HAP6

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

06

Headquarters Magazines Meetings Industry Publishers (Singapore) Published 4 times a year Edition July 2011

JAPAN THE AFTERMATH

AN INTERVIEW WITH JNTO’S TADATOSHI MAMIYA

ALSO UIA GETS PRACTICAL CELEBRATING SOUTH AFRICA’S CONVENTION CITIES

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HONG KONG STAKES CLAIM AS ‘ASIA’S MOBILE CITY’ Staged in November 2010 by the GSMA, which represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry, Mobile Asia Congress 2010 attracted a record 3,400 attendees. The event has grown tremendously since its Hong Kong debut in 2009, almost doubling visitor numbers and evolving into one of the largest events the GSMA has ever held in Asia. Hong Kong’s location and status as a gateway into mainland China,

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CONTACT Helen Chan T. +44 (0)207 432 7700 helen.chan@hktb.com mehongkong.com

FAQ Will the magazines on your i-Phone / i-Pad / i-Pod Touch be the same as the hard copies? > The entire content of the magazines will be exactly the same on your i-Phone / i-Pad / i-Pod Touch.

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FROM SEPTEMBER 2011 ON, HQ AND MIM EUROPE MAGAZINES AVAILABLE ON I-PAD!

SPONSORED BY MEETINGS AND EXHIBITIONS HONG KONG (MEHK) HQ magazine is launching the i-Pad application in collaboration with Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK), whose aim is to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as the premier meetings capital in Asia-Pacific.

HQ > EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

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 marcel@headquartersmagazine.com Managing Director Cécile Caiati-Koch cecile@headquartersmagazine.com Account Manager - International Sales Kelvin Lu T: +32 (0)2 761 70 58 kelvin@headquartersmagazine.com Managing Editor Rémi Dévé remi@headquartersmagazine.com Contributors Sarah Lee Jennifer Salsbury Judy Wickens Chad Shiver 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

MARCEL A.M. VISSERS Editor in Chief

WHAT A WORLD EXPO CAN MEAN! It’s been a few weeks since I returned from IT&CM China in Shanghai. It’s a fair I’m particularly fond of because it gives me the opportunity to get to know the city a bit better each year. Last year, I briefly visited the World Expo when I was there. For Shanghai, 2010 was just this: a six month-long global showcase to the world. Hence, the city massively invested in infrastructure and services.

What did this mean for the MICE industry? The expo’s dominant feature was the 160,000 m2 China Pavilion with a rooftop replica of a Qing Dynasty imperial garden. In addition to this Pavilion there were four other permanent structures - the Theme Pavilion, Performance Centre, Expo Boulevard and Expo Centre, which features a 7200 m2 grand hall, a 2,500 seat auditorium plus several meeting and banquet rooms.

The big news is that the Expo Centre will become Shanghai’s primary convention centre after a post-expo refit. There’s also the new Hongqiao Airport that can accommodate the A380. And I don’t even mention the number of new hotels, all featuring expansive MICE facilities. Just think about the 235-room Peninsula Shanghai, built on the Bund or the 501-room Marriott Changfeng Park, the largest Marriott branded hotel in Shanghai. Also on the Bund, the legendary Peace hotel (Fairmont) reopened.

I could go on like this for a while. A world event is always good for a destination and makes it leap forwards spectacularly. But the most important effect is still the coming of new congresses. A lot of meetings industry people on the fair told me: ‘We have received a lot of enquiries from organisations that will host meetings in Shanghai related to the Expo!’ I also have to congratulate Patrick Chen of the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration: the new brochure, called ‘The Bund Living’, is simply a promotional masterpiece. www.headquartersmagazine.com / marcelsblog.typad.com

CONTENTS INTERVIEW TADATOSHI MAMIYA (JNTO)

RESEARCH 14

UIA INTEREL

7 9 10 11 12

DESTINATIONS

GENERAL Cécile Caiati-Koch

Rémi Dévé

NEWS MEETINGS FOREST ICCA CHINESE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION PORTRAIT

DESTINATION SUPPLEMENT

SOUTH AFRICA BERLIN SECOND-TIER DESTINATIONS MACAU

18 20

22 27 28 29 BRUSSELS

HQ

> HEADQUARTERS NEWS

WORLD PCO ALLIANCE CONTINUES TO GROW The World PCO Alliance will announce on July 29th its new members, which will effectively expand the alliance to all 6 continents of the globe. Last May in Frankfurt, the Alliance held its third Annual General Meeting, and re-elected Anthony Wong (AOS Conventions & Events, Malaysia) as President. Also re-elected was Kayo Nomura (Congress Corporation, Japan) as Secretary General. Joining them in the Alliance’s Board of Officers is Per Anker (ICS - International Conference Services, Denmark), who continues as Vice President. Representing the leading PCOs in all six continents, the World PCO Alliance aims to capitalize on the efficiency of consolidating conference and event services within one network. www.worldpco.org

MYCEB LAUNCHES ‘INDUSTRY PARTNER PROGRAMME’ The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) recently launched its Industry Partner Programme (IPP) to further strengthen Malaysia’s competitive position in the global business tourism market. MyCEB will be rolling out a series of cooperative programmes across the country to provide business opportunities for partners and to increase Malaysia’s success rate in securing international business events. www.myceb.com.my Malaysia

AIME 2011 A FAIR TO REMEMBER FOR SOME YEARS NOW, REED TRAVEL EXHIBITIONS HAS BEEN ORGANIZING AIME, THE ASIA-PACIFIC INCENTIVES AND MEETINGS EXPO. THE CONCEPT WAS CREATED AND IS OWNED BY MELBOURNE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU; REED TRAVEL EXHIBITIONS RUNS AND DEVELOPS IT. REPORT CÉCILE CAIATI-KOCH In the past, I had heard positive feedback about the fair but never got a chance to check it out myself. After Marcel Vissers and Rémi Dévé went there, my interest was aroused. With the strong development of the whole region, I decided this year it was high time I participated in this Asian-Pacific extravaganza!

The show is indeed a very good platform to find out about the Asia-Pacific. I met all of Australia’s convention bureaus and partners, but the Asian region had a very good representation as well. I am sure this will grow every year as I heard hosted buyers and exhibitors were very satisfied with the fair’s outcome. The presence of European exhibitors such as Costa del Sol and Czech Convention Bureau also illustrates that the

HEADQUARTERS 6

Asia Pacific is becoming a good buyers’ market for Western suppliers.

And what better place than Melbourne to host such a fair? As a destination, it’s simply wonderful, but isn’t that true of all Australian cities? A good quality of life, walkable distances, good weather and friendly people and on top of that high professionalism that’s all I have to say!

I understood that once you have been to Australia, you want to go back. I already wrote about my trip in Brisbane. I also briefly stayed in Sydney only to find out that I have to go back and stay a little longer. So the next edition of AIME (21-22 February 2012) can surely count me in!

www.aime.com.au

Melbourne Convention Centre

2011 MEETINGS INDUSTRY FAIRS WORLDWIDE: MAKE YOUR CHOICE! CIBTM // 31 August - 1 September 2011, Beijing // www.cibtm.com IT&CMA // 4-6 October 2011, Bangkok // www.itcma.com.sg IMEX America // 11-13 October 2011, Las Vegas // www.imexamerica.com ITB Asia // 19-21 October 2011, Singapore // sme-itb-asia.com EIBTM // 29 November-1 December // www.eibtm.com

MORE NEWS ON WWW.HEADQUARTERSMAGAZINE.COM

HQ

> HEADQUARTERS NEWS

2011 JMIC UNITY AWARD GOES TO LUC MAENE Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) President Leigh Harry announced the winner of the 2011 JMIC Unity Award as Luc Maene, Director General, International Fertilizer Industry Association and President, European Society of Association Executives. The Unity Award is made annually to an individual who represents the best qualities of Meetings Industry Leadership and who has devoted major efforts to creating stronger relationships and a greater cohesion for the industry. Award criteria evaluate industry leadership and initiative both in a candidate’s own professional conduct and the efforts they put into industry-building through association, education and professional development activities. www.themeetingsindustry.org

Luc Maene

CTICC

ICCA ANNOUNCES DESTINATION FOR 2014 ICCA CONGRESS

AUSTRALIA ADDS TO ASSOCIATION OFFERING

The 53rd ICCA Congress will be held in Antalya, Turkey, in the first week of November of 2014. ICCA’s 50th Congress, incorporating the ICCA General Assembly, will be held in Leipzig, Germany from 22 to 26 October this year. This annual event is expected to bring together approximately 1,000 senior level professionals from the meetings industry for top quality networking, high-level education, exchange of business and tailor-made expert advice. The 51st ICCA Congress will take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 20-24 October 2012, and the 52nd ICCA Congress will be held in Shanghai, er China-PR on 2-6 November 2013. www.iccaworld.com

Australia has risen five places to 11th position in the ICCA rankings of the world’s most popular destinations for international association meetings, and is offering more for associations bringing their members to Australia in 2011 and beyond. Improved access, multi-million dollar new facilities and greater involvement of the country’s key innovators, regulators, academics and business leaders are part of a multi-pronged approach being led by Australia’s national tourism marketing agency, Tourism Australia, and the country’s leading convention bureaux and convention centres to add value for international associations and their members. businessevents.australia.com/associations

CTICC SCOOPS MPI RISE AWARD The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is again in the global spotlight for clinching the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Recognising Industry Success and Excellence (RISE) Award. This global awards program extends beyond the 23,000 international members that belong to MPI and is open to any organisation that has demonstrated exceptional leadership. The centre scooped the award for best Organisational Achievement, which acknowledges the transformational impact an organisation has envisioned and achieved and the leadership exhibited to advance organisational strategy, drive business results and create change utilizing meetings and events. www.cticc.co.za

TAIPEI RANKED 2ND IN ASIA IN ICCA STATISTICS In 2010, Taiwan played host to a total of 138 international association meetings, ranking it 23rd globally and taking 5th place in both the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East, according to the latest ICCA stats. There were 91 international association meetings held in Taiwan in 2009, which saw Taiwan taking 32nd place globally and 8th in the AsiaPacific and the Middle East. Overall, Taiwan’s country ranking has risen significantly over the past year. With 99 international association conferences held in Taipei City in 2009, Taipei occupied the 11th spot worldwide and 2nd place in Asia. www.meettaiwan.com

Taipei

HEADQUARTERS 7

HEADQUARTERS 8

HQ

> MEETINGS FOREST

DONATE A TREE! GET CERTIFIED! The first trees of our Meetings Forest were planted last year in the spring. They’re still small and it will take another thirty years for them to grow to their full size. Nature takes its time, but people don’t always think like that. Somewhere around March, in the spring of 2011, we planted another bunch of new trees in our part of the Caledonian Forest in Scotland’s Highlands. Anyone interested can travel with us.

About 50 new and old clients, friends in the meetings industry will receive a certificate that we’re taking the liberty to reproduce here.

THEY ALL GOT THEIR TREE(S)! + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Steen Jakobsen, Convention Director Wonderful Copenhagen Annick Debels, DirectorGent Congres, Belgium Anja Loetscher, Director Geneva Tourism & Conventions Martin Sirk, CEO ICCA, International Congress and Convention Association Christian Mutschlechner, General Manager Vienna Convention Bureau Martin Kim, Deputy Chief Seoul Convention Bureau Hsi-Mei Chang, Marketing Director Taiwan MICE International Marketing & Promotion Project Tina Herold, Business Tourism Manager Europe South African Tourism the whole team of the Convention Bureau della Riviera di Rimini Eric Bakermans, Manager Marketing Meetings & Conventions NBTC Holland Laurence Dogné, Meetings and Incentive Manager Brussels & Wallonia Convention Bureau, Belgium Danielle Neyts, Market Representative Belgium/Luxemburg Tourism Ireland Marleen Wyckmans, Marketing and Communication Manager KLM - Belux Inge Marstboom, Manager Congress Business Events Antwerpen Toerisme & Congres Chantal Sneijkers, European Public Relations Office European Management Assistants, Brussels Jacques de Mévius, Secretary General and Joel Fisher, Head of Congress Dpt Union of International Associations, Brussels Susan Frei, Director, International Meetings & Incentives Canadian Tourism Commission Emma Cashmore , Managing Director Axis Travel Marketing Ltd, London Jan Wittouck, Executive Officer Belgium Convention Bureau - Flanders, Brussels

A TREE COST JUST £5 AND YOU CAN BUY / DONATE IT ON WWW.HEADQUARTERSMAGAZINE.COM

HEADQUARTERS 9

HQ ICCA Delegates in 1920’s Cabaret Style

THE 5TH DRESS TO IMPRESS AWARDS 2011 IN LEIPZIG ICCA IS KNOWN IN THE ASSOCIATION WORLD FOR ITS PREMIUM GALA DINNERS. THEY ARE PROBABLY THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS. OFTEN, GALA DINNERS ARE BORING - BUT NOT AN ICCA ONE. PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO THEM. THEY LOSE SLEEP OVER THEM AND SKIP INTERESTING CONFERENCES TO MAKE TIME TO BUY AN UNUSUAL PARTY OUTFIT. AND WHY IS IT SO? BECAUSE IT’S THE DRESS TO IMPRESS NIGHT, DURING WHICH HEADQUARTERS MAGAZINE HANDS OUT COVETED TROPHIES. TEXT MARCEL A.M. VISSERS

TOUCH OF GOLD

CABARET STYLE

It started very spontaneously in Pattaya, Thailand in 2007, when the ICCA congress was themed ‘A touch of gold’ in celebration of the Royal Anniversary. Then it occurred to me: why not extend this theme to the gala dinner? A few brave delegates decorated themselves with shiny golden accessories and, together with some enthusiasts, Headquarters scanned the crowd to see who stood out. Prizes were awarded to the best dressed people in the form of Belgian chocolates.

People are already looking forward to the 50th ICCA Congress in Leipzig from October v22 to 26. A record breaking number of attendants - over 1,000 I am told - are expected. Definitely a milestone in the meetings history. And what to expect from the Dress to Impress night? After consulting the organizers and the main sponsor (the regional government), we went for 1920’s Cabaret Style.

The following year in Vancouver, more labor was put into the preparations and the awards got an artistic touch. Afterwards in Florence, it attracted the public’s attention for the first time. Together with ICCA, we set up some rules. Last year in Hyderabad it was such a dress up party that special clothing is from now on a must-do at gala dinners. The Dress to Impress Awards have evolved into a valuable sponsoring formula just over a few years.

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Martin Sirk, CEO of ICCA, says: ‘This year’s Gala evening dress code follows a ‘retro’ theme - smart and chic, glamorous and sleek, elegant-yet-fun, silk scarves & feather boas, spiced up with a little late-night decadence perhaps! Once more we invite ICCA delegates to show off their creative side by inventing their own interpretation of our theme. Great Gatsby-type daywear, oriental retro hats, Josephine Baker’s bananas... anything’s possible!‘ He continues: ‘We’ll be working

with the venue for a matching decoration theme - I’m thinking lots of black, white, silver, with small white lights, deco shapes.’

If anyone else has another luminous idea, don’t hesitate to send them to me at marcel@headquartersmagazine.com.

HISTORY OF DRESS TO IMPRESS AWARDS 2007 October 27-31 Pattaya, Thailand Touch of Gold

2009 November 7-11 Florence, Italy Designer Catwalk

2008 November 1-5 Victoria, Canada Canada Fresh

2010 October 23-27 Hyderabad, India Indian Memories

2011 October / Leipzig / 1920’s Cabaret Style

HQ

> INTERVIEW

THE CHINESE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Managing Congresses for Scientific Advancement

WITH 83 SPECIALTY SUB-SOCIETIES AND LINKS TO 34 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS THE CMA CONFERENCE ORGANIZING TEAM HAS A BUSY SCHEDULE OF OVER 200 EVENTS A YEAR. RECENTLY JIANG YONGMAO, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMIC AND ASSOCIATION AFFAIRS, SHARED HIS EXPERIENCES OF FIVE YEARS HEADING UP THIS DEPARTMENT.

HQ: How are locations for the CMA Congresses selected?

Jiang Yongmao: For the national conferences there are several ways that the Jiang Yongmao locations are decided. They are required not only to rotate locations to bring the specializations to second tier cities, developing and more remote areas but also to run these close to the government to ensure feedback on the issues is considered for the reform of medical services. It is important to keep this balance with venue selections. Usually members bid within the Council Meeting of each Society. Often the conference department will make a recommendation to the Council after analysis sometimes the decision is voted on immediately.

HQ: Do you have locations that you prefer to work in?

Jiang Yongmao: We frequently identify venues for the national conferences and international congresses won for China by the specialty sub-societies. Many societies running smaller sized conferences between 200 and 300 people act on these

suggestions. In terms of preferences it is great to be based in a city like Beijing that now has so many of the best facilities in China. It also has the highest proportion of the top experts in the specialist fields. It is also good to see other cities in addition to Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen around the country developing fast. We found many smaller cities with funding available for support are actively seeking these national meetings. Beijing has been used so regularly the doctors now like to see other parts of China that weren’t so easily accessible before.

