ITB: China sets the stage in Berlin with a high-profile Chinese Night

Destinations, partners and industry leaders gather at the hotel Metropol Berlin ahead of the Shanghai show.

On the sidelines of ITB Berlin, the ITB China team hosted its annual ITB Chinese Night at the iconic hotel Metropol Berlin, bringing together partners, destinations and international travel professionals in a warm yet distinctly business-oriented atmosphere.

The evening was opened by Lydia Li, Director of ITB China and Deputy General Manager of Messe Berlin (Shanghai), who highlighted the symbolic timing of the gathering.

“This is a very special day,” she told the audience. “Today we celebrate two jubilees and one festival.”

The first milestone marks the 60th anniversary of ITB Berlin, while the evening itself celebrates the 10th anniversary of the ITB Chinese Night, reflecting a decade of growing connections between ITB and the Chinese tourism market.

“This event shows that ITB has been strongly connected with the Chinese market for already ten years,” Li said.

The celebration also coincided with the Chinese Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao Festival), traditionally marking the first full moon of the Lunar New Year and symbolizing reunion.

“In China, this festival means staying together with family, friends and industry partners,” Li explained. “What a beautiful coincidence to celebrate this together tonight.”

Guests were invited to enjoy a “Taste of China” experience throughout the evening, with cultural performances, Chinese cuisine and destination showcases reflecting the diversity of Chinese tourism offerings.

Several Chinese destinations and tourism boards were present with dedicated displays, offering a preview of what attendees can expect at ITB China in Shanghai this May. Among them:

• Shandong, showcased under the banner “Friendly Shandong Welcomes You,” highlighting the province’s cultural heritage and tourism ambitions.
• Macao, featuring iconic imagery of the Ruins of St. Paul’s and reinforcing its positioning as a key leisure and MICE destination.
• Zhiyin Hubei – Soul of the Yangtze, promoting the natural and cultural richness of the Yangtze region.
• Chongqing, presented as “Majestic Landscapes, Dynamic Chongqing,” emphasizing its fast-growing urban profile and dramatic scenery.

Representatives from these destinations also took the stage during the evening to deliver short presentations highlighting their tourism assets, new travel opportunities and upcoming initiatives, offering international partners a glimpse of the experiences visitors can discover across China.

The audience was then welcomed by David Ruetz, Senior Vice President of Messe Berlin, who opened his remarks with a few words in Chinese — a gesture warmly received by the audience.

“You’ll forgive me for my very basic Chinese, but I’ve practiced all year,” he joked before greeting guests and welcoming them back to Berlin, where “the global tourism and travel family comes together.”

Ruetz also echoed the importance of the evening’s anniversaries, noting both ITB Berlin’s 60th anniversary and the 10th edition of the ITB Chinese Night.

He took the opportunity to thank key partners who helped make the event possible, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the China Center for International Cultural Exchange and Tourism Promotion, the China National Tourism Office in Frankfurt, the China Cultural Center in Berlin, and CTC Travel.

Highlighting the strength of China’s tourism sector, Ruetz pointed to the scale and dynamism of the market.

“In 2025, the total number of inbound and outbound trips reached 697 million, marking a 14.2% increase compared to the previous year,” he said.

He also noted the distinctive characteristics of Chinese travelers today, describing them as fast adopters of digital booking habits, increasingly interested in cultural immersion and deep experiential travel.

Against this backdrop, events such as ITB Chinese Night underline the strategic importance of the Chinese market for global tourism stakeholders, as destinations and travel companies continue to strengthen partnerships and prepare for the next phase of growth.

The evening concluded with an invitation to save the date for ITB China in Shanghai, scheduled to take place 27–29 May, as industry leaders continued discussions in a convivial setting celebrating the ties between China and the global travel community.

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