Category Archives: Exhibitions

India Convention Promotion Bureau’s (ICPB) MICE international Roadshow in Europe saw participation from more than 100 MiCE buyers and association representatives from Paris, Brussels, Geneva and Zurich. According to a release by ICPB, 12 representatives from India from various segments like incentive operators, venues and professional conference organisers, interacted with buyers and discussed business prospects. The Indian Ambassadors from France and Switzerland addressed the roadshows and extended support for future events. The roadshows were supported by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and the Indian Tourism Offices in Frankfurt and Paris.  

Jaipur is set to host to the fifth edition of Travel Wedding Show, a B2B meetings platform for buyers and suppliers in the wedding segment and tourism stakeholders, from July 7-8, 2018, at Jaipur Marriott Hotel. Following a table-top format, the show provides a suitable opportunity to exhibitors to showcase their products and services, demonstrate expertise and increase awareness, generating sales from a qualified audience with maximum exposure. The agenda is to bring new business opportunities to its exhibitors. Sarika Bambhani Rawal, Vice President, DDP Exhibitions said, “A wedding in one’s life is a special moment that remains etched in memory for a lifetime! Today, weddings mean big business. With more and more people on the look-out for offbeat experiential weddings for themselves, destination weddings is the most preferred and flourishing trend these days.” The idea of the show is to amalgamate the two vibrant sectors – weddings and travel. The show brings a selected group of people together and facilitates business for the growth of both the industries.

Over 900 registered buyers and above 500 attendees attended the inaugural show of Global Panorama Showcase in Hyderabad at Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre. Inaugurated by Azmeera Chandulal, Tourism and Tribal Welfare Minister of Telangana; B Venkatesham, IAS Secretary to Government of Telangana, Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture Department and other dignitaries, the event presented an insight into ways to boost in tourism in the state and discussed future prospects for growth in the tourism sector. The first day saw a product presentation, educational seminar and GST session. Students from various universities and institutes were also invited to understand the travel and hospitality sector. B2B table top meetings are scheduled for the remaining day. Telangana Tourism is Partner State for the event. Apart from Telangana Tourism, Andhra Pradesh Tourism and West Bengal Tourism will also be showcasing themselves at the event. The next GPS will be held in Chandigarh from July 5-7.

The 32nd International Travel Expo (ITE) held recently at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre witnessed around 670 exhibitors of which 85 percent from abroad and about 180 exhibitors targeting MiCE; some 55 participating countries and regions with around half from outside Asia. The city’s only travel fair lays focus on segments like leisure, MiCE and theme travels, and visitors of trade, professional and affluent FIT. The two day expo had over 12000 trade and MiCE visitors, of which, over 70 percent from Hong Kong and some 30 percent from mainland China and abroad. Some 90000 visitors with 87 percent preferring FIT and private tours had visited the fair. Organised by TKS Exhibition Services, ITE Hong Kong, is supported by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Macao Government Tourism Office, Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, MiCE and trade associations, etc.

Around 300 attendees from over 55 countries are attending the International MICE & Wedding Forum taking place in Antalya, Turkey from May 28-June 1. India is represented by a strong contingent of 120 participants. The third edition of  the event is taking place at the  Titanic Deluxe Golf Belek, Antalya, Turkey.  Speaking at the event, Necip Fuat Ersoy, MD, IMWF said, “Our journey for this event has been hard, consistent and totally exhilarating. We pursued our dreams and each step we took propelled us to where we are today. I am so happy we dared to make this journey come true. Along the way, we met some incredible people and they all helped us. Friends, friends of our friends. I thank them all and without you this could not have happened.” IMWF brings together professionals, opinion leaders with strategic innovative ideas and partnerships in the industry. While the participants have the chance to communicate one-to-one with the world’s best MiCE and wedding planners, they establish long-term friendships and communication networks with industry trend makers from  different countries.

India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) has announced the dates for its 11th Conventions India Conclave (CIC) 2018. The convention will be held at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Kolkata, from August 29-31, 2018. Some 300 participants are expected to attend the Conclave including 150 domestic and 40 international potential buyers. The sole focus of the event will be on India’s potential as a MiCE destination, through interactive sessions, exhibition, and B2B meetings.

Cebu, Philippines has been chosen as the destination to host PATA Annual Summit (PAS) 2019. The event will be held from May 9-12, 2019. This year’s PATA Summit in Gangneung, South Korea was attended by 372 registered delegates from 182 organisations representing 41 countries. Organised in association with the Korea Tourism Organisation and the Gangwon Province, PAS 2018 focused on building bridges, connecting people and how collaboration creates opportunities.

The Korea Mice Expo (KME), the nation’s largest trade show for incentive planners and meeting professionals, will take place on June 14-15, 2018 in Songdo ConvensiA, Incheon. The two-day event will provide a perfect venue for over 2,000 expected attending MICE industry professionals to engage with 300 exhibiting local service providers, including convention bureaus, unique venues, and travel agencies. To foster a business-friendly event, this year’s Korea MICE Expo will be in an unconventional format, ditching the usual sit-down gala dinner and forums. “We want this expo to be bigger and meaningful to all the participants. We will make KME 2018 a platform where buyers and suppliers can truly acquire business potentials,” said Chulbeum Park, Director, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) Meetings & Incentives Team. A standing networking party will replace the usual sit-down gala dinner to let guests interact freely. Also, convention bureaus will showcase not only their MICE expertise but also their local food specialties during the reception. For the first time, the Korea MICE Expo will have a theme ‘Hallyu meets MICE’ offering participants new venues, activities, and discussions related to popular Korean films, dramas, and music. A main highlight of the event includes the Opening Keynote by Soo-Wook Ahn, Executive Director of SM Entertainment, one of the leading entertainment groups in Korea.  

More than 6000 representatives from 80 countries around the world converged at Durban’s ICC to attend the biggest travel trade show in Africa. “It’s fair to say that good business concluded at this show can translate into measurable economic growth for the entire continent,” says Sisa Ntshona, CEO, South African Tourism. According to the organisers, the online meetings confirmed for the show between buyers and exhibitors had already exceeded the 2017 numbers two weeks before the opening. In total, more than 1060 exhibitors will be doing business from 22 African countries. “Over 1460 buyers from 69 countries are attending the show. Having the right buyers in front of the right products will take African tourism growth to the next level,” says Ntshona.

Durban’s tourism sector has geared up to welcome more than 6,000 delegates to Travel Indaba 2018, Africa’s top travel trade show. The annual event (which the city tendered for and won last year) will be held in Durban for the next five years and each year the benefits are more widely felt. “We are excited as KwaZuluNatal to host Africa’s Travel Indaba for the 27th consecutive year. This tourism showpiece has brought major spin-offs for the tourism industry and associated businesses, big and small, in KwaZulu-Natal. We expect this year’s three-day show to inject to KwaZulu-Natal’s GDP a whopping R89 million,” says Sihle Zikalala, MEC, Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental affairs. “One of the strategic thrusts for Africa’s Travel Indaba going forward was to ensure that the platform drives more local jobs and opportunities and we know that this has been achieved with our committed partners and service providers,” says Sisa Ntshona, CEO, South African Tourism. The theme for this year’s show is about telling African success stories, and a big part of this will be celebrating the centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth with the tourism delegates from all over the continent and the world. The show will also be used to launch the improved Mandela Journey App which has been especially updated in celebration of the centenary year. The exhibition will be held from May 8-10 at the Durban Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre.