Asia/Singapore Tuesday, 14th April 2026
Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTGmice | Conrad Bali champions meaningful meetings
TTGmice | Asia MICE outlook cautious but not weakened
TTGmice | Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur elevates events with AI innovations
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Footfalls up, spending slides

By Paige Lee Pei Qi
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A strong currency and rising competition from other destinations are making business a little tougher for Singapore MICE players, writes Paige Lee Pei Qi


Singapore offers a conducive
environment for business and
corporate gatherings

Corporate travellers are spending less, according to the latest preliminary estimates by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), which revealed a decline of six per cent between January and September last year, compared to the same period in 2012.

STB’s CEO, Lionel Yeo, said: “In 2013, we saw that corporate budget was tightened for business travel, (a result of) cyclical factors related to economic uncertainty. What is heartening is that business travellers are still coming to Singapore, it is just that they are spending less.”

Nevertheless, the business travel and MICE sectors continue to be a key contributor of Singapore’s tourism receipts. In 2012, the number of business visitors rose to 3.4 million, from 3.2 million in 2011. Expenditure by these visitors grew 2.3 per cent to an estimated S$5.7 billion (US$4.5 billion).

From January to September 2013, business travel and MICE visitor arrivals stood at 2.6 million, a six per cent year-on-year growth, while expenditure fell six per cent year-on-year to an estimated S$4.1 billion.
Yvonne Low, executive director of The Traveller DMC, told TTGmice that her company saw a 15 per cent year-on-year decline in MICE business last year.

Low said: “Our market from India dropped significantly because of the weakening rupee, which makes it even more expensive to come to Singapore.

“With Singapore’s (consistently strong) currency, the purchasing power of the Indians becomes a lot lower and it makes our destination less attractive even for high-end clients.”

Likewise, Tour East’s group vice president of sales and marketing, Judy Lum, said “substantial growth” evaded her company in 2013.

“Budget is critical to the selection process of a destination, especially for the MICE segment,” Lum said. “Any softening of hotel rates will help a destination look more attractive price wise.”

According to Elinda Ong, director of sales, Grand Park City Hall, the emergence of more mid-scale hotels in the market has helped made “rates and product offerings become more competitive among the hotels”.

Ong remains optimistic about the future and expects business from the MICE sector to grow three-fold this year.

Although the Raffles City Convention Centre played host to an increased number of events last year, Ng Sok Hia, executive assistant manager, sales and marketing, Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford, warned that Singapore is facing rising competition from neighbouring countries.

“Despite offering a conducive environment supported by our strategic location in Asia, Singapore is challenged by equally developed cities such as Macau, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur for MICE events,” Ng said.

To strengthen Singapore’s business value proposition, STB rolled out a new set of sustainability guidelines last November.

STB executive director for business tourism development, Chew Tiong Heng, said: “With corporate clients and delegates becoming increasingly concerned about the environment, business event organisers and meeting planners are turning to destinations and venues with strong sustainability policies in place.

“Green initiatives are therefore gaining traction among MICE event organisers, who recognise that such endeavours significantly enhance the overall visitor experience.”

Life’s a (South) Beach

The massive mixed use project will comprise a hotel and meeting facilities

In Singapore, where ‘MBS vs Suntec’ is something of a sport for MICE observers, it is one goal for Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre and nil for Marina Bay Sands (MBS) as South Beach Development gets ready for its soft-opening in the first quarter of 2015.

The mixed use project, which ropes in designers such as Norman Foster and Philippe Starck, believes it will add a new shine to the Suntec Singapore and Raffles City convention area. South Beach is located in front of Raffles Hotel on the Beach Road side and will be connected directly to Suntec Singapore on the Nicoll Highway side via an overhead bridge.

“Before MBS opened, this was the only MICE hub, with hotels within the vicinity of Suntec benefiting from conferences held at the convention centre,” said Aloysius Lee, CEO, South Beach Consortium.

He added: “With a working agreement on the bridge that links our hotel to the convention centre, we will naturally work closely with Suntec. We will encourage our corporate guests to hold their meetings there while we also believe we will benefit when Suntec secures events, as our hotel is directly connected to it.”

