TRADE players are stressing the need for Shanghai’s MICE sector to adopt standards and norms that will support the burgeoning business events industry.
The Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration had sought to address the issue of service standards last October with the launch of the Management & Service Standards of the Conference Industry, Part 1: Conference Organizers, a set of standards jointly developed by the tourism bureau and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision.
The document details the basic requirements for conference organisers as well as for conference services, conference management, continuous service improvement and compliance assessment.
The introduction of standards in the MICE industry would have a positive branding effect, akin to how international branded hotels were expected to have similar standards at different properties, noted Gui Wenhua, operation director of SEMI China, an international industry association with a membership of more than 2,000 semiconductor and material companies.
Maria Zheng, general manager, Shanghai China Travel International, said: “MICE service standards and levels vary across the sector. The authorities must hence promote industrial standards – a certain certification is also needed, like the AAA-rated tourist attractions in China.
“This way, overseas event owners will be able to discern and recognise professional MICE players in Shanghai, which will in turn spur more trade members to adopt such standards too.”
Zheng added that China’s fast-growing MICE industry, particularly in Shanghai and Beijing, was still teeming with challenges.
She said: “Although Shanghai is rising in popularity as a MICE destination, it is at the same time not receiving a lot of high-quality meetings yet, especially those of international associations. This could be partly due to China’s visa issues and infrastructure.
“China’s meetings industry is also facing software issues, such as a lack of professional manpower.”
– Read more in TTG Show Daily – IT&CM China
