SIMA presents its promotional activities in Europe at the Tourist Board

This morning, the Spain Incentives and Meetings Association (SIMA) presented the promotional activities it will carry out in Europe, aimed at publicising Spain as a new travel destination. The presentation took place in the headquarters of the Costa del Sol Tourist Board. The campaign will be launched in February 2010, starting in the UK and France. The Association has been working in this kind of initiatives in North America since 1998.

Comprising hoteliers and MICE travel agencies, at first SIMA focused on the US and Canada. Now it has transferred its promotional strategies to Europe.

SIMA’s European campaign will first target the UK and France. According to SIMA President José Puebla, “these are the first two countries that need to know Spain as a new, emerging travel destination.” At the presentation, Mr Puebla emphasised that this was a “different” initiative, “adjusting to each of the countries where we intend to sell our travel destination.”

SIMA carries out regular promotional activities in the US and Canada, where it has been active in the MICE travel segment for twelve years. Now, they have decided to extend their work to Europe, in the belief that this successful formula can be replicated. SIMA’s arrival in Europe is supported by tourism agencies such as Turespaña and the Tourist Boards of the cities represented in the promotional activities.

SIMA is a non-profit organisation. Its members are hotels and incoming travel agencies specialising in incentive trips and conference planning. Its main strengths are Spain itself as a travel destination and the companies that are part of it.

Since its inception, the Association has never stopped advertising and selling Spanish travel products among travel professionals, and urging businessmen and politicians to take action to improve Spain’s travel products, services, and infrastructure.

SIMA seeks to be recognised in North America and Europe for its members’ quality and professionalism, publicising Spain as a major travel destination among specialist travel agencies, incentive companies, and event planners. It organises fam trips to different Spanish locations for top-level professionals or recreational weekend getaways in attractive cities and hotels, always including presentations of the Association itself and the places it intends to sell.