March 2020

The Centre is standing with the community during these difficult times by feeding and nourishing people in need in Kuala Lumpur, with its recent contribution totalling over 340 kilogrammes of surplus food.

During this period of the Control Movement Order (MCO) by the government of Malaysia to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the country, has left the Centre, with a large amount of fresh produce and surplus food which was then donated to the Food Aid Foundation to help feed the hungry.

“This global concern has presented all of us with unique challenges.  And, in such times, it is imperative to come together as a community and think about what we can do to help and be considerate towards each other. We understand that having access to basic needs might be especially difficult for some people right now and we are pleased to be able to make a meaningful contribution through our partnership with the Food Aid Foundation,” said John Burke, The Centre’s deputy general manager.

Food Aid Foundation is a non-governmental organisation which rescues Halal edible surplus food and groceries from manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, companies and people. It includes unused or unwanted food as well as, products that are out of specification, close to expiry, incorrect labelling, damaged packaging, discontinued promotional products, excess stock and customer returns.

All are collected and distributed to charitable and welfare homes, voluntary welfare organisations, refugee community, poor families and soup kitchens.

An online resource platform, the IBTM Connect will be a hub where business events professionals can have access and share knowledge together with practical guidance. It is aimed at keeping exhibitors, hosted buyers and the wider industry connected collectively.

Contents will be refreshed regularly which includes webinars and videos from key industry professionals so are ways, to virtually network with industry peers with news and updates to prepare for recovery from COVID-19.

Motivational keynote speaker Gary Bradt delivers a session on ‘How to cope during times of unprecedented change’. While Helen Moon, founder and managing director of Eventwell, talks about ‘Mental health and wellbeing’.

Commenting on the online resource platform, Shane Hannam, portfolio director of IBTM Events, said: “Our connections and industry partnerships mean that we are uniquely positioned to create and curate high quality content from around the globe that can serve to provide insights and tangible benefits during this time. By keeping conversations going, sharing and learning, together we can weather the storm and emerge in the strongest possible position to rebuild and recover.”

The latest content on IBTM Connect covers everything from mental health and wellness, to managing a crisis and tips for working from home.

https://www.ibtmevents.com/ibtm-connect/

A campaign TOGETHER STRONG has been launched by the International Exhibition Logistics Association (IELA) to support everyone in the exhibition and event industry during this time of uncertainty, and also to foster business with industries related to MICE from all over the world.

IELA invites all event professionals to join the initiative TOGETHER STRONG and support Global Exhibitions Days, TOGETHER and STRONG.

Join the fight and be a part of the contingency network.

Share your own picture of being STRONG on social media using the hashtag #togetherstrong and #GED2020 together with your personal message to the industry partners.

For further information contact, please contact the IELA Secretariat: https://www.iela.org/contact/contact.html

By Lara Burnes,
General Manager of Premier Events & Experiences at Melbourne & Olympic Parks

As we move into these unprecedented times, supporting businesses and industry has become more important than ever. With the weeks and months that lie ahead, there will be a lot of uncertainty but what’s for sure, is that we’ll all be tested on how we work together and embrace opportunity.

Here I share with you key insights on how to work with event partners on rescheduling events to ultimately support and keep the industry afloat:

1. Contact your event partner, even if you don’t know what the future holds. Venues, suppliers and partners are all doing it tough, just like you. While you might not know if you can reschedule your event, or if your event at a later date is going to be impacted, contact your partner to discuss your options. Weigh up the possible scenarios – and begin to problem-solve together.
2. Keep moving. Detail a new timeline, even if only rough. We must remember that venues will re-open and events will happen again soon. With this in mind, begin to map out new timelines, even if only rough. It’s important to keep on top of key dates and update your event partners accordingly. To avoid congestion when everything is back to normal again, don’t be afraid to begin locking in dates. While there are still a lot of unknowns, confirming sooner than later will ensure that you have your top pick for your next event.
3. Be flexible, prepare for the what-if. Remember a lot of event organisers will be facing the same            challenges. Once life returns to normal, demand will be high for venues and event resources – this means dates and availability may be limited and you might not get your first, or second, choice on dates. Use this time to prepare for what if, and be flexible.
4. Get planning. Your event might not be happening next week or month, but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to refine the experience to make it the best event yet. At Melbourne & Olympic Parks, we have five venues and all venues are busy rescheduling and planning events for when this all blows over.
5. Think differently and embrace change. When we emerge from this, the world will have changed and we will have adapted along the way. Embrace the changes and think about how you can incorporate them into your event. Some of your attendees may not be able to travel due to budgets, health or simply because travel won’t be a priority for their business. Work with your event partners on ways to enhance your event experience, such as working with a charity
6. Be empathetic and kind. We’re all in this together. People may be slower at getting back to you than usual or battling personal and professional challenges on different fronts. Be empathetic and be kind, and remember that our actions now will shape our industry’s future.

Actions taken by the Thai government and private agencies since the outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) have raised the confidence within the MICE industry as 24 international and regional conventions and exhibitions involving more than 40,000 participants will proceed as planned over the next three months.

According to Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, key MICE events will proceed as scheduled. These include 18 global and regional conventions scheduled to take place from February to April in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket with a combined total of 17,800 delegates. In addition, Thailand is also set to host six international exhibitions from now until March with an expected turnout of 24,546 visitors.

He said, ” Thai authorities and business operators have strictly followed the guidelines set by the UN’s World Health Organization and will continue to do so in the fight against Covid-19.

The Covid-19 only reminds us that we have tackled the spread of other viruses before so we are again working closely with all relevant parties to manage this situation. We are aware of WHO’s recommendation – to control the spark before it becomes a fire. So we are taking measures to control both the outbreak and the panic to achieve that goal.”

Stringent screening has been in place at all international airports in Thailand since January 3, 2020. Thermoscan surveillance and health checks are ongoing at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Krabi airports. Healthcare personnel are on standby to render emergency support.

Standard operating procedures already implemented include separation of flights and passengers from an infected origin country and other special arrangements such as the despatch of suspected patients to a Ministry of Public Health hospital for treatment stated TCEB’s president.

Airports of Thailand have stepped up their maintenance regime with more frequent disinfection of high contact areas such as door knobs and counter tops. All arriving passengers now receive a “Health Beware Card” in Chinese, English and Thai.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports have also issued advisories to travel agencies and airlines, instructing them to monitor and scale up health checks to ensure the safety and well being of all visitors to the country.

Event venues, hotels and establishments with international visitors have been taking additional measures to prevent infection and transmission. Venue owners are installing thermoscan cameras at the entrance to their properties and providing more alcohol-based sanitisers throughout their premises.

The six TCEB-supported international exhibitions scheduled up to March 2020 are Future Energy Asia by DMG Events, Thailand Coffee and Bakery 2020 by Kavin Intertrade, CPhl SEA 2020 by Informa Markets, VIV Health & Nutrition Asia 2020 by VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific, VICTAM Asia by Victam International BV and The Road & Traffic Thailand by Terrapinn.

VIV Health & Nutrition and VICTAM Asia are among the nine new exhibitions to debut in Thailand this year, which is expected to increase net space sold by 49,464 sqm. The other new shows are Maintenance and Resilience Asia, ASEANBIKE, Thailand Marine Offshore Expo, The Road & Traffic Expo, Cosmoprof CBE ASEAN, LOGIMAT and Medialab Asia Pacific.