THE Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali has finished its year-long, multimillion-dollar revitalisation project, which saw improvements being made to its leisure and business facilities and expansion of its room inventory.

The project includes the launch of Tangent, a personalised work space that is said to appeal to today’s generation of mobile travellers. Facilitated by media:scape by Steelcase – a combination of furniture and technology that enables easy communication – as well as seamless connectivity for video conferencing, Tangent allows guests to conduct impromptu meetings in a private setting located just off the lobby.

The hotel also debuted the 99 room-and-suite Premier Wing, the Heavenly Spa by Westin and Prego Italian restaurant.

Improvements were made to the WestinWORKOUT fitness centre, which now features an updated décor and state-of-the-art cardio equipment with interactive touch-screen consoles.

The adjoining Bali International Convention Centre (BICC) was also given a new look and updated meeting facilities, with works completed in time for major events in the later part of 2013, such as Miss World 2013 and the APEC CEO Summit. The venue now offers 26 revitalised function rooms and two VIP holding rooms, as well as new public facilities such The Café and The Lounge.

Bipan Kapur, managing director of The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali, said the US$20 million project would place the property and the convention centre in a stronger position to bid for events.

He added that the hardware investment was part of the company’s strategy to tackle a “year of consolidation” for hotels in Bali, particularly those in Nusa Dua, and to stay ahead of the competition in the years to come.

He explained: “(2014) is a year of consolidation, which will see new hotels establishing themselves and business slowing down a bit due to the government elections and economic slowdown.

While Kapur has projected a decline in domestic MICE business during the election period, he expects to see a rise in political party meetings. However, such meetings are rarely held in upscale and luxury hotels.

He also expects association events and corporate meetings to continue to be the key sources of business in 2014.

THE Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS) is amending membership guidelines on its charter, relaxing rules for admission in order to reach more companies and suppliers interested in developing MICE business.

“The requirement for admission up to this point was very high – you (must) have had two international conferences under your belt,” said Monette Hamlin, PACEOS president. “If you’re new, it would be impossible.”

Now, a track record of only one national conference is required.

PACEOS currently has 38 members.

“Many event organisers are in Manila, while others are mostly wedding and party planners,” said Hamlin.

Awareness about the business potential of MICE, particularly those sourced from abroad, is weak too, so the association – the only one in the Philippines to date – also intends to start up new charters in Cebu and Davao, where MICE venues are gaining traction, revealed Marisa Nallana, PACEOS chair.

Although membership guidelines will become more relaxed, PACEOS will ask aspiring members to provide proper documentation validating their experience and event credentials, including references.

“We have a Code of Ethics we hope members will follow,” said Dinah Gonzalez, PACEOS membership head. “Too often we hear of events of the same concept or theme, like a wedding expo, and sometimes they are held simultaneously. We would like to space these events.”

Allied membership may also be offered to companies that host “special” events, as opposed to “business” events, said Gonzalez.

Hamlin noted that professors who taught tourism and event management had voiced interest in being a member of PACEOS, so relaxing membership rules would help accommodate them too.

Meanwhile, PACEOS plans to establish a MICE Academy, with internal and hired experts on the roster to provide training.

KUALA Lumpur Convention Centre has appointed Alan Pryor general manager designate, replacing Peter Brokenshire who will retire at the end of March.

Brokenshire had spearheaded the establishment and opening of the venue in 2005, and has been leading it for the past 11 years.

The deputy general manager position, vacated by Pryor, will be filled by Simon Lomas, who will oversee the day-to-day operation of the centre as well as international, regional and local promotional activities.

Prior to joining the centre in 2011, Pryor was the director of operations at the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC). During his 11-year tenure at Durban ICC, he also oversaw the opening of the Arena extension. Shortly before moving to Malaysia, Pryor was lead consultant of the Architectural Department of the Municipality of Durban City on its Priority Zone development, which included the Durban ICC and Arena, and was consulted on several conference facility projects.

KENES Asia has made its foray into the Philippine market with the help of Global-Link MP Events International Inc, a company owned by both Global-Link and MP International.

Together, they have so far staged the International Rice Genetics Symposium at the Dusit Thani Manila last November, and are organising the 10th Asia Pacific Congress of Hypertension (APCH) in February and Asia Pacific Rheumatology Congress (APLAR 2014) in April, both at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu.

Jing Lagandaon, COO at Global-Link MP, told TTGmice e-Weekly that Kenes took charge of trade show programming, while her company handled logistical matters.

Staff from Global-Link MP was sent for training at Kenes in preparation for the collaboration.

