Announcement

In preparation for Christmas Eve 2018, the Sigep Observatory of Italian Exhibition Group, linked to the International Trade Show of Artisan Pastry and Baking (in Italy, at Rimini Expo Centre from 19th to 23rd January 2019), interviewed some of the most famous Italian confectioners who have ordained artisan-made panettone as the King of Christmas together with some extremely imaginative cakes.

“I am a traditionalist innovator,” says the “Master of pastry Masters,” Iginio Massari from Brescia near Milan. “I respect tradition in its deepest essence but I give my panettone an innovative touch every year. I use exemplary raw materials: a panettone made properly is always a good panettone.”

Two kilos of sweetness with the fragrance of marron glacè (the chestnuts come from Piedmont) and apricots (from Naples) uphold the panettone (which takes shape after over 60 hours of slow leavening) offered by multi-awarded maestro Roberto Rinaldini from Rimini with pastry shops on the Adriatic Riviera and in Milan, Florence and Japan.

According to the President of the National Italian Confectioners’ Confederation, Federico Anzellotti, “Panettone will be enhanced by sublime combinations like lemons from Sorrento, hazelnuts from Piedmont and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine.”

A eulogy for Christmas afternoons while watching a film comes from the world’s first Pastry Queen (SIGEP 2014): master confectioner, Sonia Balacchi has devised the ‘Torta Movie’ for the Christmas holidays that recalls popcorn, the “co-star” of cinema halls, used as a caramelized decoration on toffee and vanilla icing on a red fruit and mascarpone cheese cake covered with a dark chocolate mousse.

Christmas becomes pink with Silvia Federica Boldetti from Turin, a member of the Italian Academy of Master Confectioners: standing out among her creations is the lucky Christmas trio: Father Christmas, a Wise Man and an elf with pink cocoa beans.

A delicious tribute to Christmas from pastry chefs who have recently been training for the Italian Senior Confectioners’ Championship at the next SIGEP: Sicilian Charles Di Vita delights the palates of Italy with ‘Fiore dell’Etna’ (an almond pastry filled with a light coffee-flavoured cream and crunchy insert), while Gianluca Cavallo, also Sicilian, from Ragusa, is proposing his ‘Torta Regina’ for the Christmas festivities (5 alternating layers of strawberry and wood berry cream).

The young but famous pastry chef, Ilaria Cirillo, is presenting her Föhn for the 2018 Festivities, a soft cake with marrons glacé, apricot jelly and peanut ganache inspired by the name of the warm wind that engulfs the Susa Valley in Piedmont where she was born and bred.

SOURCE Italian Exhibition Group

World ATM Congress 2019 combines a large-scale exhibition, world-class conference and educational presentations, and exclusive networking opportunities, plus the chance to learn the latest trends and developments in the ATM industry – all under one roof.

Expected to draw more than 8,500 attendees from 130+ countries and territories, World ATM Congress 2019 will welcome over 80 air navigation service providers (ANSPs), alongside aviation industry partners and stakeholders and more than 230 exhibitors highlighting cutting-edge technology, including remote tower solutions, space-based ADS-B, artificial intelligence and autonomy, cybersecurity, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) traffic management (UTM). As a testament to the popularity of the show, the 2019 exhibition footprint is larger than ever, already exceeding last year’s floorplan by nearly 800 square metres.

The Conference Programme theme is “Tackling the Big Issues in ATM – Capacity, UTM Integration, People.” It will focus on industry’s most pressing challenges, such as integrating and managing drones, attracting and retaining the next generation of ATM professionals, increasing diversity in the workforce, and the best way to expand ATM capacity. Information on keynote speeches, presentations and panel sessions by renowned aviation industry leaders will be announced soon.

World ATM Congress 2019 features six education theatres in its world-class Exhibition Hall and IFEMA’s conference centre. The theatres will provide nearly 150 hours of programming, including product launches and demonstrations, panel discussions, research findings, and more.

Registration is now open, with discounted early registration rates available until 1 February 2019.

About World ATM Congress

World ATM Congress (www.worldatmcongress.org) is the world’s largest international air traffic management (ATM) exhibition and conference attracting over 8,500 people each year.

A Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) partnership with the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA), World ATM Congress brings together the world’s leading product developers, experts, stakeholders, and ANSPs. Aviation thought-leaders gather for three days of conference sessions, product demonstrations and launches, contract closures, and educational and networking opportunities in Madrid, Spain.

The rankings for the 125 leading organizations will be unveiled during a black-tie awards gala February 25, 2019 during the Training 2019 Conference & Expo, February 25-27, in Orlando, Florida.

Today, Ricoh USA, Inc. announced its fifth consecutive inclusion in Training magazine’s annual Training Top 125, which ranks companies’ excellence in employer-sponsored training and development programs. Throughout Ricoh’s transformation to a services company that empowers digital workplaces, employee training was identified early on as crucial to establishing new and building on existing competencies and culture. Ricoh has continued to build on the successes that have earned it a spot on the Training Top 125 for 16 of the past 17 years.

“A company is its employees. Without excellent employees at every organizational level, we cannot be an excellent company. That’s why we invest so much in our people,” said Donna Venable, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Deputy General Manager, Shared Services, Ricoh Americas. “It is our mission to build a customer-first culture composed of deeply skilled experts ready to help customers meet any challenge. To do that, you need to reinforce the culture, teach the skills and pass down the field expertise. Our training programs, tailored to meet the broad and varied needs of Ricoh’s customers, are designed to deliver on each of those fronts. We are honored that our work in this department has once again received this recognition.”

Now in its 19th year, the Training Top 125 ranking is based on myriad benchmarking statistics such as total training budget; percentage of payroll; number of training hours per employee program; hours of training per employee annually; detailed formal programs; learning goals; Kirkpatrick Level 3 and 4 evaluation; and business outcomes measurement. The ranking is determined by assessing a range of qualitative and quantitative factors, including financial investment in employee development, the scope of development programs, how closely such development efforts are linked to business goals and objectives, and the results they achieve.

A major area of focus for this year was training sales personnel and technicians, the employees who interface with customers the most, to develop deep and broad knowledge of the Ricoh portfolio, and to use consultative strategies to address customers’ unique needs. One such program, the Inside Sales Portfolio Enablement Learning Program, encouraged sales representatives to view problems – and solutions – holistically, exploring ways different areas of Ricoh’s portfolio can provide a more complete, more effective solution for customers. The results were nothing short of incredible, with a 277 percent year-over-year increase in professional services and software sales from the Inside Sales division. Furthermore, the rate of hardware orders that also included a software component increased 130 percent year-over-year, to 22.5 percent of hardware sales, in FY2017. This holistic, customer-centric approach helped instil confidence in customers that Ricoh understands their business needs, with 84 percent of those surveyed saying so. At the same time, 83 percent of customers responding to post-service call surveys gave high ratings for quality of service. Perhaps most importantly for a company built around long-term positive customer relationships, surveys indicate 87 percent of responding customers agree with the statement “I can depend on Ricoh.”

“The 2019 Training Top 125 winners highlight the importance and value of training — to their organizations, to their employees, and to their industries and communities,” said Lorri Freifeld, Editor-in-Chief, Training magazine. “They are on the leading edge as they effectively deliver employee training that pushes the needle forward to meet organizational goals while developing an engaged, creative, and committed workforce. Congratulations to these standout organizations for their stellar dedication to learning and employee growth.”

To learn more about Ricoh’s dedication to employee development and enhanced customer experiences, visit its Work For Us Facebook page.

About Ricoh
Ricoh is empowering digital workplaces using innovative technologies and services enabling individuals to work smarter. For more than 80 years, Ricoh has been driving innovation and is a leading provider of document management solutions, IT services, commercial and industrial printing, digital cameras, and industrial systems.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in approximately 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ended March 2018, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,063 billion yen (approx. 19.4 billion USD).

For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com.

On December 9, the Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA) announced the hygiene and safety-related invention prize winners of the 2018 Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF 2018) which took place from December 6-9 in COEX A Hall, Seoul, Korea.

SIIF 2018, which celebrated its 14th anniversary this year, is the largest annual international invention event in Asia and is supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA), and other patent information and technology transfer agencies.

An impressive total of 606 inventions from 33 countries including France and the U.S.A. were featured at this year’s event. Winners were chosen after an on-site evaluation which took place on December 6 and 7.

