Social Media Week ended on a high note Saturday 12 February 2011 with a full schedule of activities.
Steven Ballantyne, CEO and Founder of Expedition Project Management (EPM) Asia, Ltd, moderated a panel discussion on travel blogging and the benefits of social media as a means to share travel experiences.
It got off to a slow start owing to the late arrival of most of the attendees.
A late night in Lan Kwai Fong the night before perhaps?
By the time things finally got underway half an hour late at 11.30 am, however, it was standing room only.
Each of the panelists briefly introduced themselves. Then Ballantyne started firing questions at them.
There were also many questions from the audience, which included some of Hong Kong’s biggest players in the travel public relations trade.
Attendees included Lynn Grebstad and Paul Hicks of Grebstad Hicks Communications and Susan Field and Sarah Woodhouse of ImpactAsia. These two PR firms represent some of Asia’s most prestigious hotels and resorts. Waggeneer Edstrom, Aman Resorts, The Wall Street Journal, and Harbour City were also represented.
The event was held at Pure Bar Central on Hong Kong Island’s trendy Hollywood Road.
Who’s Who of Hong Kong Travel Bloggers
Panelists included best selling author James Hong, who writes for Cosmopolitan Hong Kong and other publications, stand-up comedian Chan Chun Wai, a food, travel, and lifestyle writer who publishes Chen Chun Wai, the talented Joanne Cheuk, a freelance travel writer and publisher of Across the Universe, and Michael Taylor, who publishes what you are now reading.
“From the feedback we have received, the discussion was very well received,” Ballantyne says.
Adds Louise Oram of ImpactAsia, which coordinated the event: “It was very engaging, and the audience got a lot out of it.”
More of the Same
Two more panel discussions followed at the same venue. Bess Hepworth, head honcho at Bonza Pie, and Dee Cheung of the V-Day Campaign were key speakers at a discussion on how social media could be used to empower women. The second was on the role social media could play in NGOs, with speakers from Clean Air Network, the HK Shark Foundation, and the sharing their views.
Several of the panelists headed to gastro pub The Globe for drinks and a bite to eat at day’s end. They then crossed the harbour to the Kowloon side to a gala affair at some newly opened hotel, whose name escapes us.
Various other events took place around town, and rumour has it that the festivities continued at after parties into the wee hours.
Hats off to ImpactAsia for a very successful Social Media Week in Hong Kong! We’re already looking forward to next year.
Copyright: Michael Taylor Pictured: (from left): Steven Ballantyne, James Hong, Joane Cheuk, Chan Chun Wai, and Michael Taylor Photo Credit: ImpactAsia
Good report of the social media week stuff, Mike —