HC’s revenues up 46% in first half

Hong Kong, 25th August: Last week, Hong Kong-listed HC Group released its interim results for the six months ended 30th June 2023. The company’s revenues grew 46% in the first half of the year, reaching US$1.2 billion. However, the company posted a net loss of US$112 million in the first half of 2023, compared with a loss of US$11 million in the same period of last year.

More than 87% of HC Group’s revenues were generated from its smart industries segment, amounting to US$1.1 billion. Revenues from this segment jumped by 48% compared to the first half of 2022. The remaining revenues were contributed by HC’s technology-driven new retail segment (US$143 million), and its platform & corporate services segment (US$8.3 million).

DLG returns to profit in first half

Shanghai, 26th August: Last week, DLG Exhibitions & Events Corporation Limited (formerly Shanghai Lansheng Corporation) reported its financial results for the six months ended 30th June 2023. Revenues in the first half of 2023 were US$78 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 398%.

The company recorded net profit of US$27 million in the first half of the year, compared with a loss of US$5.6 million in the first half of 2022. Diluted earnings per share in the first half of 2023 were RMB 0.36 (US$0.050).

Meorient’s revenues jump 271%

Shanghai, 30th August: Shenzhen-listed exhibition organiser Meorient recently announced its financial results for the six months ended 30th June 2023. The group’s revenues in the first half of 2023 increased by 271% year-on-year, reaching US$49 million.

The company posted a net profit of US$11 million, compared with a loss of US$2.2 million for the same period in 2022. Diluted earnings per share in the six-month period were RMB 0.50 (US$0.069).

Quick takes

ICC Sydney doubles footfall and economic contribution in 2022/23

International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue, attracted 500 events, welcomed more than one million visitors and contributed A$600 million in expenditure to the New South Wales economy in FY2022/23 – more than double the number of visitors compared to the previous year, and more than triple the economic contribution than in FY2021/22.

Messe Dusseldorf successfully concludes Medical Fair China 2023 in Suzhou

Medical Fair China (MFC), organized by Messe Dusseldorf (Shanghai), was held at the Suzhou International Expo Center in late August. This year’s exhibition welcomed 350 leading companies from the medical device manufacturing, production and research fields, attracting over 9,000 industry professionals.

PCIM Asia 2023 opens at SNIEC

Jointly organized by Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt and Mesago Messe Frankfurt, PCIM Asia 2023, the leading fair in Asia for power electronics, was held from 29th to 31st August at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), presenting the latest developments in power electronics, intelligent motion, renewable energy and energy management. This year’s edition attracted 181 exhibitors, occupying 12,000 m2 of exhibition space.

HKTDC’s watch shows to be held in September

The 42nd HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 11th Salon de TE are being jointly organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades and Industries. The physical fair will run from 5th to 9th September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), with Salon de TE being held on the final two days (8-9 September).

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 2023)

Messe Düsseldorf Asia and Informa Markets partner to organise plastics shows

Bangkok, August: Leading international exhibition organisers, Messe Düsseldorf Asia and Informa Markets, have announced a partnership to jointly organise the Plastics and Rubber series of exhibitions in Southeast Asia from 2024.

The first exhibition will be Plastics and Rubber Thailand, running from 15th to 18th May 2024, at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) in Bangkok. The other exhibitions to be organised under the partnership are Plastics and Rubber Indonesia, and Plastics and Rubber Vietnam.

Baidu’s profit jumps 43% in Q2

Beijing, 22nd August: Earlier this week, Baidu, the leading Chinese language Internet search provider, released its financial results for the quarter ended 30th June 2023. Revenues for the quarter were US$4.7 billion, an increase of 15% year-on-year. The company recorded year-on-year profit growth of 43%, reaching US$718 million in the quarter.

More than 61% of its total revenues (US$2.9 billion) were generated from Baidu’s online marketing services, which was up by 15% over last year. The remaining revenues were generated from “other services”, amounting to US$1.8 billion. This represents growth of 14% compared with the same quarter last year.