As China develops international meetings it increasingly needs to measure return on investment

HQ: Which are the priority areas for the CMA? Jiang Yongmao: Starting the next government five year plan the CMA has the following priorities: • International Academic Exchange and Communication

• Key issues regarding Public Health • Promotion of National Conference of the member societies which are seeing growth in international attendance (approximately 200 foreign delegates attended the Chinese Orthopaedic Association conference) • Active participation in international events to promote member society conferences, a recent development in the past 4-5 years

HQ: What are future trends for conferences in China?

Jiang Yongmao: As China develops international meetings it increasingly needs to measure return on investment. Chengdu, a center of higher education and scientific research located in Sichuan Province and growing fast, recently produced a report on the benefits accruing to the city from hosting the COA Conference. We expect to see more of this.

HQ: How do you relate to the international association congress world?

Jiang Yongmao: The state government is very supportive of top quality academic conferences but is keen to curtail meetings of low quality and low academic importance or value to China’s developing science. They are keen to avoid those meetings that have a high financial spending demand and a need to be highly subsidized by the government with a low return on investment.

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HQ

> ASSOCIATION PORTRAIT

ASIA PACIFIC ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY (APAO) A talk with John Deeth and Frank Martin

ATTENDED BY AN AVERAGE OF 5,000 DELEGATES, THE APAO CONGRESS IS ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONAL OPHTHALMOLOGY GATHERINGS. THE APAO, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 19 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE, HAS BEEN CONDUCTING WORLD CONGRESSES FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY AND STRIVES, THROUGH ITS VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, TO PROMOTE AND IMPROVE EYE HEALTH FOR ALL CITIZENS OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC AREA. JOHN DEETH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF APAO SYDNEY 2011, AND PROF FRANK MARTIN, PRESIDENT OF APAO, TELL US MORE John Deeth

Frank Martin

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION.

HQ: Could you briefly present APAO? What kind of events do you organize?

The Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) is a federation of 19 national ophthalmology societies fostering the growth of ophthalmology and visual sciences. It aims to preserve and protect the vision of the people of the Asia Pacific region. APAO holds annual congresses at congress centres in the region, hosted by the ophthalmology society/College of that country.

The APAO Congress gives all ophthalmologists, orthoptists, optometrists, ophthalmic nurses, other allied eye health professionals and ophthalmic industry representatives the unique opportunity to see the specialty as a whole, in all its impressive breadth, depth and diversity. In addition, the APAO Congress is an unforgettable social gathering and educational opportunity.

HQ: Where were your previous events held?

The APAO Congress was held in conjunction with the World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) in Hong Kong in 2008. APAO 2009, a joint meeting with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), was in Bali. APAO 2010, a joint meeting with the AAO, was in Beijing and APAO 2011 was in Sydney, hosted

by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. APAO Sydney was con-sponsored by the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO). APAO 2012 will be in Busan, Korea and APAO 2013 will be in New Delhi, India. So, as you see, we pretty much rotate among countries all over the Asia-Pacific.

Holding an annual event is not the same as holding it every four years, especially with regards to getting sponsors on board

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

Venues need to reflect the anticipated size of the Congress. APAO/WOC 2008 was staged in the Hong Kong Convention and

Exhibition Centre; APAO 2009 was at the Bali International Convention Centre; APAO 2010 was at the China National Convention Centre, Beijing; APAO 2011 was at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The venues need to be able to accommodate an extensive scientific program and a large exhibition area for sponsoring and exhibiting ophthalmic companies.

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

The bidding process is extensive. The local society/College meets the APAO Council seeking to bid for the rights to host the Congress in their country. For example, the Sydney bid started in 2007. The bid documents included letters of support from the New South Wales and Federal Governments and from Business Events Sydney. They also included details of the facilities available in Sydney and information about the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. After the bid was accepted, an organising committee was established and a professional congress organising company was appointed.

Š Simon Grimmett

Š Simon Grimmett

> ASSOCIATION PORTRAIT

Live surgery session Aboriginal welcome ceremony

APAO Exhibition

Following interviews, ICMS Australasia were appointed. ICMS was the conference organiser when RANZCO hosted the World Ophthalmology Congress in Sydney in 2002. Members of the Sydney organising committee travelled to a number of international ophthalmology congresses throughout the past three years, heavily promoting APAO Sydney to the global ophthalmic community. As a result, APAO Sydney had an international focus, with 67 countries represented.

HQ: What kind of challenges has the association overcome in recent years?

Initially the first APAO Congresses were held every four years. From 1972 on, the Congresses were organized every two years.

To meet the growing demand for more frequent interactions in a fast changing world, the APAO Congresses are now held annually. This started in 2006 in Singapore and has represented quite a challenge: holding an annual event is not the same as holding it every four years, especially with regards to getting sponsors on board. On a side note, so that things could run more smoothly, we have developed a template for

the scientific program and sponsorship and that helped a lot.

HQ: What are the new trends within your organization?

Since the Congress has become an annual event, APAO has developed its own leadership development program (LDP). This focuses on younger ophthalmologists in the region to prepare them for leadership roles.

APAO has also looked at governance. The Constitution has been revised and a new constitution was adopted at the meeting in Sydney in 2011. The new constitution allows for an executive committee and the position of president elect. This position will be voted on at the next Congress in Busan, Korea in 2012. A number of committees have been established as well. The chair of these committees automatically becomes a member of the APAO governing council. Last but not least, we launched the APAO Journal of Ophthalmology in March 2011.

HQ: Do you have a personal favorite as a conference destination?

Not really. The Asia Pacific region is diverse and each member nation stamps its own

APAO CONGRESSES 2001 -> Taipei

2008 -> Hong Kong

2003 -> Bangkok

2009 -> Bali

2005 -> Kuala Lumpur

2010 -> Beijing

2006 -> Singapore

2011 -> Sydney

2007 -> Lahore

2012 -> Busan

culture on the conference, which is really good to add a local flavour to the event.

Delegates just love it. The fact that we rotate a lot within the Asia-Pacific allows congresses to be very different each time.

www.apaophth.org

HQ

© Yasufumi Nishi

> COVER INTERVIEW

JAPAN NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION (JNTO) SEES ITS MISSION AS TAKING THE LEAD IN PROMOTING JAPAN OVERSEAS WITH THE COOPERATION OF LOCAL CONVENTION BUREAUS, TOURISM AND MEETING INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS AND THE JAPAN TOURISM AGENCY (JTA). AS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE JNTO, TADATOSHI MAMIYA LEADS THE RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT WITH THESE PARTNERS AND TRIES TO SPREAD AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS. WITH HIM, WE LOOK AT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE MICE INDUSTRY FOLLOWING MARCH 11TH .

REASSURING JAPAN

An Interview with JNTO’s Tadatoshi Mamiya Tadatoshi Mamiya

HQ: Japan has been all over the news lately and we all know why. How has this affected the meetings industry?

Tadatoshi Mamiya: Following on from the earthquake and tsunami of March 11th, the consequences for the meeting industry have been felt throughout Japan, and not simply in Tohoku (the far north-eastern region of Japan which suffered damage). Many international meetings have been cancelled, postponed or have had their location changed to a site outside of Japan.

Although most areas of Japan, and almost all of those visited by international meeting delegates, were unaffected by the earthquake or tsunami, these areas are still suffering repercussions. Cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo are all

HEADQUARTERS 14

well outside the areas devastated by tsunami damage or threat of radiation, but due to unnecessary fear and a lack of awareness, are continuing to see cancellations. In fact, even though Tohoku is relatively off the normal visitor itinerary, the number of international arrivals to Japan following the quake has dropped significantly, down 50.3% year on year for March and 62.5% in April.

HQ: Will there be a before and after-earthquake/tsunami for the Japanese industry?

Tadatoshi Mamiya: Prior to the earthquake, Japan was on a solid upwards trajectory in terms of hosting international association meetings. 2010 saw the hosting of major international events such as the APEC meetings and COP10, and was a year in which there were the first signs of domestic

recovery following on from the global recession.

After March 11th, we certainly did observe the inevitable cancellations and postponement of meetings, but already there are signs of recovery. Many events in the immediate aftermath were relocated to the western and southern areas of Japan, and now the industry is picking up in Tokyo.

