Business travel and meetings start-ups are now able to apply for the chance to gain exposure to major industry players at the 2020 Business Travel Show’s Launchpad.
Applications are now open for one of ten stands in the Launchpad, which was started five years ago to help young companies gain brand awareness among thousands of European corporate travel buyers.
Companies under three years old can apply for a Launchpad package at an entry-level price, which includes a 4sqm shell scheme stand, carpet, furniture, access to the hosted buyer diary and PR and marketing support.
Previous Launchpad exhibitors have included Taptrip and TroopTravel, both of which have gained international recognition since. Taptrip is a now finalist in the 2020 Business Travel Awards and has been accepted on the Barclay’s Techstars accelerator programme, while TroopTravel was one of 13 finalists at the Business Travel Innovation Face-Off conference in New York earlier this month.
In addition, the Business Travel Innovation Face-Off will make its European debut at next year’s Business Travel Show. Eight disrupters will present their products or services during a seven-minute pitch to 150 invited buyers, followed by a four-minute Q&A from a panel of judges and the audience.
Two winners will then be crowned on the afternoon of 27 February – one selected by the judges and a second by the buyers.
David Chapple, portfolio director UK at Northstar Travel Group, said: “This is a unique opportunity for start-ups to impress 150 senior corporate travel and procurement managers and blow their minds with their innovative travel and meetings solutions.
“It’s also a brilliant chance for our buyers to see eight brand-new and cutting-edge products, technologies and services that have developed to address the key industry challenges they are facing at such an early stage in their journey.”
Applications for the Launchpad can be found at businesstravelshow.com/launchpad. The form must be completed and returned to [email protected] by Monday, 2 December. Successful applicants will be notified on 10 January 2020.
The Business Travel Show takes place at Olympia London on 26-27 February 2020.
businesstravelshow.com