Steps along the Journey towards Sustainability: Why the exhibition industry needs to clean up its act fast

Ms. Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Hong Kong is a great centre for conventions and exhibitions of all kinds. Indeed, it is already the Asian home of a number of major annual events that attract local, national and international visitors. With the rising awareness about protecting the environment, the leaders in this sector are looking at how to make their events more sustainable. However going from intention to implementation takes conscious prioritization of its importance, dedicating executive time and committing to change. It also requires co-learning with other stakeholders along the chain, especially in waste management where the involvement of others, including clients and the public sector are essential. This presentation will look at the steps that are needed to start and maintain the process for change, as well as identify the policy and societal trends that would sustain the momentum.

Industry Consolidation 4.0 – A View Inside Current M&A Deals Regionally and Globally

Mr. Bjoern Kempe, Founder & CEO of Expo Asia Pte Ltd

In this presentation, Bjoern will be summarising the deals for the past 12 months and trying to draw a picture of the global and Asian MICE industry in future. Part will be supported by facts but parts will be crystal ball predictions. Join Bjoern’s presentation and jointly try to see what is currently happening in our market and where the industry consolidation could lead and when to stop.

To be AND not to be… 

Ms. Amanda Galsworthy, President of Alto International

Even someone who is not familiar with Shakespeare knows the famous line from Hamlet (to be or not to be) but the specificity of interpreters (and translators, to a certain extent) is that we are not one or the other but one and the other: as essential cog-wheels in the communication procedure, the ideas we convey, expressed in our own words, are always those of others. And the translation process is most successful when it goes unnoticed, as is the case for the MICE industry. “No news is good news…” is the best news for the MICE industry in its many manifestations and  34 years of observing, organizing and participating in conferences, events, seminars, trade fairs and all forms of business and diplomatic negotiations have taught me much about the do’s and don’ts of cross-cultural communication and how to get it right.

Panel Discussion – Challenge & Opportunities of Greater Bay Area Initiative

Moderator:
Mr. Mark Cochrane, UFI Regional Manager, Asia Pacific

Panellists:
Mr. Stanley Chu, Chairman, Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.
Mr. Daben Mao, Executive Deputy General Manager, Shenzhen Zhaohua Int’l Exhibition Operation Co., Ltd
Mr. Michael Duck, Executive Vice President of UBM Asia Limited, UBM Group Chief Representative for China

The Greater Bay Area is perhaps the most quoted phrase by Hong Kong’s leaders and commentators, but what will it mean for the MICE industry? To look into exactly this topic our panel of industry experts moderated by UFI’s Mark Cochrane will get to grips with the opportunities and threats that this initiative will bring.