The 55th ICCA Congress was officially opened in Borneo Conference Center of Kuching Malaysia on November 13th , 2016. This grand meeting has ushered in totally 831 of representatives from more than 60 countries all over the world, with an annual meeting theme of “ICCA Global Tribe”. As the one and only corporate member of China’s meeting consulting category, Olivia Jia and Alicia Yao of IME Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd attended this grand meeting. The industry annual grand meeting for three days has gathered the experts with big names and top dealers of global award industry, with constantly splendid educational and the hot topics of meeting industry. People with big names from global well-known industries and opinion leaders were invited as guest speakers. Participants were free to choose to participate according to their own interests and businesses, and they had enough opportunities to make interaction and discussion with the experts and peers. Besides the educational forum and exchange activity, the committee also has arranged the Sarawak investigation special activity. The “Kuching Night” of the first night, “CAT Night” for the second night and “National Night” on the third night, all the theme parties not only provided abundant social platforms and communicating opportunities to the participants, but also offered new ideas and show case the creativity for the activities within the industry. Mr. Leigh Harry was honored with the title of Honorary Membership for commending his contributions to ICCA. Leigh Harry has been the CEO of Tourist Administration in the State of Victoria, chairman of Australian CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry), president of meeting and exhibition industry, vice executive secretary of National Development, Commerce, Innovation Bureau of Tourism and Ministry of Aviation, and has held the post of chairman of JMIC and ICCA during 2006 to 2010. He is universally acknowledged as the international leader in the field of business activity, and he also has rich experience on the aspects of cooperating with state government, federal government and private enterprises. Leigh has made a deeply touching speech on the annual meeting, he said that “an association would become apathetic without young people, so I wish that more youngsters would be willing to recommend themselves to become a member of ICCA Board of Directors- you should care, because it is your association!”

Alicia Yao, managing director of IME Consulting attended SITE Global Conference in Panama, which is held in Westin Hotel Panama. As the International board director of SITE, she has first join the board meeting pre the global conference and discuss with the board the developing plan for 2017.     During SITE Global Conference in Panama, the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) featured compelling education, dazzling events and vibrant tours. Grow your business and career by connecting with incentive travel leaders from around the world at SITE Global Conference 2016 is the main goal of the conference.                               Step into the diverse culture of Panama, an emerging incentive destination, to develop business connections, equip yourself with the latest incentive education and have an incentive-quality experience that will spark new ideas and adventures. And this is exactly what Alicia Yao and her SITE China Chapter members feel about Panama and find it a good destination for China MICE market. SITE Crystal award is the best winner of the year.                                   Join SITE in magnificent Panama City, Panama for the SITE Global Conference. Each year, SITE members from around the world convene at the Global Conference for three days of premier educational sessions, networking activities, and cultural exploration in one of the world's most dynamic incentive travel locations. This year, we had enjoyed the colorful and richly-historic sights of Panama and a schedule of world-class speakers.                                     The CIS, Certified Incentive Specialist, is an entry level certification program from SITE. The 2 days training before the SITE Global Conference Panama gathered many young leaders in our industry. Professionals from around the globe will acquire in an efficient manner a broad comprehension of the incentive travel industry. All emerging professionals, faculty members and students aspiring to enter this specialized segment of the meetings and events industry may use CIS as a stepping stone to reach higher levels of professionalism. CIS training needs to be introduced to China in order to bring all the young professionals of China into higher levels of professionalism.

The 9th China Meetings Industry Convention (CMIC2016) was held in Beijing Yanqi Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center (BYCC) on November 8th-10th, 2016. It is hosted by Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development (BMCTD) and China Convention/Exhibition/Event Society (CCEES) and organized by Beijing Huairou District Commission of Commerce, MeetingsChina Magazine and HweeLink Technology Co., Ltd. There are more than 2,200 attendees including MICE destinations (Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Yunnan, Hainan, Chengdu, Guiyang, Ningbo, Qingdao, Suzhou, Beijing Huairou District, Thousand island lake), Chinese and foreign guests, MICE buyers, MICE firms, and media etc. The theme of CMIC2016 is “Integration, Innovation and Better MICE Experience”. To improve the communication and business cooperation in MICE industry, CMIC offers the platform of communication, business matchmaking to meet the requirement of MICE suppliers and buyers in the whole industrial chain. Gary Grimmer, CEO of Gaining Edge/Management Company for Best Cities Global Alliance was invited as the speaker for CMIC2016. Alicia Yao , Managing Director of IME Consulting Received“2016 China MICE Industry Most Innovative Female Leaders “ Award at the CMIC2016.   China Meetings Industry Convention (CMIC) is initiated by MeetingsChina Magazine, and hosted by Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development (BMCTD) and China Convention/Exhibition/Event Society (CCEES). Aiming to build the most significant and influential annual event and high level business platform in China MICE industry, CMIC has already become the iconic industrial event by its high-end products, open-ended platform, dependable service and frontier industrial trend, and it has been successfully held for 9 years.

