HAP12

HEADQUARTERS A S I A- PAC I F I C

the Asia-Pacific Magazine for Association Executives Supported by UIA, Union of International Associations, Brussels

12

Headquarters Magazines Meetings Industry Publishers (Singapore) Published 4 times a year Edition December 2012

Interview

Mike Cannon Sarawak with feelings

UIA without borderS

HQ ASIA PACIFIC THE ASIA-PACIFIC MAGAZINE FOR ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES

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2013 PLANNING

HQ > c o n te n ts

marcel’s comment

Colophon Headquarters Asia-Pacific or HAP is a niche publication for local, regional and international associations based in the Asia-Pacific region dealing with the organization of worldwide congresses.

Published 4 times a year. Circulation: 2,500 copies in 14 different countries.

Subscriptions Subscriptions amount to 85 euros (all incl.).

The online version of the magazines is available at www.headquartersmagazine.com Editor in Chief Marcel A.M.Vissers T: +32 (0)3 226 88 81 marcel@headquartersmagazine.com Managing Director Cécile Caiati-Koch T: +32 (0)2 761 70 52 cecile@headquartersmagazine.com Account Manager - International Sales Kelvin Lu T: +32 (0)2 761 70 59 kelvin@headquartersmagazine.com Managing Editor Rémi Dévé T: +32 (0)2 761 70 58 remi@headquartersmagazine.com Design Wallrus, Kortrijk - Belgium T: +32 (0)56 24 94 44 info@wallrus.be Print The Neu Print PTE Ltd - Singapore neuprint@singnet.com.sg Supported by UIA, Union of International Associations Address Headquarters Magazines PTE Ltd 1 Scotts Road #21-07 Shaw Centre Singapore 228208 Responsible Publisher Headquarters Magazines PTE Ltd - Singapore Marcel A.M. Vissers marcel@headquartersmagazine.com

The growth and blossoming of Asian Association Days It’s self-explanatory: an Association Day is a day at a trade fair or similar event, fully dedicated to the issues of associations. Often, when a country reaches a certain degree of democracy and economic power, associations of all kinds start to grow. In Asia-Pacific, associations are blossoming in force, new ones see the light of day on a regular basis.

Strong associations are a blessing for a country, because all sorts of professions and industries unite in order to make more efficient progress. It’s not surprising that MICE fairs like CIBTM in Beijing, IT&CMA (Bangkok, Shanghai and New Delhi) and ITB in Singapore are becoming interested in this relatively new industry. Don’t forget associations mean potential congress organisers and are thus of great importance to fair exhibitors and organisers.

To motivate association leaders to come to these fairs, educational sessions are often organised. Last year, I received the best invitation

to attend one of these association days from the organizers of Africa’s only meeting fair: Meetings Africa in Johannesburg. It went like this: ‘If you want to gain a lot of knowledge on just one day: come to us, we’ll serve you the following sessions on a plate: - Any new developments in your Association that you’d like to share with other Associations on the continent - What are you looking for in a service provider - venue, conference organiser, hotel, destination? - What are the unique needs for Association Managers in Africa? - How do you make decisions regarding the choice of where to have your conferences/ meetings - Any other news that you believe would be of value and interest to your peers across the continent and the Middle East & Europe?’

I think the topics above are a good recipe for new association days in emerging meetings continents like Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Marcel A.M. Vissers Editor in Chief

I would like to ask all fair organisers to invite good keynote speakers from these continents to exchange experiences on growth. Because associations can learn the most from each other!

There are new association days next year. I am already looking out on the 3rd India Association Congress in 2013 in Mumbai, together with the new meetings fair IBTM!

» More stories on www.headquartersmagazine.com

CONTENTS UIA

General News Association Portrait Gary Grimmer, GainingEdge New association trends

4 6 8 10

Cover interview Cécile Caiati-Koch

Mike Cannon, Sarawak Convention Bureau

Immunology without orders

16

RESEARCH Hong Kong Malaysia Australia

18 21 22

13

Rémi Dévé

HEADQUARTERS 3

HQ

> headquarters n e w s

Australian first technology hits the RICC The nation’s newest convention centre, the Royal International Convention Centre (RICC) in Brisbane, will open in March with Australian first technology.

Currently under construction at the RNA Showgrounds, the RICC will become the first venue in the country to offer a personalised mobile app to event organisers, exhibitors and visitors. The free interactive app, available from March, will allow users to view event information, exhibitor and sponsor profiles, request meetings with exhibitors, rate and review program sessions, collect brochures and receive alerts about upcoming events. www.ricc.com.au

Royal International Convention Centre (RICC)

Darling Harbour to become Sydney’s innovation hub

Japan to launch a nationwide Ambassador Programme in 2013

Sydney’s convention bureau, Business Events Sydney (BESydney), welcomed news detailing the exciting future plans for the new 20-hectare international convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct in Darling Harbour. The precinct, which has the working title ‘Darling Harbour Live’, will incorporate the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) and a red carpet entertainment venue with an innovative fan-shaped layout, a hotel complex of up to 900 rooms and an innovative upgrade of the public domain. With an impressive track-record of over 40 years’ of success, BESydney is continuing to grow a strong pipeline of business for Sydney and NSW. This success is built on innovative strategies, an expert global team and a future-focused outlook. www.besydney.com.au

According to the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), Japan will appoint 20 inaugural Congress Ambassadors across the country in April 2013. Ambassadors will come from key academic and research sectors, including scientific and medical fields, and will act as advocates for ­Japan within their respective fields, serving as liaisons to the media and as mentors to other colleagues in Japan in

ICC Sydney

HEADQUARTERS 4

order to lend their bidding and organizational ­expertise. One of Japan’s leading strengths as a convention destination is that so many globally recognized Japanese individuals and associations have organized successful international conventions within the country. The global networks and experiences of Ambassadors will motivate and stimulate other potential organizers to host worldclass meetings and events in Japan. www.jnto.go.jp

Toji Temple, Kyoto

> headquarters n e w s

AIME 2013 offers new initiatives to event planners Organisers of AIME have introduced new initiatives for the 2013 show which will give association buyers more choices and options when booking their events.

