ITB Asia, ‘Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show,’ successfully concluded rounding off the first virtual event in its 13-year history. The success of the first virtual show signals returning confidence amongst travel industry professionals The highly-anticipated trade show was hosted virtually from 21-23 October 2020 on the newly established online platform, ITB Community in Asia (ITB Community). Over three days, the virtual event welcomed over 35,000 travel professionals from around the world who participated in the show’s vibrant agenda of conference and networking sessions, supported by world leaders and leading destinations. 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, shared: “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.”
This year, exhibitors were present at ITB Asia 2020 Virtual’s exhibition through digital exhibition booths. The virtual exhibition featured major players in the hotel, tourism and travel sectors.
Themed “Reinventing Travel in the New Normal”, ITB Asia 2020 Virtual’s conference saw more than 160 top speakers from major global brands lead 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 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.
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 27-29 October 2021, the live segment of the event hopes to bring back human connections through face-to face business meetings and networking sessions.
