17th IT&CMA and 12th CTW Asia-Pacific staying strong with show specials, new partnerships and expanded delegates’ profile          

The region’s premier tradeshows for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) and business travel industries – IT&CMA (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia) and CTW (Corporate Travel World) Asia-Pacific are serving up the region like never before with exciting show specials, new partnerships and expanded delegates’ profiles.

The combined events, also popularly known a “doublebill event” (two shows at one location), will be held at Bangkok Convention Centre (BCC) at CentralWorld, Thailand, from 6 to 8 October 2009. Into its third year in hosting the event, BCC is located in the heart of Bangkok’s central business district, complete with a luxurious hotel annexe and grand shopping and entertainment wing.

Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media, the show organiser, said: “The 2008 show was once again a huge success for us, having received more than 2,000 delegates who had well benefited from the array of opportunities present at the tradeshow. We are committed to growing IT&CMA and CTW as the leading business and education platform in Asia-Pacific, which showcase MICE destinations, source for products and services and enhance knowledge for all participants.”

The 2009 doublebill event, themed “Feast on Asia!”, is expected to attract more than 2,000 leading industry professionals from Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world.

Commenting on the new theme, Mr Ng added: “The doublebill event is in every essence, a ‘Feast on Asia!’. Once again, delegates can look forward to savouring a banquet of events, from the business, education, social and networking aspects. The newest, hottest and best destinations, products and services in the Asia-Pacific region’s meetings and business travel sectors will be served up in the highly-anticipated 2009 doublebill.”

As the ideal platform for exhibitors to sell to a vast potential market of industry professionals from Asia-Pacific and the world, the doublebill event has introduced new show specials this year. The “Green Showcase” is started in light of the growing trend of organisers and meeting planners adopting green practices, a strategy that has helped their companies create business value and cost effectiveness. The “Meetings & Events Technology Showcase” is initiated by the rising demand from meeting/event planners and travel/hospitality operators, for reliable market intelligence and analysis to meet their business needs. The “Gifts and Premiums Showcase” also returns and manufacturers and exporters can leverage in the potential corporate, incentive travel and markets.

Into their 17th and 12th years respectively, IT&CMA and CTW are staying strong with continued support from the industry. Corporate exhibitors and country pavilions from China, Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand have confirmed their participation.  More than 350 exhibiting companies and organisations from 35 countries are expected to exhibit at the combined MICE and corporate travel exhibition under one roof.

More strategic partnerships have been forged with industry players in the MICE and business travel sectors. As a result, IT&CMA and CTW 2009 will see an increase in MICE and corporate travel buyers from Australia, Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Mexico and Spain. An estimate of 500 MICE buyers and corporate travel managers/planners from 40 countries will conduct sourcing and buying at the doublebill event this year.

On the education front, delegates will gain from the second Fundamentals of Business Management Starter Course leading to the CTE (Corporate Travel ExpertSM) designation. Last year, IT&CMA and CTW was the first to offer the designation in the Asia-Pacific region. The one-day workshop, to be held on 5 October followed by an exam the next day, is a guide to managed travel and has been structured to suit the needs of travel professionals.

Meantime, delegates attending the doublebill event can be assured of the highest level of order, peace and security. In a public statement by the host committee, TCEB (Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau), Thailand “will continue to be vigilant and ensure peace and order as well as safety of the public, including foreign visitors in Thailand. MICE travellers can therefore be assured that their business events will be managed smoothly, to the highest professional standards, and value for money that they can enjoy the diverse leisure opportunities, shopping and culinary pleasures that Thailand offers, along with the timeless and legendary Thai culture and hospitality”.

IT&CMA and CTW are once again privileged to receive support from partners of the host country, Thailand. They include TCEB, TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand), TICA (Thailand Incentive and Convention Association), TCT (Thailand Tourism Council), AOT (Airports of Thailand) and national carrier THAI (Thai Airways International).

Now in its 17th year, IT&CMA (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia) is the region's premier meetings and incentive travel show and is attended by thousands of delegates from more than 40 countries. IT&CMA is a platform for promoting the Asia-Pacific region as a MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions & Exhibitions) destination as well as a source for MICE visitors.

Now in its 12th year, CTW (Corporate Travel World) Asia-Pacific is a two-day conference and exhibition on Travel & Entertainment (T&E) management for the Asia-Pacific region. It is a platform for hundreds of corporate travel managers, travel agencies and suppliers to meet and discuss the impact of global and regional issues on the development of business travel into and out of the region.