Keynote Session by ICCA CEO, Martin Sirk, Seller-Meet-Buyer (SMB) Appointment Scheduling Session gears participants for the business days ahead
IT&CM China 2012 keynote session, ‘China’s Century: Fulfilling its Destiny as a Mega Meetings Destination,’ delivered by ICCA CEO Mr. Martin Sirk, enjoyed a huge turn-out. Drawing on his 20 years of industry experience, Mr. Sirk spoke about the growing importance of international meetings in the world, and specifically in China.
A highly respected name in the industry, Mr. Sirk has been the CEO of ICCA since July 2002. Since taking over as CEO, Mr. Sirk has overseen ICCAÕs growth from 600 to over 900 member companies and organisations in 87 countries worldwide, covering all the key supplier sector. Delegates at IT&CM China will have the opportunity to catch another seminar by Mr. Sirk on Thursday, 19th April where he will talk about, ‘How International Associations Make Their Decisions.’
The three organiser during the Opening press conference in Shanghai. In the back the successful Mediateam of TTG Asia, resposible not only for median and PR- also Host for the Hosted Journalist from around the world
Today the Seller-Meet-Buyer (SMB) Appointment Scheduling Sessions were held at the SWEECC exhibition hall, where representatives of the 317 exhibiting companies met with the 350 attending buyers. IT&CM China’s proven match-making formula guarantees 32 quality business appointments to each buyer and seller. While 60% of these appointments are pre-scheduled, the remaining appointments are set during the SMB and BMS (Buyer-Meet-Seller) sessions on-site.
Today saw some 40 participants at the Fundamentals of Business Travel ManagementTM Course – Associate Level, by Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). Said Mr. Welf Ebeling, Regional Director Asia-Pacific for GBTA, “We are very pleased that the intake for the Fundamentals course has doubled since its introduction last year. GBTA will announce the details of the Global Travel Professional Certification by 2013 and we are in the process of finding a suitable institute in Asia to partner the manager and leader certification levels.”
Added Mr. Dean Fowles, Category Principal, Travel & Expense Management, Global Sourcing at Rio Tinto, “The dynamics in China have really changed. We are witnessing a more global environment and companies have become more mature in their outlook. They now handle travel and expense management in a more sophisticated manner and are investing in training their staff to improve business efficiency.”
This year also features, for the first time in China, the Association Professionals Competencies PAE Course by the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) and Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE). 12 participants attended the course conducted by highly experienced Association Presidents, Mr. Michael Anderson – President & CEO, CSAE and Mr. Simon Pryor – President, AuSAE. Said Mr. Pryor, “We are very proud and excited to bring the course to China, and hope to be able to lend our support to China’s associations sector in the years to come.” Mr. Anderson remarked, “We have delivered the course thrice in Bangkok, at IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific. The feedback we have received has been very positive and we hope to duplicate the success in China.”
These specially designed 1.5 days courses include examinations, and successful candidates walk away with internationally recognized professional certifications adding instant value to their organisation.
At the Official Press Conference, co-organisers Mr. Darren Ng – Managing Director of TTG Asia Media, Mr. Tong Wei – President of CITS, Mr. Li Zhuyuan – General Manager, CITS International MICE and Ms. Elaine Wu – General Manager of MPI, shared with close to 90 attending international and Chinese media, their collaborative plans to strengthen IT&CM China. A new IT&CM China logo was revealed during the press conference. The new logo is part of the company’s corporate re-branding exercise that aims to unify the IT&CM events franchise.
The evening’s Opening Ceremony and Welcome Dinner extravaganza at Renaissance Shanghai Zhongshan Park officially declared the start of the business days at IT&CM China 2012.
ABOUT IT&CM CHINA 2012
IT&CM China 2012 will be held from April 17 to 19 at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. The 2012 theme is “Advancing MICE and Business Minds”. This is the 6th instalment of the international MICE event that seeks to “Promote China to the World and the World to China”. In 2011, the event attracted more than 2,000 delegates from 43 countries. It is the only event that features a good mix of International and Chinese exhibitors as well as a dedicated team to deliver some 400 buyers with a 50%-50% mix of International and Chinese buyers.
The event is organised by TTG Events, a business group of TTG Asia Media, CITS International M.I.C.E – a wholly-owned subsidiary of CITS (China International Travel Service) and MP International. It has the support of the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Industries Association, Australian Society of Association Executives, Canadian Society of Association Executives, Global Business Travel Association, International Congress & Convention Association, International Association of Professional Congress Organisers, Pacific Asia Travel Association and Society of Incentive Travel Executives China.
More information is available at www.itcmchina.com.