“The relationship with Kenes started two years ago. Now that Kenes is organising shows in the Philippines, we are effectively representing them. Kenes is a relatively new player (here). Without us, it might be harder for them do their events here,” said Lagandaon.

“Our basic strength is that we know the Philippine market very well. We have a good network of connections; we are able to get volume discounts; and we are able to work with people who are expert in different fields,” she added.

Besides co-owning Global Link MP Events, Global-Link also has an exhibition division, Global-Link Exhibitions.

“We’re more known for organising exhibitions, like Philconstruct, held every November,” said Lagandaon, who added that about 70 per cent of Global-Link’s revenue comes from exhibitions, 15 per cent from official representation for Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Messe Frankfurt and Messe Dusseldorf, and the rest from conferences ¬– a segment the company wishes to grow.

THE Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS) is amending membership guidelines on its charter, relaxing rules for admission in order to reach more companies and suppliers interested in developing MICE business.

“The requirement for admission up to this point was very high – you (must) have had two international conferences under your belt,” said Monette Hamlin, PACEOS president. “If you’re new, it would be impossible.”

Now, a track record of only one national conference is required.

PACEOS currently has 38 members.

“Many event organisers are in Manila, while others are mostly wedding and party planners,” said Hamlin.

Awareness about the business potential of MICE, particularly those sourced from abroad, is weak too, so the association – the only one in the Philippines to date – also intends to start up new charters in Cebu and Davao, where MICE venues are gaining traction, revealed Marisa Nallana, PACEOS chair.

Although membership guidelines will become more relaxed, PACEOS will ask aspiring members to provide proper documentation validating their experience and event credentials, including references.

“We have a Code of Ethics we hope members will follow,” said Dinah Gonzalez, PACEOS membership head. “Too often we hear of events of the same concept or theme, like a wedding expo, and sometimes they are held simultaneously. We would like to space these events.”

Allied membership may also be offered to companies that host “special” events, as opposed to “business” events, said Gonzalez.

Hamlin noted that professors who taught tourism and event management had voiced interest in being a member of PACEOS, so relaxing membership rules would help accommodate them too.

Meanwhile, PACEOS plans to establish a MICE Academy, with internal and hired experts on the roster to provide training.

KUALA Lumpur Convention Centre has appointed Alan Pryor general manager designate, replacing Peter Brokenshire who will retire at the end of March.

Brokenshire had spearheaded the establishment and opening of the venue in 2005, and has been leading it for the past 11 years.

The deputy general manager position, vacated by Pryor, will be filled by Simon Lomas, who will oversee the day-to-day operation of the centre as well as international, regional and local promotional activities.

Prior to joining the centre in 2011, Pryor was the director of operations at the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC). During his 11-year tenure at Durban ICC, he also oversaw the opening of the Arena extension. Shortly before moving to Malaysia, Pryor was lead consultant of the Architectural Department of the Municipality of Durban City on its Priority Zone development, which included the Durban ICC and Arena, and was consulted on several conference facility projects.

ANGSANA Lang Co in Central Vietnam is making it easier for meeting organisers to combine business with pleasure through its Two’s on Us offer, which includes a variety of fun activities in and around the resort.

Two’s on Us is applicable for groups that book a minimum of 20 room nights and a full-day meeting package. Delegates can enjoy any two of the benefits listed below during their stay at Angsana Lang Co:

– A choice of a 30-minute All-Terrain-Vehicle ride, archery, or water pillar paddle experience per delegate (advanced reservation required)

– One half-day guided meditation trip to Truc Lam Zen Monastery

– Two 90-minute a la carte spa sessions at Angsana Spa for every 20 paid room nights

– Two 18-hole green fee waivers at the Nick Faldo-designed Laguna Lang Co championship golf course for every 20 paid room nights

– One pre-dinner open bar (standard pours only) for an hour at Moomba or designated foyer for all paid group dinner guests

– One complimentary Deluxe Room for every 20 paid room nights

– One return airport transfer by car or coach to and from Da Nang International Airport

– One upgrade to a one-bedroom suite for every 20 paid room nights

In addition, meeting planners will earn a two-night-stay gift certificate with daily breakfast and a 120-minute spa session at Angsana Spa for bookings confirmed on or before June 30, 2014.

The offer is valid for new bookings from now until June 30, 2014, for stays and meetings held by October 31, 2014.

Visit angsana.com, call (84-54) 3695 800 or email reservations-langco@angsana.com for more information.

INTERNATIONAL DMC conglomerate Euromic has confirmed its participation at IT&CM China 2014 in the hopes of growing its presence in the Chinese market.

Said executive director Christophe Verstraete in a media statement: “We see the Chinese market as a strong growth area for our association, so with our presence at IT&CM China, we hope to increase our visibility and attain greater familiarity in this market.”

