Tag Archives: ITB China

TravTalk ME as media partner will be at ITB China and the ITB China Conference, China’s travel industry think tank from 27 to 29 May at Hall 1 of the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. TTME spoke with Lydia Li, Deputy General Manager ITB China to find out more about the much anticipated exhibition for the world. “ITB China is set to play a crucial role in reconnecting global travel suppliers with the resurgent Chinese market, forging a collective path forward for the industry. As Chinas premier B2B travel trade show, ITB China will once again reflect the entire travel trade spectrum, with suppliers from around the world covering Leisure Travel, MICE, Business Travel, and Travel Technology. In view of the increasing demand from buyers, MICE will gain in importance as a key topic, and more in-depth presentations and discussions will take place on stage of the ITB China Conference 2024. Furthermore, the China Inbound Tourism segment will be relaunched this year. The rising popularity of Custom-themed Travel in the Chinese market and the profound impact of Travel Technology guarantee a rich variety of content sessions, activities and awards, complemented by insights from experienced travel professionals and forward-thinking opinion leaders. “As for now, country pavilions such as Saudi-Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan will be participating at the show. Around 650 tourism companies from nearly 80 countries are expected to showcase their products and services and meet with more than 1000 pre-selected top Chinese buyers attending the event. There will be new exhibitors this year as well as welcoming back so many of our previous exhibitors, we are delighted to welcome so many new countries and companies …

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts becomes the Official Partner Hotel of ITB China 2021, which is set to take place as a physical event in Shanghai from 24 – 26 Nov 2021, with a virtual extension from 8 Nov to 31 Dec 2021. With over 8,900 hotels and 21 established brands across nearly 95 countries, the world’s largest hotel franchising company becomes the official partner hotel of ITB China for the third year in a row. The corresponding agreement was formally signed on 29 June, by Jane Yang, Senior Director, Commercial, Asia Pacific, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Mr. David Axiotis, General Manager of Messe Berlin (Shanghai), the organizer of ITB China. The hotel industry giant will have a strong presence on both the physical and digital show floor of ITB China, introducing its brand-new products and innovative services to the industry in one place. Mr. David Axiotis, General Manager of ITB China, said: “We are very delighted to continue our strategic partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The dynamics and synergies that come from our show has helped forge many mutually beneficial industry partnerships. We believe that the new hybrid format of ITB China 2021 will be the perfect platform for our partners to develop their business and organize marketing campaigns.” Joon Aun Ooi, President of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Asia-Pacific, said: “As the largest B2B show for the travel trade in China, ITB China is an excellent platform for hoteliers to form meaningful connections with travel agencies, convention organizers and corporate clients. We are honoured to be the Official Partner Hotel of ITB China for the third time – a strong testament of our long-standing partnership as well as …

The organizers of ITB China have announced to host an offline industry gathering at the end of June in place of the ITB China Special Edition trade event originally scheduled in Beijing from 7- 8 May. The industry gathering will be an invitation-only networking event for China-based industry professionals to exchange updates and insights on the future of the Chinese travel market. ITB China Special Edition had been designed at the end of last year as a complimentary event to ITB China 2021 in November and to serve as an industry-hub for informational and commercial exchange towards an expected gradual recovery of China’s international travel market. With strict cross-border travel restrictions still being in place in China, the prospects of international travel to and from China are not reliably predictable at this point in time and Chinese travel agencies are therefore not yet ready to resume regular business activities with regards to purchasing, packaging and promoting international travel products. “Reflecting the current market situation, the trade-focused event – ITB China Special Edition – could not fulfill its intended function and thus would not meet the standard of business value that ITB China had committed to deliver to its partners and customers,” said David Axiotis, General Manager of ITB China. “However, the industry’s desire to stay in touch in person continues unabated, and that is exactly what we will be doing in the first half of 2021 by providing a pure networking occasion to meet face-to-face. At the same time, backed by the anticipation of a powerful resumption of Chinese cross-border travel shared by all our partners, we are moving ahead on the coming ITB China in November with innovative solutions …

