PALME Asia Broadens PALA’s Industry Appeal
Premier event re-branded to capitalise on US$ 400 Billion S.E. Asian property market – PALME Asia to serve vertical trade sectors for professional sound, lighting, audio visual and systems integration solutions
With property development booming throughout the region, property owners and facilities managers and entertainment professionals are driving installers, interior designers, architects and indeed developers to switch-on to the rapid development of smart building technology. To better facilitate this accelerating trend, PALA one of S.E. Asia’s longest running industry events, has been re-branded, PALME Asia and will feature smart building technologies as well as the latest in professional event management at Install and Event 360 respectively.
Darren Brechin, Group Exhibitions Director, Entertainment & Installation Technology Group, IIR Worldwide, explained, “PALA was running for 18 years and was firmly established on the industry calendar throughout S.E. Asia. PALME Middle East which takes place in Dubai is now one of the fastest growing industry brands in the Middle East. By re-branding PALA as Palme Asia and pooling the resources of both shows, participants will benefit from one consistent industry platform, covering two of the most vibrant markets in the world today.”
Real estate development is currently one of the key economic drivers in South East Asia. Large-scale mixed use projects are currently dominating the industry landscape and at present developments worth more than US$ 400 billion are being planned. This is creating immense business potential for the audio, lighting, AV and systems integration solutions providers.
Prime examples of large-scale projects being planned for the region include Singapore’s Integrated Resorts Project, featuring world-class gaming and entertainment; Singapore’s Marina Bay mega infrastructure and building project; Malaysia’s Danga Bay project; Indonesia’s New Sands International Executive Club; and the Virtual Reality Laboratory in Vietnam.
Tourism is also forecast to grow at 5.7 per cent this year, further fueling the region’s economy. In the first half of 2006, the value of construction in the hotel sector alone increased by more than US$1 billion compared to the same period in 2005.
“Each new hotel and leisure destination being developed will require a professional sound, lighting, audio visual and systems integration solution. Competition is creating yet more innovative and complex solutions,” added Brechin.
One of the exciting features at this year’s event is sure to be the invitation to some of the world’s leading line array manufacturers to go head-to-head in a ‘shoot-out’.
"This is a major breakthrough for PALME Asia," said PALME Asia Sales Manager, Hanslee Azhar. "Twelve leading manufacturers will be given the opportunity to participate. All they need to do is arrive with their test CD, and for a maximum of five minutes put their loudspeaker hangs through their paces. We will provide mono loudspeaker control, and the necessary manpower to rig the systems.”
The shoot-out will take place twice a day over the full three days of the show. Each session will last around two hours. “As there will only be a minimal participation fee for manufacturers to cover basic costs, this is being seen as a highly cost-effective way of evaluating systems on an even playing field,” concluded Azhar.
PALME Asia takes place on July 12-14, at Singapore Expo. For more details please log on to www.palme-asia.com