Even areas directly damaged by the earthquake and tsunami are forging ahead with a renewed MICE product along with their reconstruction efforts. For example, Sendai is planning to host the United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction in 2015, and the Akiho hot spring district will be home to the ASEAN+3 conference this December.

© Q. Sawami

> COVER INTERVIEW

Maiko in Matsuo Taisha Shrine

To answer your question, I don’t see a before/ after earthquake shift in Japan’s position as a MICE destination. We were in a strong position before March 11th, and besides what we predict to be a temporary (albeit sharp) drop in meeting numbers, I think we’re on good footing to make both a strong and swift recovery.

HQ: Tell us about your strategy to put Japan back on the international meetings map.

Tadatoshi Mamiya: In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami and the earthquake, we at the JNTO felt that our main role was to make sure that international visitors in Japan were safe and to disseminate accurate information as to the situation in Japan to meeting planners worldwide. We knew that inaccurate or sensationalistic coverage could be potentially devastating to the industry, and to fight this we have used our website (www.jnto.go.jp), blogs, social media and other means to communicate facts with a wide audience.

Once things calmed down and we were able to confidently say that the situation in Japan is safe for meetings to go ahead in the vast majority of our cities, we began to contact organizers of meetings already scheduled for Japan in the upcoming months and years.

We and the Japan Tourism Agency have sent letters of support to each association’s leadership to ensure them that their meeting’s venue suffered no damage and to reinforce our position that Japan is safe and our people are looking forward to welcoming meeting participants to our country.

Through this effort, we have been able to reconfirm the commitment of several meeting organizers to bring their events to Japan as scheduled - including the Academy of International Business’ 2011 Annual Meeting (1,200 participants in Nagoya, June 2011), the Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (7,000 participants in Kyoto, July 2011), and Worldsleep2011 (2,500 participants in Kyoto in October 2011). We have also worked with associations still in the decision process and are happy to say that after the quake, the Lions Club World Congress 2016, with 25,000 delegates, was announced to be held in Fukuoka.

Moving forward, we feel that direct interaction with the global meetings community is vital for us to be able to demonstrate that Japan is safe and certainly ‘open for business’. We recently exhibited at IT&CM in Shanghai and IMEX in Frankfurt - where we were pleasantly surprised by interest in

Osaka Business Park

Japan as a meeting site from meeting planners. Later this year, we will also be meeting with the community at exhibitions including CIBTM, IMEX America and EIBTM. We are currently in the final stages of creating a post-quake series of press and fam trips, aimed at showing the meetings community first-hand that Japan is ready to accommodate meetings and events throughout the country.

HQ: Tell us about your role at JNTO. Tadatoshi Mamiya: During my time as President, I have participated in the successful bidding for many international meetings and in many press campaigns. After the earthquake, I think it is important for Japan to take a leading role in the discussion of risk-management issues with regards to tourism and MICE, and this is something that I will devote quite a bit of time to going forward. I have recently participated in the WTTC in Las Vegas and the Japan-ChinaKorea tourism ministers’ meeting in May to start sharing our experience in this disaster with other countries so that we can all be better prepared for the future. I have also begun encouraging deeper mutual information exchanges between ourselves and our neighbours, including China, Korea, Thailand, Singapore and others.

HEADQUARTERS 15

The Global Meetings & Events Exhibition 29 November – 1 December 2011 Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain

Five star business opportunities for the meetings and events industry International exhibition of over 3000 companies Discover new destinations, products and services Build and develop business contacts through a variety of networking events Keep up-to-date with industry trends Make purchasing decisions Develop professional knowledge Connect with the global Meetings & Events community

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If you only go to one show a year this is an annual must attend event without a doubt.

Tim Procter – Air Charter Ltd.

Find out more at www.eibtm.com/MIM EIBTM is part of the Reed Travel Exhibitions Meetings and Events Portfolio

organised by

> COVER INTERVIEW

Tokyo at night

HQ: Where does Japan stand within the Asia-Pacific when it comes to meetings?

Tadatoshi Mamiya: Japan is fortunate to be one of the world’s leading meeting destinations, and a leader in the Asia-Pacific region.

Our position as the #1 association meeting destination in Asia was reconfirmed recently by the ICCA statistics for 2010. According to ICCA, the number of meetings we hosted went up from 2009 (257 meetings) to 2010 (305 meetings), and our global ranking increased from 8 to 7.

I feel that one of our biggest strengths is the variety that our 52 international convention cities offer to meeting planners. These cities have all been designated by the national government to have active convention bureaus with the facilities and transportation links to successfully host international meetings. Within these 52 cities we have everything from large urban metropolises such as Tokyo and Osaka to tropical resort areas like Okinawa and scientific research centers of excellence like Sendai and Kobe.

Fukuoka Japan really does have something for everyone, no matter what their meetings’ aims are, and this is one Kagoshima area of which we are very proud.

HQ: What are Japan’s assets as an association conference destination?

Tadatoshi Mamiya: Japan’s unique blend of tradition and modernity is a huge asset for us as an association conference destination.

We have a rich culture that draws in huge numbers for association meetings, and at the same time our strong reputation in several key global industries (such as scientific research, technology and medicine) means there are ties to areas very important to certain associations. But I think that our strongest asset is our people. The Japanese are known the world over to be gracious hosts to any kind of visitor, and this certainly extends to groups coming to Japan for meetings.

HQ: Any favourite activity / destination / social programme you would definitely recommend to a delegate coming to Japan?

Tadatoshi Mamiya: Because of Japan’s geographical distance from north to south, we have four very distinct seasons that each offer unique experiences for visitors. Meeting delegates are often surprised to find out that they can go skiing in northern Hokkaido and spend time sunbathing on beaches in Okinawa on the same trip.

A personal aspect of Japan that I would recommend people experience is our cultural traditions. Meeting delegates and other guests can get an insight into Japan’s history and people by experiencing things like being fitted for a kimono, partaking in a tea ceremony, meditating in one of Japan’s thousands of temples, or learning to cook traditional and healthy Japanese Sapporo food in a private home…

Hakodate Aomori Morioka Akita Yamagata Niigata Kanazawa

Nikko

Area affected by the Tsunami Sendai Fukushima Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant

Takayama

TOKYO Yokohama Kyoto Nagoya Hakone Kamakura Hiroshima Osaka Nara Takamatsu

Qs & As AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI Q: What is the current situation in japan?

A: Very quickly following the earthquake and tsunami of March 11th, relief and recovery teams moved into the area to assist survivors. Since then, reconstruction efforts have begun, and many aspects of Tohoku’s infrastructure, such as highways and the bullet train lines, are already operational. The situation at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, the energy facility which was damaged on March 11th, is still serious but has stabilized greatly since the accident.

Q: How has Tokyo been affected?

A: Tokyo was undamaged by the earthquake and tsunami.

Life in the city is operating as normal with no disruptions for meetings, events or general tourism.

Q: Can meetings and events planned to take place in tohoku still go ahead?

A: Yes - even in the area hardest hit by the events of March 11th, life is returning to normal. Sendai, Tohoku’s largest city, is more than capable of planning for upcoming events. All major meeting facilities are operational again.

Q: Where is radiation a concern?

A: There is currently a 30 km exclusion area surrounding the nuclear plants at Fukushima (marked with a yellow circle on the map). Areas outside of this zone have been declared to have safe levels of radiation and pose no health risks. All major meeting cities and regions in Japan are well outside of this exclusion zone.

Q: Is food and water safe for consumption?

A: All food in Japan’s stores and restaurants has been cleared for safe consumption. Food from areas with unsafe levels of radiation has been banned from sale. Tap water in Japan is safe to drink.

Q: How has transportation been affected?

A: International flights to and from all airports in Japan are now running as normal, as are almost all domestic flights and railway lines.

Q: Are there any insurance issues with visiting Japan?

A: As almost all international governments have lifted their temporary travel bans to Japan, except for that covering the area of the exclusion zone, almost all insurers are covering travel to Japan as normal. It is, however, advised to double-check with your provider prior to travel.

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is happy to provide individual meeting and event planners with assistance and advice at any time. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the JNTO London Convention Manager at: Chad Shiver, chad@jnto.co.uk Tel + 44 207 283 2130, Up-to-date information can also be found at www.jnto.go.jp/eng

HEADQUARTERS 17

Naha

UIA ı UNION OF INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

rights afterwards, so that the administration can continue.

