The “International Dragon Awards” returned to Macao after a decade
One of the most important set of events in the calendar of the insurance industry – the Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and International Dragon Awards (IDA) – returned to Macao after a decade. This year’s gathering – the 11th Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and 2016 International Dragon Awards – was held successfully in August, at the Convention and Exhibition Centre of the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. It welcomed more than 7,000 professionals from the international insurance industry. During the existence of the annual International Dragon Awards, Macao’s own Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry has developed at a rapid pace in the past ten years. The return to Macao of this event is meaningful for both sides. Macao honoured by IDA’s return after a decade The Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and International Dragon Awards are a set of events founded to foster the professionalism and business acumen of Chinese insurance specialists worldwide. Such workers have a far-reaching impact on the global insurance sector. To date, 17 countries and regions, including the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, have hosted each of these annual events. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) accredits the Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and International Dragon Awards. The International Dragon Awards are likened to “Oscars” for the worldwide Chinese insurance industry. They feature eye-catching themes, and are attended by professionals from the insurance sector and the financial community. Seven cities bid for this year’s set of events. Aside from Macao, the applicants were: Nanjing (China); Kaohsiung (Taiwan); Hawaii (United States); Melbourne (Australia); Fukuoka (Japan); Jeju Island (South Korea); and Singapore. In addition to the full co-operation provided by the Macao community and the city’s relevant public departments and organisations, Macao’s renowned infrastructure – in terms of hardware and software – was one of the main factors that made the city stand out among the bidders for the set of events. According to Richard Wu, Vice President of the 11th Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and 2016 International Dragon Awards, Macao has in the past decade transformed itself as a destination city. Macao’s self-improvement resonates with the theme of this year’s set of events, and was one of the reasons why Macao was selected to host the Congress and Awards, said Mr Wu. Large-scale activities create snowball effect The Venetian Macao hosted the Congress and Awards and has hosted other large events in the city. The Vice President of Convention & Exhibition Operations at the Venetian Macao, Gene Capuano, expressed his views about the future of the local MICE industry. “Mega conventions drive the development of the local sector and propel the economy. These activities also encourage young people to cultivate an interest in the MICE industry, and to serve as talented professionals in order to replenish the industry,” said Mr Capuano. He added: “Taking IDA as an example, around 100 students were hired as part-time associates to provide catering and crowd management services to more than 7,000 participants. By working for these kinds of large-scale conventions on a part-time basis, young professionals are able to learn through practise, as well as to gain valuable knowledge from senior colleagues. It is a crucial part of the training of professionals in this industry.” Mr Capuano additionally said the contribution to the local economy made by large-scale conventions should not be overlooked. He noted: “Lots of meeting participants don’t want to remain inside the hotel for a whole day, and commonly ask us to recommend the best places to visit.” Mr Capuano said he had now compiled a list that included tourism attractions and restaurants to be found in various parts of Macao. He stressed that the local business community could also play its part in this co-operation by providing MICE venues and MICE promoters with information on off-site activities and destinations. This would enhance the benefits to the local economy that were generated by the territory’s MICE industry – and thus the sustainability of that MICE industry. Providing such information would also win favour with MICE customers, he added. Mr Capuano said he expected Macao young people would show an increased interest in joining the MICE industry, as the number of large-scale events organised in Macao kept growing. That would guarantee the industry an ample supply of qualified professionals, complementing the well-developed hardware and other supporting infrastructure. This, in turn, would help strengthen and develop further the competitiveness of Macao’s MICE industry, he added. Number of major MICE activities grows Macao is to host a number of large-scale events in the second half of 2016, including the 9th ACM SIGGRAPH Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Asia (with more than 5,000 participants expected). Several other events are each expected to attract more than 7,000 participants. For more information, please visit the official website of IPIM: http://www.ipim.gov.mo
