by Joachim Fischer, Bangkok
2009 marks the 17th year of IT&CMA (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia) and 12th staging of CTW (Corporate Travel World) Asia-Pacific, themed ‘Feast on Asia!’. Delegates will savour a banquet of inspiring products and services, dream destinations, spiced-up activities and enriching conferences, underscoring the status of this highly anticipated 2009 Doublebill (two shows in one location) as Asia-Pacific’s premier MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) and Corporate Travel event.
“For the third consecutive year, we are back at Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld (BCC), the ideal venue for IT&CMA and CTW 2009. Amazing Thailand will also continue be the host country for IT&CMA and CTW for the coming years”, said TTG Asia Managing Director Darren Ng at the opening press conference.
Surging ahead in its recovery from a worldwide recession, Asia has proven itself by sustaining its foothold in this highly competitive industry. A myriad of exciting developments is sprouting in this part of the world; from Singapore’s upcoming integrated resorts, East Malaysia’s first convention centre in Kuching and Thailand’s new convention centre in Chiang Mai. These achievements are coupled by the steadfast growth in both established and emerging markets, such as Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Macau and Taiwan.
Show Statistics:
As of today, IT&CMA has recorded a total of 2,127 pre-registered delegates for IT&CMA and CTW 2009. Darren Ng: ”We have with us a total of 435 Buyers and Corporate Travel Managers/Planners from 40 countries – comprising of 330 MICE planners/buyers and 105 Corporate Travel Managers. This is a 28 per cent increase compared to last year. Joining us for the first time are buyers from new markets – Brunei, Jordan, Qatar, Romania, Tunisia and Ukraine. India’s presence is particularly strong this year with the largest contingent of 48 buyers and 30 corporate travel managers”.
On the exhibition front, IT&CMA has a total of 265 exhibiting companies and organisations from 33 countries from Asia-Pacific, USA, Europe, South America and Africa. The biggest country pavilion at this year’s IT&CMA exhibition is Thailand (300 sqm) with 49 co-exhibitors, followed by Macau (260 sqm). Exhibitors from Egypt and Laos will also debut at the 5,500 sqm sold-out show floor.
The combined IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2009 conference will kick off with a Curtain Raiser, titled ‘Blow the Blues Away’, presented by Asia Ability. Professor Richard Arvey, active industrial and organisational psychologist and veteran researcher, will then address the delegates with his thought-provoking keynote – ‘Recipe for success: Is it all in your genes?’.
Darren Ng underlined: ”We are also proud to present this year, a sterling line-up of 27 speakers from 10 countries from Asia-Pacific, USA, Europe and the Middle East covering a range of interesting issues pertinent to the MICE and corporate travel sectors.
“The 2nd ‘Fundamentals of Business Management’ starter course leading to the CTE (Corporate Travel ExpertSM) designation is also back by popular demand. Jointly launched by TTG Asia Media and National Business Travel Association (NBTA), CTW Asia-Pacific 2008 was the first conference in the region offering a focused corporate travel programme specifically tailored for Asia-Pacific’s business travel professionals.
“We would like to welcome on board the Australian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) and Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) as our new Supporting Associations in a strategic partnership with TTG Asia Media to launch the inaugural ‘Association Professional Competencies’ course leading to the Professional Association Executive (PAE 101 – Part 1) certificate. This high-level education programme has been formatted for association staff and leaders and will provide the skills and tools which these professionals will need to excel in their areas of work”.
Sticky Awards:
The 8th Sticky Awards will recognise the stickiest exhibitors, buyers, corporate travel managers/planners and speakers. In line with the ‘Feast on Asia!’ theme, exhibitors are going all out to woo delegates’ votes in the new ‘Stickiest Hors D’Oeuvre’ category, which showcases their most delicious cuisines representing their cultures. Introduced in 2008, the ‘Stickiest Green Champions’ category is back to reward exhibitors and journalists demonstrating corporate social responsibility and promoting sustainable tourism in the ‘Stickiest Green Booth’, ‘Stickiest Green Giveaway’ and ‘Stickiest Green Article’ categories.
Media Partners:
There are three new Supporting Media this year from India, Korea and Mexico, and joining the league of international media partners this year are three new Online Media Partners from Australia, Germany and Spain.
Social Functions:
Apart from business, delegates will enjoy an array of social functions where they can enjoy, relax and network: The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) will host all delegates to a ‘Feast on Thailand’ Opening Ceremony and Welcome Cocktail at the Royal Paragon Hall. TCEB will also host an Executive Lunch at the Delegates’ Bar on Level 22, BCC for buyers, travel managers/planners, media and speakers.
Seoul Tourism Organization will be hosting a dinner, themed ‘A Seoul Soiree’, for buyers, corporate travel managers/planners, media and speakers. Apart from a sumptuous dinner, the evening will present the special elements of Korean culture and Seoul as a leading MICE destination. Following the dinner, all delegates are welcome to party at the Late-Night Function jointly hosted by TTG Asia Media and Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok.
On Thursday, TTG Asia Media will host all delegates to a lunch at the exhibition hall, where the winners of the 8th Sticky Awards will be announced and certificates to the first batch of PAE graduates and second batch of CTE graduates will be presented.
IT&CMA and CTW 2009 will close with the prestigious TTG Travel Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner on Thursday, 8 October, at the World Ballroom, Level 23, BCC. In its 20th year, the ceremony honours the most outstanding players in Asia’s travel industry.
TTG Asia’s Darren Ng urged all delegates to not forget the poor: ”Last but not least, I would like to encourage all to visit the ‘Carry for Kids’ booth located at the foyer area on Level 22 and donate generously to Ban Kru Noi, our newly adopted charity for underprivileged children, under the ‘Carry for Kids’ project.”
He also looks into the future: ”To wrap up, I am pleased to announce that IT&CMA and CTW 2010 will return to Bangkok, Thailand at Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld from 5 to 7 October 2010 and we certainly look forward to having you back with us again.
“I am proud to unveil the 2010 theme – ‘Redefining MICE in Asia’, whereby we will showcase a whole new experience for distinctions and innovations, an opportune time for exhibitors and buyers to distinguish and discern. It will be the ultimate platform for exceptional products and services, exciting activities, dynamic conferences, as well as the best hospitality in hosting programmes and hosted functions, reinforcing IT&CMA and CTW’s leading position in the Asia-Pacific’s MICE and Corporate Travel events arena”.
Tourism-Insider will invite all interested Buyers and Corporate Travel Managers to attend next year’s IT&CMA. Just send a mail to j.fischer@tourism-insider.com and we will help you with the application process. Also, interested Buyers and Corporate Travel Managers can write us if they would like to attend ATF Asia Tourism Forum in Brunei (January 2010) and IT&CM in Shanghai (April 2010). All three events have a Hosted Buyer programme where trade visitors are invited and provided with sponsored flights and hotel accommodation.
