HAP17

headquarters Asia-Pacific

Published by Headquarters Magazines PTE Ltd (Singapore) www.headquartersmagazine.com - press@headquartersmagazine.com

# Edition April 2014

UIA New Associations

Prasant Saha India with a meetings vision

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Headquarters Asia-Pacific is > Malaysia the Asia-Pacific Magazine for Association Executives.

Supported by UIA, the Union of International Associations.

Published 4 times a year: April, July, October, December.

> Contents

Colophon HAP or Headquarters Asia-Pacific is a niche publication for local, regional and international associations based in AsiaPacific and dealing with the organisation of worldwide congresses. Published 4 times a year. Circulation: 2,500 copies in 14 different countries.

Subscriptions Subscriptions amount to 85€ (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 Contributor Katie Lau

Design Press Point Poelstraat 167 - 9820 Merelbeke T. +32 (0)9 362 52 50 - www.presspoint.be Print The Neu Print PTE Ltd - Singapore neuprint@singnet.com.sg Supported by UIA, the Union of International Associations Address Headquarters Magazines PTE Ltd 1 Scotts Road #21-07 Shaw Centre Singapore 228208 www.headquartersmagazine.com press@headquartersmagazine.com

Marcel A.M. VISSERS Editor in Chief

Look out for the India Association Congress 2014!

After interviewing Prasant Saha of CIMGlobal (see page 14), I realised that I don’t often write stories about PCO’s. What is the reason for this? There is no reason. I was only waiting for the right moment. And I think the right moment is now. In emerging destinations like India and many countries in Africa, PCO’s are one of the most important key players in the development of a professional organised meetings industry body. Prasant Saha is a very good example of such a MICE entrepreneur in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East. And do you know that he is also the organiser of the yearly India Association Congress? It is my sincere wish that other Asian Pacific meetings destinations will follow this unique initiative.

The 4th India Association Congress will take place 23-24 August 2014 at the historical & stunning Fairmont Jaipur, the Pink City of India. As Prasant puts it, ‘The three successful editions have set a benchmark and expectation. It has become our responsibility to bring forth more intriguing topics and interactive discussions which have been benefitting the association members who have attended the previous conferences as well as those who will be participating for the first time. With the help of policy makers and industry leaders from various associations and organisations, we aim to expand our horizons, to identify what is new in our area, what will bring added-value and benefits to the members and in what way we can help the overall Indian economy.’

I’m definitely looking forward to it! In the meantime, have a look at www.indiaassociationcongress.com » More stories on www.headquartersmagazine.com

Contents Cécile Caiati-Koch

Rémi Dévé

Kelvin Lu

GENERAL News Association Portrait IAPCO: Associations & Reputation

4 7 12

UIA New associations

11

COVER INTERVIEW Prasant Saha

14

DESTINATIONS Malaysia 16 Seoul 18 Macao 20 Singapore 22

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> News

Top healthcare professionals to gather in Houston With less than two months to go, planning efforts are wrapping up on Medical World Americas (MWA), which will bring together more than 2,000 healthcare professionals from across the Americas to showcase knowledge and innovation in the medical field. The organizers of MEDICA, the world’s largest medical conference, partnered with the Texas Medical Center and the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau to create the first annual MEDICA event in North America.

Set for April 28-30 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, MWA will provide a platform for new products in healthcare to be introduced in an expo format as well as a multi-track conference program. www.visithoustontexas.com

Thailand in great shape Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, or TCEB, announced the strong performance of Thailand’s MICE industry in the first quarter of the 2014 fiscal year. The bureau reported that, between October and December 2013, Thailand welcomed 186,864 MICE travellers.

Compared to the same period in 2013, visitor numbers grew a healthy 5.16%. The performance of the Oceania market was a particular highlight with a 13.25% increase in visitor numbers. These figures build on the upward trend established during the 2013 fiscal year, when 1,013,502 MICE visitors experienced Thailand’s diverse business destinations, high quality professionals and international standards, while taking advantage of significant business opportunities. www.tceb.or.th

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre hosts record number of events in 2013 KLCC hosted 1,565 events in 2013, a 9% increase on the 1,442 in 2012 and the highest number ever held in a calendar year since opening in June 2005. Of this, the Conventions and TenOnCall segments were the biggest movers recording a 32% and 16% increase respectively on the previous year’s figures. In total, the Centre welcomed 2.0 million delegates contributing RM700 million in economic impact to the Malaysian economy (in 2013) compared with 1.6 million delegates and RM590 million in 2012. www.klccconventioncentre.com

Want to be part of the News section?