One of the ten grand prize winners of this year’s festival is ‘MANG.ID’, an invention by Naufal Alman Shafly and nine other team members from the University of Brawijaya in Indonesia. ‘MANG.ID’ is an online application that helps market the products of small and medium enterprises (SME) in Indonesia.

Other nine other grand prize winners are:

‘FIR Herbs’ by Zen Innovation Group Co., Ltd (Thailand): an antimicrobial oralagent that uses herbs to eliminate bacteria in the mouth;
‘Cleanliness mat of corpse for funeral’ by F&S Co., Ltd. (Korea);
‘Heating Food Tray for Child’ by BABYKISS (Korea): a food poisoning prevention tool for infants and young children;
‘Direct Recycling-Hot Press Forging’ by Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (Malaysia);
‘The heat-dissipation light-emitting element by Far infrared radiation’ by Far East University (Taiwan);
‘LiZi Acu-fit’ by Homeway Technology Group (Taiwan);
‘Wiper blade’ by KIMBLADE Co., Ltd. (Korea);
‘Control method of linear motor’ by ZEUS TECH; and
‘Fire extinguisher for training of virtual reality’ by SAFEIN (Korea).
Various commercial and promotional opportunities were made available to the SIIF 2018 inventors, including information on the latest technology trends, technology transfer, and investment consultations.

Lee Du-seong, acting president of the Korea Invention Promotion Association, stated, “SIIF 2018 revealed a bright future from the technological innovation displayed in the inventions from the world,” also adding,”KIPA will work harder to provide quality support to inventors through close cooperation with invention institutes and organizations around the globe.”

SOURCE KIPA (Korea Invention Promotion Association)

The 23rd China (Guzhen) International Lighting Fair (Spring) will be held concurrently with the Guzhen Lighting Manufacturing, Supply & Services Expo 2019 at Guzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, Zhongshan, China from March 18-21, 2019. The fair will cover the upstream, midstream and downstream of lighting industry chain to integrate all resources and stimulate market vitality. It focuses on domestic sales, but also takes into account export sales, creating a super-cost-effective procurement season in spring.

Taking “Original Source of Lightings for 6 Billion People Worldwide” as the theme, the fair will deepen the “1+7” linkage mode between exhibition & megastores. With an exhibition area of over 1,500,000 m2 in total, it will gather 2,000+ famous lighting enterprises from home and abroad and professional buyers from 100+ countries and regions.

Innovation-driven Lighting Fair

The fair and the Manufacturing Expo complement with each other, covering a wide range of exhibits including decorative lighting, home lighting, electrical and electronic products, commercial lighting, LED lighting solution, outdoor lighting, machinery, raw materials, lighting accessories, 3D printing, commercial service, etc.

It is worth mentioning that, to promote industrial upgrading in the field of corporate trade, the Hall A of main venue – Guzhen Convention and Exhibition Center takes lighting design as the highlight and intelligent manufacturing as the focus. Leading enterprises in decorative lighting and enterprises with design innovation ability and lighting engineering strength will compete on the same stage. At the “Smart Home Lighting” exhibition hall, the organizers provide not only intelligent lighting products and solutions of professional brand enterprises, but also the intelligent system accessible to the overall home lighting control program, lighting management system with automatic switch light technology, intelligent touch remote control switch with distance up to 100 meters, etc. The integration of smart products, design elements, and light-effect aesthetics enables end users, buyers, dealers, and even fashion-forward designers to explore “business opportunities” in the fair.

The First Stop of Procurement in Spring

Relying on the Guzhen (China’s Lighting Capital) lighting manufacturing & trading industry clusters with an annual output value of 100 billion yuan, the fair takes Guzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre as the main venue, with Lihe Lighting Expo Centre, Huayi Plaza, Star Alliance Global Brand Lighting Center, Lighting Era Center, Besun Lighting Plaza, Huayu Plaza, and China International Streetlight City as sub-venues.

As the first stop of lighting procurement in spring, the fair will carry out various activities to create a purchasing event for buyers with preferential pricing products, first-class services, and attracting gifts.

