ITB China News 2018 - Preview Edition

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
7
WE WILL HAVE AN INCREASE
OF MORE THAN 30% IN THE
NUMBER OF BUYERS AT THIS
YEAR’S SHOW COMPARED TO 2017
David Axiotis
General Manager, ITB China
ITB China:
Major Growth for 2 nd Edition
Exclusive Interview: David Axiotis, General Manager, ITB China
At this year’s ITB China, exhibitor demand is way above the
level of last year, with a 50% increase of the gross exhibition
area. ITB China is fully booked out with over 700 exhibitors
from 80 countries presenting themselves to 15,000 attendees.
In addition to established exhibitors from last year, the
organisers have been able to secure many newcomers. We
asked David Axiotis, General Manager, ITB China what else is
“new” this year.
We extended our hosted buyer
programme this year. With around
800 buyers we will have an increase
of more than 30% in the number of
buyers at this year’s show compared
to 2017.
This year’s partner destination
is Finland and ITB China 2018 is
an official partner event of the EU
China Tourism Year. Hotel industry
giant, Wyndham Hotel Group has
become the official partner hotel of
the second edition of ITB China.
We also bring up two strategic
partnerships with The China
Tourism Academy and the China
Tourism Association to enhance
business opportunities and raise
global awareness for the Chinese
tourism industry.
The ITB China Market Introduction
Programme makes its debut at
ITB China this year. The newly
launched programme is planned
for international travel industry
professionals who have no or little
experience with the Chinese travel
market so far.
ITB China Conference will offer
everyone working in the business
travel market an ideal platform for
training and networking at the new
Business Travel Day. The last day
of the ITB China Conference will
be dedicated to the Education &
Job Day in partnership with Fudan
University, Hong Kong Polytechnic
University and the Hospitality
Sales and Marketing Association
International (HSMAI).
Qyer and ITB China will co-organise
the It’s My World Travel Awards
2018, honouring Chinese key
opinion leaders as well as global
destinations at this year’s show.
What will be the highlights of the
ITB China Conference this year?
The exhibition is flanked by a strong
conference programme with 120
top speakers informing about the
latest developments in China. This
think tank of Chinese travel will
provide up-to-date key insights of
these seven areas: ‘Destination’,
‘Travel Tech’, ‘Corporate Travel &
MICE’, ‘Online Travel’, and - for
the first time - ‘Customised Travel’,
‘Business Travel’ and ‘Education
& Job’. The conference kicks off
with the opening keynote speech
by James Liang, Chairman of Ctrip.
In addition, other top companies
such as CITS American Express
Global Business Travel, Carlson
Wagonlit Travel and BCD Travel,
Merlin Entertainments, Mafengwo,
Lushu, Abercrombie & Kent will
provide exciting insights into their
expanding markets. One highlight
will be the ITB China Startup Award
that takes place for the second
time and which acknowledges
outstanding new products and
services that were introduced less
than two years ago and which
anticipate major market potential.
The innovations are vetted by the ITB
China jury based on the uniqueness
of the underlying innovation. The
Pitch and the Award Ceremony will
take place on 17 May 2018 from 3
to 4.30 pm in the Conference Area.
As official partner of EU-China
Tourism year, what will be the
impact of this?
ITB China is the prefect marketplace
to showcase Europe’s unique
and diverse natural and cultural
heritage and to promote mutual
exchanges between Europe and
China. The ECTY will enhance the
visibility of the European countries
as appealing travel destinations in
Greater China.
Please tell us a little more about
this year’s partner destination.
Finland appeals to travellers
searching for unique experiences
in their destinations as well as
convenience and has proven that
it is attaching a great importance
in enhancing Chinese tourists’
travel experience. Finland is
running a multitude of visa centers
in China, working on e-visa
solutions for Chinese tourists and
has opened up for Chinese mobile
payments systems adding a lot of
convenience for Chinese visiting
Finland. Its spectacular natural
wonders, the summer cottages,
the numerous lakes, saunas and
thousands of islands and the land
covered by forests attract travellers
from all over the world. Visitors
to Finland love the friendly and
easy-going lifestyle of the country
and the unique combination of
sophisticated urban living and
incredible natural beauty
ITB CHINA NEWS • Wednesday 9 th May 2018