Over this time the event has changed host venue and experimented with its show format, but from their 10th anniversary in 2016 it seemed like it had settled on a format that was clearly satisfying both buyer and seller alike, and the new venue along with supporting hotels allowed for wonderful and wonderfully convenient social events, education sessions and business networking in an otherwise navigationally challenging mega-city.
The 2017 IT&CM China and its partner CTW event looks set to further build on the successes of 2017, once again taking place at the Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Centre of International Sourcing and supported by Marriott Hotels for both delegate accommodation and social events. And build on its successes this year it will have to, with an international audience there in anticipation and coming from as far afield as first time appearances by Fiji and Argentina, alongside the usual appearances from major European and other global destinations keen to build bridges into the Chinese market.
Making their debuts, Argentina and Fiji haven taken further advantage of the opportunity to target specific buyers and demonstrate their hospitality (as well as show exclusive previews of their destinations, of course) by participating in hosted luncheon events, alongside the Japanese destination of Fukuoka, who will also offer a hosted luncheon and who last year offered the post-show tour.
Also making an appearance at IT&CM China 2017 will be the globally renowned European MICE destination of Vienna, keen to better understand the Chinese market and to showcase all of what Austria’s capital city can offer to Chinese MICE planners seeking meetings in prestige destinations.
“We see a trend in Chinese travellers enjoying good food and retail, tradition, culture, and authentic experiences with an increasing interest in discovering the beauty of Vienna,” said Ulrike von Arnold, Deputy Director of the Vienna Convention Bureau. “Furthermore, Austrian Airlines offer non-stop flights from Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, so we are keen to meet with meeting planners and procurement decision-makers within the MICE industry.”
The opportunities for making these connections during IT&CM China 2017 will extend beyond the show floor with a number of social events, no less so than the cocktail evenings on offer, one of which is again sponsored by Accor and which creates a comfortable and relaxed ambience for further networking and a nice wind-down to the day in advance of a second day’s business dynamism.
Parallel to the dynamic pulse of IT&CM China will be its partner CTW event, for which the programme is aiming to cover a number of currently highly relevant topics on corporate travel, such as what is driving business travel in China (and therefore should be of global interest), what’s in store in 2017 for meetings and events, and what kind of belt tightening measures can be employed in corporate travel without weakening its purpose. If the speaker line-up for 2017 can come close to that of 2016 then there promises to be some very illuminating discussions around these key topics.
As with every IT&CM China, the door of the event closes only to open one (or, often, many) other(s), but for the end of the event it signals the doors of the post-show tour being flung open, which this year offers the chance to see China’s historic city of Hangzhou in a two-day/two night trip. Alongside all of its cultural and historic gems, Hangzhou is also home to a wealth of meeting facilities, so much so that it played host to the 2016 G20 summit.
Kongres looks forward to participating in and reporting back from this year’s IT&CM China. Stay tuned!
