IBTM China targets more international exhibitors, association buyers

IBTM China has revealed plans to bring in more international exhibitors from Europe, Asia and new domestic destinations to cater to the growing interest in these locations among buyers.

The trade show is scheduled to take place in Beijing on 28 and 29 August this year. IBTM China estimates that the event will draw 380 exhibitors and 3,500 visitors. 

IBTM China last year saw a majority of domestic exhibitors, with a select number of overseas exhibitors including the Korea Tourism Organization, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and the New Zealand International Convention Centre.

Oxford Economics has estimated that outbound business travel from China reached $100 billion in 2018, an increase by 26% from the previous year.

Meanwhile, Nicole Ci, project manager, said the exhibition plans to host 400 buyers this year compared with 280 who attended last year. She explained that the exhibition aims to meet to the 30% target of corporate buyers that it has reached last year while the rest will be from agencies. Around 20% of overseas buyers will be hosted at the exhibition.

Nicole Ci

Feedback from exhibitors and the growing association meetings market in the region, however, prompted IBTM China to invite more buyers from associations, Ci said.

A new addition to the exhibition this year include the ‘experience zone’ which allows exhibitors to carry out live demonstrations of their product offerings. “This is a logical next step to enable our delegates to re-create the event experience under one roof and provide an experience that is just as much about ‘showing’ as ‘telling’,” said Ci.

The number of speaker sessions during the exhibition will be doubled to 18 this year.