IT&CM China 2015 Opening Ceremony

“The goal is to promote China to the World and the World to China”

There was much media discussion throughout 2015 of China’s rate of economic growth starting to slip into something of a slowdown, yet benchmarked against the majority of economies around the world it continues to record a more than healthy level of growth. So too does its MICE industry, the largest single MICE industry in the world and one for which the full potential still remains some way off from being wholly tapped.

Working prodigiously to explore just what the full extent of this potential might be and how the global industry can benefit from it is IT&CM China, the leading MICE event to take place in the country and which from 6-8 April 2016 will be making its tenth outing at the Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Centre of International Sourcing. Bracing itself for reaching the landmark double-digit anniversary of such a major event, show organisers have been losing no time in getting a key initiative off the ground that will enhance the event not only for their tenth birthday, but for the years ahead, and have also been working intensively to deliver a stellar international showing at the 2016 event.

The roll out of IT&CM China’s BT-MICE Forum engagement series is a pivotal initiative aimed at engaging China’s Business Travel and MICE industry on the latest trends and challenges and serves as a prelude to the main event in April. The first engagement sessions have already been held in Beijing’s Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel as well as in the city of Suzhou, and under the leadership of industry practitioners looked at the issues of optimising cost savings from business meetings, incentive travel and business travel. The on-going dialogue offered by this Forum ensures that many delegates will be fully up to speed with the key issues of the industry come the event and will not only be able to benefit much more from their attendance, but will also be able to share the most important current issues of China’s MICE sectors.

In addition to the Forum organisers have been shoring up a formidable gathering of international exhibitors from around the globe, all alert to how important the Chinese market is and will continue to be. Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia will all be back in greater force than in 2015, with closer to home Berlin returning with a greater floorspace and other European destinations sure to follow with a showcase of what they can offer the Chinese MICE market.

“The Chinese outbound market is one of the fastest growing tourism and MICE markets in the world right now,” said Ralf Ostendorf, Director Market Management of Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH.

“We are in our early stages of promoting Berlin as a leading worldwide MICE destination to the China market, thus it is imperative to gather market knowledge, keep track with market trends and meet partners from the Chinese industry face-to-face. IT&CM China has proven to be a good platform in achieving these goals last year, so we are looking forward to being in Shanghai again in 2016.”

“The Chinese market continues to be an important source of meetings and incentive buyers for many of our exhibitors,” added Ooi Peng Ee, General Manager of TTG Events.

“Our business appointment system, structured one-to-one business meetings, and superb networking sessions have constantly been highly rated by exhibitors as an excellent way to reach out to quality Chinese buyers they want to meet.”

Reaching out to quality Chinese buyers and enjoying a broad spectrum of exhibitors will be the expected attendance at the 2016 event of 3,000 MICE professionals from sectors including DMCs, PCOs, corporate travel and associations, along with some 400 hosted delegates, all of whom will look forward to participating in more than 10,000 business appointments as well as over 60 business, education and networking sessions. With strengthened growth, IT&CM China continues to grow its strengths and its goal to “Promote China to the World and the World to China” shows no signs of slowing any time soon.

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