The Chinese event industry can be complex and difficult to understand, but it holds opportunities for international partnerships as the landscape evolves post-lockdown.
During the Uncovering the Secrets to Building Successful Business Relationships with China session, Liu Ping, founder of China Star, said: “China MICE is still a baby, with only two decades of experience. We find it challenging to adapt to international practices, and need your patience and persistence.”
For example, for government meetings, only larger PCOs will be able to handle as “payment only comes after the service” and there is little to no prepayment. The programme also frequently changes, and there will be uncertainties until the event date, Liu shared.
For international PCOs and DMCs to find opportunities in China, they need to “find the right local partner” by consulting major professional bodies like ICCA for recommendations.
“ICCA is very active in China, and there will be a future ICCA China office in Beijing,” Liu added.
This move comes as China’s business events industry evolves after the pandemic.
“Some Chinese MICE companies have closed and reshuffled, while (the ones that remain) are looking for more globalised partners. You also have customers belonging to the younger generation who are more internationalised, and have grown up with more demands,” she explained.
She advocated for mutual understanding and open communication, urging the international audience to “focus on the people, and not geopolitics”, and “communicate with us before making a judgement”.
“It’s a two-way street. We have learnt to adapt to international practices, and the international market also needs to learn about (how we do business).”