Suntec’s CEO, Arun Madhok, said Suntec is looking forward to future collaboration with South Beach.

“I’m confident that this development will add to the vibrance of the area and enhance the experience for all visitors,” he said.

South Beach, developed by City Developments Limited Singapore and IOI Corporation Berhad, comprises over 46,000m² of Grade A office space; 190 residential units; a 654-room hotel designed by Philippe Starck; a retail concept; and a private membership club.

Currently, the hotel is called The South Beach. A decision has yet to be made on a third-party management, franchise or marketing representation.

Beach Road once was a tranquil seaside. Massive land reclamation saw the setting up of Beach Road Camp on the South Beach site, comprising three army blocks serving as headquarters for homegrown military forces, along with an ‘NCO’ club with its famous Olympic size swimming pool for army, naval and air force officers. The three blocks and the club are being conserved to maintain the heritage of the location.

For example, one of the three bars at the hotel will be a ‘Court Martial Bar’, conserved from the actual Court Martial room where National Service men were martialed even for little offences such as losing their registration passes.

With 654 rooms, MICE will be a big part of the revenue-generation strategy. MICE facilities include a ballroom which seats around 500 pax for a banquet and 350 pax for cocktails.

For F&B, the hotel will offer an all-day dining establishment while the development is also signing up a “stylish, contemporary experience that combines shopping and dining in a space of 30,000 square feet (2,787m²)”.

Added Lee: “Planners can do incentives here and we’re working closely with Suntec to have a fair share of convention delegates. I believe we have the best access to Suntec – from the hotel, just a walk across Nicoll Highway through an overland bridge and you’re already at the convention hall.

“We’re creating a new product, probably the first in Asia that offers this kind of a lifestyle choice. With high occupancies in Singapore, we are a serious choice for all segments, be it MICE, bleasure, leisure, etc. Most new hotels that are opening are smaller in roomcount. We have 650 rooms.”

As for rates, Lee would only say:  “The current rates of hotels in the neighbourhood are around S$400 (US$317) to S$500.” – Raini Hamdi

How I did Responsible Business Forum 2013

Held at Marina Bay Sands (MBS), the Responsible Business Forum (RBF) 2013 was a two-day forum which saw more than 500 business leaders, NGOs and policy makers from South-east Asia in attendance.

For this event, MBS played a big role in championing sustainable event planning along with the organisers. To ensure RBF meets its green standards and goal of creating a 100 per cent carbon-offset event, MBS ensured aspects such as the event setup, menu planning and waste management allowed delegates to give back to the community.

For instance, MBS used advanced movement sensors that are integrated with the building management system to control lighting when no one is in the room. The property also provided its Sands ECO360° standards in meeting rooms, which meant no pre-setting of paper, mints and water at tables. Water dispensers and glasses were provided instead.

A customised vegetarian Harvest Menu was also provided too. Fresh produce and ingredients on the Harvest Menu were sourced locally and from nearby markets in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia to minimise the carbon footprint of food imports. To reduce food wastage, there were no pre-served beverages during food service and most condiments were served in bulk.

Delegates were also invited to participate in MBS’ Soap for Hope, a programme which collects leftover shampoo and soap from hotel rooms. Soap for Hope stations were set up at the event and collections were distributed to Food from the Heart, a charity organisation. Unconsumed bread from the forum were also donated to the organisation.

Need to know

Eat well, meet well


A fine way to rejuvenate the minds and spirits of meeting attendees is to take them out for a healthy and refreshing meal in soothing environs.

Debunking the myth that healthy cuisine is bland and boring, Tangerine at ESPA, Resorts World Sentosa takes the best from Asian and Western cuisines and creates a tasty and nutritious menu that will delight even the fussiest of diners. Celebrity chefs Sam Leong and Forest Leong join forces with a resident nutritionist to deliver highlights such as Cured Atlantic Salmon with Granny Smith Apple and Celery Juice, and a low-calorie Aloe Vera, Rosella Gelo and Calamansi dessert.

