THAILAND’S MICE and tourism industries were left bruised after the country’s bid to host World Expo 2020 was rejected due to a lack of government support.

No one has accepted responsibility for the failure, with the opposition Democrat party blaming the government, which in turn has pointed the finger at the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) for dropping the ball.

The Paris-based Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), which oversees the world fair, told TTG Asia the reason why it rejected Ayutthaya as a potential host for the 2020 event was clear.

“The government did not reiterate its support for the bid,” said a BIE spokesman. “Without support for the bid there is no point in going ahead.”

TCEB declined several opportunities to comment on the matter. However, Sumate Sudasna, president of the Thailand Incentives and Conventions Association, who also sits on TCEB’s board, said the rejection would damage the country’s international standing.

“It’s a loss of credibility, of confidence (in Thailand),” he said, adding the decision could weaken Thailand’s chances of hosting other world-class events of a similar scale. “If we have the chance to do things (bid for major international events) in the future, whoever is putting the bid together will have to be more committed.”

Thailand’s foreign minister and deputy prime minister, Surapong Tovichakchaikul, was quoted in the Bangkok Post as saying that TCEB was to blame for BIE’s decision, as the bureau had been unprepared and lacked information about proper bidding procedures.

A STANDALONE event venue by the beach will join Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort’s collection of function spaces by the end of July, along with the introduction of CSR activities themed around a new nature sanctuary.

The yet-to-be-named beachfront venue, once the site of the resort’s popular Barnacles Restaurant which has since been shifted to level three, will be able to accommodate 200 guests indoors and outdoors.

General manager Ben Bousnina told TTGmice e-Weekly that the restaurant’s move was necessary to allow the resort to accommodate the strong demand for beachfront event venues and also to provide greater convenience for guests during breakfast hours by centralising all restaurants on the dedicated dining floor, Dine on 3.

Bousnina said: “We also plan to build a sanctuary next to the new event centre, with plants and fruit trees to attract birds that were displaced by the construction on this island or even an orchid garden. We are also meeting with the team from the Butterfly Park (also located on Sentosa island) to see what we could do here.

“With this sanctuary, we will offer activities to resort guests and corporate groups that will satisfy their corporate social responsibility objectives.”

The sanctuary will complement the resort’s ongoing on-site garden tours that are conducted by the resident gardener, according to the resort’s spokesperson Tina Chia.

THE Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur has seen healthy interest from event planners since its opening last December.

Built in 1932 as Majestic Hotel and shut down in 1983, the iconic building celebrated a grand reopening last December following a refurbishment by YTL Hotels (TTG Asia e-Daily, December 10, 2012).

According to the luxury property’s director of sales & marketing, Anna Olsson, The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur has been the venue of choice for several events such as F1 Gala Dinner 2013, The BrandLaureate Awards 2013 and other functions organised by the private banking sector and high-end brands. It has also hosted local wedding dinners with 800 to 1,200 people.

Olsson noted that the bulk of business for residential meetings had come from Singapore and Hong Kong, with China showing growing interest, while Australia and New Zealand produced incentive bookings.

Meetings and incentives from the Middle East are also rising.

The property will work closely with The Leading Hotels of the World – it is the only hotel in the Malaysian capital to be included in the collection of properties under the luxury hospitality consortium – to attract more corporate interest and attend tradeshows such as IMEX to build further awareness of the hotel.

THE Lion City has emerged champion again in UIA’s latest ranking of top international meeting cities and countries for having hosted 952 meetings in 2012, up from 919 in 2011.

Japan has overtaken the US this year to claim second spot on the country chart with 731 meetings. Japan hosted 598 meetings in 2011 which placed it in third position.

South Korea and Australia, with 563 and 287 meetings respectively, are the other only Asian countries in the top 10 collection. South Korea takes fifth spot, up from sixth last year, while Australia holds its 10th position.

The rest of UIA’s top international meeting country chart for 2012 comprises Belgium (in fourth place with 597 meetings), France (sixth; 494 meetings), Austria (seventh; 458), Spain (eighth; 449) and Germany (ninth; 373).

On the 2012 top meeting cities chart, Singapore is followed by Brussels (547 meetings), Vienna (326), Paris (276), Seoul (253), Tokyo (225), Barcelona (150), Copenhagen (150), Madrid (149) and London (119).

UIA’s International Meetings Statistics for the Year 2012 also reported a rise in the number of meetings captured in its database. Some 392,588 meetings were held in 2012, compared to 376,381 in 2011.

NEW Zealand will enhance its destination appeal to the business events community come mid/late 2017 when a new convention centre opens its doors in Auckland.

Designed, built and operated by Skycity Entertainment Group, the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) will cost some NZ$315 million (US$249.6 million) to develop.

Located in Auckland’s central business district and within walking distance of more than 4,700 hotel rooms and numerous shopping and restaurant precincts, the venue will have public convention and exhibition space capable of accommodating 3,500 delegates at one time.

