Sustainability takes centrestage at IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific Knowledge Series

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In response to increasing conversations on sustainability within the business events community and beyond, knowledge sessions across five educational tracks and components at this year’s IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific will tackle environmental and community preservation and support.

The three-day event will feature over 20 knowledge sessions and more than 40 speakers.

A panel session during the inaugural Asian MICE Cruise Conference last year; the event will return this September

The second Asian MICE Cruise Conference on September 24, one of the five educational tracks, will include a session that discusses cruise companies’ commitment to sustainable efforts.

Angie Stephen, managing director – Asia Pacific of Royal Caribbean Cruises, and panelist of the sustainability session, Leaving Minimal Trail Behind, said: “As a collective, cruise lines have a huge role to play in reducing their environmental footprint, given the revitalisation of cruise appeal and demand. Royal Caribbean International is firmly committed to reducing waste and emissions of greenhouse gases in favour of sustainable practices. We are eager to share our current initiatives and work more closely with multiple stakeholders to make a more positive impact.”

Joining Stephen on the panel will be Jiali Wong, regional manager – Asia, Cruise Lines International Association.

Following the Asian MICE Cruise Conference, the Keynote Lecture for IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific will take on the theme, Sustainability – Future Proofing Your Business.

To be held from 15.20 to 16.20, the lecture is organised in collaboration with Chiang MICE, and moderated by sustainability advocate, MICE strategist and hospitality consultant, David Barrett. The compelling push for sustainability will be told through the eyes and perspectives of four iconic professionals from diverse backgrounds: Richard Jones, senior vice president of corporate communications, human resources and sustainability of Indorama Ventures; Marissa Jablonski, USAID FFP environmental advisor of USAID Washington DC Office; Supawan Teerarat, senior vice president of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB); and Pairach Piboonrungroi, director of MICE Excellence Centre, Faculty of Economics of Chiang MICE University.

The engaging session will explore the multiple angles of sustainability and their indelible significance on future proofing businesses for the long term. Talking points include digitising businesses for the future, environmental conservation, community-based tourism, and investment in sustainable businesses.

Said keynote moderator, Barrett: “The prevailing notion of sustainability in industry practices are underwhelming. Recognising that incorporating sustainability takes time and substantial effort to cultivate, the very first step is to be heard and understood. A good platform with decision-makers and industry players from MICE and corporate travel is essential and IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific is just that.”

Sustainability, in the form of future-proofing associations and their activities, will be discussed during the Association Day Forums on September 25 and 26.

GainingEdge will host the session, Association Development – Investing in a Sustainable Future; IAPCO will host Keeping International Association Meetings Relevant; ICCA & WPCOA will host Face Off: Should CVBs And PCOs Work Together For Greater Success?; and SITE will host The Future of Incentives – 10 Things You Need to Know.

ASEAN MICE Forum will return this year on September 26, from 10.40 to 15.00.

Building A Sustainable MICE City and SMART Cities – Leveraging MICE to Diversify and Support Economic Growth are part of this year’s conversations led by notable speakers and moderators from GainingEdge, Indonesia Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Meetings International, MICE Excellence Centre – Chiang Mai University, Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau, and more.

The fifth educational track, CTW Asia-Pacific Conference on September
25 and 26, from 13.50 to 18.00hrs daily, will shine the spotlight on corporate travel management trends and best practices such as cybersecurity risks, effective supplier relationships in travel procurement, travel policy disruption – managing compliance and traveler satisfaction, and duty of care – blurring the lines in bleisure travel.

Supported by the CTW Asia-Pacific Advisory Panel comprising of experienced industry practitioners from Accenture Philippines, Amway Thailand, Herbalife Singapore, CBRE – MCR India, Luxoft Poland, ByteDance China, and Osram China, this community-led event also features collaborative sessions in partnership with CWT, JTB and Cvent.

Other concurrent educational highlights taking place at IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific include:

  • The IMEX-MPI-MCI IT&CMA Future Leaders Forum 2019 (24 and 25 September) welcomes students from across the country to a 1.5-day programme that nurtures and inspires the next generation of industry professionals through conversations and game challenges.
  • IT&CMA Passionate Breakfast By ICCA and TTGmice, back for a second consecutive run, gives early risers a dose of motivational goodness amid a networking breakfast.

“Every year, our knowledge programme is carefully curated to support the educational goals of different delegate segments and interest groups. For the first time, the conversations that take place across distinct tracks will come together as part of this year’s overarching theme on sustainability, lending both cohesion and integration to a common talking point,” said Cheryl Tan, head of TTG Events.

Apart from the knowledge sessions, delegates are invited to look out for other sustainability spotlights taking place at the show, such as the daily complimentary coffee by Philippine Tourism Promotions Board, featuring a special line of blends from La Trinidad, Benguet, sourced from suppliers practising Fair Trade as part of the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee (FSCE) programme.

Co-located with CTW Asia-Pacific, IT&CMA is part of the IT&CM Events series organised by TTG Events, a business group of TTG Asia Media. IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific is Asia-Pacific’s Only Doublebill Event in MICE and Corporate Travel. Both events have been co-locating since 2004, offering its delegates an unparalleled platform to do business, learn and network.

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