by Reinhard Hohler
During this year’s fourth installment of IT&CM (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings) China at the ShanghaiMart Expo in Shanghai on April 7-9, 2010, business opportunities abounded with buyers and sellers coming from across China, Asia and the rest of the world. More than 2,000 delegates were attending business appointment sessions, trade seminars, as well as social events. Especially the metropolis of Shanghai is rising in popularity as a MICE destination, and with business generated on-site, the MICE industry in China and beyond will have a bright and dynamic future.
Surprisingly, IT&CM China 2010 featured some 230 exhibiting companies and organisations, with MICE destinations such as Chinese Taiwan making the debut. Also, there was a bigger participation from popular MICE destinations such as Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea.
On the buyers’ front, there were some 300 international buyers from 39 countries, with first-time participating buyers from Belarus, Brazil, Israel, Lebanon, Qatar, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and Ukraine. More Chinese association and corporate buyers from across 13 cities were also participating this year.
“Early bird” hosted buyers and media arriving at the modern Shanghai Pudong International Airport or Shanghai Hongqiao Airport were directly transferred to the Sheraton Shanghai Hongqiao Hotel and had the chance to attend three pre-show city tours.
On April 6, there was a full-day excursion to the town of Zhujiajiao, where old streets, quiet lanes, dwelling houses by the water, stores, temples, gardens, and bridges create an old waterside town in the Yangtze River Delta. In the evening, there was a cruise of the Huangpu River, when all lights are shining on dozens of tall buildings mainly at the Bund and the opposite Oriental Pearl TV Tower along the river. In the morning of April 7, we visited the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center at the central People’s Square to marvel at Shanghai “en miniature” and understand the city’s foundation, development and future under the theme “Better City, Better Life.” Also, the upcoming Expo 2010 (May to October) was highlighted accordingly.
In the afternoon of April 7, IT&CM China 2010 officially opened with its keynote address – “Empower your people and business with the art of war” by Malaysian Khoo Keng-Hor, Speaker & Author, Stirling Training & Management Consultants, highlighting the secret to win without fighting.
In the evening followed the impressive IT&CM China 2010 Opening Ceremony and Welcome Dinner, which was hosted by the “Presenting City” of Hangzhou and the venue partner of Sofitel Shanghai Sheshan Oriental, and proved to be an evening of sumptuous cuisine and exquisite entertainment.
For some 90 media delegates, the next two days featured media briefings by Egypt, New Century Hotels & Resorts, Malaysia, Millenium Hotels & Resorts, and last not least, Hawaii and Japan. At the exhibition hall, I noticed the following exciting new MICE products (in alphabetical order):
1. Ambassador Hotel Bangkok: www.amtel.co.th
2. Bintan Lagoon Resort Singapore: www.bintanlagoon.com
3. Four Seasons Hotel Macau, Cotai Strip: www.fourseasons.com
4. Grand Millenium Beijing: www.grandmillenniumbeijing.com
5. Hotel Nikko Hong Kong: www.hotelnikko.com.hk
6. Kempinski Resort & Spa Sanya: www.kempinski.com
7. Samantha Resort & Spa, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan: www.samantharesortspa.com
8. Sofitel Hangzhou Xanadu Resort: www.sofitel.com
9. Tien Giang Tourist – Vietnam: www.tiengiangtourist.com
Finally, special thanks go to Mr Wang Xin Zhang, Deputy Director of Hangzhou Tourism Commission, for his active support to make Hangzhou as the first-ever “Presenting City.” The capital city of Zhejiang province is famous for its scenery, notably the West Lake, numerous historical sites, silk and tea production. Hangzhou Tourism Commission has successfully organized for some 65 international buyers and media a 3 days/2 nights post-show tour that aimed to showcase Hangzhou’s scenic beauty and latest attractions as a modern cosmopolitan city.
On April 9 in the evening, the post tour participants enjoyed a theatre performance called “The Romance of the Song Dynasty” which was extremely well presented in four parts. A full-day sightseeing tour in Hangzhou on April 10 included a visit to the exclusive Amanfayun Hangzhou Resort, Lingyin Buddhist Temple and Peak Flying from Afar, National Tea Museum, Xixi Wetlands Park, as well as a walk on Qinghefang Historic Street. In the evening, there was another performance called “Impression of West Lake” – a very colorful light and sound show. After two overnights at the four-star Friendship Hotel near the West Lake, we left the city in the morning of April 9 to the Hangzhou Oriental Culture Park and to the new Kuahuqiao Site Museum. The museum is located in the Xianghu Tourism Resort and is a “boat-shaped museum” recollecting 8,000 years.
After a last “Chinese dishes” banquet at the First World Hotel, we said goodbye to our generous host and departed on the some 200km express highway back to Shanghai, where some of us caught the flight with China Eastern Airlines (MU547) from Shanghai back to Bangkok at 21.40. Impressed by Shanghai like all the other delegates, I’m pleased to know that IT&CM China 2011 will be held at ShanghaiMart Expo on April 13-15, 2011 in Shanghai again.
For further information, please contact Chiang Mai-based GMS Media Travel Consultant Reinhard Hohler by e-mail: sara@cmnet.co.th
