Success for TravMedia Asia's first International Media Marketplace

More than 130 international tourism organizations and travel media met for, pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments, at IMM Asia, a day-long event held in Singapore last week. The event was held at the Marina Bay Sands in the leadup to ITB, Singapore's largest travel trade show.

“We are thrilled to see so many delegates support our first event in Asia,” said Nick Wayland, CEO and Founder of TravMedia. “Our International Media Marketplace events are now held in five countries. This year, following our debut in Singapore, we're moving on to New York and Berlin for the first time. Being able to connect our registered journalists with travel experts in face-to-face meetings delivers exactly the kind of connection our delegates are seeking.”

At the Singapore event, media from more than 80 titles – including national and metropolitan newspapers, glossy magazines, broadcast media, trade publications, and social media platforms – connected via TravMedia with representatives from hotel groups, resort destinations, airlines and car rental businesses, as well as international and regional tourism bodies including Bali, New Zealand, Guam, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Grand Canyon (just to name a few).

“The inaugural IMM Asia program was conveniently timed to coincide with ITB Asia,” says Lauren Michôd, TravMedia Vice President, Communications and International Relations. “This region continues to be a top source market for travel brands.”

Headline Sponsor Brand USA had the largest delegation, with 15 representatives of U.S. Travel and Tourism product exhibiting on the day, and a keynote presentation from Chris Ellis, Brand USA's Director, Global Trade Development.

“IMM continues to be one of the most effective and wide-reaching forums for securing influential media coverage,” said Chris Ellis, director of global trade for Brand USA, the destination-marketing organization for the United States and an IMM sponsor. “Along with our U.S.-tourism partners who participated as exhibitors, we were thrilled to disseminate vital stories about the boundless destinations, attractions and experiences that are available to travelers who visit the United States.”

Media attendees took advantage of face-to-face appointments in Singapore to gather a year's worth of story leads, industry announcements, and visuals and background information. The event also incorporated networking opportunities outside of the marketplace: a sit-down luncheon sponsored by Brand USA, and a sundowner cocktail reception held at the Raffles Hotel Singapore, sponsored by AccorHotels.

Airline Partners Scoot and Tigerair who supported flights for 30 top-tier travel editors, journalists and influencers from across the Asia-Pacific region, also provided two Scoot Biz tickets on any of their international routes, as a prize during the official IMM Cocktail Reception.

TravMedia IMM will return to Singapore in time for ITB in 2017 and we expect a terrific turnout for our next event with a year to plan and organise, said Lauren Michod.

TravMedia's IMM has become the leading travel industry event for making lasting connections. New York's IMM event is scheduled for January 26, 2017, with more than 130 exhibitors and 200 journalists already anticipated. Germany's IMM will take place March 7, and the UK's popular event will be held in London on March 13.

Today, TravMedia provides travel news feeds in the Australia, New Zealand, Asia, China, U.K., U.S.A, Canada, Europe (Germany/Switzerland/Australia), Middle East, South Africa and Brazil. TravMedia provide the online press room for the U. S. Travel Association's IPW trade show, and the Society of American Travel Writers' annual convention. It also provides digital tools for the promotion of Brand USA.

Attendees at TravMedia's Singapore event

Media in attendance included leisure publications such as Asia Spa and Travel + Leisure; daily newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, South China Morning Post, and the Sydney Morning Herald; Forbes; family travel media like Out & About with Kids and Weekender; food and wine titles including Food Wine Travel; and upscale newsletters such as the Robb Report, along with a number of freelance contributors.

Participating exhibitors at IMM Asia were: 

7M Tours, AccorHotels Asia Pacific, Alamo Rent a Car, Aurora Expeditions, Backyard Travel, Brand USA, Caesars Entertainment, Coco Collection, COMO Hotels and Resorts, Crown & Champa Resorts, Destination NSW, GCP Hospitality / Hotels G, Grand Canyon west, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Guam Visitors Bureau, Hawai'i Tourism Southwest Asia, Heavens Portfolio, The Hertz Corporation, hôtel vagabond, Jetwing Hotels, Kamaya Bali, Kata Rocks, Kualoa Ranch Hawaii Inc, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, Marriott International Inc, The Nevada Division of Tourism, Niccolo Hotels, NYC & Company, Oakwood Asia Pacific Ltd, Outrigger Resorts, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore, Scoot Tigerair, Semara Collection Cali, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, TFE Hotels, The Parisian Macao – Resorts Cotai Stip Macao, The Shanti Residences & Resorts, Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism New Zealand, U.S. Commercial Service, Visit Victoria, and Worldhotels.

For more information or to register as a journalists or exhibitor, visit www.travemdia.com/imm, or contact Lauren Michôd at Lauren.Michod@travmedia.com.