Alisa Walsh Can't Wait to Get Back to Shanghai. We Are Happy to Share Her ITB China Trip Report.

Alisa Walsh started her messages off with "Nihao, China". By Day 2 at ITB China, her message read:  #bestsalestripever.

Alisa Walsh: "I was very grateful to join the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board group to attend the first ITB in China. We just received the 2016 visitors statistics: one MILLION Chinese visited California. The numbers are expected to grow. So this was my biggest sales mission, yet."

The Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board had a lot to celebrate during the visit to China.

The Los Angeles booth, featuring displays by EventWorks, Warner Bros., The Beverly Center, Universal Studios Hollywood, The London Hotel and the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, received a steady stream of high numbers of visitors during the trade show. 

Alisa Walsh: "We were really busy all the time. It was very exciting to participate in such a large trade show. The atmosphere was infectious."

The numbers are out:

Summing up the three-day business to business event, from 10th to 12th May, some 600 exhibiting companies from nearly 70 countries and regions met with a total of over 10,000 attendees and buyers in the 12,000 sqm area of exhibition space, which had been booked up months in advance.

Source: Travel and Tour World.

Alisa: "On a purely touristic level I did not really know what to expect from Shanghai. With a population of nearly 25 million it dwarfs even Greater Los Angeles. I was blown away by how beautiful Shanghai is. It is a gorgeous combination of historic areas and modern, energy efficient skyscrapers that were built within the last 20 years, replacing rice patties. It is also the cleanest city I have ever seen. I can't wait to get back to explore more."

Alisa: "On a purely touristic level I did not really know what to expect from Shanghai. With a population of nearly 25 million it dwarfs even Greater Los Angeles. I was blown away by how beautiful Shanghai is. It is a gorgeous combination of historic areas and modern, energy efficient skyscrapers that were built within the last 20 years, replacing rice patties. It is also the cleanest city I have ever seen. I can't wait to get back to explore more."

The whirlwind adventure did not end there.

Air China is expanding its network to offer non-stop flights from Chengdu to Los Angeles this year.

LATCB opened its fourth China office in Chengdu following ITB China. Ernest Wooden, President and CEO, welcomed local dignitaries and travel and convention professionals. 

Alisa: "This meant that we had another great opportunity to meet people and make new friends and connections. We also had one day to just be tourists. I visited a museum to learn about local history and of course, I visited the giant pandas. And did I mention that we all ate the most amazing Chinese food during the whole week?"

Besides falling in love with Shanghai and Chengdu and making lots of new contacts and friends, Alisa also learned a brand new skill.

You can now reach her on China's most popular communication app: WeChat.

Alisa: "It's like messaging, Facebook, Apple Pay, email, Yelp, Google all rolled into one app. Everyone in China seems to be using it for business. So see you on WeChat!"

Thank you for reading!

Wishing you a happy short work week.