Association
Ten years at the helm – A chairman’ s farewell
Stuart Bailey, outgoing chairman, Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association( HKECIA), shares some thoughts on his 10-year journey and the regional exhibition road covered
fter a decade of service,
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I will step down from the role of chairman of the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association( HKECIA) at the next AGM with immense pride and a profound sense of gratitude. I am deeply thankful to the members who placed their faith in me five times over.
I hope I have repaid that trust – ensuring that the business of supporting Hong Kong’ s exhibition and convention industry has continued as smoothly as possible, weathering local and global challenges to the best of our ability.
A unified voice through turbulent times The past decade has demonstrated, perhaps more clearly than ever, the value of a strong, unified industry association. During the pandemic, I was approached by several prominent
players from related live-event sectors who lacked a similar organisation with a direct line to government.
They had no established channel to address complex operational issues. That experience underscored the critical role HKECIA plays – not only as a voice for the convention and exhibition industry, but as a bridge between stakeholders and policymakers, ensuring best practices are communicated and upheld.
The challenges we have faced have been constantly evolving. Trade wars and tariffs, social unrest, the implementation of the National Security Law, a global pandemic, and numerous smaller disputes among stakeholders have all tested our resilience. In some cases, HKECIA acted as a mediator; in others, we advocated to government for increased support or legislative changes to ensure the smooth continuation of conventions and exhibitions.
During the pandemic, executive committee members and I devoted significant time to working with the government, articulating the potentially devastating impact of prolonged venue closures and the absence of in-person events. We successfully obtained unparalleled financial support – over HK $ 3bn in subsidies – as we began to reopen. The venue subsidy schemes over the years have been instrumental in helping the industry return and re-establish itself.
Driving sustainability and digital transformation Sustainability and digital transformation are fundamental shifts that HKECIA has proactively embraced to keep our members relevant and competitive. Several years ago we established a sustainability subcommittee within our executive committee. I have witnessed substantial improvements in exhibition construction, while waste generated from exhibitions has been significantly reduced, with both organisers and venues moving away from unsustainable practices. www. exhibitionworld. co. uk Issue 3 2026 45