Quick takes

Asian event planners face rising travel costs

Business events in Asia are facing later than usual registrations. Travel costs are rising. Logistics and operations challenges are emerging such as venue owners, freight forwarders and contractors being “rusty post-lockdown” and persistent labour shortages.

AMR acquired by U.S. consulting firm

AMR International, an exhibition industry consultancy, has been acquired by Stax, a generalist consulting firm headquartered in Boston. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Hong Kong organisers calls for the end of restrictions

Duncan Cheung, exhibition industry veteran and organiser of the Mega Show, calls on the Hong Kong government to follow the lead of Singapore and Thailand and drop COVID restrictions for the good of the economy.

Escape from a Shanghai art trade fair

This is a simultaneously sad and hopeful article. Chinese authorities are clearly a long way from easing off their COVID-Zero “strategy,” but on the plus side, it is clear that exhibitors and visitors are desperate to get back to business events.