Technological advances and cost reductions boost fast-moving industry
FOR TWO DAYS next week, the Business Travel Expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will bring together about 50 travel services suppliers offering air, hotel, travel management, payment systems, reservation and online booking services to corporate travel planners.
About 30 per cent of the suppliers at this year's expo, which opens on Tuesday, March 22, are newcomers who hope to take advantage of the revived business travel market. They include online travel service China Travel Net, private air charter operator Metrojet, and others.
'As worldwide business travel recovers, and China's accession to the World Trade Organisation brings increased business travel to and from China - and with it more choices of travel partners - travel planners have greater reason than ever to attend the expo this year,' said Paul Robin, group event director of organisers Centaur Exhibitions.
The biggest group of visitors (almost half) will be from small and medium-sized companies with annual travel budgets of less than $500,000.
The organisers saw a significant increase in pre-show registration, indicating that the thirst for knowledge in business travel is driving more people to learn about how to manage it and control costs.
Mr Robin expected the strong SME turnout to continue this year, building on last year's turnout of 1,500 travel buyers. A 20 per cent increase in visitors was anticipated. 'We will use 10 years of experience from our London show and our database of 20,000 Hong Kong buyers to deliver the audience from around the region, including China, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand,' he said.
