Messe Berlin (Singapore), organizer of ITB Asia, “The Trade Show for the Asian Travel Market,” has announced that registration for this year’s buyer program is now open. Buyers who are keen to attend ITB Asia 2012 may submit their application online at www.itb-asia.com, starting today.

ITB Asia’s Buyers’ Program has consistently attracted top-quality buyers and has the reputation of generating genuine business leads. International and regional senior level buyers and decision makers attend ITB Asia each year to source for new destinations and travel products and to gain industry knowledge.

ITB Asia continues to focus on improving the quality of buyers at the show. This year’s program will see an enhancement in the application process with the addition of the “Group” and “Individual” category. As part of the development, exhibitors are encouraged to nominate buyers they would like to meet at the show. Once approved, the exhibitors will be given a code to invite recommended buyers to register under the “Group” category.

New buyers who are interested in joining this year’s program can register for partial hosting status under the “Individual” category, and enjoy 50 percent off early bird savings from now till June 1, 2012. Fully-hosted buyer applications under the “Individual”’ category will start from July 2, 2012.

All potential buyers will undergo a stringent assessment process and will be evaluated based on their caliber and experience to ensure that only the best buyers will enter the pre-scheduled appointment system.

“Being the fastest-growing and most international travel trade show in Asia, it is important for us to constantly look at ways to adapt and improve the show each year to better serve our business partners. As such, we have taken into account the feedback provided by our exhibitors and buyers, and have put together an even more comprehensive buyers program this year. The aim is for exhibitors to become partners in increasing the show’s quality,” said Nino Gruettke, Executive Director of ITB Asia.

“Knowing that time is of the essence for buyers at the show, we introduced the partial hosted buyer category last year to give buyers with tight traveling schedules more flexibility to participate in the show and manage their appointment schedules. On the whole, partial-hosted buyers at ITB Asia 2011 expressed appreciation for the added flexibility and were impressed by the level of exposure to the travel industry they have achieved at the show,” added Nino.

In an independent post-ITB Asia 2011 survey, over 97 percent of hosted buyers said they would recommend the program to business partners, while over 95 percent showed intent to participate again this year.

ITB Asia 2012 aims to attract good quality buyers. Partial-hosted buyers enjoy more flexibility and can choose to attend ITB Asia 2012 on any two days of the three-day show. They are required to attend a total of 15 appointments and will enjoy similar benefits to fully-hosted buyers, excluding air passage. Fully-hosted buyers are required to attend 30 appointments.

ITB Asia 2012 is in its fifth year and will be held from October 17 to 19, 2012 at The Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Last year, the show attracted 7511 attendees, an increase of around 14 percent from 2010, representing 91 countries, 50 percent more compared to 2010.

ITB Asia is also a partner event of TravelRave, a mega travel and tourism festival week organized by the Singapore Tourism Board, and Pan Pacific Singapore is the Official Partner Hotel for this year’s show.