EUROPEAN buyers will receive a schooling in Dubai’s offerings as a business events destination when the emirate hosts the Meeting & Incentive (M&I) Forum Europe Spring 2015.

To be held from March 9-14, the six-day event is set to welcome more than 225 top international meeting planners and dozens of Dubai-based event suppliers.

Richard Barnes, managing director of M&I Forums, commented in a release: “Dubai’s emergence as a global destination over the last 20 years has been utterly compelling. The pace of development, scale, and standard of facilities serving the MICE market are unrivalled in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and we have had so much demand from our buyers to visit Dubai.”

Dubai thus joins a host of other cities including Cebu in the Philippines, Edinburgh in Scotland, and Vienna in Austria, in hosting M&I Forums next year.

The Dubai edition is hosted by Dubai Business Events (DBE) – the Official Convention bureau, in partnership with JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Emirates, and a number of local DMCs.

Steen Jakobsen, director of DBE, said: “Europe, and the UK in particular, are extremely important markets for Dubai’s business events industry and our hosting of the M&I Forum Europe Spring 2015 reflects this.

“We are witnessing strong business tourism visitor growth numbers from continental Europe and the UK, and are very pleased to host this high-quality networking event as part of our extensive efforts to further build global awareness of Dubai’s business events and incentives credentials.”

BUSINESS travellers staying at the Regal Kowloon Hotel can use the hotel as a base for comfortable business meetings by upgrading their Suite Room to a Business Suite Package for extra benefits.
Available until November 30, business travellers can pay HK$1,200 (US$155) per day to do so.

Suite Room privileges include: one night’s accommodation in a suite room; free buffet breakfast, refreshments, and evening cocktails at the Executive Club Lounge; round-trip scheduled hotel shuttle bus to and from the airport; free Wi-Fi access in guestroom for up to two devices; late check-out till 18.00, subject to availability; in-room coffee and tea making facilities; and free use of the hotel gym.

Guests who upgrade to the Business Suite Package will receive: coffee and tea served throughout the meeting; one coffee break with two kinds of refreshment to be served during meeting; free Wi-Fi access for two extra devices in the guestroom; business Room set-up including stationery and meeting amenities; one set of LCD projector with screen; one set of flipchart with markers; and extra bottles of distilled water.

They can further top this up by adding soft drinks or chilled orange juice at HK$120 per jar or snacks at HK$200 per dozen.

The meeting package is applicable for two to four persons, subject to a 10 per cent service charge, and prevailing government tax per room per night. Prior reservation is required.

For reservations and enquiries, call (852) 2313 8639

COFFEE breaks have been given an educational twist by Amari Hotels Resorts & Spa, which has rolled out five separate themes: Going Bananas, Cubism, Brainteasers, Organic, and Cupcakes.

Choices will be reflected in display posters that will show interesting facts about the chosen topic, wait staff uniform colours, and the F&B selection.

For instance, staff will don yellow T-shirts and black trousers for Going Bananas, food will be styled as cubes and presented in cube glasses for Cubism, while display boards will offer information on famers who grow environmentally conscious produce if planners choose the Organic theme.

Amari is allowing coffee breaks for meetings held between now and March 31, 2015 to choose a theme for free.

International meeting packages offered currently come in half- and full-day options.

Half-day packages start from 1,450 baht (US$45) per person and include:
– Room rental from 09.00 to 12.00, or 13.00 to 17.00
– One themed coffee break, in the morning or afternoon
– Lunch
– Screen and LCD projector rental with VGA cable to connect to laptop
– Use of PA sound system with microphones, podium and microphone
– Wording on wall in meeting room
– Flip chart, markers pens, notepaper and pens
– Bottled drinking water, candies
– Hospitality desk with two chairs, and stage
– Electronic signboard at meeting room foyer

Full-day meetings are priced from 1,650 baht per person, and include the same benefits as the half-day package except for room rentals and coffee breaks. Planners who take up the full-day rental package are entitled to room rental from 08.00 to 17.00, and two themed coffee breaks.

For more information, contact Ya’kob Zaini, director, sales, Onyx Hospitality Group Singapore at (65) 6827 9768.