HOGG Robinson Group (HRG) has been awarded the contract to provide a global meeting booking and venue sourcing solution for Vodafone, one of the world’s largest telecommunications providers.

Amanda Hanlin, director of global sales, HRG Meetings, Groups and Events (MGE), said: “We are delighted by the continued success of the HRG MGE team, which is testament to our market leading knowledge, experience and expertise. Vodafone’s comprehensive and extensive tender process enabled us to showcase our full range of capabilities, our creativity and our commercial acumen.

“By awarding us their business, we see a fantastic opportunity for HRG and Vodafone to work in partnership to develop a truly global solution, delivering real savings and value across the meetings management programme.”

HRG has a global network that spans 120 countries.

HILTON Kuala Lumpur is optimistic of continued incremental growth in MICE business over the next three years, due in part to the hotel’s recent refurbishment that has given it new dining and entertainment outlets as well as efforts in targeting new markets.

Completed in August this year, the hotel’s five new dining and entertainment outlets – Vasco’s, Chambers Bar & Grill, Graze, Oro Cafe and The Lounge – feature new design concepts that engage diners. For instance, all-day dining restaurant, Vasco’s, offer four interactive show kitchens.

A dine-around concept has also been introduced to Hilton Kuala Lumpur’s stable of 11 F&B outlets to meet the needs of business event clients who desire variety in their dining options.

General manager, Daniel Welk, said: “We are aware that organisers are always looking for creative options that offer flexibility and unique experiences.

“Our extensive hotel refurbishment was designed to cater for the evolution of clients’ demand (which is indicating a growing preference) for more than the traditional boardroom-style space. We’re able to offer al fresco settings with natural lighting and an outdoor feel, cosy nooks for break-out sessions and a relaxed, lounge-like environment.”

Welk added that forward bookings for 1Q2014 and 2Q2014 have been encouraging.

He said: “Besides our traditional MICE markets which are domestic, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia, we are also targeting new ones in the Middle East, especially the UAE and Doha due to direct air accessibility to Kuala Lumpur.

“We get leads from our distribution network which includes Hilton Worldwide sales offices as well as from incentive and meeting planners.”

TWO exclusive private dining rooms on the roof terrace and two function rooms at the mezzanine level have been added to the Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai’s collection of event spaces.

The roof terrace offers the Scotland Room, a 25m² space that is reminiscent of a traditional English gentleman’s club, complete with a high ceiling, dark wood panelling, rich upholstery and plush leather chairs; and the England Room, a 35m² venue.

Adjacent to the roof terrace is the Nine Heaven Hall, which was once used exclusively for the private parties of the hotel’s British founder, Victor Sassoon. It has been perfectly restored to its original 1920s splendour and offers a 270-degree view of the Huangpu River. The two private dining rooms and the Nine Heaven Hall make up the extension of the roof terrace.

Located on the mezzanine level is the Chun Shen Room, a 215m² space that has been designed with wood panelling and original cast-iron windows to complement the Art Deco style of Fairmont Peace Hotel. Good for up to 100 guests in a banquet setting or 160 in a theatre set-up, this venue offers a compelling view of the Bund.

Adjacent to the Chun Shen Room sits the new Thames Room, a luxurious 110m² venue overlooking historic Dian Chi Road and Huangpu River. It can accommodate up to 50 people in a banquet set-up.

Both function rooms offer cutting-edge audiovisual technology and high-speed wireless Internet access.

YASAKA Taxi, a member of Kyoto Convention Bureau and a supplier for high-end incentives, meetings and conferences in the Japanese city, has started to provide meeting delegates with wireless Internet access during airport transfers.

The use of vehicles equipped with Wi-Fi hotspots can be arranged though Kyoto Convention Bureau.

James Widgren, international marketing manager of the MICE bureau, said: “While the rest of the global meetings and events industry debates the importance and quality of Wi-Fi in venues and hotels, event attendees in Kyoto can bask in the knowledge that our suppliers are always looking to go one step further.”

He added: “This initiative has been welcomed by organisers, who recognise the need for their delegates to stay in touch – and in particular to check their emails after a flight.”

AN ALLIANCE of convention centres, which has been in operation since 2006, relaunched last month with a service to share congress information among members to enable a more effective bidding process for future editions.

Called Global Alliance, the grouping consists of Durban International Convention Centre in South Africa, Adelaide Convention Centre in Australia, Centro Banamex in Mexico, ACC Liverpool in the UK, and Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and Hynes Convention Center in the US.

The service uses a series of inter-venue processes to transfer information on a congress that was held in one of the member convention centres to others in the alliance.

Global Alliance chair and CEO of the Durban International Convention Centre, Julie-May Ellingson, told TTGmice e-Weekly that the service would take away the hassle of having to repeat details and requirements of a congress whenever it is up for bidding.

“By sharing leads and event information, we can fortify each other’s capability in the next bidding process,” said Ellingson, adding that PCOs “can utilise the alliance’s know-how to strengthen their own bid attempts”.

Global Alliance also aims to provide a platform for members to share best practices, collaborate on research and conduct training exchanges for convention centre staff.

To encourage an “open relationship” among its members, Ellingson said Global Alliance would strive to have a single member from each continent where possible.

“Similar alliances often fail because (multiple) members (from the same destination or region) are competitive and feel threatened when asked to share leads and information on past events,” she explained.

Ellingson believes that the alliance could welcome an Asian member and has identified “two to three potential ones” in the region.

To qualify for entry, convention centres must be of a world-class standard and possess sufficient space for large congresses.

“We are careful about who gets to be part of the alliance. We will not just look at pictures of the venue and decide, as the real thing can be so different. We will attend events at potential convention centres to suss out their capabilities – much like mystery shopping,” she said.