Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/572452
B M & T ••• May/June 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 15 al MICE industry to involve and address the objectives of valu- able niches through a 2-day program. Including corporate travel and the inaugural CTW China travel management conference in partnership with Carlson Wagonlit Travel, China," explained Ng. He continued, "These expansions are part of a successful endeavor to deepen the value that our delegates receive, allow- ing them to better engage, network and harness information. Destination presentations and cam pfire knowledge sessions are built on top of already familiar business models, education- al and networking highlights." As a result, commitments from NTOs, CVBs and corpo- rations yielded an exciting profile of new exhibitors including destinations such as America, Australia, Berlin, Canada and Hunan. Chic Outlets Shopping, Howard Johnson Conference Resort Chengdu, Jinling Hotels, Pan Pacific Hotel Group, Union Pay, World Tourism Cities Federation and Yu Yang Ex po all exhibited with their own-branded booths. This year also saw a stronger lineup of airline representa- tives including AirBerlin, Delta Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Singapore Airlines. And all of this B2B networking blended nicely into Shanghai's dizzying growth rate since the late 1990s. Foreign investment, private businesses such as those participating in IT&CM China, and rising personal income have all left their marks, especially in the form of a boo ming construction industry. A China guide told me that the aver- age age of the city's buildings is only seven years. "The city is constantly reinventing itself," my guide explained. "Buildings get torn down and destroyed, new ones go up and even people in their 40s can't take you to places where they grew up." There are 4,000 high rises, already more than New York, and plans are in the works to build 1,000 more. Fitting nicely into this building renaissance is the Shanghai Marriott Hotel Parkview, Shanghai's latest city property that was host to over 900 IT&CM China and CTW China dele- gates at the Opening Ceremony and Welcome Dinner. Michael Malik, the Shanghai Marriott's Market Vice President, stated "The Opening Ceremony & Welcome Dinner was a true experience for delegates. We were excited to showcase our outstanding MICE facilities and "Meetings Imagined" approach with seven food stations symbolizing seven meeting purposes – underlining our concept of unique meeting experi- ences tailored for the purpose of meetings. Some lucky delegates also walked away with prizes during the evening's lucky draw." Malik added, "We believe that Marriott's partnership with IT&CM China & CTW China with not only the Shanghai Marriott Hotel Parkview, but also the JW Marriott Changfeng Park and Renaissance Shanghai Yangtze as our official hotels, highlight- ed Marriott's unique advantage. This includes our Enhanced Marriott services that include Meetings Imagined, and our Meeting A few delegates getting ready to take a City Tour