TRIUMPHING over strong rivals Norway, Russia and China, the South Korean city of Daegu has bagged hosting rights to the world’s largest energy convention.

The World Gas Conference (WGC) 2021 is expected to see more than 6,000 gas experts, officials and scholars from 90 countries in attendance, while a conference component will feature 15,000 exhibitors and visitors.

Daegu will be the third Asian city to play host to the event, which was previously held in Kuala Lumpur in 2012 and Tokyo in 2003.

According to a press statement from the Daegu Convention & Visitors Bureau, Daegu’s experience in hosting the World Energy Congress last year – another prominent energy convention – had “partially paved the way for WGC’s arrival in 2021”.

Other reasons for Daegu’s successful bid include its burgeoning reputation as a green energy city and the establishment of Korea Gas Corporation’s (KOGAS) headquarters there.

Last November, the Daegu Metropolitan City, KOGAS, the Korean Gas Union, shipbuilders and industrial plants launched the WGC Bidding Committee. They visited fifty member countries, while diplomatic emissaries met with each country’s government and gas officials to gain support for South Korea as host destination. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy also met with foreign government officials to support promotion activities.

According to KOGAS, the conference is expected to generate some 120 billion won (US$113.8 million) in added value and the employment of 2,500 people in the local economy.

Dong-Myung Ha, director of the Korean Institute of Gas, believes the event will bolster South Korea’s presence in the energy industry.

Daegu mayor, Young Jin-Gwon, echoed these sentiments, saying: “We will do our best to prepare for a successful WGC 2021. We’ll keep expanding convention infrastructure and hosting more international events to make Daegu an international meeting destination.”

THE Victorian State Government announced today a proposed expansion of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) which will give the venue new retail space, additional car parks, hotel accommodation and multi-purpose convention and exhibition facilities.

MCEC has desired an expansion for a while now. In a 2013 interview with TTGmice, chief executive Peter King told the magazine that the venue had been running at 100 per cent capacity, making it a challenge to accommodate smaller meetings and exhibitions with a conference component.

In a media statement issued this morning, MCEC said nearly 20 per cent of new business opportunities are rejected due to the lack of available space.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust chairman Bob Annells said: “The expansion business case has been in the pipeline with the Victorian State Government and stakeholders for some time and we are grateful for their support.”

Annells added: “The investment supports the ongoing work MCEC conducts with the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) to attract business events to Victoria which are worth around A$1.2 billion (US$1 billion) each year and generate 22,600 jobs.”

King said the expansion proposal is in response to the changing business events industry, customer expectations and worldwide competition, and believes that “the development will enhance the flexibility of the whole precinct and ensures MCEC continues to deliver world-class event experiences”.

Commenting on the expansion announcement, MCB CEO Karen Bolinger said: “MCB is currently working on a significant pipeline of opportunities for the next few years, therefore this investment by the Victorian State Government is very welcome news as it will enable both organisations to continue to deliver high-yield large-scale business events to the state for many years to come.”

MCEC hosted 1,030 events in the last 12 months, included high profile ones like the World Diabetes Congress, the World Congress of Cardiology and the 20th International AIDS Conference. The year’s events attracted near 1.5 million visitors and generated more than A$274 million for Victoria.

PAN Pacific Singapore has rolled out a selection of seven privileges for conference organisers to choose from and complement their meetings.

Called Pan Pacific Rewards, the number of perks awarded under this scheme is dependent on the number of room nights the organiser books.

For bookings of 20 to 50 nights, the organiser receives two privileges; 51 to 80 nights, three privileges; 81 to 110 nights, four privileges; 111 to 160 nights, five privileges; for reservations of more than 161 nights, Pan Pac Singapore will give all seven privileges.

Pan Pacific Rewards also provides five per cent savings on meeting packages, free use of the LCD projector, a coffee break and two snacks, late chek-out until 18.00 for five guests, an upgrade to Panoramic Room category for extra S$30 per room, upgrade to the next room category for up to five rooms for every 30 booked, and one free room for every 40 rooms booked for at least three nights.

