On the 3rd of November there will be a B2B matchmaking event with pre-scheduled appointments, taking place alongside the annual Global European Marketplace matchmaking workshop and the Friday before World Travel Market London.
Applications are now open for World Bridge Tourism London, the second event of the preparations for the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year. The EU-funded 2-day event will start with a Conference on the 2nd of November. On the 3rd of November there will be a B2B matchmaking event with pre-scheduled appointments, taking place alongside the annual Global European Marketplace matchmaking workshop and the Friday before World Travel Market London.
Like the first World Bridge Tourism event, which was held in May in Shanghai, the second phase will continue to bring Chinese outbound buyers and European tourism suppliers together. The conference on the 2nd of November at The Mermaid theatre, conducted in both English and Chinese, will be chaired by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Arlt FRGS, and have addresses from the European Commission. Providing best practice examples for the European and Chinese audience, it will illustrate the changing needs and expectations of Chinese visitors to Europe. The conference will be followed by a B2B matchmaking event featuring 32 pre-scheduled appointments between 150 European tourism suppliers and 100 Chinese tour operators, wholesalers and intermediaries. This will take place at the InterContinental London – The O2.
World Bridge Tourism, the curtain raiser for the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year, is a EU funded project which aims to increase the flows of visitors from China to Europe. It is delivered by ETC, ETOA, COTRI and Welcome Chinese.
Tom Jenkins, CEO, ETOA said: “This event is for European companies looking to sell their products and services to Chinese tourists, and for Chinese tour operators looking for new experiences in Europe. Everyone has heard about the size and potential of the Chinese market: this is a chance to establish what the real and immediate needs are. With what we anticipate as an extremely engaging programme, participants should have an informative one and a half days.”
All tourism businesses with product in Europe (particularly SMEs) and Chinese operators looking to contract European product are invited and eligible to participate. Applicants will be chosen from a list presented to the European Commission in mid-September.
The London events will be preceded by a webinar on the current status of Chinese outbound tourism and best practice tips on how to conduct successful business interactions with the Chinese market. The webinar will be broadcast live on the 21st September and registrations will open soon.
What participants thought of World Bridge Tourism Shanghai:
It was an amazing event, perfectly organized, with the best selection of buyers and the best conference I have ever attended in China. All panellists were really quality people in travel industry in China giving huge added value to the event. So far, it’s the first event in China where I finally hear key Chinese companies sharing their strategies and experience on the market. I really thank you to make me part of it, hoping to have the chance to take part in your future events.
Loredana Pettinati, Luxury Connoisseurs
Congratulations to ETOA and ETC on this successful first event. I think this is an important initiative and platform for the European travel industry. In the 17 years I am active in the Chinese Outbound market, I have never seen so many European suppliers assembled on one spot in China. Well done, I am already looking forward to a second edition.
Oliver Sedlinger, Deutsche Hospitality Group
The Event provided a very good insight into Chinese market and is an excellent supporting platform for all of us interested to work closer with China. I hope more of such events to take place in the future!
Aleksandra Mandrapa Skobe, Sound of Vienna
Thank you for a very insightful and efficient event that surely will serve as a great basis for future collaborations between European and Chinese tourism businesses. I am very much looking forward to the next event and to the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year.
Johannes Sreter, Shopeur GmbH
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
