By Gloria Fong

Issued by Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”), the professional private management company responsible for the daily operation of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (“HKCEC”), welcomes the announcement by the Hong Kong SAR Government for further relaxation of anti-COVID-19 measures. With the removing of Amber code, the three-day of medical surveillance, and restrictions for inbound visitors, HML is ready to welcome international visitors and events back to the HKCEC.

On 13 December 2022, the Hong Kong SAR Government removed the remaining restrictions and announced that all arrivals from 14 December 2022 who are tested negative will be given a Blue code and can attend events and go to any places and restaurants freely.

Ms. Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HML, said, “This is certainly a big and important step for the event industry to rebound that we have been waiting for. With the strong demand for physical events, the prime location of the HKCEC in Hong Kong’s central business district, HML’s experience and expertise in serving world-class events, and our continuous investment in infrastructure and facility upgrade, I am confident that the HKCEC will continue to win the votes of confidence of event organisers, exhibitors, and buyers, and rise above the challenges of COVID-19.”

A few well-established trade fairs have earlier announced their return to the HKCEC, including:

Hong Kong International Fur & Fashion Fair will be held on 22-25 February 2023
Jewellery & GEM ASIA Hong Kong (JGA) will be held on 22-25 June 2023
Jewellery & GEM WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) will be held on 20-24 September 2023
Cosmoprof Asia will be held on 15-17 November 2023

Gloria Fong is Head – Corporate & Marketing Communications for the HKCEC.

By Blair Cardinal

In an effort to generate new business at the Greenville (SC) Convention Center and reinvigorate Greenville as a meeting destination, the City of Greenville revealed that on October 1 it entered into a new partnership with Oak View Group, the global venue development, advisory, and investment company for both the hospitality and live entertainment industries.

OVG360, which is the third-party, venue management, venue services, and hospitality division of OVG, is overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations for the facility which encompass 280,000-square-feet of exhibit and event space, including a 30,000 square-foot ballroom. OVG360 will also work closely with the Convention & Visitors Bureau and focus on generating new business opportunities for the convention center as well as marketing the venue to event planners, show organizers, and exhibitors. OVG Hospitality, the food and beverage service division within OVG360, will enhance the customer experience with exciting new menu options and catering opportunities.

TD Synnex, which has hosted its annual international conference at the convention center for the last 25 years, began loading in the large event on October 2, one day after OVG’s management contract began.

“The City is eager to work with Oak View Group to position Greenville as a premier destination for conventions,” said Greenville City Manager John McDonough. “We hired them because we saw what the OVG team accomplished at other properties and are excited about the experience they bring to the Upstate. OVG is a worldwide leader in the meeting and convention industry and will make a significant economic impact in the region.”

“We see tremendous potential for Greenville and the Greenville Convention Center,” Greg O’Dell, President, OVG360’s venue management division, said. “As part of our network of properties we will be able to help generate significant new business for the venue and the region. We look forward to working closely with the Greenville CVB in bringing new life to Greenville, especially one that will bring visitors to the region.”

Blair Cardinal is VP, Communications at Oak View Group / OVG360.

By Mary Klida

Claude Molinari has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA,) the governing five-member board authority of Detroit’s convention center, Huntington Place. Molinari is the CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, known as Visit Detroit.

Molinari was appointed to the DRCFA Board by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2021. He has over 30 years of experience in the convention and meetings industry and over 10 years of experience in expanding tourism as an economic driver in the region and state.

“We are very fortunate to have Claude serve as Chairman of the DRCFA, especially with his deep experience in operating our Convention Center in Detroit and other centers in major cities throughout the U.S.,” said Patrick Bero, CEO and CFO, DRCFA. “His experience in building partnerships and the destination as well as building Huntington Place to one of the top 20 convention centers in the country is a major advantage for us going forward.”

Molinari’s position as board chairman brings the same rich synergy to the DRCFA dynamic that his predecessor, Larry Alexander, did. Alexander was the first chairman of the DRCFA and held the position from 2009-2021. Before retiring in 2021, Alexander was also President & CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau for 25 years.

“As the 16th largest convention center in the country, Huntington Place is a major driver of visitors and economic vitality for metro Detroit and the state of Michigan,” said Sr. Director of Communications for Visit Detroit, Chris Moyer. “Claude’s leadership on the board of the DRCFA helps ensure that Visit Detroit is well positioned to be a strong partner for the convention center as we both work to bring more meetings and events to the region.”

