On September 15, the 2023 International Meeting Industry CEO Meeting & Global Conference Destination Competitiveness Index Launch (IMICM & GCDCIL) hosted by Chengdu University (CDU) was successfully held in Mumian Chengdu Dong'an Lake. Senthil Gopinath, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Marta Gomes, President of the Board of Directors of ICCA, Waikin Wong, Regional Director Asia Pacific of ICCA, Wang Qingdao, Vice President of China Convention/Exhibition/Event Society, Wang Qingyuan, President of CDU, Su Hong, Deputy Director of Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition, and Zhu Dan, Executive Director of the Center for International Meetings Research and Training Supported by ICCA (CIMERT) and Dean of the School of Tourism and Culture Industry of CDU attended the event. More than 300 senior managers from conference and exhibition venues, industry associations, enterprises, government authorities, higher education institutions, and research organizations in international and domestic cities such as Penang in Malaysia, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Xiamen, Wuhan, Guilin, and Dunhuang.
Opening speech by President Wang Qingyuan
At the event, Wang Qingyuan, President of CDU, Su Hong, Deputy Director of Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition, and Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA, delivered opening speeches. A group of esteemed guests delivered keynote speeches. These guests included Marta Gomes, President of the Board of Directors of ICCA, Ashwin Gunasekeran, CEO of the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Michael Kruppe, CEO of Shanghai New International Expo Centre, and Yang Wei, President of Chongqing Yuelai Liangjiang International Hotel & Convention Management Co., Ltd. Ms. Waikin Wong, Regional Director Asia Pacific of ICCA, led the CEO dialogue.
Opening speech by Mr. Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA
Keynote speech by Ms. Marta Gomes, President of the Board of Directors of ICCA
Zhu Dan, Executive Director of CIMERT, released the 2023 Global Conference Destination Competitiveness Index Report on the spot. In order to continue the annual comparison, comprehensiveness of indicators, and data availability, the 2023 Global Conference Destination Competitiveness Index indicator system still evaluates and analyzes 149 sample cities around the world in four dimensions concerning the competitiveness in the overall environment, supporting infrastructure, professionalism, and image perception. Director Zhu Dan said that based on a comprehensive, representative, and feasible evaluation indicator system that is in line with the development trend of the international meeting industry, CIMERT has continuously released the Global Conference Destination Competitiveness Index, which can fully reflect the current development situation and potential of global conference cities. The Global Conference Destination Competitiveness Index Report has been released for four consecutive years, with the research model gradually optimized and data samples covering the whole world. It provides a continuous and abundant reference value for the exhibition industry and greatly enhances the international discourse and influence of CDU's exhibition discipline construction.
Professor Zhu Dan, Dean of the School of Tourism and Culture Industry of CDU and Director of CIMERT, conducts the index launch
At the CEO Salon in the afternoon, the guests focused on the topics of developing green, smart, and ecological international meeting industry under the background of zero carbon. Participants engaged in extensive dialogues and in-depth exchanges on the experiences, dilemmas, strategic outlooks, and implementation plans for the development of green conferences and exhibitions in the zero-carbon era from the perspectives and positions of different subjects of the exhibition industrial chain.
Hu Xiuqiang, Full-time Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of CDU, attends the CIMERT four-party working meeting
The 2023 CIMERT four-party annual working meeting took place simultaneously, and Hu Xiuqiang, Full-time Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of CDU, attended the meeting. At the working meeting, leaders of the four parties fully affirmed the development and achievements of CIMERT over the past four years and reached a consensus on the new development stage and strategies of CIMERT. The four parties would further expand the scope and improve the quality of cooperation, and further set up an innovative platform and exemplary cooperation model integrating governments, universities, associations, and media.
This is the fourth consecutive year for CIMERT to hold the IMICM & GCDCIL. Based on the big data research of CIMERT and CDU's solid foundation for years-long research in the exhibition competitiveness index, the results released in 2023 are of strong international, applicable, and practical significance. Held in Chengdu, this event serves the international meeting industry on a global scale with innovative application results. It is another important contribution of CDU to the implementation of university-city integration and the construction of an international convention and exhibition capital. It will further enhance Chengdu's voice in the development of the international meeting industry and the theoretical research level in China, consolidating and strengthening Chengdu's leading position in domestic and even international conference destinations.
