The 13th edition of ITB Asia which went virtual for the first time in its history, welcomed 35,000 travel professionals from across the globe. With the virtual platform providing the perfect space for networking, attendees also took part in online business appointments, fuelling confidence in the industry’s future.
Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), organiser of ITB Asia, said, “We are proud to be the leading travel trade show in Asia, playing our part in creating a close-knit community who support one another through the good times and the more difficult ones. The past three days have been a testament to the resilience of our peers with industry leaders coming together, united by a common purpose of paving the way forward in the face of the new normal.”
Themed “Reinventing Travel in the New Normal”, ITB Asia 2020 Virtual’s conference saw more than 160 top speakers from major global brands lead more than 100 conference sessions. This year’s conferences specially focused on helping travel industry professionals reinvent traditional business models to adapt to current times and prepare for the industry’s recovery.
At the conferences, a specially curated line-up of industry heavyweights shared innovative perspectives on ways to build a more resilient travel industry, as well as solutions to move the industry forward.
Keynote sessions and topics focused on major themes ranging from MICE, corporate travel, travel technology, tours and activities, destination marketing, air travel, and hotel revenue and distribution.
With the new virtual format of the show, recordings have been made available on-demand for all registered delegates to view and watch again.
Next year’s edition of ITB Asia will be a hybrid show featuring a live and an online model to facilitate continuous engagement with industry stakeholders. Scheduled to take place in Singapore from October 27-29, 2021, the live segment of the event hopes to bring back human connections through face-to face business meetings and networking sessions.
Complemented by a proven virtual segment, key functions of the show such as online business matching, on-demand content (insights articles and videos) for all-year-round business, networking and learning will further strengthen ITB Asia’s offering as the leading travel trade show.
Interest is already being expressed for ITB Asia’s 2021 edition, with more than 40% of the exhibition being booked. Confirmed exhibitors will include Advantage Austria, Best Western International, Inspired by Iceland, Korea Tourism Organization, ITB Asia’s official hotel partner, Marina Bay Sands, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and many more.
