IT&CMA Introduces the 1st Asia Pacific Future Leaders Forum at its Seminars & Workshops

Seminar and workshops at Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) this year will cater to the needs of both travel professionals and students aspiring to join the industry.

IT&CMA Seminar and Workshops have been designed this year to provide an avenue to discuss the most pressing issues facing players in the meetings and incentives industry. Travel professionals, who have been battling the effects of recent world events such as the US-led war in Iraq and the recent SARS epidemic, will get a chance to discuss and collaborate on individual or joint efforts that would help the industry on the whole.

The topics for the seminar and workshops will reflect the current moods and concerns of the industry and strive to achieve high relevancy to audiences with its line-up of top speakers from well-established associations and companies. Confirmed topics include ‘Event Management in Changing Times’ by Meeting Professionals International (MPI), ‘Crisis Management for Event Planners and Suppliers’, as well as ‘Creative Marketing for MICE Destinations & Venues’ by SITE Asia Pacific Chapters.

“'Crisis Management’ has been a key operative word in everyone’s minds, especially in the last few months and it’s certainly a strong theme at this year’s IT&CMA seminars where there’s an opportunity to learn from the experience of others in coping with the recent crises, “ says Melinda Mak, Project Manager.

“However, another strong theme that we’ll like to highlight is that of ‘Recovery’. The travel industry has always been very resilient – changing and adapting by way of creativity and optimism. While recent world events have shaken the industry on the whole, it’s also an opportunity for us all to change and improve.” Ms Mak added.

Students keen on joining the industry will also have their needs addressed at IT&CMA this year. The first Asia Pacific Future Leaders Forum will be held during IT&CMA to encourage young people to join the meetings and incentive travel industry. Following the success of the Future Leaders Forum held at IMEX in Frankfurt, Germany this April, IMEX, ICCA, TAT and IT&CMA organisers have come together to bring this initiative to the Asia Pacific.

175 university students attended the first IMEX Future Leaders Forum in Frankfurt and heard a series of presentations from top leaders in the meetings industry about their careers. The Forum proved a highly inspirational and interesting insight into the MICE industry The format for the Asia Pacific forum will include a top line-up of industry leaders, which will provide students from the Asia Pacific region an opportunity to learn more about the meetings industry and its career potential, by sharing their personal experiences and careers. In addition, a debate will be held involving prominent industry speakers to address key issues that have been previously identified by the students themselves.

The first Asia Pacific Future Leaders Forum will be held in conjunction with the IT&CMA in Bangkok from 4 - 6 November 2003, at IMPACT Convention Centre, Thailand.