THE Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) has trounced its counterparts in Thailand and Australia in bidding for the 17th Asia Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition (APRCE) next year.

Asked what’s PRA’s winning formula, assistant secretary general, Ana Marie Miranda, said: “We showcased why it’s More Fun in the Philippines – both in the retail business side (since attendees are retailers, we highlighted our world class shopping centres), as well as the tourism side. We made them want to come to the Philippines both for business and leisure.”

APRCE is the main activity of the Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Associations, which has 17 association members from 17 countries. It is the longest running regional retail conference in Asia, held every two years. The 2013 edition was held in Istanbul, Turkey.

About 1,500 foreign delegates and 2,000 locals are expected during the three-day APRCE at SMX Convention Centre Manila in 2015. The date in September or October is yet to be determined, to ensure it will not clash with APEC Summit.

To boost delegate numbers, Miranda said PRA will “use all forms of media to connect and engage them to make them interested to come and attend. We will utilise both traditional marketing efforts (ads in local and regional publications, TV, radio, etc.) as well as social media and digital/mobile marketing”.

PRA is in the process of preparing the event programme.

“We aim to make APRCE 2015 another world-class regional event to benchmark on so we will be inviting world-class and global leaders in retail. We will also promote pre- and post-event tours,” said Miranda, adding that destinations are still being finalised.

When PRA last hosted APRCE in 1993, it won the Kalakbay Award for Event of the Year

PERCHED high on the limestone cliffs of Uluwatu and offering seven well-appointed villas, Semara Luxury Villa Resort in Bali is looking to attract corporate groups and has created a basic meeting package to entice potential buyers.

Meeting organisers can utilise Selatan Cliff Top Restaurant and Finn Beach Club at the base of the cliff for events and themed dinners. Four of the resort’s seven villas can also be used as meeting venues.

Semara Luxury Villa Resort is able to cater to small groups and can be booked entirely for 70 or more delegates.

Its basic full-day meeting package is priced at US$70 per pax and includes use of a meeting room for eight hours, standard meeting audiovisual equipment and stationery, morning and afternoon coffee break, three-course set lunch, mints and water.

A half-day option costs US$10 less.

Prices are subject to taxes and service charge, and other terms and conditions.

Kelly Sturgeon, group sales and marketing director of Semara Resorts Group, told TTGmice e-Weekly that the basic package is often offered as a “starting point” for client’s planning process.

“We have simplified our MICE package as clients usually want something tailor made. Being a luxury boutique property, one of our strengths is that we can be flexible depending on the clients needs and budgets, etc,” she said.

Email info.uluwatu@semararesorts.com for more information.

A NEWLY formed China MICE Committee (CMC) of top buyers from some 40 established travel agencies across China will join 30 buyers representing China International Travel Service (CITS) International MICE at this year’s IT&CM China show.

CMC, whose members include CYTS International Convention and Exhibition, China Comfort Travel Group, GZL International Travel Service – Business Incentive Travel Company and Xiamen Trip Exhibition Business Services, is expected to field 50 MICE buyers for the annual business events trade show in Shanghai.

CITS International MICE’s delegation of 30 buyers has buying responsibilities across China and represents a wide range of corporate, government and association clients in the country.

As whole, CITS’ clientele encompasses an extremely large spectrum of China’s buying demand.

Explains Zhang Jian, executive general manager of CITS International MICE: “As the number one brand-name in China’s tourist industry with a dedicated MICE division, our pulse on China’s inbound, outbound and domestic demand is unparalleled. We have access to the largest network of tour operators and travel agencies across the country, ensuring that our team has every capability of attracting quality Chinese buyers to participate at IT&CM China.”

Commenting on the effectiveness of IT&CM China as a sourcing platform for Chinese buyers, CITS Jiujiang vice general manager, Xiong Xiaoyu, said: “(The show enables us) to get in touch with a wide range of top suppliers both internationally and domestically. Thanks to the resources we obtained from the event, we were able to successfully organise a business group to (South) Korea last year. We certainly look forward to the 2014 event.”

IT&CM China 2014 is expected to see a total of 480 buyers from the Middle Kingdom.

Registrations for Chinese buyers will remain open till end March.

ROUTES Asia 2014 will open on March 9 in Kuching, Sarawak, an event that the region’s minister for tourism, Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg, hope would “be a start to bigger things to come for Sarawak’s tourism industry”.

Minister Abang Zohari will launch the three-day forum from March 9 to 11, which is regarded as the largest route development event for the Asia region.

A total of 146 delegates representing 100 airlines and 233 delegates representing 173 airports have confirmed their attendance at the event, hosted by the State Government of Sarawak and co-hosted by Malaysia Airports Holdings.

The hosting of one of Asia’s most important civil aviation events is testimony to the growing importance of Kuching as an international air hub and destination, and holds the promise of new routes and air services into Sarawak’s thriving capital.

“I am happy to launch Routes Asia 2014 and to host members of the regional aviation industry in Kuching,” Abang Zohari said in a press statement.

“The tourism landscape is changing rapidly. China is now the number one tourism market in the world, with the number of Chinese travelling outside the country hitting 97 million in 2013.

