BEVERLEY Parker, executive director, sales and marketing, Dockside Group and Shelley Roberts, executive director, aviation services, Sydney Airport have been elected to the positions of Members’ Directors of Business Events Sydney (BESydney) by their peers.

BESydney Chairman, Col Hughes, said: “We are delighted to welcome Shelley and Beverley to our Board. Our nine directors bring unique energy and perspectives, along with diverse industry and commercial knowledge, to the table. Together they will actively contribute to the strategy and direction of the company and we look forward to working with them, now and into the future.”

The board will also see the exit of two directors, Kate Smith and Gary Daly.

BESydney CEO, Lyn Lewis-Smith, highlighted the importance of strong industry leaders to guide the company’s future success.

“The business events market both globally and locally is changing. We need to evolve to ensure we are best placed to tackle the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Under the guidance of our highly-respected and connected Board of Directors, both past and present, BESydney is leading the way as a global destination of choice for business events.”

THE Oakwood Residence Prestige Whitefield Bangalore has opened in the Silicon Valley of India, offering 143 units overlooking the scenic Varthur Lake.

Led by resident manager Varun Sharma, Oakwood Residence Prestige Whitefield Bangalore is one of the largest serviced residences in the city. Strategically located in the IT hub of Bangalore and atop the popular Forum Value Mall at Whitefield, the property offers guests easy access to the International Tech Park Bangalore and a variety of entertainment, dining and shopping options.

Ideal for both long and short stays, guests can choose from a selection of studio, one- and two-bedroom units. Each private residence boasts a state-of-the-art home entertainment system, modern kitchen, fully automated washer and dryer, Wi-Fi, rain shower and other amenities.

Facilities include the all-day dining Oakleaf Restaurant and Bar, a fitness centre, an outdoor pool, meeting facilities and more.

“India, being one of the world’s fastest growing economies and favoured destinations for global investment, continues to be a key market as we look to expand in the region,” said PG Mathew, managing director for Oakwood’s collection of 26 serviced apartments in Asia-Pacific.

“We are especially excited to see the opening of our fifth property in India which reinforces our position as an industry leader and the largest global serviced apartment operator in the country.”

Three additional properties are slated to join Oakwood’s India portfolio by 2016.

Vientiane-based DMC, Laos Mood Travel, is hauling in a good catch of business leads and enquiries following the recent hosting of its first familiarisation trip for Belgian MICE planners and business travel media, an activity jointly organised and sponsored by Thai Airways International Belgium.

The familiarisation trip, which ran from September 21 to 28 and covered Thailand’s Golden Triangle, Pakbeng, Luang Prabang and Vientiane, put participants on a smartphone-based scavenger hunt, a tuk-tuk self-drive contest, a speedboat ride down upper Mekong, an elephant greeting at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, street food dining, and many other experiences.

In an email interview with TTGmice e-Weekly, Laurent Granier, co-founder and general manager of Laos Mood Travel, said his team is presently creating programmes for Belgian incentive houses, with some of the events due to take place in 2014.

Granier explained that Belgium was targeted due to available air access, provided by THAI’s Brussels-Bangkok flights and a new daily direct Bangkok-Luang Prabang service.

He added: “Belgium is a small and dynamic country, while its capital Brussels (is home to many) corporate headquarters. Moreover, Belgians travel frequently abroad and are bon vivants. Laos and Belgium are both francophone nations and their people favour relaxed lifestyles.

“(Our initiation of this familiarisation trip) is in line with our continuous efforts to promote MICE in Laos,” he said, adding that he is keen to “target emerging markets with (huge) potential, especially from East and North Europe”.

However, Granier said such familiarisation trips were only possible with the support of airlines and pointed out that the presence of “Nordic and Middle Eastern airlines” that fly into Asia have “(brought) Laos closer to their country of origin”.

A COLLABORATION between COMEXPOSIUM Group, its subsidiary SIAL Group and the Philippines’ leading food show MAFBEX has resulted in the creation of SIAL ASEAN.

