Marriott hosts inaugural outreach event for Indonesia’s MICE players

Meeting planners having discussions with Marriott representatives from throughout the Indonesian archipelago

Marriott International launched its first B2B business event in Jakarta on April 4, in conjunction with Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID).

As many as 248 Jakarta-based meeting planners were invited to network, discuss opportunities and learn together with 30 Marriott hotel partners, primarily hailing from Bali and Jakarta, as well as also other destinations like Yogyakarta, Bintan, Manado and Lombok .

Meeting planners having discussions with Marriott representatives at GMID

John Wooley, general manager of Courtyard by Marriott Bali Seminyak Resort, and chairman of GMID Event 2019, said: “The purpose of this event is to celebrate the importance of the meeting industry for us hoteliers, (and to offer an) educational component through a presentation (on business events trends) from a MICE expert, and getting some business for our hotels.

“Around the world there is a function like this (every April 4), but a few months ago, we realised that nothing was being planned in Jakarta (in celebration of GMID). The city is an extremely important venue for Marriott so we decided to pull this event together,” he elaborated, adding that there are plans to make this an annual event.

Wooley further shared that the corporate segment is very important for the Marriott group. “In our hotel, which is small (compared to other Marriott properties), meetings contributes 20 per cent of our business,” he said.

Depending on the size of individual venues, cities and locations, corporate events can range between 14 to 40 per cent of business for Marriott properties.

Arun Kumar, general manager of The Westin Jakarta, added: “Marriott is committed to highlighting Indonesia as a destination for MICE with 48 open hotels (from Medan in the north, down south to Lombok), and another 34 (in the pipeline).”

He added that Marriott’s continued expansion in Indonesia, to locations like Belitung, Balikpapan and Labuan Bajo will “give more options to our clients to hold events in Indonesia”.

As part of selling Indonesia, Marriott’s global sales in Malaysia will be organising a Bali-Focus Week later this month, where 12 to 15 hotels in Bali will meet with customers and hold networking sessions.

During GMID 2019, Marriott also introduced Triple Perks+, a global initiative that enables customers to enjoy three value-added bonuses for every event booked, according to Puspa Rianti, director of Sales and Marketing, The Stones Legian Bali, a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel.

In Indonesia specifically the hotel group is offering additional benefits with an enhanced Triple Perks+ initiative, which allows customers to choose additional two benefits off the available perks by confirming their meetings or events.

Sponsored Post