“We want to increase the number of Chinese tourists to Sarawak from the 30,000 that we are currently getting, and hopefully events like Routes Asia will make that happen.”

Routes Asia 2014 will attract a number of airlines from China including China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Air China.

ASIAN corporate groups are now on the target board of Australia-based hotel operator Mantra Group, which has been on a property expansion sprint in recent months.

Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly, the company’s executive director of sales, marketing and distribution, Kent Davidson, said the group’s existing and upcoming properties are ready to cater to the corporate market.

Said Davidson: “We have 110 properties in Australia and New Zealand and two in Indonesia today. Properties under the Peppers and Mantra brands are suitable for corporate groups and travellers, and most come with meeting facilities.

“For instance, hotels and resorts under the Peppers brand, which are luxurious, built unique to the destination and offer experiences that are indulgent and experiential, can appeal to conferences and incentives.”

An example of a suitable property is Peppers Moonah Links Resort in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsular. The 83-key resort comes with two 19-hole championship golf courses, seven meeting spaces, three boardrooms and a 110-seat restaurant, among other facilities.

“We are already in touch with global PCOs but I believe we can do more to reach out to MICE buyers in Asia. We could perhaps have an office in Singapore,” he said, adding that sales missions to Asia will “diversify from leisure to corporate markets, especially in major business hubs like Singapore, Jakarta and Hong Kong”.

“We have plans to make it possible for our corporate clients to view our venues, meeting benefits and packages online and then book,” revealed Davidson.

“Buyers in Australia and New Zealand are already familiar with Mantra Group and its brands, and we want that same level of awareness in Asia. There is an obvious need to bring our properties to Asia so people in that region can see what Mantra properties are all about,” he added.

Mantra Group first expanded beyond Australia and New Zealand in late-2012 with Mantra Nusa Dua in Bali, which offers a ballroom, six meetings rooms and a boardroom. The Indonesian island will gain a second Mantra Group property with the opening of Peppers Sentosa Seminyak in March.

“We are talking to potential partners in South-east Asia for our expansion in the region, and as much as possible we will try to have properities with conference facilities,” he said.

“We have even more properties in the pipeline for Indonesia and details will be out soon. Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are next on our list, and personally I would love to have a downtown hotel in Singapore and perhaps a BreakFree (a cheap and chic label, with the first in Asia opening in Bali this October) resort on Sentosa island,” he added.

HRG Hong Kong, which bought out minority joint-venture partner Westminster Travel two weeks ago to become wholly owned, has set up a MICE team to target local clients, serve recently signed global MICE business that is coming on stream in 2014, and its existing clients.

Tim Hannan, general manager, HRG Hong Kong, told TTGmice e-Weekly: “HRG Hong Kong’s Meetings, Groups and Events (MGE) business is very strong and forms part of our growing presence in Asia Pacific. A global team supports the local team for MNC and international work.”

Hannan said HRG recently signed global MICE agreements with Thomson Reuters and Vodafone, both of which would begin trading in the first half of 2014.

“HRG Hong Kong has a strong and established client base for transient travel and the majority of them have ongoing MICE requirements. HRG Hong Kong has provided support assistance to clients in the past. However it is now able to offer a full end-to-end MICE service in-house.”

Businesses are globalising their strategic meetings management programmes (SMMP) and the trend is to move from local, to consolidated, to fully optimised, according to Hannan.

“Companies have discovered real challenges to creating a global SMMP. Often the challenge is one of perception with many businesses not quite where they thought they were. More often than not, the programme will be localised, whereas the business might assume it is more consolidated. HRG can work to help them collect the knowledge and data they need, to ensure their business is ready for the phases of going global.”

HRG, he said, would be able to devise and implement cost effective solutions using its expertise in corporate travel to deliver a range of services including venue finding, ground arrangements, delegate management and event support.

As to what clients were looking for in 2014, Hannan observed: “Gaining visibility of meetings spend is the most urgent priority for clients in 2014. Clients have quickly realised there is great potential for savings, and recognised the need for greater control, compliance and risk mitigation across their SMMP.

“There has also been an increase in the number of clients consolidating their transient travel and MGE business, increasing their cost saving potential as well as benefitting from reduced risk and increased safety and security measures.”

A NEWLY formed China MICE Committee (CMC) of top buyers from some 40 established travel agencies across China will join 30 buyers representing China International Travel Service (CITS) International MICE at this year’s IT&CM China show.

CMC, whose members include CYTS International Convention and Exhibition, China Comfort Travel Group, GZL International Travel Service – Business Incentive Travel Company and Xiamen Trip Exhibition Business Services, is expected to field 50 MICE buyers for the annual business events trade show in Shanghai.

CITS International MICE’s delegation of 30 buyers has buying responsibilities across China and represents a wide range of corporate, government and association clients in the country.

As whole, CITS’ clientele encompasses an extremely large spectrum of China’s buying demand.