The South Africa National Convention Bureau Takes the IT&CM China Exhibition for the First Time according to ICCA rankings, South Africa has risen to become the premier MICE travel destination within the African continent since 2013. With popularity and reputation improved greatly, South Africa has consolidated its position as a top African MICE travel destination. Furthermore, two cities in South Africa-Durban and Cape Town—are among the top 100 cities of MICE travel destinations. The South Africa National Convention Bureau was established in 2012 with the aim of positioning South Africa as a premier MICE travel destination and developing it towards the target. Up till now, the bureau has brought in a number of large-scale events and conventions with global reach, which have significantly improve South Africa’s international reputation while promoting the nation’s economy development.  The China Representative Office of the South Africa National Convention Bureau will represent its headquarter to participate in IT&CM China Exhibition held in Shanghai from March 21st to 23rd in 2017, bringing the latest South Africa MICE products introduction and the Bureau’s supporting policies for China MICE activities to South Africa. Olivia Jia, the Chinese representative of the South Africa National Convention Bureau, will discuss business with a number of MICE customers at Exhibition Stand B6 in Shanghai International Sourcing Conference and Exhibition Center and then hold luncheons from March 21 st to 23 rd,2017. Since 2014, IME Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd. has become the representative company for the South Africa National Convention Bureau, working hard to develop exhibitions and events as well as corporate terminal customers, which brings a lot of high-quality Chinese business travel groups with member number growing from 1000 to 8000.

     It is a great opportunity for everyone involved in the Meetings industry to reflect on how important conferences and business meetings have become as a solution for both professional associations and corporations.         A lot has been said in recent years about the merit of tele-conferencing, and there is no doubt platforms such as Skype have a role to play.  However, getting together for face-to-face meetings and conferences is still the most effective way to convey a key message, motivate an audience or reward people for past performance.        In China & across Asia Pacific the growth of the Meetings sector is set to continue the strong growth of the past 5 years. More and more of this business is staying in Asia Pacific, at the same time Asia Pacific destinations are seeing less meeting business coming from outside Asia Pacific.  Therefore, our future clearly lies in the Asia Pacific region, both as a set of economies generating domestic and outgoing meetings, and as a set of globally competitive destinations able to host meetings of any scale. Nigel Gaunt President  Incentive Conference & Event Society Asia Pacific

Alicia Yao, Managing Director of IME Consulting Co., Ltd received "China MICE Hall of Figures" Award After more than a decade of development, meeting and incentive travel, as a new form of industry, is becoming more and more important in China's social and economic development. The achievement of the meeting and incentive travel industry cannot be separated from the joint efforts of some prominent promoters who are brave and unswerving in their efforts to contribute to the development and improvement of this industry from different perspectives. They write books, Establish relevant institutions and industry norms, or organize industry development activities, to carry out publicity and promotion and industry training. In recognition of those who made outstanding contributions to the development of China's conference and incentive travel industry, they encouraged more participants to make greater contribution to the development of the industry. The China Conference Industry Conference (CMIC) Joint International Conference on Conferences (ICCA) (CMIHF) and held the first of industry figures selection ceremony on October 22, 2017 at the Tenth China Conference Industry Convention (CMIC2017) held in Beijing Yanqihu International Convention and Exhibition Center.   Alicia Yao, Managing Director of IME Consulting Co., Ltd received "China MICE Hall of Figures" Award. 【Contribution Speech on Alicia Yao】 "Make the impossible possible" as a prize of innovative tourism beliefs, Ms. Yao Hong, Managing Director of IME Consulting Co., Ltd., has been focusing on the innovation and development of meeting and incentive as well as conference management industry for 20 years. She believe It is never too old to learn and dedicated her professional practice on the innovative design into the specific products for meeting and incentive industry. In order to enhance the international image of China's MICE industry, she actively cooperates with international trade associations such as SITE, ICCA, MPI, IAPCO and PCMA-ICESAP to introduce professional training and certification according to market demand. In order to improve the industry management of China MICE Committee, she actively participates in the management of the association and unselfishly shares the resources and professional knowledge of her international and domestic industries with young people. In order to enhance the quality of conference management, to prevent the vicious price competition and protect the healthy development of the industry, and guide the practitioners to extend to the high end of the value chain, She actively promoted the group standard of "Evaluation Specification of Conference, Incentive and Event Service Agency" in the industry, which also became the first standard for conference and event agency accreditation in China and meet both domestic and international standard. It sets the international influence of China's conference service standards. To establish the belief of Chinese service standard is also the international service standard, she is once again standing on the starting line to be the leader in China's meeting and incentive industry in line with all Chinese meeting and incentive professionals.She continuously have the voice of China's MICE industry in various international organizations, making an important contribution for expanding the influence of China as an international tourism destination. Ms. Alicia Yao also actively promoted the professionals trainings and made her contribution to the development of China's MICE industry to a higher level.

