Tourism Alliance Awards 2009

Last call for entries to the Inaugural Tourism Alliance Awards For Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam

Tourism service providers have just a week left to enter the Inaugural Tourism Alliance Awards conceptualized to celebrate the brightest tourism stars in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (CLV). Entries to The Inaugural Tourism Alliance awards close on 31st August 2009 and tourism service providers in the three countries are invited to participate in the awards for the following ten categories.

The categories are, Restaurant of the Year, Domestic Airlines of the Year, International Airlines of the Year, Outbound Travel Operator of the Year, Inbound Travel Operator of the Year, Spa Operator of the Year, Luxury Hotel of the Year, Business Hotel of the Year, Budget Hotel of the Year and lastly, Resort Hotel of the Year.

“This is a great opportunity for organizations to be recognized as a successful company with service excellence and to benchmark against other top tourism service providers. We’re encouraging all travel and tourism businesses to get their entries in fast.” said Ms Rosalind Ng, Managing Director of IIR Exhibitions.

The inaugural Tourism Alliance Awards was announced to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of International Travel Expo, Ho Chi Minh City 2009 (ITE HCMC 2009). It is co-organised by IIR Exhibitions, Vietnam Tourism Association, Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, Cambodia Hotel Association and Laos Association of Travel Agents. The inaugural TAA is also supported by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia, and Laos National Tourism Administration.

To enter The Inaugural Tourism Alliance Awards and to have an opportunity to showcase your brand and service excellence to peers, industry leaders, potential collaborators or partners, entrants must submit their nominations online at www.itehcmc.com/taa.

After the closing date on 31st August 2009, a panel of highly experienced industry professionals (local and international) as well as representatives from the three tourism associations will review all submissions. The esteemed panel of judges includes Mr. Bill Barnett, Mr. Michael Loh, Mr. Nigel Sharman, Mr. Stephen Morton, Ms. Sue Francis and Mr. Amit Gilboa. Detailed information and judges’ profile can be found at www.itehcmc.com/taa.

Winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner to be held at the New World Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, 1st October 2009. To book your seats at this gala event and network with industry peers and professionals for only USD 65, please contact Mr James Chen at james.chen@iirx.com.sg for more information on special corporate packages for table bookings.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr A Singh
Asst. Marketing Manager
Tel: 6319 2668
Email: Amarpal.singh@iirx.com.sg

5th International Travel Expo, Ho Chi Minh City, 2009 (ITE HCMC 2009)
(www.itehcmc.com)
ITE HCMC 2009, regarded as Vietnam’s foremost tourism trade event, has been an annual show since 2005. In 2008, it was conferred the status of Vietnam’s only travel trade event by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam. Held at the Phu Tho Exhibition Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, ITE HCMC 2009 launches “Three Countries One Destination” concept (3CODe) – the three countries being Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. ITE HCMC 2009 is organized by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DCST), the Vietnam Trade Fair & Advertising Joint Stock Company (VINEXAD) and IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd (IIR). ITE HCMC 2009 is supported by the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, and co-supported by the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia and Laos National Tourism.

IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd (www.iirx.com.sg / www.informa.com)
IIR established since 1973, is part of the Informa Plc, with over 150 offices in more than 45 countries, employing over 9,500 staff around the world, Informa Group produces over 12,000 events and training courses, 45,000 book titles, 2,000 subscription-based information services including academic journals, magazines, newsletters, real-time information and news services, unparalleled performance improvement solutions, and hundreds of exceptional brands in 70 countries.

Annexure 1 - Judges’ Profiles
Mr. Stephen Morton
Online travel entrepreneur, Stephen Morton has enjoyed an illustrious career within the travel industry which has spanned over three decades. Stephen began his career in 1976 working in a family owned travel business, before moving to Melbourne to set up a business for travel outlets for a Sydney based credit union.