Half-day rates start from S$85 (US$67) including one break and one lunch, and full-day prices begin at S$105, with two breaks and a lunch thrown in.

Meanwhile, room rates are priced from S$300 per room per night with breakfast, high-speed wireless Internet, and 20 per cent discounts on any of the hotel’s restaurants and bars bundled into the price.

The package is available until February 28, 2015 and valid for group sizes of 20 pax for the meeting and 10 guestrooms per night.

The deal is applicable for stays from November 24, 2014 to February 28, 2015. Quote MP2015 when making enquiries.

For more information, call (65) 6826 8250 or visit the Pan Pacific Rewards page.

IT&CM Events will run its educational programme on association management at Suntec Singapore this December, creating a platform for association professionals to learn and network.

To be held on December 2, the event is the fourth instalment of IT&CM Event’s Association Day programme for 2014.

Simon Pryor, principal professional learning and certification advisor of Australasian Society of Association Executives, who was both a moderator and panellist at Association Days @ IT&CMA in Bangkok, commented: “Global competition and the opening up of Asian economies through initiatives such as the ASEAN Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership means that more than ever before, Asian countries need their professional, trade and industry associations to help drive social cohesion and economic growth through vital advocacy, leadership, standards and information services.

“So, as these associations develop in response to new demands, it becomes essential for knowledge and education support such as the Association Day programmes offered by IT&CM Events, to be available to board members and paid staff.”

Looking ahead to the new year, venues and dates of IT&CM Event’s Association Days series in 2015 include IT&CM China in Shanghai (April 15), IT&CM India in Delhi (August 19), and IT&CMA in Bangkok, Thailand (September 30 and October 1).

THE Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) will for the first time hold its annual global conference in New Delhi in October 2015, focusing on India as an inbound MICE destination.

The announcement comes ahead of the 2014 conference scheduled for November in Rotterdam, where the SITE India Chapter is hosting a Destination Luncheon.

Anup Nair, president, SITE India Chapter, said: “The SITE Global Conference 2015 will bring together travel professionals who will find an exciting canvas on which to create unparalleled motivational experiences…We are gearing to offer a unique platform for professionals in the incentive industry to network.”

In a first for Asia, Rajeev Kohli, joint managing director, Creative Travel, is on the International Board of SITE as the president-elect for 2016.

Sushil Wadhwa, chairman, Platinum World, said India hosting the conference would give the country “a global visibility of proportions hitherto unexplored”.

“Rationalisation of indirect taxes by the Indian government will give us a leg-up in being more competitive in our bids for global MICE,” he added.

PLAZA Premium Lounge is seeing its meeting spaces at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) lounge and the recently opened klia2 terminal increasingly used for quick meetings by the airline industry and corporate clients.

Kellyn Ching, sales and marketing manager at Plaza Premium Lounge, which provides lounge, meeting, and rest and relaxation facilities at airports around the world, said the meeting facilities are popular with local and foreign airlines looking for a quiet space to conduct interviews for staff recruitment.

Corporate companies who want to hold short face-to-face meetings with overseas delegates also use the spaces.

“It is a convenient location for overseas delegates to fly in, have their meeting, and then return to their home country,” said Ching.

Both KLIA and klia2 have a Plaza Premium Lounge meeting room that fits up to 20 people each. Free Wi-Fi is provided, while other equipment such as a business projector and high-definition TV are available upon request though subject to additional charges.

Delegates can also enjoy the buffet spread available or request a special menu, as catering options are provided by the in-house F&B team.

Plaza Premium Lounge also offers Meet and Greet services that are popular with MICE and event organisers, and corporate clients from the banking, airline and multi-level marketing industries.

Ching said: “We provide personalised escort services for clients from touchdown right up to the awaiting transport service provider. For departures, our services start from the drop-off point at the airport until the boarding gate.”

For those on transit or with long flight delays, there are rest and recreation facilities available at Plaza Premium Lounge.

