Mr. Edward Liu
It's an honor
to have you take your place in our Hot Seat, Edward.
Q. Let’s begin with the early days, Edward. You were once an English teacher, a journalist for the Straight Times and even held the post of honorary consul of Cote d’Ivoire. What prompted this major career change and what made you choose the convention business initially?
A. While I was working as a correspondent for the Straits Times in London, I had the opportunity to visit several consumer and trade exhibitions and events, which left a deep impression on me.
Hence, after eight years as a journalist, I decided to broaden my horizon and to venture into publishing, and eventually into the business communications industry, which includes the organization of conferences and exhibitions.
Q. Could you comment a little on the competition Singapore is facing with other countries in the MICE industry?
A. Richard, clearly, Singapore is facing tough challenges from major cities in China, India and even Southeast Asia. Many of these cities have built excellent infrastructure to cope with the demands of organizers and exhibitors, as their economies have been expanding and growing in the past decade. This is particularly so in the exhibition sector, which is driven by the demands in the marketplaces.
Q. Some industry watchers say that exhibition and convention in Singapore is a “cut throat?business - any truth in this?
A. To some extent, the MICE and the tourism industry is a “cut throat?business as pricing is a strategic marketing tool in the meetings, incentive travels, conventions and exhibitions as well as the hospitality sectors. However, this phenomenon is evident not only in Singapore, but in most cities in Asia.
Q. How do you envisage CEMS and Singapore’s two Integrated Resorts from 2009 onwards?
A. With the development of the two Integrated Resorts by 2010, Singapore will stand at the threshold of change. By then, Singapore will have the wherewithal and the flexibility to recreate its tourism landscape and to reach out to more tourists and business travelers.
As a company, CEMS will also have to “think out of the box?and to develop new solutions to better serve our exhibitors and trade visitors. We must make the experience for both exhibitors and visitors, more enriching and rewarding.
Q. Do you believe the Singapore government is doing enough to promote MICE facilities available here? And are there, in your opinion, enough incentive and support schemes made available by the government to the industry?
A. To be candid, the government has done much in the last three years to improve the tourism appeal and attractiveness of Singapore. This is in line with its vision for Tourism 2015. In fact, the government has exceeded the expectations of many when it announced the approval of the two IRs, the introduction of Formula One racing and the winning of the Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
In terms of MICE facilities, the two IRs would complement the existing Singapore Expo and the Suntec Singapore. There will be enough exhibit halls and meeting rooms to cater to the largest convention that can be brought to Singapore, in the years to come.
Concurrently, between the Singapore Tourism Board, which oversees the MICE industry, and the IE Singapore, they have sufficient incentive programmes to support the associations and organizers that are helping to recreate the MICE industry in Singapore.
Q. During their bid to build and operate Singapore’s very first Integrated Resort, MBS promised to almost double the current space for meetings, incentives, exhibitions and conventions in Singapore and attract the business traveler. Will this be achievable in your opinion?
A. MBS and the Resorts World @ Sentosa will act as magnets to bring in the MICE visitors from near and far. The two IRs are the cornerstones of the Tourism 2015 game-plan.
I am confident that the two IRs will add a new dimension to the uniqueness and attractiveness of Singapore as a key MICE and tourism destination when the new developments come on stream.
Q. Resorts World at Sentosa promises to add a fun element to business for instance, offering clients the possibility of a conference in the morning and a Universal show in the afternoon. Do you think this will contribute in pulling in a bigger number of clients, or do you think clients will prefer the old traditional method of holding conventions and exhibitions?
A. The offerings by Resorts World @ Sentosa can be in various forms ?the skies the limit! As mentioned earlier, MICE delegates and participants are always seeking for new experiences to enrich their own lives. I believe that conducting conventions and exhibitions in the old fashion ways might not work in the future!
Hence, a stroll in the Universal theme park might be a good boost to perk up the participants and delegates, and provide an excellent opportunity for team work and business networking.
Q. MBS will be able to accommodate 45,000 plus delegates in 110,390 sqm of MICE floor space. Also, RWS will be able to accommodate 12,000 plus delegates in 26,650 sqm of floor space. Surely the extra space will satisfy market demand, or is there room for even greater expansion?
A. Personally, I am of the view that the new facilities being constructed, would be more than adequate to cater to our future needs, for now. We would need to conduct a strategic appraisal in five to 10 years, to evaluate if there is room for further expansion.
What is more important is the creativeness of our touristy programmes, the services and hospitality of our people, and the experiences that our visitors would bring back with them that would determine whether or not Singapore needs further expansion or improvement in the years ahead.
Q. What has been your proudest achievement so far?
A. Without being conceited, I have too many memorable experiences to enumerate. In terms of projects, the launching of the premiere Asian Aerospace in 1981 was amongst one of my more exciting experiences.
Perhaps, the proudest achievement was being conferred the “Chevalier of National Order?by the Government of Cote d’Ivoire in March this year.
Q. Any future expansion plans for CEMS?
A. CEMS is now active in China, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. CEMS will continue to set new trails in emerging markets in the years to come.
My sincere thanks to Mr. Edward Liu. If anyone else would like to take their place on the next Dice Hot Seat, then send us an email.
Conference & Exhibition
Management Services Pte Ltd
Address
1 Maritime Square
#09-43 HarbourFront Centre
Singapore 099253
Phone/Fax
(65) 6 278 8666 / (65) 6 278 4077