Life> Travel

Biggest and best place to showcase

By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-27 09:27

Baiyun International Convention Center is acclaimed as the largest and most comprehensive international convention center in South China.

The 270,000-sq-m center integrates the businesses of a five-star hotel with 1,080 rooms, with a 150,000-sq-m convention center, an exhibition center and three theaters.

Located in the commercial and cultural area adjacent to Baiyun Mountain, it was built on the site of the original Oriental Paradise, which suspended operations in 2004.

"Of the integrated businesses, we will focus on providing comprehensive service for convention activities," says Fang Zhongdong, general manager of Baiyun International Convention Center.

According to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), a global meetings industry network, China will host many of the world's domestic and international convention activities in the years ahead.

Since its trial operation in 2005, the center has hosted up to 500 high-level events, such as the annual Guangdong provincial and Guangzhou city people's congresses and people's political consultative conferences. It also staged the United Cities and Local Governments World Council Meeting and Guangzhou International Sister Cities Conference in 2009. The First Asia Energy Forum and the 2008 International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport were also held there.

"Domestic and international guests are impressed by the advanced convention facilities and service here. That's why we have been honored to host so many high-level meetings in the past years and why we are predicting a better performance in the convention industry in the years ahead," Fang says.

The center has some 66 meeting rooms, where advanced facilities, such as electronic voting and registration systems, video conference systems and central control systems, are installed.

"Our development strategy will not only rely on the convention industry," Fang says. "We will, at the same time, expand other businesses to sustain an overall development."

For example, it will provide a series of value-added hotel services for domestic and international guests to the upcoming 107th China Import and Export Commodity Fair, internationally known as Canton Fair.

"Guests of business groups are allowed to use our small meeting rooms for free," Fang says.

Additionally, the hotel's business center will provide free fax, translation and Internet services. And music performances will be staged at the theater each night during the Canton Fair.

"Our business in the convention, hotel and performance sectors will be well integrated by providing value-added services," Fang says.

Over the past few years, the center has been the appointed hotel for many international events, such as the 49th World Team Table-Tennis Championship and the 2009 Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton Championship.

Additionally, it has served distinguished guests and leaders from more than 200 countries and regions.

"To better serve our guests, we have provided tailored accommodation for guests from different countries and regions, who have a variety of living and eating habits," Fang says.

For example, the center introduced chefs to make southeastern Asian and Muslim foods for international players, coaches and visitors to the Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton Championship last year.

"In the hotel, we want to make guests feel at home," Fang says.

As an ICCA member, the center has also become one of the designated hotels for the upcoming 16th Asian Games, which opens in Guangzhou on Nov 12.

"For sure, we will cooperate closely with the Games' organizer to provide more services for international guests by further integrating our business," Fang says.

Although it is located in the sub-downtown area, the center will have convenient transport links to sports venues during the Games, as a new metro line will be built to link with downtown areas.

The Guangzhou Metro Line 2, which passes the center area, will begin operation on Sept 28, the government says.

Guangzhou Gymnasium, which is one of the major sports venues for the Games, is adjacent to the center.