CIBTM Day 1

All the photographs for the biggest China Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (CIBTM) have been uploaded to http://ow.ly/ou8L. Also Travel Weekly has given a summary for Day 1 at http://ow.ly/oA2j.

We have met some of the exhibitors and get their insights of the China MICE market and also their predictions of 2010 travel trends for China. All the exhibitors are actually mentioned every 30 minutes through the Twitter Channel of @cnTravelTrends and the Twitter LIVE Update can be found at #CIBTM Twitter Stream, updated by @bookhotel and @dragontrail.

Some of the insights are:

www.kempinski.com Mr. Bobby Ong, Vice President Sales & Marketing of Kempinski Hotels S.A. – China predicts that there is steady growth in MICE China market with meetings being short lead. Conventions are confirmed many years in advance and will not be canceled. In a growing market like China, Exhibitions are key events. Organizing an event in China will bring in more participants, as China is growing financially and still a mystery to many people. Domestically, it is bigger with product launches, introduction of new trends and exchanging of ideas. As for development of Kempinski Hotels in China, Kempinski Hotel Yinchuan and Guiyang are set to open in May and October 2010 respectively.

www.klccconventioncentre.com Mr. Peter Brokenshire, General Manager, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre sees China as a valuable market, particularly in light of the encouraging response received and the variety of events held. Notable China and Chinese-related events held at the Centre include 5-day incentive group conference by a China-based pharmaceutical company and The Chinese Import & Export Commodities Exhibition organised by the Ministry of Commerce, People’s Republic of China and China Foreign Trade Centre.

www.visitlondon.com headed by Mr. Chris F J Lynn, Sales and Marketing Director, North America & Long Haul mentioned they are tying up the Beijing Olympics 2008 to the London Olympics 2012 as the angle to attract the MICE China market. 80 billions pound sterling are being invested to the city and 23 billions pound sterling are invested in the transportation infrastructure. They see the huge opportunity for China MICE market.

www.siciliaconvention.com Sicilia Convention Bureau can be an ideal institutional partner for the Chinese travel service agencies looking for long term partnership with the country. Besides preparing invitation letters, getting VISA, preferential contacts with local institution, they are the official point of reference for any agency or corporate planner, willing to organize events in Sicily. Ms. Viviana Marano emphasizes that Sicilia Convention Bureau role is to be a trait d’union between clients and local operators and make sure that all event organizers receive several high quality proposals (from more than a single agency) for their events.

www.indonesia.travel Ms. Nia Niscaya, Director of Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions (MICE) for Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Republic of Indonesia sees the increase of China MICE growth of 17% from 2008 to 2009 in the same period of January to July. One of the rising star MICE destination is Manado and there is a demand for non-Bali MICE destination.

www.ustravel.kr Mr. David Rou, General Manager of US Travel in Sparkling Korea said there is a challenge for quality travel since everybody is aiming for the lowest price in the bid without considering the quality. That is why he created special rail tour KR Pass, which provides travel on any rail road all over Korea.

www.visitabudhabi.ae Ms. Vera Li on behalf of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority introduced extensively on Abu Dhabi’s ability to hold large international MICE events and there would be increase professional familiarization trips for China MICE market. They have created Advantage Abu Dhabi which aims to seeding and catalyzing business tourism events and focus in meetings and conferences.

www.egypt.travel Dr. Nasser Abdel-Aal of Egyptian Embassy in China Tourism Office sees that the China MICE market is already mature. And the angle that they are taking is to promote adventure MICE products aiming at the young China generations.