Messe Berlin (Singapore) confirmed Thursday that ITB Asia, MICE Show Asia, and Travel Tech Asia will go virtual from 21 – 23 October 2020.

The 12-year-old ITB Asia, becomes the latest casualty in a long list of travel trade events that have fallen foul of the Covid-19 pandemic due to travel restrictions and social distancing measures.

The virtual event will be hosted on a newly developed platform, also known as the ITB Community.

In addition to hosting this year’s edition of ITB Asia, MICE Show Asia, and the inaugural Travel Tech Asia, ITB Community will also facilitate a year-long virtual engagement programme for key stakeholders. It will allow them to continue forging new partnerships and strengthen existing business relationships with important players in the region.

Messe Berlin (Singapore) said the launch of the virtual platform – ITB Community, would also offer free and unlimited access all year round to new opportunities to meet, network, do business, learn and share. 

Katrina Leung, managing director, Messe Berlin (Singapore), said: “Taking into consideration the need for businesses to connect, it is imperative for us to unite the community to enable business meetings to take place for seamless knowledge exchange.

“ITB Community will be the latest permanent addition to a wide variety of offerings we have for our customers to tap into for their business success.”

The three-day virtual event for ITB Asia, MICE Show Asia, and Travel Tech Asia will incorporate key features such as business matching between buyers and sellers, top-notch conference sessions, virtual exhibitions, and more, creating a marketplace for the travel industry.

The physical live versions of ITB Asia, MICE Show Asia, and Travel Tech Asia will return next year, 27 to 29 October 2021, at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore. Over 165 exhibitors have already confirmed their participation in ITB Asia 2021.