Superb Services of Pre-registrant

The fair will continue the mode of online pre-registration and on-site e-payment, and will continuously update paperless and intelligent services, such as electronic catalogs, electronic invitations, facial recognition admission systems, and so on. People can conduct pre-registration through the official website or WeChat official account of the GILF. Through pre-registration, visitors are able to enjoy free entry, fast admission badge exchange at VIP pathway and services at VIP Lounge. Besides, if visitors complete pre-registration for themselves and 3 or more companions by December 31, 2018, they can participate in a lucky draw for tablet PC, mountain bike, etc.

Summary: As GILF is becoming a world-class lighting exhibition platform with great influence, its professionalization, marketization and internationalization have been unanimously recognized by the globe. This year, the fair will present again a grand procurement carnival for the lighting market.

SOURCE China (Guzhen) International Lighting Fair

Related Links
http://www.denggle.com

International buyers are marking their calendars for Asia’s largest event dedicated to the smart retail industry. The 16th edition of the China International Self-service, Kiosk and Vending Show (CVS), organised by UBM Sinoexpo, will be held from 25-27 April 2019 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) and is lauded to be the most ground breaking edition yet with innovative new technology and industry heavy weights taking centre stage. As the most anticipated event of the year, over 20,000 international buyers are expected to attend the three day event.

CVS 2019 brings together comprehensive, cutting edge innovations including currency identification technology, mobile payment equipment, vending systems and accessories, automated solutions and much more. Expanding into two halls for 2019, the show will host over 500 international companies showcasing their products and services. “CVS is the largest vending show in Asia, it provided a lot of opportunities for vending and smart retail industry. We always bring new products to attend this show,” said Wang Bing, President, Ubox Vending.

“Our 2019 edition of CVS is set to be the most ground breaking edition yet,” said Helena Gao, Event Director, UBM SinoExpo. “The expo offers a premier showcase of revolutionary technology designed to benefit business and inspire and educate our visitors.” CVS will also be taking place alongside the Shanghai International Franchise Expo (SFE) and the largest hotel supplies expo in Asia (Hotel Plus), thus increasing the mega exhibition to over 210,000 sqm with an expected combined global audience of 200,000 visitors.

As the manufacturing industry in China is accelerating rapidly and Industry 4.0 is increasingly becoming a widely discussed topic, the Shanghai International Unmanned Business Expo will be introduced at CVS 2019 to address many of the concerns faced by manufacturers by allowing visitors to directly interact with new systems and equipment to increase their understanding. In addition, the very first “China International Conference on Unmanned Business” in collaboration with the Kylin Business School, will host industry experts speaking about automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies including insights into AI and its impact on operational efficiency as well as legal implications for unmanned retail. The Conference has already garnered much interest from leading manufacturers keen to enhance their industry education and learn about new technology that will positively impact their business.

The China International Self-service, Kiosk and Vending Show (CVS), organised by UBM Sinoexpo, will be held from 25-27 April 2019 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).

Registration is now open, get limited free tickets here: https://sinoexpo.ubmonlinereg.com.cn/Registration/Default.aspx?fid=856&lang=en&source=PRN.

For more information please visit https://www.chinavending.com.cn/Portals/40/LandingPageEN.html?source=PRN.

SOURCE UBM Sinoexpo

Related Links
http://www.chinavending.com.cn/

Hannover Fairs USA and Deutsche Messe, the organizers of the world’s largest manufacturing show HANNOVER MESSE and its North American edition, HANNOVER MESSE USA, announced today that it will debut Digital Industry USA (DIG/IN USA), a biennial Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) trade show that will take companies through the adoption of connected technologies, from the proof-of-concept phase to a fully connected enterprise.

Exhibitors will demonstrate how to implement digitalization by featuring smart factory case studies and real-time IIoT solutions, such as Production Efficiency, Data Analytics & Cloud, AI & Intelligent Machines, Security, Robots/Cobots and Additive Manufacturing. DIG/IN USA will empower thought leadership from the factory floor staff to the C-Suite with a focus on advancing small to large companies in the automotive, aerospace & defense, machinery and equipment, energy/oil & gas, food & beverage, packaging & assembly, science lab equipment and logistics industries.

“DIG/IN USA blends a focus on IIoT, automation and controls technology and is a perfect follow-up to HANNOVER MESSE USA 2018, which was a huge success for industry exhibitors and attendees alike,” said Larry Turner, CEO of Hannover Fairs USA. “DIG/IN USA will be an IIoT event as innovative and forward-thinking as the industry it supports.”

