Eco Expo Asia 2016 Closed with Record-breaking Exhibitor, Visitor Numbers

January 9, 2017

Eco Expo Asia 2016, held Oct. 26-29, closed amid great acclaim with record-breaking exhibitor and visitor numbers.

The Expo was jointly organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and co-organised by the Environment Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The four-day event attracted 325 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions, including 15 overseas and local pavilions and group participation.

The growth signifies stronger engagement by the green building, energy efficiency and green transportation sectors driven by the Expo’s emphasis on climate change solutions.

Additionally, a total of 88 delegations added to record visitor figures of 13,458, which grew by 8.7 percent from last year. These numbers reflected strong participation by markets including the Chinese mainland, the US, Taiwan, Korea and Malaysia.

With support from the Canadian government, the Canada Pavilion returned to the Expo for the second time.

Jodi Robinson, Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner of Consulate General of Canada Trade Commissioner Service of the Government of Canada, said: “We chose Eco Expo Asia in Hong Kong because it is an important business hub where regional managers in Asia gather. We handpicked technologies that are fit for this market to exhibit here. Through the Expo’s networks, we met property developers and delegates from manufacturing industries in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland who showed keen interest in our Canadian technologies.”  

With the Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland government striving to promote green transportation, the Expo upgraded its Green Transportation Experience Zone and launched the new Green Transportation Forum to better serve the increasing demand for the latest green transportation solutions and technologies.

Cliff Wu, general manager of Hong Kong EV Power Ltd, expressed that the Expo was an ideal platform for promoting EV charging solutions.

He commented: “Eco Expo Asia is the only environmental protection fair in Hong Kong with a strong focus on electric vehicles (EVs). Visitors from the Chinese mainland, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand came forth to learn more about how our EV charging network operates. Government officials, property management companies, potential car makers, green funding companies, and existing and potential EV users also showed interest in our smart ceiling EV charger.”

More than 20 events were held during the three-day Eco Asia Conference, in addition to a great variety of country- and industry-focused seminars and Public Day events.

The conference gathered government officials from Hong Kong and those from the central and provincial levels from the Chinese mainland, and trade associations, leading enterprises, as well as NGOs from across the globe to discuss issues revolving around waste management, air and water quality, energy efficiency and energy, as well as green buildings. 

Ir Enoch T S Lam, JP, director of Water Supplies, the Government of the Hong Kong SAR, presented on the topic of “Climate Change – Water Security Development in Hong Kong”.

He said: “The conference is a platform where the participants have an opportunity to voice their opinions openly and ask presenters questions on various topics surrounding water resources management, environmental protection and carbon emissions. It generates new ideas and enhances the understanding of the participants and stakeholders in regard to the major topics of the exhibition.”

The next edition of Eco Expo Asia will be held Oct. 26-29 at Asia-World Expo.

 

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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.