Wireless Connectivity

Part of the HKCEC's ongoing mission is to continually enhance its services and facilities, in the process providing customers with new value-added benefits and a more effective business environment. Increasingly, fast and efficient telecommunications access is seen as crucial to business performance. To meet its customers' needs in this respect, the HKCEC has recently gone a step further in its comprehensive upgrade programme, installing wireless LAN systems in all five exhibition halls and adjacent concourses, the Convention Hall and Foyer, the Grand Hall and Foyer, and in the Atriums. These, in addition to the previously-installed fixed broadband lines, have made the HKCEC and its users truly "connected" with the rest of the world. Cliff Wallace, the HKCEC's Managing Director, emphasised the value of this connectivity to the HKCEC. "As a professional management and operating company, we are constantly investing to make doing business easier for our valued customers. Our efforts are more than repaid by the solid, lasting relationships that are built as a result." Upgrades and renovations since 2002 alone have involved investment of more than HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) by the HKCEC's management company, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Ltd. Wallace is adamant: "This investment policy will continue," he says, "in order to maximise one of Hong Kong's prime harbour-front assets and ensure that the HKCEC's service standards and operational efficiency will always be at an optimum level."

And the Oscar Goes to...

This year's Oscar for 'Best Film' may have gone to 'Million Dollar Baby', but the multi-million dollar HKCEC has taken away some awards of its own in recent months. At the 11th World Travel Awards, held in December 2004 in Barbados and sometimes described as the 'Oscars' of the world tourism and travel industry, the Centre was selected as 'Asia's Leading Conference Centre' for the third consecutive year. These awards carry so much authority because nominees are selected based on votes from the worldwide grassroots travel industry, including 80,000 travel agencies and 150,000 frontline agents. The final awards are based on extremely stringent criteria, so the Centre's dominance over three years is strong proof of its ongoing standards of excellence. And speaking of repeat awards, the HKCEC recently picked up the CIM Accolade Award for the second time since 1997. Awarded by the Australian Convention and Incentive Marketing News Magazine based on reader votes, the HKCEC won the award for the Venue category, reflecting the exceptionally high standard of its facilities and services. With both awards based on feedback from actual users of the Centre, we've received the best recognition possible that we've got our finger on the pulse of the conference and convention industries.

Cream of the Crop

Here at the HKCEC, we have been aggressively promoting our proven record and prime location, our superb facilities and highly professional team. That effort has paid off in the 2005 event calendar which includes two brand new international trade fairs. In June, the Centre hosts top-level event Hospitality Design Asia, serving industries that design and fit out every kind of hospitality venue. In September, Aircraft Interiors Expo-Asia arrives to service an astonishing rise in demand from Asian airlines. The IAAPA Asian Expo, a crucial event for the amusement industry, will also be returning to the HKCEC in July after a spell in Singapore. On a different note, the HKCEC is honoured to host for the first time Christie's 2005 Spring Asian Art, Jewellery and Watches Auction, a top event in social agenda. The cultural and historic importance of the artworks passing through this auction will be unparalleled. The amazing range and quality of exhibitions and events lined up for the year makes a powerful statement about the HKCEC's pre-eminent position in the industry.

HKCEC Forges Links with Top-Level Industry Event

Lucky draw winner Ms Bronda Daly of ddmg world media

One of the HKCEC's key business objectives has always been to expand its networks with international exhibition organisers and explore new ways of working in partnership with them. Consistent with this objective, the HKCEC has acted as a major sponsor of the International CEO Forum since its inception in 2002. Attendance at the forum is exclusively by invitation, and this year's event saw over 80 chief executives of leading exhibition organising companies gather in Barcelona, Spain for three days of debate and information-sharing from 19 to 21 January. The HKCEC was represented by Managing Director Cliff Wallace and Director of Business Development Monica Lee-Müller, who used the occasion to keep the Forum's CEOs and top-level management figures abreast of Hong Kong's vibrant exhibition opportunities. The HKCEC hosted the opening luncheon at the Forum, which included a splendid lucky draw. The winner was Ms Brenda Daly, Executive Vice President of dmg world media, who won a round trip business class ticket between London and Hong Kong courtesy of Cathay Pacific Airways. "This was a valuable opportunity for the HKCEC to support such a prestigious event," said Mr Wallace. "and it proved an ideal environment to promote the HKCEC's reputation as Asia's premier venue for international exhibitions."

