Business events activity across Asia-Pacific and the Americas in May reflected continued investment in venue operations, destination marketing, industry partnerships, and event infrastructure. Highlights included new convention wins, venue milestones, logistics and tourism initiatives, and exhibitions focused on retail, culture, technology, and urban development.
NORTH AMERICA
Canada
Ottawa Hosts ACWW Triennial World Conference
Ottawa hosted the 31st Triennial World Conference for the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW). The event took place at The Westin Ottawa. Delegates attended governance sessions, elections, resolutions, education programs, and networking events. The program also included regional tours, agricultural visits, cultural experiences, and a gala dinner at the Canadian Museum of History. Ottawa Tourism said the event followed an eight-year relationship with ACWW. That partnership began in 2018 and included smaller events before the 2026 conference.
Rogers Centre Ottawa Reports First-Time Conference Growth
Rogers Centre Ottawa reported growth in first-time conferences across Indigenous, engineering, energy, and science sectors. Upcoming events include the International District Energy Association Conference, PlantBiology 2026, the International Conference on Residency Education, and the Canadian Nuclear Association’s CNA2026 conference. The venue said recent Indigenous events, including WAVES 2025, helped increase interest from organizers with cultural protocol needs. Rogers Centre Ottawa works with clients on elements such as smudging, drum circles, Indigenous chefs, and culturally relevant menus. The venue also cited stronger demand for early summer dates.
ASAE Honors Destination Canada Executive at IMEX Frankfurt
The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) presented its 2026 Global Association Visionary Award to Virginie De Visscher, executive director of business events at Destination Canada. ASAE presented the award during the IMEX Gala Dinner on May 20 in Frankfurt, Germany. The award recognizes association leaders who advance the visibility and influence of the association sector globally. ASAE cited De Visscher’s work with associations, business events, and sustainability across the meetings industry.
LATIN AMERICA
Argentina
Smart City Expo Santiago del Estero Draws 150-Plus Companies
Smart City Expo Santiago del Estero ran May 20–21 in Argentina. Fira de Barcelona organizes the event with the Government of Santiago del Estero. Organizers expect more than 150 companies, institutions, and organizations. The congress program will feature more than 250 speakers from academic, institutional, and business sectors. Topics include education, digital skills, artificial intelligence, government, quality of life, housing, and urban safety. The 2026 edition also adds a dedicated networking area to support meetings among attendees.
ASIA-PACIFIC
New Zealand
Te Pae Christchurch Marks Four Years of Operations
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre marked four years of operations in May. The venue reported more than 865 national and international events since opening. Those events drew more than 422,000 visitors. Te Pae also cited several certifications and recognitions. They include Toitū Net Carbon Zero, EnviroMark Gold, Qualmark Gold, ISO 9001, ISO 22000, and AIPC Gold Certification. The venue can host up to 2,000 delegates. It includes a 1,364-seat auditorium, 2,800 square meters of exhibition space, and 24 meeting rooms.
Australia
Cairns Wins World Ecoacoustics Congress for 2026
Cairns will host the 6th World Ecoacoustics Congress from August 17–20, 2026, at the Cairns Convention Centre. James Cook University will partner on the event. Organized by the International Society of Ecoacoustics, the biennial congress brings researchers, scientists, engineers, and practitioners together. Delegates will study sound in natural and human-made environments. The 2026 edition marks only the second time the congress will take place in Australia. Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef said the win supports the region’s business events pipeline. Registration is open, and organizers are accepting abstracts.
ICC Sydney Live Events Manager Joins VMA Board
International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) said Michelle Zangari, senior manager of live events, has joined the Venue Management Association (VMA) board. VMA represents venue professionals across Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. Zangari has worked in entertainment and live events for 20 years. ICC Sydney said she has helped deliver more than 550 live events across TikTok Entertainment Centre and Darling Harbour Theatre since the venue opened. The venue also said TikTok Entertainment Centre ranked as Pollstar’s 2025 top-performing theatre in Australia and New Zealand.
