Readers of the influential Meetings and Incentive Travel magazine have chosen the HKCEC as the 'Best Overseas Convention Centre' for the ninth consecutive year. Pitted against leading convention centres throughout the world outside the United Kingdom, the HKCEC was recognised for its standard of service, excellence of facilities and level of professionalism, measured against value for money. The presentation was made at the 2002 Meetings & Incentive Travel Awards ceremony held in London on 18 February 2002.

HKCEC Managing Director Cliff Wallace said it was a great honour to win such a prestigious award from one's peers in the industry. "The people who voted for us have experienced the very best facilities that can be found nowhere on the globe. That we should have retained our top position against such competition is testament to the skills and flair of our dedicated staff who continually strive to find new ways to raise our service standards."

HML, the management company that runs the HKCEC, saw off 24 competing service companies in Hong Kong to take the Productivity Award for Services 2001. The annual award, organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council, recognises continuous improvement in service productivity that enhances sustainable growth and competitiveness. HML was able to demonstrate how its value-added services had improved business and benefited the long-term economic interests of Hong Kong. Despite the economic downturn, the HKCEC recorded a 17 per cent increase in overall turnover during the 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 financial year, when 2,229 events were staged at the Centre.

"Success in the competition reflects that HML has been recognised as being committed to the pursuit of service excellence, and that its quality and innovative service inspires confidence in customers," said HML Managing Director Cliff Wallace.

Members of the prestigious Union des Foires Internationales (UFI) voted to accept the HKCEC as a full member when they held their 68th General Assembly in Cologne last October. Founded in 1925, UFI represents leading trade fair / exhibition organisers throughout the world in promoting the industry's unique marketing qualities for the development of international trade. Currently there are almost 200 full members and 40 associates.

Addressing the gathering, HKCEC Managing Director Cliff Wallace said the Centre supported UFI's efforts to improve the standards of the exhibition industry. "We are keen to contribute to the objectives of UFI and capitalise on the extraordinary industry network it provides," he added.

Since assuming the Chairmanship of the World Council for Venue Management (WCVM) last July, HKCEC Managing Director Cliff Wallace has used every opportunity to extol the benefits and resources that such a professional body can bring to the industry. "The impetus for the WCVM came about so that an alliance of venue management associations could pool their resources to provide a global database to enhance communication and the sharing of information between any and all members of the public assembly venue industry worldwide," he notes.

Mr Wallace is particularly keen to develop venue management skills in China and the region through WCVM's alliance with the Venue Management Association (Asia Pacific) Limited (VMA) and the Asia Pacific Exhibition and Convention Council (APECC). Speaking to exhibition industry leaders in Beijing in January, he said that professional development and training were foremost among the objective of each organisation. "The WCVM's objectives include encouraging mutual assistance among its members associations and facilitating the sharing of information, technology and research."

Closer to home, Mr Wallace has been appointed Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (HTM) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In this role he will help develop academic programmes and industry support activities. Commenting on his appointment, Mr Wallace said: "HTM has been a pioneer in producing our future tourism leaders and I shall do my utmost to further the school's endeavours to raise professional standards throughout the industry."

The HKCEC has introduced a Venue Booking Hotline service that ensures direct access to executives during working hours. Callers to the number - (852) 2582 1111 - are prompted to select only language and event type before being connected to an appropriate executive. Customers wishing to speak to a specific staff member will have a four-digit extension number to use, which will automatically switch to another executive if that person is not available.

All details of the booking are immediately entered into a computerised interactive marketing system that incorporates comprehensive databases to assist planning and dissemination of information. Requested material such as floor plans and meeting package proposals can be e-mailed or faxed to the potential client while the caller is still on line. The system ensures highly efficient customer relations management, fast response time and maximised use of manpower resources.

Recent visitors to www.hkcec.com will have noticed an exciting new look and even better access to the CentreÕs services. The revamped corporate website now provides more user-friendly information about the HKCECÕs facilities as well as updated exhibition and conference news and details of promotional activities. Designed specifically for potential clients who may not know Hong Kong and the HKCEC so well, the website enables event planners to view floor plans, check venue dimensions and layout options, and then take a visual site inspection. They can also check out the wide variety of food and beverage outlets available, along with price lists and special promotions. Bookings can be made online.

Journalists and those interested in the latest developments at the Centre can click onto the Media Centre icon to see recent announcements, while full details of upcoming events can be found on the Event Calendar that includes contact details and hyperlinks to the event organisers.

Key government and business leaders from the Asia Pacific region attended two important meetings at the Centre towards the end of 2001. The World Economic ForumÕs East Asia Economic Summit (29-31 October) took on added significance when it became the first independent international meeting of such leaders since the 11 September attacks. They asserted their support for the global alliance against terrorism and the need to eradicate the poverty that fuels instability and extremism. Despite the gloomy state of most Asian economies, many participants believed the prospects for recovery were good, buoyed by ChinaÕs strong domestic economy and accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Globalisation was the theme of the 14th General Meeting of Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, chaired by and held in Hong Kong for the first time (28-30 November). The meeting attracted around 1,000 participants, 700 from overseas, and included 320 academics. Speakers stressed the need to shape and manage the complex changes arising from globalisation to ensure developing economies could benefit. They said economies must continually evolve and adapt to the changing environment. In making the Hong Kong Declaration, PECC Chairman Dr William Fung said the Council would continue its work in areas like trade facilitation, competition policy, investment and services to broaden understanding within governments and the wider community.

East Asia Economic Summit 2001	14th General Meeting of Pacific Economic Cooperation Council