ITB Berlin Guide for Content Creators: Tips for Networking & Navigating the World's Largest Travel Conference
Back in March, I dove headfirst into my first travel conference: ITB Berlin. Considering it’s the world’s largest travel conference, I remember feeling completely overwhelmed and unprepared as a first-timer. Rightfully so, as it turned out. But I quickly learned that sometimes you just need to throw yourself into an experience to figure it all out and be better prepared next time. Lucky for you, this blog post will equip you with the insights and tips I wish I had known before attending, so you can hit the ground running at your first ITB Berlin.
ITB Berlin is one of the year’s most significant events in the travel industry - a meeting point where professionals from all over the world come together to exchange ideas, network, form partnerships, and showcase destinations and innovations. As a content creator in the travel space, I can’t imagine a better place to be. (And I documented the experience thoroughly on my Instagram stories here!)
The conference offers a unique opportunity to connect with leading travel brands, tourism boards, and fellow creators. Attending ITB Berlin not only provides insights into emerging travel trends but also opens doors to collaboration opportunities. Forget about cold pitches via email - the best contacts in the industry are there and ready to meet face-to-face.
As a first-time attendee, there was quite a learning curve. While this guide is tailored for travel creators, the insights I gained can benefit anyone attending ITB Berlin or similar events. Whether you’re looking to establish new partnerships, learn about the latest travel trends, or simply navigate the sheer scale of ITB Berlin, read on to make the most of your experience.
About ITB Berlin
Let me give you a quick overview of ITB Berlin.
What does ITB stand for, you might ask? It’s short for “Internationale Tourismus Börse,” which translates to “International Tourism Exchange.” This year, the event took place from the 5th to the 7th of March at Messe Berlin, an expansive exhibition venue in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district of the city. The event was sponsored by Experience Oman. (Albania will host in 2025!)
In terms of scale, Messe Berlin welcomed around 10,000 exhibitors from over 180 countries and regions. With such vast numbers, the size of the venue was truly impressive. Saying I got my steps in would be an understatement - it took me until the last day to even begin finding my way around.
Spread across numerous buildings and halls, ITB Berlin featured booths representing entire countries, cities, regions, as well as tour operators, airlines, hotels, tech companies, and more - essentially anyone with a stake in the tourism industry.
Practical Tips
Before You Go:
1. Apply for accreditation (a media pass)
If you fall under the category of Media/Journalist/Travel Blogger and want to attend the conference for free, you can apply for accreditation on the ITB website. As a travel blogger and social media influencer with high visibility, this granted me free entry. You can find the requirements and everything you need to know about applying here.
2. Download the ITB Berlin App
You can find it on the App Store or Google Play Store. (Find more info here.) Once you've downloaded it, you can familiarize yourself with the hall plan, see who will be there and where, and even get in direct contact with exhibitors and other participants. I was able to message exhibitors I was interested in connecting with via the app, set up meetings, or simply obtain useful email contacts if they were unable to meet in person.
3. Sort out your accommodation well in advance
ITB 2024 saw about 24,000 attendees, so you can imagine how quickly accommodation in the city can get booked up. I stayed in two vastly different places during my trip: a hostel for the conference days (since I was out all day and night and only needed somewhere to sleep!), followed by a more upscale hotel for my final night.
If you’re on a budget, Circus Hostel Berlin was an affordable and convenient option. Although a hostel, they offered affordable private rooms. Alternatively, Circus also has the more upscale Circus Hotel and Circus Apartments, just down the road. They are all right next to Rosenthaler Platz Underground Station, and from there you can use public transportation to easily get to Messe Berlin. (Just download the BVG app and you can buy tickets straight from your phone.)
The real treat, however, was my stay at The Hoxton Charlottenburg on my final night. Due to a train strike (more on that shortly) I literally couldn’t get back to Amsterdam! If it’s in your budget, it’s an absolutely lovely hotel with a great Indian restaurant on site.
Check out this impressive list of The Best Newly Opened Hotels in Berlin for some more options to consider!
4. Consider transportation carefully
Had I known there would be a multi-day train strike when I headed to Berlin, I definitely would have opted for an alternative form of transportation. Train strikes are unfortunately quite common in Germany, so be mindful of this. If you plan to travel by train, especially if you want to visit multiple destinations, I highly recommend the Interrail Pass. For non-European citizens or residents, check out the Eurail Pass. These passes allow you to explore up to 33 European countries by train. Otherwise, a good old-fashioned airplane will do the trick.
5. Pack accordingly
While I don’t believe there is a set dress code for the conference, I’d suggest opting for smart casual attire to keep things professional. Your footwear is going to be the most important choice you make this trip, so choose wisely. You will be walking A LOT.
My go-to outfit was a pair of plain white sneakers (HIGHLY recommend Dr. Scholl’s, I feel like I’ve walked the entirety of Europe in these things) with black dress pants or jeans and a blazer.
6. Have an attack plan
Walking into the conference can be extremely overwhelming. With so many exhibitors, it can be hard to visit every booth without a strategy. Luckily, everything is well organized. For example, you could dedicate your first day to a specific region - like Europe or Asia-Pacific. Furthermore, jot down the specific booths that are a must for you. I created a note on my phone where I could check off booths as I visited, and also add any important notes or contact info. You can take a look at the 2024 hall plan to get an idea of how things are laid out.
7. Sign up for ticketed networking events
Things get hectic during the conference and everyone has their own schedules, but if you want to network with other creatives and travel bloggers, be sure to look out for and sign up for ticketed events that take place in the evenings. This year, Berlin Travel Massive as well as The Travel Dudes & BudgetTraveller both hosted events at the Social Hub (also a hotel option) via EventBrite. Sometimes they’re free, and sometimes there’s a (reasonable) cost to attend.
8. Bring lots of business cards
When attending ITB, networking and creating partnership opportunities are key, so don’t forget to bring plenty of business cards! I took the advice of adding my photo to mine - apparently, it makes people less likely to toss them. Whether that's true or not, who knows? I also included a QR code that links to my media kit, which I keep updated through Canva.
If you follow my advice above, everything should be pretty smooth sailing once you get to Berlin. Here are a few other random bits of advice that I wish I’d known in advance.
DO:
If you’re a blogger/creator, go to the “Blogger Base” events. You’ll have the opportunity to win some amazing prizes (eg: a free trip to Oman!). They have raffles and you need to be present to claim your prize if your name is called.
DO:
Walk around the conference on your own and have conversations individually. If you know people there, meet up later. Your best bet at making genuine connections is going to be done solo.
DON’T:
Accept every material item that is offered to you. Regardless, you’re going to end up with a dozen tote bags by the end of the conference. Just know that every booth typically has some kind of trinket or gift they’re handing out - so be mindful of things you’re going to have to lug around all day.
DON’T:
Be so social that it affects your conference days. Events in the evening can run late, but be sure to save your energy and get proper rest if you want to maximize your experience.
Conclusion:
As I wrap up this post, I hope these insights and tips help you navigate ITB Berlin with a little more confidence than I had going in. It’s a whirlwind of an experience, but with the right prep, you can really make the most of it.
Have you been to ITB Berlin or another travel conference? I’d love to hear your stories, tips, or even your mishaps in the comments!
Safe travels and happy networking!