After eight short months, Stephen was promoted to General Manager and transferred to Sydney where he was responsible for over 20 travel outlets. Five years following the move, Stephen began to work in a series of retail travel and corporate travel agencies. The travel industry veteran has also worked with various travel wholesalers, airlines and airfare consolidation companies. In 1996, Stephen joined the multi-faceted company, Agents Support Systems and his innovative thinking has lead the company to move all of its travel industry products and services online.

In February 2001, Stephen founded the travel industry newsletter, e-Travel Blackboard (eTB) and under his direction, it has become Australia’s number one daily travel news email. Following on from this success, Stephen has launched eTB editions in New Zealand, Asia, the Americas and he also expanded into the MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Events) with ETBMICE news. Stephen has also lectured in travel and tourism for private training colleges throughout Australia.

Mr. Michael Loh
Michael Loh is the founder of the leading and hugely renown SpaAsia publication, Wellness Summit, Crystal Awards and the advent lifestyle trend of the New Economy Order (NEO) consumers - AGELESS.

Michael is known for his relentless passion for the well-being of the spa and wellness industry. He is constantly coaxing the industry to achieve excellence. Michael’s instinctive and creative flair is complemented by the years he has spent observing and learning from the industry as it progressed from its infancy to its present state that has now led the industry to the threshold of a transition that will inevitably see it converging with the greater domain of health, specifically breakthrough health which among many disciplines include intelligent ageing. He is passionate and dedicated to the mission of empowering, inspiring and educating others to embark on their own personal journeys to achieve a lifestyle of wellness.

He read Architecture and Urban Planning at Oxford Brookes University but has been involved in fields quite diversified. Before venturing into the spa and wellness industry, Michael devoted his talent to Branding Strategy, Marketing Consultancy, Stills and Motion Production/ Direction, as well as Market Intelligence.

His latest venture is the promoting of the ‘conscious living lifestyle’ & ‘conscious dining’ through Ageless Republic a web portal, that is poised to be a one-stop hub where conscious consumer can be empowered with the knowledge & tools to maintain a sustainable wellness lifestyle and optimum health through state of-the-art health risk assessment technologies and health management tools. Michael advocates to Personalized Well-Care.

Mr. Bill Barnett
Bill Barnett is the Founder and Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, a leading hospitality consulting firm specializing in the Asia Pacific region, based in Phuket, Thailand. With over 23 years of ''on the ground'' experience within key and developing markets, he has considerable experience and the relevant background to draw from.

He has his own popular property column in a leading tourism and property based newspaper, Phuket Gazette, and has made appearances on CNBC, BBC, CNN and in regional news and financial publications. His popular blog, ThePhuketInsider.com, is the authoritative source of all Phuket hotel and real estate issues and trends.

Ms Sue Francis
Sue had 18 great years with Qantas in promotions, sales and marketing, and product management. In 1983 she took her first business challenge and opened up what was to become a very successful GSA company in New Zealand, which later extended into Australia. She had extensive airline management, product, sales and marketing experience as the Regional and Pacific Manager for Ansett Australia, East West Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Air Europe, Hilton Hotels worldwide, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Holland America Line, Northern Territory Tourist Commission, amongst others.

Her leadership skills have seen her as the only New Zealander and 1 of 3 Australians to be World Chairman of the prestigious International Federation of Women's Travel Organisations, amongst other travel organisation presidencies she has held. Interline Reservation Service, established 14 years ago, is Australia’s leading specialist travel agency for travel industry employees, which facilitates discounted travel for both the employee’s benefit and suppliers’ distressed inventory.

Mr. Nigel Sharman
Chief Executive Officer of TCK Group, is an experienced hotelier with over 20 years experience in Asia & Europe. He's operated and managed international branded hotels and private hotels, in both city centre & resort locations. His hotel experience has given him skills in project management with over 10 hotel openings, asset management, and the development of revenue & sales management systems.

