Business Booms at IBTM China 2018

October 8, 2018

IBTM China 2018 closed on a high, with over 6,600 pre-planned meetings happening during the two day-long event, which took place from 12–13 September at China National Convention Centre (CNCC) in Beijing. Over 300 exhibitors from 20 countries were joined by more than 280 Hosted Buyers and 3,400 visitors for two days of meetings, networking and educational sessions.

“We are excited to be here this year. San Francisco is a very popular destination for Chinese tourists. We received over 500,000 visitors this year and we hope to grow this number next year. We do attend some other IBTM shows around the world but it is our first time at IBTM China. This is a great opportunity for us to connect the buyers from all over the world,” said, Hubertus Funke, Executive Vice President & Chief Tourism Officer, San Francisco Travel.

“I have attended IBTM China for over 5 years, so it is a great show for me. The arrangement of the show and the organisation is done really well. I have found some great suppliers and hotels for the Chinese market which is so important, and also discovered new regions in China outside of the main hubs,” said Kin Fun Michael Chow, Corporate Development and Staff Affairs, Provident Travel Group, Hong Kong, added,

Hosted Buyers attended from corporations including AVIAGE SYSTEMS, Danone Nutricia, ALE Co., Ltd, IKEA, DBS Bank, Mary Kay China, Carrefour China, Lenovo, NTUC Income, Philips, Novo Nordisk, Ping An Bank, Infinitus China, Sanofi, World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, HelmsBriscoe and Provident Capital Group Inc.

Exhibitors were a high-quality mix of domestic and international companies, including Accor hotels, Business Events Canada, Melia Hotels International, Floating Island Seoul, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, Beijing Exhibition Centre, JW Marriott Hotel Beijing Central, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), and Shanghai International Convention Center.

The market-leading Knowledge Programme was once again very popular, with nearly 500 visitors this year attending sessions exploring topics across ten key areas. These included advances in the new wave of Chinese tech innovation and its effect on the global technology scene; a study into the associations market in China and how this will contribute to the growth of the industry; how to sell incentive travel to business leaders and an insight into the latest global industry trends report.

Nicole Ci, Event Manager, IBTM China, said: “In a dynamic market such as ours, there’s always a real buzz on the event floor and this year’s event was no exception. Reports from exhibitors and Hosted Buyers were that their meetings were extremely productive, which ultimately is what makes this a must-attend event.”

“As always, there will be lots of learnings for us to takeaway and analyse to ensure that we evolve our event going forward. It’s important that we continue to deliver experiences that help our attendees make valuable new connections and access inspiring educational sessions to help them stay on the cutting edge of industry developments and deliver their own show-stopping events.”

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Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites. Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation. Reinvented Luxury Experiences The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes. New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May. Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.  A “New Wave  for Mandalay Bay A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay. Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center  is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options. From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.