History & Opportunity Meets in Korea

Having recently visited South Korea, (view my previous blog post), I can personally confirm that South Korea is an excellent choice for meetings and events.  As one of the leading countries in Asia, it definitely has a lot to offer in terms of bustling cities, diverse geography etc.

Now, there is one more reason to host international conferences in South Korea and to explore all the wonders of the country, as visitors will soon be granted an opportunity that was not offered since 1953. Visitors can now go to the Joint Security Area, where soldiers from North and South Korea have stood face to face for more than 7 decades and will soon able to freely cross the demarcation line.

Considering that meetings and conferences are all about exchanges, incorporating a visit to the newly opened DMZ will be an option to add into international programs. Delegates will be able to explore and witness the new relations between North and South Korea.

Both countries signed an agreement pledging to “transform the Demilitarized Zone into a peace zone,” in an effort to end the still-unresolved Korean War. South Korea’s defense ministry said it planned to work with key officials, including the U.S. and the United Nations, to lift the restrictions promptly, though the date has not been officially shared.  This very rare activity would be an exciting addition to your next conference.

To learn more, check out the original article here.

Switzerland Takes Home The Trophy!

The appeal of familiarization or study trips to international meeting planners is a major incentive in learning about a destination for future meetings. On face value, the benefits these educative trips provides are too numerous to count. Typically, most destinations overwhelm the planner with a hectic schedule of hotels and offsite venue visits. With this and more in mind, Switzerland Tourism embarked on a refreshing strategy to keep the meeting planners engaged, encouraged a competitive spirit, and creating a memorable experience!

Meet the Switzerland Meeting Trophy. Its mission is simple; “The Switzerland Meeting Trophy allows participants to get to know Switzerland in a fun way while offering partners (destinations and service providers) who work with Switzerland Tourism an opportunity to establish new contacts.” (Source: Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau)

Selected meeting planners who are then divided up into teams to represent their respective regions are invited to experience Switzerland. 11 North American meeting planners embarked on a 3-day adventure from the picturesque city of Basel to St. Moritz, taking in the scenic route through the Alps. The beauty of Switzerland was in full display, as expertly written by one of the study trip attendees via Northstar Meetings Group.

Best part was reading the good news that 14 years later, the North American meeting professionals took home the trophy! But we don’t want to give away too much of their secrets to winning! Simply click here to read more!

A new itinerary is being prepared for the 2019 edition of this engaging program.

Photo Source: Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre at IMEX America 2018

The largest North American tradeshow in the Meetings & Events industry, IMEX America, was a true success. This year, I had the opportunity to work alongside our newest client, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (The Centre) – with Ms. Angeline van den Broecke, Director of Sales & Marketing and Mr. Alan Pryor, General Manager. The immense knowledge they shared with planners about the industry including new developments in Kuala Lumpur was greatly valued.

During our one-on-one appointments, we were reminded of all the attributes that make The Centre a competitive venue. I spent 3 days with the team sharing how The Centre can assist planners in bringing future programs to Kuala Lumpur. For me, it was especially refreshing to receive updated information on The Centre’s features, technology capability, and the finest hospitality service.

Here are a few of my observations that meeting planners were most intrigued by:

  • The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Business Events Alliance is a seamless and one point of first contact for meeting planners. The alliance consists of The Centre, leading hotels, professional event planners, and shopping, dining, entertainment, and transportation partners.
  • The Centre is known as a City within a City, as everything you need is within arm’s reach. The precinct consists of The Centre, 4 hotels, a 6 story shopping mall, bar/restaurant, KLCC Park and the Petronas Twin Towers. The proximity to all your necessities makes The Centre a suitable location for attendees.
  • The cultural diversity and forward thinking of Kuala Lumpur makes it an ideal city to visit. Planners were enthusiastic to learn how important food is in Malaysia. Ranging from Indian, Chinese, Malay, and European cuisines, there is an array of food options. What planners found most astonishing is the award-winning 52 culinary team of chefs at The Centre.
  • Kuala Lumpur is a cultural, financial and economic center, constantly growing as a city. As the number of visitors continue to grow, planners were excited to learn that The Centre’s expansion is underway with an anticipated completion in July 2019. The additional space will provide 118403 sq. ft. of flexible space to accommodate future events.

Overall, my experience was rewarding! We walked away with new connections and great potential business for Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Additionally, each planner left with a little piece of Malaysia; a beautiful and multipurpose batik. Whether it’s used as a table cloth or a sarong the exquisite patterns represents centuries of Malaysian history. I can’t wait to share my knowledge of The Centre and KL with the global planner community!

IMEX America 2018: First Time Attendee Review

My first experience at IMEX America met all my expectations! Aside from my extensive preparation, I also included light snacks and a water container to keep my energy levels up throughout the busy 3 day adventure at Sands Expo. My first thought was “Whoa! How did they get all these amazing booths within an equally large space?” It must have taken time, logistics, and production management to pull this off. Needless to say, I was impressed!