Set amid a serene and lush landscape, Tangerine has been a hit with corporate groups and had recently hosted a 24-pax dinner event and two 27-pax company gatherings. Contact dining@rwsentosa.com for reservations.

Flavourful history

One of Singapore’s iconic heritage sites, the Clifford Pier, can now be enjoyed over a meal.

The brand new 272-seat, all-day dining restaurant, The Clifford Pier, pays homage to Singapore’s hawker food culture through local favourites such as Soup Kambing (a traditional spiced mutton soup), laksa and Teochew porridge.

Located at the foot of the Fullerton Bay Hotel, the historical venue has been carefully restored and enhanced to evoke a sense of nostalgia.

Email cliffordpier@fullertonbayhotel.com for more information.

Eye-popping dining surprise

A fine-dining pop-up restaurant will set up shop in Singapore’s historic Tanjong Pagar Railway Station this month. Mooted by My Private Chef, a company that specialises in bespoke dining experiences, the first chapter of Stories: A Pop Up Restaurant will be held from June 26 to 29. Tickets are priced from S$188 (US$150) to S$248 and available on www.myprivatechef.com.sg.

A different celebrity chef and location will be featured for each chapter.

Wings of Time soars right in

Sentosa’s popular Songs of the Sea night show has ended its seven-year run, making way for a new multimedia performance come June 17.

Called the Wings of Time, the show is set at the same outdoor theatre against a new 10m tall backdrop. Produced by events company ECA2, Wings of Time promises an array of multimedia effects including new robotic fountains, 3D video mapping and enhanced pyrotechnic effects, coupled with a live cast and audience engagement.

Wings of Time will be performed daily with shows at 19.40 and 20.40, each with a running time of 25 minutes at Siloso Beach. Premium seats are available at S$23 (US$18) per person, while standard seats are at S$18.

A Cuban celebration in Capella Singapore

Hot Havana nights are now a reality every day at Bob’s Bar in Capella Singapore. Meticulous research has been made to recreate an authentically glamorous Cuban-inspired bar through lively music, quality libations – with an emphasis on rum-based cocktails – and food, and exquisite glassware. Come Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, local jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro and his band, Latin Jazz Trio, will fire up the night with the passionate beats of Latin Jazz from 19.00.

For reservations, call (65) 6591-5047.

Hilton Singapore invites planners to Book More for More Rewards

By TTG Asia
0

PLANNERS can redeem extra incentives for more guestrooms booked at Hilton Singapore under the hotel’s Book More for More Rewards promotion.

The hotel will dish out incentives according to a tiered booking system, granting planners their choice of perks from a selection of seven for a minimum booking of 20 room nights.

Choices of rewards include: one welcome cocktail each for all paid delegrates; one free room night for every 40 paid room nights; two free upgrades to the next room category and Executive Floor benefits, depending on availability; free Internet access in meeting rooms; 15 per cent off daily delegate rates; one free weekend stay in a Deluxe Room for two, including breakfast; upgraded coffee break items for the duration of the event, with one additional item for a half-day meeting package and two for a full-day package.

Booking up to 49 room nights entitles planners to two perks, 79 to three, 109 to four, 159 to five, and those who book more than 160 will receive all benefits.

Event organisers must confirm their events between July 1 and August 31, 2014 for events held from July 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015 in order to qualify for the promotion.

Hilton Singapore offers a Grand Ballroom that can fit up to 500 attendees that comes with floor-to-ceiling picture windows and classical chandeliers, as well as 11 naturally-lit meeting rooms with built-in multimedia technology and extensive in-room amenities.

For more information, visit www.singapore.hilton.com/specialoffers or call (65) 6730-3319/3320.

Cast in a new light

By Greg Lowe
0
The Sanctuary of Truth, an all-wood temple, has been a stellar attraction of Pattaya

Pattaya has in recent years shed some of its seedy reputation but work is still needed to improve its infrastructure and attractions, writes Greg Lowe

Pattaya’s MICE industry remains in relatively good health although the ongoing political turmoil in Bangkok is expected to hamper performance this year. The sector continues to grow incrementally, however, domestic trade dominates the market which will not be able to meet its full potential on the international level until the local infrastructure and product offerings are improved, according to industry stakeholders.

