MESSE Berlin (Singapore), organiser of ITB Asia, has announced the largest conference programme line-up ever for this year’s show. Currently in its fourth year, ITB Asia is known for having successfully established a credible and international knowledge-sharing platform alongside the trade show, through the series of conferences, seminars and workshops it organises. Held from October 19 to 21 at Suntec Singapore, ITB Asia delegates can look forward to attending two new events - the inaugural TTG Travel Agent Conference and the Asia for Asia Conference, as well as the second installment of the successful ITB Asia Association Day. 'With close to 800 exhibiting companies from 60 countries from all aspects of the Asian travel industry participating in the show, ITB Asia sits on the pulse of the regional travel, tourism and hospitality industries,' said Nino Gruettke, executive director of ITB Asia. 'We constantly seek feedback from particpants to ensure the conference programme is relevant and able to address the latest developments, challenges and trends in the industry. This way, we hope to spark more sharing and collaborative efforts to capitalise on growth opportunities within the region.' The travel agent conference promises to deliver practical know-how and tangible learning points that travel agents can apply to their businesses to elevate success. Covering a range of topics, the conference includes case studies of super agents and tips for success in customised travel and online businesses. The fifth Asia for Asia Conference, organised by the Singapore Tourism Board in conjunction with The Asian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (AACVB), will be held in Singapore for the first time this year at ITB Asia. Themed ‘Asia Rising: The Future of Meetings’, the conference will explore the macro trends of the Asian travel industry, offering valuable insights and learnings from the experts, innovators, leaders and trendsetters of the meetings industry. The Asia for Asia Conference will be held on October 20 and attendance is by invitation only. Encouraged by the overwhelming success of the introduction of ITB Asia Association Day last year, the conference will be back this year on October 20, with new features such as a specialist forum dedicated to understanding and growing the association meeting sector in Asia.
