EventClicks expands in Asia Pacific

By Ben Moore HONG KONG The acquisition of an event management company and the opening of a Sydney office at the end of last year, has signalled expansion by online venue-finding operation EventClicks. During the first quarter of 2001, EventClicks chief executive officer Mr Tom Murphy is confident offices will open in Beijing and Shanghai. This year should also see expansion into Japan and South Korea. "By moving into China, Japan, South Korea and perhaps India, we would have Asia pretty well covered," he said. "After our Sydney headquarters we will be looking at sales offices in Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast." EventClicks has also bought Hong Kong-based Global Events Marketing Services (GEMS), which provides event-related services to multinational companies throughout Asia Pacific, generating HK$30million (US$4million). The acquisition brings Mr Kenneth Co, founder and managing director of GEMS, into the EventClicks team. Mr Co has now taken on the role of vice-president events management. Mr Joshua Lam, former GEMS general manager, has been named director events management. EventClicks is preparing additional features on its website this year, including an interactive event budgeting and scheduling calculator.