Tourism Seychelles has successfully concluded its participation in IBTM World 2025, held from 18–20 November in Barcelona, marking a highly productive three-day engagement with global MICE professionals. The event served as a key platform to advance the destination’s strategic priorities, market segmentation, seasonality management, and relationship marketing, while further strengthening Seychelles’ positioning within the global business events landscape.
Throughout the show, the delegation held an intensive programme of B2B meetings with hosted buyers from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Generating over 80 qualified leads per day, the team recorded strong interest across diverse markets, clearly validating Seychelles’ value proposition as a boutique-inspired yet versatile MICE destination, offering a broad spectrum of quality experiences tailored to diverse budgets and expectations. These interactions enhanced the destination’s visibility among targeted segments, including incentives, small corporate groups, and executive-level retreats, directly supporting Tourism Seychelles’ ongoing efforts to expand and diversify demand.
To further elevate the destination’s presence, Tourism Seychelles delivered two destination presentations daily, led by Director General for Marketing, Ms Bernadette Willemin. These sessions showcased Seychelles’ unique selling points, including its pristine natural environment, personalised hospitality, exclusive venues, and boutique scale—effectively demonstrating what sets the islands apart in the global MICE sphere. They reinforced Seychelles’ positioning as a destination that is “in the business of building businesses,” capable of supporting corporate objectives through meaningful and inspiring experiences.
The Seychelles delegation comprised Ms Bernadette Willemin, Director General for Marketing, and Ms Judeline Edmond, Market Manager for France, Benelux and Switzerland, both representing Tourism Seychelles; Ms Yuliya Kuznetsova, Cluster Sales & Marketing Manager for Savoy Resort & Spa and Coral Strand Smart Choice; and Ms Maureen Nibourette, Groups & MICE Manager for Avani+ Seychelles Barbarons Resort. Their unified presence reflected a strong public–private partnership, underscoring Seychelles’ commitment to engaging with international planners and providing flexible, high-quality solutions for a wide range of MICE requirements.
“IBTM World 2025 reaffirmed the strong and genuine interest in Seychelles as a boutique-inspired and versatile MICE destination. Our engagements reflected clear demand across markets, aligned with our focus on segmentation and addressing seasonality. We value the trust shown by our partners and remain committed to nurturing long-term relationships. Seychelles is not just a beautiful place; it is a strategic partner in the business of building businesses,” said Ms Willemin.
Beyond lead generation, IBTM World 2025 provided meaningful opportunities to strengthen Tourism Seychelles’ relationship marketing efforts, enabling deeper dialogue with planners
and partners seeking personalised and sustainable long-term collaboration. These exchanges will contribute to more resilient, year-round business, supporting the organisation’s strategy to address seasonality and broaden market reach.
With its pristine environment, world-class hospitality, and naturally inspiring setting, Seychelles continues to distinguish itself as a destination that fosters productivity, creativity, and strategic thinking. Tourism Seychelles’ successful participation at IBTM World 2025 reaffirms its commitment to working closely with global partners to drive shared business growth and enhance the archipelago’s presence within the international MICE arena.
