A world of new deluxe travel products

Hong Kong’s only international travel expo, ITE&MICE, which this year will be held from June 14 to 17 at halls 1A to 1E of the Hong Kong Convention&Exhibition Center, will feature over 600 exhibitors from some 50 countries and regions from Africa, Americas, Asia and Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. Noted for its highly international profile, some 80% of exhibitors of ITE&MICE come from outside Hong Kong, and about half of the participating countries and regions are from outside Asia. Coupled with its practical seminars, the Travel Expo offers regional buyers and trade visitors an effective platform for networking, sourcing of ideas, products and suppliers, and conducting businesses. Some past exhibitors expand their scale of participations in the Travel Expo this year, amid tightening of government budgets! Official pavilion of Japan, which often ranked second or third by scale in ITE&MICE in recent years, will take 30% more space, while those of Brazil, Moscow, and Tunisia, which were new last year, will have double digits expansions and the largest of which is Moscow at some 50%! The trend of exhibitors taking their own stands outside the official pavilions also accelerates this year. New official stands and pavilions this year come from Angola, Azerbaijan and Zagreb, capital of Croatia. While themes like Cruise and Wellness will continue being highlighted, launches this year is new theme of Honeymooning and Overseas Wedding. In recent years, ITE & MICE has been featuring many international destinations popular for honeymooning, and the new launching is expected to draw even more related travel agents, operators, resorts and hotels. Held in collaboration with regional trade associations are the “Asian Outbound Seminar” with speakers from Singapore, India and Malaysia, and “Cruise Training Seminar” by the Asia Cruise Association. The second trade day will again be designated as MICE / Corporate Travel Day with a series of related seminars.