Send your press releases to press@headquartersmagazine.com 5

> Association Portrait

South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC)

A profile Created in1978 as a regional computer conference in Singapore, the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC) is now a leading forum of national Information Communication Technology (ICT) professional societies in the Asia Pacific region, namely Australia, India, Fiji, Malaysia, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and Papua New Guinea), promoting industry collaboration by organising conferences, exhibitions and competitions. SEARCC’s Secretary General Yohan Ramasundara tells us how to keep the association active and relevant.

Profile Katie Lau HQ: Please describe the history and goals of your association.

Yohan Ramasundara: SEARCC was created as a non-political and non-profit-making confederation of national ICT professional societies subscribing to the concepts of regionalism and mutual support. During the first decade, SEARCC focused on organising conferences and competitions. From 1988, SEARCC decided to embark on annual conferences, which soon became the high points for ICT professionals in the region.

Alongside every SEARCC conference, an exhibition of information technology, products and services and a regional schools’ software competition are also organised. Our vision is to be the key collaborative body for member societies by holding the above events with futuristic and relevant topics while introducing new initiatives such as regional standards, new research and publications.

HQ: How has your association evolved in the rapidly changing world of information technology?

Yohan Ramasundara: As Southeast Asia will see 194 million new internet users between 2010 and 2020, recognising the role of ICT in regional development is key. As the ASEAN 2015 ICT master plan sets out ambitious growth targets for connectivity, it signifies the importance of providing infrastructure to underpin an industry employing over 11.7 million people in member nations and a digital economy contributing more than US$32 billion. Whether it’s medical scanners or flight control systems, we need to assure that those who work on these projects, especially critical ICT infrastructure, are sufficiently skilled; therefore we now have a greater focus on promoting professionalism in the ICT industry.

Yohan Ramasundara

HQ: How do you fund your events and daily operation?

Yohan Ramasundara: We fund our activities and initiatives from membership fees and also thanks to our generous sponsors.

Industry and business organisations become SEARCC partners through formal agreements such as event sponsorship projects and programme sponsorships, promotional partnerships like printing or distribution.

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> Association Portrait

Typically, these relationships involve a one- to three-year agreement with an annual investment ranging from US$10,000-$1,000,000.

We select our partner organisations who share our mission, core values and ethics.

HQ: Please describe your annual conference, your association’s most important event.

Yohan Ramasundara: Attended by 500-800 delegates every year, SEARCC Conference is a major opportunity to view the latest developments in ICT, seek new or additional links to the Asia Pacific region, and do business in a congenial atmosphere. It also features many hours of content delivered with a mix of plenary and separate concurrent stream sessions. All sessions are interactive, especially the panel sessions. The conference programme showcases a number of highprofile keynote speakers. The themes of our conference are set by the host in relation to the time and location of the conference.

Past SEARCC International Conferences 2013 - Colombo, Sri Lanka 2012 - Sydney, Australia 2011 - Mumbai, India 2010 - Brisbane, Australia 2008 - Chennai, India 2007 - Bangkok, Thailand 2006 - Colombo, Sri Lanka 2005 - Sydney, Australia 2004 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia government sponsorships and complementary services provided.

Also, the venue should be a reasonable distance from the airport; be conveniently located in a metropolitan area close to other hotels, restaurants, banks, public transportation, and shopping areas; provide excellent

Attended by 500-800 delegates every year, SEARCC Conference is a major opportunity to view the latest developments in ICT HQ: What destinations do you often choose for this event?

Yohan Ramasundara: We prefer to host the SEARCC Conference in locations that are safe and easily accessible for delegates who are mostly from Asia Pacific. It’s always important to cater for our delegates’ diverse requirements, so we consider the total travel, accommodation costs and complimentary offerings by potential hosts. Our 2013 Conference was in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2014 it will be in Malaysia, and in 2015 it will be in South Korea (To be confirmed).

We’d also like to combine business with leisure for our overseas delegates by encouraging them to take their family members or friends with them.