Nigel has a Bachelors Degree in Hotel Management and a Masters of Business Administration. His broad area of expertise covers marketing, finance, and, operations. Though no longer operating hotels Nigel maintains a genuine passion for consistently delivering excellence.

Nigel is from the UK and now lives in HCMC with his Vietnamese wife and their 2 children. Nigel is committed to aid the development of Vietnam’s tourism and hospitality industries.

Mr. Amit Gilboa
Amit Gilboa has been in Asia since 1995, living consecutively in Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand and Singapore. He speaks Vietnamese, Khmer and Thai as well as Mandarin, appearing on Singapore’s Chinese-language programme Guo Ji Jiao Yi Suo (It’s a Small World). Amit is most famous as the author of the controversial travel book “Off the Rails in Phnom Penh”, an insider look at some aspects of Cambodia you won’t find in travel brochures. Amit is currently based in Singapore and does performances and corporate workshops around SE Asia.

South Korea's Renowned Hospitals lead Medical Tourism

Hospitals like Wooridul Spine Hospital were working hard to fortify their international readiness even before the wave of medical tourism caught the government's attention.

Now with the full backing of the government, an increasing number of hospitals are joining the move to better serve foreign travelers in Korea.

With its excellent treatment rates and relatively low expenses, Korea appears poised to become one of the popular destinations for medical travel seekers.

Korea is now looking beyond Asia and into untapped markets such as Europe to promote Korea's medical finesse. On Friday the Korea Tourism Organization will host a seminar in London to introduce a package, together with Hana Tour, Hanyang University Hospital, Wooridul Hospital and Hanshin Medipia. The package offers a seven-day program to experience the medical service through receiving health checkups to be followed by a tour around the metropolitan and Jeju regions. The KTO has prepared 14 other such package programs targeting Japan, China, the United States and Far East Russia.

In July, a manual was produced by the KTO along with the medical consulting firm Medi Members and Cheongshim International Medical Center to provide a basic guidelines for medical-related businesses seeking to advance to the global market. The manual includes examples of Singapore and Thailand, required procedures in treating incoming international patients, as well as other essential conditions such as visa, language and others.

"When comparing Korea's health-checkup with other countries, the price may be similar at around 400,000 won and 500,000 won, but those offered in Korea are different in the sense that they include high-end checkups such as gastroscope and ultrasonography," the KTO said. The tourism body also established an English service last month on medical tourism using www.visitkorea.or.kr to provided essential information. Services in the additional languages of Japanese, Chinese and Russian will also be offered.

To start a medical journey to Korea, the most basic step would be to figure out what kind of hospitals it has and what kind of services they offer.

To help in that effort, the government hosted the International Medical Travel Conference last November. There, it joined hands with Healthy Travel Media, an independent publisher of books on medical travel and services, along with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute to release the Korean edition of its Patients Beyond Borders (www.patientsbeyondborders.com) book in English for international distribution. The publication was also supported by the Council for Korea Medicine Overseas Promotion.

Josef Woodman, CEO of Healthy Media Travel, agrees that Korean hospitals are worth visiting, based on his personal visits and information gathered.

"For example, Severance Hospital in Seoul has performed 1,000 plus robotics-driven prostate surgeries, along with a host of other specialties. Jaseng Oriental Hospital, also in Seoul, specializes in spine work, and has recently opened a facility in the Los Angeles area - one of the first such hospitals in the United States," Woodman told The Korea Herald.

