Bernardy Lau, Managing Director, Greater China, Reed Exhibition Companies (REC), brings a decade of exhibition industry experience to bear on her comments on the HKCEC. How does she see the HKCEC's position in Asia? "It will remain popular with top overseas exhibitors and organisers," she said, "not merely because it is on Mainland China's doorstep. It's also a matter of culture. We organisers think globally, so it immediately boosts our confidence to be working with a venue that has a global culture similar to our own."

Ms Bernardy Lau: "HKCEC continues to impress with high service culture."

Describing HKCEC's culture as supportive, pro-active and flexible, Bernardy gave two examples from her own experience. First, the way HKCEC transformed one of its food and beverage outlets within hours into an elegant cocktail venue for 100 guests to meet a sudden request.

The second example was more complex. "One of REC's upcoming shows has an extremely short move-in period," she explained. "In one sense, this isn't even the HKCEC's problem, because when we booked the time slot we knew exactly what the move-in constraints would be and we accepted them as such. But now, without our asking, HKCEC's management has taken the initiative to ease things for us by ingeniously reconfiguring our venue area."

For Bernardy, it is HKCEC's culture that puts it so far ahead, but she also feels that Hong Kong is well served by a centre that is as elegant as it is functional.

"Our down to earth exhibitors and visitors may not have much time to admire that celebrated harbour view," she concluded, "but HKCEC's architectural sweep and style make it a superb place to exhibit. Everyone senses the difference."

HKCEC has recently taken on an important new industry role by becoming the sole partner-centre in Asia of the newly formed Global Congress Centre Alliance. As such, it joins only five other major congress centres around the world. This cooperative alliance focuses on the exchange of marketing information and on cross-promotional activities relating to the hosting of international corporate or association meetings.

Allen Ha, HKCEC's Director of Business Development, said, "HKCEC is very proud to be the Asian partner-centre of this new global initiative. We recognise the power of partnering in almost every industry, and this important alliance will enhance our marketing efforts."

"At the same time," Allen added, "we expect that this partnership will benefit our clients. We will be able to act in their common interests, sharing information and using it pro-actively to open up new opportunities. We think the world of our clients, and this is yet another way of demonstrating it."

The Global Congress Centre Alliance was launched in May in Geneva at EIBTM 2000. Partner-centres will meet twice a year during EIBTM and the ICCA General Assembly.

The representatives of the six major congress centres gathered at the European Incentive & Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition EIBTM. From left to right: Peter R. Brokenshire, Dipl.-Kfm. Frank Seifert, Pieter A. van der Hoeven, Allen Ha, Christel Neupert and Francis X. Joyce