IT&CMA and CTW 2011 Opens in Bangkok

IT&CMA and CTW 2011, Asia's Only Doublebill event, celebrates its 10th year in Thailand this year.

Opening Ceremony

The Thailand Convention Exhibitions Bureau (TCEB) is pulling out all the stops to make the Opening Ceremony a real extravaganza. It will include amazing performances featuring a nostalgic walk down memory lane. It will be fitting tribute to the past decade. The Opening Ceremony will be held at the Intercontinental Bangkok, which is situated very close to BCC at CentralWorld.

Keynote Address and Panel Discussion
A big draw of IT&CMA and CTW 2011 is the keynote address by industry veteran, Ms. Jennie Chua, Chief Corporate Officer at CapitaLand Limited. Ms. Chua has an extensive track record in the tourism and hospitality industry. She will address the very topical issue of leadership in times of uncertainty and crisis in her speech titled, 'Managing in Times of Uncertainty and Change - The global economy, corporate environment and travel and tourism industry'.

Ms. Chua has an extensive track record in the tourism and hospitality industry. In her illustrious career she has held many reputable posts such as President and CEO of Ascott Limited and President and CEO of Raffles Holdings Limited. She presently chairs several business, tourism, arts and social sector organisations including the International Advisory Council for Tourism of Singapore Tourism Board, Tourism Industry Skills and Training Council and the Community Chest of Singapore. Ms. Chua is also Deputy Chairman of Temasek Foundation, the non-profit philanthropic organisation established by Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Ms. Chua has received numerous awards including three Singapore National Day Awards (1984, 2004 and 2008); Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award 2006 by the Singapore Tourism Board; Women's World Excellence Award 2006; Travel Personality of the Year Award 2005 by TTG Asia and 25 Stars of Asia Award 2003 by Business Week Magazine.

The Keynote Address will be followed by the keynote panel discussion which will further deal with Strategic Solutions in Times of Crisis. The session will be moderated by Paul Tilstone, Chief Global Development Officer of Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and feature distinguished panelists Ms. Claire Blades, Global Travel Manager of Symantec Corporation and Mr. Paul Kanjanapas, Managing Director of IMPACT Exhibition Management.

Claire Blades joined Symantec in 2004 and has a wealth of experience. She began her travel industry career with Carlson Wagonlit Travel. She moved into corporate travel management working at Oracle Corporation where she stayed for over seven years, and was instrumental in travel policy design and online booking tool deployment. At Symantec, Claire has managed the travel function for Europe, Middle East and Asia from the Reading facility since the merger with Veritas Software Corp in June 2005. She relocated in December 2009 to Florida to take on global responsibilities. In addition to her Symantec responsibilities, Claire serves on the Global Business Travel Association's Corporate Social Responsibility Committee. 

Paul Kanjanapas entered the travel industry after graduating from the European Business School with a Bachelor's degree in international business administration, and has been heading the company since January 2002. He oversees the day-to-day operation and business development of the largest exhibition and convention venue in Thailand, and one of the largest in South-east Asia, which includes the Novotel Bangkok IMPACT, located in the heart of IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center. Paul has served in several positions – from Committee Member to Vice-President for Education and Public Relations – in the Thai Exhibition Association over the years He has also served as a Committee Member of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions) Capabilities Team helping the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau to develop the capabilities of MICE players in Thailand.