Some of the best hospitals cited by international medical travelers are introduced in the guidebook. Most hospitals operate international websites in the languages of English, Japanese and Chinese and some even in Russian. Here are some of them:

Wooridul Hospital
Wooridul Hospital was established in 1982 and has gained a distinguished reputation for spinal treatment. Wooridul is one of the few hospitals standing at the vanguard of Korea's medical tourism. It has more than 1,130 neurospinal specialists and services include neurospinal, spinal thoracic, anterior spine surgery, spinal medicine, orthopedics and rehabilitation. The hospital has five facilities in Seoul, Busan and Daegu. It plans to open a branch in China and in the United Arab Emirates, along with another one in Korea. Wooridul is famous for its minimally invasive surgery and technique, and has also operated the Wooridul International Patient Center since 2006, providing one-stop service for international patients - starting from a pick-up at the airport until the patient is well-served and leaves back for home. Each branch hospital has coordinators to help patients on a one-on-one basis. Foreign languages spoken by these coordinators include English, Japanese and Chinese. To prepare for international patients, doctors' conferences are conducted in English. For a closer look, visit www.wooridul.com or send an email to wipc@wooridul.co.kr or call (02) 513-8385.

Jaseng Hospital of Oriental Medicine
Jaseng, established in 1999, also specializes in spinal treatment. It is famous for its scientific and globalized approach towards oriental medicine and is well-known for non-surgical solutions. Its specialized centers include some 30 clinics for spinal disorders, bone and joint ailments, and other services. It uses nonsurgical treatments from both Western and Oriental medicine. With its specialized treatment gaining international attention, it has also conducted collaborative research with Harvard Medical School's Oscher Research Center. The hospital's International Clinic has staff members who speak English, German, Japanese and Chinese. More information can be reached at www.jaseng.net or via enjaseng@jaseng.co.kr or (02) 3218-2167.

Cheongshim International Medical Center
Cheongshim strives to help patients who struggle with limited solutions in modern medicine and treat their illnesses with a combination of Western and Oriental medicine.
Since 2003, Cheongshim has been providing treatments that range from internal medicine to general and orthopedic surgery, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, diagnostic radiology, rehabilitation medicine and anesthetics. Patients are treated for stroke recovery, palsy, arthritis, lumbago, allergic disease, obesity and post-natal recuperation, among others. Most of the medical staff speaks English. By 2007, about 20 percent of its patients were foreigners. Cheongshim also operates a Health Screening Center and the Rehabilitation Center (Korea's largest). It is located in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, in the vicinity of Seoul. More information can be reached at www.csmc.or.kr, or through alexander@cheongshim.com or (031) 589-4488.

ArumdaunNara Beauty Clinic
ArumdaunNara has since 2000 been comprised of five dermatology clinics, two plastic surgery clinics, a hair transplantation center, an obesity center, aesthetic care centers and a cosmetic franchise. What's more, it also operates two branches in Beijing.
This is a full network of everything to do with beauty, providing one-stop service.
It is known to have popularized laser treatment for wrinkles, as well as other techniques in cosmetic dermatology. The clinic has mainly concentrated on promoting its service to potential patients from Japan and China. For more information, visit www.anacli.co.kr, send an email to lucyun@anacli.co.kr or call (02) 3420-2286.

Inha University Hospital
Inha's Health Promotion Center has been recognized by the Korea Association of Health Promotion as one of the country's best health screening centers, where patients can choose from pre-designed screening packages. It also operates the Cancer Center, the Women's Cancer Center, the CyberKnife Center (offering new approach to cancer tumors and lesions that diagnosed as inoperable or terminal), and the Digestive Disease Center. It also operates tour packages in conjunction with Korean Air and Hanjin Tour for those who wish to experience the country's culture. Other facilities include a Cardiovascular Center, Emergency Medical Center, Obesity and Diabetes Center and the satellite Incheon International Airport Medical Center. For more information, log onto www.inha.com or email to inhapr@inha.com or call (032) 890-2341/3305.

Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System, Gangnam Center
Although the main hospital is not focused on drawing foreign patients, the Gangnam Center is acknowledged for its services and active promotion for international patients. The SNU Hospital itself was Korea's first modern public hospital of Western medicine when it opened in 1885. The Gangnam Center provides customized health screening with diverse equipments, along with disease-prevention clinics and continuous health management at a spacious facility located on the 38-40th floors of the Star Tower building in the posh district of southern Seoul. The center's International Treatment Service receives more than 100 international patients per month. For more information, visit http://healthcare@snuh.org, e-mail ids@snudh.org or call (02)2112-5503.

Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System
Severance, which opened in 1885, is the world's largest Joint Commission International-accredited hospital with more than 2,000 beds and nearly 1,000 physicians and surgeons, many of whom speak English. On average, it performs more than 44,000 surgeries and sees about 1.6 million outpatients and 66,000 inpatients a year. It is best known for oncology, cardiology, ophthalmology and orthopedics. Its Da Vinci robotic surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgeries are especially well-known among international patients. For more information, visit www.yuhs.or.kr, send an e-mail to Dylan Davis, its coordinator for medical travelers, at dylandavis@yuhs.ac or call (02) 2228-1485.
Source: koreaherald

Cambodia Tourism arrivals rebounded in July 2009

A 10 percent jump in tourism arrivals in July eroded losses over the first six months of the year, according to unofficial numbers released by Tourism Minister Thong Khon.

More than 163,000 people visited the country last month, he said, bringing arrivals for the first seven months of the year to 1,284,085, a 0.3 percent rise on the 1,246,685 million visitors through to the end of July 2008.

Figures for the first six months of the year show a 1.1 percent fall in visitor arrivals, compared with a year earlier, to 1,086,518. The figures include tourists and business travellers.

An increase in visitors from neighbouring Laos and Vietnam offset a huge fall in arrivals from South Korea, which was the single largest source country for foreign visitors in the early part of 2008 until the bottom fell out of the country's economy.

"The opening of tourism hubs, such as new border crossings and the new national air carrier, a lowering on tourism service prices and efforts to facilitate transport routes into Cambodia were key ways to draw tourists from the region, as well as those from European, during the [financial] crisis," Thong Khon said.

However, he warned that the majority of Vietnamese tended to visit Phnom Penh rather than Siem Reap, meaning the downturn in visitors from South Korea was still felt strongly in Cambodia's main tourism hub.

Accurate numbers were unavailable for July, but visitors from South Korea fell 33 percent year-on-year over the first half from 160,446 to 106,345. Arrivals from Vietnam were up 40 percent over the same period from 105,275 to 147,721, while Laotian visitors increased 141 percent to 52,708. Dr. Thong Khon said arrivals from Vietnam were up 46 percent year-on-year in July.

"Vietnamese tourists still lead tourists from all other countries, followed by those from South Korea and America," he said.

Tourism figures show 79,657 Americans visited during the first six months of the year, marginally up on a year earlier, 70,183 Japanese, down 13.5 percent, and 234,439 Europeans, marginally down on the first six months of 2008.

Ho Vandy, co-chairman of the Government-Private Sector Forum's Tourism Working Group, said the slight recovery in July had been noticed. "[It's] a good sign for all of us who earn a living in the tourism sector, and we are not so concerned now about the slow months earlier this year," he said.

Cambodia's Hotel Association (CHA) President Luu Meng said the number of bookings in hotels was increasing, indicating the recovery was the start of better times ahead. "We have received more reservations and bookings from people coming to stay and visit our country, mostly from Japan, Europe and America," he said.

Thong Khon said he was optimistic arrivals would expand between 2 percent and 3 percent from 2008, when 2.12 million people visited Cambodia.

Celebrating the brightest tourism stars in Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam

TIC 2009 presents CLV as a dynamic tourism cluster

CLV (Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam) Tourism Master Plans at the Inaugural Tourism Investment Conference 2009

Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam - The TIC organizing committee announced today a distinguished list of tourism leaders in Indochina region who will address conference delegates at the Inaugural Tourism Investment Conference 2009 (TIC). Scheduled to take place from 30 September – 01 October 2009 at the New World Hotel Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, the conference will provide a forum for investors and travel industry professionals to discuss tourism development in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (CLV) currently witnessing steady growth. Adopting the theme, 3CODe – 3 Countries One Destination, the TIC 2009 presents CLV as a dynamic tourism cluster to realize the full potential of its tourism assets. It is the only commercial tourism, travel and hospitality event in the region drawing key travel and tourism companies and National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) looking at Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam as a single destination.