While several new properties opened last year, including Wave Pattaya and Centara Grand Phratamnak Pattaya, these hotels cater for smaller groups and 2013 passed by without major developments that could be used to promote the city as a MICE destination in a big way.

New attractions and meetings-friendly properties remain key to driving international business, especially given the dampening effect that anti-government protests in Bangkok and the related travel advisories had on trade, explained Holger Groninger, general manager of The Bayview Pattaya and Wave Pattaya.

“International MICE business as well as government meetings were heavily affected due to the travel advisories sent out by the embassies,” he said. “Existing business was initially shifted from Bangkok to Pattaya, but new meeting requests have came in very slowly.”

Robert Lohrmann, general manager of Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, said: “Pattaya’s MICE market has not yet reached its potential. The majority of current events are generated by domestic corporates and local social events…We do see more interest from Asian hubs such as Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Korea, but this has not been developed yet.”

In order to more effectively promote Pattaya as a MICE destination, seven hotels – Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, Amari Orchid Pattaya, Holiday Inn Pattaya, The Zign Hotel, Dusit Thani Pattaya, Garden Cliff Resort & Spa and Cape Dara Resort – officially formed the North Pattaya Alliance with Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau earlier this year to promote the city’s value offering at the Asia-Pacific Meetings & Incentives Expo in Australia in February.

Few deny the destination’s potential to attract business, given its location just 1.5 hours from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and that it has shaken off some of its reputation as a red light city by the sea. This enhanced image is partly driven by the arrival of more internationally branded properties over the past eight years. Research by Jones Lang LaSalle shows the city is home to more attractions than any other destination in Thailand. It also boasts 23 golf clubs and courses in the surrounding area and was named Best Golf Destination Asia and Australasia 2012 by the International Golf Tour Operators Association.

However, MICE specialists such as Teerapong Suksabai, MICE events manager at Asia World Destination Management, still consider Hilton Pattaya a “new” property even though it opened in 2010, underscoring the need for more product launches.

The coming six to twelve months will see several significant developments though. The 275-room Woraburi The Ritz was launched in March, with an adjacent 1,000-capacity convention centre due for completion by the end of this year while sister property, Woraburi Heritage, will add another 500 rooms to supply in 2H2014.

Jones Lang LaSalle said that majority of new hotels in Pattaya’s development pipeline from now until 2016 will be in the upper or high-end scale, enabling the destination to attract more higher-spending groups.

Until these new developments come online, the city’s existing supply, such as PEACH (Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall) at the Royal Cliff Hotel and Dusit Thani Pattaya will continue to dominate the trade and be sufficient to service existing demand, said Teerapong.

“I would rate Pattaya four out of five for MICE,” he said. “A few clients have said the destination is not as interesting as it used to be and that the beaches are not as clean, but Pattaya still has a good variety of hotels for all markets and budgets.

“Service is good in some of the large hotels equipped with experienced staff. Royal Cliff is still good for medium to massive events, they have a lot of space to play with,” he added.

In terms of attractions, Splashdown Waterpark Pattaya – an adult theme park based on the TV programme Wipeout – has debuted in the first quarter of the year, while May 2014 saw the inauguration of Siam Country Club Waterside, an 18-hole, IMG-designed golf course.

Two new water parks are coming up in Pattaya. Cartoon Network Amazone, a 5.7ha site featuring more than 150 attractions, will soft launch on July 31, 2014. Ramayana Water Park, a one-billion-baht project (US$30.8 million) with seven zones spread across 16 hectares, is reportedly South-east Asia’s largest water park and is tabled to open in 1Q2015.

MICE trends

Bundarik Kusolvitya Managing director The City Hotel Sriracha

Domestic MICE groups typically number between 200 pax to 1,000 pax, with most organising meetings and conferences, said Bundarik Kusolvitya, managing director of The City Hotel Sriracha and president of Thai Hotels Association (Eastern Chapter). Average stays range from three days/two nights to four days/three nights, and budgets vary from 2,000 baht (US$62) to 5,000 baht per person per day.

