The only international MICE show to be held in China this year, IT&CM China 2008 will present a wealth of business, networking and learning opportunities for participants. To be held at the ShanghaiMart Expo from 9 to 11 April 2008, IT&CM China is expected to draw more than 2,000 local and international MICE professionals.

Among the eagerly awaited highlights of the event is a first-ever keynote address featuring an eminent speaker on China's rapidly evolving trend landscape. The organisers, TTG Asia Media and MP International, have invited visionary trendspotter, Michael Tchong, to share his insight in his keynote address, "Ubertrends in the World's Most Amazing Economy".

Serial entrepreneur, and founder of the next-generation marketing services company, Ubercool, Tchong is the author of a blog on the hottest Chinese trends in major industries, China Trends. At IT&CM China, he will share his vision on China's online travel market which is worth US$519 million and share tips on how companies can cash in on the new phenomena.

Tchong said, "The incentive travel and convention meetings world is being transformed by consumer and business Ubertrends that will change the market in years to come. Ubertrends, like Time Compression - the acceleration of life - will make it imperative that travel planners and assembly managers focus on how to simplify the ‘interface' of gathering, from websites to meeting facilities."

He further commented, "The digital lifestyle is another significant wave that's reshaping our world. The bottom line is that the social dialog needs to change to better resonate with target markets. This Ubertrend has huge implications on this industry as BlackBerry-, laptop- and GPS-toting executives seek friendly ports for their growing arsenal of digital tools."

In addition, authorities from the MICE industry will share their knowledge and experiences in the other seminar sessions. Dr Liu Dake, Director, Center for Conference & Exhibition Research, Beijing International Studies University, will focus on exciting insights into opportunities and challenges of the China's MICE market.

Leslie Choudhury, CITE, CEO, Leslie Choudhury International, will cover the issue on talent recruitment, retention and motivation. Moderated by Jacques Arnoux, Regional Managing Director, Pacific World, the panel discussion on "China as a MICE Destination and MICE Market" will be attended by a panel of MICE experts - Frankie Gao, General Manager/Director, MCI - Shanghai Office, Lin Yu, Director, MICE Department, Shanghai Jin Jiang Tours and Marcel Schneider, CEO, TUI China Travel.

Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media, said, "The mix of international and local speakers for the seminar sessions this year surfaces our intentions to incorporate international and local viewpoints on the emerging MICE industry in China. We have invited some of the best brains in the industry to expand on pertinent issues relevant in the MICE industry. We trust they will have great takeaways from this enriching experience."

Apart from the seminar sessions, attendees at this year's show can expect a sell-out exhibition which will span some 6,200 square metres. It has attracted the participation of more than 189 exhibiting companies and organisations from 16 economies.

IT&CM China is supported by leading organisations and associations such as Shanghai Municipal Tourism Association (SMTA), Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Industries Association (SCEIA), American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the Hong Kong Chapter of the Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE). Visit www.itcmchina.com for more information.