HONG Kong based NWS Holdings which operates Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) has invested in the development of Shenyang New World Expo, a venue that will target small and mid-scale meetings and exhibitions when it opens in spring 2015.
Shenyang New World Expo will be part of a mixed-used development that comprises commercial and retail space as well as two hotels – a three-star Penta brand property and a five-star New World hotel. Facilities offered by the venue includes a 25,000m2 exhibition space, a 1,800m2 multipurpose convention hall and 2,200m2 of meeting rooms.
The venue will enjoy a good location in the central business district, with direct access to the Shenyang Metro Line 2.
In an interview with TTGmice e-Weekly, industry veteran Cliff Wallace, who heads the centre’s pre-opening team, said Shenyang – the capital of Liaoning Province – first came onto NWS Holdings’ radar in 2006 and the company conducted a feasibility study to “prove its MICE potential”. Data collected influenced the company’s “recommendations on size and space” to the property owner, New World (Shenyang) Property Development.
Explaining the company’s plan for Shenyang New World Expo to court small and mid-scale meetings and exhibitions, Wallace said: “We discovered that meetings and exhibitions are becoming smaller in size (due to) technology, as people now have the option of attending the event or catching it online via webcam.”
He added that Shenyang holds good potential as a business events destination.
“Shenyang is equipped with a new airport terminal and offers direct air access to many countries like Japan, South Korea and soon, Germany. (This is especially appealing to) professional associations that are looking for a good regional market (for their meetings),” he said.
Wallace revealed that “unlike local operators’ usual practice of taking bookings only upon opening, we will start contracting 12 months prior to the venue’s official launch”.
“We want to attract outstanding quality exhibitions to meet the needs of Liaoning Province’s growing automobile and aircraft industry,” said Wallace.
Meanwhile, efforts to groom the venue’s software are ongoing. Director of business development, Diane Chen, said the venue is courting staff with hotel experience and staff training is being conducted at sister venue HKCEC and in Australia.