The distinguished panel of the TIC 2009 speakers comprises tourism market-shapers that include the three NTOs, Tourism Developers and Owners, Corporate Fund Managers and Investors, Airline and Tourism service and operations providers, as well as Government Agencies. They will be speaking on a variety of topics including Tourism Master Plans in the 3CODe region, Tourism Investment: Public-Private-Partnership in Tourism Investments, Project Financing: Attracting Tourism Investments & Investment Financing in Key Hospitality Areas: Transportation, Hotels & Resorts. In addition to interesting topics about Niche Marketing in the 3CODe region, covering Ecotourism, Vacation Ownership, Luxury Travel, Heritage Tours, as well as Sustainability in travel and tourism and a host of other topics.

"This inaugural Tourism Investment Conference is about bringing together the top industry people and policymakers in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, to present the tourism investment opportunities of today and the direction for tomorrow," said Ms Rosalind Ng, Managing Director, IIR Exhibitions. "We’re thrilled to have a line-up of speakers of this caliber who have committed to the TIC 2009, and we are delighted that they are bringing their experience and insight to the conference." she adds. Attendees will benefit from the opportunity to hear directly from the people at the forefront of tourism investment in CLV as they deliver powerful perspectives on a myriad of emerging trends, developments and opportunities across the travel and tourism industry.

Some personalities as well as their topics headlining the list of speakers for the Inaugural Tourism Investment Conference 2009 are as follows:

Scott Dunn Principal & Regional Director of Tourism and Hospitality Asia, AECOM
Design + Planning. Scott will be speaking about the integrated view of Master Plans for Tourism Investment in 3CODe Region, covering land demarcation, development, as well as priority areas or projects for which attention must be paid to enable the country tourism sector to flourish.

Stephen O'Grady, Managing Director of VinaCapital Real Estate. Stephen will speak about Attracting Tourism Investment & Investment Financing in Key hospitality Areas: Tourism Transportation, Hotels & Resorts.

Baron Ah Moo, Chief Executive Officer, Hotels & Resorts Division, IndoChina Capital. Baron will speak about Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Tourism Investments, covering expected benefits and impacts of PPP in the job sector and more.

Eddie Lim, General Director, Sea Links City, Rang Dong Group. Eddie will speak about Vacation Ownership as the new vacation trend in Vietnam under Niche Tourism Marketing.

Inthy Deuansavanh, President. Green Discovery Laos. Inthy will speak about Ecotourism and Adventure tourism in the Indochina region, addressing the growth in this tourism sector as well as the importance of safety standards in Adventure tourism.

Tony Pham Manh Ha, Chief Executive Officer, Luxury Travel Company. Tony will be speaking about Niche Tourism marketing, specifically Luxury Travel. Topic points include the growth in Luxury Travel markets, as well as the demands of today’s luxury travelers and what it takes to keep up to their needs.

Mason Florence, Executive Director, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO). Mason will speak about Sustainable Travel and Tourism in CLV covering the coordination and development of sustainable tourism projects. In addition to Eco-friendly construction; Sustainable energy solutions and recommended practices for tourism SMEs and communities.

Who should attend the TIC 2009:
Tourism Project Developers
Banks and Financial Institutions
Investment Promotion Agencies
National Tourism Organizations
Hotel Owners & Consultants
Tourism Industry Professions
Industry Professionals
Anyone interested in tourism with emphasis on Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam region.
The TIC 2009 is organized by:
Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Vietnam Ministry of Planning and Investment
Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
HCMC Dept of Culture, Sports and Tourism
IIR Exhibitions Pte. Ltd.

