WORLD experts on lung health will gather in the Malaysian capital for the five-day Union World Conference on Lung Health next week.

Held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from November 13-17, the conference is organised by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.

CEO of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), Zulkefli Hj Sharif, expects the conference to attract 3,000 delegates and generate an estimated RM43.3 million (US$14.1 million) in economic impact.

He said: “MyCEB is very supportive of this conference. Besides its obvious economic benefits, the conference will facilitate the opportunity for professional development, knowledge exchange and best practices in the local and regional health sectors, particularly in respiratory health. It will highlight the vital importance of collaboration in our common efforts to address conditions affecting lung health and HIV/AIDS, diabetes, asthma and other diseases. This in turn will impact positively on Malaysia as a model developing country.”

THE QATAR National Convention Centre (QNCC) in Doha will in three weeks’ time host the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change 2012, which will bring an unprecedented number of delegates to the destination.

The event, spanning November 26 to December 7, will utilise QNCC’s complete inventory of spaces, including 40,000m² of indoor exhibition space and 3,500m² of outdoor exhibition area.

Another 76 meeting rooms will be constructed – in addition to the existing 52 – to accommodate all delegation offices and work areas.

Adam Mather-Brown, general manager of QNCC, said: “This is definitely a substantial event considering that many meetings will run simultaneously and require a level of efficiency from our staff to ensure that tight turnarounds and requirements are delivered.

“We have been planning this event for almost a year now and we are currently setting up many of the venues to ensure that we bring the event to life on schedule.”

Meetings are expected to run past midnight, and, as a result, the centre will be operating on a 24-hour basis. To ensure a seamless service delivery, there will be some 5,000 staff on duty round-the-clock, including volunteers and support staff who are currently undergoing intensive training.

INDIA, which contributes more than half of Sri Lanka’s MICE arrivals, is getting more attention from the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB).

The MICE bureau, along with SriLankan Airlines, organised the largest-ever familiarisation tour last week for more than 75 Indian MICE operators, including meeting planners, incentive experts and media representatives. The programme sought to raise Sri Lanka’s profile as a destination with plenty of MICE options, and showcased convention centres and resorts, among other products.

The familiarisation tour is a step up from the current destination promotion efforts undertaken by SLCB and the flag carrier, which comprise only three roadshows in India a year and smaller scale familiarisation programmes.

MICE arrivals from India have been growing at an annual rate of 10 to 15 per cent over the past few years, according to Achini Dandunnage, SLCB senior manager, who added that a target growth of at least 20 per cent has been set.

Dandunnage said Sri Lanka had drawn meetings organised by India-based divisions of multinational companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Tesco and IBM, and Indian attendance were often strong at conferences organised out of Asia-Pacific.

“We also hope that they (Indian conference attendees) will return to Sri Lanka with their families,” she said.

STEEP hikes in domestic airfares, by as much as 29 per cent quarter-on-quarter according to American Express India, have forced companies to replace air travel with train journeys.

Anurag Agarwal, managing director of Southend Travels, who has seen a drop of 15 to 20 per cent in air ticketing volume, told TTGmice e-Weekly: “The corporate sector has become more cautious, a result of steep domestic fares (and) little difference in fares offered by low-cost carriers and full-service carriers. In some sectors, fares are higher on low-cost carriers.

“Companies have cut down on non-essential travel. Train travel has also become more popular especially in areas where there are rapid train services such as Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express.”

Subhash Verma, chairman of Travel Plus and president of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India, has also observed a shift to train rides among corporate clients, along with a three per cent decline in domestic travel within India.

Verma said, “Corporates are looking at cost-cutting measures. They are trying to switch junior staff to train travel.”

On the weekend before the festival of Diwali, which falls on November 13 this year, airfares between Mumbai and Delhi on low-cost carriers such as GoAir and Indigo have reached as high as Rs16,000 (US$298), while Air India is charging Rs7,000.

In contrast, an air-conditioned, first class ride onboard the Rajdhani Express for the same sector costs the traveller only Rs4,000.

Sandeep Shastri, vice president and general manager of Global Business Travel, American Express India, said: “The increase in travel demand, inflation, reduction in flight capacity and flight network disruptions are some of the contributing factors to the increase in airfares. We believe that the environment will continue to be dynamic, and to stabilise business travel expenses, companies should look at cost-effective travel programmes and execute multi-year contracts with key domestic and international carriers.”

MACAU Government Tourist Office (MGTO) deputy director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, will replace Joao Manuel Costa Antunes as director on December 20.

Antunes stepped into the role in April 1988.

In an interview with Teledifusão de Macau, Macau government Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Cheong U, explained that the arrangement was a normal change in personnel.

Antunes told TTGmice e-Weekly: “(Following the succession), I will continue my public career as the full-time coordinator for the Macau Grand Prix Committee, and focus on preparations for the 60th anniversary of the Macau Grand Prix.

“I am proud to say that the past 25 years in MGTO have been the best period of my life. This experience gives me great pride and satisfaction to move on in my public and private life. I know that I couldn’t have achieved this without the efforts and support of my colleagues and industry partners.”

THE NEXT ICCA Congress will be held in China for the first time when it heads to Shanghai in 2013.

The event is expected to draw 800 to 1,000 delegates from more than 80 countries and regions. Shanghai International Convention Center has been selected as venue for the congress, which will run from November 2 to 6 next year.

To draw attention to the 52nd congress in 2013, the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration (SMTA) staged a presentation and reception during the closing ceremony of ICCA Congress 2012 on October 24 in San Juan.

Shen Shanzhou, vice chairman of SMTA, said: “The ICCA Congress has never been to mainland China before. We believe the 52nd ICCA Congress will be a milestone and an occasion that new horizons will be explored for the future development of the meetings industry in China.”

MALAYSIAN event and exhibition contractor, Instant Tradeshows & Exhibitions, has developed a mobile application that guides users to fairs and exhibitions in the destination.

Called MyExpo, the free application provides details such as floor plans, special promotions and short video footages of fair and exhibitions that are due to take place in Malaysia.

K Kaarthik, managing director of Instant Tradeshows & Exhibitions, said the application was developed with the intention of informing the public about upcoming events.

Kaarthik is now in talks with show organisers in the ASEAN region and India to have their conferences listed on MyExpo.

Meanwhile, the company is also obtaining 10 units of modular double-decker booths from Germany. The 4m by 8m booths, which can be conveniently assembled and dismantled according to international safety standards, will be made available for rental from January 2013.

BANYAN Tree Hotels and Resorts has opened its first urban resort property in China.

Located along the Huangpu River, the Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund offers 130 guest rooms, four F&B outlets, the signature Banyan Tree Spa which will span three floors within the hotel, and four meeting rooms that can be configured to accommodate 10 to 90 guests.

Pancho Llamas, general manager of the hotel, said: “Following the success of our group’s three other urban resorts – in Bangkok, Macau and Seoul – Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund capitalises on our core brand value of rejuvenation and offers a sanctuary for the senses within the context of Shanghai’s vast urban cityscape.

“Business and leisure travellers may take advantage of our many amenities and facilities, such as an award-winning spa, a multitude of dining venues and various meeting spaces, during their visit.”

SCOTT Boyes, regional general manager of Accor NSW and ACT, has been elected to the Business Events Sydney’s (BESydney) Board of Directors following its annual general meeting on Tuesday.

He will take on the role of members director, after having received the most votes from BESydney’s strategic partner and members.

Gary Daly, general manager sales of Luna Park, and Kate Smith, managing director of WaldronSmith, are other members directors on the board.