PRACTICAL ISSUES WHEN ORGANIZING AN ASSOCIATION EVENT PRIME CONSIDERATIONS FOR AN ASSOCIATION PLANNING A MEETING ARE THE PROGRAMME AND THE VENUE. HARD ON THE HEELS OF THESE ESSENTIAL DECISIONS

Conferences are often intended to bring in funds to support the general running expenses of the organisation or expand activities, but if the association managers find that numbers are far from those they had hoped and planned for, they will be required to prove that they made every possible effort to attract participants if they are trying to recover their outlay by claiming on insurance. Proving that one advertised is possible, but understanding why people did not read one’s notices or respond to the interesting programme is difficult or impossible. Insurers ask whether they are to cover the expected profit, but if an association is officially ‘non-profit-making’ this is contradictory.

The expense of paying to a hotel or conference centre the contractually agreed minimum if the meeting fails to generate the expected business will fall on the association, so the association manager has to judge whether an insurance premium will benefit him or just add to his losses. Often his conclusion will be to negotiate his best position with the hotel, balancing the lowest potential loss in case of problems with the greatest flexibility in case of success.

COME A HOST OF PRACTICAL ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED, SUCH AS PUBLICITY, BUDGETING, VALUE ADDED TAX, TRANSPORT AND TRANSFERS, REGISTRATION. THIS ARTICLE WILL FOCUS ON TWO OF THE NUMEROUS CONCERNS ARISING: INSURANCE AND VISAS. WHAT IF THE PLAN DOES NOT WORK OUT - SHOULD THE EVENT BE INSURED? AND FOR THE DELEGATES TO REACH THE MEETING - DO THEY NEED VISAS? TEXT JUDY WICKENS, VOLUNTEER AT THE UIA, RETIRED SECRETARY GENERAL OF T.I.C. (TANB.ORG), WITH PETRA AUGUSTINOVA

INSURANCE Insurance is a thorny issue for associations to tackle. There are companies or brokers which offer cover for ‘events’ and it is clearly of interest to association executives to investigate this, with regard to their responsibilities.

The largest risk would be cancellation of the entire event, but insurance normally covers

HEADQUARTERS 18

cancellation only for reasons beyond the control of the organiser and not by any decision of his. When the meeting is the general assembly of an association, it can usually not be cancelled under any circumstances (a point to be stressed when booking a venue, also); it must be held in accordance with the statutes, however low the attendance, with a further procedure to set the situation to

Notices of meetings commonly include a disclaimer of any responsibility on the part of the association if participants have accidents or become ill, which is reasonable since the delegates should be covered by their own firms or their personal insurance. For exhibitions, similarly, stands and personnel should be insured by their own firms. The association’s own staff should be insured as part of their employment. If the venue’s reservation contract requires the organiser to subscribe to liability insurance, the cheapest and simplest means is likely to be inclusion in the venue’s own insurance for a short period.

As with all contracts, an insurance policy should be read with the greatest care, and

with particular attention to circumstances which are excluded or are not covered unless additional clauses are written and higher premiums are paid. The burden of calculating potential losses if the worst happens, including assessment of an ‘excess’ (the part of a loss which will be supported by the organiser even if the insurer agrees to pay a claim) lies with the client running the meeting. After all, the insurer, whether company, broker or underwriter, is operating as a business.

VISAS So, the meeting is going ahead, and delegates are booking their places.

People who have to undertake international travel in order to attend will need visas or permits allowing them to enter the country.

The days have long passed when travel agents provided visas along with one’s airtickets as a matter of course.

Procedures and conditions change frequently, and interpretation of regulations for one country may vary from one embassy to another; waiting times may vary widely for different places of application, too. Association meeting organisers can assist visitors with general guidance and by providing formal letters of invitation and documents as requested, and they should be prepared to provide this support, which may be very time-consuming.

Applications for visas should follow the published rules as closely as possible, no more no less, as omissions or inaccuracies are very likely to provoke a rapid refusal.

As well as a completed form and a passport - with the passport often required to be valid for six months after the trip - documents required frequently include a return ticket home, proof of sufficient funds, confirmation of conference registration and of a hotel booking.

For those who are not citizens of the European Union (EU) wishing to attend a meeting in Europe within the ‘Schengen Area’, a visa will probably be required, although as

The largest risk would be cancellation of the entire event, but insurance normally covers cancellation only for reasons beyond the control of the organiser and not by any decision of his nationals of some countries are exempted information should be sought on this point.

The Schengen Area comprises most but not all of the EU member countries plus a few others, such as Switzerland. It could be noted that the United Kingdom is in the EU but not the Schengen Area. An application for such a visa should be made either to the country which is the main point of the visit or to the country in which the visitor will arrive, the airport where he will land. Making several applications to different countries is not advisable. Within the Schengen Area a visitor can then move freely but he should keep his passport with him.

For the United States visas can be obtained in some countries by means of an electronic application on-line, in others a personal interview system is operated. The latter may involve a considerable time waiting for

the appointment and then for a decision, which can result in a visa being granted but too late for the participant to reach his meeting.

There are numerous different types of visas and it is not always a simple matter to discover whether a participant in an association conference requires a business or a tourist document. For each and every journey to a meeting, it is advisable to check afresh for visa or visa waiver arrangements between the country of citizenship and residence and the country to be visited.

There are so many practical issues affecting the organisation of meetings, and the better our preparation the more likely it is that our efforts will be crowned with success.

www.uia.org

HEADQUARTERS 19

HQ > RESEARCH

Interest Representation in the European Union

A STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY THE MORE POLITICAL INFLUENCE THE EUROPEAN UNION GAINS ON A GLOBAL LEVEL, AND THE MORE POLICY AREAS IT COVERS, THE MORE INTERESTING IT BECOMES FOR INTEREST GROUPS AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE BODIES. THIS IS THE LAST ARTICLE OF THE 3-PART SERIE CONCRETELY EXAMINING WHY AND HOW THE EU IS IMPORTANT TO INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WHO WANT TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD. TEXT SARAH LEE, DIRECTOR, INTEREL

Estimates suggest that around 18,000 Brussels-based lobbyists (consultants, lawyers, associations, corporations, NGOs, etc.) are involved in influencing the EU’s legislative process. This includes some 2,600 special interest groups which have a permanent office in Brussels, made up of trade federations (32%), consultants (20%), companies (13%), NGOs (11%), national associations (10%), regional representations (6%), international organizations (5%) and think tanks (1%). So how do these groups go about influencing the EU and what do they want to achieve?

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? Advocacy and representation toward the institutions can have many different purposes, whether to get an important topic, such as a public health issue on the EU agenda, use policy opportunities and EU engagement as a market opportunity or a communications platform, to grow and/ or protect the profile and reputation of an organisation, to seek a direct influence in the policy making process to defend or to promote a commercial or societal interest.

For many companies and sectors, having a voice in Brussels is a vital part of their strategy and operations as it allows them to protect their business or interests, to increase the understanding of their sector, to take advantage of funding opportunities or to add value for their members. Many individual companies often prefer to address key issues via a broader association or

HEADQUARTERS 20

interest representation as they feel this will give them a stronger voice or allow them to protect their interests without the need for a high profile individual involvement. This means that members are increasingly keen for their associations to have a strong representation in Brussels and to have a proactive communication and advocacy strategy.

A presence in Brussels, at the heart of the EU’s institutions and decisionmaking, is increasingly important as part of any growth and development strategy for an association A presence in Brussels, at the heart of the EU’s institutions and decision-making, is therefore increasingly important as part of any growth and development strategy for an association and as a platform for communicating messages, reaching a global audience and membership and playing a role in the creation of a favourable policy environment.

THE NATURE OF EU LOBBYING The fragmented nature of EU institutional structure provides multiple channels through which organized interests may seek to influ-

ence policy-making but also presents some particular challenges.

Each of the key institutions - the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and the European Parliament - has developed its own system for working with interest groups. The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, charged with proposing legislation and overseeing its implementation, offers the greatest access to lobby groups via its Directorates General (DGs). DGs are distinct departments, comprised of Commission staff, that are responsible for specific tasks or policy areas.

DGs frequently consult with experts and interest groups when researching specific issues falling within EU jurisdiction.

Despite the perception, the resources of the European Commission are rather limited, compared the broad range of policy issues and initiatives which it must cover. According to research, the Commission administration is only 2% the size of the US federal government and is even smaller than the local government of the city of Rotterdam.

As a consequence, the Commission naturally welcomes outside input at the drafting stage of EU policy-making, giving interest parties privileged access at a defining moment in the legislative process. Foundation for such engagement is therefore the need to provide information and to educate policy makers, in order to ensure that future policy takes account of the interests of your association and understands the nature of your activity.

