The ITB
History

1966-1968: When ITB was held for the first time at the exhibition grounds in Berlin in 1966, nine exhibitors from five countries presented their products and services: Egypt, Brazil, the Federal Republic of Germany, Guinea and Iraq.

By 1968, there were already 65 exhibitors from 35 countries. Over the years, ITB Berlin has established itself as the World's Leading Travel Trade Show®.

1969-1976: With over 100 exhibitors and a new advisory board, ITB Berlin gained in 1969 a strong profile as a platform for international trade contacts.

In 1972, the exhibition space was tripled, marking the “breakthrough” as an established international trade fair. In 1973, ITB Berlin was described for the first time as a “trade fair with a global reputation” - with participants from 60 countries.

1975: With the “PATA Day” and 5,000 trade visitors, ITB Berlin also underlined its role as the most important Asian-European industry gathering.

One year later, in 1976, ITB Berlin offered a two-day trade congress for the first time and attracted 6,000 trade visitors from 89 countries - with the hotel industry and social policy as core topics

1981-1988: Another record number of exhibitors and trade visitors as well as a clear internationalization push characterized ITB Berlin in 1981.

The special exhibition “Anders Reisen” celebrated its premiere in 1984 and also made ITB Berlin a forum for alternative tourism.

For the 20th anniversary in 1986, the People's Republic of China was represented for the first time, and with 2,241 exhibitors the trade show reflected an optimistic mood in the industry.

1988: ITB Berlin offered the “Forum for Universities and Technical Colleges” for the first time, thus strengthening the exchange between science and the industry.

1990-1997: In 1990, in the wake of German reunification, suppliers from East Germany were officially represented for the first time - a historic milestone for the trade fair.

For its 30th anniversary in 1996, ITB Berlin presented 174 countries and celebrated its development into the world's largest tourism trade fair.

The focus was on multimedia and electronic booking systems - ITB Berlin 1997 once again proved its innovative strength.

2000-2008: At the turn of the millennium in 2000, travel technology and the mobile Internet were given their own exhibition area at the trade show - long before smartphones became part of our everyday lives.

Despite global uncertainty after 11 September, the 2001 trade show demonstrated stability and proved the strong cohesion of the industry. In 2002, security, trust and travel behavior after 9/11 continued to dominate ITB Berlin, which was more important than ever as a platform for discussions.

2004: The introduction of the ITB Berlin Convention makes it the largest industry event of its kind and complements the exhibition under this name from now on. In 2008, ITB Asia was launched in Singapore and quickly developed into what it is today: the leading B2B trade show for the pan-Asian travel market.

2010-2013: With the introduction of an LGBTQ+ travel section in 2010, ITB Berlin set an important example for equal rights for tourists from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Since 2011, the latest social media trends have been examined and discussed in the ITB eTravel World.

In 2013, ITB Berlin increasingly focused on demographic change and accessible tourism - “Accessible Travel” became the key concept.

2014-2017: Key topics at the ITB Berlin Convention in 2014: big data, data protection and luxury travel. Also new: the opening of the CityCube as an extension of the exhibition halls for even more exhibitors.

Then there was a big happening in 2016: the 50th edition of ITB Berlin! In a unique anniversary campaign, we sent 50 Berliners to 50 destinations around the world to follow in the footsteps of a connecting story.

In 2017, the very first ITB China celebrated its premiere and proved its importance as China's new marketplace for the travel industry.

2020: ITB Berlin had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, which shook the entire world and spread to Europe shortly before the start of ITB Berlin. However, the ITB Virtual Convention was quickly launched within a few days, bringing tourism professionals together virtually instead.

2021-2024: After the cancellation at short notice in 2020, the 2021 trade show was held purely digitally as ITB Berlin NOW and the ITB India joined the ITB brand family.

In 2023, it was back as a LIVE event with hybrid elements. In addition, a major strategic decision came into force: ITB Berlin was once again a B2B-only trade show.

2024 was all about digitalization, sustainability and resilience: the ITB Berlin Convention focused on topics such as artificial intelligence in travel planning, climate-neutral travel and diversity.

2025-2026: A new record was set with over 180,000 visitors in 2025 and ITB Berlin once again cemented its reputation as a driving force and innovation platform for the global travel industry.

And another highlight was announced: the ITB brand family is growing with ITB Americas, which will take place for the first time in Guadalajara, Mexico, in November 2026.