ICCA Asia Pacific chief plans expansion push

By Mark Armsden HONG KONG New International Congress and Convention Association's Asia Pacific chapter chairman Mr Anthony Wong wants to boost member numbers drastically this year to raise efficiency throughout the industry in the region. Mr Wong is managing director of Malaysia's largest professional conference organiser, Asian Overland Services, and was elected chairman of the chapter during ICCA's congress, exhibition and general assembly in Hong Kong from November 19-22. He had been vice-chairman for three years to Mr Leigh Harry, chief executive of the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. Mr Wong said education to raise professionalism in the meeting and convention sector in the region would be one of his priorities. He also wants a larger ICCA membership in Asia Pacific to raise awareness of the industry. "If you are not serious about this industry then you don't join ICCA," Mr Wong said. "But the biggest challenge we face here in this region is to keep members renewing their membership and to get new members. ICCA membership is not cheap, it is the most expensive of the associations in the region. "But compared with some of the other associations in the region claiming to be involved in this sector, I think this one is by far and away the best." To offset the value-for-money issues for many potential ICCA members in Asia Pacific, Mr Wong said efforts by current chapter members to increase awareness and professionalism in the industry "would lead to more people and organisations joining ICCA". Mr Wong said it was also vital to get more members from China. He said China was the fastest growing market for the sector with conference and convention centres being built in major centres such as Shanghai.