ASSOCIATIONS

Two powerhouses in the meetings and events industry combine their vision
6 March 2008 - Messe Berlin, host to the inaugural ITB Asia Travel Trade Show and Convention scheduled from 22-24 October 2008, and Meeting Professionals International (MPI), host to the first co-created Asian Meetings and Events Conference which will take place from 24-26 October, are set to partner as organisers of two of the most highly anticipated events in the Asia Pacific region.
This partnership is an ideal pairing of two industry leaders who share a common vision of building wider networks and growing stronger relationships with global meeting industry professionals. Both organisations view Singapore as a platform to reach out to the Asia Pacific region, with the ultimate goal to increase knowledge, skills and build business opportunities. The collaboration between MPI and Messe Berlin to co-locate and co-market its two inaugural Asia Pacific events allows for greater market reach and penetration.
With ITB Asia potentially expecting over 5,000 trade visitors and the Asian Meetings and Events Conference set to attract 250 conference delegates, both organisations view joining forces for the back-to-back events as a winning formula to create the premier platform for knowledge sharing and transfer, and relationship-building for industry professionals. The Asian Meetings and Events Conference will be entirely co-created with Asia-Pacific meetings and events professionals to address the challenges and opportunities faced by the region, such as the war for talents and the workforce of tomorrow, the future of meetings and increased recognition for the industry and its professionals. Participants can also look forward to skills-upgrading and professional development opportunities - Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification.
“This collaboration fits into MPI’s mission to create dynamic, global meetings and events community and we are pleased to work with Messe Berlin, an industry veteran in travel and tourism convention. This new platform will further our mission to connect meetings and events professionals to knowledge, networks and marketplaces on a global basis.” says Bruce MacMillan, President/CEO of MPI.
Raimund Hosch, CEO of Messe Berlin views the partnership in the same way. “We are privileged to work with MPI, an organisation at the forefront of the meetings and events industry, as we feel this partnership will help to propel the industry towards further global development.”
An attractive programme attached to this year’s conferences is The Hosted Buyer Programme. This programme will draw in 30 meeting professionals from around the world to attend both the ITB Asia Conference and the Asian Meetings and Events Conference on a complimentary basis. With airfares covered by The Singapore Exhibition and Conference Bureau (SECB), complimentary registration by MPI and accommodation by Messe Berlin, the program offers an appealing opportunity to the selected buyers.