ITB Asia �sold out�

July 24, 2008 | Hospitality Industry

Floor space at the inaugural ITB Asia, 22-24 October in Singapore, has been sold out three months ahead the show. Organizer, Messe Berlin, says that any new exhibitor applications will have to join a waiting list and cannot be guaranteed floor space.

To date, exhibitors from 42 countries have booked more than 500 units of booth space in Halls 601-603 at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

�The travel industry from around the world has responded magnificently to the ITB Asia proposition,� said Ms Whey Whey Ng, General Manager of Messe Berlin (Singapore). �Many exhibitors say they have booked space for two main reasons: the ITB brand reputation and their desire to attract visitors from Asia, the largest and fastest growing market in the world.�

Exhibitors from every sector of the industry, including destinations, airlines and airports, hotels and resorts, theme parks and attractions, inbound tour operators, inbound DMCs, cruise lines, spas, venues, other meeting facilities and travel technology companies, have all booked floor space.

Of all ITB Asia exhibitors this year, 39% come from the accommodation sector, 27% are either tour operators or travel agencies, 16% are NTOs, and 10% are travel technology firms, MICE or corporate travel representatives. The remaining 8% comprise airlines, cruise lines, railways, spa operators, car rentals, associations, media representatives, or information service providers.

Leading global brand names will exhibit alongside small and medium-sized enterprises. All of them have a unique product offering.

For many exhibitors, ITB Asia will be their first trade show exposure in Asia. New exhibitors from outside the region include NTOs from Brazil, Peru, Tanzania, Turkey, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Oman and Qatar. The Slovak Tourist Board is continuing its successful partnership with Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic, having taken-up a large joint space. There will also be diverse private sector offerings from Mongolia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Peru and Egypt, to name a few.

�Most of our varied list of exhibitors know and trust us from ITB Berlin,� said Dr Martin Buck, Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore). �Through ITB Asia, we are now in a fortunate position to help them secure a share of the rapidly expanding Asian market. It�s a logical expansion of our already successful relationship from ITB Berlin.�

Sellers at ITB Asia will meet with hundreds of professional buyers with premium purchasing power from the region and around the world. Applications for the Hosted Buyers Program are currently being vetted by Messe Berlin (Singapore) to ensure that the show has a large number of quality buyers who buy or influence the purchase of leisure, corporate travel and MICE products all over the world.