The third CIBTM has been declared as a major success as well as the largest meetings and incentives gathering in China. The event endorsed by the Beijing Tourism Authority has revealed a preliminary attendance figure of 3,869 trade buyers and visitors including an attendance of 219 local, regional and international Hosted Buyers.

The preliminary visitor attendance figures show an increase of 20% compared to CIBTM 2006. The increase was also reflected in the attendance of senior level buyers from Asia and Europe, further establishing CIBTM as the leading meetings and incentives event in China.

A total of 255 exhibiting companies attended the event from across the globe including representation from Egypt, France, South Africa, Hawaii, Britain, Malaysia, Korea, Brunei, Singapore, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Austria and Russia. Hotel brands represented at CIBTM included Accor Hotels, Gloria Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental, Movenpick, Jin Jiang Hotels, Sheraton, Sofitel, Leading Hotels of the World, Mandarin Oriental, Renaissance Hotels, Starwood.

Graeme Barnett, CIBTM Event Director comments “We are delighted with the results of the third CIBTM in Beijing, which can be attributed to a growing understanding and importance of the meetings and incentives industry in China. This year the event was restructured to bring it in-line with our other meetings and incentives events such as EIBTM in Europe and the newly launched GIBTM in the Middle East. The brand values of which are best business, best networking and best education, and a high-level Hosted Buyer Programme. Our aim was to improve the experience for buyers as well as exhibitors and we feel that this has been successfully achieved and embraced by all event participants.”

Major improvements to the 2007 edition included the development of the Hosted Buyer Programme. For the first-time Hosted Buyers were able to select appointments with all exhibitors at the event, as well as enjoy half-day tours of Beijing, and exclusive networking functions organised by Shangri-La and Intercontinental.

Patrick Debus, Managing Director, The Permanent Secretariat of The World Federation of Consuls and Hosted Buyer at CIBTM comments “During 3 days, CIBTM allowed me to have several fruitful and high-level meetings with the major MICE companies and tourist organisations from China, but also from other Asiatic countries and around the world. I’m really happy to have enjoyed this opportunity to meet the “key” persons responsible and to get up-to-date information in such a short timeframe.”

Results of the pioneering CIBTM industry research revealed a positive outlook for the developing meetings and incentives industry in China. Results were obtained from buyers and suppliers and revealed inbound, outbound and intra-regional business flows and business trends.

Paul Kennedy MBE, Group Exhibition Director says “We will develop and extend the study into a Pan Asian research study, reinforcing Reed Travel Exhibitions growing commitment to providing a global research programme.”

Dates for the next CIBTM event in 2008 will shortly be available, to fit appropriately with the Summer Olympic Games taking place in Beijing.

Barnett concludes “We look forward to an even larger and more exciting CIBTM in 2008 when the eyes of the world will be on China for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.”