ITB China organizers have announced to launch an ITB China Special Edition in 2021. The two-day business event will make its debut in Beijing from May 7 – 8,  2021, to deliver an innovative showcase for business exchanges while providing a stage for sharing industry insights for the travel industry. The regular edition of ITB China 2021, together with the accompanying ITB China Conference in Shanghai, is being rescheduled to November 24-26, 2021. “Fueled by promising news about vaccine developments we all anticipate upward trends in 2021. The way to real market recovery, however, will be a steady and gradual one that our industry will have to walk jointly in order to reach a post pandemic new normal”, said David Axiotis, General Manager of ITB China, further adding, “As the next major milestone, ITB China is once again leading the way with a tailor-made event format, the ITB China Special Edition 2021. Taking place in Beijing in spring next year, we expect a promising outlook on cross-border travel and emerging business opportunities at that time. Lastly, ITB China 2021 in Shanghai is set to once again serve as the leading platform to connect with the world’s largest travel source market, strategically rescheduled to the end of the year, paving the way for a strong rebound of the industry in 2022.” “The progressive recovery of the Chinese travel market is a highly encouraging sign to the tourism sector in Europe. Together with our members, we will continue monitoring the latest changes in the industry and building on our close cooperation with Chinese partners to prepare for a speedy recovery of international travel as soon as the health situation allows,” said Eduardo …

The latest ITB China Travel Trends Report, conducted by ITB China, the largest B2B exclusive travel trade show in China, examines the impact on the planned travel behaviour of the Chinese in the coming recovery phase. The 2020 China Market Recovery Special Edition is based on a survey among 200 Chinese outbound travel agencies and travel companies, including interviews with several industry experts. The report is a yearly publication, updating global travel suppliers and Chinese buyers with the latest needs of the Chinese travel market, in order to get best prepared to restart travel business in China. Asked about the recovery of the Chinese outbound travel market, 43 percent of those surveyed expect that outbound travel will recover within the next nine to twelve months. 33 percent think it might take six to nine months, whereas 20 percent believe it will take three to six months, and only four percent expect to see a recovery within the next three months. “China was hit first and should therefore be one of the first countries to recover, which would prove to be positive for European-Chinese tourism cooperation. By the time Europe can go back to normal, China might be ready for long haul travel again.” said Eduardo Santander, Executive Director of the European Tourism Commission, in an interview with ITB China. James Liang, Chairman, Trip.com Group said, “Different measures taken by different countries and territories will hinder international travels, which will impose certain pressure on short-term upward tendency. However, in the long run, the industry is extremely resilient and any irreversible change is highly unlikely.”

ITB China 2020 which was postponed due to concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic has been rescheduled and will now be held from May 12-14, 2021 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre. David Axiotis, General Manager, ITB China said, “The travel industry depends on face-to-face meetings like no other. We are very much looking forward to co-hosting 2020 Travel Daily Conference in November and welcoming the world in China again in the customary manner at ITB China 2021 in Shanghai next year. Given the success of three editions of ITB China, and given the fact the China travel market is gradually recovering, we believe the participation of the international suppliers to the events will enable them to speed up the pace to opening up the China market.” Early committed exhibitors who register for ITB China 2021 before 30 June 2020, can benefit from a discount of 15 percent on their stand rental fees.

ITB China organisers have postponed ITB China 2020, originally scheduled to be held on May 13–15 at Shanghai. The deferred show dates will be further announced by the show organisers. The decision is based on the current risk evaluation of the COVID-19 epidemic by local and global authorities. According to the regular report and COVID-19 prevention notification released by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China recently, the COVID-19 situation in China continues to be challenging and developments in the following months are very hard to foresee at this stage. To ensure the safety of ITB China’s exhibitors and visitors, the organisers decided to postpone ITB China 2020, and in a responsible way allow all participants to make necessary arrangements in a timely manner. The ITB China organisers will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates based on official assessments of the overall risk situation.

