Source:
https://scmp.com/article/653103/creative-locations-short-supply

Creative locations in short supply

What makes an event memorable is a typical question event planners have to deal with when clients seek their professional advice.

There is no easy answer because of variables such as whether it is a gala dinner or business convention, the budget involved and the professionalism of the organiser.

Doris Lam Cheuk-man, deputy general manager at China Travel Services' (CTS) conference, exhibition and special interest tours department, said: 'Venue is important for MICE [meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions].

'If it is a two- or three-day meeting, this means delegates will be at the venue most of the time. Physical configuration of the venue also affects how the event will be organised and what manpower we need. For instance, if the breakout rooms are down the corridor ... we will need extra staff to direct the guests. If the ceiling is too low, we cannot do certain types of entertainment or [are limited in] booth construction.'

Ms Lam said that when choosing a venue it must meet the requirements for the event. Value would be added if venue staff could come up with creative ideas, such as a themed coffee break, and be flexible with move-in and move-out time.

Global travel agency Carlson Wagonlit Travel, which launched its MICE arm three years ago, focuses on meetings and incentives. Meeting and event manager Chung Ming-yuen said: 'For a memorable event such as gala dinners, people look for an unforgettable experience. Therefore, creative and unusual locations are required.'

Event planners have difficulty locating historical and creative venues in Hong Kong, while cities such as Macau, some on the mainland and Singapore are good on this count. 'It would be nice if we could find a [historical] venue that tells a story as an added value to the event,' Ms Lam said.

Industry players in Hong Kong blame bureaucracy and rigid application procedures for the lack of flexibility and limited ideas when it comes to planning an event in public and government areas. This is because they have to negotiate layers of government structures, such as Fire Services, Planning and Food and Environmental Hygiene, to seek approval.

Apart from the venue, a good event planner is also crucial as he, or she, will be the mastermind behind the scenes. Because the event business is more service-oriented, it is difficult to gauge how good someone is beforehand.

You could always ask around, word-of-mouth is usually a good way to find out how competent someone is. Ask what work they have done in the past and you could also evaluate them by how well they present their ideas, including whatever special arrangements they might have for an event opening.

The newly established Destination Management Company (DMC) is owned by veteran Jenny May, who gained her expertise while working for a string of global companies. 'Individual operators usually target different sets of clientele,' the DMC managing director said. 'Of course, we won't have 100 jobs a month. As a result, we can spend more time on clients in search of unique venues or pay more attention to their special needs.

'The city lacks creative venues but there are quite a number of good restaurants which could be turned into creative event venues.'