ITB Asia to Strengthen MICE Component in 2010

Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB Asia has said that next year it will hold a two-day “Associations Programme @ ITB Asia 2010”.

With a high percentage of regional and international association representatives expected to attend, Associations Programme @ ITB Asia 2010 aims to attract exhibitors such as convention centres, resorts and hotels, professional conference organisers (PCOs), destination management companies (DMCs), solution providers and convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs) from the Asian region.

The initiative will work with international experts such as the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), The Center for Association Leadership, and Suntec Singapore.

The Associations Programme @ ITB Asia 2010 will be built on two key elements: pre-scheduled appointments between exhibitors and association representatives, and an exciting speaker line-up for the Associations Programme.

“The MICE world is very large,” said Dr Martin Buck, Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore). “Within it, our focus will be on expanding ITB Asia by introducing the growing associations meeting sector. We will invite a compelling international group of speakers. They will share their real-case experiences with the industry and it should greatly benefit everyone joining the programme.”

ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership will provide valuable content for the Associations Programme through their expertise on topics such as global trends in association management and resource development for small to medium associations.

Discussions with other international and regional associations are in progress to further strengthen the Associations Programme.

The Associations Programme @ ITB Asia is a joint collaboration among industry leaders such as Messe Berlin (Singapore), ASAE & The Center, Ace:Daytons Direct and Suntec Singapore. The initiative is supported by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Dr Buck said, “Over the next couple of months, we will put top-level partnerships in place. The objective is to have a strong association programme that will add an exciting new component to ITB Asia from 2010 onwards.”

ITB Asia 2009 has this year attracted 679 exhibitor organisations to the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre. The majority of exhibitors are from the leisure travel segment, with MICE exhibitors and corporate travel coming in second and third respectively.

See other recent news regarding: Airlines, Airports, Flights, Codeshare, Lounges, First Class, Business Class, MICE, GDS, Rewards, Miles, Hotels, Apartments, Promotions, Spas, New Hotels, Traffic, Visitor Arrivals, Cruises, Free Deals, Videos, ITB Asia, Singapore, Messe Berlin, ITB