Text / Compiled and Reported by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network
The annual 2013 Taipei International Travel Fair (Taipei ITF) will be held from October 18 to 21. This year, 900 exhibitors from 60 countries and regions will showcase their offerings simultaneously at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 and Hall 3. The total number of booths has increased from 1,200 to 1,350. For the first time, the fair has added an exhibition area on the second floor of Hall 1 at the World Trade Center, designated as the Homestay Hotel and Food Zone. In addition to various promotional activities organized by the fair and year-end travel promotions and rewards from exhibitors, there will also be a first-ever credit card spending gift campaign, the distribution of 8,000 lucky bags, highly discounted accommodation and meal vouchers, a chance to win flight tickets through fair admission tickets, a series of “Love to Travel” events, and early bird presale ticket benefits offering “double the perks.”
This year’s Taipei International Travel Fair is the largest in history, with numerous promotional offers launched. (Photo provided by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau)
1. First-Ever Credit Card Spending Gift Campaign
A fair first, a dedicated area has been set up for travel anniversary credit card spending gift giveaways. Simply present a China Trust, Yuanta Bank, HSBC, American Express, or E.SUN Bank credit card to receive a store visit gift, or spend over NT$3,000 to redeem a spending gift. Gifts include Japanese-style camera travel pouches, Taipei–Taichung High-Speed Rail tickets, animal neck pillows, Ann Chen colorful floral soap travel sets, Selene eco-friendly travel cutlery sets, and travel toiletry bags. The total value of gifts exceeds NT$5 million, allowing the public to enjoy multiple benefits through credit card spending.
2. 8,000 Lucky Bags Given Away, Plus 21 Grand Prizes Hidden Inside for the First Time
The popular stamp-collecting lucky bag giveaway is back. To celebrate the 21st edition of the travel fair, in addition to giving out 2,000 lucky bags daily, 21 grand prize lucky bags will be given away over the four days. Prizes include four Ever Rich diamond rings/diamond pendants and men’s and women’s bags, four international flight tickets from Revival Airlines, bicycles or LICORNE watches, and each grand prize also comes with a suitcase. Other lucky bag gifts include Pepperidge Farm cookies, Asia Pacific Telecom travel illustration L-shaped folders, Sun Moon Lake Hotel afternoon tea vouchers, and hotel bath amenity sets. Just collect stamps at the stamp map by visiting the Japan Pavilion, U.S. Pavilion, six locations in Hall 1, three in Hall 3, and three in Zone H on the second floor of Hall 1, then head to the Love to Travel Theme Area on the second floor of Hall 1 at the World Trade Center to exchange for a lucky bag. The total value of prizes exceeds NT$3 million.
3. Plan Your Trip and Save Money with Superb Deals on Accommodation and Meal Vouchers
This year’s Taipei International Travel Fair has broken records in exhibitor participation, and the benefits offered to consumers are especially abundant. For example, Dian Hua Hotel offers a super-value set meal for NT$399; Taipei Qiaoyuan Hotel’s Happy Point Hong Kong-style dim sum buffet for NT$330 and super-value set meals for NT$550; The Lalu Group’s six hotels let you choose from their afternoon tea restaurants, four for just NT$1,680; Yuanshan Hotel’s combined meal voucher lets you select either three weekday self-service afternoon teas at Songhe Hall or two weekday self-service lunches or dinners for NT$1,390; Huatai Prince Hotel’s Gourmet One Coupon, each for NT$999, lets you enjoy the originally priced NT$2,200 “Jiu Hua Forbidden City Imperial Feast,” and with two coupons, you can enjoy the top-tier Jiu Hua Imperial Chef National Treasure Feast set (about 60% off); Taipei Caesar Park Hotel’s brand-new Magical Room, with added Mini Bar, is offered at a 70% discount for NT$3,499 during the fair; Taipei Sheraton Grand