The HKCEC is maintaining its great value booking incentives and freeze on hiring rates through to the end of next year. Launched in 1999 and aiming to provide customers with flexibility to maximise their utilisation of the Centre's exhibition and convention space, the marketing initiatives are:

• All rental rates frozen through December 2002
• Rental discount of 35% for most events in "low-season" months of February, June, July, August and December
• Rental incentives for new exhibitions over 3,510 sq.m., committed for three years and demonstrating "international" content (30% discount on applicable rental rate in year 1; 20% in year 2; and 10% in year 3)
• Progressive booking of additional space possible for expanding exhibitions
• Special meeting packages in various price ranges for professional conference organisers
• More flexible floor layouts available for all types of events
• Newly refurbished meeting rooms with upgraded telecommunications infrastructure

As part of its ongoing drive to keep facilities at the cutting edge of new technology, the HKCEC spent HK$10 million to upgrade IT wiring in twenty-six meeting rooms, theatres, convention hall and two exhibition halls. The optic fibres and GigaSpeed copper cabling complement the existing ISDN lines and broadband links to facilitate high-speed transmission of computerised digital signals for data, voice and video. Designed to integrate all the infrastructures within the complex, the new system is able to accommodate wireless IT and telecommunication equipment into the foreseeable future.

HKCEC Managing Director Cliff Wallace, elected as Chairman of the World Council for Venue Management (WCVM) in July 2001, will use his new role to help ensure a quality turnout for the third annual Global Matchmaking Summit to be held in Chicago this December. The gathering, which brings together leading exhibition organisers from around the world, aims to create new business relationships and conclude strategic alliances. This is in line with the broader objectives of the WCVM, an alliance of the world's leading venue management associations. Mr Wallace said the summit offers Council members the opportunity to meet the widest range of exhibition organisers. "I shall encourage key members of the various associations to attend the Chicago meeting, and personally look forward to briefing participants on the great deals we can offer at the HKCEC."

The Centre was back in the world spotlight in May 2001 when more than 700 top-level business executives flew in for the FORTUNE Global Forum attended by President Jiang Zemin, former US President Bill Clinton and Thai Prime Minister Thaksin. Despite very tight security and several other major events taking place at the Centre, including the HOFEX opening, the event was a resounding success with some reports saying it was the best Forum ever. Commented Fortune-Time Inc President John Needham, "All arrangements were handled to perfection by the HKCEC staff of professionals."

The CDMA Development Group reaffirmed its faith in the HKCEC by returning for its annual 3G World Congress and Exhibition from 11 to 15 June 2001. Held in association with the Institute for International Research (IIR) Ltd, this premier event for the wireless communications industry in the Asia Pacific attracted more than 1,200 quality participants from throughout the world. For the uninitiated, 3G reflected the evolution from voice networks to Internet multimedia-oriented technologies based on CDMA (code division multiple access).

Leading exhibition organisers in Asia Pacific ranked Hong Kong and the HKCEC by far the best location and venue in the region to stage their events. Polled in the first CEI (Conferences Exhibitions Incentives) Asia Pacific magazine survey of Asia Pacific venues, every single respondent listed Hong Kong as one of the top three cities for exhibitions (compared with 82% for Singapore and 45% for Bangkok), while 82% of respondents named the HKCEC as one of the three best exhibition centres (SICEC 54%, Singapore Expo 45%). The exhibition organisers said that, after the location of the city and its exhibition centre, their most important considerations were cost, facilities, reputation, modern services, infrastructure, traffic management, economic and political stability, language ability of local staff, and logistical support.