Corporate Business Travel and MICE Congress 2018 was hosted by Eurasia Group in Shanghai Longement Hotel during June 20-21,2018 in Shanghai.   Eurasia is a global leader in political risk analysis, advisory and consulting. Their experts advise the world's leading business, investment, and government professionals to help them anticipate risk and shape strategic outcomes.    Eurasia connects geopolitics with business to support their clients' long-term planning and organizational needs. Eurasia Group's in-depth consulting solutions help executive leaders assess business and investment environments, identify and anticipate sector outlooks, forecast change and future states, and detect key disruptive trends.   This is the 5th year of Eurasia hosting Corporate Business Travel and MICE Congress 2018,which is mainly focus on corporate buyers for business travel and MICE management. The meeting was hosted for 2 days attracting about 150 attendees.   Accompanied by the implementation of the new policy of going global in China’s “One Belt and One Road”, the popularization of "Internet +" technology and the application of new intelligent new technologies, Chinese companies’ business travel and MICE markets are growing rapidly. Five major trends. are gradually formed for mobile applications, data analysis, Automated operation, integrated integration, cost-saving. At the same time of some traditional methods have further developed, the new changes have also taken place in the technological sector.    More requests from end-user companies needs to be delivered. The financial returns of business trips and incentive travel must be clearly measurable, the balance between company goals and traveler needs, the balance between the application of new technologies and the business reality needs to be balanced   This conference is presented in a modular format that more clearly reflects the specific needs of companies in their own incentive travel and corporate conference. Well-known corporate speakers also targeted different business cases through five major sectors. The content explores specific solutions together.   The five topics for discussion in the conference: 1) Traditional and new cost control best practices 2) Application of new intelligent technologies 3) Corporate customized services 4) Safety and health management 5) Integrated Services Alicia Yao, on behalf of SITE global delivered as speech on the topic "Changes, Innovations, and Trends in Global Travel and MICE Markets".   She started with a video about SITE and its training programs followed with a PPT on the topic of "Changes, Innovations, and Trends in Global Travel and MICE Markets" by the following key points: 1. Status of China Business Travel and MICE Management 2, the operation mode of the industry on Standardization management, Delicacy Management and Accreditation Management 3. The management of merging corporate meetings, events, and/or business trip  4, Bleisure and TMC management 5. Science and technology visualizes the value of meeting management and business objectives management 6. Intelligent conference management and real-time data collection to effectively improve services and enhance experience of meetings and events 7, Brand New Technology from China - One World, One Sim 8, GDPR data protection for TMC and meeting incentive management 9, Evaluation specification of Conference, incentive and event service agency in China published by CCPIT 10, Compliance Management, Excellence in Service, Organizational Resilience, Sustainable Development the trend of China meeting incentive management    She finished her presentation of the video promotion of SITE 2019 conference in Bangkok.   