Hello from Rome/Beijing and CIBTM

Hello from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport. I’m here waiting for my transfer to Beijing. I’m heading to China for the CIBTM show — that’s the Chinese Incentive and Business Travel show. It’s the region’s number one show for the meetings and conferences industry. I’ve been to quite a few “IBTMs” including their one in Barcelona, Abu Dhabi and most recently Baltimore. I do a lot of work with the show’s owner, Reed Exhibitions. I was asked to speak at CIBTM on the topic of the future of mobile — but connecting that with the hospitality and meetings industry. It really is a fascinating part of the travel marketplace. It’s one that’s being transformed on a daily basis by technology, not just mobile — but increasingly the whole market is heading toward mobile.

I’m in Beijing until Friday and although I’m rather heavily committed, if you’re around or if you’ve any recommendations on smart people I should meet and interview, do let me know on ewan@mobileindustryreview.com.

Most recently I was in Gdansk, Poland and Belgrade, Serbia, delivering similar presentations in conjunction with the IBTM portfolio’s huge, huge EIBTM show that takes place in Barcelona each year. Two of the key highlights in my presentation were:

1. Intelity Hospitality Technology: This company is rocking my mobile world with their fantastic hotel/venue enabling technology (e.g. Think: Ordering a burger from your iPad or unlocking your hotel door with your iPhone.)
2. Double Robotics: This one is a guaranteed wow moment — especially when I play their intro video on the big screen.

They’ll be featuring heavily in my content in China this week.

I’m seriously looking forward to visiting the capital city. I’ll be doing so with my ‘mobile eyes’ to see what’s being used and what the popular platforms being used on the ground are.

Right… I’m off to get on the plane.