Wallace takes confident look into the future

HONG KONG Chairman of the World Council for Venue Management (WCVM) and managing director of the Hong Kong exhibition and Convention Centre Mr Cliff Wallace, has expressed his optimism for the exhibition and venue industry after the Annual Council Meeting held in Atlanta during July. Mr Wallace reported at the council meeting a full year of activity, especially considering the challenges surrounding the terrorist-related tragedies in the US last September, which initially caused a major global impact to venue business and security issues associated with managing a venue. "Subsequently, challenges related to these events continue to impact venues in such areas as the acquisition of property and public liability insurance covering acts of terrorism, and, adequate security provisions in order to assure an acceptable level of vigilance in the operation of venues," Mr Wallace said. Among the most significant items of business was the appointment of two new officers of the WCVM through to its annual meeting in New Orleans next July. Mr Joseph Floreano will serve as the first vice-chairman of the WCVM and Mr Hans Mixner will serve as second vice-chairman.