ITB Asia Buyer Registration Now Open Online

The registration processes for buyers at the ITB Asia 2009 is open and can be done online at http://www.itbasia-delegates.com/buyerprogramme.aspx for all industry professionals organising, negotiating or purchasing business travel, conferences, meetings, incentive trips, leisure groups or special events. The deadline for buyer registration submissions is July 1. The second edition of the ITB Asia takes place at Suntec, Singapore from October 21 to 23.
Messe Berlin (Singapore) is being positioned as "The Trade Show for the Asian Travel Market." To register for the buyers' programme, applicants simply select and complete the relevant online registration form - for MICE, corporate travel or leisure. Each applicant will be subject to a rigorous validation process led by Siti Banding, Assistant Director-Buyers Programme for Messe Berlin (Singapore). Over 800 buyers will be invited to attend ITB Asia this year. This includes 350 top performers from last year and hundreds of new ones. Buyers represent the MICE, leisure and corporate travel markets. "Our strategic objective this year is to increase the quality and quantity of MICE, corporate travel, and group leisure buyers," said Siti Banding. "We would particularly like to encourage buyer applications from China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and the Middle East."
Buyers who pass the validation process will be eligible for varying degrees of logistical support, mostly in transport and accommodation. In addition, they will have full access to all official ITB Asia events and social functions.
Exhibitor registrations for ITB Asia 2009 are ahead of this time last year and are exceeding the expectations of Messe Berlin. Exhibitors can download the ITB Asia registration form at www.itb-asia.com/exhibitorcentre
Booth space at ITB Asia starts at US$2,890 per nine square metres. Each nine square metre package includes two exhibitor badges, a listing in the ITB Asia show catalogue and ITB Asia virtual marketplace online, and one set of buyer appointments. Prices for small and medium-sized enterprises start at US$999.
"Registrations have been going well, with Middle East exhibitors coming up nicely," said Messe Berlin (Singapore) General Manager, Whey Whey Ng. "Exhibitors who want to be part of Asia's leading B2B travel show for leisure, MICE and corporate travel need to move quickly to make sure their organizations secure the right locations in the hall."  We aim to ensure that the quality and quantity of buyers meets and surpasses exhibitor needs. The nature of negotiations between buyers and exhibitors at ITB Asia will tell us if 2010 is going to be a year of recovery in the industry."