Connie Cheng from Shanghai Municipal Tourism Authority was presented with the International Congress and Conventions Association (ICCA) Moises Shuster Award at ICCA’s 50-year Anniversary Gala, part of the association’s 2014 Congress in Shanghai, this week. Cheng was commended for her contribution towards the development of China’s international meetings industry.
The Moises Shuster Award is the association’s highest honour, named after one of ICCA’s founding fathers and past Presidents. It is only given to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the international meetings industry over many years.
ICCA President Arnaldo Nardone, said: “Connie Cheng is a pioneer as our first active Chinese member. Not only did she single-handedly market her city Shanghai to the international market, but she travelled tirelessly all around her country, persuading others to join and engage with ICCA, so that today China has one of the world’s largest national memberships.
“Starting with Pieter van der Hoeven, she helped successive ICCA Presidents and CEOs to understand China’s complex culture and politics, and made ICCA a well-known brand. In recognition of this she was given the title of Honorary Ambassador for her country.
“Connie is the person who has played the biggest role in making this year’s Congress so special, although she is far too modest to admit this,” Nardone added. “It is thanks to Connie’s work over the last 16 years that top Chinese officials really understand the importance of our industry, and this is why there has been so much incredible support for this year’s Congress.”
ICCA rounded up a full year of 50-year anniversary celebrations during its 52nd ICCA Congress, 2-6 November. The attendance of 936 participants from 61 countries was the highest for an ICCA Congress outside Europe.
Nardone had told the Congress that soon a quarter of ICCA membership will be Asia-based if current trends continue.
“China is our fastest growing national membership, but we are seeing growth everywhere across this region, from New Zealand to India.”
ICCA relocated its Asia Pacific office to larger premises in Kuala Lumpur and expanded the operation to nine personnel.
“China is powering growth across the whole Asia Pacific region,” Nardone added. “One of the most important reasons for meeting in Shanghai was to gain an understanding of what that means.”
ICCA’s reserves meanwhile, topped €1m for the first time, with membership growth of three per cent. Current membership is 943, up from 917 a year ago.
“We are now in the upper half of the target range [for reserves], which will enable us to make future strategic investments when opportunities arise, “ said ICCA CEO Martin Sirk.
This year’s Congress in Shanghai had involved employing five consultants to ensure it ran smoothly after members had raised complaints about the 2012 Congress in Puerto Rico.
Food and beverage arrangements and the AV systems had come in for particular criticism in Puerto Rico.
James Rees, Co-Chair of ICCA’s venue sector, said: “The Board were really tough on Martin (Sirk) and wanted to know how we could make sure it didn’t happen again.”
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