HQ: What factors do you consider in organising an event?

Yohan Ramasundara: When selecting a destination, we consider: accessibility to international airports; convenience and cost of travel to and from the recommended location; ability to demonstrate safe and secure environment for attendees; as well as 8

space for required meetings, as well as a social environment conducive to networking among community members. Lastly, the total cost should be reasonable as well.

HQ: How do you find your experience as SEARCC’s Secretary General?

Yohan Ramasundara: SEARCC is instrumental in helping nations capitalise on the opportunities of the digital age. I have the challenging yet enjoyable and rewarding job of ensuring that SEARCC continues to serve our member societies’ needs and stay relevant in today’s global ICT profession.

Seeing SEARCC initiatives in action drives me to achieve more. The ability to influence the region in a positive way makes my job very rewarding. My position requires good judgement, objectivity and empathy to communicate and negotiate with every person I interact with to achieve SEARCC’s mission. Also, I meet very interesting and important people, most of whom go on to become very close, lifelong friends in my expanding global network.

HQ: Any challenges ahead?

Yohan Ramasundara: The ICT profession is such a critical part of society now, but it hasn’t yet been required to have the same mandated registration as other professions, like doctors. This is a key challenge for societies throughout the region to overcome.

HQ: Any future plans?

Yohan Ramasundara: We’ll continue to emphasise the importance of ICT professionalism and the urgent imperative to minimise ICT system failures on critical national infrastructure, businesses, government operations, economy and communities.

Our strategy continues to focus on building deep and enduring relationships as a leader in Asia Pacific, and offering a platform where the ICT associations collaborate. We’re also planning to further strengthen our partner­ships with other major international organisations including the United Nations, UNESCO, NASSCOM, ASEAN and APEC. www.searcc.org/

Union of International Associations (UIA)

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

The Union of International Associations 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 organisations and a premium networking platform between international organisations and the meeting industry worldwide.

International Alliance for the Control of Scabies (IACS) The international Alliance for the Control of Scabies (IACS) is a global network of researchers, clinicians and public health experts dedicated to improving the control of scabies, with over 70 members form more than 15 countries.

Scabies is a parasitic skin infection that affects people in every country of the world. Mothers, young children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable groups. Secondary infections are common and may lead to severe complications, such as sepsis, renal damage and possibly rheumatic heart disease.

The 2nd annual meeting of the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies took place at George Washington University, Washington DC, in November 2013. The meeting looked back at the activities and achievements of the Alliance in the past year, which included the launch of the IACS website. Several IACS members presented updates on their latest research activities relevant to the control of scabies, covering topics such as epidemiology, treatment and strategies for community-based control. www.controlscabies.org

netFWD The Global Network of Foundations Working for Development (netFWD) is composed of self-selected foundations committed to optimising the impact of philanthropy for development through the sharing of experiences, lesson learning, policy influencing and the development of innovative partnerships. netFWD conveys and disseminates foundations’ key messages to policy makers through policy dialogue and outreach efforts in high-level fora, such as the post-2015 debate

and the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC).

For more information, please contact uia@uia.org

Society for Cultural and Scientific Progress in Central and Eastern Europe The Society for Cultural and Scientific Progress in Central and Eastern Europe is an international non-profit organisation.

Its goals? Promoting and facilitating cooperation among scientists - especially among the young scientists whose career is only at the beginning of its development, and encouraging and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the progress and development in the region.

netFWD organises meetings all around Europe: workshops in the Paris headquarters, webinars in Istanbul to name a few. The association also co-hosted larger gatherings like the Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) Special Policy Dialogue in New York or the Effective Venture Philantropy Working Group meeting in London.

The Society is also about enhancing and supporting scientific activities among students, primarily in fields related to natural sciences, sharpening the student’s talents for scientific research and creativity, while strengthening the ties between the students and researchers and improving scientific collaboration between scientists of the region.

www.oecd.org/site/netfwd

http://scaspee.com 11

> Research in it

What is Reputation and why is it Important?

There is an old proverb that says character is the story you write about yourself, reputation is the story others write about you - let us hope “reputation” is a reflection of that “character” written.