ITB China, the largest B2B exclusive travel trade show in China, has become the strategic partner of the 2019 World Culture and Tourism Forum to be held on October 22-25 in Xi’an, China. Under the topic “Integrating Culture and Tourism to Build an Intelligent Future”, more than 1,000 industry experts will explore new marketing ideas for inbound tourism, destinations and attractions, while promoting the East-meets-West culture and thinking in the mission of developing global tourism for a new era. The conference will be hosted by Xi’an Municipal People’s Government and Ctrip Group. ITB China is organising a senior delegation of international and Chinese travel industry representatives to visit the forum and enjoy four days of exploring new marketing ideas for inbound tourism in China. Hand-picked senior buyers from the established ITB Berlin Buyers Circle will attend the forum this year, representing the international tourism industry. The majority of the buyers are coming from Europe and Asia, covering the MiCE, Corporate and Leisure travel sectors. David Axiotis, General Manager of ITB China, said, “The partnership between Xi’an and ITB China will further promote the city’s amazing culture and tourist offerings beyond China and thus increase Xian’s ties with international travel professionals”. “Being one of the ‘Culture Cities of East Asia’ in 2019, Xi’an has accelerated its evolution into an international metropolis with its rich history and diverse culture backed by cultural confidence and consciousness,” noted Xu Mingfei, Deputy Mayor of Xi’an People’s Government, at the Forum of the Culture City of East Asia. In its 4th year ITB China, taking place from May 13 to 15, 2020 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre, has already established itself as …

For the second time in a row the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and ITB China, set to take place from May 15 to 17, 2019 in Shanghai, have joined together to promote education and professional development in the hospitality industry. HSMAI is a 90-year-old, global, non-profit association with more than 7,000 members committed to growing business for hotels and their partners. It has recently recruited Asia’s top hotel revenue managers to join forces to produce a training programme that underpins a new online industry education platform. Appropriately, on May 17 the dedicated ‘Education & Job Day’ is being held for the second time at the ITB China Conference 2019. It is focusing on the exchange of educational knowledge and the promotion of career opportunities of current and future talents of the Chinese travel industry. HSMAI will be conducting a session in the presentation hub on May 17, 2019 starting at 10 am covering the topics of Revenue Management, Data Intelligence and Hotel Sales Distributions. These topics form part of HSMAI’s Certificate in Revenue Management (Hospitality) launched in 2017 and created by the senior leaders of revenue management in hotels around the world. “HSMAI have been busy updating our current courses and developing new education and courses to assist hotel professionals to grow their careers. In 2019, we’ll be developing new programmes for hoteliers to continue their learning in digital marketing, distribution and managing commercial functions”, says Jackie Douglas, President HSMAI Asia Pacific. Huilian Duan, President of the HSMAI Greater China Chapter Board, urged her industry colleagues to get behind the education, “All Sales, Revenue and Digital Directors should be certified in their respective fields.  Only HSMAI can …

With a rapidly growing interest within both the advanced and the casual segment, China is expected to become a driving force within the adventure travel sector internationally, according to recent findings by ITB China Travel Trends Report. According to the market survey result from 300 Chinese outbound travel agents, over 52 per cent of the interviewees think Chinese travellers are willing to spend more than CNY 10,000 on each adventure trip. A survey has also been conducted among members of the ITB China’s Buyers’ Circle. 80 per cent of these surveyed businesses agree that adventure travel is a travel category that appeals most strongly to young Chinese born in the 1980s and 1990s. The trends report was created in collaboration with the international consulting and research company Kairos Future and will be presented at ITB China, set to take place from the May 15 to 17,  2019 in Shanghai. The most important three aspects that Chinese travellers care for in adventure travel are safety (30 per cent), local activities (26 per cent) and scenery (17 per cent). Safety concerns are more common in China than internationally, as travellers are far less experienced in adventure travel. Topics include safety risks of activities such as bungee jumping as well as the risk of getting lost in the wilderness, and the dangers stemming from not carrying the right equipment. Providers of adventure travel products targeting the outbound Chinese market need to tailor products to traveller segments with different expectations on difficulty, safety and comfort.