Business Travel Expo Hong Kong attracts strong pre-registration from Travel Planners

This year’s Business Travel Expo Hong Kong has attracted an impressive boost in interest from travel planners prior to its opening at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre on March 30-31.

More than three times as many regional buyers and arrangers of business travel than last year have already pre-registered for this year’s expo.

The number pre-registering for the region’s premier platform for the travel industry stood at 734 a month before the event – compared to 240 last year.

Nearly all the visitors have also booked places at a series of free training seminars providing practical advice and information on how to improve corporate travel planning and booking.

“We were expecting a marked increase in interest this year, as the show last year was staged very soon after the SARS crisis and the business travel industry is picking up again now.” added Paul Robin, Director of Business Travel Expo. “But the level of pre-expo interest has exceeded all our expectations – so it looks like the extra profile raising we’ve carried out this year - especially in South East China - is paying off!”

“We are now expecting many more travel planners to attend than the 1,220 who ultimately turned up last year despite SARS. The economic environment in Hong Kong and the region is clearly improving.”

Business Travel Expo enables travel buyers and arrangers to meet face-to-face with hotels, airlines, travel management companies and other suppliers.

Among key exhibitors this year are travel management partner American International Travel, official carrier Cathay Pacific and official hotel group Langham Hotels International, SRS-WORLDHOTELS, Marriott, OAG, Mastercard International, Pan Pacific, The Leading Hotels of the World, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Westminster Travel and InterContinental Hotels.

First-time exhibitors include China Southern Airlines, China Airlines, Diner's Club International (HK), Malaysian Airlines and Tourism Malaysia, Le Meridien and Air Plus International.

As in the previous two years, the expo presents a two-day programme of training seminars informing travel arrangers how to make the most of their travel dollars.