ITB Asia 2014 opens hosted buyers registration

SINGAPORE - ITB Asia 2014 will take place from 29-31 October at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

Recommended buyers registering under the ‘Group’ category can apply now for both partial and full hosting and new buyers interested in joining this year’s programme can register for partial hosting status under the ‘Individual’ category. Buyers who register under the Partial Hosted Buyer Programme before 30 April 2014 will receive a 50% early bird discount.

Registration for first time buyers looking to apply for the fully hosted programme opens on 1 July 2014. All registration closes on 4 August 2014.

“Our Hosted Buyers programme has been an integral part of ITB Asia’s ongoing growth and success; helping to bring together the key regional buyers and decision makers. Once selected, our hosted buyers are carefully matched to exhibitors using complex algorithms to ensure high-quality and productive meetings during the show,” said Nino Gruettke, Executive Director of ITB Asia.

“The programme has proven increasingly successful year-on-year and continually attracts top quality buyers. Interest from MICE and corporate buyers in particular has been strong. Showcasing over 800 exhibitors from over 70 countries, ITB Asia is the ideal platform to gain insights and generate business leads,” added Gruettke.

Event organisers use a stringent screening process to evaluate all potential buyers to ensure that only the best will enter the pre-scheduled appointment system. In addition to their calibre and experience, buyers are also evaluated based on referrals from exhibitors.

In an independent post-ITB Asia 2013 survey, 97% of buyers said that they would recommend the Buyer Programme to professional colleagues or business partners while 93% indicated that they intend to visit ITB Asia again in 2014. 81% of the exhibiting companies also expected positive follow up business after the trade show.

A knowledge platform for the travel industry, ITB Asia, in its seventh year, has grown both in size and stature over the years. With growing demand from the MICE sector as well as corporations who are increasingly looking for tailored solutions to meet their business needs, ITB Asia’s bespoke conference programme which highlights only the most relevant issues and trends as well as its ability to bring together the entire travel industry and facilitate real-world deals on its show floor are the event’s key success factors.

Almost 9,100 visitors attended ITB Asia 2013 from 110 different countries around the world, making it one of the region’s most international travel trade events. ITB Asia is also a partner event of TravelRave, Asia’s most influential travel trade festival organised by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews