2024

The event will make its debut in the Middle East from November 18 to 19 in Bahrain with an anticipated attendance of over 500 visitors and participants from over 50 countries.  It will be held at the Kingdom’s most ultramodern facility the Exhibition World Bahrain.

Under the theme ‘Gastronomy Tourism: a driver of economic diversification and inclusion’, the Forum will convene, through panel discussions, presentations, masterclasses and thematic visits. International experts will explore the transformative potential of Gastronomy Tourism to become a driver of economic diversification and inclusion, fostering social and environmental sustainability enhancing regional cohesion and resilience of local communities.

Bahrain the host country will showcase its culinary heritage and vibrant culture, with the ultimate aim of making it a must-visit destination for gastronomes and tourism professionals alike.

While Exhibition World Bahrain’s offering is a culinary team dedicated to providing bespoke food and beverage services. Operating from a state-of-the-art kitchen facility spanning over 3,600 square meters, the team is well-prepared to meet diverse catering requests.

Attendees can look forward to an impressive range of cuisines, including Asian, Mediterranean, and European flavours from the venue.

Held for the first time in the Middle East, the Forum will bring together global leaders, policymakers, industry experts, and renowned chefs, to unveil how gastronomy tourism can also build a strong image for destinations, through innovative practices and initiatives around the world.

It will bring together more than 200 representatives from medium and large businesses, business associations and government structures from Russia, Malaysia, and ASEAN countries. Organised by Roscongress Foundation, the forum will be held in Kuala Lumpur from November 26 to 27.

The focus of the forum will be on the central theme of overcoming global challenges, by forging actionable partnerships and joint projects that drive socio-economic development of Russia and ASEAN countries. The event aims to consolidate the positions of key economic players in the region.

Participants of the forum, will discuss collaboration prospects between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

They will also explore cooperation opportunities in areas such as; economics and finance, the oil and gas and chemical industries, transportation, technology, innovation, information security, science and education, medicine, tourism, and the humanitarian sector.

Focal points will be on agricultural cooperation, with discussions on food security, fertilizer supplies, and agricultural technology exchanges.

The forum will serve as an essential platform, for discussions and extensive coverage on strengthening trade and investment ties between Russia and ASEAN.

The two-day event held in Bangkok Thailand, from September 24 to 26 took place with new initiatives and educational sessions, complete with an expanded networking session.

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau announced that it will soon launch the Thailand MICE Visa Prepaid Card, crafted in partnership with VISA, said Mr Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

He added: “This card is designed to offer MICE travellers exclusive privileges and special discounts at various partnering establishments, including; shopping, dining, spa services, limousine services, and luggage storage.”
Singapore’s leading advancement in technology and business were this year’s focus in The Singapore Pavilion, which offered delegates and visitors a unique opportunity to engage with top innovators.

The Tech and Engagement Zone dedicated to tech exhibitors, explored the latest advancements in technology where delegates can learn how to integrate these technologies into their business meetings or events.

Sea and Air Zone spotlight on airlines and cruise industries. This zone brought key players together for focused business meetings, offering a comprehensive look at travel solutions that can elevate business events and conferences.

While the Corporate Zone was a hub, where corporate entities showcased their products and services, that are specially tailored for business events.

This year, IT&CMA and CTW APAC celebrates 32 years of fostering international MICE business in Asia-Pacific, and 27 years of cultivating Corporate Travel and Entertainment best practices among Asia-Pacific’s travel professionals.

The next ITCM&A & CTW will be held from September 23 to 25, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The collaboration will see Tencent Cloud providing a comprehensive suite of cloud infrastructure solutions and digital services to GoTo’s business.

As part of the five-year partnership, GoTo will leverage Tencent Cloud’s technology and platform and services to support its comprehensive ecosystem.

GoTo’s engineering team will join forces with Tencent Cloud’s in-house service and architecture experts to further develop its technology, allowing the company to improve its enterprise offerings, while also boosting its consumer-centric products and strengthening user experience.

As a leading Indonesian tech company, GoTo’s strong market presence and range of services will be further bolstered by Tencent Cloud’s strong local presence, underpinned by its locally domiciled Tencent Cloud servers.

Tencent Cloud with its comprehensive global infrastructure spanning 21 geographic regions and 58 availability zones, including two data centers in Jakarta, Indonesia will be able to deliver over 400 technologies and connectivity solutions designed to drive enterprise-grade digital transformation.

By establishing local data centers, Tencent Cloud can enhance service proximity, minimise data access delays, and foster rapid digital transformation for businesses and organisations nationwide. This strategy not only ensures compliance with regulatory standards but also offers robust disaster recovery options across the Asia-Pacific region.

The highly anticipated 3rd edition of Qatar Travel Mart organised by NeXTfairs, is set to take place from November 25 to 27 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center dedicated, to highlighting Qatar as a leading hub in the travel industry in the region.

This year, the event will welcome a diverse range of participants including senior executives, decision-makers, tourism experts, academics, researchers, government officials, representatives from related sectors and travel enthusiasts.

Exhibition space at this year’s edition is doubled to accommodate more international participants and to enhance attendee experience. Featuring 300 hosted buyers and focusing on seven key tourism sector of business, leisure, luxury, medical, cultural, sports, and halal tourism, QTM 2024 will unveil top travel destinations and the latest industry trends.

Reflecting on QTM 2023’s success, which saw participation from 60 countries, 250 exhibitors, and nearly 10,000 visitors: “Qatar Travel Mart has been a remarkable journey that underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and connecting industry leaders in the travel and tourism sectors. QTM 2024 is set to be our most impactful event yet, driving progress and shaping the future of the industry,” said Mr. Rawad Sleem, co-founder and general manager of NeXTfairs.

QTM 2024 also offer valuable investment opportunities in tourism development and feature a high-level conference with insights from top regional and international experts. The hosted buyer program, supported by Qatar Tourism plays a crucial role in facilitating collaboration and connections among industry stakeholders.

Expected to attract international associations, senior executives, and decision-makers, the event provides a unique platform for global buyers and visitors to explore Qatar’s diverse tourism offerings and consider it, as part of their travel plans. The event brings together a wide array of participants, including destination management companies, hotels, tour and cruise operators, travel agencies, travel technology companies, associations and tourism boards.

For more information, please visit https://qtmqatar.com/ or contact +974 5055 0120.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by Pacific Asia Travel Association with the Sanya Tourism Board to create a strategic alliance focused on the sustainable growth of tourism in Sanya and tropical islands across the Asia Pacific region.

The MOU was ratified by Sanya Tourism Board director general, Mr. Albert Yip and PATA chief executive officer Mr. Noor Ahmad Hamid, during the 2024 Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event media briefing on August 27, which was held in conjunction with PATA Travel Mart 2024.

Sanya as the most representative tropical coastal city in China, has rich tourism resources and unique geographical advantages, is one of the PATA’s important cooperative partner for future development stated PATA’s chief executive officer.

According to the agreement, both parties will work together to strengthen cooperation in culture and tourism, conduct in-depth tourism research in fields such as the development of tropical coastal tourism, international tourism marketing, and sustainable development.

As part of the MOU both parties commit to jointly organise the Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event in Sanya for three years from 2024 to 2026, with the aim of expanding Sanya’s influence within the global island tourism industry.

The 2024 Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event, will take place at the China Hyatt Regency Sanya Tianli Bay in Sanya, Hainan, China from September 4th to 5th.

Under the theme ‘The Next Wave: Shaping the Future of Tourism Marketing in Tropical Coastal Cities’ the event will delve into key topics on innovative international tourism marketing strategies, support local communities, and the sustainable development of tropical coastal cities.

What the event aims to provide, is a platform for tropical coastal city mayor and tourism professionals, to share best practices while establishing Sanya, as a key inbound international tourism destination in China.

This event marks a significant milestone in fostering closer cooperation and joint development among tropical coastal cities.

This year, the ITB Asia conference has adopted the theme ‘Innovating for Tomorrow: Strengthening Future Resilience in Travel and Tourism’ which will be the main focus over the three days from October 23 to 25 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

Under this theme, attendees will be able to obtain ground-breaking knowledge and insights, how to adapt to changing consumer expectations as well as, improve operational efficiency to create a sustainable and more immersive experiences.

Renowned industry experts, including notable figures from Almaty Tourism Bureau, Booking.com, Croatian National Tourist Board, Dubai World Trade Centre, FCM Meetings and Events, Live Group, MG Group, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor and World Travel and Tourism Council, will explore, debate and discuss the latest insights revolutionising the travel and tourism sector.

Opening keynote on the first day is by Ms. Liz Ortiguera, the managing director Asia-Pacific and senior advisor to the chief executive officer of World Travel amd Tourism Council. Title of her speech is ‘Global Trends for Sustainable Travel and Tourism’. Attendees will gain an economic outlook on the travel and tourism industry in Asia-Pacific, global and regional trends that are influencing the sector’s transition towards a sustainable future.

