As one of the most important China tourism promotion events in the Midwest, China Tour Night in Minneapolis was a blast back in 2008. It was co-hosted by China National Tourist Office (CNTO), Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and CIAC Travel Inc., the local China tour specialist in Minnesota. This event was initiated with the intention to promote the unique beauty of China to the local travel companies, helping them better understand the Chinese travel market and promote China as the destination of first choice. After a year and a half of preparation, the 2nd China Tour Night finally took place in Midwest, except this time it was bigger and covered three cities: Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis. 
 
L to R: Margie Bell of HKTB, Hongying Wu of Air China and Xinhong Zhang of CNTO 
 
Chicago was the first stop of the series event, followed by Milwaukee and Minneapolis from June 1 though June 3. Key speakers of the event included Xinhong Zhong, the director of CNTO New York office; Baoshi Jin, the Assistant Director of CNTO New York Office; Margie Bell, the manager of HKTB Chicago Office; Joao Rodrigues, Media & Marketing Manager of MGTO New York Office; Gabriel Bazama, the marketing manager of CIAC Travel and Melody Zhou, the vice president of CIAC Travel. 
 
In each city, more than 60 travel agents attended the China theme night featured by a complimentary dinner, presentations from the four hosts and exciting lucky drawings with gifts generously contributed by hosts, cruise companies and tour operators in China. Most attendees viewed this event as “educational” and “meaningful” and even “the most well arranged tour convention in the Midwest in recent years”. It was hoped that through this kind of promotional event, travel agents will be able to play a bigger role as the medium to bring more visitors from the Midwest to China. 
  
At the conclusion of the 3-day, 3-city event, several of the host members also met with Doug Killian, Tourism Development Director of Mall of America and his colleague Amanda Roseth, having an in-depth discussion about the China travel market. Both sides showed interest in working together to further promote China in 2011.

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