AIME will feature, for the first time, a US-dedicated Pavilion during the two-day show, held on 26 and 27 February 2013 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). It has also signed a partnership with Australia’s event industry bible, the A LIST Guide, to bring a new exhibition concept to the show. The A LIST Open House will be a dedicated area where visitors can meet with new niche event suppliers, venues and corporate activity companies to gain inspiration for special events and functions. www.aime.com.au

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre green as ever The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has been acknowledged as an environmental leader in the new ‘AEG 1EARTH Sustainability Report’ released recently for its commitment in energy conservation, waste reduction efforts and specifically, its energy-efficient lighting project. This is the second sustainability report by AEG, owner of AEG Ogden Pty Ltd, Australia (AEG Ogden). It details the progress of the AEG1EARTH environmental program which incorporates a framework for ­reducing

environmental impacts with metrics collected from 58 venues from the AEG global network including the Centre’s, detailing the group’s progress towards its 2020 Environmental Vision Goals. www.klccconventioncentre.com

Send your press releases to press@headquartersmagazine.com Introducing Penang Waterfront Convention Centre Set to compete amongst the best venues in the Asia-Pacific region, the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) is poised to be the latest alternative to renown convention venues. Designed by Larry Oltmanns, Design Director and CEO of Vx3, a London-based architectural firm specialising in large-scale urban developments and convention centres, the venue boasts a 10,000-m2 column-free multi-purpose hall that can be subdivided or used as a single space for exhibitions, conventions, corporate events, and private functions. In a matter of minutes, it can be entirely converted to a 9000-seat arena. A first in Penang that from now on can hold world-class concerts as well. www.suntecsingapore.com

Eric Lewanavanua

Eric Lewanavanua appointed new sales representative for HQ Asia-Pacific Headquarters is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Lewanavanua as its new sales representative for the Asia-Pacific region. Eric has worked in the travel industry for over 10 years specialising in business events and leisure sales and marketing. His experience has allowed him to harness relationships within the industry both in Australia and throughout the Asia Pacific region. He is a graduate at the University of Technology Sydney with a Graduate Certificate in Business (­Marketing) and is currently completing his Masters in Business (Marketing).

You can contact him at eric@headquartersmagazine.com

2013 Meetings Industry Fairs Worldwide: Make Your Choice!

AIME // 26-27 February 2013, Melbourne // www.aime.com.au GIBTM // 25-27 March 2013, Abu Dhabi // www.gibtm.com IMEX // 21-23 May 2013, Frankfurt // www.imex-frankfurt.com AIBTM // 11-13 June 2013, Chicago // www.aibtm

AIME

the visual landscape of The Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) project

CIBTM // 2-4 September 2013, Beijing // www.cibtm.com

HEADQUARTERS 5

HQ

> A ss o ciati o n P o rtrait

Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) A talk with Stephanie Blower

The Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) is the peak scientific body in Australia and New Zealand representing clinicians, scientists and researchers in the broad area of sleep. As such is is a multi-disciplinary group, including physicians, scientists, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists and dentists, to name but a few, and ensuring the needs of all these craft groups is a continuous challenge. Stephanie Blower, Executive Officer, tells us more about how the organisation operates.

Stephanie Blower

HEADQUARTERS 6

HQ: What do you find most challenging to achieve as an association?

HQ: What kind of events do you organize?

Stephanie Blower: A company limited by guarantee, the Australasian Sleep Association is run by a Board of Directors, consisting of elected members of the association.

Representing clinicians, scientists and researchers in the broad field of sleep, the organisation tries to meet the education and interest needs of a multi-disciplinary membership. That’s basically the hardest thing to achieve sometimes.

Stephanie Blower: The ASA organises one large Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) each year, which incorporates an exhibition, and poster presentations for some of the latest research. The Conference runs 5 streams for 3 days and up to four postgraduate courses are held immediately prior to the ASM in the same venue. Approximately 600 people attend the conference, including trade attendees, so that’s about 500 delegates.

> A ss o ciati o n P o rtrait

This year over 200 presentations were made over the 3 days. In addition to plenary and concurrent symposia sessions, each poster presenter has a 6 minute opportunity to present their research, 3 minute talk and 3 minute Q&A, using no more than 5 slides, which is a hard ask for the presenters. Each presentation has to stay exactly to time, so people can move from one stream to another to listen to different speakers, which provides a logistical nightmare, and requires excellent assistance from the AV team at the venue to ensure it works smoothly.

The ASA office also assist the States arrange their local meetings, and a series of webinars is now being offered to the membership.

HQ: What is the association’s decision process concerning the organization of your conferences? How do you decide where to go?

Stephanie Blower: Currently the Conference is run in-house, with myself as the Manager and one part time Conference Assistant, but at busy times I am able to call on the assistance of the other two staff members in the office.

The Conference goes on a rotation around the different States of Australia + New Zealand. While there is some flexibility in the order of visits to States it is important that each State has the opportunity to host the meeting at some stage. The ASA joins with the Australasian Sleep Technologists Association for this Annual Scientific Meeting, as both groups acknowledge the importance of collegiality and are all up to date with the latest research and technologies.

HQ: What kind of venues do you need and what criteria must they satisfy?

Stephanie Blower: The field of Sleep Medicine is a fairly new discipline (ASA will celebrate its 25 years of existence in 2013), and is a growing area. The size of the ASM reflects this, and while the

meeting in 1988 was held in a University Meeting Room, with a Conference Dinner in a local restaurant, The meeting now requires much more space and flexibility and a Convention Centre is really required to meet all our needs.

HQ: How do you see the future of the association?

Stephanie Blower: I see the association growing over the coming years, as sleep becomes more recognised as one of the necessary pillars of healthy living, along with exercise and diet. The involvement of other health professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders is important, and the education of these groups is a priority for the ASA. The raising of the importance of sleep among many industries, such as transport and mining, will also ensure a healthy growth for the Association

HQ: How would you summarize new trends in the association congress world?

Stephanie Blower: Fifteen years ago the industry was all doom and gloom, that conferences would not exist in 20 years time, as people moved to the virtual meeting and web based technologies.

This is not proving to be the case, and I do not believe it ever will. Humans have an inherent need to interact with others, and I think this will ensure the association congress World a continued existence.

HQ: Any memorable destination for one of your events? If yes, why?

Stephanie Blower: The last destination is always ‘the best’. Our last event was held in Darwin at the Convention Centre, and I cannot praise the people their highly enough, for their efficiency, friendliness, and excellent facilities.

Having said that I would say the same for all the centres I have worked with, and hopefully all those I will be working with in the future.

