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Beijing rules ‘don’t matter’ |
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By Natasha Dragun
The Beijing government has issued regulations pertaining to MICE business in Beijing from August 1 to September 23 during the Olympic Games.
The regulations stipulated that both national and international conferences and events to be held in Beijing during that period will not be approved, and that events will be strictly controlled in the months leading up to the Games as well, from April 30 to July 31.
The regulations only apply to new conferences or exhibitions, that is, events that do not have an established history or schedule in Beijing, have been held less than two times in the Chinese capital, cover less than 5,000m2 of space, and have local exhibitors accounting for less than 70 per cent of their attendance.
Moreover, given pressure from the Beijing International Convention & Exhibition Industry Association (BICEIA), along with the Beijing Trade Development Association and other local commerce and industry bodies – understandably keen to make the most of MICE opportunities in 2008 – the government has relaxed regulations, meaning that more than 100 exhibitions and conventions, which had originally faced restrictions, will continue as planned during these months.
And according to BICEIA, many of the organisers that have postponed annual MICE activities in 2008 did so on their own accord, rather than because of the regulations.
The Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE)-organised China Incentive Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (CIBTM) is to be postponed in 2008, for example, despite the fact that it has been held for three consecutive years in Beijing (usually in June/July) and would not be impacted by the regulations.
According to RTE management, the postponement to September 2009 was an internal decision made because the group did not want CIBTM to be overshadowed by the biggest MICE event in history, the 2008 Olympic Games.
CIBTM marketing manager in Beijing, Mr James Wang, said the decision to postpone the show was not made so much because of the restrictions, but rather so that the event could “draw more strength in 2009 by not having to compete with the Olympic Games for attention”.
Mr Wang told TTGmice: “Traditionally, we hold the event in June or July, and at this time in 2008 there is not just pressure on us in terms of manpower, but also on our exhibitors in terms of manpower and infrastructure, such as hotels, in Beijing.”
Many smaller event organisers and hoteliers have not been notified of the regulations, and as such believe they will not be impacted by any government restrictions over MICE activities in 2008.
According to Chinese event management company Leon’s Productions CEO, Mr Leon Guan, unless he receives written notice, it is business as usual during the Games.
He said: “To be honest, I think it’s a bad thing imposing restrictions on MICE activities during the Games – everything shouldn’t stop or come to a standstill because of the Olympics.
“If clients ask me to organise events during this time, then I will still do it – as long as things are not illegal – because for me, and many event organisers, this will be the busiest time of our lives! It’s such a big opportunity.”
Likewise, Westin Beijing Financial Street general manager, Mr Charlie Dang, and Hilton Beijing director of business development, Mr Harald Feurstein, both confirmed they had not received notice of the regulations impacting hotel business in 2008.
Mr Feurstein said: “We have not received official documentation about the regulations. But I think that the aim of such rules is to allow event organisers to focus on the Olympic Games.
“As far as I am aware, most annual exhibitions and conferences will continue in 2008 as normal, certainly in the hotel sector.
“We are still very positive about MICE business in 2008.”
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