Alicia Yao also joined the afternoon penal discussion with other speakers from At the Road TMC Company. SKHB, DKSH, Shenma Special Vehicle rental company participated in the topic and gave the onsite guests full sharing and answers. Their discussion topics are:   Topic 1: What are the best ways to control travel and incentive costs? What is special about the 2 different industries? Topic 2: What problems do you have with current TMC and MICE service providers and what improvements do you hope to get? Topic 3: What are the special service standards and service requirements for the corporate distinguished guests when it comes to land service including transportation? Topic 4: The recent application of some new intelligent technologies in travel and incentive has triggered heated discussions among purchasers. What are your views on the application of these new technologies? Topic 5: What is the personalized travel and MICE design and service that everyone has in mind? How should it be achieved? The attendees comes from Procurement 37%, Indirect souring38%, Administration 9%, Travel Manager 4%, Finance 12%. The professionalism and case studies of SITE as well as the trend of TMC and MICE development in China and the world analyzed by Alicia Yao really attract the attention of the audience and get a good feedback as well.   Attendees' satisfaction 43% vote for very satisfied, 36% vote for satisfied, 21% vote for general level.   Photos of the conference  Photos of the sponsor booth   Advertising and Publicity   A Part of Attendees list Air Canada  Air Liquide  Amorepacific  Arkema (China) Investment Co.Ltd.  Armstrong Building Products Co.,(SH) Ltd  Armstrong World Industries (China) Ltd  Autoliv (Shanghai) Management Co., Ltd  Avis  B&Q  Bobst  Brake Parts Inc- Asia Pacific Shanghai BPI Trading Co., Ltd  Caixin Media Company Limited  Carestream Health  Carrefour China  Celanese(China) Holding Co., Ltd.  CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE HEAD OFFICE (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.  COMFORT INTERNATIONAL M.I.C.E. SERVICE CO.,LTD.  Corning  CPPA  DB Schenker  DBS Bank China  Delphi Technologies  Demag Crane  DFS GROUP  Diebold Nixdorf  DKSH(China) Co., Ltd  Doehler  Eaton  Edelman Group  Evonik (Shanghai) Investment Management Co., Ltd.  FANCL  Ferring  Flow VHP Waterjet Technology (Shanghai) co. ltd    Formica  Fuji Xerox  GE  Gilead Sciences, Inc.  GSK  Hegii  Herbalife (China) Health Products Ltd.  Hertz  Hong Kong Tourism Board  HUNTSMAN  INVISTA Management(Shanghai) Co., Ltd.  IQVIA  ISS China  Jiangling Motors Corporation  Li Ning Sports(Shanghai) Co., Ltd  Luye Pharma Group Ltd.  M&C China  Mary Kay  MICE Committee of China Association of Travel Services  Michelin (China) Investment Co., Ltd.  MuseLab  Nielsen  Nippon Paint  Novus International  NU SKIN  Parker Hannifin  Pernod Ricard  Quaker Chemical  Roche Diagnostics (Shanghai) Limited  Sephora    SITE  SKF China  SKHB  Stryker (Beijing) Healthcare Products Co., Ltd.  Swatch Group  Syngenta  Taxback International  Terex Corporation  The Sherwin-Williams Company  Thermo Fisher Scientific  TRAVEL WEEKLY CHINA  Trelleborg Sealing Solutions(China) Co., Ltd.  Trumpf  Tyson  Veolia  Wyeth  Zimmer Biomet  Zimmer Biomet Asia Operation Office  Huang Bao Che Cloud Helios Comfort Travel MICE Company Shanghai Branch  Meadin.com  Pinchain.com Shanghai Leadtour Tourism Services Management Shenzhen New Vision MICE Company Shanghai branch Shenma Special Vehicle rental company Joyfull Journey VIP Lounge Card company  At the Road TMC company   SITE will be more active in China supporting with all the professional meetings and events of the MICE industry and welcome more SITE members from China.

Global MICE Innovation Summit -The First MICE Event Co-organized by Global MICE Collaborative Global MICE Innovation Summit will be held in Shenzhen Jan13-15,2019,co-organized by SITE, IAEE and MPI. The Three Global International Associations together developed the Asian Conference and Exhibition Talent Innovation and Development Forum for the Summit.   In China's 40 years of reform and opening up, Shenzhen ranked first in the list of "30 cities with the strongest innovations, which is released by Forbes China. Driven by the high-tech fair, the high-tech industry that reflects the innovation power of Shenzhen has entered the fast lane. The MICE industry will help Shenzhen innovate, and the city of innovation will also have higher demands for the internationalization and driving force of the MICE industry.   The conference will bring together speakers from the International Meeting and Incentive association, Convention and Exhibition Association, leading international meeting incentive and exhibition industry leaders and innovative practitioners. The Global MICE Collaborative will bring their think tank to Shenzhen and help its MICE destination development.   The following are the speakers from SITE, IAEE and MPI and more news will be coming up.

