Slow recovery in China, but expanding global coronavirus mayhem

The China government is trying to push positive news in the way it handles the coronavirus crisis, but the economic fallout is only shaping up as the panic moves to other parts of the world. Airlines, shipping lines and other logistics and hospitality providers are maintaining the reduction on services, as demand is not yet picking up. Some logistic providers contemplate resuming services only in June, although they do not wish to confirm that less-favorable scenario.

Europe has become the latest victim of the coronavirus panic, and the number of patients rises, while numbers in the Americas are still low, but expected to go up too.Read More →

Early positive signs from China, the world braces for more coronavirus spots

With all possible caveats: early signs do indicated the coronavirus is slowly retreating in China. That might reverse, as workers are slowly returning to work, and quarantine measure are partly revoked. Meanwhile, the rest of the world, notably South-Korean, Japan, Iran and Italy are fighting their own hot spots of the coronavirus and the fears of a global pandemic outbreak are all but over.
When you follow our social media feeds at Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, you might notice that our China news – not related to the coronavirus – is growing since the weekend, and that is a good sign too. But still, we do not expect the event industry to pick up before May, and much might depend not only on China and the success of its quarantine measure, but also how the virus is developing in the rest of the world.Read More →

Getting your speaker online: an option

China is not yet one week back from lunar holidays, and the fallout of the coronavirus is not yet clear. We have seen major events being relocated, delayed or even cancelled, speakers being stuck inside or outside China, and potential audiences unable to move around. Meanwhile we are exploring an alternative option, that might help some event organizators: follow the lead from China, and get your speaker online.

Even when the virus might reduce its destructive path over the next two weeks, resuming events might be affected till the end of April, early May. Those are – with June – our most busy months in helping event organizers to get the right speakers in place, before the traditional summer break kicks in.Read More →

Multinationals underestimate local Asian competition – Shaun Rein

Multinationals knew they were up for a hard time in fighting local brands in China, but local brands all over Asia are becoming more successful, says business analyst Shaun Rein to Industry Week. Consumers are changing their preferences to local brands.Read More →

Companies flee, rather than fight China – Sara Hsu

US President Donald Trump wants US companies to fight China, but they rather flee for greener pastures not to their home countries, says financial analyst Sara Hsu at the ChinaUSFacus. But some might decide to swap countries too early, she warns.Read More →

Foreign brands have to become more political savvy in dealing with China – Shaun Rein

Foreign brands got into hot water when describing Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as independent countries. Business analyst Shaun Rein explains at the BBC it is not only the government fanning the flames but increasingly nationalistic consumers who boycott foreign brands stepping on political toes.Read More →

Winners and losers in the China-US trade war – Shaun Rein

Consumers are changing their purchasing behavior because of the effects of the ongoing trade war between China and the US. Business analyst Shaun Rein tells the CityWireSelection who are the winners and losers of this war.Read More →

China cannot afford to disconnect from the global economy – Arthur Kroeber

China is trying to find a way out of the irrational Trump policies, as the G20 convenes in Japan. Key is that China cannot afford to lose support from the international business community and the global economy, says economist Arthur Kroeber to the New York Times.Read More →

Getting a trade deal that helps both sides might be impossible – Arthur Kroeber

Observers watch the proceedings at the G20 in Japan as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping will try to hammer out a kind of trade deal. But getting a deal that makes both sides happy is virtually impossible, says economist Arthur Kroeber in the South China Morning Post.Read More →

Why a currency deal might be bad for China – Arthur Kroeber

China is pondering to throw in a currency deal in its trade negotiations with the US, maintaining the value of the Renminbi, to pacify the doves in the White House. But that might be a wrong idea, say analysts like economist Arthur Kroeber, who point at Japan. Japan agreed to a currency deal in 1985 as has paid for it dearly, writes the South China Morning Post.Read More →

Downturn in luxury purchases, certainly in the US – Ben Cavender

Consumers from China are spending less, and certainly luxury brands in the US will feel the downturn at least in the short run, says luxury consumer expert Ben Cavender to AP. Tighter visa restrictions under President Donald Trump also make it harder for Chinese shoppers to get to the United States.Read More →

High-end Chinese travelers make new choices – Rupert Hoogewerf

Where do they go to, where do they stay. The travel industry is eagerly looking at the luxury traveler from China. The latest Hurun Chinese Luxury Traveller report shows some answers: they increasingly go for luxury homes instead of hotels, says Hurun chairman Rupert Hoogewerf to the South China Morning Post.Read More →