A corporate/company/association identity is constructed by how internal and external perceptions are evaluated in relation to each other, a sort of simultaneous mirroring process. An organisation considers and promotes itself as a certain type, stakeholders monitor this self-classification and if it matches their expectations it generates a positive reputation.

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For any organisation, the achievement of its objectives is the main reason for its existence and, with a good reputation among its stakeholders, achieving those objectives will be easily done. Clients will prefer to deal with you instead of others and they in turn can influence other potential customers.

Suppliers will be more inclined to trust your organisation if you have a reputation for fair dealing. A potential employee will be more likely to prefer your organisation if you have

a good reputation for the treatment of staff compared with other employers. Although reputation may be an intangible concept, a good one will demonstrably increase worth and provide sustained competitive advantages.

Building a good reputation So it seems logical to work actively not only to build a good reputation but also to assess any existing or potential threats to that reputation and to take actions to avoid or mitigate them. Whether or not we are prepared to manage these reputational risks is another question.

> Research in it

You cannot control external perceptions but you can make sure you deliver what you promise. If you do not deliver on a promise a credibility gap is created and your reputation will suffer. Reputation risk management is about recognizing the size of the gap.

Make sure your behaviour and performance is either consistent or exceeds expectations and that all stakeholders (suppliers, PCOs,

Building a strong brand A good reputation helps to build up a strong brand. A strong brand identifies how much your association is different from other associations and organisations. Great branding is about being exceptional; select areas where you want to excel and work on creating the reputation of delivering unique excellence.

For any organisation, the achievement of its objectives is the main reason for its existence and, with a good reputation among its stakeholders, achieving those objectives will be easily done

partners) are well aware of it. Be sure you clearly communicate your business vision, values, strategy and set the right ethical approach. Support policies and codes of conduct that guide your stakeholders ‘ behaviour and decision-making so that your goals are achieved in accordance with business values. Extend these values and relevant policies to key partners in the supply chain and when organising a conference, be sure you hire PCOs that support your values. Be aware that external beliefs and expectations change. You need to track change perceptions, requirements and expectations of major stakeholders continuously and work on closing the gap between what was good before and what is better now.

• Do your members think this association really and truly knows and cares about me?

• Is your association seen as the place where your members find expert and practical advice?

• Is your association seen as a strong, reliable advocate, partner and helper?

• Does your association leave a legacy and inspire people to achieve in an extraordinary way?

Professor Charles Fombrun, Professor Emeritus of Management at the Stern School of Business, New York University, and a leading international authority on corporate reputation believes that ‘to achieve prestige requires a long-term outlook

toward building competitive advantage.

Companies develop winning reputations by both creating and projecting a set of skills that their constituents recognize as unique.

A reputation develops from a company’s uniqueness and from identity-shaping practices - maintained over time - that lead constituents to perceive the company as credible, reliable, trustworthy, and responsible.’

Therefore continuously scanning your external environment and opinions to ensure you are on a track will secure the continuing support, trust and confidence of your stakeholders and partners. In that way, you are consistently delivering on the promises to your stakeholders.

This article was provided by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers, author Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno, Past President and Council Member of IAPCO, and Vice President of AIM Group International, Rome, Italy.

IAPCO represents today 120 professional organisers, meeting planners and managers of international and national congresses, conventions and special events from 40 countries. info@iacpo.org / www.iapco.org

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> Cover interview

Prasant Saha India with a vision

Connaught Place, Delhi

Founded in 1997, CIMGlobal has etched a niche for itself and its success story spans in the Association Management, Meeting Management, and Corporate Activation since its inception. Prasant Saha, managing director, is a well-respected, internationally known meetings professional, who has been instrumental in bringing the Indian meetings industry forward.

Interview Marcel A.M Vissers & Rémi Dévé CIMGlobal recently made the news as Congrex Holland BV has been bought by managers in a deal which sees the Indian company taking a stake in the business.

Here Prasant shares his views about the industry in general.

HQ: You are the managing director of a well-known PCO/DMC in the international meetings industry, and more specifically in India. How do you position CIMGlobal in the Indian Meetings Industry?

Prasant Saha: Today, CIMGlobal is positioned as a well established, highly successful, probably the most experienced Indian PCO, delivering events of international 14

standards with local expertise. CIMGlobal is the only Indian PCO with international offices and with the acquisition on Congrex, Holland it has made its presence strong in Europe.