Explains Zhang Jian, executive general manager of CITS International MICE: “As the number one brand-name in China’s tourist industry with a dedicated MICE division, our pulse on China’s inbound, outbound and domestic demand is unparalleled. We have access to the largest network of tour operators and travel agencies across the country, ensuring that our team has every capability of attracting quality Chinese buyers to participate at IT&CM China.”

Commenting on the effectiveness of IT&CM China as a sourcing platform for Chinese buyers, CITS Jiujiang vice general manager, Xiong Xiaoyu, said: “(The show enables us) to get in touch with a wide range of top suppliers both internationally and domestically. Thanks to the resources we obtained from the event, we were able to successfully organise a business group to (South) Korea last year. We certainly look forward to the 2014 event.”

IT&CM China 2014 is expected to see a total of 480 buyers from the Middle Kingdom.

Registrations for Chinese buyers will remain open till end March.

THE impending upward adjustment of Japan’s consumption tax from the current five per cent to eight starting this April is not expected to affect Okinawa Convention Center’s (OCC) business, according to the venue’s MICE coordinator, Naomi Nakaza.

With a long history of 27 years as well as being the biggest convention space in Okinawa, OCC has its source markets from mainland Japan and overseas, especially Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and South Korea.

The centre has a discount policy that has been offering special rates to event organisers, such as 20-70 per cent less for international events with more than 10 attendees, and 10 per cent less for the rental of all OCC facilities for large-scale events.

Nakaza said the discount policy will continue albeit the implementation of the higher consumption tax in the country’s new financial year, but adjustments to the qualifying criteria can be expected, such as a minimum of 20 attendees may be required for events to enjoy the same 20-70 per cent discount.

Asked if OCC would expect business to suffer as a result, she said: “Previously, when the same tax was raised from three to five per cent – and in a short space of time – we did not lose much business.

Therefore this time, we believe we will continue to do well especially with support from our regular customers who believe in our offerings. We also expect that Japan’s economy will improve from now.”

OCC offers 10 conference rooms of varying sizes in two separate buildings, a 2,500m2 exhibition hall and a 1,709-seat theatre hall. Other supporting facilities include dressing rooms for performances and a tatami room for resting.

While maintenance and minor enhancements are regularly carried out in the premises, the centre’s most recent renovation was a massive repair work to its theatre hall following a typhoon that shattered the space’s glass wall, a spectacular stage backdrop that brings in panoramic views of the ocean.

Several of the centre’s conference spaces also boast a feature glass wall with an ocean or garden view, a unique offering that has been drawing event organisers and the wedding market from mainland Japan.

LANGHAM Hospitality Group has added its ninth hotel in China with the opening of the 327-room Langham Place, Xiamen.

Xiamen is one of China’s special economic zones, and Langham Place would be going after corporate meetings, incentives and product launches, a hotel spokesman said.

The hotel is a 15- to 20-minute drive from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Xiamen Conference and Exhibition Centre, Software Park, and the main railway station. It is a short stroll from Wanda Plaza, the city’s latest luxury fashion and shopping destination.

There are nine meetings rooms ranging from 60m2 to 720m2, and The Gallery comprises specially designed meeting spaces incorporating F&B areas and breakout lounges that are conducive for “focused and motivated” meetings.

The state-of-the-art audiovisual and lighting system in the pillarless ballroom is targeted at big social, lifestyle and incentive events for up to 655 people, the spokesman added.

The 260m2 Star Room on the 26th floor is the highest function room in Xiamen and its floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic city and sea views. Seven other function rooms, with en suite coffee break spaces, can cater to events of various sizes.

F&B outlets include the signature Ming Court Chinese restaurant, The Place for all-day dining, T2 teppanyaki restaurant, and L Bar.

There is also Chuan Spa, a fitness centre and an indoor heated swimming pool with natural light and underwater sound system.

NIJO Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Kyoto, has appointed 12 coordinators to market and promote events at the venue from April 2014.

Ovation Global DMC’s strategic partner in Japan, The J Team DMC, is the only specialist DMC on the list, which comprises local hotel, media, event, travel and catering companies.

James Kent, sales and marketing manager, The J Team DMC, told TTGmice e-Weekly: “Our bid included a wide range of ideas that covered teambuilding, reward and award, workshops and training, as well as parties. I see potential for smaller, tailored events at the castle.”

Kent said Nijo Castle was included in a couple of proposals for autumn, and it was possible for a piece of business to materialise by spring or summer.

The castle’s exterior space is available for gala dinners for up to several thousands of people depending on the size of the marquee, while an indoor area can be booked for meetings with about 200 guests.

The primary concern is damage to the property so no catering is allowed within the castle building and proper preparations in marquee set-up are needed.

According to Kent, the castle grounds hosted a tea ceremony and press conference for the 2008 Miss International. Nijo Castle also supported World Diabetes Day – 14th November – in the past by showing blue illuminations to generate awareness of the disease. In recent years it has been used as a wedding venue.

Kent said: “One of the reasons Nijo Castle is opening up to MICE events is to help raise funds for its current restoration projects. This is a fantastic opportunity for CSR-minded companies to make a valuable contribution to the preservation of a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site by donating to the fund, and receiving recognition for it.”