ITB Asia Signs on for Three Years at Singapore's Marina Bay Sands
September 23, 2013
Messe Berlin (Singapore), organizer of ITB Asia, ‘The Trade Show for the Asian Travel Market’, has announced a strategic three-year partnership with the Marina Bay Sands, starting in 2014.
The next three editions of ITB Asia will take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre Oct. 29-31, 2014; Oct. 21-23, 2015; and Oct. 19-21, 2016.
Through this new agreement, Marina Bay Sands will also be ITB Asia’s official hotel partner hosting international buyers, the opening receptions, VIP C-suite lunches, as well as offer free Wi-Fi to all delegates;
“Marina Bay Sands offers ITB Asia a unique value proposition, including accommodation for attendees as official hotel partner and world-class conferencing facilities as official venue,” said Nino Gruettke, executive director, ITB Asia.
Gruettke added, “The venue’s prominence together with ITB Asia’s reputation as a leading trade show will help to attract and grow leisure, MICE and corporate industry partnerships. This partnership also provides ITB Asia with the space we need to grow this industry platform over the next few years, and expand our exhibition and conference programme to reach out to more delegates and exhibitors worldwide.”
Committed to keeping delegates at the forefront of travel-tourism developments, ITB Asia also will increase its investment on the conference programme component to provide attendees with more quality content that address the opportunities, trends and potential issues faced by the industry, according to show organizers.
“We have secured fresh funds for ITB Asia over the next three years and our aim is to take our conference sessions to new heights with more prominent speakers who will share powerful industry insights,” Gruettke added.
George Tanasijevich, president and CEO, Marina Bay Sands, said, “This three-year partnership with ITB Asia is a very powerful testament of our commitment to remain the number one business and leisure destination in Asia. With ITB Asia’s long standing reputation and extensive reach throughout the region, we are very confident that this partnership will solidify our leadership within the MICE industry. We are very privileged to be chosen as a partner and we look forward to delivering an exceptional Marina Bay Sands experience through ITB Asia.”
ITB Asia represents the full spectrum of tourism at all levels, including the hospitality sector, tour operators or travel agencies, National Tourism Organizations, Convention and Visitors Bureaus, travel technology firms, MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) and corporate travel representatives.
Each October, the trade show attracts more than 8,000 participants, representing 90-plus countries. ITB Asia also is a partner event of TravelRave, a mega travel and tourism festival week organized by the Singapore Tourism Board.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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