As a leading think tank of the global travel industry the ITB Berlin Convention Market Trends & Innovations has become an important meeting place for decision-makers. The successful concept of the world’s leading travel industry convention continues, with three new aspects supplementing it in 2009.

The inaugural ITB Asia B2B travel show closed Friday in Singapore with 6,208 delegates joining the three-day event. The attendance was 24.2 percent more than the 5,000 anticipated by event organizer, Messe Berlin.

WTM’s World Responsible Tourism Day event program on Wednesday 12 November at ExCeL London aims to be the most ambitious and controversial ever.

ITB Asia will be the first opportunity for the travel industry in Asia to discuss impacts and response strategies to the global economic crisis. Leaders of some of the most powerful travel companies in the world will share their perspectives and corporate best practice responses to deal with global financial volatility.

Selected incentive travel, congress and events buyers from the USA, Europe and Latin America will get together with Latin and North American exhibitors. During five days Cartagena de Indias received the visit of GSAR Marketing’s representatives, owners of the rights of MITM Americas, Meetings and Incentive Trade Market, to be held in Cartagena’s Convention Center next November 23 to 25.

Cruise Lines International Association said it anticipates a record number of travel agent participation for its annual World’s Largest Cruise Night, set this year for Oct. 16, and has expanded the virtual part of WLCN.