CITS Shanghai, through its MICE division, has acquired a stake in Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings China (IT&CM China), the pioneer MICE and corporate travel trade show in China, owned and organised by TTG Asia Media and its partner, MP International.
The move marks a new chapter for the five-year-old show, which will leverage on CITS Shanghai’s knowledge and network of the China market to bolster the participation of Chinese buyers and exhibitors.
A hundred industry stakeholders, ranging from hotel representatives to government officials, attended a signing ceremony in Shanghai today.
Darren Ng, managing director, TTG Asia Media, said: “CITS is among the top 100 companies in China, delivering one of the largest domestic and outbound leisure, corporate and MICE business in the country.
“I see the tripartite partnership as taking IT&CM China to a higher plane, as we leverage on the synergies of CITS’ unparalleled access to these buyers and exhibitors, MP International’s operational strength and TTG Asia Media’s foothold on the international front. The fit could not have been better.”
CITS Shanghai, on the other hand, sees MICE and corporate travel as one of the fastest-growing markets in China, and IT&CM China as the “best” platform to engage industry players.
Ike Zhang, general manager – Partner Relations, American Express China of CITS MICE, said: “We hope our involvement will expand the MICE market in China further, thereby growing the pie for everyone. We intend to leverage on our existing relationships with buyers, exhibitors and the government, to help bring the event to the next level, and promote both China MICE inbound and outbound.”
He added: “We are committed to investing in various resources to deliver this promise. For example, new staff who are well-versed in MICE and corporate travel have already been employed and are ready to work the market.”
Earlier, TTG Asia Media committed to moving the show from next year onwards to the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center (TTG Asia e-Daily, April 14). The past five shows have been held at ShanghaiMart Expo, and the size of the event was around 4,000m². The new venue allows for a 50 per cent increase in event space to 6,000m², with an option to increase further to 8,000m².
IT&CM China anchors Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration’s Shanghai Business Events Week. Next year’s edition, the sixth installment, will be held from April 17-19.