ICC Sydney Earns Gold Workplace Inclusion Status
ICC Sydney has earned Gold Tier status in Pride in Diversity’s Australian Workplace Equality Index. The venue received the recognition at the Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards on May 29. Its employee resource group, The Same Same Collective, helped guide the submission and review process. The Australian Workplace Equality Index measures LGBTQIA+ workplace inclusion through national benchmarking and employee survey data. ICC Sydney said the Gold status reflects work tied to its diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy.
ICC Sydney Marks Global Exhibitions Day
ICC Sydney marked Global Exhibitions Day 2026 by highlighting the role exhibitions play in business growth, jobs, innovation, and sustainability. The venue cited its work with organizers including Diversified Communications Australia, RX Global Australia, and National Media. ICC Sydney said exhibitions at the venue support face-to-face business, product testing, market entry, and industry collaboration. The venue also linked the day to its focus on sustainable operations and partnerships with organizers, exhibitors, and suppliers.
South Korea
EXPOLINE Named Authorized Korean Logistics Partner for GES
EXPOLINE has become the authorized Korean logistics partner for Global Experience Specialists (GES). The partnership will support Korean companies exhibiting at U.S. trade shows and conventions. EXPOLINE will handle international freight, customs clearance, exhibition cargo logistics, on-site delivery, and move-in and move-out services. The company said the agreement will also support door-to-door service from Korea to exhibition booths in the United States. GES provides exhibition operations, booth services, installation, and logistics for events worldwide. The partnership gives EXPOLINE access to GES’s U.S. network for exhibition freight coordination.
Thailand
Thailand Convention Bureau Launches New MICE Brand
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) launched “MaxiMICE Thailand” at IMEX Frankfurt 2026. The new brand focuses on three areas: convenience, experience, and impact. TCEB said the effort highlights Thailand’s access, infrastructure, local supplier network, and event sustainability tools. The bureau also tied the launch to its Meet in Thailand promotional campaign. TCEB said Thailand hosted 171 international conferences in 2025 and remained the top meeting destination in ASEAN, according to the International Congress and Convention Association. The bureau also cited Cvent’s 2026 ranking, which placed Bangkok second among Asia-Pacific meeting destinations.
EXPOLINE Builds Logistics Contacts at Coop Meeting
EXPOLINE attended the 9th Annual Meeting of The Cooperative Logistics Network from May 11–13 in Bangkok. The Korea-based exhibition logistics and freight forwarding company said the meeting helped expand its partner network across the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia. EXPOLINE focused on exhibition cargo, project logistics, air and ocean freight, and overseas on-site operations. The company also discussed its recent work as a Korean logistics partner for Global Experience Specialists (GES). EXPOLINE said the meeting supported its plans to build more international logistics partnerships for tradeshows and global events.
China
Hohhot Hosts China’s International Museum Day Event
Hohhot hosted China’s main International Museum Day event from May 17–19. The National Cultural Heritage Administration and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region government organized the program. More than 500 museum leaders, cultural heritage officials, experts, scholars, and international guests attended. Organizers held the May 18 opening ceremony at the Inner Mongolia Museum. The event launched three exhibitions featuring nearly 300 bronze, gold, jade, and stone artifacts from cultural institutions across China. Forums and youth sessions covered museum development and international collaboration. Hohhot also launched a 2026 Museum Season with exhibitions, education tours, and cultural tourism routes.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Tourism Board Partners with Informa Markets
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with Informa Markets on May 27. The agreement will bring The Festival of Connoisseurs to Hong Kong from 2026 to 2028. Organizers said the event will use a “city-as-your-showroom” format across multiple landmarks and locations. The event will cover sectors such as supercars, yachts, jewellery, watches, premium travel, art, private aviation, dining, spirits, and wellness. HKTB also plans to promote Hong Kong through five Informa Markets exhibitions, including Monaco Yacht Show and Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
India
In-Store Asia 2026 Draws 5,000-Plus Trade Visitors
In-Store Asia 2026 closed May 14 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai. Its 17th edition featured 80 exhibitors and drew more than 5,000 trade visitors. The three-day event focused on retail innovation, store design, visual merchandising, and in-store solutions. Exhibitors included companies from technology, design, architecture, and visual merchandising. Organizers said the show served as a networking and sourcing platform for India’s retail industry.
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