The government sector and professional associations mostly organise meetings and conferences while corporates hold meetings and incentives. More exhibitions are being held in Pattaya, but these are still relatively few and far between.

Overseas delegates favour incentives, conventions and meetings, with groups ranging from 500 pax to 10,000 pax and daily spending per person starting at 3,000 baht, she said.

How I did an 850-pax conference

Pattaya still has the power to attract large-size events and conferences, although the destination suffers from a lack of operational staff experienced in the MICE industry, said Teerapong Suksabai, MICE events manager at Asia World Destination Management.

Asia World organised a major pharmaceutical conference for 850 delegates from Russia and CIS countries at Royal Cliff Pattaya in February 2014. While the event did not have too many elements beyond the conference itself and a gala dinner, the number of attendees did raise some challenges.

“After the event we had an internal team debriefing about the service quality,” said Teerapong. “One of the key challenges is that with a large group of more than 700 delegates, we often need to hire additional staff to assist with some functions such as a gala dinner.”

Beyond its permanent headcount of eight specialists, the DMC had to outsource an additional 10 staff for the night, which brought with it control issues regarding understanding the client’s needs as well as the speed and quality of service.

“(The outsourced staff) were good, but they still could not cover all of the tasks we assigned them as they were still new to the MICE business,” he said. “This goes to show that Thailand still lacks experienced MICE staff who really know and understand what the business is and how it operates.”

Staffing was not the only issue Teerapong’s team had to overcome that night. “The client ordered last-minute changes to the decor and arrangements for the gala dinner just one day before the event. We had to bring some equipment from Bangkok but we managed to get everything done just in time.

“Overall, the event was successful and we received very good feedback about ground services and hotel from our client,” he said.

Need to know

Riding the meeting wave

Wave Pattaya opened last year, providing a perfect complement to its 260-room sister property, The Bayview Pattaya. Located on Beach Road, the four-storey, 21-room Miami South Beach-style property features Art Deco interiors, whose contemporary approach to room design lends to a more informal, relaxed environment.
Groups can access meetings facilities and additional restaurants and the spa at the connecting Bayview, with the boutique Wave making an ideal location for hosting board members and other high-level executives.
More information can be viewed at www.wavepattaya.com.

TCEB lures MICE travellers with Pattaya offer

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s (TCEB) Pattaya MICE City promotion offers a motorcade service from the airport to designated hotels and corporate social responsibility activities for groups of more than 100 delegates. Groups of 300 pax or more will also receive a VIP reception, welcome drinks and a motorcade to destinations within the city. For groups exceeding 500 delegates, the city will also provide a special performance and enhanced hotels rates for longer stays.

Convention settings underway at Woraburi The Ritz

Due to launch later this year, the convention hall at the recently launched Woraburi The Ritz will feature the latest audio-visual technology and space accommodating up to 1,000 pax. The hall can be used banquet-style or divided into three separate sections, making it suitable for small groups and larger events. Woraburi Heritage, a connecting property with 500 rooms, is due to open in 2H2014.

Visit www.waraburi-theritz.com for details.

Toon delights at water park


The first Cartoon Network-themed waterpark will open on July 31 to feature 10 themed zones, water rollercoasters and the world’s largest aqua playground with more than 150 different water features. Other attractions at this 5.7ha beachfront development in Bang Saray include meet-and-greet activities with key Cartoon Network characters, the mammoth Foodville dining facility and live acrobatics shows.

The venue also offers corporate packages for groups as well as after-hours hire for special events. Visit www.cartoonnetworkamazone.com for more information.

