IT&CM China
IT&CM China

And how far too? And how wide as well, for that matter, as it was from far and wide that the many delegates descended upon this years IT&CM China in anticipation of the number of MICE highs that the event was promising. Having made their MICE pilgrimage to the bustling Chinese metropolis, they were not disappointed.

This year’s event, its ninth outing and held from the 14-16 April at the new venue of the Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Centre of International Sourcing close to the city’s Hongqiao transport hubs, showcased everything that has helped it gain a strong reputation among the major Asian MICE events and also hinted at the direction it will be moving towards in the future.

IT&CM China

Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media outlined:
“Since its inception, the show has widened beyond China’s general MICE industry to involve and address the objectives of valuable niches, including local associations through a 2-day programme and corporate travel with the co-location of the inaugural CTW China travel management conference in partnership with Carlson Wagonlit Travel, China. These expansions are part of a successful endeavour to deepen the value that our delegates receive, allowing them to better engage, source, network and harness information. Opportunities including destination presentations and campfire knowledge sessions are built on top of the already familiar business, educational and networking highlights.”

Ooi Peng Ee, General Manager of TTG Events explained :
“From our experience in developing conference programmes and organising events for nearly two decades, we recognise the significance of knowledge, education, sharing and engagement as a catalyst to the industry’s growth and sophistication. China is no different; delegates come with the purpose of wanting to be inspired by new ideas, concepts and solutions that can take their business further.”

“What we have done this year is to tailor different platforms to the objectives of specific delegate groups,” he continued. “Destination presentations are meant for NTOs and CVBs to update our buyers and media on their campaigns, while media briefings are structured for companies to engage both international and local press in a captive setting. The Association Days @ IT&CM China programme, which includes forums that offer simultaneous English-Chinese translation, are specifically meant to draw local Association Executives and professionals into the show, while the brand new Campfire knowledge sessions impart practical business know-how to our various delegates.”

SHANGHAI

With the familiar annual highlights of the event living up to their billing and new strands of the event reaching out to the association and corporate markets, of the new additions to the show programme the Campfire knowledge sessions proved to be a particular hit and a boon to its education and knowledge sharing focus. The six programmed sessions catered to specific delegate niches, including suppliers, PCOs, PEOs and corporate buyers, and featured topics ranging from effective selling at tradeshows, talent acquisition, harnessing mobile for meetings and events ROI, to understanding the Chinese corporate travel market, technology trends in China and planning successful and impressive meetings and events. All of this made this year’s education aspect of the event especially enriching.

With a total of more than twenty of these targeted education sessions on offer and fronted by international and local organisations stretching from Australia to Canada via the USA and Europe, this year’s event had a particularly impressive outreach, something that the Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH, presenting for the first time at this year’s show, were quick to recognise.

Heike Mahmoud, CMP, Director Conventions of the visitBerlin Convention Office said:
“Trade Shows are good platforms for sharing information and meeting potential partners, and as we work in a global world understanding other cultures is a key for success. Learning together through knowledge sharing to find solutions should be part of our collaborative DNA and we should also create win-win situations to encourage business opportunities. Education sessions like the forums at Association Days @ IT&CM China 2015 are excellent avenues to tailor content to the right target groups.”

Hey! I am first heading line feel free to change me

The emphasis on knowledge sharing as part of an abundant programme for delegates helped nurture a healthy attendance and performance at this year’s event, with a bumper 13,000 business appointments carried out by almost 500 top-end buyers during a two-day hubbub of activity and networking. With next year bringing IT&CM China into a birthday with double figures and the event moving in new and interesting directions for the industry, the 2016 tenth anniversary already looks like Shanghai’s going to get even higher.

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