TIPS AND TRICKS • • • •

Know the system, know who matters Identify your key targets and stakeholders Define your objectives and goals from the start Link activities to political agenda to ensure relevance • Get in early - build strong relations with policymakers and other key influencers • Present viable, innovative solutions to the problem • Do use the media to make your case politicians see the news media as a barometer of public opinion

The European Council is one of the EU’s two co-legislators, with the power to amend and shape regulation. Within the Council, there are three main channels of influence.

First, interest groups can lobby the national delegations of each Member State in Brussels, these are made up of experts from each country, posted in Brussels to oversee negotiations in particular policy areas. The second means of lobbying the Council is to lobby members of the many Council-working groups which discuss and debate specific topics and which are made up of experts drawn from member state ministries. The third means of influencing the Council is directly via national governments. Associations can be particularly effective in working with the Council as they can draw on the support of members of different nationalities who can ‘play the home country card’ with the different Member States.

Finally, as a consequence of growing power of the European Parliament, which is the second co-legislator along with the Council, EU’s directly elected body of MEPs attracts

considerable attention from interest group representatives. The Parliament is made up of over 700 MEPs, drawn from seven pan-European political groups and divided for working purposes into subject specifics committees. Interest representation often focuses on the rapporteur (author) and shadow rapporteurs (political group lead) on each individual dossier. The rapporteurs are MEPs appointed by Committees to prepare the Parliament’s response to a Commission’s proposal and to propose amendments to the legislation. Associations seek to build long-term relationships with supportive and influential MEPs who will then champion their interest in the policy process.

CHALLENGES Lobbying in the EU is not without its challenges. Interest groups must address the shifting balance of power among EU institutions, such as those changes outlined in the recent Treaty of Lisbon. Additionally, the growth of the lobbying industry has led to more regulation, both by lobbying groups themselves and by EU institutions.

Policy-making in Brussels also has to deal with 20 different languages. Although English is increasingly imposing itself as the lingua franca, many MEPs and national Permanent Representations still value being approached in their native language. National political cultures are starkly different too and Brussels politics draw on a wide array of political parties and specific national issues which are often deeply rooted in a country’s governance culture (e.g: British laisser-faire vs.

French command and control).

CONCLUSIONS The complex nature of EU policy making can frequently be both a threat and an opportunity for businesses and interest groups.

However, increasingly many organisations have found that having a presence in Brussels is at the core of any commercial, communications or development strategy for activities in the European region. Finding your feet can be difficult but with some expert advice and a few key tips, Brussels can provide an effective platform to position your association in the region and on a global stage.

HEADQUARTERS 21

HQ

> SOUTH AFRICA

CSIR ICC Extension of CTICC view from Herengracht and Coen Stadler

Sandton Convention Centre

SOUTH AFRICA IS UNQUESTIONABLY A WORLD-CLASS CONGRESS AND CONVENTION DESTINATION THAT IS EQUIPPED AND READY FOR ANY TYPE AND SIZE OF MEETINGS FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. BUT HOW MANY CITIES, OR BETTER PUT, PURPOSE-BUILT CONGRESS CENTRES DOES SOUTH AFRICA HAVE? SOMEONE UNINFORMED ABOUT THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEETINGS INDUSTRY WOULD PROBABLY

SOUTH AFRICA IN THE CONGRESS SPOTLIGHT The Big 6 congress venues and cities in South Africa

ANSWER ‘ABOUT A HANDFUL…’, AND THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE! DURING MY LAST VISIT TO MEETINGS AFRICA 2011 IN JOHANNESBURG, I COUNTED THEM AGAIN. AND GUESS WHAT? THERE WERE MORE THAN A HANDFUL: NO LESS THAN SIX TO BE PRECISE - JOHANNESBURG, CAPE TOWN, PRETORIA, DURBAN, EAST LONDON AND KIMBERLEY! TEXT MARCEL A.M. VISSERS

HEADQUARTERS 22

JO’BURG, THE COMMERCIAL HEART OF SOUTH AFRICA Many people think that Johannesburg (fondly known as Jo’burg to the locals) is the capital of South Africa, but that’s not true, though there is a great concentration of banks and business centres there.

Johannesburg was one of the official host cities to the massive 2010 FIFA World Cup™. For that reason a lot of developments saw the light of day, for example the

Gautrain, which links Johannesburg and Pretoria to the O.R Tambo International Airport and already benefits congressgoers. Jo’burg is also a leading congress city in South Africa. In this context, one name resounds loud and clear: Sandton Convention Centre.

Home to the largest business tourism exhibition in Africa - Meetings Africa - for the past 8 years, Sandton Convention Centre is only

> SOUTH AFRICA

180. The centre’s two exhibition levels have a combined floor space of 11,000 m2.

MORE EXHIBITION SPACE IN CAPE TOWN

Conference room in EL ICC

ICC Durban

a 25-minute drive (24 kms) from the airport and just 12 minutes in the new Gautrain I just mentioned. Located in a sophisticated business and residential district, it’s literally surrounded by hotels of all categories, with over 2,445 hotel rooms (of 3, 4 and 5-star standard) on the venue’s doorstep.

Opened in 2000, the 12-storey structure that is Sandton Convention Centre covers 22,000 m2 of multifunctional spaces. The expansive glass frontage ensures that the main foyers and several meeting rooms enjoy excellent natural daylight. The magnificent triple-volume Ballroom is suitable for grand occasions, such as a formal dinner for up to 1,800 guests or a conference accommodating up to 2,400 delegates theatre style. The Bill Gallagher room, named after the world-renowned South African chef, accommodates 500 guests for cocktails, 270 banquet diners or 240 people in schoolroomstyle seating. The seven boardrooms can be arranged to accommodate varying numbers of guests, from as few as 10 to as many as

Probably the only centre in the world overlooking the majestic and world renowned Table Mountain and surrounded by key South African icons such as Robben Island and Cape Point, just to name a few - probably making it one of the most sought after places to hold a conference - the Cape Town International Convention Centre has definitely done its part to put Cape Town on the map, hosting some key international meetings and events like CT Jazz, World Economic Forum, or the FIGO World Congress.

The good news is that CTICC is already planning to expand. CEO Rashid Toefy says that the expansion will help the centre to achieve its vision of being the best long haul convention centre by 2020, as the centre will be able to attract more international meetings and exhibitions to Cape Town. In spite of severe competition, Cape Town has achieved and maintained an impressive 35th position on the ICCA ranking list of international destinations. ‘Despite the fact that only 3.8% of international association meetings come to Africa, Cape Town has the lion’s share of this market’, says Toefy. It is envisioned that the expansion will allow CTICC to double the number of international meetings that it currently hosts allowing it to compete with other international destinations.

PRETORIA, THE CAPITAL CITY Located in Pretoria, the CSIR International Convention Centre (CSIR ICC) is a bit less known, but to me a vastly underestimated congress centre. CSIR ICC is situated in beautiful natural surroundings in the east of South Africa’s capital city within the research, academic and ambassadorial hub of Tshwane. It is located at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa.

The convention centre has played host to countless local, national and international

conferences over its 32 years of existence and this wealth of experience is a unique benefit to its clients. Boasting thirteen venues, three of which being auditoriums all fitted with state-of-the-art equipment, CSIR ICC is one of the few venues in South Africa that offers the capability to cater for South Africa’s 11 official languages as well as all international languages. The CSIR ICC has also recently introduced internet streaming of conference proceedings as a new standard service.

Committed to sustainability, the centre has been awarded a Silver Classification by the Heritage Environmental Rating Company in recognition of its ongoing commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of its operations. The CSIR ICC has also certifications for OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health & Safety) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), and is working on achieving ISO 9001 (Quality) certification.

DURBAN AND THE ICC Durban is located in the Zulu Kingdom, in a heady cultural, historical and natural mix of attractions. The province is known for its particularly good weather as well as two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Blue Flag beaches, majestic mountains, rolling midlands and incredible wild places that boast the Big 5. Once home to the legendary King Shaka, KwaZulu-Natal also has one of the largest Indian communities outside India and a strong British colonial heritage.

What I will always remember about Durban is the opening of the International Library and Information Congress in Durban very clearly.

The brand-new Arena was packed with more than 3,500 delegates from all over the world.

It was the best opening ceremony I ever attended, because Africa’s vibrant soul was and through music, dance and song.

