The 55^th ICCA Congress was officially opened in Borneo Conference Center of Kuching Malaysia on November 13^th , 2016. This grand meeting has ushered in totally 831 of representatives from more than 60 countries all over the world, with an annual meeting theme of “ICCA Global Tribe”. As the one and only corporate member of China’s meeting consulting category, Olivia Jia and Alicia Yao of IME Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd attended this grand meeting.

The industry annual grand meeting for three days has gathered the experts with big names and top dealers of global award industry, with constantly splendid educational and the hot topics of meeting industry. People with big names from global well-known industries and opinion leaders were invited as guest speakers. Participants were free to choose to participate according to their own interests and businesses, and they had enough opportunities to make interaction and discussion with the experts and peers.

Besides the educational forum and exchange activity, the committee also has arranged the Sarawak investigation special activity. The “Kuching Night” of the first night, “CAT Night” for the second night and “National Night” on the third night, all the theme parties not only provided abundant social platforms and communicating opportunities to the participants, but also offered new ideas and show case the creativity for the activities within the industry.

Mr. Leigh Harry was honored with the title of Honorary Membership for commending his contributions to ICCA. Leigh Harry has been the CEO of Tourist Administration in the State of Victoria, chairman of Australian CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry), president of meeting and exhibition industry, vice executive secretary of National Development, Commerce, Innovation Bureau of Tourism and Ministry of Aviation, and has held the post of chairman of JMIC and ICCA during 2006 to 2010. He is universally acknowledged as the international leader in the field of business activity, and he also has rich experience on the aspects of cooperating with state government, federal government and private enterprises. Leigh has made a deeply touching speech on the annual meeting, he said that “an association would become apathetic without young people, so I wish that more youngsters would be willing to recommend themselves to become a member of ICCA Board of Directors- you should care, because it is your association!”