REPORT – IT&CMA – BANGKOK: “2009 marks the 17th year of IT&CMA (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia) and 12th staging of CTW (Corporate Travel World) Asia-Pacific, themed ‘Feast on Asia!’. Delegates will savour a banquet of inspiring products and services, dream destinations, spiced-up activities and enriching conferences, underscoring the status of this highly anticipated 2009 Doublebill (two shows in one location) as…
REPORT – IT&CMA – BANGKOK: “2009 marks the 17th year of IT&CMA (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia) and 12th staging of CTW (Corporate Travel World) Asia-Pacific, themed ‘Feast on Asia!’. Delegates will savour a banquet of inspiring products and services, dream destinations, spiced-up activities and enriching conferences, underscoring the status of this highly anticipated 2009 Doublebill (two shows in one location) as Asia-Pacific’s premier MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) and Corporate Travel event” was the opening remark of Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media, organizers of IT&CMA and CTW 2009.
For the third consecutive year IT&CMA and CTW 2009 are back at Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld (BCC), and Amazing Thailand will also continue be the host country for the two events for the coming years.
Surging ahead in its recovery from a worldwide recession, Asia has proven itself by sustaining its foothold in this highly competitive industry. A myriad of exciting developments is sprouting in this part of the world; from Singapore’s upcoming integrated resorts, East Malaysia’s first convention centre in Kuching and Thailand’s new convention centre in Chiang Mai. These achievements are coupled by the steadfast growth in both established and emerging markets, such as Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Macau and Taiwan.
Show Statistics
According to Mr Ng as of today a total of 2,127 delegates have pre-registered for IT&CMA and CTW 2009, and also 435 Buyers and Corporate Travel Managers/Planners from 40 countries are hosted, comprising of 330 MICE planners/buyers and 105 Corporate Travel Managers. This is a 28 per cent increase compared to last year. Joining IT&CMA for the first time are buyers from new markets – Brunei, Jordan, Qatar, Romania, Tunisia and Ukraine. India’s presence is particularly strong this year with the largest contingent of 48 buyers and 30 corporate travel managers.
On the exhibition front, a total of 265 companies and organisations from 33 countries from Asia-Pacific, USA, Europe, South America and Africa are exhibiting. The biggest country pavilion at this year’s IT&CMA exhibition is Thailand (300 sqm) with 49 co-exhibitors, followed by Macau (260 sqm). Exhibitors from Egypt and Laos will also debut at the 5,500 sqm sold-out show floor.
The combined IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2009 conference will kick off later this afternoon with a Curtain Raiser, titled ‘Blow the Blues Away’, presented by Asia Ability. Professor Richard Arvey, active industrial and organisational psychologist and veteran researcher, will then address our delegates with his thought-provoking keynote – ‘Recipe for success: Is it all in your genes?’.
We are also proud to present this year, a sterling line-up of 27 speakers from 10 countries from Asia-Pacific, USA, Europe and the Middle East covering a range of interesting issues pertinent to the MICE and corporate travel sectors.
The 2nd ‘Fundamentals of Business Management’ starter course leading to the CTE (Corporate Travel ExpertSM) designation is also back by popular demand. Jointly launched by TTG Asia Media and National Business Travel Association (NBTA), CTW Asia-Pacific 2008 was the first conference in the region offering a focused corporate travel programme specifically tailored for Asia-Pacific’s business travel professionals.
This year Australian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) and Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) are the new Supporting Associations of IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific in a strategic partnership with TTG Asia Media to launch the inaugural ‘Association Professional Competencies’ course leading to the Professional Association Executive (PAE 101 – Part 1) certificate. This high-level education programme has been formatted for association staff and leaders and will provide the skills and tools which these professionals will need to excel in their areas of work.
Sticky Awards
The 8th Sticky Awards will recognise the stickiest exhibitors, buyers, corporate travel managers/planners and speakers. In line with the ‘Feast on Asia!’ theme, exhibitors are going all out to woo delegates’ votes in the new ‘Stickiest Hors D’Oeuvre’ category, which showcases their most delicious cuisines representing their cultures. Introduced in 2008, the ‘Stickiest Green Champions’ category is back to reward exhibitors and journalists demonstrating corporate social responsibility and promoting sustainable tourism in the ‘Stickiest Green Booth’, ‘Stickiest Green Giveaway’ and ‘Stickiest Green Article’ categories.
IT&CMA and CTW 2010 will return to Bangkok, Thailand at Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld from 5 to 7 October 2010. The 2010 theme – ‘Redefining MICE in Asia’ will showcase a whole new experience for distinctions and innovations, an opportune time for exhibitors and buyers to distinguish and discern.
New TCEB Marketing Campaigns
Mrs Malinee Kitaphanich, Director of Meetings & Incentives of Thailand Convention & Exhibitions Bureau announced two new campaigns, “Thailand Maximize” and “Max Value”. Thailand Maximize will highlight the Kingdom’s strong points; Value for Money, Variety of Attractions, Hospitality, while Max Value will provide special enchantment that best suits different needs of meeting groups.
Thai Airways’ latest developments
Mr Krittaphon Chantalitanon, Thai Airways’ Director, Area Thailand, Indo-China & Myanmar presented during the opening press conference of IT&CMA and CTW 2009 the latest key issues concerning the latest developments of the company: “To meet the economic challenges facing us THAI’s commercial policy stresses on three important “S’s”… these are Simplicity, Synchronization and Speed.
We are also intend leveraging more of our code share partners and Star Alliance’s extensive global network. THAI’s existing markets will be consolidating by utilizing THAI’s code share partnership through alliance and non-alliance, particularly Asia/Pacific.
To this end, for this coming winter season to meet anticipated higj demand, THAI is introducing non stop flights from Brisbane to Bangkok five times per week and increasing frequencies on other important international and domestic routs such as Oslo, Los Angeles 7 Moscow. Fleet wise, THAI receives a total of eight new Airbus 330-300 by 2010 end expects Airbus 380 to be delivered in 2012. Also, THAI is working hard on climate change and carbon emissions issues and it’s the first airline in the Asia/Pacific region to join the IATA Offset program.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
