Incheon’s first integrated resort to open in 2023

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Seoul, 11th October: The Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort is set to open before the end of 2023. Located on Incheon’s Yeongjong Island, the multi-billion-dollar, multi-phase project occupies a site of 4.3 million m2 and it is officially located in “Incheon International Airport’s International Business District” – adjacent to Terminal 2 at the Incheon International Airport. It is approximately one hour from downtown Seoul.

The Mohegan property development will feature three five-star hotels with over 1,200 rooms; a 15,000-seat indoor arena; and a variety of MICE facilities. There will also be shopping, dining and entertainment options and an indoor water park.

Informa Markets launches The Battery Show India

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India, 9th October: Informa Markets has hosted the inaugural edition of The Battery Show India, running from 4th to 6th October 2023 at the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida. The new show was co-located with the 16th edition of Renewable Energy India 2023. Over 900 brands were showcased at the Battery Show, attracting some 40,000 visitors.

Yogesh Mudras, managing director, Informa Markets India, remarked, “The Battery Show India alongside Renewable Energy India 2023 Expo are comprehensive catalysts for innovation and collaboration in the renewable energy, energy storage, and EV sectors. India’s leadership in renewables and EVs, driven by ambitious targets and government support, has surged battery demand. The events’ role in convening stakeholders, discussing trends, and forging partnerships is instrumental in advancing these sectors and supporting India’s shift towards a clean energy future. India, the world’s fourth-largest renewable energy producer, aims to achieve 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, with battery demand projected to grow at a remarkable CAGR of over 25%.”

Quick takes

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IMPACT launches sustainable meeting package

The largest venue in Thailand, IMPACT, has launched a “Green Meeting Package.” It includes: avoiding using tablecloths, chair covers, straws, and plastic bottled water at meetings, using green air conditioners, separating waste; and using environmentally friendly paper bags, etc. The package also includes a carbon footprint report.

Expanded venue officially opens in Cairns

The Cairns Convention Centre expansion is complete. It cost A$176 million and added 10,500 m2. Facilities are now across four-levels, including a 410-seat function room, three 120-seat meeting rooms and a small exhibition space.

IEG appoints new president

The Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) has appointed Maurizio Renzo Ermeti as the new president of the group. He has been a non-executive board member since 1997 and he was vice-chairman from 2008 to 2016. IEG recently opened an Asian office in Singapore and completed a small Asian acquisition.

Nineteen Group acquires Oliver Kinross

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London/Hong Kong, 3rd October: UK-based, Nineteen Group announced that it has acquired Oliver Kinross, a London and Hong Kong-based conference and trade show organiser. No financial details of the deal were announced. After the acquisition, Nineteen Group will maintain headquarters in both London and Hong Kong.

Founded in 2008, Oliver Kinross owns a series of Build Expos with editions in New York, Chicago, Sydney and London. After the acquisition, Oliver Kinross’ founders, Neil McKenzie and James McKenzie and the senior management team, including Barry Saysell and Adam Jaffe, will continue to lead the business.

Asia CEO Summit held in Singapore

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Singapore, 4th October: The Asia CEO Summit (ACS) was held from 3rd to 5th October 2023 at the JW Marriott Singapore South Beach. The event is designed to be a gathering executives from international business event organisers as well as regional, independent exhibition organisers.

The summit is co-organised by UK-based Association of Event Organisers (AEO), the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), the US-based Society for Independent Show Organisers (SISO) and UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.

This year, ACS featured sessions on sustainability, recover and growth in Asia, the outlook for M&A in Asia and the role of tech and AI in future events. There were close to 100 senior executives in attendance at the ACS and the mood was strongly optimistic as business events move towards pre-pandemic levels and beyond in Southeast Asia.

TCEB extends MICE Lane service

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Thailand, 26th September: Following the Thai government’s visa exemption policy for tourists from China (and Kazakhstan), the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is preparing to increase its “MICE Lane” services at five airports in the Kingdom in anticipation of increased demand.

The MICE Lane service is now available at two major airports: Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang International Airport. TCEB plans to extend the service to five major airports: Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Phuket International Airport and Udonthani Airport.

NOVA’s loss widens in FY2022-2023

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Hong Kong, 29th September: Last week, Hong Kong-based exhibition and event organiser, NOVA Group (formerly known as Mega Expo) announced its financial results for the year ended 30th June 2023. The company reported total revenues of US$5.3 million, a decrease of 63% compared with the previous year. The company’s loss widened to a rather large US$65 million, compared with a loss of US$16 million last year.

The company did not generate revenues from its exhibitions & events business. The company has not organised any exhibitions since 2020 due to COVID-19 and the travel restrictions which effectively closed Hong Kong during that period.

Quick takes

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AI will strategy personalise attendee experiences

Michael Kreitzer explains that AI is not going to take our jobs. It will allow organisers to collect more data, improve marketing and personalise events for visitors and exhibitors alike.

