SUZHOU, China, Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The China Retail Trade Fair, more commonly known as CHINASHOP, the benchmark and barometer of China's retail industry, announced that following voting by exhibitors and followers, Suzhou International Expo Center, the convention and exhibition venue owned and operated by Suzhou Culture and Expo Center Co., Ltd., has been selected to host 18th edition of the event, CHINASHOP 2016, with 41% of votes.
Suzhou selected to host CHINASHOP
CHINASHOP rolled out a voting campaign on December 11, 2015, inviting exhibitors and followers to select the host venue for the 18th CHINASHOP by choosing between five cities: Haikou, Qingdao, Nanjing, Suzhou and Chongqing.
Suzhou outrivaled other cities with 41 per cent of votes. Following a wide-ranging consultation with exhibitors and on-site investigation of the venue, the organizers announced that the event will be held at Suzhou International Expo Center between the 3rd and the 5th of November 2016.
With the approval and support of China's Ministry of Commerce, CHINASHOP is organized by China Chain Store & Franchise Association and Beijing Zhihe Lianchuang Exhibition Co., Ltd. With a 16-year track record under its belt, CHINASHOP has become China's largest and the world's second largest retail industry event and is regarded by retailers worldwide as a key annual gathering.
The city's unique advantages lend to Suzhou International Expo Center's popularity
Suzhou, located in the fast-growing Yangtze River Delta, is in close proximity to major commercial centers including Shanghai, Nanjing and Zhejiang and is, itself, a city which is seeing a rapid expansion in its commercial activities. Recent statistics show that dozens of large shopping malls and supermarkets opened their doors here in 2015 and that the local retail industry has been on the fast growth track.
At the same time, Suzhou and the nearby cities of Shanghai, Wuxi and Kunshan are all home to China's leading manufacturers of commercial shelves, logos and signs. CHINASHOP 2016 in Suzhou will not only allow purchasers to visit and inspect suppliers, but also reduce exhibitors' labor and transportation costs. Jiangsu province is also a very active hub in terms of the development of China's online businesses, giving exhibitors an opportunity to enter into face-to-face conversations with China's leading Internet companies and further explore how to best be a part of the transformation of the traditional retail industry in the new consumption environment.
Suzhou International Expo Center is located in Suzhou Industrial Park. The center has available 60 conference rooms of varying sizes, occupying a combined area of 50,000 square meters, as well as 100,000 square meters of indoor exhibition space and 60,000 square meters of outdoor space. Its 8,000 square meter column-free luxury banquet hall is among the best in Asia. Based in Suzhou, a city with deep historical and cultural roots, the center has a full range of support facilities in immediate proximity including hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and entertainment venues. At the same time, the center is conveniently located in terms of transportation, with proximity to airports and high-speed railway stations in Shanghai and Wuxi, facilitating access for exhibitors and visitors.
"We are honored to provide the venue for CHINASHOP 2016," said Yin Weidong, chairman of Suzhou International Expo Center. "We sincerely invite all to the center between November 3 and 5, 2016, when we will offer exhibitors and visitors all over the world an international expo with the most advanced exhibition facilities, the most comprehensive support services and the most professional exhibition team."
