The Philippines played host to several major meetings industry events in August, not the least of which was the induction of the first set of officers for the Society of Association Executives-Philippines.

Rosvi Gaetos, Secretary General of the Asian Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (AACVB) and deputy executive director of the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation, spear-headed a workshop that coincided with the induction, which brought in association executives from around Asia with the aim of creating more regional associations. Decision-makers from associations representing congress exhibition organizers and suppliers, Down Syndrome specialists, women lawyers, nurses, and structural engineers discussed ways to cooperate. The workshop resulted in firm plans to form an Asian Down Syndrome Association that will link together the groups from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Also speaking at the workshop were Kevin Leong, past AACVB Secretary General, and Dr. Oliver Hennedige, secretary general, Asia Pacific Dental Federation.

The workshop took place during the Meeting of the Minds, which brought together education officials from the world's major meeting associations, including the Professional Convention Management Association and Meeting Professionals International, to discuss the role of education and training in Asia as its meeting and incentives industry grows.