Zhengzhou focuses on exhibitions

Cliff Wallace, born in Greenville, America, has more than 40 years' experience in the public assembly venue industry. He has managed, operated, assisted in planning and design, as well as advised on convention and exhibition, arena and stadium venues in Asia, Europe and North America.

Wallace, chairman of Hong Kong-Shanghai Venue Management (Zhengzhou) Limited (VMZL), is now regarded as an expert in exhibition management and administration, exhibition marketing and consultancy, as well as public relations in the sector.

In May 2006, VMZL took over management of the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre (ZZICEC). A private professional management company, VMZL is a joint venture between Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Venue Management China Limited and INTEX Shanghai Co Ltd.

In October 2007, Wallace was appointed president of the Union of International Fairs (UFI), the global association of the exhibition industry. The announcement was made during the UFI's 74th Annual Congress in Versailles, France on October 25. It marks the first time that a venue manager from Asia has been appointed to the Euro-centric position and indicates great honor for Wallace as well as Zhengzhou.

"I am honored to be the first venue manager and Asian representative to be elected the president of UFI. It puts Hong Kong and Asia in the prime position of the global exhibition industry," Wallace said after the announcement.

Letter of congratulation

On behalf of the Zhengzhou municipal government, Mayor Zhao Jiancai wrote a letter to Cliff Wallace soon afterwards, expressing his sincere wishes and congratulations on the latter's being appointed president of the UFI.

Mayor Zhao said in his letter to Wallace that the two sides, Zhengzhou and Hong Kong, have together made great efforts in the past to enhance friendship and deepen cooperation.

With the high priority accorded to the development of the exhibition industry by the Zhengzhou government, he said, more progress and prosperity is expected on both sides.

Further, Zhao entrusted Yue Zengpu, president of the Zhengzhou International Exhibition Co Ltd, with the duty of expressing the mayor's congratulations to Wallace during Yue's special visit to Hong Kong.

A welcome ceremony for Yue was held in one of the conference rooms at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Wallace was visibly moved as the host finished reading the English version of the congratulatory letter from the Zhengzhou mayor.

Apart from the mayor's congratulatory letter written both in Chinese and English, Yue also took with him a collection of photos in an album featuring cooperation between the Zhengzhou exhibition centre and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) as a special gift to Wallace, as a testimony to the deepening of their partnership over the past years.

Receiving the gift, Wallace repeatedly expressed his gratitude and was further touched by the marvelous collection of photographs.

"I respect Mayor Zhao for his contribution to the city of Zhengzhou and its people. His letter is a big surprise and means a great deal to me," he said.

"I am deeply grateful for Yue's visit to Hong Kong, which is the best gift from the Zhengzhou municipal government and Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre. I will show my friends the special gift and tell them what I am doing in Zhengzhou," added Wallace.

He also said that he will try his best to make Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre known worldwide, and promote the development of Zhengzhou's exhibition industry.

Regarded as a friendly tour aimed at further exchange and cooperation, Yue's visit to Hong Kong captured the attention of both leaders and industry staff.

Chairman Wallace, Monica Lee-Muller, director and general manager of VMZL and also deputy managing director of HKCEC, and General Manager of Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre Andrew Garcia, as well as others, attended the welcome ceremony held in Hong Kong.

UFI promotes trade fairs

On April 15, 1925, UFI was founded in Milan, Italy by a group of 20 leading European international trade fairs.

As a strictly non-political and nonprofit international organization, UFI is a privileged forum of communication for tradeshow organizers from the Eastern and Western blocs, and works toward common goals. Its main goal is to represent its members and the exhibition industry worldwide.

UFI's programs focus on providing advisory services and training courses. Significant efforts have been made to develop cooperation agreements between UFI members and trade fair representatives in the newly developing nations.

By promoting the unique characteristics of trade fairs, UFI plays the role of an efficient networking platform where professionals of the exhibition industry can exchange ideas and experiences.

UFI promotes trade fairs and exhibitions globally as a unique marketing and communications tool, providing its members with valuable studies and research regarding all aspects of the exhibition industry. It also offers educational training opportunities and a variety of high-level seminars.

UFI deals with issues of common interest for its members within the framework of the regular meetings of its regional chapters and working committees.

UFI represents 495 member organizations (composed of 260 exhibition organizers, 46 hall owner managers, 123 exhibition organizers & hall owner managers, 37 associations and 25 partners of the exhibition industry), present in 197 cities in 84 countries and regions across the world.

UFI has bestowed its quality label upon more than 805 trade fairs and exhibitions organized by its members.

As leading international tradeshow organizers, UFI members currently represent almost 4,500 trade fairs and exhibitions, with more than 50 million sq m of exhibition space rented annually.

More than one million exhibitors participate in these events each year, while over 150 million visitors attend them.

UFI members owning exhibition centers represent a total gross rentable exhibition space of more than 12 million sq m.

UFI has developed from an organization representing European interests to one representing those of the global exhibition industry. It has also formed new alliances and partnerships with key organizations involved in the exhibition business.

(China Daily 01/03/2008 page24)