ITB Asia packs technology, MICE punch

Booking levels at ITB Asia, the new B2B tourism trade show in Singapore, are high. More than eight months before the event is due to open, 180 exhibitors have already registered to take part. One of the main reasons is a partnership with Meeting Professionals International for MICE trade fair and conference activities.

The inaugural ITB Asia, set for Singapore from 22 to 24 October 2008, will pack added punch with two major conferences to be held alongside the trade show. Kicking off ITB Asia will be the travel technology, distribution and marketing conference, WIT-Web In Travel, which will be held from 21 to 22 October 2008. Rounding it up will be the first Asian Meetings and Events Conference, a collaboration between ITB Asia and Meeting Professionals International (MPI), set for 24 to 26 October 2008.

ITB Asia will thus cater for the three major sectors of the travel industry – holiday travel, business travel, and the MICE sector – as well as the fast-growing travel technology sector.

The partnership between MPI and ITB Asia is an ideal pairing of two industry leaders who share a common vision of building wider networks and growing stronger relationships with global meeting industry professionals.

Both organisations view joining forces for the back-to-back events as a winning formula to create the premier platform for knowledge sharing and transfer, and relationship-building for industry professionals. They also view Singapore as a platform to reach out to the Asia Pacific region, with the ultimate goal to increase knowledge, skills and build business opportunities.

"This collaboration fits into MPI's mission to create dynamic, global meetings and events community and we are pleased to work with Messe Berlin, an industry veteran in travel and tourism convention. This new platform will further our mission to connect meetings and events professionals to knowledge, networks and marketplaces on a global basis." says Mr Bruce MacMillan, President/CEO of MPI.

Mr Raimund Hosch, CEO of Messe Berlin views the partnership in the same way. "We are privileged to work with MPI, an organisation at the forefront of the meetings and events industry, as we feel this partnership will help to propel the industry towards further global development."

"ITB Asia is the only trade show that focuses on Asia as the source market of the future. Accordingly, demand by the travel industry is considerable. We will be catering for the entire range of tourism products and services. The exhibitors taking part are from over 30 countries. They include big airlines and major players from the hotel and internet sectors," said Mr Hosch.

As host of the first ITB in Asia, Singapore is delighted at the progress which the new trade show has made in such a short time. "We are heartened that 180 exhibitors have signed up to participate in the inaugural ITB Asia in Singapore. ITB Asia provides an excellent platform for global travel and tourism trade partners to gain deeper insights into Asian travel trends and network with new business partners from the Asia-Pacific region.

"We are confident that ITB Asia will grow in size and stature in the years to come, and this October look forward to welcoming visitors, delegates and exhibitors to Uniquely Singapore ," said Mr Aloysius Arlando, Assistant Chief Executive, Business Travel and MICE Group, Singapore Tourism Board.