http://www.mixmeetings.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 MIX 11They
said...
There is nothing wrong
with companies collecting
data and it is often in
people’s own interest that
it is collected, but they
must have control over it
Marc Gagné, lawyerAccreditation would require
companies, associations
and government agencies
all over the world to meet,
discuss, agree and then
enforce their ruling, which
would cost everyone
money...
Tareq Bagaeen,
ConsultantI started my first company
when I was 16 and that
was in tech. As a lot of
my clients were event
people... I quickly realised
that their technology was
too redundant
Martin Enault, CWhat we do in the
meetings industry serves
the broadest range of
community interests;
it’s why our audiences
should be seen as the
highest priorities for
visitor-related investment
Rod Cameron, AIPCTo read more of what they said,
go to mixmeetings.com
for ideas, expertise and moreA “MASTER networker” who built and sold two companies before
rounding off his career by establishing an Asia Pacific meetings and
incentive association geared towards corporate buyers has made another
surprise move.
Nigel Gaunt, whose early career was as sales and marketing chieftain
with hotel groups such as Sheraton, Starwood and Marriott, has left
ICESAP – the Incentive, Conference and Events Society Asia Pacific, the
organisation he founded in 2013.
PCMA-ICESAP announced that Gaunt would be replaced by Antonio
Codinach as regional business director, Asia Pacific, while Patricia
Cheong has been appointed associate director for development to create
“new brand partnerships with leading business events organisations”.
Less than four years after it was formed, ICESAP was acquired
by PCMA, the Chicago-headquartered Professional Convention
Management Association as it made inroads into Asia by partnering with
convention bureaus and industry organisations like Singapore’s SACEOS.
Though the regional boards set up to run ICESAP were consulted
about the plan for ICESAP to be bought by PCMA, grassroots members
expressed surprise at what they saw as an overnight move after the news
was announced in July 2017.
While Gaunt’s plans to hand over the reins of ICESAP and retire after
leaving a legacy for the business events industry in Asia were known to
friends and associates, the latest announcement about his departure
from the association would nonetheless be seen as yet another stage in a
remarkable journey.
After persuading a British publishing company to help establish a
secretariat in its Hong Kong offices, Gaunt began a recruitment drive
across cities such as Singapore and Shanghai while building regional
advisory boards, which often consisted of corporate planners and hotel
executives he had worked with over the years.
He later relocated the secretariat to Singapore. When the English-born
Melbournian left the hotel industry, he formed and later sold two incentive
travel agencies.PCMA-ICESAP drAftS
In nEw lEAdErS AS
nIGEl GAunt bowS out