Demand for targeted networking sessions reiterated value of buyers at IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2017

Bangkok – Sponsored engagement activities remained in demand across IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2017 with more exclusively branded sessions. 26 captive networking functions will take place over the course of the event, encompassing hosted luncheons, networking cocktails, media briefings, destination presentations, technology showcases, pre-show retreats & tours, and post-show FAM trips.

The diverse set of destinations and corporates (Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park, Chiang Mai and Lanna, Dream Cruises & Star Cruises, Dubai, Macao, Perth, Philippines, Seoul, Thailand, amongst others) that have taken up these captive sessions further demonstrated the importance of crafting reach to a select audience and the power of IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific's market activation opportunities.

Said Jin-Hyeok Park, Director of Seoul Convention Bureau, Seoul Tourism Organization, "I believe our buyers enjoyed the luncheon very much especially from the line-up of activities throughout. While we can also meet through exhibition appointments, there are only so many we can squeeze in on the floor daily, so the luncheon allowed us to reach out directly to a select group of buyers we wanted and share more of our programmes and capabilities to a bigger audience at one time."

Networking has gone further beyond the show to engage buyers through the three day pre-show CTW pow-wow from 23 to 25 September that happened at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park as well as an end year FAM trip by Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, with priority hosting consideration given to IT&CMA buyers and registration already underway.

Roger Parnow, Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing for Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park added, "Through the pre-show stay at our hotel, we showcased the hotel's key components based on tradition and culture fused with modern aspects that the Marriott brand wants to represent. This creates very diverse and conducive environments to cater to the different tastes and needs of our customers. The luncheon today gave us the opportunity to have some personal facetime away from the tight agenda around the show floor while the buyers were in a more relaxed mood. We were able to spotlight our hotel and what we had to offer, while having our key team members on hand to network and share ideas, experiences, and listen to what the customers are really looking for. We were really pleased with the turnout and interest."

Over at CTW Asia-Pacific, Platinum Sponsor FCM Travel Solutions explored a different format of sponsorship by leading a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Tech Showcase to share their expertise and introduce their revolutionary chatbot, Sam.

Of their showcase, FCM Travel Solutions' Bertrand Saillet, General Manager for Asia, remarked, "To me, CTW Asia-Pacific is all about the education and getting in touch with travel managers; understanding their concerns and making sure we come up with solutions that make their lives easier. We have to remember that ultimately, the service is for the traveller. We believe that the chatbot is going to completely revolutionise the corporate travel industries especially for Asia as pocket travel assistant kind of service

that rides on existing apps travellers already use. The key feature about Sam is that it is user-friendly and integrates seamlessly and we believe this is what will make adoption much easier."

FCM Travel Solutions is one of the corporate suppliers at CTW Asia-Pacific, including Silver Sponsors Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park and Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Along with Amadeus Asia, Bay Hotels & Resorts, Carey International, Egencia, and Frasers Hospitality, these leading brands delivered their know-how through a variety of thought-leadership initiatives and dialogues.

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