The world’s top industrial technology and automation companies will provide solutions, knowledge and expertise for every level of IIoT adoption on and off the plant floor. Similar to HANNOVER MESSE USA 2018 and Digital Factory at HANNOVER MESSE in Germany, DIG/IN USA will feature hands-on demonstrations, workshops and educational sessions across the trade show floor. The direction of DIG/IN USA is being steered by a show committee comprised of industry experts from ARC Advisory Group, Beckhoff, Forcam, Hiwin, Microsoft, Nikola Industrial & Manufacturing Solutions and SAP.

“This new event will be a great service to the manufacturing community including both discrete and process industries,” said Bill Lydon, chief editor of Automation.com, InTech Magazine, automation industry expert & consultant.

“Creating a trade show and educational conference that is focused more intently on the increasing needs of IIoT and Industry 4.0 is so crucial,” said Brian Pitzer, Global VP of Nikola Industrial & Manufacturing Solutions. “This area will continue to grow at an astounding rate over the next 10 years as it is easily the single biggest challenge facing the manufacturing and industrial environments today.”

DIG/IN USA attendees will see and experience critical IIoT solutions to understand better how they interconnect in the factory. The show will host educational discussions and experiences across all levels of IIoT adoption, allowing attendees to foster long-lasting business relationships and address their most pressing needs.

“DIG/IN USA offers attendees the opportunity to identify the products and make the contacts necessary to further their automation goals. With the growth of automation in small and medium sized companies who may not have the engineering or IT resources to identify the right components to produce a complete solution, a ‘one stop shop’ with education offerings will be a very valuable opportunity,” said Shawn Lawrence, product marketing manager of HIWIN Corporation USA.

In addition to exhibits, learning labs and on-floor educational presentations, DIG/IN USA will feature a start-up area and hackathon, as well as virtual reality space to demonstrate a variety of technologies such as digital twin. Off the show floor, HFUSA will host a high-level executive conference the day prior to the event and local area tours of a distillery utilizing IIoT equipment, the Toyota plant and the UPS distribution center in Louisville.

“I am pleased to hear that Hannover Fairs USA is planning a new, immersive IIoT trade event that attracts highly automated companies, as well as those wanting to be more competitive, analytical and interconnected,” said Mark Gallant, senior director of marketing IoT manufacturing solutions at PTC.

Leading the Digital Industry management team are Chicago-based Adrienne Zepeda, show manager of North American industrial technology events at HFUSA, and Raymond Bianchi, VP of events & business development at HFUSA. For additional information about DIG/IN USA, visit www.digitalindustryusa.com or contact Adrienne Zepeda at [email protected]

About Digital Industry USA

Digital Industry (DIG/IN USA) will be at the forefront of showcasing innovations in the factory of the future: AI, cobots, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Industry 4.0 and related applications such as predictive maintenance, more efficient use of raw materials, faster time to market and other trends in industrial manufacturing. As a complement to HANNOVER MESSE USA in the odd-years, Digital Industry USA will take place from September 10-12, 2019 at the completely renovated Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY.

About Hannover Fairs USA

Hannover Fairs USA, Inc. (HFUSA) is the U.S. subsidiary of Hannover, Germany’s Deutsche Messe – one of the world’s largest and most active organizers of industrial technology events. Chicago, Illinois-based HFUSA helps U.S. companies expand domestically and internationally through exhibit and sponsorship opportunities at Deutsche Messe’s worldwide portfolio of events. Participation in these events offers U.S. companies an unparalleled opportunity for business development through trade shows and conferences held in Hannover, Germany and North America, as well as in key markets such as China, India, Mexico and Turkey. HFUSA creates qualified new business leads, helps U.S. companies enter new markets and aids them in forming lasting partnerships.

THIS YEAR’S FORUM: ENORMOUS CHANGES AND NEW AREAS OF FOCUS

As more people in the US and around the world gain access to health services, quality improvers continue to focus on developing new and better ways to deliver patient care and to coordinate these efforts with the health needs of communities. Quality improvement initiatives now extend across the continuum of care, from the hospital to the home, and feature new models that factor in behavioral health as well as physical health and the role that social determinants play throughout the life cycle. This is part of a broadening mission of achieving greater health equity and improving the health of populations consistent with a payment system that is shifting from rewarding volume to one focused on value.

