News

Jan 09, 2012
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s HongKong International Jewellery Show 2012has booked new dates, Feb. 16-20 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and is expected to not only draw 3,000 exhibitors from 46 regions and countries, but also expand the “Hall of Extraordinary” by 25 percent. The “Hall of Extraordinary” features high-endjewellery pieces with high quality stones set in unique designs.The diamonds and precious stones section also hasincreased by 15 percent. In the hall will be gems, as well as classic pieces, such as the “… more
Jan 09, 2012
Thailand-based Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre will host several new MICE events in 2012, with a focus on specialized trade fairs, meetings and world congresses that have never been held in the country before. “Since the beginning of the year 2012 till second quarter, BITEC has many new trade fairs, meetings and congress(es) at BITEC,” said Sarnit Karunyavanij, business development director of Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre. He added, “Starting with the consumer fair of Thailand Game Show 2012, the only fair for all true gamers… more
Jan 09, 2012
Food&HotelAsia, on tap April 17-20 at the Singapore Expo, will once again collocate with HospitalityStyleAsia2012 and HospitalityTechnology2012 to showcase a strong line-up of the newest and hottest technology solutions and unique concepts to Asia. “With the hospitality and foodservice industry expanding rapidly in Asia, HospitalityStyleAsia2012 and HospitalityTechnology2012 function as excellent platforms for hospitality and restaurant operators to network, source and showcase new solutions and trends which will enhance and improve their establishments’ functionality and… more
Jan 09, 2012
SPS – Industrial Automation Fair Guangzhou, a business platform for industrial automation solutions, will feature more than 350 leading companies from 15 countries and regions when it opens March 7-9 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou. The show is sponsored by the China Foreign Trade Centre and Germany-based Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH. In addition, SPS – Industrial Automation Fair Guangzhou is organized by the China Foreign Trade Guangzhou Exhibition General Corporation, Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd, Guangzhou Overseas Trade Fairs Ltd and Mesago Messe… more
Jan 09, 2012
NCC Management & Development Co Ltd, operator of Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), announced the appointment of Sakchai Pattarapreechakul as president of the company. He was formerly executive vice president of NCC Management.   Pattarapreechakul’s capacity will also oversee convention centres the Golden Jubilee Convention Hall and The 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Throne International Convention Center (PSUICC), and three subsidiary companies – NCC Exhibition Organizer Co Ltd, NCC Image Co Ltd and NCC F&B… more
Jan 09, 2012
The Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) has signed the right to host eight major MICE events for the 2013 to 2017 period. Consisting of one national event and seven international business events, the events are expected to attract approximately 7,150 international delegates and bring an estimated US$24 million to the state of Victoria. Events scheduled for 2013 include the International Conference on Care and Housing for the Ageing 2013, IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics – ECCE Asia 2013, Broadband World Congress 2013 and the Mental Health Services… more
Jan 09, 2012
Hong Kong has been awarded Asia’s best city for events in the annual CEI Industry Awards organised by CEI Asia. The city’s two main convention and exhibition venues, namely the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), also came first and third, respectively, in the award category for top venue. Although finishing in second place behind the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Hong Kong’s convention bureau Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK) managed a place in front of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). According to… more
Jan 09, 2012
NASDAQ-listed B2B media company, Global Sources, announced the completed transition of its key management effective Jan. 1. Peter Zapf, former chief operating officer of Global Sources, replaced Bill Georgiou as chief information officer. Georgiou is scheduled to retire as an employee at the end of February 2012, and move to a consultant role for the company for a further period of time. Brent Barnes, former general manager of Content & Community Development, replaced Zapf as the company’s COO.
Jan 09, 2012
The third edition of BOI Fair opened at the Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre under the theme is running under the banner “Going Green for the Future.” The fair is organised by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) and supported by UBM Asia (Thailand), who was hired as a special consultant, to rebuild investor confidence after last year’s devastating flood. The BOI Fair reportedly covers close to 300,000 square meters in total area, which includes open-air activities and 84 pavilions showcasing high technology and innovative exhibits from local and multinational… more
Jan 08, 2012
The Consumer Electronic Association’s 2012 International CES is tapped to be the second largest one in the organization's history, squarely leaving behind any sign of economic doldrums that may have impacted the show’s size in the past few years.   This year’s event, Jan. 10-13 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and other citywide venues, is boasting a 1.851 million net square feet showfloor, as more than 2,700 companies unveil their products across all sectors of the consumer electronics industry. The largest CES was held in 2008, spanning a record-breaking 1… more
Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.