A MEMORANDUM of Understanding on academic collaboration has been inked between Stamford International University and Thailand’s IMPACT Exhibition Management.

The collaboration will see opportunities being created for students to develop skills and perspectives that will lead them to successful careers in the MICE industry, and enable Stamford International University to be a source of young MICE talents.

Loy Joon How, general manager of IMPACT Exhibition Management, said: “This agreement…is intended to produce young people who will be a major force in driving the future of the MICE industry in Thailand. We expect the new generation, through innovative education and real-world training offered by Stamford, to specifically answer demands of the employment market.”

FOLLOWING the launch of seven industry events focusing on the auto, energy and publishing sectors last year, Reed Exhibitions Greater China is maintaining its growth momentum with the debut of FIBO China fitness event in Shanghai this month, the China Wuhan Daily-Use Articles Trade Fair in November and the China Bakery Show in Shanghai next May.

Nat Wong, president of Reed China, told TTGmice e-Weekly in an interview that the China Bakery Show was created through a joint venture with the China Association of Bakery & Confectionery Industry.

“Reed China brings in (event) knowledge and experience, while the local partner (contributes) local (industry) know-how and entrepreneurship. We expect this segment (bakery and confectionery) will grow very fast,” Wong commented.

Reed China is also leveraging the recent boom in the country’s gift industry by expanding its stable of related events to 10 in a single calendar year. These gift shows will be held in major cities like Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Chengdu and Wuhan.

“This segment accounts for a quarter of Reed China’s business and targets the domestic market,” said Mike Jiang, general manager of Reed Huabo Exhibitions (Shenzhen) Co. “Reed China holds about 90 per cent of the marketshare in China’s gift and homeware event sector.”

While acknowledging that the company’s growth in China is “fast”, chairman and CEO of Reed Exhibitions, Mike Rusbridge, said “it still represents a small fraction, given the group’s growing portfolio of over 500 events”.

“We now manage more than 50 events a year in China (and want to) continue to explore and develop new sectors. Our strategy is three-fold – we look for acquisitions, standalone launches and new show concepts,” revealed Rusbridge.

Noting that “customers are changing generationally” and “Generation Y and Millennials are (familiar with) going online or using mobile”, Rusbridge said: “That is changing the way we organise the services we provide. (Knowing) how to market on social media is vital.”

The company has invested US$30 million in a web hosting platform that will support all its events within the next few years.

“The new platform will kick-start in 2015 and be rolled out in phases and by country through 2017. This will enable the China office to plug into data systems, marketing tools, etc and access (Reed’s services) in any part of the world,” he said.

PRO-HEALTH China kicks off its five-day incentive in Sydney today, bringing more than 4,000 of its top performing distributors in seven waves to the Australian city.

The event, said to be worth A$20.4 million (US$18.3 million) in estimated economic impact for the New South Wales economy, will see delegates participating in a Corporate Social Responsibility walk in the iconic Blue Mountains, a teambuilding session on Bondi Beach, and a gala dinner in Luna Park.

The Chinese health and skincare company last took a smaller VIP incentive to Sydney in 2009, and has been keen to return. This is the first time that Pro-Health China has held its annual conference outside of Asia, according to a press release issued by Business Events Sydney.

Pro-Health China’s annual conference comes in a busy year for Sydney, which has experienced a steady flow of Asian business events. The destination will welcome a total of 28 incentive events from Asia this year, attracting 60,328 delegate days and generating an economic impact of A$60.2 million for the state.

With the short-lead nature of this market, the bureau is expecting this number to rise by year’s end.

THE Malaysian capital has won the bid to host the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) World Congress in 2020, an event that will draw 4,300 delegates from around the world and generate an estimated RM55 million (US$17 million) in economic impact for the country.

The biennial congress is dedicated to the advancement of treatments to improve the lives of people with genetic bleeding disorders including hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, rare factor deficiencies, and inherited platelet disorders, and is regarded the most significant international forum for the global bleeding disorders community.

Commenting on the win, Zulkefli Haji Sharif, CEO of the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), said: “One of MyCEB’s goals is to make Malaysia the choice destination in business events and meetings for healthcare professionals. As such, we are proud that Kuala Lumpur is given the nod by the WFH as the venue for its 2020 congress.

“The bidding process was a long and exciting journey for our team who worked closely with the Hemophilia Society of Malaysia to produce the winning submission.”

Faraizah Dato’ Abd Karim, president of the Hemophilia Society of Malaysia, said the WFH members were impressed by Malaysia’s comprehensive bid to host the event and look forward to bringing the congress to Kuala Lumpur in 2020.