The second edition of the Beijing International Travel and Tourism Market (BITTM) opened with a diverse range of exhibitors and Chinese buyers, all eager to get down to business. Even while the opening ceremony was still in progress, dozens of buyers and exhibitors were huddled in meetings, poring over rate sheets, product lineups and brochures. Special guests at BITTM include a strong lineup of Chinese and international tourism leaders, who will participate in seminars and workshops with both buyers and exhibitors over the next few days. BITTM is a unique gathering place for strategically savvy businesses to connect with each other to buy and sell travel for the massive Chinese outbound market.

The 16th annual Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) will take place in Negril, Jamaica from April 23 to 25. JAPEX, sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), offers a forum for suppliers of the Jamaica tourism product to meet with travel wholesalers and tour operators from across Europe and the Americas, in a professionally organized business exchange. Created in 1990, JAPEX is supported by many Jamaican organizations interested in the development of the island´s tourism product.

The future of online marketing in the words of visionary Terry Jones, founder of Kayak and Travelocity, will be among the “hot ticket” sessions at the sixth HSMAI Travel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference at the Hilton New York on Wednesday, April 19, held in conjunction with TIA´s TravelCom. Also on the agenda is a timely keynote address on “The Internet Landscape in 2006 and Beyond” by Michael Tchong, trend analyst, Ubercool LLC, who was recently called “the most influential trendspotter in America” by London´s The Daily Telegraph.

Bonaire is launching Dive Into Adventure 2006 Scuba diving with local and international experts from June 17 thru 24. Bonaire´s top local star divers, along with international celebrities, will lead specialized dive, dive-related adventure and land- and water-based adventure activities throughout the week, giving Dive Into Adventure Bonaire participants the once-in-a-lifetime chance to rub elbows and learn from some of the top marine biologists, conservationists, naturalists, underwater photographers and diving pros.

The countdown is on! It´s now less than one year before St. Kitts & Nevis hosts one of the first round groups for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. The St. Kitts & Nevis group matches will be played at Warner Park Stadium on St. Kitts from March 14 to 24, 2007, featuring South Africa, Scotland, Holland and the reigning World Cup champions from Australia.

Premium Travel 2006, an event to be held in the UK on April 27 and 28, has signed up some new exhibitors to the show at the Royal Albert Hall, including SeaDream Yacht Club and Chabe Limousines. They are joining over a hundred of the world´s leading luxury travel brands that have already confirmed their participation. This week also sees the launch of the appointment system that enables both exhibitors and invited buyers to select who they would like to meet at the forthcoming Premium Travel show.