WIT-Web In Travel and ITB Asia will expand on their partnership for 2009 and the partnership will see WIT not only run its conference alongside Asia's largest travel trade event but also run WIT workshops and manage the ITB Travel Technology Pavilion at ITB Asia.

WIT 2009 will comprise WIT, The Main Event, on Oct 20-21, the WIT Ideas Lab, Oct 22-23, 9-11am and the ITB Asia Travel Technology Pavilion by WIT, Oct 21-23, 11am-6pm.

The two events first joined forces in 2008 with the inaugural ITB Asia, which attracted a total of 6,208 delegates, 24.2% more than expected by event organiser, Messe Berlin.

WIT 2008 was also the biggest in the event's four-year history with close to 400 delegates.

"It was a partnership that worked well for both parties," said WIT's Producer Yeoh Siew Hoon. "It gave ITB Asia access to a high quality conference focused on the most dynamic segment of the travel industry, the online travel space, and it gave WIT access to the global network and resource of the world's largest travel exhibition.

"We are pleased to expand and extend the partnership and will work to improve the synergies between the two events."

Said Dr Martin Buck, Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), "The success of ITB Asia was proof that we had met customer expectations by focusing exclusively on Asian source markets, following a B2B format, running a high quality hosted buyer programme, and putting our trust in the convenience and professionalism of Singapore as the host venue.

"Initial survey results from delegates have shown an 86% overall approval rating for the inaugural event. Over 95% said they would recommend their business partners to attend ITB Asia. More than 94% said they would visit ITB Asia 2009."

WIT 2009 will take up the theme of "Tough Love". "These are tough times and a new reality will emerge post-crisis. It's a time when everything will, and must, be challenged. We need to give, and get, tough love to get our industry through its most challenging period ever," said Siew Hoon.

WIT will stay focused on finding opportunities, smart ideas and real solutions.

A WIT ticket will give you access to all WIT and ITB Asia-related events while delegates to ITB Asia will get a 20% off WIT rates.

www.webintravel.com / www.itb-asia.com