Jaime Lee took to the stage at Sibos 2023 in Toronto, Canada, for a private session with exhibitors to discuss the potential for a successful event in Beijing, China, next year.
The Sibos team shared that plans to host the conference in China were established before the Covid-19 pandemic. With certain “constraints” now lifted, Swift intends to draw from the insights gained by other international events that took place post-2020.
Lee emphasized Beijing’s status as a global financial center, noting that China is the world’s second-largest economy and a significant market for Swift. He stressed the importance of hosting the event in a new region to attract more delegates from the Asia Pacific.
The Sibos event will continue to provide a digital component, allowing sessions to be accessible online. Lee mentioned that the Swift team is collaborating closely with various partners in Beijing, including a key collaborator from Singapore who was instrumental in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The 2024 conference is set to take place at the China National Convention Center, which is divided into CNCC1 and the newer wing, CNCC2. Lee encouraged input from the community to gauge their interest in attending the event in Beijing.
To gather sentiment, a survey will be distributed to exhibitors, which will guide the decision on whether both CNCC1 and CNCC2 will be utilized for the exhibition floor. Lee noted that those wishing to participate at a smaller scale could choose smaller stands while benefiting from access to 110 available meeting rooms.
Another important consideration raised by Lee is that all attendees will need visas and must make appointments at Chinese embassies to have their travel approved. He advised potential attendees to apply for visas as early as possible. Although flights and accommodations do not need to be booked when submitting the application, Swift is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that accurate documentation is provided to facilitate the visa process.
A variety of international chain hotels and local accommodations will be available near the CNCC. To simplify transportation, Sibos buses will operate, providing shuttle services to and from the airport.
Additionally, Sibos is collaborating with partners to create a seamless network infrastructure and security setup to deliver the same quality of experience that attendees expect. The team plans to visit Beijing in November 2023 to explore potential venues for social events.
An exhibitor day is scheduled for March 20, 2024, allowing prospective exhibitors to familiarize themselves with the venue and city.
Key milestones for the event include:
– October 6, 2023 – Planning survey due
– Late November 2023 – 2024 exhibitor sales begin
– Early January 2024 – Speaker nomination process opens
– February 16, 2024 – 2024 exhibitor sales close
– March 20, 2024 – Exhibitor day in Beijing
– Late March 2024 – Sponsorship sales commence