We say we are well established as we have been operating for17 years already, and have the largest network of offices in the country (7 cities). We’re proud to also be the largest provider of employment for meeting professionals in India. We have not only trained and educated some of the best meeting professionals here, but we have also been instrumental in improving the processes and training of our service

Prasant Saha

partners, whether it be AV suppliers, local tour guides, transport companies, etc. As for the matter, we have deeply contributed in what has become of the sector today, in India and I like to think internationally.

> Cover interview

India World Indigenous Day

HQ: Every year you organise an Indian Association Congress. This year it’s being held from 23 to 24 August in Jaipur. What does that mean for you?

Prasant Saha: The India Association Congress is a platform for all associations to come together, be it a non-for-profit or a trade organisation. It’s an event where we bring international experts to share best practices, successful Indian associations to share regional experiences, where service providers can customise their offering whether they are a venue, an AMC, a software company, a hotel, etc., where government can support with some proactive decisions. For CIMGlobal it’s a journey when we meet, learn, strategise and move on.

Government or the State Government have not contributed much, but now we see the Government earmarking budgets for MICE infrastructure and MICE marketing, so I’m confident things will change rapidly!

Hyderabad today has one of the finest conference centres called HICC - it is managed by the Accor Group, thanks to the Andhra Pradesh Government, and has been voted Asia’s best MICE centre. The setting up of India’s first convention bureau has also made Hyderabad an exception. India, with more than 50 metropolitan cities, has only one convention bureau, and no national one. This has certainly slowed down the development of the Indian meetings indus-

The Indian industry is professional, delivering to international standards and at lower costs than the Americas or Europe. We just have to show it to the world and promote it as best as we can!

HQ: India is not so well-known as a meetings destination, with the exception of Hyderbad. How do you explain that?

Prasant Saha: India as a meeting destination is not well known for two reasons. To put it bluntly: one, MICE infrastructure is not adequate; two, marketing efforts have mainly been done by a handful of private organisations such as ours. The Indian

try, but I do hope this will change in the near future.

HQ: Which major developments are currently important in India? New convention bureaus? New congress centres?

Prasant Saha: There are few convention centres like the ITC grand Chola in Chennai, India Expo centre in Noida, or many hotels

Jaipur

that are adequate for smaller conventions.

Those are available venues that need to be marketed and promoted to association planners in general. But in my opinion, India would need more convention bureaus, which could advise and work with the government and drive the setting up of more convention centres. This would be a good step forward.

HQ: What are India’s strengths when it comes to hosting association events?

Prasant Saha: India today is one of the leading science and technology research and innovation centres. Every association knows meeting and collaborating are the only way to keep pace with the world. The world knows India cannot be ignored just for the sheer amount of development happening in the country. India has also shown its capability to come together successfully, as we have hosted some prestigious world congresses - the Commonwealth Games, WAN, HUGO, COP 12-Bio Diversity, you name it! The Indian industry is professional, delivering to international standards and at lower costs than the Americas or Europe.

We just have to show it to the world and promote it as best as we can!

More info www.cimglobal.net 15

> Malaysia

Malaysia

Borneo Convention Centre Kuching

A value-for-money destination with world-class events experience Strategically located at the centre of Southeast Asia between the booming economies of India and China, Malaysia possesses the state-of-the-art facilities and upscale world-class infrastructures to cater to any international meetings and conferences.

In its efforts to position Malaysia as the top five meetings destinations in Asia Pacific by year 2020, the Malaysian government has established Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) as a catalyst in championing the Malaysian business tourism industry.

In order to support ambitious objectives, Malaysia is equipped with several state-ofthe-art purpose-built convention centres.

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Located in the heart of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre precinct, fondly known as KLCC and designed to be “a city within a city”, is Asia’s first Green Globe Benchmarked venue (Green Globe Earthcheck™).

KL Convention Centre consists of The Plenary Hall & Theatre, offering an imposing venue for keynote sessions, grand openings and concerts. The Exhibition Halls offer 9,710 square metre of flexible column-free, contiguous space ideal for exhibitions and expos. The Conference Hall consists of three large spaces which combine to form a hall for 1,800 delegates and the Grand Ballroom with its high ceiling gives it a sense of grandeur and elegance, accommodating up to 2,000 delegates for banquets. The third major function space is the Banquet Hall with grand style décor for functions of up to 800 people.

