The past few years have been challenging for conference organizers, with the economic downturn, health concerns about outbreaks like the H1N1 flu virus and public backlash against anything that looks like a lavish business event. But with Asian economies powering ahead now and many companies relaxing restrictions on travel, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries are stepping up marketing campaigns and building new conventions centers. An expansion of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center was completed last year at a cost of 1.4 billion Hong Kong dollars, or $180 million. Two new convention spaces have opened in Singapore this year inside the integrated resorts. In Kyoto, officials recently announced plans to improve the conference center there. And a new convention center is to be built in Phuket, Thailand, by 2012. To read the
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