ASA Board

About ASA + Vision A community that recognises the importance of good sleep to health, public safety, productivity and quality of life. + Mission The mission of the Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) is to lead and promote sleep health & sleep science across Australia and New Zealand and to advance the professional interests of its members. + Goals In order to achieve its mission, the ASA will: Promote Education and Training in sleep health & sleep science within its membership and the other health related professions Foster Research in sleep health and sleep science Establish Clinical Standards within the profession and industry Be the recognised Voice of sleep expertise Advocate for the professional interests of members Inform members and the public on sleep health & sleep science Provide Services to members Ensure Good Governance within the Association

www.sleep.org.au

HEADQUARTERS 7

HQ

> Istart N T E R V arti IEW kel links

TITEL

kleur te bepalen adhv kleurstalen

Ondertitel INLEIDING -> ... The World Economic Forum, the foremost global organization encouraging partnerships of business, political, intellectual and other leaders of society committ...

Text Marcel A.M. Vissers

Gary Grimmer

Meetings with many views!

Gary Grimmer

MIM Europe: Can you let us know how you started your company and how it has evolved in recent years?

Gary Grimmer: I ran convention bureaus for 23 years, first in the US and finally in Melbourne. Eight years ago I decided to start a consultancy, originally thinking that it would just be me and maybe a couple of associates. We’ve got 12 team members now and I’m in the process of forming partnerships in certain parts of the world.

So, yes, it has changed some from the original idea.

I also originally thought that it would be only consulting. However, as we learned more about what the industry needed, we have evolved a broader range of services.

We do a lot of education and training now and also are moving into sales support,

HEADQUARTERS 8

The meetings industry needs people like Gary Grimmer. At the head of GainingEdge, a specialist firm focused on the international events industry, he’s been helping setting up convention bureaus, offering consultant services on bids, organizing education sessions… and way more. In fact, no matter where you go, it’s hard not to see the extent of Gary’s contribution to the industry.

Here he tells us more about his company, the way the world has changed and where to look for growth. helping clients to bid for conventions.

MIM Europe: You work on all continents - can you describe what, according to you, their specificities, their weaknesses and their growth possibilities are?

Gary Grimmer: Asia - should be the big growth story in the next two decades.

China and India are the two biggest growth economies and the association world is seeking to engage in both places.

Both are embryonic in terms of their meetings industries. Other parts of Asia are developing quickly. Malaysia has a new national convention bureau as an example which in my view is becoming a new model bureau for Asia. That’s important, because most of Asia’s bureaus are new, or have limited resources and sophistication.

What Asia needs most are governments that understand the industry. Most of their governments express support and then either do nothing or do the wrong things. However, when Asian governments grow to understand the importance of the industry the way Singapore does and become more focused and strategic, Asia will become a major player in the global market.

South America - Enormous growth potential, but, they are new at the industry and need to develop stronger convention bureaus and more mature supplier communities. Brazil will be the obvious leader, provided that its governments get their minds around why they need the meetings industry to prosper there.

> INTERVIEW

Africa - A real draw card for associations with social agendas. If Africa becomes the world’s next big outsourcing centre its economy will grow and it will draw more corporate and association meetings. Like South America, Africa needs convention bureaus, modern convention centres and more experienced supplier communities. It also needs stronger association communities for both social and economic reasons. In my view, South Africa will lead the charge and the rest will follow.

MIM Europe: We understand you just opened an office is Latin America.

Besides the interest of international assocations do you also foresee a growth in the meetings and incentive market on this continent?

Australia - Australia has a strong economy, a strong resource base, lots of innovation and strong representation within the leadership of international associations. Those strengths have allowed it to do well despite its long haul disadvantage. Asia’s rise will give Australia a new challenge to overcome if it wants to remain a strong player.

Gary Grimmer: We recently hired our first team member in Brazil. We wanted to establish ourselves in Latin America because we see it as another big growth area for the meetings industry. Brazil is booming, but, all of Latin America should see a lot of economic growth in the future. With that will come more corporate and incentive meetings as well as conventions.

North America - Traditionally North America has been domestic market focused. However, as the world goes global so ultimately will North American associations. This outward focus alone wouldn’t likely have a big impact on the market, but, add that to the fact that associations headquartered in Europe are rotating to other parts of the world more frequently and what you will have is fewer international association meetings happening in the US. While corporate meetings are down, the global financial crisis and its aftermath can’t last forever, and one would expect a resurgence of corporate meetings in North America, despite the US government’s misguided negativity towards them. I would anticipate a lot of growth there overall, especially if the US leads the revival of Western economies.

Europe - Traditionally the most mature and international meetings market.

It’s clear that there have been a lot of meetings there recently about saving the Euro and the EU. I’m an optimist about the prospects of all that, and Europe will recover as well. Again, it starts off a high base and globalization means that

it will have to compete for meetings that used to be captive audiences. As Europe expands, so do the meeting options, so, destinations in the East will begin to give traditional Western European destinations a run for their money.

A growing global consciousness about sustainability will affect international events just as it will every other social and economic activity MIM Europe: Do you think that sustainability will have a big impact on the future for international events?

Gary Grimmer: Yes, a growing global consciousness about sustainability will affect international events just as it will every other social and economic activity.

I don’t think that sustainability factors will be a differentiator in terms of service providers and destinations, I think they will gradually become mandatories. In the current economic environment I think sustainability issues are more the boxes people tick after making their decisions.

But, in the future I think they will begin wanting to tick the boxes before they shortlist destinations and suppliers.

MIM Europe: You mention in your corporate goal that you will spend $1 million per year in pro bono work for the industry and in the developing world. Can you give some examples?

Gary Grimmer: That is part of our CSR program and we hope to be at that level within the next 4 years. We recently teamed up with IMEX to provide support to their ‘wild card’ exhibitors, destinations that are usually from the developing world and have limited resources.

This year they were Sendai, Japan which is still recovering from the 2011 tsunami, and El Salvador. We also provide volunteer or deeply discounted advisory and educational support to bureaus in developing countries. We’re currently working on a plan to identify third world cities and countries where we can ‘adopt’ bureaus and help them to do things that they otherwise could never afford to do.

MIM Europe: We have published articles on ‘emerging destinations’. Serbia seems to lead the way in this area. Can you let us know how you worked them and what your advice has been?

Gary Grimmer: We wrote the plan for establishing the Serbia Convention Bureau and then worked with them for three years to build it. This was all done with financial support from USAID. We helped them set up their systems, trained their staff and conducted education programs for their local industry.

Serbia has come a long way and the key to their success has been their work in bringing the industry together and developing a more pro-active market approach. They’ve got some really bright young people there who are absolutely committed to the cause because they see it as socially and economically transformative for their nation.

www.gainingedge.com

HEADQUARTERS 9

HQ > R esearch

A new association congress world is born Singapore

If travelling is the best university of life, then I owe the readers of Headquarters magazine Asia Pacific a crash course on ‘Trends in Association Business’. Over the past months I visited nearly all the continents where the association industry is booming. I was able to visit specialised congresses in this field in Brussels, Johannesburg, Puerto Rico, Mumbai, Shanghai, Bangkok and Singapore, and find out more about this exciting subject. You’ll be surprised to hear what I learnt! text Marcel A.M. Vissers

What is the association industry?

