On March 6, 2024, a group of undergraduate students of the MICE Management Programme was led by Ms. Janice Law, Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of International Tourism and Management (FITM) of the City University of Macau (CityU) to visit the Parisian Macao to discuss with

industry experts about the venue planning and pre-event preparations for the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2024, as well as to visit various

hotel rooms and suites. It was a valuable experience for the students to experience the charm of the exhibition industry, to realize the high

standard and importance of the process arrangement and preparation work for large-scale international conventions, and to enhance their

exposures on practical skills.

CEO of UFI introduced the functionality of the venue

UFI, as the key organization of the exhibition industry, has been committed to the prosperity of the global exhibition industry since its

establishment in 1952. UFI currently has members from 87 countries and regions. As the host venue of the Asia-Pacific Conference, students

and faculty members were impressed by the unique architectural style and first-class facilities of the Parisian Macao. Led by Kai Hattendorf,

CEO of the Association, and the conference team, the students visited different types of conference venues and gained a deeper

understanding of the venue layout practices and planning ideas.

As a veteran in the industry, Mr. Kai Hattendorf not only answered the students' questions from a professional perspective, but also shared his own experience in the industry. He encouraged the students to try and explore in the MICE industry and expressed his expectation for their

future development. Our students were then guided by the Head of Rooms Department of the Parisian Macao to visit various types of rooms and suites at the hotel.

This visit provided a rare opportunity prior to the event, for the students to fully integrate the knowledge learned in the classroom with the

practice of MICE, which was very beneficial and ended successfully. Meanwhile, it inspired our students to be more enthusiastic about the

convention and exhibition industry and provided more possibilities for their future career development.

Memorable moment with souvenir presentation and group photos

Students' Testimonial 1：

DENG Limin (Ivy) 鄧力敏, Faculty of International and Tourism Management

"Visiting the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference at the Parisian Macau was an enlightening experience. The event was a real-world application of our

classroom learning, with signs and posters guiding us through the venue. Our teacher's arrangement for the CEO's talk on the conference's

design and functionality was particularly insightful.

The highlight was the candid sharing by the CEO and the team about their experiences in the exhibition industry. Their advice to be bold and

try new things was encouraging. The tour of the Parisian's rooms showcased how design caters to various guests, which was impressive.

The unique experience was a blend of education and motivation, offering a peek into the professional world and inspiring us to pursue our

interests with an adventurous spirit.”

Students' Testimonial 2：

XU Yiming徐一茗, Faculty of International and Tourism Management

"Our teacher led us to UFI - The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry's exhibition in the Parisian Macao, where we were able to see

the facilities, processes, and details of the conference. Under the guidance of the exhibition planner, we visited each venue and session in

detail, and learned about the different access points provided to the exhibitors and attendees, and how each detail was planned and laid out

in advance. At the end of the session, a Q&A session was prepared for us, and all of our inquiries were answered. This process is a kind of

experience and wealth for us who specialize in exhibitions, through which we can better understand the content of the course, better learn

how to curate exhibitions, how to apply what we need to learn in the class through the reality of exhibitions.”

Students' Testimonial 3：

GONG Gu鞏固, Faculty of International and Tourism Management

"During this visit to the Parisian Macao Convention and Exhibition, we had the opportunity to visit the exhibition venue and witness the actual construction process of the exhibition, as well as some floor plan design demonstrations, application of professional equipment, etc. Most

importantly, we had the opportunity to interact with the exhibition professionals and exchange views. This allowed us to fully familiarize the

concerns about organizing exhibitions and gain professional knowledge.

Overall, we had a very positive experience at the hotel conference. Whether it was the organization of the meeting, the decoration of the

environment, or the quality of service, all of them reflected the professionalism and high standards of the MICE industry. Through this

arranged site visit, we have gained valuable insights, and laid a solid foundation for my future employment in the MICE industry.”