Yangtze River Delta destination - with nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites - in spotlight at IMM 2022

TravMedia has today announced Suzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism as Headline Sponsor of IMM 2022.

The sponsorship coincides with the destination's year-long 'Suzhou Heritage' campaign, sharing Suzhou's rich cultural experiences with English-speaking media, influencers, content creators, and consumers.

IMM takes place from 14-15 March at the prestigious QEII Centre in London's Westminster. Now in its tenth year, the show is established as the leading global event connecting the travel industry and the media (www.travmedia.com/immuk/).

Suzhou has successfully participated in IMM North America in the past and is seeking to expand its reach in Europe during 2022.

Located in the centre of the Yangtze River Delta, approximately 60 miles west of Shanghai, Suzhou has been known as a centre of arts and culture for over 2,500 years.

Intellectuals, artists, and high-profile public figures have long been drawn to the city's romantic canals and stunning classical gardens, nine of which are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Performing arts including the Kunqu Opera and Pingtan storytelling originated in Suzhou, and the city is also important to the design and fashion worlds as a centre for silk making and embroidery.

In addition to its arts and culture, Suzhou is home to plentiful natural areas that allow for boundless outdoor activities. Visitors seeking Suzhou's modern side will find five-star hotels, the iconic Lake Jinji, limitless shopping, and China's largest overwater Ferris Wheel in the upscale and contemporary SIP District.

“Suzhou has limitless stories, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to tell them at IMM in London,” said Lincoln Wang, director of international communication and cooperation for the Suzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism.

Leading up to the event, participants can learn about the destination by visiting TravelToSuzhou.com, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube and following the hashtags #TravelSuzhou and #SuzhouHeritage across all channels. The destination's social media channels provide engaging content highlighting festivals and customs, cultural inspiration, insider tips from locals, and more. 

Said Henry Hemming, TravMedia UK's Managing Director: “We're thrilled at Suzhou Tourism's involvement in this year's show – our 10th anniversary IMM. We're certain the destination's involvement will help this year's show become a memorable reunion of media, influencers and PR professionals across our industry.”

IMM once again features two days of pre-booked meetings with journalists for exhibitors at their stands and pavilions, with influencer meetings and professional development sessions added into the mix on day two.

Over 200 media and more than 75 influencers and content creators are already registered for the show. Journalists are registered from media titles including The Times, The Telegraph, The Sun, The Guardian, Daily Mail, Nat Geo Traveller, Wanderlust, CNN Travel, France Magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, Cruise Adviser, loveEXPLORING, Travel Weekly, TTG, Bella and Aspire.

Exhibitor highlights include major delegations from France, Australia, USA, and Canada. New exhibitors for 2022 range from Tourism Saskatoon, Capital Region USA, Anguilla Tourist Board, Latvia Travel, and Fort Myers to Villa Hotel & Resorts, Hard Rock Hotel Bali, and Visit Isle of Wight.

Further IMM sponsors include Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Villa Hotels & Resorts, and Tourism Australia.

Over 12,000 meetings were booked at IMM 2020, the last physical IMM at the QEII Centre (9-10 March 2020), with over 400 journalists and influencers attending the show.

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Media Contacts:

For TravMedia:

Louise Napier

Deputy Managing Director, TravMedia

T: +44 (0)20 3440 8915

E: louise.napier@travmedia.com

For Suzhou Tourism

Ashley Norman

anorman@phgconsulting.com

Tel: +1 646 465 9775

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IMM 2022 EXHIBITORS already confirmed include: Alabama Tourism, Anguilla Tourist Board, Aosta Valley Tourist Board, Atlantic Canada, Atout France, Aurora Expeditions, Bavaria Tourism, Blenheim Palace, BCP Tourism (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole), Capital Region USA, Catalonia - Catalan Tourist Board, Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Cultural Heart of Germany, Destination Canada, Food Drink Devon, Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods, German National Tourist Office, Hard Rock Hotel Bali, HF Holidays, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Latvia Travel, Les Villages Nature® Paris, Louisiana Travel, Marketing Manchester, Memphis & Mississippi, New Smyrna Beach, Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Pierre & Vacances, Preferred Hotels Group, Rocky Mountaineer, SalzburgerLand Tourism, Suzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, Switzerland Tourism, Tennessee Tourism, The Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, This is Durham, Tourism Australia, Tourism Gran Canaria, Tourism Nova Scotia, Tourism Saskatoon, Travel San Francisco, U.S. Travel Association, Universal Parks and Resorts, Verbier Tourisme, VIA Rail Canada, Villa Hotels & Resorts, VISIT DENVER, Visit Isle of Wight, Visit North Carolina, Visit Orlando, Visit Portugal, Visit Wales, VisitDenmark, VisitEngland and VisitScotland.

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For information on IMM 2022:

Louise Napier

Deputy Managing Director, TravMedia

T: +44 (0)20 3440 8915

E: louise.napier@travmedia.com

EDITORS NOTES

The first-ever IMM was held in London in March 2013 and has since expanded to all corners of the earth, with annual events now taking place in countries including the USA, Australia, Germany and France.

The technology used by TravMedia has become an essential tool for journalists and PR professionals in their day-to-day activities, as they connect and share information in their working lives.

TravMedia was originally created by a travel journalist seeking a better way to research and report travel news, and is dedicated to creating thriving online communities of travel journalists and travel PR professionals.