THE third CIBTM has been declared as a major success as well as the largest meetings and incentives gathering in China.
The event, endorsed by the Beijing Tourism Authority, has revealed a preliminary attendance figure of 3,869 trade buyers and visitors, including an attendance of 262 local, regional and international Hosted Buyers. The preliminary visitor attendance figures showed an increase of 20 percent compared to CIBTM 2006.
The increase was also reflected in the attendance of senior level buyers from Asia and Europe, further establishing CIBTM as the leading meetings and incentives event in China. A total of 255 exhibiting companies attended the event from across the globe. The results of the third CIBTM were attributed to “a growing understanding and importance of the meetings and incentives industry in China,” said Graeme Barnett, CIBTM event director.
“This year the event was restructured to bring it in-line with our other meetings and incentives events such as EIBTM in Europe and the newly launched GIBTM in the Middle East. The brand values of which are best business, best networking and best education, and a high-level Hosted Buyer Programme.
Our aim was to improve the experience for buyers as well as exhibitors and we feel that this has been successfully achieved and embraced by all event participants,” Barnett added. Major improvements to the 2007 edition included the development of the hosted buyer programme.
For the first time, hosted buyers were able to select appointments with all exhibitors at the event, as well as enjoy half-day tours of Beijing, and exclusive networking functions organised by Shangri-La and Intercontinental. Highlights of this year’s edition included an enhanced level professional education programme.
Open to all participants, the programme was presented by key industry experts and representatives of international associations including ICCA, MPI and SITE. Dates for the next CIBTM event in 2008 will shortly be available to fit appropriately with the Summer Olympic Games taking place in Beijing.
“We look forward to an even larger and more exciting CIBTM in 2008 when the eyes of the world will be on China for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games,” said Barnett.
