the requested commercial terms. A meeting at the show does not itself confirm dates, rates or availability.
What official contact-capture tools does IBTM World offer?
The organiser lists Lead Manager App, formerly Emperia, for capturing and qualifying conversations, and Colleqt QR Codes for visitor-initiated information exchange. Check your exhibitor account and package. Habsy can keep business cards, notes and follow-up alongside the official tools.
Does Habsy provide access to IBTM badge records?
No. It can read supported QR codes that contain contact details, but an organiser registration identifier or restricted link does not grant access to the badge database. Use the official service or exchange a business card when the contact details are not available in the code.
What should an IBTM World follow-up message focus on?
Refer to the event brief and provide the venue information, layouts or proposal discussion agreed at the meeting. Ask for missing dates or delegate requirements where needed, and agree a response owner. Use the recipient’s expected channel and aim to respond while the meeting is still fresh.
Which Habsy features are free or paid?
Scanning, text notes, reminders, exports and two digital cards are free. Categories, voice notes, intent signals, templates, enquiry forms, card analytics and integrations require Habsy Plus. Habsy Platform is separately priced for shared team campaigns, assignments and reporting; sending and CRM actions need their matching integrations.
Going to IBTM World?
Capture every contact you make in Barcelona.
Keep the event brief, venue requirements and proposal owner with each contact, so your next message advances the meeting you actually had.

