GGRAsia – Macau’s MGS casino trade show, organiser gain UFI status

Macau’s MGS casino trade show, organiser gain UFI status

May 11, 2017 Newsdesk Industry Talk, Latest News

MGS Entertainment Show – an annual trade exhibition and conference previously known as the Macao Gaming Show (MGS) – says it has recently been designated a ‘UFI Approved Event’.

The fifth edition of MGS will be held from November 14 to 16 at Cotai Expo at the Venetian Macao.

UFI, based on the outskirts of Paris, France, and also known as The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, describes itself as a body for the world’s leading trade show organisers and fairground owners, as well as major national and international exhibition associations, and “selected partners of the exhibition industry”.

“The UFI accreditation marks a significant step forward in the development of MGS,” said a press release issued on behalf of MGS Entertainment Show.

UFI has also approved the admission of the 150-member Macau Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association (MGEMA), owner and organiser of MGS Entertainment Show, into full membership of the international body.

“It is encouraging to keep breaking new ground which supports our [MGS’s] expansion and our UFI certification definitely fits into that,” said Jay Chun, MGEMA’s chairman and also chairman of Hong Kong-listed gaming equipment maker Paradise Entertainment Ltd, as quoted in Tuesday’s press release.

“MGS always aims to deliver something new with each edition of the show, and 2017 will see a focus on technology, AI [artificial intelligence] and the innovation that not only drives the gaming industry forward but helps develop a more diversified leisure and entertainment offering to the market,” added Mr Chun.

The headline topic for MGS’s 2017 edition is “The Belt and Road – Smart City,” according to Wednesday’s press release.

The term “Belt and Road” refers to two proposals by China’s President Xi Jinping for economic cooperation between China and countries along traditional trading routes, now rebranded the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “21st-Century Maritime Silk Road”. The term “smart city” refers to initiatives to promote urban development via integration of information and communication technology and digital innovation. The development of Macau as a “smart city” is one of the goals included in the city’s first Five-Year Development Plan, unveiled last year.