I knew I wasn’t alone in my first time experience. As the Group Leader for MCIntl Hosted Buyer Group, my job was to find qualified meeting planners that would benefit greatly from attending. Out of a group of 10 hosted buyers, we had 3 meeting planners experiencing IMEX America for the first time! Overall, it was an amazing group of professionals we work with on a weekly basis at MCIntl and it was even better to put a face to the name.

IMEX America is more than a tradeshow. It is a culmination of educative seminars and networking functions. There’s much to share from my IMEX America 2018 experience. The week kicked off with the Smart Monday sessions where I attended 6 sessions in total including the Giving Back booth! One session that stood out was Legacy; Power of events led by Julius Solaris. Some of the takeaways were event planning leaves an impact and can change lives, sustainability is a community effort and brands can inspire loyalty by finding what unites others through a common purpose. The sessions were interactive and educative.

Another major highlight for me was meeting our clients! From the Association Evening event on Monday where I met Cathrine and Tia from Copenhagen and Verena and Judith from Vienna. It was a golden opportunity to speak with them before the hectic days of appointments that were to follow. One of my first stops on Tuesday morning was to meet all our clients at their respective booths. Meeting Steen and Karina at the efficiently designed Dubai booth was a treat, a quick hello with Katja from Berlin Convention Office who invited our hosted buyers and I for a happy hour the following day, Caroline from Switzerland’s bustling booth was busy the entire day and the happy hour kept the crowd rolling in. In the Asia zone, was the beautiful and colorful booth by Korea Tourism Organization where I met with our client Vivian.

Last but not the least, 2 of our newest clients! I was especially looking forward to meeting Angeline and Alan from Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. I was gifted handmade bags and skirt wrap by Angeline. Both gifts tell a story of the vibrant culture in Malaysia! Next up was the Colombian booth which captured the Sambrosura spirit of Colombia! I met Medellin Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Andrea. Freshly brewed Colombian coffee wafted through the air and I also met Debora, Lady of La Guajira tribe who gifted me a handmade bracelet. For the first time, I indulged in a cup of genuine Colombian Caramel latte.

For my 3 days at IMEX, I clocked in a total of 15 miles! Every opportunity to sit and observe the atmosphere was a welcomed relief. To add to their mission of sustainability, IMEX placed water refill stations throughout the arena. From the check-in booth to the friendly team members that directed me to my respective sessions (Gwen & Tim especially), the IMEX America staff were truly exceptional! There must have been thousands of people in attendance but the space was beyond accommodating. In short, my first experience is definitely one for the books!

To top it all off, working with Sarah Arnold from IMEX who was beyond accessible made the process seamless! I urge you to attend IMEX America—for your professional and personal growth, I learned quite a lot!

Don’t forget IMEX America returns to Vegas September 2019!

Songdo: South Korea’s “Smart City”

With so many devices at our fingertips (literally and figuratively), technology is a frequently debated topic as it has introduced some concerns to our society such as lack of privacy, safety, and less human interaction to name a few. Fortunately, Songdo, a quaint city located in South Korea, is an unexpected reminder of all the positive impacts technology can offer.

Located only 25 miles from the larger, more well-known city of Seoul, Songdo, often referred to as the World’s first “smart city,” is a project started by Gale International in 2002 estimated to be completed around 2020. The main goal of the project is to create a city that eliminates the need for cars. In fact, residential buildings were intentionally built within 12 minutes of bus and subway stops while most non-residential buildings are a walking distance from shops, restaurants, etc.

Having been to Seoul recently, I can certainly attest to the fact that Seoul is the polar opposite of Songdo. The latter being home to about 70,000 residents with about 600 hectares of reclaimed land along the Yellow Sea.  The smart city offers 40% green space and plenty of cycling routes.

If that’s not all impressive enough, Songdo has over 100 buildings that are LEED-certified, which is the world’s most widely used green rating system.  The garbage is handled through a pneumatic tube system which sucks the trash from chutes in residential buildings to a central sorting facility in seconds. The garbage is then recycled in order to generate electricity. Computers are also built into both the streets and buildings to assist with controlling traffic flow and to also allow neighbors to video chat with one another.

Songdo is a visual display of all the benefits of technology, such as eco-friendly apartments, efficient transportation options, and user-friendly computer systems. Additionally, the city’s officials’ encourage the residents to contribute to the economy by utilizing all the city has to offer. I truly believe that Songdo has the potential to be a great success upon its completion and in turn, a model city for others pursuing a greener world.