At the International Conference & Exhibition Industry Innovation and Development Conference held in Shenzhen on January 14-15, 2019, it came from government officials, well-known experts and scholars from 11 countries and regions, representatives of international organizations and famous international convention and exhibition associations, and the domestic and international convention and exhibition industry. Nearly 200 guests from leading figures and media organizations gathered to discuss the innovation and development of the international convention and exhibition industry through the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Roundtable Forum, the Asian Conference and Exhibition Talent Forum, and the IAEE Asian Committee's first committee meeting. The opening ceremony of the conference was chaired by Mr. Gu Xuebin, the Asian Committee Chair of the IAEE International Exhibition and Project Association, the management partner of Huaga Think Tank, and the CEO of WeMeet. The conference created an innovative and creative mode for the Asian Conference and Exhibition Talent Innovation and Development Forum co-organized by IAEE (International Exhibition and Project Association), MPI (International Conference of Experts), and SITE (International Association of Incentive Travel Managers). IAEE Senior Vice President and CEO of COO, CEIR Exhibition Industry Research Center Bai Ruiqi, Cathy Breden, MPI Global Business Development Director Julie Holmen, SITE Chief Marketing Officer Pádraic Gilligan, SACEOS Senior Director Bita Seow, Royal Netherlands Exhibition Group President and CEO Albert Arp, Beichen Times Tang Xue, General Manager of Convention and Exhibition Co., Ltd., and Meng Bin, Chairman of Shenzhen United Auto Show Management Co., Ltd., delivered keynote speeches and shared their international experiences, exchanged and collided with colleagues in the industry, and found a feasible way for innovative training of exhibition talents.   Keynote speakers are Mr. Gao Lin, deputy director of the Shenzhen Economic, Trade and Information Technology Committee, and IAEE President and CEO David DuBois Dubold opened the opening ceremony. Mr. Hou Kepeng, Executive Chairman of Shenzhen Furniture Industry Association, Mr. Ma Jun, General Manager of Shenzhen Zhaohua International Convention and Exhibition Co., Ltd., and Mr. Pan Zhengzhi, Director of the Singapore Tourism Board Exhibition and Conference. “Who is innovative, why is innovation, how to innovate?”, “Who wants innovation, who is innovation, who can innovate?” The Innovation and Development Conference answered these six questions, which are the reflections of the exhibition participants on the future development direction of the conference & exhibition industry. How to use exhibition marketing to open up the global market? The two heavyweight guests of Tencent Zeng Jiaxin and Huawei Peng Yuguo shared their insights in the form of keynote speeches and made suggestions and requirements for the innovative development of the international convention and exhibition industry.   With the theme of “Innovation in Exhibition Industry”, the conference set up four key discussion sessions: “Innovation of Exhibition Industry, Globalization of Chinese Enterprises, Innovation Industry Service of Exhibition Industry, Technology Innovation Conference and Exhibition, Green Innovation and Building the Future”, bringing together the world voice and exploring internationalization. The road to innovation and development. Shenzhen is the most dynamic and innovative city in China. After the completion of the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center, it will become the largest exhibition hall in the world. Specialization, internationalization, branding and informationization. With the large platform of Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center, Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Industry will continue to expand the international influence of brand exhibitions, cultivate local special exhibitions, and build an open type under the guidance of “One Belt, One Road”. The economic system, integrated into the global economic development, strives to make the Shenzhen convention and exhibition industry a trading platform for high-end products at home and abroad.   In November 2018, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council explicitly requested Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen to lead the construction of Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macau and Dawan District (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing). Drive the innovation and green development of the Pearl River-Xijiang Economic Belt. In front of the Dawan District policy, the conference followed, and invited Jiang Chengwen, the chairman of Reed Huabo Exhibition (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., to be the leader of the innovation and development of the four outstanding exhibitions in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau District innovation and development "to conduct dialogue and imagine the future of enterprise development.   Welcome dinner and reception, WeMeet Shenzhen Bay 5km health run, Tencent-WeMeet wisdom exhibition symposium and other activities are organized during the conference. The guests felt the city of innovation - Shenzhen charm, together with the leaps and bounds of the conference & exhibition industry development. We expect the first effort of Global MICE Collaborative in the immerging MICE market will help to promote our three associations' branding, training and professionalism and more and more people to invest in the innovation, development and construction of the conference & exhibition industry, and to guide the Chinese convention and exhibition industry to the level of internationalization, professionalism, Branding and informationization.