Several renowned international institutes focus entirely on studying associations around the world. They provide invaluable insight in this field. The Union of International Associations (UIA), based in Brussels, is leading the way in this

HEADQUARTERS 10

research. The association was founded more than a hundred years ago and during that period they have reviewed more than 65,000 NGOs around the globe. Some 35,000 are candidates for congresses. Every year about 1,200 associations are added to the list and 1,200 are eliminated so their numbers are stable.

The association world consists of many different categories. Brussels, for example, has more than 2,000 headquarters of international and European associations. About 10% of these are trade associations but the majority are in the medical, scientific, educational and cultural sectors.

> R esearch

How important is an association for a country or a city? Let’s take a closer look at the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) whose headquarters are in Brussels. Every year they organise a world congress that spans four days and attracts an average of 10,000 delegates.

Research has revealed that a congress participant spends about 450 euros per day in a European congress city such as Amsterdam for example. The maths are easy: during those four days, a city earns nearly 20 million euros (visitors often extend their stay for a vacation). This explains why every city around the world is eager to welcome associations that generate this kind of revenue. Attracting these events are referred to as major bidding processes. On the other hand, a congress brings much more added value to a destination than the money. We must not forget the scientific contribution, the PR for the destination, the repeating business and new networking opportunities that are created during the congress for the future. The big question is: How is this industry evolving around the world and what is now important when organising a congress?

Europe leads the way If we do not consider the US, we can say that Europe is the leader in the field of association knowledge and management.

Brussels is the capital of headquarters of international associations, followed

by Washington. Both cities have in fact joined forces and work together for promotional and marketing purposes.

The European Society of Association Executives (ESAE) is also based in Brussels and just relaunched following a period of rest. The number of members is still small but this is expected to grow substantially in the next few years. And

Capitals of headquarters of international associations in the world 1. Brussels (2371)

4. Dubai (?)

2. Washington (947)

5. Johannesburg (50) – Nairobi (114)

3. Singapore (233)

6. Sao Paulo (?)

the good news is that the city of Brussels has provided the ESAE a location where leaders can meet, in a kind of association club.

Germany holds most of the international congresses. Germany is also the number one in Europe when it comes to national associations. In general we can say that in Europe there are about 5,000 associations that organise European or international congresses. The main challenge for Europe today comes from Asian countries which are now the third most important association continent after the US and Europe.

Asian tigers are here to stay Nobody believed me five years ago when I predicted that the Asian tigers had arrived. However, it happened and in 2008 Singapore drove the traditionally strong European congress cities such as Brussels, Paris and Vienna from their thrones. More than 500 international congresses are now organised there every year (according to the UIA statistics). And they are still number one.

With HQ EMEA magazine we have been able to identify a total of 2,000 headquarters of international and regional (Asia Pacific ones) associations in 14 different countries. Japan, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, the

Philippines and Indonesia are some of the leading destinations. The number of national associations, which later may join regional or international associations, is growing steadily in these countries. Singapore is the association capital thanks to the city’s active policy to attract the head offices of international associations. Intra-Asian congress traffic is evolving quickly, mainly due to Australian associations that are flying over to Asia to organise their congresses.

The opposite movement is also observed.

European congress cities are beginning to increase promotion on Asian markets to attract congresses from these regions.

Barcelona, Madrid, Geneva, Amsterdam and Vienna are trendsetters in this area.

It’s first come, first served in a world where associations plan at least five years in advance where they will take their events. Asian MICE fairs (held in Beijing, Bangkok, Shanghai, Singapore, New Delhi and Mumbai) will be organising their first Association Days for regional associations next year. And keep an eye on India and China where more than a thousand flowers are about to blossom.

A few words about the Gulf States. The number of associations is gradually growing here too, although they are not really allowed. Dubai is leading the way in the field.

HEADQUARTERS 11

> R esearch Embryonic growth in Africa We just completed a research project with HQ EMEA magazine in 34 of the 54 countries on the African continent. We identified 775 headquarters of international and regional (African) associations there. South Africa is the leading destination, followed

by Kenya. One of the most beautiful African congress centres is currently being built in Kigali. African associations often have trouble organising themselves and for this reason they need help from Europe. PCOs (professional congress organisers) and AMCs (association management companies) are greatly needed in Africa. It’s already obvious that Johannesburg or Nairobi will be the capitals for the entire African continent. In fact, an important Association Day is being held next year during Meetings Africa, the only African MICE Fair.

Latin America is booming The oldest congress agency of Latin America is based in Sao Paulo (1983) and is the model for all the other cities. In Brazil, new associations have sprouted at an incredible pace. I think it’s important to point out that, here, democratic countries and emerging economic powers provide the right conditions for associations to thrive.

This is understandable as people want to join forces in order to become stronger.

The MICE industry hardly existed in Central America prior to 2007. Today, Columbia is the leading destination with two new congress centres being built. Costa Rica will also have a new congress venue in 2013.

Panama is opening its first congress agency in 2014. Cancun in Mexico is also planning a come-back despite the less favourable news we hear about drugs barons, who actually do not really pose a threat to everyday life in Mexico because the unrest is mainly along the border with the US. The seven countries of Central America have joined forces to develop the meetings industry.

Initial research with HQ EMEA magazine has identified some 1,500 headquarters, there.

Major developments in the field of congress organisation The approach of associations differs considerably from that of corporates. I often compare association executives with farmers (in the positive sense of the word)

Distribution of Headquarters Asia-Pacific Destination

# of associations

HK

85

3,34%

China

76

2,98%

India

261

10,24%

Indonesia

57

2,24%

Japan

375

14,72%

Malaysia

126

4,95%

Philippines

135

5,30%

Singapore

151

5,93%

Taiwan

66

2,59%

Thailand

209

8,20%

Vietnam

27

1,06%

Korea

130

5,10%

Australia

697

27,35%

New Zealand

153

6,00%

Total

2548

because they have faith in the future, as opposed to corporate hunters who want to catch their prey sooner rather than later. Associations take their time and are mainly content-driven in the fields of science, culture and congress organisation.

Singapore is the association capital thanks to the city’s active policy to attract the head offices of international associations Association congresses are a safe business and this explains why all destinations are currently focusing on them.

