Event to also deliver high in educational and networking content made possible by influential strategic alliances
Shanghai, 16 February 2012 – Booth sales for IT&CM China 2012 have concluded with the event boasting a 30% larger MICE exhibition showcase. More than 300 international and Chinese exhibiting companies will fill exhibition space amounting to over 6,000 sqm.
The larger exhibition showcase has been attributed primarily to new participants. Some 50 new international and domestic exhibiting companies, covering over 25% of the total IT&CM China 2012 showcase, will offer buyers fresh procurement opportunities. First-time exhibitors include:
-
10 corporate brands: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle, Nagaworld Hotel, ClubMed, HNA Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group, Shangri-La Hotels, Xiamen C&D International Travel Service, The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas, Bali, Taipei World Trade Centre and Dusit International.
-
Five destinations: Ningbo Tourism Administration, Government of Dubai, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Jeju Convention & Visitor Bureau, Switzerland Tourism and Geneva Convention Bureau and Turkish Embassy Culture and Information Section.
Making its debut at IT&CM China 2012 in a big way is global hotel brand InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). In addition to its 120 sqm space – the largest corporate booth at the event, the chain is also offering its InterContinental Shanghai Expo property as one of the Official Hotels of IT&CM China 2012. The luxury hotel will also be the host venue for 2 networking events for buyers and media – a luncheon hosted by Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong – a division of Hong Kong Tourism Boardand a dinner hosted by Seoul Tourism Organisation.
IHG’s significant investment at IT&CM China 2012 is testimony to the business prowess of the event to further the group’s foray into the Chinese market. “IHG is honoured to partner IT&CM China to ‘Promote China to the World and the World to China’, as the event’s vision fits perfectly with our long-term commitment to the China market. China is our second largest and fastest growing market globally with nearly 150 hotels – that is over 50,000 rooms – in the pipeline. In the next three to five years, one out of every four hotel rooms that we will open in the world will be in China.” said Mr. Nick Barton, Vice President – Sales & Marketing of IHG, Greater China.
Meanwhile, the event also sees an increase in returning exhibitors’ booth sizes on both, the domestic and international front. While China’s own Sanya Tourism Bureau have affirmed their confidence in the event with a 20% increase in their destination pavilion, other returning destinations such as Seoul are also seeing the value of investing in a dedicated pavilion of their own. For the first time, Seoul is participating at IT&CM China 2012 with a dedicated 84sqm pavilion. They have previously exhibited within the Korea pavilion.
In addition, other returning exhibitors include Anantara Resorts and Spa, Asian Trail, China Eastern, CITS & American Express, Furama Hotel Dalian, Gloria Hotels & Resorts, Grand Metro Park Hotels, Hangzhou Tourism Promotion Center, Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong – a division of Hong Kong Tourism Board, Info Salons, Japan National Tourism Organisation, JinJiang International Hotel Management, Kempinski Hotels, Korea Tourism Organisation, Langham Hotels International, Marco Polo Hotels, Macau Government Tourist Office, Master Card Asia Pacific, Melia Hotels International, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Silversea Cruises, Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau and Wuzhen Tourism.
The confidence of both new and returning exhibitors to IT&CM China 2012 reaffirms IT&CM China as the leading international MICE event in China – a choice business platform for both international and Chinese industry players to seek outbound, inbound and domestic opportunities. CITS’ coming on board as co-organiser has been a big draw for local and international participation alike.
The show’s expansion in terms of numbers and its global footprint is mirrored in its buyer delegation, as IT&CM China 2012 draws participating interest from a host of new countries. International Buyer registrations have crossed the 400 mark, with representation from first-time participating countries, Czech Republic, Denmark and Morocco. First-time buyer Mr. Michael Packford, CEO of The Packfords Group – EVENTWORLD shared, “The one aspect of IT&CM China 2012 I am most looking forward to is acquiring product knowledge and business contacts to further develop into the China MICE market. I believe that IT&CM China has clearly established itself as China’s premier exhibition for the MICE industry and is dedicated to promoting the best of China to the world market.”
Remarked Mr. Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media, “IT&CM China 2012 marks a lot of firsts for us. It is the first year of our strategic alliance with CITS, a partnership we are very excited about. We look forward to working with them and long-time partners MP International to make this event truly world class. This is also the first year that the event will be held at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. We are confident that these new elements will go a long way to elevate the event for all participants and stakeholders.”
With a new venue, IT&CM China 2012 will be supported by a fresh line-up of 4 official hotels, namely Gran Melia Shanghai, InterContinental Shanghai Expo, Marriott Shanghai Luwan and Sheraton Shanghai Hotel and Residences, Pudong, all conveniently located at close proximity to the exhibition venue and will serve as the accommodation for all hosted buyers and media.
In addition, IT&CM China’s strategic alliances with leading international and local MICE organisations – such as Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration (SMTA), Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE), Australian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE), Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) – to deliver educational and networking content, will contribute to a compelling programme. IT&CM China is proud to once again be a part of the Shanghai Business Events Week’s stellar line-up of industry business, education and networking events that will take place from 16 to 19 April 2012.
IT&CM China 2012 can also count on its international and domestic affiliation with 36 reputed MICE publications that promote the event for a whole year including pre-, on-site and post-event publicity, thus providing the show’s participants with invaluable exposure. Media affiliates for IT&CM China 2012 are: Asian Traveller, BBT Online, Business Travel, China BT MICE, China Hospitality News, CIM Australia, CIM Unity, EMICE, Exhibition & MICE, Focus On Travel News, Grand Hotels, Groupo Evento Plus, Headquarters Asia-Pacific, InventMe, Kongres Magazine, Korea Tourism News, Masexpos, Congresos and Convenciones, Meet Turkey, MICE 2, MICE BTN, MICE China, MICE in Asia, MICE Japan, MICE Magazine, MICE Poland, MICE Talk, MICE-Contact.com, micenet Asia, Mix Magazine, The Event, Tourism Insider, Travel News Weekly, Travel Trade China, Travel World China, TravelMole and World Travel Online.
In addition to these media affiliates, more than 100 international and local media are expected to attend, providing coverage on IT&CM China 2012 as it happens. For more information about IT&CM China 2012, visit www.itcmchina.com
