18 September 2008

Magic Event 1: ITB Asia

SINGAPORE - Ã¢â¬' More than 800 travel buyers have been qualified and confirmed as hosted buyers for the inaugural ITB Asia travel show, October 22-24 in Singapore.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe response means that ITB Asia has quickly become the trade show for the Asian travel market,Ã¢â¬~ said Messe Berlin (Singapore) general manager Whey Whey Ng.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe proven ITB brand from Europe is now working its magic for exhibitors and buyers in the Asian travel trade.Ã¢â¬~

Buyers at ITB Asia will conduct business with exhibitors from more than 50 countries. All 500 units of available booth space at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre have been sold out since July.

Almost 70 percent of the buyers at ITB Asia come from Asia.

Europe, the Middle East and Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand) will each supply about 10 percent of total buyers.

Messe Berlin will start a process of matchmaking between buyers and sellers to fill up all the remaining appointment slots during the show.

Members of the travel trade who are neither exhibitors nor hosted buyers can still attend ITB Asia. Trade visitor registration is available online for US$80 for registrations before October 15 and US$120 for registrations onsite.

Trade visitor status gives full access for three days to the ITB Asia trade floor, the ITB Asia Convention and selected social events.

Trade visitors are also eligible for special rates to attend specialist travel events for corporate travel, the meetings industry and web technology in travel, that are taking place in and around ITB Asia at Suntec.

Delegates to these three specialist travel trade events can enter ITB AsiaÃ¢â¬â¢s main exhibition hall, selected social and media events at no charge.

Trade visitor registration for ITB Asia is available under www.itbasia.com/registration