For the complete list of speakers and topics please visit www.itehcmc.com/tic or refer
to the Appendix.

For more information on how to register for TIC 2009, visit www.itehcmc.com/tic
Or contact
Mr Rudi Antiniolos
Conference Sales Manager
Tel: +65 6517 3015 or 8355 0862
Email: rodolfo.antiniolos@iirx.com.sg

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Alethea Seet
Associate, MRA Communications
Tel: +65 6338 6780
Email: alethea.seet@mra-asia.com

5th International Travel Expo, Ho Chi Minh City, 2009 (ITE HCMC 2009) (www.itehcmc.com), regarded as Vietnam’s foremost tourism trade event, has been an annual show since 2005. In 2008, it was conferred the status of Vietnam’s only travel trade event by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam. Held at the Phu Tho Exhibition Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, ITE HCMC 2009 launches “Three Countries One Destination” concept (3CODe) – the three countries being Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. ITE HCMC 2009 is organized by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DCST), the Vietnam Trade Fair & Advertising Joint Stock Company (VINEXAD) and IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd (IIR). ITE HCMC 2009 is supported by the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, and cosupported by the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia and Laos National Tourism.

Appendix
Notable speakers and organizations attending TIC 2009 include:
Ms. Archana Capoor, Chairman & Managing Director, Tourism Finance Corporation of India
Mr. B. Hawkins Pham, Funds Reporting Manager, IndoChina Capital
Mr. Dickie Rehal, Intelligence Director, Royal Intel
Mr. Inthy Deuansavanh, President, Green Discovery Laos
Mr. Jon Bourbaud, General Manager, Novotel Phan Thiet Ocean Dunes & Golf Resort
Mr. Kai Marcus Schröter, General Director, HTM Management Consultancy
Mr. Ken Atkinson, General Director, Grant Thornton Vietnam
Mr. Manuel C. Menendez III, Chairman and CEO of MCM Group Holdings, Ltd. and 8M8 LLC
Mr. Mey Marady, Deputy Director General of Apsara Authority
Mr. Michael Loh, Group Publisher & Editorial Director, SpaAsia
Mr. Pak Sokhom, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Tourism Cambodia
Mr. Phan Huu Thang, Head of FIA (Foreign Invesment Agency), Ministry of Planning & Investment, Vietnam
Ms. Rosalind Ng, Managing Director (Asia), IIR Exhibitions Pte. Ltd.
Mr. So Mara, Secretary of State, Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia
Mr. Tith Chantha, Director General of Tourism, Cambodia
Mr. Tran Chien Thang, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vietnam
Mr. Visothy So, Director of Tourism Marketing & Promotion Department, Laos National Tourism Administration
Vietnam Institute of Tourism Development Research
Planning and Cooperation Department, Laos National Tourism Administration, Laos
Tourism Marketing & Promotion Department, Laos National Tourism Administration
Conference Highlights Include:
Regional Travel Trends: Identify key trends in Travel and Tourism in the region
3CODe Tourism Master plans:
Tourism master plans by the various Tourism boards of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
An Integrated View of Master Plans for Tourism Investment in 3CODe Region
Tourism Investment:
Tourism Investment Opportunities in 3CODe (Panel discussion)
Creating successful public – private Tourism Investment Partnerships
Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in Tourism Investments (Panel discussion)
Project financing
Attracting Tourism Investment & Investment financing in Key Hospitality Areas
Niche Marketing: Case studies of Niche Tourism Marketing in 3CODe
Vacation Ownership/Ecotourism/Heritage
Luxury Travel/Cruise/Spa
Sustainability in Travel and Tourisms: Implementation Challenges Facing 3CODe
Optional site visits to tourism development projects in Vietnam.

Please visit www.itehcmc.com/tic for complete information on the TIC 2009.