He also cited IT&CM China’s excellent reputation in the industry, the good mix of international and Chinese buyers, as well as the show’s proprietary business matching facilities (pre-scheduled appointments and online diary system) as beneficial for his various DMC members.

Euromic, a non-profit association, has a one-member-per-country policy and members from 37 destinations around the world. Presently, Asian members comprise only China, India and Thailand.

Gunther Homerlein, general manager of Destination China, China’s DMC representative in the association, remarked: “We have seen significant return of business to China. 2013 has been the best year since 2007 (excluding 2008’s exceptional performance for the Olympic year) and 2014 is shaping up to be a very good year as well.”

He added that interest in China has opened beyond the banking and insurance industries that used to be the dominant clientele he serves.

Homerlein will be taking advantage of the IT&CM China platform to showcase other destinations to buyers, saying: “We are looking to organise a private post-show fam tour to both Hangzhou and Shanghai, with a focus on the former.

“Hangzhou is an ideal location for executive retreats and smaller meetings and incentives that is at present, still unfamiliar to many. Our invite list on the tour will comprise about 10 IT&CM China 2014 hosted buyers, as well as agencies that we currently have dealings with, and other buyers with a definitive interest in China.”

Initial highlights of the tour are said to comprise of exploring Shanghai’s French Quarters on motorbike sidecars and discovering new venues.

The eighth edition of IT&CM China 2014 will be held from April 15 to 17 at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center and will see 3,000 MICE professionals and 400 hosted delegates take part in business appointments as well as education and networking sessions.

DELEGATES from a wide range of companies will gird their loins and charge into battle on the sandy beaches of Okinawa come 2015, when the prefecture hosts the first-ever Okinawa Corporate Games.

Corporate Games, a multi-sport festival open to all types and sizes of companies, is scheduled for March 5 to 8, 2015.

Tony Sakuda, general manager of Naha-based Okinawa Tourist Service, the travel agency that brought in the concept, explained that participating teams could comprise of people from each branch of a company and team size would differ from game to game.

“This promotes teambuilding, strengthens (work) performance and gives (participants) something to look forward to next year. It also builds loyalty to their own company.”

“The Games would attract people to see what Okinawa has to offer and hopefully that translates into corporate incentive demand,” he added.

The event will feature 15 sporting categories, including dragon boating, beach soccer and open water swimming, all facilitated by Okinawa Tourist Service.

“We’re using what Okinawa has – beaches,” commented Sakuda.

Besides that, Corporate Games will also include in its programme a Grand Parade, Great Games Party and Closing Awards Celebration to enhance the overall experience.

The first Corporate Games was held in San Francisco in 1988 and has since been exported around the world. In Asia, Malaysia hosted a World Corporate Games in 1993 and India ran the Delhi Corporate Games in November 2013.

Major multinational companies that have participated in previous editions of Corporate Games include Shell, IBM, Vodafone and Fujitsu.

According to the official website, registration for Okinawa Corporate Games is open until February 18, 2015 and payment can be made online.

BUSINESS Events Sydney (BESydney) has secured the Pro-Health China Annual Conference 2014, a mega incentive that will attract 4,500 delegates and deliver an estimated economic impact of A$22.5 million (US$19.9 million) to New South Wales (NSW).

The five-day event joins BESydney’s list of 10 Asian corporate business event wins secured during the current financial year, and follows the successful conclusion of Perfect China Leadership Seminar 2013 in July, which was attended by more than 3,000 delegates and brought with it almost A$21 million in economic impact.

BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith said the growth in the number of incentive events secured for Sydney over recent years is a result of the state’s targeted strategies to attract business from this important market.

“Over the past decade, we have developed strong relationships in Asia. This has played an important part in the success that Sydney is now enjoying in the region,” Lewis-Smith said.

“We know that Asia is a relationship-driven market and the long-term strategies we’ve invested in, including being the first Australian bureau to establish an in-market presence in Asia (2004), have enabled us to build networks and trust, and convert business for Sydney. We now have representatives in Singapore, China and India (in partnership with Destination NSW), along with Mandarin-speaking staff across key departments in our Sydney office. Together, these strategies are paying dividends!”

Lewis-Smith added that Sydney’s success could also be attributed to its ability to deliver real returns for companies that chose to reward their high achievers with a trip to the harbour city.

“Perfect China reports that it saw a 20 per cent increase in sales following the company’s announcement that the 2013 incentive would be held in Sydney,” she said.

Last financial year, BESydney secured 33 Asian corporate incentive events worth an estimated A$57 million in economic impact. This represents over half of the revenue secured by BESydney during 2012/13.