In addition there are smaller meeting rooms to accommodate smaller conferences.

Its strategic location which is within easy access to more than 18,000 hotels rooms, local attractions, entertainment facilities and convenient transport connections hosted many big events, one of which is the 18th FIGO World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics with 8,294 delegates.

The facility is planning an expansion to meet the demands of a growing list of meetings and events to increase the KLCC’s convention and exhibition space by 135,000 square feet by 2017.

Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) Another prominent meeting venue is the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) located in the eco-friendly largest state in Malaysia. Home to an abundance of exotic plans and animal species, Sarawak boasts one of the world’s oldest rainforest.

BCKK, the first purpose-built convention centre located on the mystical island of Borneo, is situated on a riverfront site on the Kuching Isthmus overlooking lush green forest and the majestic Sarawak River. It is one of the most innovative, adaptable, and

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

flexible centres of its kind featuring stunning architecture both inside and out.

The pillar-free Great Gall with 2,793 square metres is complemented by 14 additional meeting rooms, extensive registration and foyer space, equipped with world class restaurant and catering services accommodates up to 5,000 delegates.

Asia’s Business Events Hub Apart from its strategic location, arrivals into Malaysia are further boosted by the easily available transportation services.

Over 50 airlines (including low-cost carriers) provide direct access from Malaysia to over 100 destinations worldwide. It is also ranked as the 5th Most Price Competitive Country in Asia Pacific for Travel 2012 (Travel & Tourism Competitive Index, World Economic Forum).

The year 2014 also marks as Visit Malaysia Year, and for meeting and convention organisers who are looking towards Malaysia for their events, you should not miss to be a part of this celebration.

Contact Ho Yoke Ping (Ms) General Manager - Businesss Events Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau T. +603 2034 2090 www.myceb.com.my www.facebook.com/MyCEB @MyCEB 17

> Korea

Jogyesa Temple

Seoul ‘From good to great’ Last year Seoul Convention Bureau organised a press trip in the context of the SIBAC conference so I was curious to find out how the city is performing today and what impact the future plans will have on the capital.

Report Cécile Caiati-Koch The title of this report is quite a statement, you might say. It was stated by the mayor of Seoul, Mr Park Won-soon, at the 12th edition of SIBAC, Seoul International Business Advisory Council.

This yearly convention gathers big shots like Christopher Forbes from Forbes Publishing and Dominic Barton from McKinsey & Company - among others - to give their views on the development of Seoul’s tourism.

Last year at SIBAC, Seoul’s Master Plan was officially announced by the mayor. He wants to triple Seoul’s MICE capacity by 2020 and 18

make the destination enter the Top 3 of convention cities by 2018. The plan has 3 phases: one is already underway, with the setting up of the ‘Seoul Central MICE District’, complete with the recently opened contemporary art building Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) (see below). It will be Seoul’s core meeting venue until the opening of a new convention centre near Seoul Station in 2018. Phase 2 covers the expansion of the Coex region, while Phase 3 will make way for a complete new convention district near Gimpo International Airport, southwest of the city.

How is all this possible within this short timeframe, you may wonder. Well, like the saying goes: ‘One year in Korea, seven years in the West’. Rapid transformation seems to be a piece of cake for the Koreans.

Classic chic vs. ‘wired city’ Seoul, as a city, struck me on three levels: the traditional, historical places inspire classic a sense of elegance and calmness, and beneath that surface there must be a myriad of tales to tell about the history of the 622-year-old kingdom that took place within the old city wall of 18.6 km.

Intriguing! At the same time Seoul is a modern, high-tech city with an abundant number of multinational companies at the forefront of technology and design.

> Korea

It is also a city of fine art with numerous galleries, museums and innovative people, enjoying a busy nightlife. Just looking at the young people walking in the streets will give you an idea how creative the Koreans can be. Who said in Asia they are just good at copying? Western people look boring, if you ask me, compared to some Koreans.

Seoul is the most ‘wired city’ I know now.

Where to meet?

The existing convention and exhibition centre COEX has been operational for more than 20 years but still looks new. It was built with tourism in mind, therefore it combines a huge shopping mall, major 5-star hotels, culture and entertainment (with a casino).

