Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre bounces back

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Kuala Lumpur, 22nd November: After Malaysia’s government eased its quarantine and social distancing measures earlier this year, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) saw a significant bounce back in demand for in-person events, achieving 40% more than its expected 2022 targets. It is forecast that the business industry will return to pre-pandemic levels sooner than expected in early 2023.

So far, KLCC hosted about 1,350 events attracting over 750,000 delegates and contributing RM 285 million (US$62 million) in economic impact to Malaysia in 2022. According to the venue, its 2022 results equate to approximately 90% of its 2019 performance. In addition, about 50% of its 2023 target has already been confirmed.

UFI Global Congress heads to Cologne in 2024

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Paris/Cologne, 15th November: Last week, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, recently concluded its annual Global Congress in Muscat, Oman. UFI welcomed more than 400 UFI delegates, from over 50 countries and regions, to its 89th annual Global Congress in Muscat, Oman.

UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf stated, “This year’s Congress will be remembered for a long time. We returned to the Middle East for the first time in ten years, and we see significant progression in the industry throughout the region, with more markets growing their infrastructure and offerings for our sector. We re-balanced the mix between networking and content time. The networking areas were buzzing, the stands of our partners were busy. We were delighted to welcome many first time attendees, and we’re even more pleased to know they left with new peers and contacts.”

Baidu narrows loss in Q3

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Beijing, 22nd November: Earlier this week, Baidu, the leading Chinese language Internet search provider, released its financial results for the quarter ended 30th September 2022. Revenues in the quarter were US$4.6 billion, an increase of 2% year-on-year.

The company also narrowed its loss to US$21 million in the quarter, compared with a loss of US$2.6 billion in the same quarter in 2021.

Alibaba Group posts loss in Q2

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Hangzhou, 17th November: Last week, Alibaba Group, one of China’s leading e-commerce companies, released its financial results for the quarter ended 30th September 2022. The company recorded total revenues of US$29 billion, up 3% year-on-year. However, the company posted a net loss of US$2.9 billion, compared with a net profit of US$833 million in the same quarter in 2021.

Revenues from Alibaba’s B2B business in China, primarily generated through 1688.com, were US$592 million, representing an increase of 2% year-on-year. Revenues from its international B2B business, primarily operating through Alibaba.com, increased by 3% amounting to US$704 million.

Quick takes

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UFI’s Global Congress in Muscat attracts 400+

More than 400 delegates from dozens of countries gathered in Muscat, Oman this week as the global exhibition industry recovers from the global pandemic.

Tempers flare in China heat up as restrictions continue

Residents in Guangzhou took to the streets, defying a compulsory lockdown and have clashed with police as anger at COVID restrictions heats up. Meanwhile, 20 million in Chongqing are put under a new lockdown.

Fukuoka CVB unveils new activities

As Japan continue to recover after nearly three years of closed borders, the Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau (FCVB) has launched a range of activities focusing on attracting incentive groups.

Adelaide Convention Bureau launches rebrand

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Adelaide, 9th November: Founded in 1974, the Adelaide Convention Bureau has recently been rebranded as Business Events Adelaide. According to the organisation, the new name better reflects its mission and removes the ambiguity of it being erroneously related to tourism and major events.

Business Events Adelaide will focus on attracting all kind of business events, including meetings, conventions, conferences, exhibitions, seminars, symposiums and corporate incentives.

Sino Splendid up 26% in revenues

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Hong Kong, 11th November: Earlier this week, Hong Kong-listed Sino Splendid (formerly China.com) announced its financial results for the nine months ended 30th September 2022. Revenues in the period were US$6.9 million, a 26% increase compared with the same period of last year. However, the company posted a net loss of US$2.4 million in the period, compared with a loss of US$2.2 million in the first nine months of 2021.

Sino Splendid attributed the revenue growth to strong performance from its financial magazine business where revenues were up 57% year-on-year. More than 78% of Sino Splendid’s revenues were generated from its financial magazine & other media businesses amounting to US$5.4 million.

BOL’s profit up 17% in Q3

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Bangkok, 11th November: Business Online (BOL), a leading online information service provider in Thailand, has reported its financial results for the quarter ended 30th September 2022. Revenues in the quarter were US$5.2 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.8%.

In addition, the company’s net profit grew 17% in the same quarter of 2021, reaching US$2.4 million. The company attributed the growth in revenues to an expansion of its customer base and a growth in revenues from existing customers.

Informa’s revenues jump more than 40%

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London, 14th November: Informa PLC, the London-listed B2B media company, has released its latest trading update highlighted by a 10-month underlying revenue growth of 41% in its continuing businesses. This is reflected by growth in Academic Markets and all three B2B Markets businesses (Informa Markets, Informa Tech, Informa Connect).

As a result of strong performances in its Live and On-Demand Events in North America, EMEA and ASEAN and by the continuing growth in Academic Markets, the group raised its revenue guidance of £2.3 billion to £2.35 billion (US$2.56 to US$2.63 billion) and adjusted operating profit of £490 million to £505 million (US$547 to US$564 million).

Quick takes

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Air travel is rising in Asia, but lagging globally

In another positive sign for the region, Asian airline passenger traffic has increased by five-fold to 62 million between January and September when compared to the same period in 2021. And the international passenger load factor has risen by 40% to average 70%.

ICCA elects new president

At ICCA’s 61st Congress in Kraków, Poland, the association’s members voted for Marta Gomes as the new ICCA president, succeeding James Rees. Gomes is currently the deputy executive director, sales, of Viparis which manages and operates ten convention and exhibition centres in Paris.

Clockenflap returns to Hong Kong in 2023

After three years of cancelled dates, the three-day music festival, Clockenflap, will return to Hong Kong in March 2023. This announcement follows the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament last weekend. In order to attract international visitors, the Hong Kong government will need to scrap its “0+3” testing policy by then.

IACC & MPI announce strategic alliance

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Worldwide, 31st October: IACC, a global association representing leading small- and medium-sized conference and meeting venues, has announced a strategic partner with Meeting Professionals International (MPI), a leading global meetings and events industry association.

The two organisations will work together to advance the global events community by shared knowledge and connected intelligence. Under the terms of the new partnership, IACC will engage with MPI’s network of more than 95,000 meeting and event professionals to promote its member meeting venues.

DLG Exhibitions’ down 65% in revenues

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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%

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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

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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.

Quick takes

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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

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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

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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.