CIBTM, the meetings industry event in China that attracted a record number of Hosted Buyers and facilitated more than 7,500 pre-scheduled appointments last year, is receiving significant interest from European product and service providers who are looking to exhibit at this year’s event set to take place from September 12-14.
Madrid Convention Bureau will be exhibiting for the fist time and joining returning exhibitors Flanders, Vienna Convention Bureau, Barcelona Convention Bureau and Switzerland, among others.
The 2011 China and Asia Meetings Industry Research Report, presented at CIBTM, clearly identified Europe as an emerging destination and one of the most popular for outbound events from the region, with particular focus on countries including France, UK, Italy, Germany and Spain.
Further research confirmed that suppliers exhibiting at CIBTM also matched the buyers’ responses with 48 percent of respondents from the survey saying that the Hosted Buyers they had seen were interested in placing business in Europe.
“The China Meetings market is expected to grow significantly in 2012 as the market continues to lead others we expect to see the number of meetings increase,” said Jeffrey Xu, Reed Travel Exhibitions, event director CIBTM. “According to the American Express 2011 China Business Travel Barometer, business travel industry sectors are booming in China and there is a great deal of potential for more growth in the travel sector.”
The research results also predicted growth in the number and volume of meetings and events going outbound from China. Seventy-four percent of buyer respondents and 52 percent of suppliers forecast an increase in the volume of events they will organize over the next year.
“We are delighted to be participating in CIBTM once again, last year’s show delivered for us on all fronts and we achieved a great deal of business leads following our participation,” said Mercedes García, marketing manager at Barcelona’s Tourism Convention Bureau. “CIBTM continually delivers a great quality audience of Hosted Buyers and we are looking forward to exhibiting again later this year.”
Following the successful launch of the CIBTM dedicated China Meetings Week last year, the initiative will be returning to CIBTM 2012 with the backing from leading industry associations – MPI, ICCA and Site – providing input into the professional education program that plays such a pivotal role in the event.
