Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 227 MICE events were held in the second quarter of 2014, down by 1 year-on-year. On account of a significant increase in exhibitions, total number of participants and attendees soared by 139% year-on-year to 522,000. Total floor area used was 145,000 m2, and the average duration of events was 2.0 days. There were 209 meetings and conferences held in the second quarter of 2014. Number of participants totalled 22,000, with 75% being participants of conferences and corporate meetings. Concurrently, 18 exhibitions were organized, up by 10 year-on-year; number of attendees surged by 1.6 times year-on-year to 500,000. The average duration of exhibitions was 3.3 days, and the floor area used totalled 67,000 m2. In accordance with information gathered from 16 exhibition organizers, of which 6 exhibitions were held for the first time in Macao, another 6 exhibitions were repeated event held a year earlier; besides, the organizers had 208 full-time staff engaged in the organization of these exhibitions. Receipts of the exhibition reached MOP71.76 million, up substantially by 104% year-on-year, coming from rental of exhibition booths (59%) and financial support from government or other organizations (38%). Expenditure increased by 102% to MOP53.08 million, including expenses on production, construction & decoration services (25%); publicity & public relation (22%) and accommodation, food & beverages (19%). There were 989 exhibitors participating in the exhibitions, with 38% coming from Hong Kong and 32% from Macao. Professional visitors totalled 55,502, coming mainly from Macao (49%) and Hong Kong (23%). Information from 172 interviewed exhibitors indicated that sales of products took up 86% of the Receipts, while rental paid for exhibition booth and construction & decoration services together shared 81% of the Expenditure. Regarding exhibitors' comments about the MICE venue and services, 70% were satisfied with the language skill of the venue staff and 66% were satisfied with their professionalism, both up by 2 percentage points quarter-to-quarter. However, 20% considered that the event promotion should be enhanced; 17% stated that the event organization needed improvement, up by 9 percentage points quarter-to-quarter. In the first half year of 2014, a total of 503 MICE events were held, up by 45 year-on-year; total number of participants and attendees reached 827,000. There were 31 exhibitions, bringing 764,000 attendees, up by 48% and 107% respectively.
