Hong Kong conventions unit escapes HKTB cuts - Sep 01

By Mark Armsden HONG KONG Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Bureau (HKCEB) remains unaffected after a staff shake-up by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) that saw 27 jobs lost. HKTB executive director Ms Clara Chong said after four months of thorough review and consultation a new structure has been decided. "This new structure was developed in the light of the increased core focus on end-to-end marketing that can enable the HKTB's advancement in terms of its level of sophistication, innovation and targeted marketing practices to achieve maximum return combined with the highest levels of efficiency," Ms Chong said. In the new structure, greater emphasis has been placed on the marketing functions generating more visitor arrivals and spending, with resources being shifted from the back-end operations to these functions. "Unfortunately, however, some retrenchments could not be avoided and we today reluctantly issued notices to 27 staff whose job functions have been eliminated," Ms Chong added. HKCEB senior manager Ms Mabel Hung and general manager tourism and convention marketing general manager Ms Ellen Kwan, and their teams, remain unchanged following the restructure. "My team will be responsible for four key functions. These will include business development and looking after high-yield markets, primarily conventions, exhibitions, corporate events (meetings and incentives) and cruising," Ms Kwan said. "Mabel (Hung) will continue to head this team with added responsibilities." No staff in the HKTB regional offices are affected by the job losses but a review of those offices is underway.