Against this backdrop, the 2018 IHI National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care provides the country’s best platform to hear about successes and challenges and to harness evidence-based solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing health and health care today.

2018 IHI National Forum Highlights

Prominent keynote speakers:

IHI President and CEO, Derek Feeley, and Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director, Healthcare Quality and Strategy, Scottish Government
IHI President Emeritus, Don Berwick, MD, MPP, former Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
IHI President Emerita and Senior Fellow, Maureen Bisognano, leading a panel discussion on Women in Action, featuring Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, whose research exposed elevated lead blood levels in children in Flint, Michigan; Vania Deonizio, dancer and advocate for expressive arts therapy in health care; and Celine Gounder, MD, an HIV/infectious diseases specialist, epidemiologist, journalist, filmmaker, and storyteller
Gregory Boyle, Founder and CEO, Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world
Zubin “ZDoggMD” Damania, MD, an internist, founder of Turntable Health, and a stand-up and video comic known for his satirical take on the US health care system

Conference organized into 10 tracks:

• Equity

• Mental Health and Well-Being

• Improvement Science

• Moving from Volume to Value

• Joy in Work

• Person-Centered Care

• Leadership

• Population Health

• Maternal and Child Health

• Safety

More than 150 unique sessions, including:

• Integrate Behavioral Health in the ED and Upstream

• How to Evaluate the Return on Investment from QI

• Age-Friendly Health Systems: Improving Care for Older Adults

• Improving Value: Putting a Strategic Focus on Overdiagnosis

• Co-Producing Health: A Global Perspective

Browse all sessions here.

Hundreds of quality improvement storyboards: Review the leading quality and patient safety initiatives of 2018 from around the world to learn what works and how diverse organizations can implement actions to address the complexities and challenges waiting for them back home.

Press enjoy access to all keynotes and sessions, as well as storyboards and the exhibit hall. Interviews with session presenters can be arranged before, during, and after the Forum. WIFI is accessible throughout the conference venue, including a press room available to reporters to conduct interviews, write, and file stories.

About the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

IHI is a leader in health and health care improvement worldwide. For more than 25 years, we have partnered with visionaries, leaders, and frontline practitioners around the globe to spark bold, inventive ways to improve the health of individuals and populations. Recognized as an innovator, convener, trustworthy partner, and driver of results, we are the first place to turn for expertise, help, and encouragement for anyone, anywhere who wants to change health and health care profoundly for the better. Learn more at ihi.org.

On December 6, 2018 China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo Media Meeting was held in Hong Kong and Macao. Zhang Jianhua, Deputy Secretary General of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government and Jennifer Xu, President of International Data Group (IDG) Asia addressed at the media meeting. Mainstream media from HK and Macao, and Macao Association of the Thirteen Hongs for Culture and Trade Association (co-organized by Macao Compatriot Education Youth Association) also attended the meeting.

China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo will be held at Poly World Trade Center Exhibition Hall during December 11-13. Taking the theme of “New Era, New Sports, New Life,” the Expo, based on the national strategy of China and adopting the international vision, adheres to high standards, high level and high taste, is endeavored to building the international, professional, market-oriented and high-end platform for exhibition, exchanges and integrated development of sports culture and sports tourism. A number of sports celebrities will work as the spokesmen of the Expo, including Xu Haifeng, winner of China’s first Olympic gold medal, Yang Yang, Chairwoman of the Athletes’ Commission of Beijing 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics, Gao Min, China’s first Olympic champion on springboard diving, Lei Sheng, fencing Olympic Champion, Zhang Changning, the main player of Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team, and Wu Jingyu, Taekwondo Olympic Champion.

Focus on the new era and push forward integrated development of the Belt and Road regions.

The year 2018 marks the opening year for full implementation of the Spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, and the crucial year in which the sports system carries out the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and pushes forward sports reform and development. Socialism with the Chinese characteristics has entered the new era, raising new requirements for development of competitive sports, mass sports, sports industry sports culture and sports diplomacy.