100%

A major trend can be distinguished here too. Being an attractive destination is no longer enough. It must have highly professional suppliers who can turn a congress into a success. But that’s not all. Luc Hendrickx , former association executive of the International Diabetes Federation and now Strategic Manager at AMC Kenes, has an outspoken opinion: ‘Drop the tourism angle when dealing with associations.

We want to do business, no leisure. The essence of associations and congresses is different. Compliance, appropriate venues and educational value have become the new buzz words in our industry - increasingly in the Asia Pacific region too. I wonder whether Headquarters could become a key player as the magazine that leads media in a new direction and creates a mindset for the nature and value of our industry through a careful choice of images to match excellent articles.’ As editor in chief of HQ magazine, I can confirm that we are already following his good advice.

HQ

> C OV E R I N T E R V I E W

Mike Cannon

Sarawak with feelings Mike Cannon

HQ: You previously worked as the Executive Director of the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB): how big was the step from Australia to Sarawak? Is Sarawak another world?

Mike Cannon: The main difference is that AACB was an association, albeit one that represented 17 mighty convention bureaus in Australia, whereas I’m now heading up an actual bureau - the magnificent Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB). My previous role was to advocate for all 17 of AACB’s members in matters

After eleven years at the helm of the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) looking after the national interests of Australia’s many Convention Bureaux, Mike Cannon has moved to Sarawak, Borneo as CEO of the Sarawak Convention Bureau. Definitely a new challenge for a man that likes them a lot. of Market Intel, staff education and national branding - whilst at SCB my role is to guide the bureau in its core roles.

As to the ‘how big this element of the step was’, well – a bureau is a bureau, ie the principles remain the same.

I communicated with the Australian bureaux a great deal, and of course AACB rented space from Business Events Sydney, so I was in constant communication with Jon Hutchison and his successor, Lyn Lewis-Smith, and the

BES team, and now I’m part of their club.

The big difference is the environment of wins. For example, a win at AACB in the task of advocating was rare indeed, and celebrated at great expense with a good bottle of red.

At SCB there are a lot of wins, well celebrated but so very exciting for me because I can see the joy it brings to the wonderful SCB team, and I’m back in the environment of destination marketing that I love so much!

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©Kirklandphotos

INTERVIEW

> C OV E R I N T E R V I E W On a personal basis, having been raised in East Africa and Papua/New Guinea, I’m very, very glad to be back in a world I’m familiar with. There are cultural differences of course, language and business etiquette, and I was thrown in the deep end, which has had its challenges... I’ve not worked as hard since the start-up of my DMC days back last century (sorry AACB!). But I’m supported by a team well educated in the business of a convention bureau, and by a proactive government.

The enthusiasm is incredibly infectious.

And, as to the creativity, well I’m married to a beautiful creative director and have lived in that environment for years - but the mass of creativity that is in Sarawak and at the bureau is simply awe-inspiring!

Even that wonderful man of words Albert Camus could not describe the strength here in this regard. Is Sarawak another world? It’s out of this world.

HQ: What are the most (recent) important developments in Sarawak as a meetings destination?

Mike Cannon: Further to new infrastructure and hotels to be built across Sarawak, part of our commitment in developing sustainability is to ensure that Sarawak’s tribal roots and heritage are not forgotten.

As one way of addressing this, we created the Tribal Wisdom Speaker programme, where best speakers from Sarawak’s successful businesses, artists and professionals who are also from Sarawak’s ethnic tribes, come together to share their life experiences and reveal how their tribal ancestry has influenced their success.

These motivation sessions are fully sponsored by the Bureau - our gift to the event, so to speak - and can be used as part of a bid presentation, cocktail event or opening ceremony in lieu of a welcome dance performance. The speakers are given prior training on presentation and performance, all of which is provided by the Bureau. The end result is a chance to highlight Sarawak’s many ethnic tribes whilst preserving the authenticity and the heart of the destination that will be passed on to the delegates, inspiring them with the tribal rhythm of Sarawak.

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Iban people

HQ: Sarawak has always been known as a premier corporate destination. What about association meetings? Is that a market there’s more focus on?

Mike Cannon: Actually, we have been focusing on association business for the past five years. Of course we still target the huge potential that is corporate events. And we find that international buyers are looking for new solutions in terms of fresh and less flamboyant meeting destinations, especially those that could deliver strong corporate social responsibility programs and are affordable on ground costs.

We will keep up our international marketing efforts with strong industry presence at the major international exhibitions such as IMEX in Frankfurt, IMEX in Las Vegas, AIME in Melbourne and ITB Asia in Singapore, as well as familiarisations for motivators, decision-makers and media.

HQ: What kind of services do you have for congress organizers? What are Sarawak’s added values?

Mike Cannon: Sarawak offers plenty of services. And incentives! For example, our ground costs are very competitive in the regional market. In addition, the

Bureau has cash and in-kind support to assist meeting planners to attract delegates from outside Malaysia. The State Government also has a special 10 year (from 2006 till 2016) RM42.5 million convention sponsorship fund, from which meeting hosts can apply for additional funding support. When the event is international, this support is in addition to the Federal support provided by our dynamic partners: the Malaysian Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).

There’s also the Tribal Wisdom program mentioned earlier. Having researched an association’s strengths in the national and global arena, we then secure support for the bid from key political, industry and tourism leaders.

As a conference and event bid partner for an association, SCB will provide: Strategies, opportunities and goals, Research and support Site inspections, visitor assistance and marketing.

As it pertains to USPs; Sarawak may be the last frontier for old-fashioned adventure; where business and adventure meet!

©Sarawak tourism board

> C OV E R I N T E R V I E W

Mike Cannon with SCB team members

This is the heart of the world’s oldest rainforests and home to the largest primate in Asia, the protected orangutan.

Here, traditional Old World charm is coupled with modern technology and corporate culture. Nowhere else on earth offers the sophistication and efficiency of the corporate world in tandem with a totally unspoiled destination.

Our excellent corporate social responsibility programs bring a deeper meaning to meetings by involving delegates in conservation programs such as Heart to Heart with the Orangutan, Habitat for Humanity home construction and community development programs aimed at eradicating poverty in rural areas.

In preserving our local culture, whether it’s an Iban longhouse, Bidayuh baruk or Penan forest hut, we offer an originality that’s hard to match elsewhere.

The Sarawakian conference experience includes special programmes, tribal speakers and unforgettable nature activities, all tied together with matchless Sarawakian hospitality. Delegates bring back with them the memories of a conference that not only benefits them in their line of business, but also gives them something meaningful to remember.