To be held next year from June 11 to 13 in Manila, the new food exhibition is expected to attract 800 exhibitors – half of whom will be from across the world – and 15,000 professional visitors.

SIAL ASEAN joins SIAL Group’s current portfolio of food exhibitions including SIAL China, SIAL Middle East, SIAL Canada, SIAL Paris and SIAL Brazil.

Renaud Hamaide, managing director of COMEXPOSIUM Group, said the development of SIAL ASEAN “fits perfectly into the global strategy” of the company which constantly seeks out opportunities “principally in areas of the world that post significant economic growth”.

SOME 1,500 of the world’s leading melanoma and skin cancer experts will gather in Brisbane in October 2017, following the Australian city’s successful bid for the 9^th World Congress of Melanoma.

The event, which will be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC), was a result of a joint effort involving Brisbane’s key convention partners, led by a team from the host venue, as well as Cancer Council Queensland and two of Brisbane’s leading melanoma specialists. It is expected to deliver an A$3.6 million (US$3.5 million) boost to the Queensland economy.

Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Marketing also played significant roles in securing the four-day congress.

The World Congress of Melanoma’s return to Australia for the second time in 20 years is regarded as “testimony to Brisbane’s world class research reputation and active engagement in the area of melanoma and melanoma management and will provide an opportunity to showcase the ground breaking work of Queensland based researchers and clinicians”, said a press release from BCEC.

The main architects of the bid, co-convenors and BCEC Convention Advocates, H Peter Soyer and Mark Smithers, believe the high calibre of the multidisciplinary Australian Steering Committee and the successful hosting of the Dermoscopy World Congress at the venue last year were factors in the success of the Brisbane bid.

BCEC general manager, Bob O’Keeffe, said the win was further affirmation of Brisbane’s reputation and track record for hosting major international events and its appeal to the international scientific and research sectors.

THE Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has turned its attention on corporate incentive travel from the Philippines after market research showed that the sector has more promise than meetings, conventions and exhibitions.

“Incentive travel is steady and fast-growing not only to South Korea but also to other countries,” said Sangyong Zhu, director of KTO’s Manila office.

Encouraged by its market research results, KTO hosted the MICE Travel Mart in May, which saw the participation of almost 150 corporations in cooperation with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

According to Zhu, the Manila office also works closely with the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines and the Philippine Travel Agencies Association in promoting the destination for incentive trips.

KTO is also investing in advertising and newspaper campaigns to promote MICE tourism.

Incentive arrivals from the Philippines today are a tiny percentage of the total footfalls from the market. The tourism bureau supported 971 people from 20 incentive groups from the Philippines between January and October 3 this year, while total arrivals in the first eight months of the year were 280,711.

Zhu explained that the numbers were small because KTO’s Manila office was only formed a year and a half ago and the incentive trip campaign was rolled out last May.

“This is just the beginning. The Philippines has big potential,” he said.

“(South) Korea isn’t cheap. It’s a little more expensive than other Asian countries but Filipinos still go there because of the robust Philippine economy and the stronger buying power of the middle class,” he explained.

Filipinos’ fascination with the Korean wave adds to the destination’s popularity, while South Korea’s offer of multiple-entry visa for South-east Asians since September has enhanced accessibility.

MCI has expanded its global DMC brand, Ovation, to Australia with an office in Sydney.

The new office is headed by Sonja Söderbom, who joins MCI Australia as director, Ovation Australia. Söderbom has more than 15 years of DMC experience. With the support of MCI Australia’s creative services and event design team, Söderbom will offer clients visiting or returning to Australia a fresh approach to destination experiences and creative bespoke events.

MCI Australia managing director, Stephan Wurzinger, said in a press statement: “MCI Australia has always offered this exclusive (DMC) service to our existing international clients. However, I am very excited to now be able to raise the bar by having the Ovation brand in Australia as a leading creative DMC provider.”

