Messe
Berlin (Singapore) has announced that its 2013 event is set to be
even bigger and better as plans are already underway to expand the
show even further.
Organisers
are planning to take up two floors of exhibition space next year
(across level 6 and level 4) when it returns to the newly refurbished
Suntec Singapore Convention Centre from 23 - 25 October 2013.
The
fifth edition of ITB Asia came to a close today at The Sands Expo and
Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore and has been its most
successful event to date in terms of growth in exhibitors, quality
buyers, conferencepartners and
trade delegates. Over the three days, the show recorded almost 8500
attendees, a 12% increase from 2011, representing 92 countries,
making it one of the region’s most international travel trade
events.
“This
was a really exciting year for us in many aspects. ITB Asia
celebrated its fifth anniversary in Singapore, we were at a new venue
which gave the exhibition floor a fresh new look and feel and we also
saw double digit growth in all aspects of the show,” said Dr.
Martin Buck, Vice President, Messe Berlin (Singapore).
“Feedback
from the show floor has also been extremely positive, with many
exhibitors telling us that they have planned other business
meetings and
activities to coincide with ITB Asia so as to leverage the
efficiencies and valuable synergies surrounding the event. This is
another clear indication that ITB Asia is firmly establishing itself
as the eminent travel trade
show for
the region,” added Buck.
This
year, the show forged new partnerships with leading travel industry
experts representing UNWTO, MCI, National Association of Travel
Agents Singapore (NATAS), Panacea Publishing Asia, Global Business
Travel Association (GBTA), Asia Cruise Association
(ACA) and strengthened existing programmes with WTTC, PhoCusWright,
TTG Asia Media and Web In Travel, delivering over 3700 minutes of
high quality content.
“Suntec
has given us the flexibility to expand the second trade
show floor next year depending on demand for space. Our aim is
to grow ITB Asia year-on-year not just in terms of floor space but
also in delivering high quality, relevant content that will be
beneficial to delegates. We want to build this show as a knowledge
platform and will continue to focus on bringing in an even more
powerful line-up of speakers for next year’s event,” said Nino
Gruettke, Executive Director of ITB Asia.
ITB
Asia also launched a new strategic initiative this year, Future
Leaders, to help attract and groom talent. The event will now be held
annually and brings together eminent business leaders from the
industry and over 100 of Singapore’s brightest sparks to provide a
strategic solution to the industry’s manpower needs.
ITB
Asia 2012 is also a partner event
of TravelRave, Asia’s most influential travel trade festival
organised by theSingapore
Tourism Board.