New greens in Pattaya

Siam Country Club strengthened its position as one of the area’s leading golfing facilities when it opened Siam Country Club Waterside in May 2014. The new 18-hole, 6.8km championship course was designed by IMG and covers 80 hectares. The course’s landscape features plenty of lakes, streams and water features alongside a new clubhouse offering panoramas of the surrounding environment. Golfers will be able to play at Siam Country Club’s existing 18-hole Old Course and the 27-hole Plantation course. More details at www.siamcountryclub.com

Penang convention bureau to get off the ground by end 2014

By S Puvaneswary
0

PENANG is likely to set up a state convention bureau by the end of 2014, but this is subject to the hiring of a consultant to start work in August on its structure and funding.

If all goes well, this will be almost two years since the Penang chief minister, Lim Guan Eng, mooted the idea in January 2013.

The convention bureau is to be known as Penang International Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PICEB).

Plans now hinge on getting the approval of the chief minister and the board of directors of Penang Global Tourism to hire a consultant who will be tasked with drawing up a structure and a sustainable funding model for the bureau to fund its team as well as marketing and promotions, and to support the travel trade in bidding for business events to Penang.

The state government will not provide financial assistance to the bureau but will support it by other means.

Ooi Geok Ling, managing director of Penang Global Tourism, said the delay in setting up the bureau was because the pro-tem committee, comprising local private players in the MICE industry, and the government could not agree on a sustainable funding model for PICEB.

“The hotel room levy in Penang will be taken under consideration for the funding structure of PICEB,” said Ooi.

The state government will be collecting RM2 (US$0.62) levy per room, per night on three star hotels and below, while a RM3 levy is charged on four-and five-star hotels (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 22, 2014).

Alan Pryor

By TTGmice
0

The new chief of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is more than ready to take over the reins from former poster boy of the centre, Peter Brokenshire. He shares the venue’s future plans and discusses industry outlook with S Puvaneswary

Congratulations on your new role as general manager. What will you be focusing on?
First and foremost, to maintain and develop the team we already have in place. Our team is our most valuable asset and without them, the centre’s achievements since opening would not have been possible. I believe it is through this team that we will maintain and enhance the internationally renowned standards and reputation as Malaysia’s premier convention facility.
Keeping a close eye on the ever-changing trends and business landscape will be another focus point. You can never become complacent even when things are going well, so we will definitely be ensuring our successful working relationship with Team Malaysia partners – Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia Airports Holdings, Kuala Lumpur City Council and  Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) – continues to function well in our efforts to grow the country’s business tourism global footprint.

Your predecessor Peter Brokenshire was very much an advocate of the ‘open door’ style of management. What is your approach?
Having first worked with Peter when we opened the Durban International Convention Centre and again at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for the past three years, I would say that we have a slightly different management style but we definitely have very similar values. I am also a firm believer in a transparent management style and like to be visible to team members and clients through regular contact with them around the centre. It is important to be able to monitor and experience your standards first hand and you really can’t test those if you are sitting in your office.

Will you be making any changes to the centre in the months ahead?
I am a firm believer in the saying ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’! As such, there are no major changes on the horizon at the moment. However, we have always adopted an approach of continually adding value to our product offerings and as such will be introducing various enhanced products over the course of the next year. Our focus remains to enhance our service delivery in response to changing trends and/or circumstances. Evolution, not revolution!

What kind of enhanced products can we expect to see?
The centre will be rolling out enhanced culinary offerings throughout the year and these will be announced in due course.  We are also in the process of finalising our product offerings which we hope will help diminish any perception of hidden costs. We will package our ancillary charges more effectively to pass on added value to our clients. There is also our RM7.5 million (US$2.24 million) investment in four technology projects this year, which will improve our world-class service delivery for delegates and visitors alike.

I would like to hear more about the four technology projects.
They include upgrading the data centre backbone infrastructure to 10 gigabytes, introducing a digital walkie-talkie system, implementing an IP (Internet Protocol) CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) system and improving the virtualised server environment for the data centre.

