The third CIBTM, the annual meetings and incentive exhibition to be held at the China World Exhibition Hall in Beijing targeting the Chinese and international markets, 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 219 local, regional and international Hosted Buyers.

The preliminary visitor attendance figures show an increase of 20% 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 including representation from Egypt, France, South Africa, Hawaii, Britain, Malaysia, Korea, Brunei, Singapore, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Austria and Russia.  Hotel brands represented at CIBTM included Accor Hotels, Gloria Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental, Movenpick, Jin Jiang Hotels, Sheraton, Sofitel, Leading Hotels of the World, Mandarin Oriental, Renaissance Hotels, Starwood.

Graeme Barnett, CIBTM event director, said: “We are delighted with the results of the third CIBTM in Beijing, which can be attributed to a growing understanding and importance of the meetings and incentives industry in China. 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.”

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.  The CIBTM Welcome Reception in conjunction with the Beijing Continental Grand Hotel and the second night networking reception co sponsored by TravelWeekly and the Westin, Finance Street offered opportunities to experience Chinese hospitality and an insight into the burgeoning hotel sector.

For more information, please visit www.cibtm.travel