IAEE China Seminar Creates Links

The Intl. Assn. of Exhibitions and Events' July 24 China Seminar 2007 in Shanghai attracted more than 100 attendees to the Jin Jiang Hotel. It included a keynote presentation, "Sino-American Exhibition Development: the Status Quo" by China Council for the Promotion of Intl. Trade Vice Chairman Wang Jinzhen. He said the number of exhibitions in China increased from less than 1,000 in 1986 to more than 4,000 in 2005, and that continuing construction has given China countless world-class purpose-built exhibition facilities.

A panel discussion, "the U.S. Exhibition Industry: Future Trends," included Chris Meyer, vice president of convention center sales for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. Meyer spoke on how a major destination, such as Las Vegas, deals with the equation between exhibit space sales and hotel room commitments. Other panels addressed "The Chinese Exhibition Industry: Prospects for Cooperation, Mergers and Acquisitions" and "American-Asian Exhibition Cooperation: What Are the Opportunities?"

Meyer also conducted what he labeled a tradeshow trade mission for Intl. CES, Pack Expo Las Vegas, Intl. Baking Industry Exposition and the ICSC Spring Convention, Leasing Mall & Trade Expo.

"The best takeaways Las Vegas received were the business our clients were able to secure for their Las Vegas-based tradeshows and the continued expansion of the Las Vegas brand into the Chinese market," Meyer said. "Las Vegas is all about establishing relationships with our business friends in China."

The China Seminar is part of an ongoing series of IAEE initiatives in China that include, among other things, a certification process. Next year's meeting, the IAEE China Seminar 2008, is scheduled for Jan. 11 in Beijing.