Ovation operates in more than 125 destinations worldwide including Cambodia, China, Japan and Taiwan in Asia.

LAUNCHED in May, SMX Taguig, the third convention centre under SMX Convention Specialist Corp, has welcomed two major entertainment events into its calendar which is presently dominated by corporate meetings and seminars.

The fifth edition of ManilART, held last week, is the country’s largest visual arts fair. It featured works by Philippine greats such as Fernando Zobel, Romeo Tabuena and Vita Sarenas, as well as up and coming artists.

The other win is Circus Vargas Presents Magikaria, an American circus act, which will run from Christmas this year until January 1, 2014.

Marivic Marquez, assistant vice president for sales and marketing, SMX Convention Specialist Corp, believes that SMX Taguig’s features and location are key factors in helping the venue attract a wider roster of high profile cultural and tourism-oriented events.

Occupying the third and fourth floors of SM Aura Premier mall, SMX Taguig offers 6,358m² of gross floor area and leasable space of 2,552m², with three function rooms that seat 250-2,250 pax, and eight meeting rooms for 36-255 pax. Kitchen and storage facilities allow for large catered events.

Parts of the mall, such as the open air Sky Park on the fifth floor, can support events and were utilised by the recent ManilART.

PHASE two of Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) has opened for business, doubling the venue’s raw space to 50,000m².

The latest phase spans 25,000m² and with the existing facilities offered in the first wing, BNDCC now provides event organisers 50 meeting rooms capable of hosting 12,000 people altogether.

Owned by Nusa Dua Indonesia, a sub-holding company of public-listed Dyandra Media International, the BNDCC complex also includes a five-star hotel which is due to be ready this December. With the completion of the hotel, the entire development will be renamed Bali Nusa Dua Hotel and Convention Center.

Business has been brisk for the new wing, having hosted three international conferences and the grand finals of Miss World 2013 prior to its official launch at end-September, as well as APEC Summit’s media centre and a dinner for economic leaders.

To come before the end of 2013 are several more events, including the World Bridge Championship with 1,000 delegates from 31 countries, the Internet Governance Forum with 2,000 delegates from 100 countries, the Bali Democracy Forum with 500 delegates including six head of states of member countries, and the 9th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Meeting in December with 7,000 delegates from 185 countries.

Meanwhile, Nusa Dua Indonesia is constructing the Indonesia International Convention and Exhibition Center in Tangerang, off Jakarta. Slated to open in mid-2014, the venue will offer 150,000m² of convention and exhibition facilities – possibly the largest in the country.

The company is also planning to build its fifth venue in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

BUSINESS event organisers and delegates can now look forward to VIP treatment with the new Singapore MICE Advantage Programme (SMAP).

The joint collaboration between the Changi Airport Group, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau seeks to enhance the overall event and destination experience by offering perks such as preferential airfares with SIA, additional baggage of 10kg for each delegate and complimentary Changi Airport shopping vouchers of S$20 (US$16) each.

Event organisers can enjoy assistance in securing exclusive event venues, pre-event marketing support, discounts on advertising space within Changi Airport and complimentary advertising space on SIA’s publications and/or KrisWorld channels, among many other benefits.

Jeannie Lim, executive director of exhibitions & conferences and conventions & meetings, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “The premise of this programme is that the delegate experience of Singapore can begin even before the usual welcome reception.

“Singapore already has well-differentiated and innovative offerings that amplify the overall MICE experience. Through SMAP, we can also leverage the strengths of Singapore’s internationally acclaimed airline and airport.”

Noting that the airline is “an integral part of the entire event experience” for MICE travellers, Sheldon Hee, vice president marketing communications and development of SIA, said: “MICE customers can enjoy a host of privileges with the Boarding Pass Privileges programme whereas organisers can tap into a package of customised benefits to ensure a great experience for their clients.”

Applications for SMAP will be accepted from now till December 31, 2016, and all events must be held in Singapore by December 31, 2017. Each application will be evaluated individually.