Business as usual from China

MICE from across the border holds steady for Macau despite new tourism laws and restrictions on government travel. By Prudence Lui

Despite many hotel developments in Macau, the destination’s past can still be glimpsed at Senado Square

Despite China’s stringent new tourism laws and restrictions on government travel and event expenditure, Macau – sitting across the border and recipient of a large number of Chinese arrivals – reported growth in its business events sector.

Macau welcomed 1,030 business events in 2013, up eight per cent year-on-year, and attracted more than two million participants to its shores.

Macau Economic Services director, Sou Tim Peng, said this was possible because the new laws and restrictions did not target business travellers.

Sou added that the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, introduced in 2011, had a part to play in the destination’s sturdy MICE performance, as it facilitated the participation of Chinese delegates in conventions and exhibitions held in Macau.

The Convention and Exhibition Stimulation Program was also credited for lifting business events performance.

In 2013, the programme supported 14 events from China, more than it had in 2012. These 14 events drew 15,683 Chinese participants, up 10.5 per cent from the year before.

MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, said the Convention and Exhibition Stimulation Program had attracted several repeat businesses from the mainland.

“These events see a year-on-year increase in participant numbers. We are also seeing more incentive groups coming from pharmaceutical, IT, transportation and electronics industries,” she said.

Stakeholders in Macau’s MICE sector have also reported upbeat business from across the border.

SmallWORLD Experience CEO, Bruno Simões, has seen more bookings from China, although the market represents a small 15 per cent share in his company’s revenue.

Simões shared an optimistic observation: “The Chinese market is becoming more demanding and spending a bit more. A few years ago, the opportunity to travel is in itself an incentive. Today, many companies must offer unique experiences that their (winners) cannot access on their own.”

MGM Macau enjoyed sustained Chinese MICE performance in 2013 and expects a “small increment in 2014 from the Chinese MICE segment”, said executive director of sales and guest services, Irene Wong.

Macau continues to attract Chinese corporate groups

The Westin Resort Macau reported significant growth from China, especially from Guangdong and Shanghai markets.  Director of sales and marketing, Antony E Box, told TTGmice: “We forecast that the Chinese market will continue to generate growth. To ensure this, proactive face-to-face sales development is key to positioning our unique offerings, such as outdoor venues, lush landscaped gardens and opportunities for a variety of teambuilding activities in and around Colane and Macau.”

Galaxy Macau’s assistant vice president of hotel and event sales, Samson Woo, also noted a 20 per cent rise in Chinese MICE spend last year, due to greater demand for activities and entertainment.

Meanwhile, MGTO launched an additional MICE support scheme at the start of 2014. The International Meeting and Trade Fair Support Program provides assistance and financial support to event organisers.

See the other side of Macau

A-Ma Temple, built in 1488, is covered in one of the walking routes

To encourage visitors to explore lesser known quarters in Macau and boost community tourism, the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) unveiled a new programme called Step Out, Experience Macau’s Communities last September.

Four walking routes have been launched under the programme, each designed to cater to specific interests.

For instance, A Tour of Historical Trails takes participants to landmarks that played a prominent role in the destination’s past, such as Avenida da Praia Grande and Praça de Ponte e Horta.

Other walking routes are A Tour of Nature and Creativity, A Tour of East Meets West and A Tour of Arts and Culture.

Tour maps are available in traditional and simplified Mandarin, English and Portuguese. Interested travellers can also get a sneak peak of the various highlights of each of the four routes via videos.

In time to come, MGTO will roll out smartphone applications for the routes and build directional signs and maps at starting and finishing points of the trails.

Bruno Simões, CEO of SmallWORLD Experience in Macau, welcomes Step Out, Experience Macau’s Communities.

“They are great for both incentive groups and leisure travellers,” Simões said.

“In fact, we are using 80 per cent of the featured sites and routes in our own city races and treasure hunts. We are already recommending these routes or something  similar to our clients.”

However, not all corporate event specialists are aware of the new programme. Paradigm Consultants International, business development manager, Jake Erlich, is one of them.

Erlich told TTGmice that MGTO should market the programme to event companies if it wants “companies such as ours to develop programmes incorporating these routes”.

“Then we would be more likely to take time to visit (the routes) and consider how we could develop programmes around these locations,” he said. – Prudence Lui

Need to know

Wynn Tower’s winning new look


Wynn Tower at Wynn Macau has been given a facelift. Guestrooms now feature a fresh, light-colour palette as well as wall fabrics, carpets and lamps that were created exclusively for the property. In-room entertainment systems have also been upgraded.

A new experience also awaits guests at the hotel’s spa, which now sports refurbished treatment rooms.

Visit www.wynnmacau.com for more information.

Make movie magic

Galaxy Macau has developed a treasure hunt-style teambuilding activity called Movie Maker, which will see teams roaming the integrated resort with iPads and other tools in hand to help them complete various tasks in their mission and film their activity at the same time. Films made by the different teams will then be edited into a clip that serves as a memory of the group’s stay at Galaxy Macau. Contact (853) 2888-0888 for details.

Go wow at the House of Dancing Water

Grand Hyatt Macau is offering a House of Dancing Water WOW package which includes one night’s accommodation in a Grand Suite King, two tickets to the spectacular House of Dancing Water performance, 500 Hyatt Dollars redeemable at Grand Hyatt Macau’s restaurants and two tickets to the Dragon’s Treasure show.

Package prices vary according to the seat category, from HK$2,633 (US$340) for C-Reserve tickets to HK$3,233 for A-Reserve tickets. Prices excluded a 15 per cent tax. Other terms apply.

Contact macau.grand@hyatt.com

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