Trio forms Asia-Pacific Venues Alliance

Asia-Pacific Three leading Asian venues — Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Nippon Convention Centre and Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) have formed the Asia-Pacific Venues Alliance (APVA) to provide a single channel of easy access to CEI facilities in the region. A emeorandum between all three parties was signed at the end of last year. The alliance aims to bring key client benefits like the combined knowledge and expertise of the three venues, easier access to information on the venues and knowledge of the three convention and exhibition markets. APVA partners have agreed to undertake joint marketing programmes, common research activities, in addition to regular knowledge-sharing on markets they are operating in and operational components to the venues. The partners are also working towards benchmarking and standardising customer service and operation processes, as well as the development of preferential rates for cross-selling and referrals. Suntec Singapore chief executive Warren Buckley said: "While we have been involved in joint marketing programmes with partners like hotels and airlines, this is the first time that Suntec Singapore is working so closely with other convention and exhibition venues. n fact, this is a landmark development, since it serves to strengthen Asia's position in the international market." Executive MD of Nippon Convention Centre, Yasumasa Iwasaki, commented, " I hope that the activities of the alliance will promote the expansion of exhibitions and conferences into East Asia. This calls for our own endeavours to fit globalisation and speed — the concepts necessary for the 21st century." According to SNIEC GM Wolfram Diene, overseas markets are a priority: "This alliance makes it possible to pool our resources to develop new competencies and to enhance the value we offer customers," he said.