Like most major metropolitan convention centers, Detroit’s visitor’s bureau and convention center work closely to bring in major events that have significant economic impact on the region and bring jobs to local residents.

“There has never been a better time to bring meetings and conventions to metro Detroit, and I am honored to support the work of Huntington Place,” Molinari said. “I look forward to building on past Chairs Larry Alexander and Lisa Canada’s success as we bring new business to one of the best convention centers in the country.”

Molinari was the General Manager of now Huntington Place from 2016-2021 and prior to that served as Assistant General Manager for six years. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, The Parade Company, SEMCOG, the Engineering Society of Detroit, Destinations International, and the US Travel Association.

Molinari provides the leadership and direction necessary to enable Visit Detroit to bring meetings, conventions, leisure and business visitors to metropolitan Detroit and to accelerate economic growth. He leads the creation of the annual sales and marketing plan which outlines Visit Detroit’s direction to attract tourism and meetings business to the region. He also oversees the development of the annual budget.

In his role overseeing the Detroit Sports Commission (a Visit Detroit subsidiary), Molinari leads a team responsible for securing amateur sporting events throughout the region.

Mary Klida is Senior Marketing and Communications Manager for Huntington Place.

As a member of IAVM, you know all about the inspiration, expertise, and lifelong connections that the association provides. Now is the perfect opportunity for you to pay it forward by sponsoring membership for a deserving person on your staff, an intern, peer or colleague, or a valued Allied partner.

It is quick and easy. 1) Click this link to enter your applicant’s information: Gift of IAVM Membership. 2) Submit the appropriate membership category – Student, Young Professional, Professional, Faculty, Allied or Allied Rep 3) Member Services will reach out to you for the new member’s dues when the application is processed and ready to activate. That’s it!

Because of your generosity, your chosen recipient has a chance to connect to the industry’s professional core, plug into its powerful network, be enlightened by visionaries, and be inspired by once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Dues will depend on the membership category that is appropriate for the recipient. For your reference, categories, eligibility, and respective dues are listed below.

IAVM Membership Categories:

• Professional – Individuals who manage or are actively involved in the management, administration, or operation of a public venue. – Dues $495
• Young Professional – Individuals who are actively involved in the management, administration, or operation of a public venue at a level below the top two levels of management at the venue, i.e., Executive, General Manager or Department Head and who are 30 years of age and younger. – Dues $250
• Student – Individual enrolled at a university, college, or post-secondary technical school and is actively pursuing a degree in fields associated with, or appropriate to public venue management or operations. If the individual is employed full-time with a venue or industry provider, he or she is ineligible for Student Membership. – Dues $75
• Faculty – Open to individuals who are employed full-time as faculty of an accredited, post-secondary educational institution, providing instruction and training in disciplines and/or areas associated with the venue management industry, such as sports or venue management and/or hospitality. – Dues $180
• Allied – Any firm, organization, or individual engaged in providing product, equipment, services, or attractions for public venues. – Dues $655
• Allied Extra – Additional employee(s) of a current member company providing product, equipment, services, or attractions for public venues. A principal must already be a member to receive this rate. – Dues $495

This is a year-round campaign, but it is particularly impactful during the giving season. Click this link to add the contact information for your referral. We will advise your new member reference of your fantastic gift and share your special message if provided (included on the application form). Thank you for being a leader in our wonderful industry.

Kick off 2023 – Give the Gift of IAVM Membership Today!

Questions? Email the IAVM Membership Department.

You may have seen posted on IAVM social media channels recently that IAVM WHQ mailboxes and staff emails were affected by a downed email exhange server with our service provider, Rackspace.

Due to the time down and migration to a new server, emails sent to any @iavm.org account from 12:01 AM ET Friday (12/2) through 12:01 AM ET Sunday (12/4) were not received and are not recoverable.

Because of our inability to access emails during that time, we are extending the following deadlines for nominations and applications:

The deadline for nominations for the 2023 Charles A. McElravy Award, Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguished Allied Award, and Foundation Legacy Award have been extended to Monday, December 12.

We are extending the deadline for applications for the for 2nd Vice Chair of the Board of Directors through Monday, December 19.

If you have any questions regarding your nomination or application submission, please contact Rosanne Duke at rosanne.duke@iavm.org.