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ITB Asia has attracted over 25 speakers to address Association Day, a specialist forum 20-21 October that is dedicated to understanding and growing the association meeting sector in Asia.
Annual and bi-annual association meetings for doctors, insurance experts, dentists, scientists and other professions are increasingly important because such events take place regardless of global economic conditions. Before, during and after these events, association members spend large amounts of money on shopping, travel, dining and entertainment.
“Such discretionary spend is keenly sought-after by convention and visitor bureaus and national tourism offices,” said Nancy Tan, Managing Director of Ace:Daytons Direct, one of the initiators of the Association Day, which is hosted by Messe Berlin (Singapore). ASAE, The Center for Association Leadership and Suntec Singapore are key collaborators. Association Day is supported by ICCA and the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau.
Association Day, a first-ever event of its kind in Asia, is free to all invited association executives. They can attend sessions such as , “Challenges and Opportunities for Associations in a Changing Business Environment,” “Using Your Meetings to Promote the Growth of Your Association,” “What Global Meeting Planners Look for When Bringing their Meetings to Asia,” “How to Improve the Financial Outcomes of Your Meetings,” “How the Pharmaceutical Code Affects You and Your Meetings,” and “Future Trends: Asia & The Global Meetings Industry.”
“We promise that association industry leaders will tell it like it is,” said Nino Gruettke, Executive Director of ITB Asia. “Association Day is all about passing on insightful, practical information that attendees can use in their own quest to attract or service association events.”
Speakers and moderators interacting with the audience with that objective in mind include Robin Lokerman, CEO, Institutional Division, MCI; Nancy Green, CAE, Executive Director, National Association for Gifted Children; Greta Kotler, CAE, Chief Knowledge Officer, ASAE; Dr. Alfred Loh, CEO, The World Organization of Family Doctors; Helga Severyns, Senior Director, (UITP) The International Association of Public Transport; Mike Williams, Senior Consultant, Gary Grimmer & Company; Oliver Chong, Director, Conventions & Meetings, STB; Pieter Idenburg, CEO, Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre; Noor Ahmad Hamid, Regional Director Asia Pacific, ICCA; Quirine Laman Trip, Group Director of Business Development, Kenes Group; and Marcel Vissers, Editor in Chief, Headquarters and MIM Magazine, to name just a few.
Apart from 1.5 days of practical insights, and full access to ITB Asia, registration for Association Day includes a networking evening at Resorts World Sentosa on 21 October.
Association Day also has a hosted association buyer programme for organisers of association events who wish to find out more about destinations, hotels and services in Asia.
Trade professionals who are not eligible for hosted buyer status for Association Day or ITB Asia, can benefit from the ITB Asia Early bird for trade visitors until 13 October.
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.