CCID Consulting posts profit in first half of 2023

Beijing, 23rd August: CCID Consulting, a research and information service provider in China, recently announced its financial results for the first half of 2023. Revenues were US$13.5 million, up 36% year-on-year. The company posted a profit of US$3.9 million, compared with a loss of US$2.0 million in the first half of 2022. Earnings per share in the six-month period were RMB0.0447 (US$0.0062).

More than 81% of CCID’s revenues were generated from its Decision-making consulting services, amounting to US$11.1 million. This segment jumped 107% year-on-year. The second largest business segment was CCID’s Data platform services, generating revenues of US$1.6 million, and accounting for 12% of the company’s total revenues. This segment generated just US$69,000 in the first half of 2022. The remaining revenues were generated from its Science and technology innovation platform services (US$893,000).

Macau hosts 263 MICE events in Q2

Macau, 24th August: Earlier this week, Macau’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) reported its MICE statistics for the quarter ended 30th June 2023. Macau held a total of 263 MICE events in the quarter, which represents 171 more events than the same period in 2022. The total number of participants and attendees grew by 66% year-on-year in the quarter to 508,800.

Of the total 263 events, 245 were meetings and conferences, up by 163 from the same quarter last year. The total number of participants at meetings and conferences jumped 299%, reaching 45,200 participants. A total of 14 exhibitions were held in the quarter, which was four events more than the same quarter last year. The number of attendees increased by 57% to 460,900. The total gross area occupied by these exhibitions was 78,000 m2.

Quick takes

UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2026 to be held in Bangkok

UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry has chosen Bangkok, Thailand to host the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2026. Formalising their commitment, UFI and the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a launch press conference held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok.

Malaysia Business Events Week 2023 draws industry professionals

Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) organised another successful Malaysia Business Events Week (MBEW) 2023 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The six-day event treated 400 business events practitioners to a series of panel discussions, workshops, training sessions, forums and CSR initiatives; as well as the launch of the MyTripleE support programme under MyCEB’s Meet in Malaysia campaign.

Hong Kong regaining lustre as incentives destination

On the path to post-pandemic recovery, Hong Kong welcomed nearly 300 meeting and incentive groups over the past six months; and recently hosted more than 160 MICE-travel and corporate event organisers from India, South Korea and mainland China on curated familiarisation trips – showcasing new and upgraded attractions throughout the city.

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 2023)

Alibaba profits up 51%

Hangzhou, 10th August: Last week, Alibaba Group, China’s largest e-commerce company, announced its results for the quarter ended 30th June 2023. The company recorded revenues of US$32 billion, an increase of 14% year-on-year. Its profits jumped 51% year-on-year, reaching US$4.7 billion.

Just over 58% of Alibaba’s total revenues were generated from its Taobao & Tmall Group and the Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group: US$16 billion and US$3.1 billion, respectively. Revenues from Taobao & Tmall’s China commerce wholesale business, primarily generated through 1688.com, were US$707 million, a moderate increase of 1% over the previous year. Meanwhile, Alibaba International Digital Commerce’s international commerce wholesale business, primarily traded on Alibaba.com, generated revenues of US$687 million – on par with the previous year.

Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre to be named Nyaal Banyul

Australia, 11th August: The Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre will be renamed as the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre.

In Wadawurrung language, the name Nyaal Banyul means “open your eyes to the hills”. According to the management company, this name was chosen to encourage people at the site to take time to appreciate the landscape and natural beauty of Wadawurrung Country. The new name also marks the return of events and the broadening range of events to be hosted at the centre. It is also a celebration of the site, which was historically a gathering place known as a “baierr”.