At the moment, it is undergoing redevelopment: the mall will be expanded and, from 2014 on, will offer additional space, a new ‘COEX MICE Cluster’, as they call it. Very handy for the conference participants, it also offers services just like at the airport as well as easy access to the airport by nonstop bus lines. Led lighting, water recycling, green spaces: COEX is sustainable too. And with free wifi for up to 2000 pax, would it have it all? Close to COEX will rise the new Jamsil Sports complex and facilities, part of phase 2 of the Seoul’s master plan I mentioned above.

DDP, modernity at its best DDP, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza of the famous architect Zaha Hadid, is the brand-new art and convention centre in the middle of shopping heart of Seoul. As most of her buildings the DDP boasts a cuttingedge design with vaulting ceilings and curved walls, generous ramps and staircases creating an atmosphere of depth of space.

A true landmark! It has two convention halls and more than 20 meeting rooms, right next to numerous design-related facilities.

Where to stay Over the years, Korea has gained a lot of experience in hosting major world events like the ’88 Seoul Olympic Games, the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the G20 Summit in 2010. Korea is also set to host the Winter Olympics in 2018. So of course, Seoul has numerous 5- and 4 star hotels and some deserve a few words.

Safety in Seoul Some people asked me about safety in Korea. Is it really an issue? I dare to say, no, definitely not! In any place in the world something may happen, you never know. But would an American lady choose to lead Seoul’s convention bureau if she knew it could be dangerous? Never, so I truly believe that you can rely on Maureen O’Crowley decision!

The Shilla Seoul is literally at the top of the city, with stunning views of Mt Namsan in the heart of the capital. Refurbished completely ten months ago, it is a truly renowned luxurious hotel with state-ofthe-art facilities. Both the beautiful outside terrace and the breakfast rooms are actually outstanding.

Shilla Seoul

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

The Conrad Seoul opened in November 2012 and has already won numerous awards, among which the Conde Nast Traveler’s ‘2013 Hot List of New Hotels & Resorts’. It’s classy and sophisticated, close to the international financial centre, with easy access to Seoul’s subway system.

Conrad Seoul boasts 434 super spacious rooms and some banqueting facilities.

Another breathtaking panoramic view of the city and located in natural scenery is the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill business hotel and resort. It truly has enormous convention facilities and delivers a flawless service.

One last word about Korea’s feeling for fine art: I really loved the Samcheongdong area, with its tree-lined streets, cosy cafes and galleries. Many artists live there, you can feel it!

Stay put for some reporting on some great Korean food and tradition in the next issue of Headquarters!

Sheraton Walkerhill

More info www.miceseoul.com www.coex.co.kr www.ddp.seoul.go.kr www.shilla.net www.conradseoul.com

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> Macao

The International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum in Macao The 5th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF), jointly organised by China International Contractors Association and Macao Economic Services, will take place at the Venetian Macao on May 8-9, 2014. Ministerial officials from around 50 countries and regions, leaders from over 30 international industry associations and senior executives from 40 renowned financial institutions from home and abroad, in addition to 1,300 attendees from global leading contractors and services providers will attend an event sure to be magnificent.

Sustained growth Themed as ‘Infrastructure Connectivity Provides New Impetuses for International Cooperation’, the 5th IIICF will address the vision and planning of regionally connected infrastructure, financing solutions, multiform cooperation, coordination of infrastructure projects, physical connectivity, economic cooperation, social welfare and other relevant topics.

The convening of IIICF is conducive for furthering the cooperation on infrastructure between Macao, Mainland China and other parts of the world; it also plays an important role in securing Macao’s position as a regional trade platform, strengthening Macao’s trade cooperation with Mainland China and Portugese-speaking countries.

The recent years have witnessed a stable and sustained growth of Macao’s economy. To diversify its economy and for its future urban development, the Macao SAR government has

The IIICF was introduced to Macao three years ago and helped the world get to know the destination better carried out a number of large infrastructure projects, including urban light-rail, reclamation of marine land, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Cross-Sea Bridge and the Hengqin Industry Park. It has also offered support to a few private construction projects. As these large infrastructure projects are under construction, they play an important role in accelerating Macao’s economy.

