DLG Exhibitions’ down 65% in revenues

Shanghai, 28th October: DLG Exhibitions & Events (formerly known as Shanghai Lansheng), a Shanghai-listed exhibition organiser and conglomerate, has released its results for the nine months ended 30th September 2022.

The company generated revenues of US$30 million, representing a massive year-on-year decrease of 65%. The decrease was due to China’s unending and aggressive approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company posted a net loss of US$812,000 in the nine-month period, compared with a net profit of US$12 million in the same period in 2021.

Meorient’s revenues up 46%

Hangzhou, 28th October: Meorient, a Chinese exhibition organiser listed in Shenzhen, recently announced its financial results for the first nine months of 2022. Revenues in the period were US$19 million, an increase of 46% year-on-year. The company attributed the increase in revenues to the resumption of physical exhibitions in some of its key markets.

The company narrowed its net loss to US$1.8 million from a loss of US$6.3 million in the same period of last year.

Informa Markets’ Hong Kong jewellery fairs return in 2023

Hong Kong, 25th October: Informa Markets Jewellery announced two of its huge flagship jewellery events, Jewellery & Gem Asia Hong Kong (JGA), and Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong (JGW), will return in Hong Kong in 2023 after a three-year break due to the global pandemic.

Previous known as the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, JGA will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 22nd to 25th June 2023.

JGW, formerly called the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, will be hosted at Hong Kong’s two major venues. Jewellery materials will run from 18th to 22nd September 2023 at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) and finished jewellery, packaging solutions, tools & equipment, and jewellery industry-related technologies will be held at HKCEC from 20th to 24th September 2023.

Share price movement in B2B media companies involved in Asia

Figure 1: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement over past 12 months)

Figure 2: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement since January 2022)

Quick takes

Koelnmesse’s gamescon Asia returns

Singapore’s exhibition industry continues to prove it is back and getting stronger.

Alvin Tan, Singapore's Minister of State for Culture and Trade, and Koelnmesse’s President and Chief Executive Officer Gerald Böse were on hand to open this event.

Meanwhile in China…

It still seems like March 2020 as events are being cancelled and postponed. “Due to COVID-19 regulations in China, organisers of IT&CM China and CTW China 2022, have rescheduled the Shanghai-based event to from 21st to 23rd March 2023.”

The Philippines eases more restrictions

The Philippines will soon drop the COVID-19 test requirements for incoming visitors and the mask-wearing mandate indoors. Mask-wearing will still be required on public transport, medical transport and in medical facilities.

ITB Asia returns as in-person event

Singapore, 21st October: ITB Asia, which is organised by Messe Berlin, held its first face-to-face show since the beginning of the pandemic. The show which serves the travel trade industry ran from 19th to 21st October 2022 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

This year’s theme was “Go Big & Go Forward: Travel Industry on the Road to Recovery and Growth.” ITB Asia 2022 featured more than 100 conference sessions, with over 180 industry leaders discussing topics critical to the future of MICE, corporate travel, leisure travel and travel technology.

Thailand reports a strong rebound in its exhibition industry

Thailand, 26th October: The Thai exhibition industry reported a strong post-COVID rebound. A total of 11 new international tradeshows were held from May to September 2022 – and more than half of these events were staged by the local office of an international organiser or in partnership with Thai organisers, and with support from the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).

TCEB has unveiled its development plan to facilitate the growth of domestic exhibitions in 2023. This will feature the collaboration of 11 public and private sector partners under the EMTEX: Empower Thailand Exhibition umbrella project.

Constellar announces partnership with Chinese event

Singapore, 1st November: The organisers of Food2China EXPO, Guangdong (China) Imported Food Association (GDIFA) and Constellar-WorldEx, have signed a long-term partnership agreement with three other food trade fairs, Zhong Shi Zhan, Guangzhou International Food and Ingredients Exhibition (GIFIF), and Wine to China EXPO (originated from Shenzhen TOEWine).

Together, the conglomerate will launch the inaugural Food2China Expo running from 21st to 23rd September 2023 at Poly World Trade Center Expo (Guangzhou).

The new show will be organised by the organisers of the four food trade fairs and will be managed by Constellar-WorldEx, the Guangzhou Chamber of International Commerce and Shanghai Hehe Exhibition Group. The event is expected to cover over 66,000 m2 and attract more than 1,400 exhibitors and 80,000 visitors.

Share price movement in B2B media companies involved in Asia

Figure 1: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement over past 12 months)

Figure 2: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement since January 2022)

Quick takes

Singapore launches roadmap for hotel industry

Singaporean government ministers have launched the Hotel Industry Transformation Map – a roadmap for growth in the hospitality industry that includes upgrading skills, encouraging innovation, raising sustainability standards and providing viable career paths.

Hong Kong aims to return as “Trade Fair Capital of Asia”

Hong Kong SAR Government Chief Executive John Lee made a commitment to support the industry’s efforts to re-establish Hong Kong as the “Trade Fair Capital of Asia” in his recent policy address. Measures include the extension of the Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme, as well as a new HK$1.4 billion (US$179 million) to subsidise more than 200 exhibitions over three years.

