IT&CMA and CTW 2010 delivers quality buyers, travel managers and a wider selection of MICE sellers

BANGKOK, Thailand – More than 13,000 IT&CMA business appointments for exhibitors, buyers, and corporate travel managers took place on October 6 and 7 at Asia’s only doublebill MICE and corporate tra

BANGKOK, Thailand – More than 13,000 IT&CMA business appointments for exhibitors, buyers, and corporate travel managers took place on October 6 and 7 at Asia’s only doublebill MICE and corporate travel event.

Fifty percent of buyers and corporate travel managers were new to the show this year. New buyer and corporate travel manager markets included Egypt, Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Portugal, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine.

The event witnessed an increase of 20 percent booth take up. Country and city pavilions such as Singapore, Korea, Seoul, Brunei, and Indonesia boasted increased exhibitor participation. Thailand clusters occupied a total of 399 square meters – the largest in this year’s show. Thai MICE cities that also had a larger presence at this year’s event included Chiang Mai and Pattaya.

Media delegate Mr. Joachim Fischer, editor-in-chief of Tourism Insider, Germany, commented: “Sentiment on the exhibition floor is more positive than last year, with greater opportunities for sealing business deals. The quantity and profile of potential buyers is one of the show’s strengths.”

Ms. Ma. Nedalin L. Miranda, senior convention services officer of the Philippines Department of Tourism, mirrored this observation, “The majority of buyers that we met look like potential clients.”

Repeat buyer Mr. Vineet Gopal, director of Engee Holidays, India, remarked, “Like always, the choice of exhibitors is very good and offers excellent opportunity for networking and to do serious business.”

Corporate travel managers like Mr. Michael Beck, Global Travel Management of Bosch Germany, enjoyed the duo-nature of the program that balanced objectives of education, as well as procurement at the exhibition: “Conference topics this year are relevant and beneficial. On the sourcing end, there are a lot of hotel varieties to choose from. It would be nice to see more airline companies next year.” Mr. Beck and his team of 9 from across Asia-Pacific returned to the show for a second time this year.

The last day of the event also featured two award presentations.

The 9th Sticky Awards recognized participants who made the strongest impression during the event. Among the 13 awards presented, categories included the Stickiest Function; the Stickiest Promotion; the Stickiest Buyer; the Stickiest National Pavilion (Bronze, Silver, and Gold); and the Stickiest Green Booth. All awards were presented at the Sticky Awards Lunch today.

Partner event, the 21st TTG Travel Awards was held later in the evening in conjunction with IT&CMA and CTW 2010. The event honored the best travel and tourism organizations in the Asia-Pacific.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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