China Speakers Bureau: Roy Graff joins the China Speakers Bureau

Roy Graff, one of the leading voices on China’s tourism and hospitality industry has joined the China Speakers Bureau.
Roy holds a bachelor’s degree in Chinese and Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Roy has made his career in travel and tourism business development with an emphasis on China. He has a deep understanding of China’s culture and business practices developed from academia, public and private sector work since 1994. He is an experienced travel marketing and distribution senior executive involved in e-commerce, online travel and hospitality. Since 2005, he combines consultation on China’s tourism sector with several travel and hospitality ventures in China and the flagship forum on China’s Travel Industry, “China the Future of Travel” held annually at the World Travel Market in London.

This article is based on an interview by Xinhua News agency in London with myself and Professor Wolfgang Arlt of COTRI, identifying the causes for the drop in Chinese visitors to the UK.

(link to original article in Chinese)

At the “China – The Future of Travel” forum during the WTM World
Travel Market in London, the COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research
Institute will give the first quality labels especially for the Chinese
market to successful applicants from Europe and Australia on Nov. 12th.

China is the main Asian source market for international tourism.
Especially at the upper end of the market, Chinese travellers have
developed beyond the hurried first-time visits and are now looking for
more sophisticated offers. They are willing and able to spend more if
they get high quality services – quality according to the specific
Chinese customs, values and demands.

To help the Chinese travellers to find the hotels, restaurants,
transport companies, attractions, shops and other service providers
which know how to cater for Chinese wishes and expectations, the China
Outbound Tourism Quality Label (COQ) has been established by the COTRI
China Outbound Tourism Research Institute. At the same time, the COQ
Label gives companies, organizations and destinations the chance to
clearly state their commitment for the fast-growing Chinese market.

Applicants for the COQ Label have to go through a training program
and have to submit a Self-Evaluation and an Action Plan, which is
evaluated by the global team of China Outbound experts working with
COTRI.

COTRI is the leading research institute for China outbound tourism
outside China. COTRI was started in 2004 by the director Prof. Dr.
Wolfgang Georg Arlt and has already five years experience with the
organisation of the CTW Chinese Tourists Welcoming Award, which has
been focused on best-practice examples in Chinese outbound tourism.

The ‘China - the Future of Travel’ forum is an annual trade event that
discusses the development of China’s tourism with authority and offers
practical solutions and insights.

Participate in the ‘China – the future of Travel’ forum and witness the launch of the COQ Label at

http://www.future-of-travel2008.eventbrite.com

London, UK 3 Nov 2008: ChinaContact brings to World Travel Market a top panel of experts on China’s tourism industry.

For the 3rd year in a row, ChinaContact and WTM have partnered to deliver a full day of workshops and seminars on China’s dynamic and booming tourism industry. Led by Roy Graff, a leading expert on travel marketing, distribution and technology in China, the forum plays host to eminent speakers and travel professionals from Europe and China who have been engaging with the Chinese travel sector for many years.

With the support of VisitBritain, UKinbound, PATA, China National Tourism Administration and other organisations, the forum’s aims are to bring Chinese and Western tourism professionals together and discuss the future of China/West tourism cooperation. By creating a setting for interactive discussion and raising important questions about the way forward, the forum helps tourism destinations, travel companies and hospitality providers find the most effective way of penetrating the China tourism market and developing new tour products based on China’s vast tourism resources.

With the world’s economy slowing down, China’s strong currency provides an incentive for Chinese to travel abroad. Those that attend the forum on 12 November will learn how to take advantage of this.

Registration to the forum can be done online. Discounts are offered to WTM exhibitors, Meridian Club members and partners of the supporting organisations. Best value ticket is the VIP Gold pass that includes a full day forum, lunch with the speakers, a one hour consultation and CD-ROM of the conference proceedings.

Speakers at the 3rd annual WTM-ChinaContact forum, ‘China - the Future of Travel‘ include among others:

• Professor Wolfgang Arlt, Director of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute
• Rosita Yiu, Head of Asia Sales at Accor Hotels and recently awarded Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by the President of France for services to the French tourism sector.
• Jaquie Craig, tourism consultant to the newly opened Wesfield London shopping mall and formerly tourism marketing head for Bicester Village
• Mary Rance, Chief Executive of UKinbound
• Sandie Dawe, Strategy & Communications Director, VisitBritain
• Martine Ainsworth-Wells, Director of Marketing, Visit London
• Chen Qixian, Director, China National Tourist Office London
• Chris Yang, CEO, Newland-UK
• Albert Ng, CEO, Wild China

To find out more about the forum program download the full agenda here or visit the forum website.
Telephone: +44 (0)20 32399688 or email: future@ccontact.com

3rd annual
WTM-ChinaContact Forum on China’s Tourism Industry
12 November 2008, WTM, Excel, London UK

Showcasing new and diverse destinations and travel themes in China

London, UK 29 October 2008: Chinese tourism, both inbound and outbound, has been growing steadily for over 10 years and has overcome many challenges. This year has been particularly hard for the travel trade even before the credit-crunch. In each of the last two years, WTM and ChinaContact had been bringing together the best experts to World Travel Market, to share case studies and practical advise on engaging with the Chinese tourism sector. The event is called ‘China - the Future of Travel’ and it is the only travel industry event outside China that has the credentials to educate the sector about China.

