Mr. Sam Lei, Senior Manager of IPIM´s Promotional Activities Department, gives a speech at the press conference
As from January this year, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) took over responsibility for the overall co-ordination and promotion of Macao´s convention and exhibition. Under the new theme “Macao - Mega Events City”, IPIM endeavours to promote Macao´s advantages as a convention and exhibition destination to all sectors of the society, in a bid to push forward the development of the local MICE industry. After the participation in the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME 2016) held in Melbourne, Australia, in February this year, , IPIM organised a Macao convention and exhibition and tourism delegation to participate in the 2016 Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings, China (Shanghai) (IT&CM China - 2016) from 6 to 8 April. The delegation promoted the advantage of Macao´s conventions and exhibitions as well as the “One-stop Service” for MICE Bidding and Support in Macao, to Mainland and overseas event organisers, as well as executives and representatives of the MICE industry. Strong appeal of the IT&CM China Since its inception in 2007, Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings, China (Shanghai) (IT&CM China) has become Mainland China´s premier commercial and networking platform for MICE-related activities (professional meetings, incentive travel, international conferences and exhibitions). This year’s IT&CM China was participated by over 3,000 participants including heads of governments departments in charge of convention and exhibition affairs, as well as representatives of chambers of commerce and business associations, destination management companies and professional conference organisers. The participants come from various countries such as Abu Dhabi Germany, Hawaii, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Over 12,000 business negotiations and 70 commercial, education and social activities were held, thus highlighting IT&CM China´s function as an important exchange platform for the world´s exhibition and business tourism industry. IPIM fully commits to promote the appeal of Macao´s MICE market A press conference was organised by IPIM during the event and attracted the presence of a large number of media from Mainland China and the Asia-Pacific. At the press conference, Mr. Sam Lei, Senior Manager of IPIM´s Promotional Activities Department, talked about the latest development in Macao’s convention and exhibition industry such as IPIM’s “One-stop” Service” for MICE Bidding and Support in Macao, as well as the recently completed hotel projects and the newly opened convention and exhibition facilities. A “Macao Pavilion” covering 192 square metres was set up at the venue of the IT&CM China, to highlight the theme of “Macao - Mega Events City”, and introduced to exhibition industry from around the world the advantages of Macao´s conventions and exhibitions. Furthermore, a promotion counter was set up to introduce IPIM´s services and answer enquiries. Apart from IPIM and the Macao Government Tourism Office, other exhibitors included 28 local enterprises such as hotels, travel agencies, professional conference organisers, destination management companies and conference service providers, and enabled the “Macao Pavilion” to more comprehensively promote Macao as an ideal MICE destination. On the other hand, IPIM´s representatives also participated in over 20 business matching sessions arranged by the Organiser and conducted business negotiation with potential buyers. Fully utilises Macao’s strengths as a “Mega events city” In a bid to attract more international and domestic conference and exhibition organisers to organise events in Macao, through the “One-Stop Service” for MICE Bidding and Support in Macao, IPIM has been assisting local associations and organisers to bid for the holding of international MICE activities in Macao since 2014. Since the launching of the service, it has already successfully bid for a number of international conventions and exhibitions to be held in Macao, such as the following events: Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and International Dragon (estimated participants: 6,000); SIGGRAPH - Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Asia (estimated participants: 7,000); Jeunesse Greater China Meeting (estimated participants: 10,000) and the Nu Skin Star Academy Macau 2016,. In the future, IPIM expects to co-operate with a larger number of local associations or organisations, to bid for more international conferences to be held in Macao and further develop the advantages of “Macao - Mega Events City”.
