BUSINESS - IT&CM China 2012

IT&CM China 2012 draws participating interest from a host of new countries. - www.nationalradio.com - Photo

Fully Sold IT&CM China 2012 Presents A 30% Larger Showcase With Fresh Procurement Opportunities Event to also deliver high in educational and networking content made possible by influential strategic alliances

Shanghai, China -- (TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd)

Sunday February 26, 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 Board and 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 will be held from April 17 to 19 at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. The 2012 theme is “Advancing MICE and Business Minds”. This is the 6th instalment of the international MICE event that seeks to “Promote China to the World and the World to China”. In 2011, the event attracted more than 2,000 delegates from 43 countries. It is the only event that features a good mix of International and Chinese exhibitors as well as a dedicated team to deliver some 400 buyers with a 50%-50% mix of International and Chinese buyers.

The event is organised by TTG Events, a business group of TTG Asia Media, CITS International M.I.C.E – a wholly-owned subsidiary of CITS (China International Travel Service) and MP International. It has the support of the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Industries Association, Australian Society of Association Executives, Canadian Society of Association Executives, Global Business Travel Association, International Congress & Convention Association, International Association of Professional Congress Organisers, Pacific Asia Travel Association and Society of Incentive Travel Executives China.

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