Pullman Kuching

Our excellent corporate social responsibility programs bring a deeper meaning to meetings by involving delegates in conservation programs HQ: According to you, has there been more traffic within Asia lately when it comes to congresses? Are Australian congresses held in Sarawak for example and Malaysian ones going to Australia?

Mike Cannon: There’s absolutely no doubt that it’s a growing market, influenced by a multitude of factors, for example exchange rates, aggressive marketing, the need to meet more often with a focus on networking and the business of the event, and as such shorter-haul travel. I would like to see more coming out of Australia for Sarawak, and we need to re-visit our strategy and tactics in collaring that market. But we have had some good wins, for example the Australian Medical Association of NSW Meeting and the ASEAN Australian Engineering Congress AAEC 2011.

Malaysia as a whole is having a good share of wins from Australia with some 22 significant business events being held here since 2006. As to business going to Australia; we don’t have hard evidence available but a couple of phone calls indicate there is two way business, I simply can’t give you the outbound element.

HQ: If you had to give your personal favorites about Sarawak, what would it be? How would you ‘sell’ it?

Mike Cannon: Apart from praising the ability of Sarawak to address the business of business events, what I love talking about - to those that will listen (sixty eight of them at IMEX America no less) - is the fact that Sarawak is a fresh destination - and will continue to be so for years to come.

It’s old Asia, but Asia with all the services and infrastructure required to look after the business event visitor. It’s the Asia much loved by my generation, but missing in so many other parts of Asia. Sarawak remains fresh and novel to those of the X and Y generations. The Sarawakians are unique with a total lack of pretension, a no fuss approach, but with amazing enthusiasm, and so not spoiled. The place portrays an innocence that is really refreshing and not overridden with tourists. Even those coming here from Asian destinations are amazed how truly Asian Sarawak is.

Without wanting to sound overly emotional, I have been to many opening events where the tribal cultures are portrayed, and even so I find the dancers incredibly touching and creative with their smiling faces, amazing costumes and winning ways. They still move me. And they are unique, far, far different to Papua/New Guinea or east Africa.

How I sell it is to talk about all of the above, and the professions and industries of Sarawak, but above all I promote how it truly is where adventure meets business.

www.sarawakcb.com

HEADQUARTERS 15

UIA ı Union of International Associations

International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS)

Immunology Without Borders

Which medical science is involved in the maximum number of diseases?

Which medical research field leads to innovative diagnostic tools as well as treatments that can cure and prevent diseases on a global scale?

The answer: IMMUNOLOGY. The incredible diversity of immunology’s applications has created a medical research specialty that interacts with all medical fields. Doctors and scientists who study the body’s immune system are known as immunologists. The immune system is a highly complex network of cells, tissues and organs found throughout the body and plays a significant role in helping us stay healthy. It is our immune system that is at the frontline of defense in the war against infectious disease and cancer.

Immunology is a dynamic discipline.

Immunologists are constantly pushing to discover ways of defending the public against new and ongoing healthcare challenges. Immunology extends beyond laboratory and clinical research to public health initiatives to eradicate diseases from the planet.

IUIS, an umbrella organization Major human diseases can only be eradicated through international collaboration and exchange of information. IUIS is an umbrella organization for regional and national societies of immunology throughout the world. IUIS enables collaboration on a grand scale by federating the forces of tens of thousands of immunologists from 82 different countries.

There are currently 69 Member Societies of IUIS, which belong to one of four Regional Federations encompassing Europe, Latin America, Africa and AsiaOceania or are direct members such as US and Canada. Links with other international

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scientific bodies are promoted through the International Affiliate Members of IUIS, membership of the I nternational Council for Science (ICSU) and formal liaison with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Activities of IUIS are overseen by the Officers and Council, who are elected at the triennial General Assembly and are broadly representative of the interests and geographical distribution of member societies. Several Committees have also been established to conduct activities of ongoing interest to IUIS, currently in the areas of clinical immunology, education, nomenclature, quality assessment and standardization, and veterinary immunology.

The ICI Congress, the largest meet-up in immunology, every 3 years Every 3 years, IUIS organizes the International Congress of Immunology, the largest gathering of physicians, scientists and industrial representatives involved in immunology in the world. Close to 10,000 people come together to share their knowledge, innovations and discoveries in immunology. IUIS also contributes to the staging of regular congresses and conferences by each of the four Regional Federations and to various educational activities in immunology. The ICI Congress is the main tool for the Union to market itself.

The 15th International Congress of Immunology will take place in Milan, Italy, August 22-27, 2013. It is being organized in association with the Società Italiana Immunologia Clinica e Allergologia (SIICA).

MIC, Milano

Stefan H.E. Kaufmann, IUIS President, says: ‘The ICI will serve as platform for communication and exchange of the most challenging state-of-the-art research among immunologists. It will also serve as impressive communication forum for the general public, the press and politicians to be aware of the importance of immunologic research for maintenance of well-being, and combat of major diseases, including infectious diseases, cancer, cardio-vascular diseases, autoimmune diseases or allergies. Last but not least, the ICI will provide a unique opportunity for meeting colleagues/friends/post-doc candidates and mentors. The ICI is always a wonderful meeting point for researchers from academia, industry and clinics both from industrialized and developing countries and hence strengthen existing friendships and invite new ones.’

IUIS will be able to present the congress in Milan, a historic and magnificent city with vibrant energy. Today, Milan is a renowned international centre of fashion and design as well as a city with extraordinary art, most notably The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Milan has recently opened MiCo, one of the largest and most modern congress centres in Europe. It will comfortably accommodate participants in IUIS’s 15th International Congress.

What’s the Union of International Associations (UIA)?

The Union of International Associations - UIA - is a non-profit, independent, apolitical, and non-governmental institution in the service of international associations.

Since its foundation in 1907, the UIA is a leading provider of information about international non-profit organizations and a premium networking platform between international organizations and the meeting industry worldwide.

Main activities + Yearbook of International Organizations - contains information on over 64,000 international organizations active in all fields of human endeavour, in all corners of the world, and over centuries of history.

Available online and in book form. + International Congress Calendar - with information on over 350,000 international meetings. Available online, in pdf, and on paper.

IUIS’s journal, Frontiers in Immunology - Academic publishing in the 21st century IUIS also publishes a journal so members are up-to-date with what the Union does.

It’s also a way for the organization to market itself. The format of IUIS’s journal is ‘open access’, meaning that the author pays for the publication rather than the reader. This enables journal articles to be freely available through the internet to everyone worldwide.

