ITB Asia has signed a three-year partnership with Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, starting in 2014, which will see the next three editions of the annual show taking place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

Marina Bay Sands will also be ITB Asia’s official hotel partner for the event, which will be held from October 29–31, 2014, October 21-23, 2015 also and October 19–21, 2016.

The resort will host the opening receptions, VIP C-suite lunches and offer free Wifi to all delegates.

Nino Gruettke, ITB Asia’s executive director, said, “Marina Bay Sands offers ITB Asia a unique value proposition, including accommodation for attendees as official hotel partner and world-class conferencing facilities as official venue. The venue’s prominence together with ITB Asia’s reputation as a leading trade show will help to attract and grow leisure, MICE and corporate industry partnerships.

“This partnership also provides ITB Asia with the space we need to grow this industry platform over the next few years, and expand our exhibition and conference programme to reach out to more delegates and exhibitors worldwide.”

The collaboration will see Marina Bay Sands expand the level of quality participants by inviting an additional 100 of their top worldwide buyers from leisure, corporate and MICE to the existing ITB Asia hosted buyers programme.

ITB Asia will also increase its investment on the conference programme component of the show.

“We have secured fresh funds for ITB Asia over the next three years, and our aim is to take our conference sessions to new heights with more prominent speakers who will share powerful industry insights,”  Gruettke added.

George Tanasijevich, MBS’ president and chief executive officer, said the three-year partnership was a testament of the resort’s commitment to remain the number one business and leisure destination in Asia.

This year’s ITB Asia will take place at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre from October 23-24.

• Photo above right shows L-R: George Tanasijevich, president & CEO, Marina Bay Sands; Nino Gruettke, executive director, ITB Asia; Benny Zin, COO  VP, conventions & exhibitions, Asia, Marina Bay Sands)