Share price movement in B2B media companies involved in Asia

Figure 1: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement over past 12 months)

Figure 2: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement since January 2021)

Vinexpo to launch new event in India in 2021

India, will be held from 9th to 11th December 2021. The inaugural edition of the event in India will include both wine and spirits, and the organiser is expecting some 50 wine producers – with 20 to 30 from overseas. The exhibition will run alongside a programme of masterclasses and tasting sessions.

According to media reports, India is one of the world’s biggest markets for spirits, and its wine drinking population continues to grow. According to a report released by Wine Intelligence in 2018, the Indian wine industry recorded a CAGR of over 14% between 2010 and 2017. Another researcher, Research & Markets, released its Indian Wine Market Outlook report in 2018, observing that the Indian wine market had a CAGR of more than 25% from 2011 to 2018.

Quick takes

New case study on safely organising an event

UFI and SISO have released a case study on three independent event organisers coming together in Orlando, Florida to co-locate three fashion events. Informa Markets, Clarion Events and Tarsus Group made it happen. Well done and thanks to UFI and SISO for publishing this important study.

Singapore and Taiwan consider travel bubble

According to a report in The Straits Times, Taiwan and Singapore have been in talks to match Singapore’s unilateral lifting of border restrictions on travellers from Taiwan in December. Let’s see how China reacts to this development…

Informa presses ahead with digital Cosmoprof

WeCosmoprof International is a new digital event under the Cosmoprof brand umbrella. Informa Markets, along with the BolognaFiere Group, will organise the event in June this year. WeCosmoprof is built on technology from the Alibaba Group.

Reed cancels IBTM Asia again

The pain in the industry in Asia continues. Reed Exhibitions has been forced to push back the inaugural edition of IBTM Asia Pacific yet again. The original dates were 6-8 April 2020, then moved to 13-14 April 2021. And now, the new dates are 5-6 April 2022.

Japan asks airlines to further restrict international arrivals

In Asia, we are really still a very long way from recovery, let alone “normal.” Japan has asked all airlines to further limit international arrivals, as the country’s quarantine facility capacity is running low. ANA and JAL are now subject to a weekly cap of 3,400 arrivals, a decrease of 84%. The Olympics are really a pipedream at this point.

Chiang Mai to open city to Indian tourists on 1st April?

Really not sure what to think about this article. “Chiang Mai is drafting plans to reopen its borders to travellers from India and South-east Asia beginning 1st April.” If they are only at the drafting stage, they better draft quickly. 1st April is next Thursday. “Tourism stakeholders in the province have their sights set on India as a sizeable part of the population have been vaccinated.” Actually, only 2% of Indians have had even a single dose. And then there is this little gem: “Next month, 5,000 to 10,000 delegates are expected to attend World Cannabis Day, scheduled to take place in Chiang Mai from April 16-18. More locals will be flocking there too to celebrate Songkran festival.” Tens of thousands in Chiang Mai for Songkran AND World Cannabis Day. What could possibly go wrong?

Quick takes

Iceland opens borders for vaccinated visitors

Let’s hope we see a lot more of this. Iceland will open its borders to all visitors who have been vaccinated “without mandatory testing or quarantine.” This type of common-sense policy is needed to get so many economies back on track.

Need to visit China? Beijing says take our vaccine

In somewhat less positive vaccine news, China is willing to issue a few more visas and allow in foreigners – provided they have received a vaccine made in China (i.e. Sinovac). The politics of vaccines looks set to heat up in the coming months. An the 14-day quarantine rules still nonsensically apply to foreign visitors.

“Trade shows are plotting a comeback”

The Wall Street Journal looks at the US$11 billion trade fair industry and its path to recovery as vaccinations continue to roll out more rapidly each day. (Subscription) It also features a video report on digital passports.

Cathay Pacific records US$2.8 billion loss in 2020

It is a wonder that Cathay Pacific has managed to survive this long with passenger numbers down 87% year-on-year. The airline recorded a net loss of US$2.8 billion in 2020, compared to a net profit of US$217.8 million in 2019.

Quick takes

China testing vaccine passports on WeChat

We need this to work and we need something similar to be put in place globally. The Chinese Government is testing digital passports which can be downloaded via WeChat.

Singapore Airlines to trial IATA Travel Pass

And more initiatives like this are needed! Singapore Airlines will become the first airline to trial the IATA Travel Pass app beginning next week. The digital health verification app has been under development since last year. SIA will conduct a two-week trial of the app between March 15-28 for passengers travelling from Singapore to London.

New group formed to promote Hangzhou exhibitions

This is an interesting initiative. A group of event organisers in Hangzhou, including EastBest (also known as Shanghai Donghao Lansheng), have formed a new company to promote Hangzhou as a destination for business events.

Singapore looking to host large events

This article seems a bit optimistic given the restrictions currently in place in Singapore, and it is assumed that these are essentially domestic events given that the city-state’s borders are edging slowly towards a very tentative opening.

Global Exhibitions Day on 2 June

This annual observance is a platform to promote the value created by physical exhibitions. This year, the message will likely be focused on the importance of exhibitions in jump-starting economic activity after the pandemic.