Frontiers in Immunology is exerting a paradigm shift in immunological publishing.

It is a new and novel way to disseminate research findings and to facilitate communication, both among scientists as well as the community at large.‘Frontiers in Immunology is publishing by scientists for scientists. Absolutely the best thing about it is the interactive review process’ says Kendal Smith, Editor-in-Chief, Frontiers in Immunology.

+ Annual Associations Round Table features both open-space / networking and discussion oriented sessions as well as practical skills training sessions for associations.

See www.uia.be/roundtable Who can use the UIA’s research and networking platform? Everyone with an interest in international associations and cooperation: international associations, the businesses which provide services to them, media and press, research centres, universities, libraries, government offices. Associate Members have quick access to first quality material to benefit their business.

To join, see www.uia.be/associate-members.

www.iuisonline.org

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HQ > Hong Kong

World Dental Federation In Hong Kong for Its Centenary Congress

Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI) - the World Dental Federation - held its 100th congress in the Asia’s World City August 2012. Hong Kong is the only city to have hosted the prestigious conference twice, which reinforces its recognition by the world as a key player in the dentistry profession as well as an expert in organising large-scale and high-end medical conferences. With ‘Leading the World into a New Century of Oral Health’ as this year’s theme, FDI also chose to launch its Global Caries Initiative website and unveil its landmark Vision 2020 plan.

The Geneva-based FDI represents around 200 international dental associations.

Held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, it attracted more than 10,000 participants, around 200 exhibitors, and was presented with a record 444 abstracts from 56 countries with strong support by the local chapter, Hong Kong Dental Association (HKDA).

the local organising committee.

‘We are honoured to be given the privilege to bring the event to Hong Kong again after the one in 1995. As a metropolitan city, Hong Kong possesses a unique forte, which has allowed it to thrive in the face of challenges in the global arena. The hosting of this centennial congress has again demonstrated our city’s distinctive attributes.’

The Ideal MICE Destination

‘As a compact city with our efficient public transportation network, Hong Kong provides a superior infrastructure for meetings and conventions. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - a comprehensive, purpose-built convention centre - provides function space with exhibition halls and meeting spaces of various sizes under one roof.’

The FDI centenary congress has also strengthened Hong Kong’s position as a premier convention, exhibition, meetings and incentive travel destination.

‘All eyes were on Hong Kong for this centennial congress,’ added Dr Sigmund Leung, JP, HKDA President and Chairman of

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Dr Leung also said that Hong Kong’s ‘strategic location at the heart of the world’s fastest growing economies’ complemented its ‘sophisticated infrastructure, easy accessibility, business-friendly environment, professional expertise and vibrant lifestyle’.

Hong Kong’s accommodation matches its impressive venues and professional support. ‘Bringing together more than 10,000 visitors, the congress has again exemplified Hong Kong’s network of hotels. The accommodation in Hong Kong suits all needs and promises more than just a room for the night,’ said Dr Leung.

> Hong Kong

Hong Kong: an expert in dentistry According to Dr Leung, the choice of Hong Kong for the centennial FDI 2012 congress was a sign of the city’s professional standing in the world: ‘The dental profession in Hong Kong has been working hard to maintain its competitive edge, capitalise on opportunities and prepare for challenges ahead. We never deviated from our common goal of uplifting global oral health. With concerted efforts, the development of the dentistry has been brought to another high plane.’

The strong connectivity with the rest of the dental world also provided congress participants with a vibrant platform to meet experts and pioneers of various dental fields and share innovative ideas, explore the potential of new advances in dental technology, and foster closer ties through quality and a well-designed scientific programme and exhibition.

Prime city for knowledge exchange After successfully hosting the FDI 2012 Congress, Hong Kong has now been placed firmly on the map as a global centre of knowledge exchange.

‘Apart from traditional lectures, seminars, workshops and poster presentations, each day of the scientific programme featured a newly designed lunchtime session named ‘Meet the Experts’ to create more chances for participants to

interact with leading experts in the field,’ said Dr Leung.

Mainland China’s contribution to the dissemination of dentistry knowledge was also highly recognized in this year’s congress as Chinese dentistry professionals are becoming more eager to learn and master the latest technologies and treatments, where the FDI commended this trend. FDI President Dr Orlando Monteiro da Silva presented China’s Minister of Health, Chen Zhu, with the World Oral Health Recognition Award for his leadership in training a new generation of stomatologists, helping to set up dental schools, and driving a campaign to publicise preventive measures to counter oral disease.

Full backing from local community The congress was ensured guaranteed success, thanks to the full support of the FDI, the HKDA, the Hong Kong government, the city’s Food and Health Bureau, and Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK), a division of Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), as well as the entire local community.

Dr da Silva commended the collaborative teamwork between the organizations was highly crucial to the event’s success, while Dr Leung praised the government’s support which further substantiated the international status, reputation and competitive edge of Hong Kong professionals.

Dr da Silva praised MEHK for its support with the FDI and the local organising committee, ‘this has been very important in terms of helping with facilities here and other stakeholders have also been very collaborative,’ he said. ‘The presence of the Hong Kong government was very important.’ The partnership started prior to the bidding and carried on through to the event itself. ‘MEHK has been our close partner and we greatly appreciate its generous support and assistance in the entire process from bidding, congress promotion to staging of major activities that include the welcome ceremony and HKDA Congress Dinner Reception.’

Dr Leung added: ‘With support from the government, the FDI 2012 Hong Kong Congress has further substantiated the international status, reputation and competitive edge of Hong Kong professionals. Moreover, Hong Kong’s capability of hosting mega international congress is also affirmed.’

FDI President Dr da Silva said the federation was so impressed with Hong Kong and it was likely to ask the city to host the congress again. ‘Our experience was so successful I can predict we will be back again one of these years,’ he concluded.

More information on www.mehongkong.com

HEADQUARTERS 19

flexible

personal

choice

always MORE...

The recently expanded Brisbane & Exhibition Centre is Australia’s most adaptable and award winning meetings venue in one of the most exciting and rewarding destinations in the world.

A world class combination.

Worldwide Convention Centre Team of the Year - London 2012

T +61 7 3308 3063 E sales@bcec.com.au W www.bcec.com.au The Centre is owned by South Bank Corporation and proudly managed by AEG Ogden

more personal - more choice

HQ > Ma l a y sia

Experts in lung health in Malaysia World experts on lung health recently converged in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 13-17 November 2012 to attend the prestigious 43rd Union World Conference on Lung Health by the INTERNATIONAL Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (THE UNION) and supported by the Ministry of Health Malaysia and Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).

