DRMumbai: With over 700 exhibiting companies from 80 countries and 15,000 attendees participating, ITB China 2018 has emerged as the driving force behind the growth of the global travel industry in the country. “Visitors, exhibitors and buyers were completely satisfied with the event. In its second year, the success of the event was reflected in the heavy demand for floor space and a significant increase in the number of visitors,” said Dr. Christian Göke, CEO, Messe Berlin.
“The results are remarkable considering it is only the second edition. The performance promises even more growth next year. Compared to the inaugural event in 2017, the gross exhibition space as well as the attendees rose by 50 per cent. ITB China has established itself as the go-to event for anyone looking to ensure a strong presence here.”
There were around 800 buyers at the event, which is an increase of over 30 per cent compared to 2017. “Diversity was very high again with Chinese buyers coming from over 300 different companies, representing the full range of China’s largest industry players. As many as 73 per cent of the Chinese Leisure, MICE and Corporate buyers came from mainland China (outside Shanghai), 24 per cent from Shanghai province and the remaining three per cent from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan,” he said.
The event was attended by around 800 buyers, an increase of over 30 per cent compared to 2017. And 15,000 prescheduled appointments maximised the business opportunities
More than 15,000 prescheduled appointments maximised the business opportunities of both exhibitors and buyers. The organisers launched a completely new matchmaking system, perfectly catering to the needs of both exhibitors and buyers using desktop, mobile or WeChat interfaces.
Lu Jun, Managing Director, China Travel Group Shanghai Co. Ltd., said, “ITB China has set high standards in terms of quality of both exhibitors and buyers. As a member of the China National Travel Service, I felt honoured to be part of the event. I believe that this will surely lay a solid foundation for our future communication and cooperation with domestic and foreign counterparts.”
ITB China focused exclusively on the Chinese tourism industry with International companies and Chinese companies meeting with Chinese trade visitors. The exhibitors came from 80 countries as far as Argentina, Brazil, Chile and the Middle East, especially UAE as well as the partner destination Finland. In addition, the European Travel Commission had a strong presence on the show floor, showcasing a multitude of European destinations.
Eduardo Santander, Executive Director, European Travel Commission, said, “Europe needs to remain competitive in China. Only through deeper cooperation with Chinese authorities and an increased commitment of the European tourism sector, supporting targeted joint public-private marketing initiatives, Europe will succeed in luring more travellers from China. The strong cooperation with ITB China will help us attain these goals.”
ITB China Conference, which hosted around 70 sessions, was also a success. The keynotes, lectures and workshops proved to be a major visitor attraction again. The Conference featured sessions on customised travel, which has become an important and fast-growing segment for Chinese travellers, with sessions devoted to sports tourism, revenue management for hotels and animal-friendly tourism.
For the first time, ITB China observed the last day of the event as a dedicated Education & Job Day in partnership with Fudan University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI).
The second edition of ITB China Startup Award, which acknowledges outstanding new products and services, was shared by Timekettle, a Shenzhen-based company, for their WT2 translator, a smart and wearable real-time translating earphone, and the Hong Kong-based travel platform TravelFlan for providing personalised and hassle-free travel experience with the use of AI Technology.
The next edition of ITB China will be held from May 15 to 17, 2019 at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Malaysia Healthcare Expands Wings in Shanghai
Under the patronage of Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Healthcare launched Malaysia Year of Healthcare Travel 2020 (MYHT 2020) campaign on the sidelines of ITB China 2018 at Shanghai. The medical value travel (MVT) campaign will run in tandem with the ongoing Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM 2020) programme.
“The Malaysia Year of Healthcare Travel 2020 will celebrate good health and propel Malaysia further towards becoming the leading global healthcare travel destination,” said Sherene Azli, CEO, Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC). “VM 2020 will welcome around 36 million tourists to Malaysia’s shores and MYHT 2020 is expected to be a driving force in reaching the target.”
The Malaysian healthcare travel industry is growing at an average rate of 16-17 per cent every year, amassing more than RM1.3 billion in hospital revenues to date. By 2020, Malaysia aims to achieve a 20-30 per cent growth, stretching beyond the RM2.8 billion mark in hospital revenues with an estimated economic impact of RM10 billion.
Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s Brand Refresh
Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) announced its global brand refresh at ITB China 2018, with sincerity in service as its hallmark. The Group outlined plans to establish Pan Pacific Hotels Group as the preferred hotel chain in the region, for the next decade and beyond, through refreshed brand identities, bold marketing initiatives and a philosophy of sincerity and service excellence, pledging to go the extra mile for every guest across its properties in China and around the world.
PPHG, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2019, has 24 hotels, resorts and serviced suites across Asia, Oceania and North America. Cinn Tan, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, PPHG said: “The hospitality industry has evolved through the years, with new customer segments, customer expectations and lifestyle habits. This is part of an industry wide trend towards greater emphasis on the overall well-being, enrichment and experience of travellers. Sincerity is a core value cherished in China and the world over.”