Plaza Premium Lounge recently introduced the Wellness Spa and Salon last month (in September) at both KLIA and klia2, offering services including massages and foot reflexology treatments, hair, manicure and pedicure services.

At the new lounge located at Gateway@klia2, individual napping areas were opened and there are 24 bedrooms with attached shower facilities, which customers can rent for as short as three hours.

GLOBAL airline alliance oneworld has added upgrades to oneworld events, a travel service for the conventions, conferences, exhibitions and special events markets.

Firstly, booking fees for flight reservations made on oneworld events’ dedicated websites are waived permanently.

Secondly, flight discounts from oneworld events can now be accessed through designated travel agencies.

Thirdly, oneworld events’ network has expanded to close to 1,000 destinations in over 150 countries as 15 new airlines joined as full members or affiliates in the last two years. This includes US Airways, Brazil’s TAM Airlines, Qatar Airways, and SriLankan Airlines.

The announcement was made yesterday at IMEX America in Las Vegas, more than a year since oneworld events first took off at IMEX Frankfurt in May 2013.

It is aimed at conferences, conventions, exhibitions, and special events with a minimum of 100 delegates flying from at least two regions.

The programme has signed up more than 100 large-scale events for a total of over 200,000 delegates in more than 55 different locations since its inception.

AMARI Watergate Bangkok has rolled out a Hybrid Meeting package to capitalise on the growing trend of meetings with a distinct technological edge.

Hybrid Meeting meshes the traditional benefits of face-to-face interaction with the advantages brought about by technology, including reaching more delegates via virtual environment, connecting multiple events happening simultaneously in different locations, and including attendees who may not otherwise be able to attend.

Planners can make use of Amari Watergate’s Connections meetings hub for gatherings of up to 50 pax, the Banglampoo room for meetings of up to 100, and the Watergate Ballroom for large-scale events of up to 600.

Between November 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015, Hybrid Meetings are priced at 1,700 baht (US$53) per person, not including the cost of technical set-up.

The technical component starts at 50,000 baht for a dedicated Internet line at 35mbps and a technician on standby. Audiovisual production and content live-streaming will cost an estimated 95,000 baht but is subject to specific production requirements.

Software for the hybrid meeting and the employment of a production manager is included in the price.

The Hybrid Meeting package includes:
– Use of a meeting room set up for face-to-face ‘studio meeting’ with stage and audience setting as theatre, classroom or cabaret seating
– Room rental from 08.00–12.00 or 13.00-17.00
– One coffee break, morning or afternoon with fresh pastries
– Lunch, one meal per person, one time
– Stage setting for Hyrbrid Meeting with backdrop wording or logo
– Flipchart and marker pens
– Bottled drinking water, candies
– Electronic signboard at meeting room foyer
– Dedicated high-speed Internet line, separate from hotel Wi-Fi
– Video cameras
– Audio
– Lighting
– Video editing suite and live-streaming
– Production team

SUBIC has received a shot in the arm with the confirmation of rights to host the Global Summit of Youth in Environmental Sustainability back-to-back with the Subic International Eco-Film Festival on February 25-27, 2015.

Some 500 graduating university students will attend the summit, to be held at the Subic Bay Exhibition & Convention Centre (SBECC), while the Eco-film Festival will be graced by about 100 film practitioners at the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST).

The youth summit aims to build the capacity of students and young community leaders to understand the issues and benefits of protecting the environment and to incorporate them in their daily lives.

The eco-film fest, on the other hand, will tackle the challenges faced by environmental film producers with a discussion on environmental and commercial films.

Both inaugural events are the brainchild of ISST and are expected to boost Subic’s positioning as an eco-tourism and MICE destination.

ISST president and former tourism secretary, Mina Gabor, said the eco-film fest will include an eco-film competition with entries from countries including Japan, South America, Iceland, and the Philippines.

“We’re starting small to get our feet wet but we have some good films,” she said, noting that there are many good commercial films about the environment, including the highly successful Avatar.

Participants at the youth summit will be encouraged to attend the screening of the eco-films.