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HKCEC head inducted into the "Hall of Leaders", a first for Asia
7/29/2011 |
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(Hong Kong, 30 June, 2011) Mr Cliff Wallace, Managing Director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (HML), was inducted into the "2011 Hall of Leaders" by the Convention Industry Council (CIC) on 21 June 2011. The "Hall of Leaders" award is the premier recognition programme in the convention and exhibition industry, and Mr Wallace is the first leader in Asia to have received this honour. The presentation ceremony was held at the Baltimore Convention Centre in the US in the evening of 21 June 2011, and the Chinese National Anthem was played as Mr Wallace went up on the stage to receive this coveted award.
The CIC has been honouring outstanding leaders and innovators of the convention and exhibition industry with its all of Leaders awards since 1985. Its detailed and rigorous selection criteria have meant that only 102 leaders have been inducted into the CIC Hall of Leaders since the awards began, with only four achieving the honour this year. Besides recognising Mr Wallace's personal achievements and his outstanding contributions to the industry, the award also further enhances the international status of Asia, and especially Hong Kong, within the global exhibition and convention industry.
Mr Wallace said at the presentation ceremony, "I am truly touched to have been selected by the CIC from among the many thousands who work the long hours and tolerate the high levels of stress which we so often face in our industry. More than ever today, we need leaders and good leadership throughout the world -- not just to handle crises, but to provide guidance under normal circumstances. Let us strive to be visionaries and encourage learning, so that the services we offer as an industry personify confidence and competence."
Mr Wallace continued, "I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my wife and three daughters, who have been hugely supportive and also enormously tolerant of the level of time and attention that I have devoted to this industry. My thanks go out also to my many friends and peers in the industry, to my extraordinary HML staff, and to our holding company NWS Holdings in Hong Kong."
Mr Fred Lam, Executive Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the statutory organisation responsible for overseeing the operation and service standards of the HKCEC, said, "Mr Wallace has made significant contributions in enhancing the status of Hong Kong's convention and exhibition industry over the years. It is fitting that he is Asia's first inductee into the Hall of Leaders. This honour also underscores Hong Kong's position as the region's convention and exhibition capital."
Mr Wallace has served HML as Managing Director since 1995. He leads around 1,000 professional team members, responsible for providing day to day management for the HKCEC and overseeing administration, marketing, booking, scheduling, event co-ordination, maintenance and security. His team also handles food and beverage operations at the HKCEC. Leading from the front at HML, Mr Wallace constantly encourages all staff members to strive for excellence and provide service that consistently exceeds customers' expectations. As a result, over the years the HML team has won numerous industry awards for the HKCEC, including helping the HKCEC be named "Asia's Best Convention and Exhibition Centre" eight times between 2000 and 2011. The HKCEC completed two major expansions in 1997 and 2009, expanding its rental space from 26,000 sqm in 1988 to 91,500 sqm today. As a result, there has been a constant rise in both the number and scale of events held there, as well as in the expectations of customers. Under Mr Wallace's leadership, HML has ensured the success and smooth running of the increasing number of events held at the HKCEC.
Mr Wallace is also the Chairman of Hong Kong - Shanghai Venue Management (Zhengzhou) Ltd. and Shenyang New World Expo (Management) Ltd, Mainland China companies responsible for the management and operation of the Zhengzhou International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Henan Province and Shenyang New World Expo in Liaoning. In this capacity he has been involved in grooming young talent in Mainland China in preparation for their taking up senior executive roles in the field of venue management in the future. He was presented the Yellow River Friendship Award by the Henan Provincial People's Government in September 2008.
Born and raised in the US, Mr Wallace is an established and proven veteran with over 50 years in the public assembly facility industry. He has been a Certified Facility Executive (CFE) since 1978 and is known internationally for his expertise in management, administration, operations, public relations, planning and consulting. Mr Wallace has served as chairman of a wide range of international convention and exhibition industry and venue management associations, in the process contributing much knowledge, experience and time to the industry.
Photo caption: Mr Cliff Wallace (middle) receives the "Hall of Leaders" award from Mr Stacy Tetschner (left), Chair of the Convention Industry Council, and Ms Karen Kotowski, Chief Executive Officer of the Convention Industry Council. Mr Wallace is the first person in Asia to be inducted into the "Hall of Leaders".
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About HML
The HKCEC is managed and operated by Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (HML), a private professional management company.
HML is a member of NWS Holdings Limited. NWS Holdings Limited ("NWS Holdings", Hong Kong stock code: 659), the infrastructure and service flagship of New World Development Company Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 17), embraces businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau. Its Infrastructure portfolio includes Roads, Energy, Water and Ports & Logistics projects. Its Services division comprises Facilities Management (the management of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Free Duty), Construction & Transport (Hip Hing Construction and bus and ferry services) and Strategic Investments (Tricor, Haitong and securities investments).
About Convention Industry Council
The Convention Liaison Council was founded in 1949 by four organisations to facilitate the exchange of information within the meetings, conventions, and exhibitions industry. Now the Convention Industry Council has grown to include 31 member organisations.
CIC's members represent more than 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. CIC offers many tools and programs designed to support the industry and meet its challenges; facilitate the exchange of information and ideas; and educate the public on its profound economic impact.
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