MICE CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE

IT & CMA trade fair celebrates 20th anniversary

IT & CMA trade fair celebrates 20th anniversary

IT & CMA trade fair celebrates 20th anniversary
November 04
00:00 2012

By Zuzana Adamson

This year’s MICE IT & CMA trade fair in Bangkok was slightly more ceremonial than usual to celebrate the occasion of the fair’s 20th anniversary. Darren Ng, managing director of the event organizer TTG Asia Media, announced the launch of a special publication at a press conference on 2 October 2012. The event was held for the 11th time in Bangkok, a destination popular with MICE professionals.

Let’s look at the numbers. there were 850 exhibitors, 497 buyers and travel managers, 159 conference delegates, 132 media representatives and 941 visitors, VIP guests and other MICE professionals totalling to 2,579 persons from 57 countries with a ratio of 1.5 buyers per exhibitor. New corporate buyers were recruited from Austria, Mexico and Peru. They amounted to 63 pourcent of new buyers, since organizers aimed to offer exhibitors the best opportunities for their business to obtain real financial results.

The showcase of destinations, hotels, airlines and golf resorts was colourful and was accompanied by a number of events. Out of the new exhibitors, let’s mention the Arab countries: Dubai presented in an area of 24 square metres. Thailand’s destinations, such as Chiang Mai, also increased their promotion. Pattaya introduced new resorts and MICE infrastructures with an emphasis on the future development of the MICE industry. Thailand excelled with an exhibit area of 375 square metres featuring 63 individual exhibitors. A new addition was the Global Networking Zone, open to all delegates, providing more opportunities to network in a single area.

The trade fair is truly international, offering interesting possibilities to exhibitors from CEE countries. The distribution of invited buyers was: 46 per cent from Asia-Pacific, 39 per cent from Europe, 7 per cent from the Americas and Pacific, 6 per cent from Australasia and 2 per cent from other countries. The majority of the buyers arrived from India, Philippines and Poland. It would be of benefit to present Central and eastern European locations to the buyers from the ASEAN countries at the trade fair. As has become evident from the discussions with the buyers, Prague in particular, and its famous Infant Jesus, is for TA from Philippines, with 90 per cent of the country of Christian denomination, a very attractive location. According to Mrs. Fe Abling Yu, general manager of Arfel Travel & Tours, which organizes trips to Europe, Prague must be included in the programme.

Between October 2 and 4, three vigorous days cooperation development, networking and boosting existing contacts took place during which buyers and exhibitors met at Sellers-Meet-Buyers and Buyers-Meet-Sellers sessions. A rich programme encompassing dinners and luncheons also included the Opening ceremony and Welcome Cocktail, hosted by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, where delectable Thai specialities were served. Further events were sponsored by Meetings & Exhibitions Hong Kong together with TTG Events, Penang Global Tourism, and the Westin Grande Sukhumwit Bangkok.

Thailand and the Exhibitions Bureau prepared interesting programmes in the form of pre-show city tours. Cooking classes featuring Thai specialities were also offered, as well as massages, a visit to the Flower market, Chinatown and several other Bangkok sites. Delegates were able to choose from a selection of two post-show destination tours and, for a fee, visit Krabi or Chiang Rai on a three-day trip. A diverse programme augmented the knowledge about Thailand.

Our magazine MICE CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE, as each year, was a media partner of this MICE trade fair. Since the completion of the fair, delegates have already started to look forward to next year’s event. The next IT & CMA will take place October 1-3, 2013.

Pictures:

1. Mr. Darren Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media (in the middle) with the publication celebrating the 20th anniversary of the event.

2. The venue in CentralWorld, one of the location for the event. The advantage is a connection with the 5star hotel Centara.

3. Our magazine MICE CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE is media partner of the event.

4. The group of 32 buyers and medias attending the post-tour to Chiang Mai.

 

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