MICE CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE

Record Participation at Second ITB China in Shanghai

Record Participation at Second ITB China in Shanghai

Record Participation at Second ITB China in Shanghai
May 18
10:18 2018

Totally booked – exhibition space increased by 50 percent – more than 700 exhibitors from 80 countries – around 800 hand-picked buyers – 120 industry speakers at ITB China Conference: Newly launched Business Travel Day and Education & Job Day – partner destination Finland & partner hotel Wyndham – New: Market Introduction Program and IT’S MY WORLD TRAVEL AWARD CEREMONY 2018

ITB China 2018 causes a stir: With an expected attendee number of 15,000, more than 700 exhibitors from 80 countries and around 800 buyers, China’s three-day B2B travel trade show shows significant growth after its premiere. The 18,000 square meter area of exhibition space was completely sold out. The success of ITB China, taking place from 16 to 18 May in Shanghai, is reflected in the 50 percent increase of the gross exhibition area compared to last year. Co-hosted by TravelDaily, ITB China is targeted exclusively by handpicked B2B visitors involved in China’s travel industry selected strictly in accordance with the interests of the exhibiting companies. A total of 2,700 were expected to take part in the lectures, discussions and keynotes of the ITB China Conference, supported by more than 120 industry speakers. The recognized travel think tank, running parallel to ITB China, invited business leaders and experts both from China and abroad to deliver their expertise and ideas on market hotspots in the industry.

Dr. Christian Göke, CEO Messe Berlin: “The demand from exhibitors has significantly increased and ITB China 2018 attracts growing numbers of Chinese decision-makers. After its great premiere last year ITB China continues riding the wave of success”. On the eve of the show, the second ITB China kicks off with an exclusive Opening Dinner with 600 senior guests from the global and Chinese travel industry, among others Mr. Bourne Sun, Senior Vice President of Ctrip and Mr. Steven Shu, Chief Marketing Officer of Meituan-Dianping. The new marketplace for the travel industry opened its doors on 16 May at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre, with high-ranking industry representatives having the honor to perform the ribbon-cutting.

The annual event has attracted more than 700 exhibitors among which 27 percent offer MICE & Corporate products, 60 percent Leisure and 13 percent travel technology solutions. Over one-third (37 percent) of the exhibitors will be coming from Europe, and another third (33 percent) from Asia including China. The Americas (15 percent) and the Middle East (15 percent) are also strongly represented.

Ms. Cinn Tan, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Pan Pacific Hotels Group says: “Pan Pacific Hotels Group exhibited in the first ITB China last year and our hotels generated leads worth more than 6,000 room nights which was a fantastic outcome. This year, we are going in more strongly with a bigger booth and more hotels participating. China is a strategically important market for our Group and to us. ITB China is the number one trade event to showcase our brands to quality buyers. I am excited to share that we have chosen ITB China as the platform to announce Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s brand refresh – a milestone project we have been working on. See you at Pan Pacific Hotels Group corporate booth No. 351.”

In the second year ITB China is an official partner event of the EU China Tourism Year, which has been jointly announced by the Chinese government and the European Commission. Wyndham Hotel Group is the official partner hotel and will have a strong presence on the show floor, connecting brand new products and innovative services of tourism with the best industry experts in one place. This year’s partner destination is Finland, which is a fascinating destination offering a unique combination of nature and
cultural attractions.

ITB China Conference has assembled an impressive conference program line-up, bringing in 120 speakers who are at the top of their respective industries to share the latest knowledge and insights on market hotspots in the Chinese travel industry. The conference kicks off with the opening keynote speech by Mr. James Liang, Chairman of Ctrip. In addition other top companies such as Alibaba, Tencent, Meituan-Dianping, CITS American Express Global Business Travel, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and BCD Travel,
Merlin Entertainments, Mafengwo, Lushu, Abercombie & Kent will provide exciting insights into their expanding markets. This think tank of Chinese travel will provide up-to-date key insights of these seven areas: ‘Destination’, ‘Travel Tech’, ‘Corporate Travel & MICE’, ‘Online Travel’, and – for the first time – ‘Customized Travel’, ‘Business Travel’ and ‘Education & Job’.

ITB China is matchmaking exhibitors from all over the world with Chinese buyers. More than 15,000 prescheduled appointments will maximise the business opportunities of both exhibitors and buyers. This year ITB China’s exhibitors will engage with 800 top-quality buyers from China. Diversity will be high again with Chinese buyers coming from over 300 companies throughout China representing the full range of China’s largest industry players. 97 percent of the Chinese Leisure, MICE and Corporate buyers come from mainland China and the remaining 3 percent from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

ITB has firmly established itself as an international brand. With the start of ITB China 2018 the brand new ITB logos were launched combining the individual profiles of three trade shows under the umbrella of an international hub. Changing views of the globe reference the individual trade show locations and create variations of a monolithic brand family which, sporting uniform trade show and product colors, font styles and logo designs, will in future be perceived globally as a single brand.

MICE CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE magazines, are Media Partner of the event and you can take copies of the latest issue.

Related Articles