The International Convention Centre Durban (ICC), also known as Nkosi Albert Luthuli ICC Complex (after Africa’s first winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and President of the African National Congress - ANC), is the first ICC to be built in South Africa and the largest in Africa to date. It is one of the most

HEADQUARTERS 23

> SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM LAUNCHES ECOTHANDA SUSTAINABLE MEETINGS DIRECTORY South African Tourism just launched EcoThanda, its first-of-a-kind Sustainable Meetings Directory.

South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Marthinus Van Schalkwyk unveiled this major green initiative for the Business Tourism sector at an eco-friendly reception hosted by South African Tourism in conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry in Washington. The directory is an online listing of South African suppliers whose products and services have been vetted and approved for sustainable practices by an independent consultant, National Geographic’s Costas Christ, employing world recognized criteria.

CTICC CSIR

‘This directory was developed in response to the demand from the meetings and incentives industry for more sustainable alternatives,’ said Minister Van Schalkwyk. ‘Our goal is 200 suppliers in the first year, and we expect this to number to grow as we expand our outreach for the program.’

advanced conference facilities in the world, purpose-built, fully air-conditioned, with three convention halls that are interlinked but separate. Moveable walls allow for a number of different venue configurations.

Alternatively the halls can be opened up to form one large venue with seating for 5,000 delegates or 7,000 m2 of column free floor space. Together with the adjacent Exhibition Centre, the ICC can double its capacity to accommodate 10,000 conference delegates in the Arena. The centres can function independently or as two halves of one whole.

EAST LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA’S NEW CONVENTION DESTINATION The East London International Convention Centre (ELICC) is one of the new kids on the block. It is situated in the beautiful Eastern Cape province of South Africa, also the birthplace of Nelson Mandela and home to a rich Xhosa heritage. Covering over 820 kilometres of pristine coastline, the rugged province is known for its spectacular biodiversity.

There are numerous game reserves in the

Eastern Cape including the well-known Addo Elephant National Park and the world-famous Shamwari Game Reserve.

With panoramic views of the azure Indian Ocean, the East London International Convention Centre (ELICC) has placed East London and the Buffalo City region in South Africa’s beautiful Eastern Cape on a firm footing as a competitive conference destination. Located only a 15 minute drive from the East London Airport, it includes a 600-seater auditorium, an exhibition floor (taking up to 90 stands) and a major hall capable of seating 850 ballroom style and 2100 cinema-style.

In addition, the conference centre’s proximity to both the new Premier Hotel EL ICC and Premier Hotel Regent mean conference goers have on-site accommodation and top class hotel facilities. Although it’s relatively new, the ELICC has also won an award as Best Conference Venue in the Eastern Cape, hosted a boxing world title fight and major conferences, like the 16th National Congress

of the South African Society of Psychiatrists for instance.

In terms of new kids on the block, let me also mention another newcomer on the South African congress market, Kimberly, where a congress centre has been constructed in the architectural atmosphere of the diamond mines of yore. More to come on this real soon!

Besides the above-mentioned international convention centres, South Africa has more than a thousand conference venues located in hotels, universities and conference centres.

Examples of world-class venues include the Gallagher Estate Convention Centre, the MTN Expo Centre and the OR Tambo Conference Centre to name just a few. In true South African style, the stadiums built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ are also being used for conferencing. An example of this is the hosting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference in July 2010 - literally a week after the end of the soccer tournament!

HEADQUARTERS 25

7th–11th July 2011 A warm welcome to Meeting Place Berlin!

Berlin – the place to be for conventions. www.meeting-place-berlin.de

HQ BERLIN IS ONE OF THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSOCIATION CONGRESS

© Wolfgang Scholvien

> BERLIN

LOCATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. THIS IS DOCUMENTED BY THE RESULTS OF THE CURRENT STATISTICS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS & CONVENTION ASSOCIATION (ICCA). WITH 138 EVENTS BY INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS IN 2010, THE GERMAN CAPITAL RANKS FOURTH.

ten years the visitBerlin Berlin Convention Office (BCO) of Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH has offered competent support for the organisation of events of all kinds. Customers benefit from the experienced team, a broad network of contacts and the free-of-charge agency and reservation services for hotel allotments.

The result for Berlin is above all based on the optimum conditions provided for congress organisers in the city: Europe’s most modern hotel landscape, a very good value-formoney ratio, numerous extraordinary locations and a large network of additional service providers. With the opening of the new capital airport Berlin Brandenburg in June 2012 the offering of long-haul flight services will moreover increase.

BCO has also completely revamped its Internet presence. You can check it out here: www.convention.visitBerlin.de. Germany’s leading congress destination is presented in a comprehensive, structured and interactive manner. Event planners are provided, for instance, with ideas for social programmes, and participants get information on the tourism offering of Germany’s capital.

Accessibility to and from Berlin will be even easier thanks the new capital airport Berlin Brandenburg International BBI, which is currently built on the site of Schönefeld Airport. The opening of the new airport is scheduled for 3 June 2012. In addition, a shuttle service will be set up between BBI and the Berlin main station. It will take passengers every 20 minutes to the airport and/or the city centre.

The official contact partner in Berlin for meetings, conventions and other conferences is the Berlin Convention Office of visitBerlin, headed by Heike Mahmoud. For the past

© Wolfgang Scholvien

‘Whoever is among the top rankings of ICCA is perceived by congress planners all over the world as a leading congress location. And Berlin has already been represented at the top for years’, says visitBerlin CEO Burkhard Kieker.

‘With the decision to refurbish the ICC Berlin and to build a new trade fair and congress hall, we send the right signal to the market.’

© visitBerlin.de-Koch

BERLIN IS THE WORLD’S #4 CONGRESS METROPOLIS

Berlin continues to gain in attractiveness as a location for large-scale events. By the end of 2013 a new congress and trade fair centre will be built on the site of the former Deutschland Halle. Between 2014 and 2016 it will replace the International Congress Centrum ICC Berlin, which will be completely closed and refurbished during that time. With the re-opening of the ICC Berlin, Messe Berlin will almost double its convention capacities. At present more than 530 events with around 240,000 participants per year take place in the congress area of Messe Berlin.

More information: www.convention.visitBerlin.de

HEADQUARTERS 27

HQ

> DESTINATIONS

ASIA PACIFIC’S SECOND-TIER DESTINATIONS

International Convention Centre of Darussalam, Brunei

WE ALL KNOW THERE’S (MEETINGS) GOLD IN CHINA, THAT SINGAPORE IS NUMBER ONE, HONG KONG HAD A GOOD YEAR, JAPAN IS DOING WELL AGAIN, THAILAND IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PLAYERS AND THAT MALAYSIA OFFERS EXCELLENT VALUE FOR THE MONEY. BUT WHAT ABOUT ASIA PACIFIC’S SECOND-TIER DESTINATIONS LIKE MACAU, BRUNEI, VIETNAM, CAMBODIA, INDONESIA, THE PHILIPPINES AND INDIA? TEXT MARCEL A.M. VISSERS Naga World Hotel Casino, Cambodia

BRUNEI Jean Christophe Robles Espinosa, Brunei Tourism’s director of marketing and promotion, communicated that Brunei appointed Longway as its marketing representative in China. They will help increase awareness of Brunei in China as an attractive meetings destination. Indeed, they have more than enough activities for pre- and post- tours.

And even if the nightlife in Brunei may be perceived as dull, the ecotourism attractions are unique. Also, let’s not forget Brunei has an excellent convention centre: the International Convention Centre of Darussalam.

MACAU Macau is promoting itself more and more as a new MICE destination. Big developments are underway. More on this on the next page.

INDONESIA Indonesia doesn’t have a real convention bureau like some other Asian countries.

Meetings are entrusted to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s MICE Directorate.

They are also working hard on the promo-

HEADQUARTERS 28

tion of Indonesia in China. There are many partnerships with Chinese associations; that’s how Indonesia managed to secure the 3,000-delegate Huang Family Congress in 2012. Similarly, Bali has been confirmed as the venue for the Hakka Conference in 2013, with some 10,000 delegates.

kind of perception that is often untrue. The Philippines needs to polish its image abroad: they’re promoting some new developments like Resort World Manila, Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort, Spa in Cebu and the new Boracay resorts.

VIETNAM INDIA Again, it’s all about ‘promotion in China’ here. China will be Asia’s top trade partner in 2012. This trade relations will result in greater business-related traffic from China.

In India, the MICE industry is led by the India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB). It says that improvements in infrastructure - railway, convention centres, hotels - across India are also sharpening the destination’s appeal.

India is also focusing on Chinese second-tier cities where they promote India as a MICE destination.

