CWT has appointed a second partner, Orient Travel, in the UAE to manage growing volumes of corporate travel and develop its offering to clients.

The corporate travel and events specialist will continue to work with partner Alshamel Travel in the UAE and several other key markets in the region, allowing clients the opportunity to work with either partner.

Andrew Waller, president Europe Middle East & Africa, and Global Partners Network, said: “The appointment of a second partner will reinforce CWT’s presence in the UAE. We have seen significant growth for many clients over the past few years, particularly in the energy, resources and marine sector, which we expect to continue.”

CHINA’S economy may have started to show signs of a slow-down, with GDP growth slipping to 7.5 per cent in Q2 from 7.7. per cent in the previous quarter, but Starwood Hotels & Resorts is still in hot pursuit of growth through China as both a source and hotel market.

Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly, Alison Taylor, senior vice president, sales, Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, said: “We have seen dips and plateaus in many markets worldwide but we know the Chinese economy will sustain its growth. We are in it for the longhaul after all, and while China may not have the economic growth as expected, it is still strong for us.”

China ranks as Starwood’s fastest-expanding hotel market, with 120 operating hotels and more than 100 in the pipeline. This makes China the group’s second largest market, after the US (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 12, 2013).

An agreement inked by Starwood last week to open Element Suzhou Science and Technology Town in mid-2015 marks the Element brand’s entry to Asia-Pacific, as well as the presence of all nine Starwood brands in China.

According to Taylor, the presence of all Starwood brands in China is integral to the company’s effort to tap the Chinese outbound market.

She said: “The Chinese can now identify with our brand when they travel overseas, and 95 per cent of our global hotels have welcomed Chinese travellers.”

Taylor noted that outbound travel from China has grown by 20 per cent globally in 2012.

With MICE driving 20 per cent of Starwood’s overall business, Taylor said this group contributed “significant top line revenue”.

“We are now receiving bookings of 100 rooms and more from over 350 groups out of China into our Starwood properties. We are seeing growth in this market, with the US, Europe and South-east Asia being popular destinations for them.”

To cater to the Chinese, Starwood launched a programme in 2011 to make this segment of travellers feel at home. Besides providing collaterals in Mandarin, an in-house Mandarin-speaking specialist is at hand to assist Chinese travellers. Chinese-friendly menus with familiar dishes like congee are also available all-day.

THE Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is setting its sights on growing MICE business – and particularly the incentive segment – from Thailand, as the Thai economy grows and the country’s industry development picks up speed since recovering from the 2011 floods.

Pote Sakuntalak, managing director of World Discovery Travel Network Company, HKTB’s representative in Thailand, said: “Of the MICE market from Thailand to Hong Kong, the incentive segment has been the fastest-growing.

“Several industries in Thailand, such as direct sales, automobile production and insurance, have been doing well and these are the top three industries most likely to reward their top performers through incentive travel,” he added.

“This year, I expect double-digit growth for Thailand’s outbound MICE segment to Hong Kong.”

Said Arthit Kiatbenchaphong, sales manager of Bonus Travel Thailand, which also sees more incentive groups among its MICE business to Hong Kong: “The MICE demand from Thailand to Hong Kong has always been steady. Hong Kong sees more repeat incentive visits than Singapore, Indonesia or South Korea due to the city’s strong tourism attractions, from gastronomy dining to shopping to temples that are highly popular among Thais.

“But as Thai incentive travellers become familiar with Hong Kong, they also expect more creative and know-how elements, hence it also requires more homework on our part to come up with unique programmes,” he revealed.

To keep Hong Kong fresh for incentives, the Bangkok-based firm has strived to continually roll out new elements such as exclusive dining experiences on board yachts or in VIP rooms at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, according to Arthit.

To encourage more MICE business from the region, HKTB rolled out the Top Agent Award Program (TAAP) last month in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Pote shared: “Unlike previous rewards programmes that sought to value-add the experience of MICE visitors to Hong Kong, this new programme is focused on rewarding MICE travel experts, who can compete in terms of the most number of passengers and number of groups, as well as the most creative itinerary.”

Valid until January 31, 2014, TAAP is only valid for groups staying at least two consecutive nights in Hong Kong. Other terms and conditions apply.

THE Brisbane Event Planner, an online city directory for the conventions and events industry, has undergone a significant revamp to mark its first birthday.

Brisbane Marketing Convention Bureau director, Annabel Sullivan, said the online tool was now packed with even more useful features to assist event planners.

“We’ve refreshed the layout and design of the website and enhanced the search engine to make it easier to locate venues, accommodation and other services. There is also a live Twitter feed along with other social media tools and marketing collateral to assist with delegate boosting and attendance,” Sullivan said.

The Brisbane Event Planner, which is also accessible on iPhone and iPad, has attracted more than 19,300 unique users since its launch in July 2012.

The Brisbane Event Planner can be found at www.BrisbaneEventPlanner.com.au

Complementing the rejuvenated Brisbane Event Planner is the Convention Support Toolkit which organisers can use to source event planning tools, marketing collateral templates, image and copy libraries, Brisbane mobile apps, pre- and post-event tours and complimentary onsite support including visitor guides and maps.

