Doublebill Event Draws on the Best of Corporate and ‘MICE’ Travel

Bangkok, 12 October 2004 - For the first time, two well-established international travel events are being held concurrently in Bangkok, Thailand. This “Doublebill” brings together the 12th Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) and 7th Corporate Travel World (CTW) Asia-Pacific. Both are co-located at the IMPACT Convention Center, from 12 to 14 October 2004. It is also the first time that CTW (Asia-Pacific) is being held in Bangkok.

The longer-running IT&CMA leverages on Thailand’s popularity as the perfect location for meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions (MICE). Having CTW (Asia-Pacific) run in parallel not only draws upon the synergy of joint staging but also recognises Thailand’s growing importance in the business world.

Being hosted at this “Doublebill 2004” are 262 MICE buyers and 111 corporate travel managers, making a total of 373 buyers and travel managers from 40 countries. Among these guests are MICE buyers from Austria, Lebanon and Macedonia who are attending the conference and exhibition for the first time.

The combined shows have a total of 300 exhibiting companies from 29 countries in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Europe, UK and US occupying gross floor space of 6,000 square metres. With the pick-up in corporate travel and MICE events, national pavilions have increased their participation to accommodate expanded demand from their industry suppliers. Host country Thailand leads the pack at IT&CMA 2004 with the biggest delegation (58 co-exhibitors), followed by Singapore (47 co-exhibitors), Malaysia (30 co-exhibitors), Hong Kong (20 co-exhibitors) and Australia (18 co-exhibitors).

Although IT&CMA’s primary focus over the years has been the Asia-Pacific region, participation from other regions has grown. Making their debut this year on the exhibition floor are the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau, Hiroshima Convention & Visitors Bureau, Chiba Convention Bureau, Vienna Convention Bureau, Brunei Tourism and Tourism New Zealand. Some of these countries and cities are relatively new to the world of meetings and incentives; others are now focusing more on MICE events. Together with the regular favourites and established MICE destinations and facilities, visitors will have an exciting collection to consider.

CTW 2004 offers a choice of specialty and general tracks. These range from the dynamics of business travel reservations to creative ways to transform corporate meetings and lively forum topics that address cultural differences in new markets, globalisation in the corporate travel arena and the full-service vs low-cost carrier phenomenon, especially how it will affect corporate travel.

With the increasing emphasis on incorporating the element of social responsibility in a company’s marketing mix strategy, the Doublebill event this year gives all participants the opportunity to show in a small way their concern for the less fortunate members of society. TTG Asia is leading the “Carry for Kids” charity drive for the Baan Rajvithee Orphanage for girls and the Pak Kred Babies Home.

Foreign delegates have been requested to bring something from the “wish list” for the girls and babies of these homes. Simple items such as toothbrushes, clothing, blankets, shoes, toys, stationery and school bags will be much appreciated and go a long way to show the understanding and kindness of the international community. Delegates can also make a small cash donation when they buy popcorn at the popcorn stall as all proceeds will go to the orphanages.

The synchronised, multimedia opening night on 11 October showed how well Thailand could lay on the hospitality and entertainment for MICE events. Apart from business sessions during the three-day IT&CMA and CTW, delegates and visitors can also look forward to the following social events:

• The Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) and TTGmice Interactive Power Lunch on 13 October. Dynamic speaker, author and corporate strategist Roger Konopasek will deliver some savvy ideas to jaded minds.
• TTGmice Launch Celebration – TTG Asia Media’s IMA (Incentive and Meetings Asia) magazine has been revamped and the new branding will be unveiled on the night of 13 October.
• Other hosted functions, including “Hong Kong – Live It! Love It!” luncheon on 12 October; “Welcome to My World” dinner on 13 October; and “Uniquely Singapore” luncheon on 14 October, at which the Sticky Awards will be presented. Now in its third year, 13 awards will be given to IT&CMA exhibitors who show the most originality and creativity in their displays and promotions.

Besides the IT&CMA exhibition and CTW conference, other events held in conjunction with the Doublebill are: the Global Travel Management Exchange Forum on 11 October; the Asia Pacific International Congress & Convention Researchers Meeting (11-12 October); and the 2nd IMEX and Asia-Pacific Future Leaders Forum 2004 (12 October).

Speaking to international and local media at the Doublebill press conference on 11 October, TTG Asia Media Managing Director, Darren Ng, said: “TTG Asia Media is pleased to have the full support of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) and Thai Airways International in this combined event.”

He also acknowledged the contribution of the venue, official and supporting hotels, endorsing associations, official and supporting publications and other corporate sponsors.

Mr Ng added: “I would like to take the opportunity to announce that whilst we have been very happy with our Bangkok location and venue for the past three years, we believe that foreign delegates in particular will gain more if they can experience another attractive MICE destination in Thailand. With this in mind, IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific will be held at the PEACH convention centre in Pattaya from 11-13 October 2005 and 10-12 October 2006.”

For more information on IT&CMA/CTW, please contact:

TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd
9 Battery Road, #17-02 Straits Trading Building Singapore 049910
Tel: (65) 6395 7513
Fax: (65) 6536 0896
Website: http://www.itcma.com.sg or http://www.corporatetravelworld.com

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About the “Doublebill” Event
Now in its 7th year, CTW Asia-Pacific is a conference and exhibition on Travel & Entertainment (T&E) management for the Asia-Pacific region. It is a platform for hundreds of corporate travel managers, travel agencies and suppliers to meet and discuss the impact of global and regional issues on the development of business travel into and out of the region.

Now in its 12th year, IT&CMA is the region’s premier meetings and incentive travel show, and is attended by thousands of delegates from more than 36 countries. It is a platform for promoting the Asia-Pacific region as a MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions & Exhibitions) destination as well as a source for MICE visitors.

About the Show Organiser
TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd is the region’s leading travel and tourism business information and access provider. With extensive industry involvement through a wide range of media products including publications, exhibitions, database management and the Internet, the company provides our partners with integrated marketing solutions and an effective platform to showcase their products and services to the industry.

Travel trade shows organised by the company include IT&CMA (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia), CTW (Corporate Travel World Asia-Pacific), ITS (International Travel Show) Thailand and ATF (ASEAN Tourism Forum) 1998, 2001 and 2003. It also publishes six titles targeted at distinct segments of the travel trade: TTG Asia, TTG China, TTG India, Incentive & Meetings Asia (IMA), BTN (Business Travel News) Asia-Pacific and BTN China.

TTG also organises DM (Direct Marketing) Asia and IFSC (International Feng Shui Convention), and publishes This Week Singapore and the Map of Singapore (English, Chinese and Japanese editions).

Established in Singapore since 1974, TTG employs 60 staff around the region with offices in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Hong Kong and Taipei. TTG Asia Media is a member company of hongkong.com and chinadotcom. Parent company hongkong.com is a leading Asian Internet media, communications and interactive services company listed on the Growth Market Enterprise (GEM) of the Hong Kong stock exchange. Its majority owner, chinadotcom corporation, is the first NASDAQ-listed, pan-Asian integrated Internet company.