While Mr. Kevin Goh, chief executive officer lodging of CapitaLand Investment Limited and is the chief executive officer, The Ascott Limited will deliver a keynote speech entitled ‘Navigating the Future of Travel: Embracing Technological Innovation’ offering an insight on the transformative impact of technology in the industry.

According to Ms. Joyce Wang, executive director of Messe Berlin, organiser of ITB Asia, MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, this year’s ITB Asia is “jam-packed and full of energy celebrating the vibrant travel tourism scene with cultural and destination showcases complemented by a seamless B2B business meetings scheduler.”

The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event, has made key executive appointments, as it expands the team in preparation for AIME 2025 to be held in February next year.

John Wilson with more than 25 years of experience in event marketing is designated as the new marketing director of AIME.  This is after having led teams at international event and trade fair organisers such as Informa, Deutsche Messe and Foundry.

He will be responsible for AIME’s global marketing communications, as the event gets ready for its 32nd show in 2025.

While multi-disciplinary creative storyteller Kayla Elliott joins in the role of marketing executive, and will be creating content that connects with AIME’s global audience.

Appointed as director of operations and content is Clair Graham. She brings with her more than 20 years of event management experience.

Also joining the operations team is Nissa Ni as event and systems coordinator, who comes to the role after almost 15 years at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the home of AIME.

“We are so excited to welcome John, Claire, Kayla and Nissa to the AIME team. They are already making their impact felt, bringing new ideas and inspiration as preparations for AIME 2025 continue at pace,” said Silke Calder, event director of AIME.

The 2025 event is set to be a blockbuster. Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, AIME has enlarged its footprint to 15,000 square metres, with over 10 bays to accommodate more than 600 exhibitors, 650 hosted buyers and the 20,000 meetings that are set to take place on the show floor.

Ms. Calder stated AIME has cemented its position as the leading events host for the international business events community in the region.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust who operates the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre have taken, a significant step towards inclusivity with the launch of their latest Accessibility Action Plan – welcoming visitors from diverse backgrounds.

MCET adopts the social model view of recognising these barriers are due to social systems and structures, rather than the individual, and the new Accessibility Action Plan seeks to address both physical and non-visible barriers.

The Plan focuses on four key goals: improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities; improving access to goods, services and facilities at MCEC and Nyaal Banyul; collaborating with event organisers to ensure everyone can meaningfully participate and engage in events; and changing discriminatory attitudes, behaviours and practices.

MCET has already made significant progress towards accessibility and inclusion across both venues.

The iconic Melbourne venue, MCEC has a range of accessible features available to support visitors with mobility needs, vision impairment and assisted hearing.

MCEC’s new website launched last year was designed with inclusivity in mind, complying to WCAG 2.0 Level AA Accessibility Guidelines, and providing information about accessible features as well as virtual tours of the venue, allowing visitors to easily explore, navigate and plan their visit. Over the next three years, MCET has committed to further enhancing accessibility at the venue.

Construction of Nyaal Banyul, which is set to open on the Geelong waterfront in 2026 is currently underway. MCET is working closely with the Victorian Government and the consortium led by Plenary Conventions to ensure Universal Design principles are embedded throughout the venue, ensuring accessible gathering spaces for all who visit.

In addition, a Positive Impact Guide was launched last year to provide event organisers with tangible resources to embed corporate social responsibility into their events. The guide includes information on accommodations that can be made to support attendees, as well as partnerships with leading disability service providers, Travellers Aid and Alkira.

MCET’s Accessibility Action Plan was developed with input from people with lived experience along with expertise from accessibility consultants in the tourism industry. This included support from the City of Melbourne Business Capacity Program.

While the Accessibility Action Plan has been designed specifically with accessibility and reasonable reading levels in mind is available in plain language and easy English format at https://www.mcec.com.au/our-impact/accessibility-action-plan

ICCA Asia Pacific, MPI and IAPCO are supporting partners for the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific, which will take place from March 19  to 20 in 2025. AsiaWorld-Expo, one of the major convention and exhibition facilities in Hong Kong has been confirmed as the venue for the spring tradeshow.

The show provides a gateway to the Asia Pacific MICE market bringing together a high calibre group of international, APAC regional and local meeting planners and exhibitors for two days of pre-scheduled one-to-one business meetings, education and networking.

An opportunity for global destinations and suppliers to showcase their products and solutions to over 250 pre-qualified buyers and 1,500 visitors from over 20 countries within Asia Pacific.

IBTM Asia Pacific event will be supported by IBTM’s innovative matchmaking technology and pioneering hosted buyer programme, which creates personalised appointment diaries for buyers and exhibitors.