As part of its business development mission, senior HKCEC executives maintain an active presence at international industry events. These are crucial locations for meeting with potential clients and exploring new business opportunities, besides providing the opportunity to discuss current industry issues with associated parties. Besides the International CEO Forum, in the first few months of 2005 HKCEC representatives have also participated in InterExpo 2005 and CEFCO (the China Expo Forum For International Cooperation) in Beijing, China, and AIME (the AsiaPacific Incentives and Meeting Expo) in Melbourne, Australia.

Upcoming trade shows that HKCEC senior executives plan to attend include:

	Event	Date	Place
	SISO CEO Summit	10-12 April 2005	Las Vegas, USA
	GCCA Roadshow	13 April 2005	Paris, France
	GCCA Roadshow	14 April 2005	Geneva, Switzerland
	IMEX	19-21 April 2005	Frankfurt, Germany
	UFI Summer Seminar	13-15 June 2005	Lake Como, Italy

HKCEC Expertise Helps Regional Growth

Cliff Wallace, CFE Managing Director, HKCEC

At the 71^st UFI Congress held in Bangkok in November 2004, HKCEC Managing Director Cliff Wallace was elected First Vice Chairman of UFI's Asia Pacific Chapter for a two-year term. UFI is the global association for the exhibition industry, now operating with some 300 members from 72 countries around the world. Its Asia-Pacific chapter has proved exceptionally robust and fast-growing, and Wallace will play an important role in helping promote and channel its further development. With many years' experience in the Asian exhibition industry, Mr Wallace was a natural candidate for the UFI position. In particular, his role as head of the HKCEC since 1995 gives him a strong position from which to encourage improved co-operation between venues and organisers across the region. He himself sees the post as both an honour and a challenge. "I'm honoured to be serving the Asian exhibition industry under the auspices of this prestigious global association," he says, "and I see plenty to be done too, given that Asia has perhaps the most vibrant and fastest growing exhibition industry in the world today."

New Look HKECIA

Since 1990, the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) has been representing local players in the exhibition and convention industries. Now, as it celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2005, the HKECIA is reaching out beyond its local origins as it increases its interaction and co-operation with other related associations across the Asian region and at an international level. HKECIA members recently agreed the time had come to revamp the association's image. The rebranding exercise, begun late last year, includes a new design for the association's logo, and a complete overhaul and fresh new look for its website. Chairman of the HKECIA Mr Stanley Chu explained that the new look symbolises a much more outward-looking role for the association, which nowadays includes close links and multi-level exchanges with Mainland counterparts. "We're no longer just a local trade association," he said. "Our role is becoming much more international, and we're reflecting that in the new image and logo we're adopting." Check out the HKECIA's new look at www.exhibitions.org.hk.

The HKECIA Reaches Across Borders

Beijing hosted InterExpo 2005 in January and for the first time Hong Kong lent its full industry weight to the event. InterExpo 2005 is the 6th China International Trade Show for Exhibitions and Conferences, an extremely high profile event on the Mainland amongst venue managers, exhibition organisers and service providers. The Hong Kong contingent was arranged by the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) in conjunction with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). Supported by 15 Hong Kong exhibition organisations, they put together a 'Hong Kong Pavilion' at the Expo, showcasing Hong Kong's exhibition strengths and its position as Trade Fair Capital of Asia. HKECIA Chairman Stanley Chu, the HKTB's Becky Ip, and the TDC's Roger Chu held a well-attended press briefing before the networking luncheon, where they outlined opportunities for co-operation between the Hong Kong and Mainland exhibition industries. At the lunch, nearly 200 guests from chambers of commerce and other industry organisations heard Mr Chu say more about Hong Kong's exhibition industry and what it can offer organisers and participants alike. This combined promotional event will, it is hoped, be the first of future roadshows promoting the Hong Kong exhibition industry.