Participants at the ‘Run for your Lungs’ event

Held at the world renowned Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the Union World Conference on Lung Health is the largest global annual meeting focusing on the issue of lung health. This year, more than 2,500 delegates from over 120 countries attended the event in its mission to bring innovation, expertise, solutions and support to address health challenges in low- and middle-income populations. Aptly themed ‘Driving Sustainability Through Mutual Responsibility’, the five-day event also gathered speakers from 65 countries.

Plenary Session

for your Lungs’ event and the launch of the Union Centennial Campaign for Research and Education. The ‘Run for your Lungs’ event was organised by the Union and Malaysian Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (MAPTB) as an awareness building 1.5 km fun run programme. At the spectacular gala dinner, the Union Centennial Campaign for Research and Education was launched to raise unrestricted funds for its research and education programmes between now and 2020.

Support from MyCEB Discussions were led on diverse topics ranging from tuberculosis (TB), child TB, child lung health, HIV and TB-HIV, TB and diabetes, new diagnostic tool for TB, tobacco control, operational research, how to improve health programmes and policies, how to increase civil society participation and awareness in these public health issues.

The scientific programmes included 150 postgraduate courses and workshops, symposia, plenary sessions, abstract-driven and posterrelated sessions, meet-the-experts and latebreaker session on TB research.

Two other significant highlights of the conference in Malaysia included the ‘Run

Dr Nils E Billo, Executive Director of the Union said: ‘The support that we have received from MyCEB has been nothing short of amazing. Malaysia itself provides a compelling setting for the conference that brings together views from around the world to call for action against lung disease.

We would love to come back here and to continue spreading the message on the issue at hand - to work together with our partners to sustain the progress and reach international targets for lung health.’

Malaysia was chosen to be the host country due to its status as a fast growing democratic and liberal progressive country with

stability and sound socio economic and developmental policies. Malaysia is also noted for its ongoing efforts to improve the health of its general population and has always been very supportive of new medical research on the topic at hand.

Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), Mr. Zulkefli Hj. Sharif also commented: ‘MyCEB is very supportive of this Conference based on several reasons. Other than its obvious economic benefits, the Conference will definitely facilitate the opportunity for professional developments, knowledge exchange and best practices in the local and regional health sectors, particularly in respiratory health. This in turn will impact positively on Malaysia as a model developing country.’

Info & contact Ho Yoke Ping Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) www.myceb.com.my Dr Nils E Billo International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease www.theunion.org HEADQUARTERS 21

A gold star destination for association events We take a closer look at the Gold Coast, one of Australia’s most vibrant coastal cities.

The Gold Coast, located in the eastern state of Queensland, has been made famous by its golden sandy beaches and high-rise skyline. A city of vast diversity, the Gold Coast offers the perfect destination for delegates who are looking to combine an association event with the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable Australian experience.

The Australian meetings industry has the contacts and expertise to tailor a convention to your association’s needs with access to logistic specialists, a range of talented speakers including world leaders, and special event experts to give your event the final touches.

Here we profile an example of a recent association workshop held on the Gold Coast to tell you a little more about why delegates will jump at the chance to attend an event in the picturesque city.

THE EVENT: The 10th IAPR International Workshop on Document Analysis Systems - DAS 2012.

Leading computer researchers and academics from 32 countries around the world arrived on the Gold Coast in March 2012 for the 10th IAPR International Workshop on Document Analysis Systems (DAS 2012).

Over 130 delegates attended the workshop to discuss the advance of the science that drives pattern

recognition technology – sharing exciting insights into the future on how technology could evolve.

Associate Professor Michael Blumenstein, Chair of the Workshop and Dean of Griffith University’s Research, Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology Group, said he was proud to have brought some of the top minds in the field to Australia.

“We had a magnificent line up of academic researchers and industry experts from around the world and we are delighted with the feedback we received from the attendees, with many having said it was the most successful workshop to date,” said Associate Professor Blumenstein.

“Guests absolutely loved the beach and our international guests got a wonderful taste of Australia. We treated delegates to a trip to ‘The Outback Spectacular’ – a very unique and exciting evening dinner show filled with outback music, drama and action,” he added.

The attractions of the Gold Coast played a key factor in the bid for DAS 2012. As Australia’s undisputed home of entertainment, the city provides the perfect backdrop for an association event with its subtropical climate, famous surfing beaches, numerous attractions – including the biggest collection of theme parks in the Southern Hemisphere – restaurants, bars, and surrounding rainforest hinterland.

Visit

businesseVents.australia.com for eVerything you need to plan your australian eVent.

While visiting the Gold Coast...

If delegates would like to escape the hustle and bustle of the ‘golden city’ for the day, Tamborine Mountain is only 30 kilometres away. With breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife and clean mountain air, Tamborine Mountain can be described as the ‘green behind the gold’. For a unique experience, visitors can also experience the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk – an elevated walkway, high above the ground in the rainforest canopy which descends gradually to the densely vegetated rainforest floor.

If delegates are looking for an spectacular place to stay, soaring above the iconic Surfers Paradise beach, the Hilton is the Gold Coast’s newest accommodation having recently undergone an A$700 million dollar transformation. The hotel offers guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, a gourmet marketplace, European delicatessen, day spa, sauna and elegant event spaces offering five-star sophistication for association events.

If you are considering holding an event on the Gold Coast go to www.businesseventsaustralia.com/associations for information and contacts.

HEADQUARTERS 23

The world’s next cure for cancer began life 600 years ago in a spice bazaar.

Spices have long been known for their curative properties. Traders from Arabia, India, China and Europe flocked here for spices and herbal remedies 600 years ago.

Today, over 90% of all modern pharmaceuticals are derived from extracts from flora endemic to tropical rainforests. And Malaysia is rapidly moving to the forefront of biosciences in the region.

At the very centre of Southeast Asia and mid-point between the two fast growing economies of China and India, Malaysia is the gateway of Asia. With a dynamic economy and English-speaking people with a progressive world-view, Malaysia is where the world is coming to meet new discoveries and ideas. World-class infrastructure, great value for money and a unique window to Asian cultures and hospitality make Malaysia the meetings and conventions nexus of Asia.

Malaysia - Asia’s Business Events Hub Scan this code to visit our website

MALAYSIA CONVENTION & EXHIBITION BUREAU (MyCEB) Suite 14.3, Level 14, Menara IMC, No. 8 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel: +603 2034 2090 Fax: +603 2034 2091 Email: info@myceb.com.my Web: www.myceb.com.my