Bangkok (Thailand) – August 6, 2019 (travelindex) – IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific 2019 will offer a redesigned program with proven engagement activities aimed at promoting new ways of generating leads between suppliers and buyers beyond one-on-one conversations.

Following the successful launch during the event in China in early March, new initiatives such as Brand Showcase Presentations, Exhibition Walkabouts and Meet-The-Corporates were adopted by nearly 20 brands, who chose these activities to complement their business appointments and improve their reach among niche buyer segments during the upcoming trade show.

– Brand presentations: For the first time, 10 brands, including Dubai Business Events, Japan by JTB, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Royal Orchid Holidays, Taiwan, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and Thai MICE Cities, will present their latest highlights and developments firsthand in these 20-minute sessions, which are open to MICE buyers, associations and companies, and media representatives.

– Exhibition tours: Up to 10 selected destinations, including India Tourism, JNTO, TCEB and others, will have the opportunity to quickly engage with sought-after delegates in their pavilions/stands during these 4 x 1 hour guided sessions over 2 days.

– Meet-The-Corporates: In the speed-dating format, up to 12 exhibitors of IT&CM Asia, such as Dubai Business Events, have decided to meet with the business travel and procurement professionals participating in CTW in two one-hour sessions over two days and to network.

“IT&CM Asia remains an important part of our annual event calendar in key markets, and we are delighted to be exhibiting again this year. In addition to our one-on-one meetings, we will be using the ‘Brand Showcase Presentation’ and ‘Meet the Corporates’ platforms to further highlight the appeal of our city, explain the support provided by Dubai Business Events, and establish new contacts with the wider business events community, particularly corporate clients,” said Steen Jakobsen, Assistant Vice President of Dubai Business Events.

Another new segment at this year's trade fair is "Say Hello to Everyone." This interactive get-to-know-you session, moderated by MICE strategist and hospitality consultant David Barrett, offers all participants the opportunity to get an overview of the key players at this year's fair and to identify profiles they would like to connect with across both events – the perfect start to networking before the business days begin.

More and more brands are going beyond individual appointments to target specific audiences.

In line with the strong response to new initiatives, more brands have opted for Captive Engagement Sessions this year, with an extensive series of sponsored events taking place to date.

TCEB will present a "Corporate Exchange, Exclusively Thailand" networking event, modeled after the new "Meet-The-Corporates" format, with up to 48 Thai suppliers in attendance. The two-day event is exclusively for corporate buyers.

“Our new branding, ‘Thailand Redefine Your Business Events,’ inspires us to seize every opportunity to create added value and increase return on investment and profitability for MICE stakeholders. Our partnership with IT&CMA in launching the ‘Corporate Exchange, Exclusively Thailand’ initiative aligns perfectly with our new branding. We look forward to seeing how Thai suppliers and business travel managers utilize this new initiative and deepen their interaction in an exclusive setting,” said Ms. Nichapa Yoswee, Senior Vice President – ​​Business of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau.

Meanwhile, sponsor CWT will host a relaxed, interactive session for all CTW delegates over coffee and tea as an exclusive corporate networking event during the CTW Asia-Pacific conference.

New exhibitor and sponsor OMT Group joins the list of lunch, cocktail, and dinner hosts, which already includes Accor Bangkok & Hua Hin Hotels, Conrad Bangkok, Japan by JTB, Marina Bay Sands, TCEB, and others. The ASEAN-based Destination Management Company (DMC) is hosting two events: a Networking Lunch Europe Cruise Preview and a Networking Chao Phraya River Cruise Dinner. The latter is also open to invited exhibitors.

As a strategic partner, TCEB will continue to host the eagerly anticipated annual opening ceremony and welcome dinner, city tours of Bangkok before the show, and excursions to Ayutthaya and Khao Lak after the show.

Several expansions of exhibition space at the largest MICE trade fair in the Asia-Pacific region

The 250 percent expansion of JTB's booth space, the 120 percent increase in the booth space of the Seoul Tourism Organisation and the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism, and the doubling of the booth space by the Royal Cliff Hotels Group have further strengthened the event, which is already the largest MICE venue for destinations, products and services in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The new business contacts gained through our participation last year and their conversion into actual orders were the decisive reason for our return this year. JTB’s main goal at IT&CMA is to attract new buyers from the MICE and association sectors and to promote international tourism to Japan,” explained Mizuho Hara, Manager for Events & Promotions at JTB’s Asia-Pacific headquarters, regarding the decision to expand.

Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media, explained: “The welcome expansion of exhibition space through returning exhibitors demonstrates the continued confidence in IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific, which impress in every respect, both internationally and locally. As the trade fair continues to evolve, we are committed to meeting the changing needs of our suppliers and buyers.”

Destination pavilions, companies and associations on board include Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Dubai Business Events, EventsAir, India Tourism, International Association of Professional Congress Organizer (IAPCO), International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Jeju Convention & Visitor Bureau, Japan National Tourism Organization, JTB, Korea MICE Association (KMA), Korea Tourism Organization, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Marshall Cavendish, MEET, among others TAIWAN, Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia, OMT Group, Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Pattaya MICE City, Philippines Tourism Promotions Board, Resorts World Sentosa, Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Sampran Riverside, Seoul Tourism Organization, Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), Taipei City Government, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Thai Airways, TCEB, Worldwide Cruise Associates, World PCO Alliance (WPCOA) and many more.

Other highlights of the revamped event include: – Sticky Awards – the exclusive IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific awards program for top attendees – with a new price list and voting process – Attractive prize draws for successful buyers – An expanded sustainability knowledge program woven throughout the various sessions: the extended Asian MICE Cruise Conference, the keynote lecture, the Association Day forums, the ASEAN MICE Forum, and the CTW Asia-Pacific Conference. – An app-based event that reduces the use of printed materials and fosters networking among attendees.

About IT&CMA 2019 (September 24-26) | Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Bangkok, Thailand. Founded in 1993, IT&CMA is a leader in fostering growth opportunities in the MICE sector in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Its diverse program brings together regional and international industry suppliers and buyers for business, professional development, and networking. IT&CMA also offers platforms specifically tailored to the interests of key MICE niche segments, ensuring a consistently relevant and dynamic attendee profile. IT&CMA remains the only global event with the largest exhibition space for MICE suppliers from the Asia-Pacific region. The show is part of the IT&CM event series.

IT&CMA takes place concurrently with CTW Asia-Pacific and is part of the IT&CM event series organized by TTG Events, a division of TTG Asia Media. IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific form the only dual event in the Asia-Pacific region that combines MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and business travel. Both events have been held concurrently since 2004 and offer participants a unique platform for business development, learning, and networking.

For more information, please visit www.itcma.com | www.corporatetravelworld.com/apac