Thailand’s exhibition industry on the rebound

Thailand reported a strong rebound in its exhibition industry, and is driving forward with a new campaign to boost domestic tradeshows. 11 new international tradeshows were launched between May and September 2022. More than half were staged by local offices of international organisers, or in partnership with Thai organisers, and support from the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

Malaysia nurturing home-grown signature events

Aiming to accelerate the recovery of the business events industry, the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) is working with local professional conference and exhibition organisers to launch and establish home-grown events. This represents a change from its pre-pandemic focus on attracting international events.

MEGA SHOW returns to Hong Kong physically

Hong Kong, 25th October: Comasia announced that the 2022 MEGA SHOW will run from 15th to 18th November 2022 in physical format at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

The four-day event will showcase a wide array of gifts and premiums, housewares and kitchen, toys and baby products, festive, Christmas and seasonal, and sporting goods.

Koelnmesse to launch Anuga Select in Tokyo

Japan, 21st October: International exhibition organiser Koelnmesse will launch a new trade fair in Japan in 2024: Anuga Select, Koelnmesse’s food and foodtec field trade fair.

The new show is built on a strategic partnership between Koelnmesse and Japan Food Journal, a trade publishing house. Japan Food Journal also organises several other trade fairs in the food sector in Japan.

GL events revenue up 84%

Lyon, 19th October: GL events released its financial results for the nine months ended 30th September 2022. It reported revenue growth of 84%, reaching €805 million (US$789 million), which represents a very strong recovery in business – approaching pre-pandemic levels.

In terms of business sectors, GL events Live generated revenues of €486 million (US$476 million), up 91% year-on-year. The second largest sector was GL events Venues, with revenues of €220 million (US$216 million), representing year-on-year growth of 179%. The remaining revenues were generated by GL events Exhibitions, which dropped 6% year-on-year.

TCEB launches new campaign to boost domestic exhibitions

Thailand, 20th October: Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has partnered with 11 organisations in public and private sectors to launch the “SPIRE Thailand” campaign, aimed at expediting the organisation of domestic exhibitions. It is expected that the campaign will generate more than THB7.8 billion (US$207 million) for the Thai economy.

TCEB has unveiled its growth development implementation plan for domestic exhibitions in 2023, working with 11 partners including the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Community Development Department (CDD), Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Cooperative Promotion Department (CPD), Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP), Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI), The Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion (OSMEP), The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), The Thai Chamber of Commerce, and the Thai Exhibition Association (TEA).

Share price movement in B2B media companies involved in Asia

Figure 1: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement over past 12 months)

Figure 2: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement since January 2022)

Quick takes

Foreign arrivals back on track in Philippines

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) has surpassed its 2022 arrival target as of mid-October with 1,767,791 foreign visitors on record. The DoT’s target for the full year was 1.7 million.

MCEC announces new CEO

Natalie O’Brien has been named as the new chief executive of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). She will start in the role in January 2023. O’Brien was previously the CEO of Food and Wine Victoria. She replaces outgoing chief executive Peter King who finishes with the business at the end of the year after 11 years at MCEC.

Singapore FinTech Festival to run as stand-alone event

The Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) and Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH), co-located since 2019, will be running as two separate events this year. SFF will be held from 2-4 November at Singapore EXPO, while SWITCH is from 25-28 October at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) Convention Centre.

Taiwan reopens without quarantine

Taiwan, 13th October: The government in Taiwan announced that it will re-open its borders to overseas travellers by lifting its compulsory quarantine for COVID-free arrivals.

In September, Taiwan resumed visa-free entry with a cap on the number of arrivals and a “3+4” arrangement: three nights in a designated hotel, followed by four days of self-monitoring and testing. Now, arrivals in Taiwan are required to conduct seven days of self-health management and advised to avoid crowded areas.

RELX releases trading update

London, 20th October: This week, London-listed RELX released its latest trade update, reporting its underlying revenue growth for the first nine months of 2022 as well as updating the full year outlook.

RELX’s exhibition business posted revenue growth of 85% in the period. According to the company, the growth was driven largely by a return to face-to-face activity across most of its key geographies. Management also noted that its digital tools have been effectively supporting physical events. RELX expects strong growth throughout the financial year as markets recover from the global pandemic.

9,800+ buyers attend HKTDC autumn technology fairs

Hong Kong, 13th October: The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) concluded the physical editions of the five autumn technology fairs, attracting more than 9,800 buyers from 13th to 16th October, to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

The five fairs are Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), electronicAsia, International ICT Expo, Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) and Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo. electronicAsia is organised by the HKTDC and MMI Asia, and the others are organised by the HKTDC. This time, the events adopted the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model. The online platform will run until 23rd October. Over 1,100 exhibitors showcased information and communication technology products, electronic and lighting products, and new smart city solutions.

Hong Kong government extends support for events

Hong Kong, 19th October: Earlier this week, during his 2022 policy address, John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced plans to extend support for the Hong Kong events industry.

The government will extend the Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme to 30th June 2023. A new HK$1.4 billion (US$178 million) scheme will be launched to subsidise over 200 exhibitions to be held in Hong Kong over a total of three years.