International meetings map The IIICF was introduced to Macao three years ago and helped the world get to know the destination better. It has provided a wide platform for China to cooperate with other countries and allowed Macao to be ever more present on the international meetings map.

Ms. Yu Xiaohong, Secretary General of China International Contractors Association (CHINCA), explains: ‘The event got great support from its co-sponsor Macao Economic Services, and also got help from the Macao SAR government. Both Mr. Chui Sai On, Chief Executive of Macao SAR government, and Mr. Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance at Macao SAR government, attended the opening ceremony of the past two forums, making them high-profile, not-to-be-missed events. Macao SAR government made careful and thoughtful arrangements over a series of matters relating to the forum, for instance the host venue, reception of guests, meeting services and security work, which all contributed to the success of the Forum.’

Ms. Yu Xiaohong then states what makes Macao a great destination: ‘Macao is an international city with Asian and European charm. It is small, but filled with architecture of European style and people of different colors. Unlike other homogenous tourism cities, everything here is vivid and alive with a historic and artistic sense of beauty. This is a great meeting destination providing an array of rich experiences.’

More info http://www.iiicf.org 21

> Singapore

Gardens by the Bay

IFLA Opening Ceremony

Your Singapore, Your Next Meeting Place There’s never been a better time to meet in Singapore. When it comes to hosting association conventions, you can count on the city’s strong convention bureau support, experienced meeting professionals, and perhaps most importantly, a safe, affordable and enjoyable destination for your delegates. Truly, Singapore is a place where knowledge is shared and memories are made.

So many leading conferences excel in Singapore, especially when they leverage the city’s vibrant knowledge economy in areas such as banking and finance, biomedical sciences, ICT, just to name a few.

Here, delegates can share their expertise and meet with like-minded professionals for an enjoyable exchange of ideas over the city’s iconic Singapore Sling cocktail or a sumptuous plate of Chilli Crab.

Having been awarded Asia’s Top Convention City for the 11th consecutive year by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and the Top International Meeting Country for the 2nd consecutive year by the Union of International Associations (UIA) in 2013, Singapore is constantly looking to up the ante and deliver more exceptional experiences to the international meetings community.

One of Asia’s main air, sea and telecom­ munications hubs with market access to nearly 4 billion people within a seven-hour flight radius, Singapore is easily accessible with more than 6,300 weekly flights on more than 100 international airlines to some 250 cities - making it the ideal place to attract both new members and delegates. Home to more than 7,000 multinational companies and 150 international non-profit organisations, 22

it excels in the knowledge-driven industries of banking and finance, biomedical sciences, energy, ICT and media, energy and environment, transport and security.

This compact city also offers a strong variety of conventional and unconventional event spaces and over 50,000 hotel rooms to meet various needs. With prime meeting spaces at Suntec Singapore, Marina Bay Sands and even Gardens by the Bay, Singapore offers discerning association planners world-class meeting facilities whether your meeting caters to 150 or 15,000 people.

The Singapore Exhibition & Convention BureauTM (SECB) is a strong supporter of the evolving needs of the industry. Firmly believing in providing customised support to help planners deliver a memorable event, the Bureau facilitates in a variety of ways including venue selection, making introductions to leading government agencies, local associations and business partners as well as marketing and publicity support.

Funding support is also given through the Business Events in Singapore (BEiS) scheme on fulfillment of its evaluation criteria and deliverables.

More info www.yoursingapore.com/mice

79th IFLA World Library and Information Congress Held in August 2013, the 79th International Federation of Library Associations & Institutions World Library and Information Congress is the annual flagship event for the library and information sector, where the global library community debates and explores the latest developments in library sciences and technologies from around the world.

More than 3,800 delegates from 122 countries participated in the Congress, the highest figure for the Congress held in Asia. According to a post-event survey, 92% of respondents judged the Congress overall good or somewhat good, one of the most highly rated results in recent years, reflecting the strong quality of content and overall event experience.

Organisers leveraged Singapore’s multicultural society to create memorable experiences for delegates through both on- and off-site activities. Guests enjoyed a Cultural Evening on the beach, free entry to the museums, local performances at the Opening Ceremony and many hands-on activities such as henna painting, Chinese calligraphy and ketupat weaving in the exhibition area.