Hong Kong needs more (hotel) conference space

Next month, Hong Kong will host the Global Financial Summit organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Interestingly, HKMA chief executive, Eddie Yue Wai-man, told the South China Morning Post the event had almost hit its limit for guests due to limited conference capacity in the city.

SMX Convention Center Cebu to open end 2025

The SMX Convention Center Cebu is now scheduled to open in 2025 and it will be larger than SMX property in Manila. The Cebu convention centre will feature a floor area of 52,000 m2, compared with 35,000 m2 in Manila.

Alibaba to spin-off and list Cainiao

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Hong Kong, 26th September: China’s leading e-commerce company, the Alibaba Group, announced that the company intends to spin-off Cainiao as a separate listing on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx).

Alibaba has submitted a spin-off proposal to HKEx and the exchange has confirmed that the company may proceed with the proposed spin-off. After the new listing is complete, Alibaba will continue to own more than 50% Cainiao, and as a result, Cainiao will remain a subsidiary of Alibaba.

Incentive travel recovers worldwide

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­Worldwide, 20th September: IBTM World’s 2023 Incentive Travel Report showed a strong recovery in incentive travel with companies eager to reward employees with incentive travel benefits. IBTM World’s report forecasts that global market value of the sector will reach US$217 billion by 2031 if current annual growth rate continues.

The report stated that the incentive travel industry is currently growing at an annual rate of 12%, and its predicts that the number of people participating in incentive travel programmes worldwide will grow 61% in 2024 compared to the same figure in 2019.

IAEE appoints Interim CEO

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USA, 25th September: The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has appointed long-time Executive Vice President and COO, Cathy Breden, to step into the role of Interim CEO, effective 1st October 2023 until a permanent replacement for ex-President and CEO, David DuBois can be hired.

Breden will return to her current role when new President and CEO is hired, but she is schedule to retire in June 2024. Breden is also the CEO of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), and has served as a member of several boards of directors, as key staff contact, chief staff executive volunteer leader and as a consultant.

Quick takes

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Informa HK Jewellery back with big numbers

The 40th edition of Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong resulted in strong numbers this week. It ended on 24th September with over 3,400 exhibitors from 44 countries and regions. There were nearly 54,000 buyers – similar to 2018 figures according to the organiser. Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines all recorded significant increases in visitor numbers.

TCEB and Bangkok get ready for ICCA

This week International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) kicked off the media launch for its 62nd annual Congress. ICCA’s president, Marta Gomes; its CEO, Senthil Gopinath and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya were all in attendance. The three-day conference will be held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) running from 12th to 15th November.

Philippines’ DoT receives increase in budget

The Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DoT), which oversees the MICE industry, has received a much-needed increase in allocated budget. The specifics have not been released but the tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco noted that tourism generates nearly US$33 billion for the national economy.

India (finally) gets a new venue

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New Delhi, 16th September: Phase 1 of India’s newest exhibition venue, the India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC), officially opened on 17th September. Located at Dwarka, a New Delhi suburb, the venue is also known as “Yashobhoomi.”

With total built-up area of more 180,000 m2, the new venue cost approximately US$650 million. It consists of a convention centre, multiple exhibition halls and other facilities. The convention centre covers 73,000 m2 across 15 convention halls with a total capacity of 11,000 delegates. The exhibition halls cover over 107,000 m2.

PATA appoints new CEO

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Bangkok, 20th September: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has appointed Noor Ahmad Hamid as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st October 2023.

In the three-year term, Noor will lead PATA, “one of the world’s most influential travel industry associations” dedicated to promoting responsible travel and tourism within the Pacific Asia region.

Thai government new plans to boost visitor revenue

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Thailand, 20th September: The Thai government has recently unveiled a new set of initiatives to designed attract more business events travellers to drive the Kingdom’s tourism revenue. The initiatives will target the China market in particular.

The government plans to collaborate with businesses across all sectors to host trade fairs and festivals such as Loy Krathong and Songkran. They also aim to host more exhibitions throughout the year. The government will also introduce a new and improved Fast Track Visa programme for business events visitors.

Quick takes

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HKTDC’s Watch & Clock Fair attract 15,000

Close to 15,000 visitors from 95 countries (and regions) attended the 42nd edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair.  That figure is down from the 18,000 recorded in 2019. The change in exhibitor numbers is not known at this time.

Singapore F1 posts impressive results

The Singapore F1 recorded nearly 265,000 attendees over the three-day race surpassing government expectations of 250,000 spectators, but the 2023 results are surprisingly lower than 2022’s record high of 302,000 attendees.

KLCC goes green

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) has begun participating the Malaysian government’s Green Electricity Tariff (GET) programme. The programme is managed by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), the nation’s largest electricity utility company. The programme enables KLCC to only renewable electricity making it the first venue in Malaysia to be powered by green energy.