DRIVEN by a recovering economic climate and stronger desire to venture into new destinations, US meeting and conference planners are showing a rising interest in Asia, according to feedback from buyers and exhibitors at The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition in Orlando.

Dirk Ebener, CEO of Marietta-based Global CIF, is keen to explore Asia as a conference and tradeshow destination for his clients that span across 50 industries, ranging from consumer goods to automotive to woodwork.

“Europe and Asia are our top two considerations. Americans are more familiar with Europe whereas Asia is often not the first choice, but it’s my responsibility to change that,” said Ebener, adding that he is interested in South Korea, China, Thailand and Indonesia in particular.

Similarly, Asian destinations are also reporting emerging interest from the US, although a majority are enquiries for events that will take place in the next two to three years.

“Our enquiries for 2016/2017 have picked up by around 10 per cent from the MICE as well as leisure market from the US,” said Mohit Chopra, director – MICE & special events, Travel Pals (India). “These companies are mainly from the medical, transportation and economic development (governmental) industries, primarily interested in Delhi and Rajasthan.”

“Over the past two years, we have seen a 20 per cent increase in enquiries from the US, mainly for the incentive travel segment,” said Wang Haichen, deputy director of DMC department at China Star, which is expecting a 120-pax group from US Siemens to Shanghai later this year.

“Political figures from the US have also drummed up meeting interest in China,” he added, citing former US president Richard Nixon’s grandson’s visit to China in 2013 as examples of high-profile events that raise the destination’s presence among American meeting planners in recent years.

Wang is also positive United Airlines’ thrice-weekly San Francisco-Chengdu service launched earlier this month will bring more inbound travel to western China and surrounding areas like Tibet.

Likewise, Alberto V Santos Jr, OIC – international operations, Rajah Travel Corporation, commented that the maturity of the US market positions it to explore “newer” destinations like the Philippines.

Karem E Miranda, senior project officer, MICE and business development unit at the Philippines’ Tourism Promotion Board (TPB), agreed: “Americans have been to other places in Asia and they are just starting to know the Philippines. TPB started participating in MICE shows in the US three years ago. A lot of serious enquiries are for two to three years down the road.”

THE city of Bacolod in Western Visayas will welcome a fourth SMX convention centre by 4Q2014, bringing SMX Convention Specialist Corp’s total inventory of meeting space to 41,480m2, the largest offered by a Philippine supplier.

Dexter Deyto, vice president and general manager for SMX Convention Specialist Corp, told TTGmice e-Weekly that SMX Bacolod was looking at soft opening in the first week of October.

“It was a choice of either opening in Bacolod or Iloilo, but since Iloilo already has a convention centre in the works, it might be too crowded,” Deyto remarked.

“Bacolod needs one (too) and we have a lot of local support from the mayor’s office, the city council…they’re in fact helping us with the promotions already,” he added.

SMX Bacolod will have a gross floor area of 8,218m2, contained within the new 133,894m2 expansion wing of SM Bacolod.

According to design plans, the pre-function lobby will have 1,726m2 of available space, while function room areas cover 3,544m2. Five meeting rooms are available, ranging from 74-207m2. Pricing will be on a par with SMX Davao.

The facility has initial bookings for local regional events and will be marketed for social functions, business events and school activities.

Provisions for a yet-unnamed brand hotel in the new wing have also been made. “There’s always a hotel co-location…for now, the plan is to stick with the Park Inn by Radisson brand,” Deyto said.

A new website for SMX’s four convention facilities will also be launched in 3Q2014.

THE 853-room Grand Hyatt Taipei has completed the first phase of its US$100 million makeover, with rooms in the West and East wings now sporting fresher, modern interiors.

Remaining renovations to the grand lobby, in-house dining establishments and exterior lighting are expected to finish by the start of 2015.

The makeover follows the hotel’s refurbishment of its Grand Ballroom in 2000 and Grand Residence meetings area in 2006, as well as other updates to various facilities throughout the years since its opening in September 1990.

Liling Chu, Grand Hyatt Taipei’s director of events, told TTGmice e-Weekly that the renovation works have helped to generate increased business, especially from new clients who are attracted to new facilities in the hotel.

“Business has been thriving,” Chu said, adding that the Grand Ballroom enjoys an average occupancy rate of 70 to 80 per cent.

According to Chu, domestic bookings make up 55 to 60 per cent of the hotel’s event business, and these functions are usually weddings and social gatherings. Conference and meeting packages offered by the hotel are mostly consumed by international companies with offices in Taiwan.

Although the hotel is now armed with updated hardware, Chu gave no indication that room rates and venue rental fees would be adjusted upwards.

QUEEN Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) is the first events space in Asia to be accredited for ISO 20121: Event Sustainability Management Systems, its chief executive says.

Sakchai Pattarapreechakul, president of NCC Management and Development, which manages the centre, said the accreditation will help QSNCC consolidate its position as a leading “green” MICE facility in the region.

“We have been (ISO 20121) accredited for meetings, conferences and conventions, which are easier to control when it comes down to making sure all stakeholders meet the requirements,” he said.