According to Zhang Jianhua, Deputy Secretary General of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government, the China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo will be held in Guangzhou in the following five years. The national strategy of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area means great opportunity for Guangzhou to retain its leading positioning in China’s reform and opening up, and in making innovative development. Guangzhou will work hard to upgrade growth and functions of the Greater Bay Area while building the world-leading bay area and city cluster. Enhancing cooperation between Guangdong and HK, the city will make China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo a great success. Themed on “new era, new sports and new life,” the Expo will gather leaders of sports industry from all over the world in Guangzhou, which is ready to work with HK and Macao to promote cooperation, share resources and generate the new development in the new era.

With multiple highlights, China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo is upgraded.

At the media meeting, Jennifer Xu, President of International Data Group (IDG) Asia made presentations about the highlights and characteristics of the China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo.

Jennifer Xu said, 2018 China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo is holistically upgraded, whose international, professional and market-oriented level is lifted. The event offers more than 40,000 square meters exhibition space. Including exhibition and display, diverse activities, conferences and business matchmaking meetings, China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo will invite domestic and overseas government officials, authoritarian experts, corporate executives, investment bodies, media, entrepreneurs and distributors to the event, which will see the presence of more than 400 brands and 160,000 audiences.

In the China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo, there will be a few exhibition zones, including the sports culture zone, sports tourism zone, sports technology and health zone, international sports organization zone, sports brands zone, regional sports culture and tourism zone. It showcases the sports accomplishments and culture, highlights the soft power of sports culture and consolidates the culture confidence of the Chinese people. In addition to the six exhibition zones, China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo also includes 10+ activities, e.g., International Sports Think Tanks Meeting (Invitees Only), Mind Sports Games, spokesmen activities of the Expo, freestyle football performance, traditional sports performance, RV experience, Chinese traditional archery experience, football experience, basketball experience, snowball fight experience, ice curling experience, Happy Hour, etc. Great efforts will be made to help all visitors experience the charm of sports culture and tourism.

During the event, a number of forums will be held, including the China International Sports Culture and Sports Tourism Main Conference, and parallel forums: Sports Business Summit, Olympic Culture Development Forum, Museum Curators’ Forum, Sports Culture and Sports Tourism Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and VC Investment Forum, Culture and Tourism Industry Development Forum, Sports Marketing and Events IP Forum, Youth Sports Development Forum, and Winter Sports Industry Forum. Numbers of industry leaders will be invited to this flagship event, such as Badminton World Federation President Poul-Erik Høyer, BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund, FIBA Central Board Member, FIBA Oceania President, Chairman of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Coordination Commission Burton Shipley, International Mind Sports Association President José Damiani, the World Union of Olympic Cities Secretary General Mélanie Duparc, International Sports Press Association President Gianni Merlo, and President of Olympic Committee of Hong Kong Timonthy T.T. Fok, etc. They will interpret the future development trend of sports industry, share the ideas and experience, and put forward the advices for the development of sports culture and tourism industry in China.

Cooperate for win-win and work with Guangdong-HK-Macao Greater Bay Area to build the power of sports.

Culture is the soul of a nation and country. The cultural prosperity will lead to the national growth and cultural strength result in national power. As the integral part of national spirit and spirit of the age, the sports culture is the bond that promotes world peace and friendly links among various peoples. The China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo 2018 will help connect our sports power dream and the Chinese dream. IDG, the producer of the Expo, will make full use of its advantages, integrate global quality resources, follow the aim of organizing “international, professional, market-oriented and high-end” expo, will work together with all related parties to establish the world sports culture and tourism event and sports culture IP with both domestic and overseas influence, thus pushing forward merged development of sports, culture and tourism while helping China build the sports power. At the same time, the China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo, as the excellent platform of disseminating the sports culture, not only carries the evident characteristics of the era, but also has the far-reaching strategic significance. The expo is another attempt for the Guangdong-HK-Macao Greater Bay Area to build the Sports+ cross-border merged development. As the city cluster of Guangdong-HK-Macao Greater Bay Area keeps moving forward, the Expo will try more cooperation programs with HK and Macao.

Last but not least, Zhang Jianhua, Deputy Secretary General of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government and Jennifer Xu, President of International Data Group (IDG) Asia invite the media friends, sports fans and audiences to visit Poly World Trade Center Exhibition Hall on December 11 to attend the opening ceremony of the China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo 2018, and embrace the new era of sports development in China.

SOURCE IDG Sports