Beijing seeks major boost for CEI venues and training

By Ingrid Kwok BEIJING The Beijing Tourism Administration, with an increased focus on conference, exhibition and incentive (CEI) marketing, is hoping to upgrade venues and facilities to compete with other major cities in China. BTA MICE marketing and promotion department director Mr Wang Qing believes the capital lags behind in hardware and this must change to attract more international CEI business to the city. "The China International Exhibition Centre and Beijing International Convention Centre were built in the 1980s. The facilities fall behind modern standards," he said. "Cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Dalian and Shenzhen all have large-scale convention and exhibition facilities, which Beijing lacks." But Mr Wang said plans for new CEI venues are not yet clear. "The venues for the Games are dedicated to sports events. Hopefully there will be some new venues for conferences and exhibitions," he said. Beijing was the first Chinese city to join the International Congress and Convention Association and is working for membership in the Pacific Asia Travel Association. "It is important to understand the international environment before we can establish our brand name and draw more international conventions," Mr Wang added. "An institution designated for international conventions and exhibitions will start this year. It will help the co-ordination and co-operation among government bodies, involving the conventions and exhibitions industry." Training is another focus said Mr Wang. "Training professionals is top of our list. We invite overseas CEI experts to Beijing to educate our people about the incentive market and crisis management," he said. "We also send people overseas for training. "We have already proposed adding international conventions and exhibitions to the curriculum of tourism courses at universities."