REPORT-HONG KONG-PATA TRAVEL MART 2006: Buyers and sellers at PATA Travel Mart 2006 (PTM06) in Hong Kong are overwhelmingly delighted with the show, despite a perception on the Mart floor that PTM06 seems more…
REPORT-HONG KONG-PATA TRAVEL MART 2006: Buyers and sellers at PATA Travel Mart 2006 (PTM06) in Hong Kong are overwhelmingly delighted with the show, despite a perception on the Mart floor that PTM06 seems more compact than PTM05. PATA Director-Events Ms Sheila Leong said the perception of the floor area being physically smaller is probably due to narrower aisles between blocks of exhibition space. “The gangways between exhibitor blocks at PTM06 were deliberately narrowed to 2.5 metres in width, versus last year’s 3 metres, to accommodate the growth in demand for the show,” she said.
Ms Leong reaffirmed that, with 4,076 square metres, PTM06 has 13% more built-up exhibition space than PTM05 in Kuala Lumpur.
Most delegates acknowledged the significant improvements in the format and efficient administration of the Mart.
“PATA Travel Mart is better than ITB,” said Jaipur-based Mandawa Group of Hotels’ Mr Shivarjun Singh Mandawa, who last attended the Mart 15 years ago in New Delhi. “This is a very good event. It is very well organised, with regular public announcements that keep us informed of what’s going on.”
“When I registered, I wasn’t expecting this scale and this quality,” he said. “I will be back and I will recommend the show to other sellers in Rajastan.”
ETC Tours CEO Mr V. Subramaniam, a buyer delegate from New Delhi also attending his first PTM since it took place in his home town, said the Mart was small enough to make it easy to meet people, yet large enough to offer a great variety of product. “The show is very well organised,” he said. “I will come back to the show in Bali next year.”
Director of Dutch business, events and incentive travel operator Travel & Event, Mr Adriaan H. Deurloo was excited by the improvements over last year’s show: “Great show, perfectly arranged; better than last year,” he said. “Even the sellers at this year’s event are more energetic and innovative. And the hosted functions have so far been tops.”
Hong Kong’s Langham Place Hotel, Mongkok Senior Sales Manager (Travel Trade) Mr Eric Wong agreed that PTM06 was a better show than PTM05, and commended PATA’s stricter buyer qualification policies. “Buyers are showing up at the appointment sessions at much greater rate than last year,” he said, adding that he was very happy with the format of the Mart.
Vanuatu Tourism Office General Manager Ms Linda Kalpoi said PTM06 was a productive show, with good contacts and leads for Vanuatu. “There is a good mix of buyers and they are showing up for the scheduled appointments,” she said. “In fact, on the first day, I had four extra appointments with buyers over and above those allocated in the business sessions.”
Viator Head of Product Ms Kate Price and Product Manager Ms Joanne Volpato, suggested that the appointment-matching system could be improved by allowing buyers to block out seller categories they were not interested in meeting.
However, after attending PTM05 in Kuala Lumpur and contracting new business with a range of suppliers, Viator’s Ms Volpato said she was keen to return to the Mart this year to build those relationships as well as generate new ones.
First-time buyer, Virtuoso Account Manager Ms Cynthia Heerspink said the Mart was “very impressive and professional” with “good synergy” between the mix of buyers and sellers.
World Incentive Nexus Director Mr Jim Skiba, who is registered as both an exhibiting seller and a buyer, agreed. “I have been engaged by the excellent reception and professionalism of all the delegates I’ve met at the Mart,” he said.
Consensus opinion on the new format of the buyer-seller breakfast meeting was positive. While last year’s seated format offered a better chance to talk to one’s neighbour, the standing format served the primary objective of the breakfast much better.
Mandawa’s Mr Shivarjun Singh Mandawa said the breakfast session was very productive. “I was able to freely roam and talk with buyers and was able to fill the blanks in my appointment schedule.”
Travel & Event’s Mr Deurloo, who already had a full appointment schedule before the breakfast, said he was approached by many more sellers at this year’s breakfast than last year.
Vanuatu’s Ms Kalpoi said the breakfast was “very useful” and offered “a great networking opportunity”. She managed to fill out her appointment schedule at the breakfast.
“The Mart has been very productive and there’s excellent quality among the buyers,” said Viking River Cruises Senior Director Asia Business Development Mr Same Nee. “We’ll be back again next year!”
Attending his tenth PATA Travel Mart as a buyer, Pleasant Holidays Director Product Development Asia Mr Owen Imaizumi said: “A good line-up of sellers in a very user-friendly venue.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
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