HKCEC Successfully Secured 44 New Exhibitions, Conferences in FY2016/17

August 16, 2017

The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre has continued to be the top venue for international organisers staging world-class exhibitions and conferences in Hong Kong.

During the fiscal year 2016-2017 (July 2016 to June 2017), a total of 1,102 events were held at the HKCEC, including 116 exhibitions and 104international and local conferences, along with hundreds of corporate meetings, banquets and entertainment events.

In total, more than 5.7 million people attended these events. Eight new exhibitions and 36 new conferences successfully were held at the HKCEC.

During the year, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”) picked up 28 awards and certificates from international and local organisations, including the award for the “Best International Convention and Exhibition Centre”, the “Award for Excellence in Convention and Exhibition Facilities”, and the “18 Districts Caring Employers 2016 Award”.

Eight of the year’s 116 exhibitions were new to the HKCEC. They represented industries as diverse as fashion, toys, cloud technology, automobiles, and technology for the elderly. The other 100-plus exhibitions were recurrent trade and public fairs, including the 5th edition of Art Basel Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Book Fair, and the Hong Kong Electronics Fair.

The HKCEC’s conference business remained strong during the year. Among the 104 conferences held at the HKCEC, 30 were international and 74 were local conventions, with a total of 36 new to the venue. The conventions were on subjects as wide-ranging as medical science, yoga, taxation, law, and waste recycling.

Other significant events held at the HKCEC during the year included Hong Kong phenomenon Rex Tso Sing-yu winning theWBO Asia-Pacific super flyweight title in front of 8,000 enthusiastic spectators. This was an important moment in his personal career, taking him to a winning streak of 21 matches. On another front, the Chief Executive Election held on 26 March at the HKCEC was brought to a successful conclusion due to HML’s professional security, event planning and crowd management services.

A series of celebration activities for the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s Return to the Motherland were held at the HKCEC from 29 June to 1 July. These included the Grand Variety Show, the Flag Raising, the Inauguration of the Fifth Term Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, along with fireworks display dinners and other activities relating to the visit of President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China.

With a rich experience and expertise in handling high-profile events, HML’s 950 permanent staff and an additional 1,500 temporary support staff successfully provided meticulous services in line with the strict security measures.

During the three days, more than 33,000 meals were served for attending guests, HML and Government staff members, contractors, as well as some of Hong Kong’s top performing artists.

Monica Lee-Müller, managing director of HML, said, “Exhibition and event organisers coming to the HKCEC are not just looking for a suitable venue, but are expecting total event experience for exhibitors, buyers, visitors, attendees and guests, which involves bringing together security services, catering services, technological support and logistics. HML is fully capable to provide them with creative and comprehensive solutions.”

Since the opening of the HKCEC in 1988, the HML team has hosted 46,460 events and welcomed over 103 million visitors.

These events have contributed significant economic benefits to Hong Kong by generating spin-offs for tourism and other related industries, creating numerous jobs and business opportunities for small and medium enterprises, and enhancing Hong Kong’s international image and reputation.

 

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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.