CROWNE Plaza Hotels and Resorts has lanched Business Energiser, a series of activities that help business travellers to stay motivated, focused and and in top form when they are on the road for work.

Running from July 8 to 29 in six Crowne Plaza hotels across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Business Energiser aims to help MICE groups and solo business travellers get the most out of their day.

Participating properties include Crowne Plaza Changi Airport in Singapore, Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island and Crowne Plaza Canberra in Australia.

The programme consists of three key elements: Morning Energiser in-room wake-up guides, Morning Warrior wake-up exercise classes, and Meet Aerobics exercises which are conducted while participants are seated during meetings.

Theresa Sidhu, director brand management of Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Asia, Middle East and Africa, said in a press statement: “At Crowne Plaza we know staying healthy and energised when travelling for work is essential to our guests’ business success and our aim is to provide (them) with all the tools they need to achieve their business goals.

“We already offer our guests the facilities and services they need to get ahead but for the next three weeks Business Energiser will be providing guests with an added level of support to take them to hero status at work.”

ASIA is growing in importance as a business events source market for Dubai, according to the local MICE bureau, accounting for an estimated 40 per cent of the destination’s total MICE market and taking second place after top market Europe which has almost 60 per cent of market share.

Tariq Abdullah Al Hashimi, senior executive, congress development of government-owned Dubai Convention Bureau, attributes the strength of the Asian source market to the bureau’s incentive programme for MICE buyers.

Support from the programme, which is upgraded every year, varies according to the size of the group. Incentives include welcome kits, a 10 per cent discount at shopping malls, museum tickets and city tours.

Al Hashimi added that the city was tax-free, which meant savings on hotel and restaurant bills.

He said: “MICE is now increasing for Dubai, especially from Asia (and specifically from) China, Malaysia and Singapore. (These travellers) want to have at least two to three days in Dubai.”

He noted that 60 per cent of MICE business from Asia was made up of incentive travel, 20 per cent corporate clients and 20 per cent associations.

Some of the major events coming up in Dubai include an Amway incentive group from Taiwan with 1,000 participants this September; Asian Pacific Dental Congress with 2,000 delegates in June 2014; and a Newscan meeting for 6,000 delegates from China, Malaysia and Hong Kong in April next year.

THE Adelaide Convention Bureau has in recent months secured the hosting rights for six international conferences which will earn the Australian destination an estimated A$18.3 million (US$17 million) in economic benefit.

Damien Kitto, CEO of Adelaide Convention Bureau, said: “These six conference bid wins are an exceptional result for the bureau, especially considering the increasing resources our national and international competitors have access to.

“To win the right for Adelaide to host these six events (during such challenging times when we have reduced resources) is testament to the strategic direction and sheer hard work being undertaken by the convention bureau team, Team Adelaide industry partners and our Conventions Adelaide Ambassadors.”

Slated to take place between 2014 and 2017, the six confirmed events include the five-day Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition for 600 attendees in October 2014; the four-day International Convention of Asian Scholars with 1,250 delegates in August 2015; and the four-day International Symposium on Supportive Care in Cancer for 1,500 delegates in June 2016.

THAILAND’s robust economic outlook, coupled with strong post-flood industrial recovery and a relatively peaceful political scene, has buoyed corporate and MICE business for Pattaya’s hospitality sector, according to hoteliers that TTGmice e-Weekly spoke to.

“Since the flooding in Ayutthaya and Central Thailand two years ago, there has been a big wave of change for new investors to invest in the Eastern Seaboard instead,” remarked Chatchawal Supachayanont, general manager of Dusit Thani Pattaya.

“The new Amata City Industrial Estate (in Rayong province) has opened new factories and companies, driving a lot of overseas business travellers to this area (Eastern Seaboard) and benefiting hotels in Pattaya.”

These international corporate travellers usually stay for “a good length of time” of about a week or two at Dusit Thani Pattaya, with some taking root for months, according to Chatachawal.

He added: “We have seen very strong growth in the MICE sector in the first half of 2013; corporate business has grown by 15 per cent while MICE business has grown 25 per cent year to date.”

Similarly, Pullman Pattaya Hotel G has also recorded a surge in MICE and corporate business driven by booming industrial development along the Eastern Seaboard, according to general manager Sophon Vongchatchainont.

He said: “MICE business has increased from five per cent to 15 per cent within the span of six months this year. The corporate sector now makes up around 10-20 per cent of our guests.

“We used to turn away a lot of MICE customers due to the strong leisure demand, but we have identified the MICE segment as a focus for our hotel from this year onward,” Sophon shared, adding that the hotel has signed more contracts with MICE clients this year.

Meanwhile, hoteliers are expecting MICE and business travel demand to stay positive for 2H2013.

Said Chatchawal: “The third quarter usually sees the least MICE business compared to the rest of year, but we’re already seeing good signs of advance bookings for October and November. Business in the second half of 2013 will definitely be better than last year.”