Sino Splendid narrows losses in first half of 2023

Hong Kong, 11th August: Last week, Hong Kong-listed company Sino Splendid (formerly China.com) released its results for the six months ended 30th June 2023. Revenues during the period were US$2.4 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 49%. However, the company narrowed its losses from US$2.6 million in the first half of 2022, down to a loss of US$1.7 million in the first half of this year.

In terms of business segments, more than 88% of Sino Splendid’s revenues were generated by its financial magazine & other media business, amounting to US$2.2 million – down 40% year-on-year. The remaining revenue was generated by its travel media business (US$204,000 – down 72% year-on-year), and money lending business (US$70,000 – on par with the previous year).

UltraLuxe debuts at Singapore Watch Fair

Singapore, 15th August: This year’s Singapore Watch Fair will include a new section: UltraLuxe, a niche luxury festival showcasing independent designers and iconic jewellery, watch, fashion and lifestyle brands. Supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), it will run from 13th to 22nd October 2023, at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).

UltraLuxe will comprise four exhibitions in two locations: Jeweluxe, Advocacy, Homme, and the Singapore Watch Fair – which will feature creations by independent watchmakers around the world and a ‘collector’s museum’ of vintage watches.

Quick takes

Global business travel industry spending to reach US$1.8 trillion by 2027

According to the latest 2023 GBTA Business Travel Index Outlook – Annual Global Report and Forecast published by the Global Business Travel Association, the global business travel industry is recovering more quickly than anticipated. Pre-pandemic spending levels of US$1.4 trillion are expected to be surpassed in 2024, before growing to nearly US$1.8 trillion by 2027.

Japan unveils strategy to elevate global MICE standing

According to a new national government strategy, Japan aims to become the top destination for business events in Asia, and a top five global destination by 2030. The action plan aims to attract visitors interested in business, academia, culture, arts, sports and nature; as well as attracting more international conferences to Japan.

InterContinental opens at Shenzhen WECC

The InterContinental Shenzhen WECC has opened in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Zone of Bao’an District – just 800 metres from the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center. The hotel offers 359 guestrooms and suites, as well as 3,300 m2 of meeting space including a 1,200 m2 pillar-free ballroom.

Macao visitor arrivals triple in Q2 2023

Macao’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) reported 6,697,519 visitor arrivals in the second quarter of 2023, representing year-on-year growth of 322%. The average length of stay per visitor also rose by 0.2 days to 1.2 days. Total visitor spending (excluding gaming expenses) leapt by 355% year-on-year to MOP 17.5 billion.

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 2023)

BOL’s revenues up 17% in Q2

Bangkok, 8th August: Earlier this week, Business Online (BOL), an online information service provider in Thailand, reported its financial results for the quarter ended 30th June 2023. Revenues during the quarter were US$6.1 million, a year-on-year increase of 17%. The company’s profits grew by 10%, reaching US$2.4 million.

BOL attributed the increase in revenues to both new and existing customers from its business information service and to its data management project.

CIOSH to launch in Thailand in 2024

Bangkok, 8th August: China International Occupational Safety & Health Goods Expo (CIOSH) will launch a new personal protective equipment (PPE) show in Thailand, Thailand International Exhibition for Personal Protective Equipment (CIOSH Thailand), next year. It will take place at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) from 5th to 7th June 2024.

To be held annually, CIOSH Thailand will be organised by the China Textile Commerce Association (CTCA), working with Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (MDS) and Messe Düsseldorf Asia Pte Ltd. (MDA).

330+ exhibitors at Nanjing Sports Carnival 2023

Nanjing, 9th August: Nanjing Sport Carnival 2023 was held at Nanjing International Exhibition Center from 4th to 6th August 2023, featuring a total of 336 exhibitors, and welcoming some 13,000 trade visitors and sport enthusiasts.

Covering an exhibition area of 30,000 m2, Nanjing Sport Carnival 2023 showcased categories including camping, outdoor sports, water sports, urban sports, cycling, running and others. More than 100 support forums and activities were held during the carnival.