IMEX America Preview

After a few months of phone calls and emails, the weekend leading up to IMEX America has finally arrived! IMEX America takes place from Monday, October 15th, 2018 to Thursday, October 18th, 2018 in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo. As a first time attendee and group leader, I am excited to see all that the largest tradeshow in the Meetings and Events Industry has to offer.

The week kicks off with a full day of activities on Monday, October 17th otherwise called Smart Monday. I am especially interested in attending Legacy: The power of events featuring Julius Solaris, Leadership 2.0: The importance of conflict management and accountability featuring Michelle Johnson, and my immediate favorite, the Giving Back booth. What better way to learn about CSR and sustainability while leaving an impact for the future generation of global leaders!

For the rest of the week, IMEX America will feature over 600 education seminars and events for global meeting planners/executives, destinations, and suppliers to partake in. There’s even a 5K IMEX Run sponsored by one of our clients, Switzerland Convention and Incentive Bureau, set for 6:30am just enough time to catch the sunrise!

Two great starts to what promises to be an exciting week of learning, networking, and building. See you in Vegas!

One Week, Three Cities: South Korea Study Mission!

Last week, I had the pleasant experience of being a part of the Study Mission Trip hosted by Korea Tourism Organization. It was without any doubt, a memorable experience for all who took part!

During the trip, we explored three cities in Korea – Seoul, Busan, and Gyeongju. All magnificent places, but they were all certainly very different from one another. It was especially interesting to see how much potential each of these cities offered for the Meetings & Events industry.

For instance, Seoul was busy and bustling with a variety of different venues to choose from. COEX was especially impressive as it has a convention hall that can fit up to 7,000 people and four exhibition halls. Additionally, it has an underground mall and is situated next to the Bongeun temple.

Next in the itinerary was Busan, also a large city but not to the extent of Seoul. It’s charm is that it is located near the ocean and has a much more laid-back vibe to it. Again, the city had various impressive venues to choose from. Busan Exhibition and Convention Centre (BEXCO) especially stood out to me, as it offers 46,500 meters of exhibition space, 53 meetings rooms and an auditorium which can seat over 4,000 people!

Lastly, we went to Gyeongju which was my personal favorite! This city felt more authentically Korean as it had several temples, UNESCO World Heritage sites and nature. In fact, it’s often called the “museum without walls” because there is so much to see! Gyeongju is home to the Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO), a venue that is very much able to accommodate large programs. They have a convention hall, 12 meeting rooms, and 21 hotels nearby! Not to mention this city has an amusement park and a ton of other activities suitable for all ages!

In conclusion, my week in Korea was extremely busy and educational! I feel very fortunate to have gotten to be a part of this Study Mission Trip and I urge anyone who has not yet been to Korea to take the trip if they get the chance! It is an excellent choice for international programs, and also a mesmerizing place to explore for leisure too!

Global Events Visionary: Ms. Ping He, CMP

In 2003, Ping He embarked on a mission to put Experient (now Maritz Global Events) on a global stage. Equipped with a clear vision and a small team, Ping launched the first Global Sourcing Division. This year, Ping celebrated 25 years at Maritz Global Events! She has contributed to opportunities in Asia-Pacific and solidified Maritz Global Events (MGE) position as a market leader in the region. Under her role as the Global General Manager, Ping continues to present creative solutions and build strategic partnerships in the meetings industry.

In between her travels, Ping was able to share her journey with MCIntl…

JN: As the Global General Manager, how important is the idea of going global?

PH: Back in 2003 I had a vision that one day I wanted to put Experient on the global map. The reason is simple: Technology has made the world very flat as Tom Friedman described in the title book. Technology has crushed down the barriers that hinder us from doing business with each other globally. If we don’t have the global service capability we will soon be globalized, simple as that. I convinced the leadership to let me lead the global effort. I built the Global Sourcing Division with courage and conviction.  With a very small team we were able to book on an annual basis 400+ meetings in 50 countries and in more than 120 cities. These meetings have ranged from 50 to 25000 attendees.

 

JN: What are the benefits of being part of your organization?

PH: One of the benefits is building effective global leaders. Our global General Managers (GMs) have deep relationship with various local organizations and know the local landscape. Maritz Global Events invested in us three global leaders as GMs and have us build resource in expertise and relationships in country and in region so that we can be the golden bridges that help bridge the gap between USA and local country.

 

JN: What legacies are your organization creating?

PH: We built Maritz Global Meetings network infrastructure and today we have the global service capabilities in more than 60 countries worldwide. Under the direct leadership of our President David Peckinpaugh and in order to keep MGE a liquid, agile and nimble company in the global arena, we came up with our ‘glocol’ service strategy that focuses on the 4 elements as illustrated in the chart below:

 

JN: What is your favorite quote?

PH: ‘Leading with conviction’– (Prof. Shalom Saar, Mentor. He taught at Harvard and other prestigious universities worldwide)