The 27th IT&CMA and 22nd CTW Asia Pacific officially kicks off today in Bangkok, Thailand. Aimed at enhancing delegates’ experience, a re-designed program with new initiatives will be featured throughout the 3-day event from 24 to 26 September.
Setting the record with over 150 business, education, and networking sessions, the robust show features 70 new sessions. More than 600 pre-confirmed buyers and media from over 60 territories and countries will be participating in addition to exhibitors, speakers, trade visitors, VIPs, guests and other attending delegates. This year, over 60% of buyers across MICE, Association and Corporate segments are new to the show.
Another notable 2019 event highlight is the close to 20 branded engagement functions such as luncheons, dinners, cocktails, coffee breaks, cohesion and knowledge activities by sponsors and collaborators like Accor Bangkok and Hua Hin Hotels, Al Jazeera Media Network, Conrad Bangkok, CWT, JTB-Cvent, Marina Bay Sands, OMT Group, Philippine Tourism Promotions Board, Visit Nepal Year 2020 and more.
The first event day began with the second edition of Asian MICE Cruise Conference, helmed by TTGmice. Top cruise industry players and opinion leaders from Costa Cruises, Cruise Lines International Association, Genting Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Silversea Cruises and more led the conversation on a diverse array of MICE cruise trends and interests including fun-filled activities onboard for corporates, and the enhancement of the cruise experience in partnership with unique ports-of-call for destination-based land activities.
The much-anticipated keynote lecture in collaboration with Chiang MICE followed, moderated by Sustainability Advocate, MICE Strategist, and Hospitality Consultant, David Barrett. His distinguished panel comprised of trailblazers, Pairach Piboonrungroi, Director of MICE Excellence Centre, Faculty of Economics of Chiang Mai University; Richard Jones, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications, Human Resources and Sustainability of Indorama Ventures; Supawan Teerarat, Senior Vice President of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB); and Marissa Jablonski, Sustainability Consultant: Plastics . Water . Environment, who collectively delivered insights and practical perspectives on Sustainability and their significance on future-proofing businesses.
Said keynote speaker, Pairach Piboonrungroi, Director of MICE Excellence Centre, Faculty of Economics of Chiang MICE University, “Sustainability will be essential for organisations, across industries, to move ahead and implement in years to come. Speaking on this platform with the intent on cultivating Sustainability, this is a great first step in nurturing awareness among individuals and organizations. This keynote session aims to educate them on how and when they should begin their own Sustainability journey, or take existing efforts forward and make the impacts.”
Throughout the 3-day event, delegates can also look forward to hearing from over 60 knowledge speakers with sustainability themed topics weaved across other educational tracks such as the Association Day Forums, ASEAN MICE Forums, and the CTW Asia-Pacific Conference.
Say Hi To Everyone, the first of several new event initiatives taking place today, enabled delegates to get a sense of who’s who before the start of the exhibition days via an interactive ice breaker session led by David Barrett who presented the 2019 attendee profile. Delegates also interacted with one another over light refreshments during the networking coffee break.
In the next 2 days, delegates will experience even more new initiatives such as the Brand Showcase Presentations, Exhibition Walkabout, Meet-The-Corporates, and Corporate Exchange, Exclusively Thailand, aimed at fulfilling delegates’ business objectives beyond the usual one-on-one business appointments.
Open to all MICE and Association buyers and media, AP MICE Solutions by JTB, Dubai Business Events, India Tourism, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Phuket, Royal Orchid Holidays, Taiwan and TCEB will be sharing their latest developments during the Brand Showcase Presentations while destinations and brands from India Tourism, Jeju, JNTO, Macao, MICE Excellence Center, Taiwan, TCEB and more will connect with sought-after Association buyers and media during the guided Exhibition Walkabout.
Aimed at spotlighting the show’s corporate buyers, Meet-The-Corporates and Corporate Exchange, Exclusively Thailand, are likened to speed-dating business sessions. The latter is developed in partnership with TCEB that will exclusively allow Thai suppliers to create and deepen relationships with attending buyers in a captive setting.
Greater effort to promote exciting in-booth activities by participating exhibitors, and motivate buyer performance via an attractive sure-win lucky draw is also among the anticipated highlights this year.
The first evening culminates with the ever-popular Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception, hosted by strategic partner and the host country, TCEB, at Bangkok Art & Culture Centre with the theme“Bangkok Art Night Out”. The four-hour extravaganza features venue tours, visual arts, performing arts and musical showcases by local artists.