Hong Kong is to pump HK$1 billion (US$130 million) into its faltering events industry as political unrest and the coronavirus outbreak take their toll. Where at least half of all attendees are coming from outside Hong Kong, the government will pay the full venue rental costs of large exhibitions and conventions. From Association Meetings International…
Cancel, delay or go ahead? Planners of industry events are facing tough choices as significant gatherings of thousands or tens of thousands pose a major risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus. The cancellation of Mobile World Congress due to have been held in Barcelona shows how organisers are now under intense pressure. From Tech Xplore…
The potential long-term impact of novel coronavirus on international events was underlined after planners cancelled a massive art fair in Hong Kong. Art Basel, Asia’s largest event of the kind, had to be called off even though taking place in late March. Iceberg partner ICCA has made a statement on the outbreak. From Association Meetings International…
As coronavirus continues to disrupt global travel and trade, planners of events are delaying, cancelling, or soldiering on with their plans. The Singapore Airshow 2020 has gone ahead with temperature screening on site. But some exhibitors have pulled out and a related conference has been cancelled. Other events have been postponed. From PCMA…
Travel restrictions are in force across the globe as the number of cases of novel coronavirus continues to grow worldwide and the death toll within China mounts. The outbreak is now disrupting meetings all across the region. A UN biodiversity meeting was relocated. IT&CM China and CTW China have been postponed. From Association Meetings International…
CWT M&E says the buoyant global meetings industry is poised for eight percent growth next year, despite looming geopolitical and economic headwinds. The 2020 Future Trends report notes these as the trade war between the US and China, Brexit and its wider impact, the protests in Hong Kong and climate change. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Despite the Hong Kong government giving in to protestors’ demands to withdraw its extradition bill, political disruption has continued across the territory. Organisers are nervous of holding events there, but the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and other local players have been keen to allay all fears. Photo: Studio Incendo. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Protests between demonstrators and riot police in Hong Kong, with flight disruptions at Hong Kong International Airport, have caused the cancellation of meetings and events. Asset manager BlackRock has postponed a forum scheduled for September. Games developer Capcom has also cancelled an event. Photo: Studio Incendo. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Any manifestation of political instability can have a devastating effect on a destination’s perceived attractiveness for staging major events. Stuart Bailey, the CEO of a Hong Kong-based exhibition and conference organiser, believes that international impressions of the special administrative region’s recent protests are overblown, and should not deter either business or leisure visitors. From UFI…
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One of the world’s leading independent events organisers, London based Clarion Events, has completed a merger with exhibition and online B2B marketplace operator Global Sources, based in Hong Kong. Both are owned by investment firm Blackstone, which will control the combined group. The merger creates one of the world’s largest privately-owned exhibition businesses. From CIM News Magazine…
The Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association has released findings from the latest biennial Economic Impact Study on the value of the city’s exhibition industry to its economy. They show that international exhibitors and exhibition visitors significantly outspent general overnight tourists in 2016, by around 75 percent and 66 percent more respectively. From CIM News Magazine…
A new convention centre is to be built in Hong Kong to bring in more international meetings to the city. The new venue will be near the existing Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. The site currently houses government buildings which will be demolished to create the new facility. From Association Meetings International…
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