Business Travel Expo Hong Kong 2003 Set For Record-Breaking Attendance

Business Travel Expo Hong Kong 2003, Asia’s first business to-business travel show, is on target for record-breaking attendance and its biggest-ever turnout of exhibitors at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre on March 25-26.

Following the tremendous success of last year’s inaugural two-day event, which attracted more than 1,200 buyers, managers and arrangers of corporate travel, most main exhibitors are returning – and many new exhibitors have booked stands.

A conference and seminar programme titled ‘Make Your Travel Budget Go Further’ focusing on how to cut corporate travel costs in today’s challenging global economy is proving especially appealing to travel professionals, says Event Director Paul Robin.

“There’s never been a more appropriate time to learn how to efficiently manage corporate travel budgets,” he notes. “Even small companies can save a lot by managing their travel more efficiently.”

Keynote speaker is Tony Hughes, President and CEO of the global travel agency consortium, Radius Travel Group who will fly in from New York to  deliver global perspectives on best practice in international travel management.

Other expert speakers will explain such issues as utilising low-cost carriers, finding the best accommodation for your money, getting better value from small budgets, online booking, cutting overall travel costs and saving benefits of corporate credit cards.

Returning exhibitors this year include American Express, Cathay Pacific, P&O Travel, Singapore Airlines, Galileo, KCRC, Marriott, Shangri-la, BTI Westminster, Swire Travel, TQ3, Regal Hotels, Abacus and Swiss International Airlines.

Additional exhibitors making their debut at the expo include Dragonair, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Raffles Hotels, US Airways, Continental Airlines,  Mastercard, Carlson Hotels and Deerjet (Air Charter), to name just a few.

New travel products being launched include the ABACUS ‘GetThere’ direct-user booking engine that streamlines the travel management process,  the newest hotel from newly named Hong Kong-based hotel group, Langham Hotels International, Cathay Pacific’s new ‘same day’ flights to London, five new Accor Hotels & Resorts in the Asia Pacific region, a ‘new world of comfort’ aboard Dragonair, and a new online booking system being introduced by Raffles International Hotels & Resorts.

The Expo is once again supported by HATA (Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents) and ACTE (Association of Corporate Travel Executives).

“This year’s 2003 event is on target to be even bigger and better than our first expo last year,” notes Mr Robin.

“We’ve secured greater participation by exhibitors and expect an even larger attendance by travel professionals looking for new and more cost-effective products.”

Among other top travel suppliers exhibiting in 2003 are: Accor Asia, American International Travel, BTI, Carison Wagonlit Travel, Eaton Hotel Hong Kong, Farrington American Express, OAG, Pan Pacific Hotels &  Resorts, Raffles Hotels, Six Continents Hotels, SRS-WORLDHOTELS, Star Alliance c/o Austrian Airlines, Manchester Swire Travel c/o Rosenbluth, The Leading Hotels of the World and Travel Plus Magazine.

The show is organised by UK-based Centaur Exhibitions which stages the highly successful Business Travel Show London and other leading corporate travel events in Europe.