11th IT&CM China: A resounding success
IT&CM China, held from March 21-23, 2017, boasts of more than 14,000 business appointments between 3000 MICE professionals and over 400 hosted delegates
The 11th edition of IT&CM China, held in Shanghai, witnessed a busy two days with business appointments and exhibition showcase, besides a multitude of engagement activities that ranged from media briefings, hosted luncheons, cocktail and dinners as well as destination presentations as part of a dedicated Association Days programme. As many as 720 exhibitors with representation across all continents of the globe, 355 Chinese buyers across 38 cities such as Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Lijiang, Sanya, Shanghai, Suzhou, Xiamen, Zhuhai and more, in all 3,000 MICE professionals and 400 hosted delegates got the opportunity to interact and spread their brand message. Next year IT&CM China will be organised from March 20-22.
By fulfilling a host of wish lists from 288 MICE destinations and brands this year, IT&CM China proved its mettle in delivering specific ROIs by customising exclusive events that allowed featured companies to reach their desired buyer and media profiles.
First-time exhibitor National Institute of Tourism Promotion, Argentina is one of four destination bureaus that decided on a targeted luncheon for select international and local buyers this year. Its Meeting Industry Coordinator, Emora Franco, said, “We really want to organise these kind of events as it is a good way to engage the buyers to the destinations.” The bureau also leveraged on one of the 13 media briefing sessions to reach out to international media. Franco said of the session, “It was really good, and productive, with many questions asked about the MICE
industry in Argentina and how the country has been positioning itself. The show has been really good for us.” Meanwhile, Tourism Fiji hosted a luncheon while Hainan Tourism Development Commission conducted a MICE Promotion Session for invited buyers. Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau and South Africa National Convention Bureau also held a captive networking session over lunch with their potential buyers.
In addition, AccorHotels, JW Marriot Shanghai Changfeng Park, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), and Shanghai Marriott Parkview were a part of the line-up of exhibitors who chose to benefit from being a cocktail or dinner sponsor.
Others like returning destination CCPIT Chengdu (Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition), Hangzhou Tourism Commission, Malaysia Convention & Visitor Bureau (MyCEB), Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Burea (TCEB), and new-comers VisitScotland, found the Association Days' Destination Presentation the right fit for them to reach much sought-after Association buyers. IT&CM China 2017 featured twice as many destination presentations
than the year before. Local exhibitor Gloria Hotels & Resorts appreciated the opportunity to engage exclusively with Chinese media to spread their brand message even wider across the local industry space. “A briefing to the local Chinese media, allowed us to create connections with aims of spreading our brand message further in the domestic market. We were able to introduce our brand, latest developments and upcoming initiatives such as our loyalty programme. The session also helped in attracting more people to the booth later in the day,” said Thomas Jouan, Director of Branding, Gloria Hotels & Resorts. Delta Air Lines, Gloria Hotel & Resorts, HNA Hospitality, Huangshan Tourism Committee, Meet Taiwan, Ministry of Tourism of The Republic of Indonesia, Monaco Government Tourist Bureau, Ningbo Tourism Administration, Pacific World, Shouqi Limousine and Chauffeur, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Convention and Exhibition Affairs, also benefitted from one or more of IT&CM China's core business engagement sessions this year.
PRE AND POST-SHOW TOURS
A selection of hand-picked international buyers and media began their IT&CM China 2017 experience with a 4-day, 3-night pre-show tour to Istanbul sponsored by Turkish Airlines. The trip that began on
March 17, gave delegates the opportunity to sample Matbah – the traditional flavours of the Ottoman Palace cuisine, as well as walk the streets and visit iconic districts, landmarks and unique event venues including the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and the 1680 year old Direk Cistern. The organising team and Pacific World also arranged for two pre-event city tours of Shanghai, which included an excursion to Zhujiajiao Water Village. The event's keynote session on ‘The Future of MICE in China' was delivered by Gaining Edge's Gary Grimmer, and panellists included Alicia Yao, Deputy General Secretary of China MICE Committee of China Association of Travel Services; David Zhang, Director of Suzhou MICE Promotion Center; Roger Shu, Deputy General Manager of Hangzhou Convention, Exhibition & Travel; and Yao Xin, Secretary General, CCPIT Commercial Sub-Council.
IT&CM China organisers also announced event highs including representation of 288 MICE exhibiting companies and organisations across all continents of the globe on the show floor, a 20 per cent increase in Chinese and international buyer participants (while maintaining the ideal 80 per cent Chinese to 20 per cent (international mix), huge take-up in engagement activities with targeted buyer and media profiles (that includes four exclusive luncheons by destinations Argentina, Fiji, Fukuoka, and South Africa; two cocktails by JW Marriott Shanghai Changfeng Park and AccorHotels; a hosted dinner by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM); a promotional event by Hainan Tourism Development Commission (Shanghai); twice the number of destination presentations as compared to the year before), as well as the firstever co-location of CTW China within an expanded IT&CM China exhibition hall space.
THE CROWD PULLER
Event organiser Darren
Ng, Managing Director,
TTG Asia Media, revealed, “The exuberance of the Chinese MICE market and solid decade-long event record continue to pull in a stunning array of local and international exhibitors. This year, we welcome debuts by Air China, Arctic Outback Adventures, National Institute of Tourism Promotion, Argentina, Barcelona Convention Bureau, Dusit International, Tourism Fiji, Monaco Government Tourist Bureau Asia, VisitScotland, Shenzhen Airlines, SNU Healthainment Consortium, South Africa National Convention Bureau, Turkish Airlines, Viajes Pacifico, Vienna Convention Bureau, amongst others.
Furthermore, engagement activities are at an all-time high and we are delighted to have both new and returning destinations and brands leveraging on these limited and very exclusive valuable sessions.” The first day's activities (March 21) culminated at the joint IT&CM China and CTW China Opening Ceremony and Welcome Dinner sponsored by Shanghai Marriott Parkview for the third consecutive year. Delegates were treated to a night of local and international performances, world-class gourmet menu, excellent hospitality and facilities as a showcase of the breadth of the venue's capabilities.
“The continuous development of our surrounding facilities has contributed greatly to the increased dining, entertainment, and accessibility options. This has propelled our growing reputation in the Shanghai MICE market over the years as a preferred venue of choice. As third year sponsors, we are keen to gain more exposure globally among international stakeholders and agents,” said the hotel's General Manager, Ricky Lam.
Destination Macao, fronted by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), returned to IT&CM China 2017 as the largest exhibiting destination on the show floor. They were also the only destination to host a dinner exclusively for invited buyers on March 22, taking advantage of one of the show's many captive networking sessions. Macao displayed 31 co-exhibitors under their pavilion encompassing venues, hotels, PCOs and DMCs, showcasing the destination's capabilities in hosting events of any scale. Interested buyers had the chance to learn about the many facilities and attractions.