“Exhibitions (accreditation) will take more time as it requires ensuring every stage of the supply chain, including suppliers, exhibitors and booth designers meet the required sustainability standards. This means the whole local industry needs to be able to deliver these standards. In Thailand, we’re not quite there yet.”

Sakchai said it took almost two years to train management and staff to the required standards, but now that has been achieved QSNCC can aggressively target events and associations which have environmental and sustainability requirements.

“We believe this trend (of sustainable events) will only increase in coming years,” he said.

QSNCC can now offer clients paperless events with a greater emphasis on technology and connected devices. “Paperless events are more expensive,” he said, “but we offer free Wi-Fi for the whole event as an incentive. We’re the first facility in Thailand to do so.”

Other green developments include ceasing the provision of drinking water in plastic bottles, providing free shuttle services to connect with local public transport and increasing parking space for bicycles.

QSNCC obtained TIS 22300: MICE Security Management Systems in 2008 and ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems in 2011.

The centre has invested 200 million baht (US$6.2 million) over the past few years and received support in the form of tax breaks, as well as subsidies from Thailand Exhibition and Convention Bureau which cover up to 40 per cent of the one million baht ISO accreditation fee.

EVENT organisers who leverage mobile will reap rewards in an industry that has traditionally been a slow adopter of such technology, pointed out participants at The Americans Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM).

Hailing mobile as an “extremely important” trend in the meetings and events industry, Steve MacKenzie, vice president of global channels at etouches, urged event organisers to increase attendee engagement through smartphone apps.

“Events have a lifespan of several months, not just a few days,” he said. “Let attendees start talking before the event starts.”

MacKenzie also singled out hybrid event solutions – simultaneous offering of face-to-face and virtual experiences – as especially beneficial amid current challenging times of budget cuts and travel restrictions.

“Hybrid options are becoming popular to offer onsite and a virtual piece of the event,” he said, citing streaming videos and Twitter live-feed walls as examples.

Adam Laufman, sales executive at CrowdCompass by Cvent, also encouraged event planners to adopt native apps over web apps to enhance the user experience.

“Major players prefer native apps – think Apple, Google and Facebook. Native platforms are more secure, deliver a better performance on all devices and allow full access to back-end systems.”

Sallie Coventry, portfolio director – IBTM global events portfolio, Reed Travel Exhibitions, shared that the company has “invested in technology as a portfolio over the last 12 months”, including a multi-event app for all its shows and a new hosted buyer technology platform that enables greater flexibility and enhanced meet-and-match experience for show attendees.

Likewise, Seo-Ha Lee, CEO of Busan-based I-Convention, revealed that the convention company uses apps to provide attendees with information on the exhibition and destination, offering different languages of English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese.

Looking ahead, wearable technology like Google Glass or devices such as iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy Gear are expected to become more commonplace and shape tradeshow technology, Laufman posited. “We have no idea what we will see in 2015 or 2016.”

AIBTM is running from June 10-12 in Orlando, Florida.

TRADE interest in IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2014 remains strong, with the event seen as an opportunity to restore confidence in Thailand’s MICE and corporate travel sectors affected by the country’s political crisis.

Speaking at the event’s preview on Tuesday in Bangkok, Darren Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media, said current demand from the industry is robust, and the show expected to outperform last year’s.

“There has been some impact from the political situation (in Thailand), but we’re pleased to see support from a lot of our exhibitors from last year. We’ve already sold more than 1,000m2 of space to NTOs and CVBs, and our sign-up rate is better than the same time last year,” said Ng.

TTG Events and key partner Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) are hopeful many of Thailand’s current problems affecting the trade will be resolved by the time the event is held from September 20 to October 2.

Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, TCEB president, said he is confident the tradeshow would top last year’s attendance of 1,300 delegates.

A number of new initiatives will be implemented this year. TCEB is sponsoring a hosted buyers’ lounge for scheduled networking events and coffee breaks.

TCEB will also be arranging Bangkok city tours and post-event fam trips to Chiang Rai and Phuket.

“These will offer new creative programmes, which have not be seen before, so buyers can experience something really new and innovative in Thailand,” said Vichaya Soonthornsaratoon, director of meetings, incentives & conventions, TCEB.

The associations and corporate day will feature a larger educational component to attract more buyers to the event, said Ng. Alliances are being strengthened with other trade associations, such as IMEX and SITE.

“We are also expanding our post-IT&CMA tour to include another country, probably Cambodia, to help promote Thailand as a hub for accessing the region,” he added. “We will also schedule trips to secondary Thai cities to support TCEB’s MICE Cities programme.”

Last year’s event saw 70 per cent of buyers concluding business deals totalling US$45 million.

THE Association for Inbound Golf Tourism Philippines (AIGTP) will bid to host the Asian Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) in 2016, president Connie Mamaril said.

As a prelude to the Philippines’ bid to host AGTC 2016, Mamaril said a golf fam tour for media and tour operators will be held from October 5 to 9 in Manila and Boracay.

Included in the list are golf media AIGTP is inviting from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Australia.

AIGTP was formed in June last year to sell the Philippines as destination to golf aficionados.

