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TTW – How does CIBTM contribute to enhance the MICE sector in Hong Kong, China?
Felicity Page : CIBTM was launched in 2005 and is the pioneering event for the MICE industry in China. The show is dedicated to creating regional and international business opportunities for organizations. Last year, CIBTM attracted over 4200 industry professionals to the city from 30 countries around the world,400 regional and international exhibitors, as well as 368 regional and international Hosted Buyers.
Since the launch, CIBTM has led the way in creating an annual forum that delivers business opportunities, professional education and networking events, which have been critical to the development of the meetings sector across China as a whole. The volume of CIBTM attendees has steadily grown year on year, demonstrating a need for the business opportunities and education that the show provides.
The CIBTM education programme will this year, once again, deliver international speakers and world-class education content to the region. CIBTM has also recently been recognized as the only MICE show which has been officially certified by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which will serve to increase interest in business opportunities in the region with American buyers.
TTW – “Business: Acquiring new consumers and retaining old ones!” – How does CIBTM add interest to exhibitors and attendees planning business in Hong Kong?
Felicity Page : Each year CIBTM provides a platform for leading destinations from Asia and China to showcase their organizations and meet with international buyers from global agencies, corporate companies and associations who are hosted at CIBTM due to their potential to place inbound business into the region. Throughout the year CIBTM works to sign up new and returning exhibitors from the region in order to maximize the potential for new business generated at the show.
As one of the world’s most thriving and cosmopolitan cities, our buyers are always interested in meeting with exhibitors from Hong Kong. Research recently conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions found that 38% of our Hosted Buyers were interested in placing outbound business into Hong Kong, highlighting a demand for exhibitors from the region.
Each year we welcome a large number of Hong Kong exhibitors and expect that 2013 will be the same. Last year exhibitors from Hong Kong included The Langham Hong Kong, DOC DMC Macau, CEI Asia, Monemto Asia, and Gloria Hotels & Resorts. This year’s CIBTM takes place from 2nd – 4th September.
TTW: Would you like to describe the plans of CIBTM in promoting China’s MICE prospects in the coming years?
Felicity Page : At CIBTM we continuously strive to introduce new and innovative features to the show that are aimed at the progress of the MICE sector in China. It is important to us that our show provides the opportunity for Chinese MICE professionals to increase their business networks, and to learn about advancements within the sector through our education sessions.
CIBTM has increased in size year on year since 2005, and is on track for CIBTM 2013 to be our largest show to date. In 2012 the show attracted 4200 business professionals to Beijing generating revenue for the city, and for China as a whole.
In addition to attracting professionals to Beijing, CIBTM showcases China as a major MICE destination. Highlighting the potential for business in the country, and the high quality MICE venues and infrastructure available to the global stage, encouraging international inbound business to all areas of China. CIBTM works closely with China National Tourism Administration to showcase Beijing, and the rest of China, to attendees as a MICE destination.
Another area in which CIBTM promotes China’s MICE prospects is by providing a world-class education program. This ensures that MICE professionals in China are up to date with the latest innovations and at the forefront of industry knowledge. As I previously mentioned, CIBTM has recently become the only MICE show in the world to be officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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