After 4 years, G2E Asia returns to Macau with the debut of the Asian IR Expo. The events officially opened at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai on Tuesday, with more than 5,000 visitors expected to arrive over the next three days. From July 11-13, the collaboration of the events will provide an expanded range of sector offerings at the exhibition, including leading-edge products and solutions in the gaming, entertainment, themed travel, art, technology, sports, and esports industries.
The updated event, returning following a pandemic-forced hiatus, will give greater space to non-gaming offerings of integrated resorts, in line with local government efforts to tout economic diversification. More than 100 exhibiting companies will present their solutions at G2E Asia in a 15,000-square-metre-plus floor space.
Supported by the G2E Asia Conference and Asian IR Summit, the event will explore topics such as an in-depth look at Asia’s integrated resorts in terms of regulatory oversight and gaming control; future trends and challenges; the Asian gaming landscape; the transition from VIP to mass and non-gaming, and more. The IAGA Best Practices Institute will also return on Wednesday afternoon after a successful conference at G2E Asia Special Edition: Singapore.
The Asian IR Expo and accompanying conference will explore five themes: the travel industry’s economic outlook; travel development trends to accommodate post-COVID needs; art and entertainment tourism; wellness and health tourism; and sports and esports tourism.
Keynote speakers at the events include Wilfred Wong, President and Executive Director of Sands China, and Alejandro Tengco, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Cooperation (PAGCOR). Other speakers joining the stage include Alidad Tash, Founder and Managing Director of 2NT8 Limited; Chen Si, COO of Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort; Ed Bowers, President of Global Development of MGM Resorts International; Fredric E. Gushin, Managing Director of Spectrum Gaming Group; Hubert Wang, President and Chief Operating Officer of MGM China; and Kenneth Fong, Managing Director of Credit Suisse.
Je Choong Yip, Senior Vice President Commercial at Reed Exhibitions Asia-Pacific, said the response to G2E Asia in Macau was overwhelming. “Macau’s G2E is different from Singapore’s earlier G2E, which focused on gaming, whereas Macau’s focus is on multi-industry and non-gaming elements,” he noted.
In a previous press conference, Je Choong stressed that the new Asian IR Expo component aims to “contribute to the transformation of Macau into an integrated resort city, offering a diversity of experiences for visitors worldwide,” confirming the focus on non-gaming features. The expo talks include, for example, roundtables on the “convergence of art and hotels in the creative economy” and how to develop a popular sports tourism destination, notes Macau Business.
Tuesday’s opening ceremony was attended by an array of dignitaries including Vincent U, President, of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM); Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO); and Leong Wai Man, Director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (ICM).
There were also representatives from all six Macau concessionaires, namely Wilfred Wong, President of Sands China Ltd; Kevin Kelley, Chief Operating Officer, Macau of Galaxy Entertainment Group; David Sisk, Chief Operating Officer – Macau Resorts of Melco Resorts & Entertainment; Hubert Wang, President & Chief Operating Officer of MGM China; Frank McFadden, Chief Operating Officer – Gaming & Hospitality of SJM Resorts, S.A’ and Frederic Luvisutto, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, Wynn Macau Ltd.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2023/07/11/67851-g2e-asia-returns-after-four-years-with-debut-of-asian-ir-expo-greater-focus-on-nongaming-elements