“With over 80 golf courses all over the Philippines and home to some of Asia’s finest golfing enclaves, we have a lot to offer,” said Mamaril.

The association has partnered Tourism Promotions Board and local governments to drum up marketing activities to bring in golfers from abroad, including the recent golf video on AIGTP’s website.

Mamaril said AIGTP is also lining up a Golf Festival in Cavite (date to be confirmed) while making its presence known to the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).

“AIGTP’s mission is to unify all sectors in the golf tourism industry for the purpose of generating sustainable growth of golf tourism in the Philippines,” she said.

AIGTP has 24 members from golf courses, golf tour operators, resorts and hotels, golf magazines and golf accessories distributors, five of which are affiliated with IAGTO, which has an estimated 500 members.

IAGTO has awarded the 2015 convention to Indonesia. This year’s convention was held in Haikou, China in March.

RENAISSANCE Bangkok Ratchaprasong is charging 14 baht (US$0.40) for every other attendee after the first 10 paid delegates, at meetings held within the five-star hotel.

The deal is valid for new bookings made between now and September 30, 2014.

The hotel has a full-service business centre, production equipment, computers, printers, audiovisual equipment, two-way radios and stages, along with the services of skilled technicians, dedicated event managers, security personnel, decorators, electricians and photographers. Professional culinary staff can also cater meals to meet the specific needs of any gathering.

For more information on the 14-baht package and other deals, call (66) 2125 5060 or visit renaissancebangkok.com.

PHILIPPINE MICE planners are reporting cancellations for Thailand in the wake of a coup d’état and imposition of martial law, though the lifting of curfews in tourist destinations may help ease concerns.

Maricel Delfin, sales representative for Bangkok-based tour operator Trikaya that deals with Philippine businesses, said: “When the coup took place, our clients disappeared.”

Delfin observed that martial law itself was not a main worry. “What clients are worried about is if the airport in Bangkok will close.”

Maria Michelle Victoria, president, Golden Eagle Travel & Tours, who flew to Phuket via Bangkok in May, said that the situation had since stabilised. “But of course for tourism, it doesn’t look as good, publicity-wise…(and) because the situation isn’t so stable yet, it’s hard to market Thailand.”

However Bong Goyenechea, corporate sales officer at Ark Travel Express, said that even before news of the curfew being lifted had spread widely, he received a booking for 10 pax via KBS Travel last week. “People are still confident about doing business in Bangkok.”

On the other hand, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is beefing up support for planners. Vichaya Soonthomsaratoon, director for meetings, incentives, and conventions department, said that the CVB prepares Letters of Assurance to explain the country’s political situation to planners’ prospective clients and coordinates with tourism and police authorities to assist affected groups.

Vichaya remarked: “Normally we will urge the meeting planner to postpone – not to cancel – or to maybe to change (their activity to) another destination.”

Meanwhile, MICE traffic continues in Thailand with a 6,200-delegate Infinitus China trip in May having pushed through, a 15,000-pax Unicity Global Convention in Bangkok scheduled for October, and an L G Hausys incentive to Phuket for 850 in Dcember.

RELIANCE Conventions & Events Malaysia has started to branch into the AMC business with Malaysian Oil & Gas Services Council as its first client.

General manager KC Fu said many associations in Malaysia are “maturing” and need to focus on strategy rather than day-to-day management in order to add value to the organisation.

“Membership in associations is dwindling and the younger members do not want to see an archaic association structure. A lot of young medical doctors, for example, are visionary and dare to speak up. An old-school association is not appealing for them. The older members are becoming more receptive to the forces of change; they know if they can’t attract the younger members, their association will face a natural death.

“In terms of our AMC services, we don’t get into these strategic aspects, but we aim to take away the administrative and non-critical workload, so that the association is free to focus on strategy,” Fu said.

Among the services offered in its two-year contract with Malaysian Oil & Gas Services Council are managing the association’s membership database, automating billing of membership fees and renewals, and website content and social media management.

In a profit-sharing model with the council, Reliance is re-engineering the website so that its content will engage anyone seeking information on the oil and gas industry and not just the association’s members. The wider audience will then enable Reliance and the association to create advertising opportunities in the portal, thus giving the council a new revenue stream, said Reliance’s director of operations, Rahul Bharadwaj.

“If they were to do this themselves, it would involve a huge investment in technology, aside from the need to have the expertise/knowledge,” Bharadwaj pointed out.

“By appointing us, they save money as there is no longer the need to hire 10 to 20 administrators to run the association, they have a new revenue stream and they have the opportunity to build better content to share with their members as well as to attract a newer crowd.”

However, Fu said the PCO business is actually more lucrative than the AMC business. “That said, if you are working so closely with an association, you have the first right of refusal for managing its conferences or events. An AMC is like an extended arm of the association – we would know the people, the culture, the politics, etc, so it is easier to manage the expectations, unlike a PCO who comes in from the cold. By the time it understands the association, it’s close to conference time.

“So while it’s not as lucrative as PCO business, an AMC is a long-term, strategic move that will in the end reap benefits,” said Fu.

Meanwhile, the latest study by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers shows 44 per cent of its members are already offering AMC services.