Reed Travel Exhibitions announces the launch of Asia Business Travel Market 2003

8 August 2002

A unique new dual location exhibition and conference has been launched, targeting the rapidly growing Greater China business travel market, where annual business travel expenditure is soaring by 20% a year.

Asia Business Travel Market (ABTM), organised by leading worldwide business to business event specialists Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), will be held for the first time in September 2003, in two major Greater China cities.

Andrew Lee, Event Director, said:" This is a significant event for Asia, providing an unparalleled business opportunity for business travel suppliers, anxious to tap into the highly lucrative and emerging Greater China market. 

"The timing for this event is absolutely right. We have carried out detailed research and there is mounting evidence of a coming 'explosion' in business travel to and from Greater China. This is an opportunity for business travel suppliers to talk face to face to the thousands of foreign companies who are already located or are planning a base in Greater China. 

"ABTM is a fast track, cost effective means for exhibitors to make valuable new contacts and conduct and build new business in an important marketplace. 

"Cost management issues are a vital factor to maximise business travel budgets and visitors to ABTM will be able to identify improved business travel solutions that are tailored to their company and its needs. This will be a top line consideration in the programme to attract quality visitors. 

"The event will also provide an educational forum, where professionals can learn more about trends and developments. 

"RTE has more experience in this kind of specialist field than any other in the world and this will undoubtedly help us to deliver a results-oriented, on target event from the start."

Nearly 400,000 foreign-based companies operate in China. According to the China National Tourism Administration, China's annual business travel expenditure is estimated at more than US$4.2 billion, and soaring by an average rate of 20% per year.

"The China National Tourism Administration has now agreed to grant foreign travel companies a larger equity share on joint-venture partnerships with Chinese companies", continued Mr. Lee. " By 2005, 100 per cent ownership is expected to be granted to overseas travel companies. 

"This will pave the way for huge economic benefits for the international business travel industry." 

ABTM has already forged a strategic business partnership with Business Traveller, which will be the event's official publication.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Managing Director, Mr Tom Nutley said: "The launch of ABTM is part of RTE's long term global strategy to help expand business travel. This segment still produces the highest yield for primary travel trade suppliers such as airlines and hotels. "