Thailand upgrades health and safety measures in MICE cities

Thailand, 7th April: Earlier this week, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), 12 organisations and 10 MICE cities signed an MoU agreeing to upgrade hygiene standards across the kingdom.

The new initiative, Unlock MICE Cities with High Standard of Safety, is the largest inter-organisational MICE collaboration in Thailand since COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020. The initiative will raise safety standards in ten MICE cities: Bangkok, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phitsanulok, Phuket, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Udon Thani and Pattaya. The aim is to boost confidence among domestic event planners in holding MICE events in these areas.

SEEC’s posts large loss in FY2020

Hong Kong, 31st March: Last week, SEEC Media, a Chinese B2B media group, released its financial results for the year ended 31st December 2020. Total revenues in the year were US$10.3 million, a decrease of 8.1% year-on-year. In addition, the company posted a loss of US$18 million in 2020, compared with a loss of US$13 million recorded in the previous year.

More than half of SEEC’s revenues were generated from its advertising services & sales of books & magazines (US$5.5 million), which is similar to the result in the previous year. Its next largest business segment, the money lending business, generated revenues of US$2.02 million. This accounted for about 20% of SEEC Media’s total revenues and posted an increase of 4.4% year-on-year.

Hyve releases trading update

London, 8th April: Recently, the Hyve Group (formerly ITE Group) released its trading update for the six months ended 31st March 2021. Revenues in the six-month period are expected to be approximately £10 million (US$14 million). Net debt is expected to be £92 million (US$126 million).

Hyve has run 24 physical events since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic including 12 events running in the previous six months in China, India as well as in Turkey, Russia, and the Ukraine.

Thailand unveils plans to reopen to tourists

Thailand, 7th April: As of 1st April, Thailand has reduced the quarantine period for foreign travellers. The first batch of visitors has reportedly taken advantage of the shorter quarantine scheme. The Kingdom is also pressing ahead with vaccinations for tourism industry workers and working on obtaining final approval of the roadmap for reopening.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism is exploring plans to open a “travel bubble” with Singapore. Thailand is currently operating travel bubbles with Australia and Zealand. The new Singapore travel bubble is expected to start as of 1st October.

Quick takes

Tarsus’ Doug Emslie looks to the future

“It’s not about virtual shows… It will be about how we service a community based on what our customer wants.” Good, sensible views from the Tarsus CEO, but let’s hope the term “omnichannel” does not stick.

Reading Festival expected to use vaccine passports

There is considerable resistance to this sort of initiative in some corners, but it seems highly likely that vaccine passports are going to be used in some places at some events – like it or not.

Singapore minister predicts progressive opening

Singapore’s Minister for Trade & Industry, Chan Chun Sing, stated he expects “progressively opening up with countries that are able to keep the pandemic under control and progressive across travel types – business travel, niche travel and mass travel… We are not safe until everyone is safe.” If we are waiting for everyone to be safe, it is going to be a long wait.

How desperate are Hong Kongers to travel again?

“When it comes to post-pandemic priorities, 77% of Hong Kong travellers admitted they would rather go on vacation in 2021 than find true love, while 68% would pick travelling over success at work.” As many of us have discovered in 2020 and 2021, Hong Kong is a pretty small place to wait out a pandemic.

Hong Kong continues to take a very cautious approach to travellers

Hong Kong, 30th March: According to media reports, the Hong Kong government plans to “reopen” to lower-risk tourists and shorten its quarantine period from 21 days to 14 days for some vaccinated travellers.

“For the first time since borders closed in March 2020, the city will reopen to low-risk travellers from Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore who are not Hong Kong residents. Visitors from these locations will qualify for a shortened 14-day quarantine period. This will be followed by a week of medical surveillance and Covid-19 testing on the 19th day… Fully vaccinated travellers who have visited medium-risk locations such as South Korea and Japan will also be eligible for a shortened quarantine of two weeks.”

KLCC hosts first consumer exhibition of 2021

Kuala Lumpur, 25th March: The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) has hosted its first major consumer exhibition of the year, the Malaysia International Home Renovation + Interior Design (REX Expo) 2021, running from 19th to 21st March.

REX Expo, a household show, has been held at KLCC since 2015. After multiple postponements, this is the first edition of REX Expo since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The event provides a platform for homeowners with interior design ideas, as well as the latest trends, renovation tips and solutions from the experts, and a variety of other home-related products.

Sino Splendid’s revenues drop 62% in FY2020

Hong Kong, 29th March: Earlier this week, Hong Kong-listed Sino Splendid (formerly China.com) announced its full year results for the year ended 31st December 2020. The company reported revenues of US$5.3 million, a decrease of 62% year-on-year. The company also posted a loss of US$3 million in 2020, compared with a loss of US$342,000 in the previous year.

More than half of Sino Splendid’s revenues were generated from its travel media business, amounting to US$2.9 million. That figure represents a year-on-year decline of 71%. Its second largest business, a financial magazine business, dropped 38% down to US$2.2 million. This business accounts for about 42% of Sino Splendid’s total revenues. The remaining revenues were generated from interest income (US$195,000) and its new virtual reality business (US$34,000).

HC Group’s revenues fall modestly in FY2020

Hong Kong, 25th March: Last week, the HC Group, an online B2B information services provider in China, reported total revenues of US$2.2 billion for the year ended 31st December 2020. That represents a slight decrease of just 1.5% year-on-year. The company also recorded a net loss of US$134 million in 2020, compared with a loss of US$66 million in 2019.

More than 90% of HC’s revenues were generated from its smart industries segment, amounting to US$2.02 billion. That figure is very similar to that of the previous year. The remaining revenues were generated from its “technology-driven new retail segment” (US$157 million) and HC’s platform & corporate services segment (US$52 million).

Quick takes

Computex 2021 cancelled, again

For the second year in a row, TAITRA has cancelled one of its flagship events. Computex was due to be held in early June, but with international travel near impossible, this is an event that simply cannot proceed.

Maldives expects full tourism recovery in 2021

In the good news column, Maldives’ President Ibrahim Solih said that the country plans to fully vaccinate its entire population within six months and it expects to achieve tourism recovery by the middle of 2021 and possibly even exceed the 2019 levels of 1.7 million arrivals. Plenty of good data and tables in this article.

Interview with Freeman’s CEO

An interesting interview with Freeman’s CEO, Bob Priest-Heck. A recent study conducted by Freeman reveals by autumn 2021, 78% of attendees expect to attend a physical event. 94% expect to do so by next winter. Unsurprisingly, digital platforms are becoming more popular for education, but not for exhibitions or networking.

Let’s get travel sorted out with a single approach

A South China Morning Post editorial notes that “a clear route is required to end travel confusion… there is much talk of vaccine passports, ‘travel bubbles’ and digital certificates when the world needs a single viable mechanism.” Hear, hear!

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.