You have been with the centre for three years. What changes have you witnessed in the environment?
One of the more noticeable ones has been the giant strides Malaysia has made in terms of its business tourism proposition. The establishment of MyCEB really provided ammunition to grow the business tourism industry. As a result, we are in a much more competitive position regionally and internationally.
The growth in customised mobile and digital solutions for the meetings and events industry has changed dramatically as well. There is now a greater emphasis on hi-tech convenience and technology integration – technology that is not only used by meeting planners as a service tool for delegates, but by the delegates themselves to engage with content providers at the events they are attending.
Unfortunately, the tough economic climate over the last few years has also led to a trend among many venues to discount, which in turn has affected the quality of products and service standards offered. Maintaining our world-class standards in the face of price pressures has created a real point of difference between us and our competitors. We still need to remain vigilant with regard to trends as we continue to focus on providing quality value-added experiences to our clients.

What do you see as challenges for this year in the meetings and conventions business?
The economic climate will continue to contribute to a tough business tourism environment. Events have become a lot leaner and meaner and as such we need to be even more creative in our offerings by providing innovative products that offer more value for less. Fortunately for the centre, Malaysia’s unique selling propositions such as value-for-money destination, direct air access from most major cities around the world, a safe and stable political climate and established industry supply chain boost our attractiveness in the regional and international marketplace.
Another challenge that we increasingly face in the local market is business opportunities with very short lead times and the lack of flexibility when it comes to dates. Our team is working hard on strategies to address this challenge, so keep an eye out for more information on this.

Which geographic markets do you see as key for the centre in the years ahead and why?
The global economic realities make for a challenging business outlook all round. But the relatively new untapped markets with large populations in Asia such as India and China provide an opportunity for the centre in the years ahead. We also continue to invest in more established markets such as Europe and North America as the focus of associations in these markets are on growing their client and membership base in developing countries.
That said, the centre has always practiced a very targeted and consistent marketing approach and our investment will remain focused on maintaining a presence in all previous key markets through relevant industry forums and trade events.

What are key trends facing the MICE sector, both locally and globally?
There is a stronger focus on connecting business opportunities to relevant industry sectors and emerging economic and trade investment opportunities. Another important trend is enhanced collaboration between destination, suppliers and associations. We are fortunate that we can take advantage of this through our Team Malaysia collaboration, where we work cohesively with our partners to attract international events to the country. Other trends to be mindful of include the growing importance of sustainable and eco-friendly practices; an increasing demand for special dietary requirements and healthy food and beverage options; a greater emphasis on hi-tech convenience and technology integration and flexible function space options that are tailored to clients’ events.

Jan-Hendrik Meidinger

By TTGmice
0

Park Hyatt Saigon has made Jan-Hendrik Meidinger its new general manager. The German national first joined Hyatt in 1999 as assistant front office manager at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. He rose to the position of executive assistant manager, rooms, before being named hotel manager of Grand Hyatt Taipei in 2006. He then moved to Hyatt Regency Guam in 2010 as general manager.

Austin Robinson

By TTGmice
0

Austin Robinson now helms Centara Karon Resort Phuket and Waterfront Suites Phuket by Centara. His last position was general manager of Centara Nova Hotel & Spa Pattaya, Centara Boutique Collection and Centara Pattaya Resort.

Riaz Mahmood

By TTGmice
0

Millennium and Copthorne International has named Riaz Mahmood the general manager of Orchard Hotel Singapore. The hospitality veteran of 20 years brings with him a wealth of international industry experience from his time with major hotels in Asia-Pacific and Middle East countries. He was most recently the general manager of the Sheraton Dammam Hotel and Towers, Saudi Arabia.

Klaus Gottschalk

By TTGmice
0

Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy recently welcomed its new general manager, Klaus Gottschalk. Armed with over 35 years of hospitality industry experience, Gottschalk has worked in senior management positions in Europe, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, China and Malaysia. He joins the Singapore hotel from Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar where he was in charge of the pre-opening and opening phases.

Andrew Bunn

By TTGmice
0

Emirates Airline has appointed Andrew Bunn its new country manager for Singapore & Brunei, based in the Lion City. Bunn succeeds Nick Rees who has been promoted to regional manager commercial operations, Far East & Australasia at Emirates’ headquarters in Dubai.

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TTGmice | Asia MICE outlook cautious but not weakened
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