Hotel’s Twelve Chefs weekday self-service meal voucher lets you choose either two weekday lunch or dinner self-service meals or three weekday self-service afternoon teas for just NT$1,650. Taichung Fresh Spring Resort Hotel’s “Delicious Vacation” package offers a stay with three meals for 4.5 off at just NT$4,899; Taichung Sun Moon Millennium Hotel’s “Sun Moon Room” without breakfast for NT$3,999; Qingjing Florence Resort’s weekday accommodation voucher for just NT$2,000; Kaohsiung Business Travel’s elegant economy single room with breakfast at 3.9 off for just NT$1,899; Taitung Ri Hui International Resort’s weekday Emerald Mountain Family Room (with breakfast) for 2.8 off at NT$4,999. Taichung Sun Moon Millennium Hotel, which opened in March this year, offers a 3.3 off “Two for a Joyful Journey” Sun Moon Room (without breakfast) for just NT$3,999. Fleur’s Hotel chain’s popular “All-Inclusive Accommodation Voucher,” each for NT$3,900, includes a double room stay for one night with two meals (breakfast and either lunch or dinner, your choice) plus activity vouchers for the hotel’s surrounding attractions, plus a NT$500 fun fund voucher that can be used for hotel stays, dining, and leisure. Fleur’s “Chain Accommodation Voucher,” each for NT$3,600, can also be used at the Mei Zhan Street Hotel, opening October 9 on Kenting Street. The Fu-Yeh Hotel Group celebrates the grand opening of the “Hualien Fu-Yeh Resort Hotel” by offering a special “2,999 NT$ Four-for-One Universal Voucher.” Stay at any Fu-Yeh hotel for just NT$2,999 for two people on weekdays, and buy 10 get 1 free.
4. Fair Admission Ticket Draw Gives Away Over 50 Flight Tickets Generously
This year, exhibitors have enthusiastically sponsored over 200 prizes for the fair, with the number of airline tickets more than doubling from 28 last year to 56. Major prizes include United Airlines’ inaugural Taipei–San Francisco flight on March 31, EVA Air’s round-trip tickets to any global destination, China Airlines’ long-haul tickets from Taipei to Europe/America/Australia, Revival Airline tickets to any international route, Indonesia Air’s Taipei–— (text cut off), and the 12-day Contiki International Youth English Semi-Self-Guided Tour of 8 European countries sponsored by Golden Expo Travel Agency.
5. 2013 ITF “Love to Travel” Series of Events: Win 3C Prizes, NT$20,000 Cash, and More
This year’s travel fair kicks off a series of activities themed “Love to Travel.” In the online “Share Love, Share Dream Flights” campaign, attractive 3C prizes will be given away. Additionally, the fair is holding a “Love to Travel Photo Submission Activity.” The public can upload a travel photo and write a travel note of 100 words or less for a chance to win NT$20,000 in cash and a one-year subscription to the United Evening News electronic edition.
6. Presale Tickets Now on Sale at Two Major Convenience Stores Nationwide: Double the Benefits on Fair Admission Tickets
Purchase tickets in advance at 7-11 and FamilyMart, the two major convenience stores, before October 17 to enjoy the presale price of NT$180 (original price NT$200). Purchasing presale tickets at convenience stores also allows customers to enjoy discounts on various products with their ticket stubs, including buy-one-get-one-half-price on famous coffee, COLD STONE classic ice cream buy-big-get-big, COMEBUY drink top ten star products with buy-one-get-one-half-price on the same item, and Let’s Café medium hot Americano buy-one-get-one-free. Additionally, during the fair period, visitors can redeem magazines for free at the Foodie Player booth on the second floor of Hall 1 at the World Trade Center with their tickets, then exchange for limited-edition Iron Man L-shaped folders at the Love to Travel Theme Area of the fair, and also get lottery tickets at the service desk for a chance to win flight tickets, accommodation vouchers, and other great prizes.
● Further Reading:
Awe-inspiring Over the Yellow Rubber Duck: A 70-meter Blue Sperm Whale Swims into Youth Park
http://goo.gl/WummLT
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