Nearly 1,400 MICE events held in Macau in 2017

Macau, 27th February: Macau’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) recently released its MICE statistics for the fourth quarter as well as the full year of 2017. In 2017, a total of 1,381 MICE events were held in Macau. That is 105 events more than in 2016. The total number of participants increased 10% to approximately 1,901,000 in the year.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, DSEC reported that 378 MICE events were held in the city, up seven events. The total number of participants and attendees was 694,000, up 42% compared to the same quarter last year.

Shenyang New World EXPO announces strong results

Shenyang, 28th February: Shenyang New World EXPO, now in its second year of operations, announced that in 2017, the venue hosted nine major events, featuring over 1,700 exhibiting companies and attracting 220,000 visitors. In addition, the venue will hold three major recurring events during March and April. EXPO hosted those three events for the first time last year. Management also announced that adjacent to the venue, two adjoining hotels, a shopping mall, three residential towers and two office towers will open in the coming year.

Diane Chen, EXPO’s General Manager, commented, “The success of EXPO’s initial exhibitions during the first year and the interest created by the exhibitors and visitors alike the ongoing potential of EXPO’s future exhibition business. Additionally, regional and national conferences are finding the venue most attractive.”

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 2018)

Clarion Events “merges” with Global Sources

London, 1st February: London-based Clarion Events, a leading global events organiser, has recently completed a “merger” with Global Sources, a Hong Kong-based exhibition organiser and B2B online marketplace operator. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Funds managed by Blackstone, a private equity group, will control the combined group.

After the merger, the combined group will be a global player in the B2B events industry organising some 200 events annually across Asia, Europe and North America, and generating revenues of more than US$370 million.

Exhibition industry expects growth in 2018 according to UFI

Paris, 30th January: Earlier this week, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, released its latest biannual, Global Barometer Survey, reflecting the state of global trade show industry. The survey revealed that the majority of survey participants anticipate growth in 2018.

More than 70% of companies in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific recorded an increase of their revenues in the second half of 2017, while slightly more than half of companies in the Middle East – Africa region reported growth. Looking ahead to 2018, about 80% of companies in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific remain optimistic about growth this year. South Africa was the only weak spot with just 25% expecting growth.