This year the focus of the forum will be on developing China’s capacity for diverse and new travel destinations and themes as more destinations in China’s vast space become accessible thanks to improved travel infrastructure and rising service standards. After the impressive way in which China hosted the 2008 Olympic Games, research has shown that over 51% of people who viewed the Games on television would like to visit the country. Not only does China have traditional and historical destinations virtually unknown to Western tourists, but it has added new ‘must see’ sights including the acclaimed Olympic venues of the Bird’s Nest stadium and the Water Cube.

At World Travel Market, China will be represented with a national pavillion showcasing its familiar tourist attractions. In addition, on 12 November representatives of China’s tourism boards will join with experts on China travel to discuss future of sustainable tourism in China. They will signal the opening of new destinations and itineraries in Western China including the re-opening of tourism in Sichuan province and Tibet. Communities in Western China rely heavily on tourism for their livelyhood, and Western visitors who visit with reputable tour operators contribute to the development of local facilities such as schools and clinics.

The forum’s afternoon sessions will be dedicated to the development of niche tourism products such as sports, adventure, culture, music, cuisine etc.
Delegates will hear presentation and panel discussions by tourism officials from Beijing Tourism Board, Shanghai Tourism Board, Guilin Tourism Board and other senior officials.

Director of Sportsworld, the official ticketing agent for the Beijing Olympic Games, will be assessing the impact and contribution of the Olympic Games to China’s inbound tourism economy. China’s growing confidence in holding large scale events and attracting further international meetings, incentives, conferences and events business will be discussed.

China has a wealth of tourist resources beyond the usual. The forum will ask how China can accommodate 100 million tourists by 2020 without ovewhelming its traditional tourist attractions and harming the environment and culture that it relies on. Albert Ng, CEO of Wild China will give case studies of their work in China to develop tourism in rural areas which provides a memorable and confortable experience to tourists and benefits local communities.

The WTM-ChinaContact forum has already become a leader in setting out strategies and recommendations for tourism boards and travel companies wanting to engage China. In addition to discussing tourism development to China, the morning sessions are focused on the growing demand by Chinese travellers for exciting and unusual experiences abroad. As competition for these high-spending tourists grows, ChinaContact in partnership with the China Outbond Tourism Research Institute will launch a quality labelling program awarding excellence in hosting Chinese tourists. To read more about the forum and the quality label program for China Outbound Tourism, visit the website or call the organisers.

To learn more visit http://www.future-of-travel.org or call +44 20 32399688.

Registration information:

* Single ticket: £300.00 full day or £168.00 half day per person
* WTM exhibitor ticket: £240.00 / £125.00 per person
* Group ticket (minimum 5 people): £180.00 / £99.00 per person
* VIP ticket: £388.00 per person (including lunch and other benefits)
* Networking Chinese lunch: £35.00
* Student ticket: £60.00
* Media: free with a WTM Press badge

Contact details:
Media: future@ccontact.com +44 20 3239 9688
Sponsors: info@ccontact.com +44 20 3239 9688
Registration: info@future-of-travel.org +44 20 8783 9588

Organizations supporting the forum:

* Visit Britain
* China National Tourism Administration
* Switzerland Tourism Board
* Visit London
* UKinbound
* Pacific Asia Travel Association
* Visit Scotland
* China Britain Business Council
* 48 Group Club
* China Outbound Tourism Research Institute
* ChinaContact Tourism Network
* The China Business Network

I am sure that you, just like us, are feeling the effects of the credit-crunch and general economic downturn. In each crisis, tourism gets hit quick and hard. But the fact that we are in this business must imply we are optimists and can see beyond the curve into the future, and people’s unending yearning to travel and explore.

As in previous years, ChinaContact continues to promote greater awareness and understanding between China and the West in the field of travel and hospitality. And as in each of the last two years, we bring together the best experts to World Travel Market, to share with everyone case studies and practical advise on engaging with the Chinese tourism sector. The event is called ‘China - the Future of Travel’ and it is the only travel industry event outside China that has the credentials to educate the sector about China.

We remember past global downturns - the traditional markets that we rely on in the West are going to slow down. But in the past few years, Chinese visitors have shown incredible resilience in the face of a series of crisis (SARS, bird flu…) and continued to grow in double digits every year. Logic has it that right now is the time when tourism organisations, travel companies, hotel groups and airlines should explore this market further and consider it as a future alternative at this time. While the numbers are not at a critical mass, China continues its economic growth and is better positioned than Western countries to weather the credit crisis.

We recognise that looking ahead when things seem dire in the present is not easy so we hope to encourage more people within your company, organisation or association to become better aware of what China can offer. Not only is it a promising market but it is also a fascinating destination that can offer endless opportunities for product development and niche tourism channels.

To this end, we have adjusted our ticketing structure and introduced a special group discount when you register 5 or more people from the same company, organisation or association at the same time.
While the normal price is £300 for a full day (both inbound and outbound sessions) or £168 for half day, the group discount rate falls to £180 for full day or £99 for half day.
World Travel Market exhibitors can also enjoy discounted rates as part of our cooperation with the WTM organisers.

To book at group rates, you’ll need to do one of the following:
1. Directly register online at this link 5 or more delegates at the same time, selecting the Group discount delegate pass
2. Email to me at future@ccontact.com with the names, titles and company details and an invoice will be issued to you.

We also introduced a special VIP delegate pass that includes the full day forum, lunch (seated at the speaker’s table), a one hour consultation session and a CD of the forum proceedings.

For more information you can download the forum agenda and price list as a PDF file from here or visit the forum website at http://www.future-of-travel.org