Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Makes Key Appointments

February 21, 2017

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (HML) made several recent appointments of three key senior management positions.  

Thomas Tong and Jessica Wong have been promoted to Deputy Managing Director and Director of Venue Operations of HML, respectively with effect Jan. 1, while Dr. Stewart Wan has been appointed as Director of Facilities Planning & Operations on July 20, 2016.

Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HML, said, “I am most delighted with Thomas, Jessica and Stewart taking up their new roles in HML.  With their strong industry experience and achievements, I am confident that they will make a significant contribution to HML operation, and will drive the team to sustain service excellence and meet our clients’ ever increasing expectations.”

Tong joined HML as Director of Venue Operations in 2006 and was promoted to Senior Director of Venue Operations in July 2014. 

With his strong leadership, Tong has made significant enhancements on effectiveness and efficiency in the venue operations to support over 1,100 events held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) every year, including four of the world’s largest and seven of Asia’s largest trade exhibitions of its kind, international conferences and events attended by high caliber visitors. 

Leading three operational divisions, namely Venue Operations, Food & Beverage and Facilities Management in his new role, Tong will put his focus on formulating strategies of service quality enhancement and infrastructure upgrade, and synergising the strength of various divisions towards sustaining excellence.

Tong has gained a wealth of knowledge in the venue management industry, with 22 years in international hotel chains prior to joining HML.  He completed Executive MBA programme at Ivey Business School and received Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2014.

Reporting to Tong, Wong joined HML in 1989 and has a track record of supporting numerous world-class events at the HKCEC.  

Having served in various operation positions, Wong was promoted to department head of Event Planning & Coordination Department in 2010 and fostered a professional team of Event Managers to ensure the success of events at the HKCEC. 

Taking up the new role, Wong will lead the venue operations division covering Housekeeping, Event Planning & Co-ordination, and Safety & Security departments.  Jessica graduated from the Venue Management School and awarded the Diploma of Venues in 2011 and Events by TAFE, NSW Australia and 2013.

Wan oversees the operation of HML’s Facilities Management Division. Stewart’s professional team is responsible for facility operation and maintenance planning, and infrastructure upgrade in the HKCEC.  With a wealth of experience gained through 27 years working in major corporations, including West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Wan is well qualified to provide overall direction for HML to ensure the building’s world class standard, to upkeep with technology advancements and customer expectation. 

Wan graduated from the University of Brighton and completed Master in Building Services Engineering from the University of Hong Kong. He obtained Engineering Doctorate in IT Service Management from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2008.

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.