SINGAPORE [ ABN NEWS ] — Messe Berlin (Singapore), organizer of ITB Asia, “The Trade Show for the Asian Travel Market,” has announced that its 2013 event is set to be even bigger and better as plans are already underway to expand the show even further. Organizers are planning to take up two floors of exhibition space next year (across level 6 and level 4) when it returns to the newly-refurbished Suntec Singapore Convention Centre from October 23-25, 2013.

The fifth edition of ITB Asia came to a close today at The Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, and has been its most successful event to date in terms of growth in exhibitors, quality buyers, conference partners, and trade delegates. Over the 3 days, the show recorded almost 8,500 attendees, a 12% increase from 2011, representing 92 countries, making it one of the region’s most international travel trade events.

“This was a really exciting year for us in many aspects. ITB Asia celebrated its fifth anniversary in Singapore, we were at a new venue which gave the exhibition floor a fresh new look and feel, and we also saw double-digit growth in all aspects of the show,” said Dr. Martin Buck, Vice President, Messe Berlin (Singapore).

“Feedback from the show floor has also been extremely positive, with many exhibitors telling us that they have planned other business meetings and activities to coincide with ITB Asia so as to leverage the efficiencies and valuable synergies surrounding the event. This is another clear indication that ITB Asia is firmly establishing itself as the eminent travel trade show for the region,” added Buck.

This year, the show forged new partnerships with leading travel industry experts representing UNWTO, MCI, National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS), Panacea Publishing Asia, Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), Asia Cruise Association (ACA), and strengthened existing programs with WTTC, PhoCusWright, TTG Asia Media, and Web In Travel, delivering over 3700 minutes of high-quality content.

“Suntec has given us the flexibility to expand the second trade show floor next year depending on demand for space. Our aim is to grow ITB Asia year-on-year not just in terms of floor space but also in delivering high quality, relevant content that will be beneficial to delegates. We want to build this show as a knowledge platform and will continue to focus on bringing in an even more powerful line-up of speakers for next year’s event,” said Nino Gruettke, Executive Director of ITB Asia.

ITB Asia also launched a new strategic initiative this year, Future Leaders, to help attract and groom talent. The event will now be held annually and brings together eminent business leaders from the industry and over 100 of Singapore’s brightest sparks to provide a strategic solution to the industry’s manpower needs.

ITB Asia 2012 is also a partner event of TravelRave, Asia’s most influential travel trade festival organized by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Read more ITB Asia set to expand to two floors in 2013 at newly-refurbished Suntec Convention Centre