THE PHILIPPINES The Philippines had to deal with some political unrest and natural disasters last year. Events like these always lead to some

A country of big celebrations, Vietnam attracts a lot of groups that love cultural activities. Hanoi plays a leading role in this trend and celebrated its 1000th birthday in 2010. There are still not enough hotel rooms in Vietnam and that’s why it’s always good news when new venues are being built, like for example the 102-room Mercure la Gare and the 393-room Crown Plaza West Hanoi.

CAMBODIA The first dedicated MICE facility, the Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Centre in Phnom Penh, is still a little unknown. It opened in 2009 and accommodates up to 7000 people. Another option for MICE events is the Naga World Hotel Casino. More on this in later issues of HQ Asia Pacific.

> MACAU

PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THERE ARE NO MORE NEW COUNTRIES TO DISCOVER ON THIS PLANET. THE WORLD HAS 194 INDEPENDENT STATES, BUT I’M PRETTY SURE THAT A LOT OF MEETINGS DESTINATIONS ARE STILL VIRTUALLY UNKNOWN TO MOST OF US. AND I’M NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT COUNTRIES BUT ALSO ABOUT CERTAIN REGIONS AND AREAS WITH SPECIAL STATUS. MACAU IS SUCH AN AREA. TEXT MARCEL A.M. VISSERS

INTRODUCING MACAU

Are there still new MICE destinations in Asia-Pacific?

NOT JUST A GAMBLING CITY ANYMORE After the IT&CM China fair in Shanghai, I took some time off to visit Macau. It was my first visit. Like most of you I’m sure, I thought it was just a gambling hole . But my curiosity had been aroused for a few years after I had talked, on various fairs, with Bruno Simoes, of Doc-DMC. He always said the same thing: come visit Macau, a lot is happening here. I thought: Macau is not suitable for European markets because when Europeans hear the word ‘casino’, they don’t want to go. But it’s definitely not the same with the Asian market. That’s why I decided to go anyway.

A NEW POWER DESTINATION… AND A HUGE HOTEL It’s probably the same for everyone visiting Macau for the first time: it’s like casinos are on every corner of every street. But I was brave enough to take a closer look and became amazed by the architecture of the city, its history, its ties with Portugal, the new hotels, the relative quietness of the streets, the nice avenues with appealing shops, the nice restaurants and the great diversity of people.

And this is exactly the new image the young generation in the MICE industry of Macau wants to promote.

venue is a gift from heaven. Just because absolutely everything is there, under one roof.

Like a copy of The Venetian in Las Vegas, The Venetian in Macau opened in 2007. With almost 50,000 m2 of casino space it’s five times bigger than its older American brother. It’s also the largest hotel in Asia and surface-wise the fourth biggest building in the whole world.

There are even little canals you can sail on.

The ceiling is also famous, because it makes you feel like the heavens are moving with you.

It’s not only an immense hotel (it boasts 3,000 suites!), but it’s also a shopping and dining paradise. There are 300 premier boutiques, over 35 restaurants and a myriad of sporting, leisure and conference facilities.

The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel will play a crucial role in making Macau one of Asia’s most exciting entertainment destinations and premiere convention and exhibition venues.

The Venetian

THE VENETIAN, THE FACTS

As Asia’s largest integrated resort, The Venetian Macau offers more than 100,000 m2 of flexible convention and exhibition space - giving you ample room to host large-scale events. + Cotai Strip CotaiExpo - more than 75,000 m2 of exhibition space + 25,000 m2 of flexible meeting and ballroom space + 108 flexible meeting rooms + 6,500 m2 of pillarless ballroom space www.venetianmacao.com

Macau’s skyline

A visit to Macau wouldn’t be complete without a stop at a spectacular venue raising a lot of controversy on an architectural level. For a certain category of congress organizers, this

HEADQUARTERS 29

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HQ IN 2011 HQ EMEA HEADQUARTERS

HAP HEADQUARTERS

HQ EMEA stands for Headquarters Europe Middle East Africa, the magazine for EMEA-based associations.

HAP stands for Headquarters Asia-Pacific, the magazine for Asia-Pacific-based associations.

PROFILE HQ EMEA

PROFILE HAP

Distribution + HQ Magazine is the EMEA magazine for international associations + Circulation: 5,000 copies + Published 5 times a year + Distribution in Europe, Middle East and Africa

Distribution + HAP is an Asian-Pacific magazine + Circulation: 2,500 copies + Published 4 times a year + 14 Asian-Pacific countries

Readership + International associations organizing international congresses in EMEA and other continents (94%) + Members of ESAE, the European Society of Association Executives (1%) + the EMEA meetings industry PCO’s, AMC’s, members of 1% 5% EFAPCO, IAPCO (5%)

94%

Readership The readers of HAP consists of 3 important groups: + the Asian-Pacific associations organising congresses in the region: 65% + the internationanl associations organizing international congresses: 30% 5% + the Asian-Pacifc meetings industry, international agencies (PCO’s, AMC’s, members of IAPCO): 5% 30% 65%

HeadQuarters magazine, The EMEA Magazine for Association Executives

PLANNING HQ EMEA Print Issue # Publication Booking Date deadline Topics HQ43 March 2011 7 Jan. Practical issues (insurance, visas, customs, exchanges, rates, etc.)

HQ44 April 2011 22 March Alternative types of events venues HQ45 June 2011 18 April Conference hotels Technology (social media, design, new software, etc.)

HQ46 Sept. 2011 22 June Sustainability HQ47

Nov. 2011

3 Oct.

Each issue includes a cover interview, a special feature and destination reports.

HEADQUARTERS magazine, The Asia-Pacific Magazine for Association Executives

PLANNING HAP

Additional Distribution EMIF GIBTM

Print Issue # HAP 5 HAP 6

Publication Date April 2011 July 2011

Booking deadline 25 Febr.

26 May

HAP 7

Oct. 2011

26 Aug.

HAP 8

Dec. 2011

28 Oct.

IMEX AIBTM ASAE Annual Meeting CIBTM IMEX America ESAE Annual Congress EIBTM

IT&CMA and CTW ITB Asia EIBTM

Each issue includes a cover interview, a special feature and destination reports.

Online HQ publishes a Global E-Zine, in which where can choose to promote your activities in one or several of the following sections: meetings professional, events and fairs, destinations, venues, hotels. HQ Global E-Zine is sent out to professional association planners.

RATES HQ EMEA

RATES HAP

Magazine Publicity Size 2/1 1/1 1/2

Magazine Publicity Size 2/1 1/1 1/2

Publicity 5,500€ 3,750€ 2,500€

Advertorial 6,250€ 4,000€ 2,750€

Covers include a surcharge of 15%

8 pages 12,500€* 14,500€

Publicity 4,500€ 2,950€ 1,750€

Advertorial 5,100€ 3,550€ 1,950€

Covers include a surcharge of 15%

12 pages 16,500€* 18,500€

16 pages 20,500€* 22,500€

*with cover picture of the destination

Online Small banner Big banner Preferred partners Emailing Your logo and URL in HQ E-Zine Special feature in HQ E-Zine

Cultural experiences for association delegates

Additional Distribution IMEX CIBTM

Alliances and partnerships of destinations, venues, etc.: how it is beneficial to associations

Online HQ publishes a Global E-Zine, in which where can choose to promote your activities in one or several of the following sections: meetings professional, events and fairs, destinations, venues, hotels. HQ Global E-Zine is sent out to professional association planners.

Destination reports Within the magazine Loose supplement

Topics Sustainability Alternative types of events venues The services of Convention Bureaus to associations

Destination reports 4 pages 6 pages 8 pages 12 pages 16 pages Within the magazine 7,000€* 8,500€* 10,000€* 13,000€* 16,000€* Loose supplement / / 12,000€ 14,000€ 18,000€ *with cover picture of the destination

400€ / month 600€ / month 350€ / month 3,500€ 650€ 1,600€

Online Small banner 300€ / month Big banner 500€ / month Preferred partners 250€ / month Emailing 2,500€ Your logo and URL in HQ E-Zine 450€ Special feature in HQ E-Zine 1,300€

Note: Agency commission to be added. Prices do not include VAT.

5440

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EXPAND YOUR VIEW. ENGAGE YOUR MIND. In a World-Class Convention Destination.

Brisbane – Australia’s new world city. Vibrant. Engaging. Warm and welcoming. It’s where you’ll find ground-breaking researchers. It’s where you’ll find innovative thought-leaders. And it’s where you’ll find the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre – recognised as one of the best international convention venues and expanding to bring you even greater scope for boutique events and mid sized conferences. Brisbane – the destination for people who want to go places.

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