The 29th Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association Conference and 29th Annual Dinner was a big success, 6 June, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
The conference in the afternoon was entitled ‘Festivalisation of Events’ and attracted 160 delegates, while the Annual Dinner drew 290 members and guests.
HKECIA Chairman Stuart Bailey, thanked the association members for the good turn out.
Guest of Honour Edward Yau, GBS, JP, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, the Hong Kong SAR Government, delivered a speech at the dinner and guests were treated to a musical performance, some games and a chance to show their creative flair.
There were some lucky winners in the prize draw.
Earlier this year the HKECIA Education Subcommittee had surveyed members on what they felt the most pressing issues facing the exhibition and events industry in Hong Kong. Among the issues considered most important to members were 1. The increasing importance of technology in creating smart events and 2. (Not unrelated) The ‘Festivalisation of events’, meaning the changes required to create lively and engaging attendee experiences so that visiting a trade exhibition or convention becomes not only a necessity but also an enjoyable experience that is looked forward to and recommended to peers.
The 2019 HKECIA Conference built on the survey results in putting together the ‘festivalisation’ programme theme.
Key contributors to the debate included Ian Chan, Senior Director, Business Development, International Business Group, Tencent; Justin Choy, Managing Director and Lead Design Engineer, Creative Technology Hong Kong; Michelle Cao, Founder and CEO, VPhoto; Mr Gu Xuebin, Chairman, IAEE Asia Council and Managing Partner, SINOPlus Advisory; Sarah Williamson, Vice President & Creative Director, Jack Morton; Gregory Crandall, Director of Brand Engagement, Pico+ Hong Kong and Mark Cochrane, UFI Regional Manager, Asia Pacific.
Crandall’s session looked at how brands like HP and Intel are using festivals like Coachella and SXSW to build deeper relationships with millennials by creating brand engagement experiences.