Tourism New Zealand’s chief executive, Kevin Bowler, said the development of NZICC would put Auckland and New Zealand firmly on the radar of conference organisers.

Bowler said: “Holding an event in New Zealand would exceed all visitor expectations. Where else in the world can you find world-class conferencing facilities close to crystal-clear waters, or explore a stunningly rugged rainforest one hour and sail on an America’s Cup yacht in a glorious harbour setting the next?

“All of this natural beauty, unspoilt by the country’s equally impressive cosmopolitan flavour makes New Zealand the perfect place for business and pure leisure.”

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development chief executive, Brett O’Riley, believes that Auckland will be poised to host large international conferences with NZICC, adding that the destination’s “people, places and conferencing facilities (will) make conference experiences not only magical, but memorable”.

MALAYSIA will host the 7^th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention 2013 (IAS 2013), said to be the largest scientific AIDS conference in Asia, from June 30 to July 3, 2013.

It is organised by the International AIDS Society (IAS) in partnership with the Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA) and University of Malaya.

The conference is also supported by the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau which helped with the bid presentation, subvention funding for event promotion and marketing, and liaison with the immigration department to facilitate immigration clearance for international delegates who require visa, said its general manager – sales & marketing, Ho Yoke Ping.

Anita Suleiman, senior principal assistant director (HIV), Ministry of Health, said: “Through the conference, we hope to learn from the important successes and challenges of our Asian colleagues. At the same time, we are glad to showcase the Malaysian success story on HIV especially on harm reduction programmes, Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission programme and provision of free antiretroviral drug to those eligible.

“The Ministry of Health…hopes that this conference will benefit everybody – the stakeholders, key affected populations, civil societies, corporate bodies and others. Through learning and sharing, we hope to strengthen the country’s responses to HIV/AIDS in the future.”

She added: “We believe that Malaysia has been chosen as host country for several reasons, notably the government’s commitment to provide free HIV treatment to all Malaysians in need of antiretroviral therapy, as well as its leadership in the area of HIV prevention for people who use drugs, with Malaysia now serving as a model for countries experiencing steep increases in HIV infections related to ineffective drug policy.”

The bid to host this conference was won in 2010 with Singapore, Hong Kong and India as strong contenders.

Held every two years, this conference is expected to bring more than 4,000 delegates into Malaysia and generate approximately RM55.8 million (US$18 million) in economic impact for the country.

MALAYSIA Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) have created the country’s first business events awards to recognise excellence, leadership, professional standards, innovation and best practices within the industry.

Set to take place this September, the RAWR Awards 2013 will also further establish Malaysia as Asia’s premiere business events destination in line with the country’s mission under the Economic Transformation Programme.

Explaining the meaning behind the name of the awards, Jonathan Kan, MACEOS president, said: “RAWR Awards is symbolic for Recognising Award Winning Results within the business events industry. RAWR (which sounds like) ‘roar’ is also associated with the growing voice and recognition of the business events sector…as a key contributor to the Malaysian economy.”

RAWR Awards will have 27 award categories including Best International Conference Award, Best Trade Exhibition, Best Incentive Programme, Best Environmental Initiative Award and Best Event, which altogether covers the four main components of the business events industry – meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.

Speaking at the press conference, Ho Yoke Ping, general manager of sales and marketing, MyCEB, said: “It is our aim to honour the industry’s most groundbreaking work, judged by the industry’s most elite talents from around the region. The idea is to give due recognition of industry professionalism and best business practices.”

The awards are open to business event products and suppliers that are members of either MyCEB and/or MACEOS, as well as event owners such as national associations or corporations that may not be members of either organisations.

Applicants must be Malaysian registered companies operating in the country and apply to events and/or business activities that took place between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012.

Submission of nominations are being accepted until July 31 this year.

BEST Western International has launched its first hotel in Kuwait, an 18-storey property that comes equipped with two floors of conference and banqueting space.

The Best Western Mahboula in Kuwait City offers 96 rooms and suites with views of the Arabian Gulf, a collection of ballrooms and meeting rooms, a business centre, as well as several dining establishments, a swimming pool and gym.

Commenting on the hotel’s launch, Glenn de Souza, Best Western’s vice president of international operations – Asia & the Middle East, said it marked the latest stage in the company’s rapid Middle Eastern expansion plan.

“The…region is offers tremendous opportunities for Best Western and we are delighted to be launching our world-renowned brand in another exciting market,” said de Souza.

With Best Western Mahboula in operation, Best Western International now operates a portfolio of nine hotels in seven Middle Eastern countries including Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel. The company’s property count is expected to hit 22 in the next few years.

SEASIDE property Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong has rolled out a Meetings & Success Package for events with at least 10 guaranteed pax per day.

Priced from HK$450+ (US$58+) per person, the deal includes use of a venue from 09.00 to 17.00, organic blended tea and coffee served throughout the day, morning and afternoon tea breaks with snacks, and a three-course Western set lunch at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Café bord de Mer.

The offer is valid until August 31 and a 10 per cent service charge applies. Other terms and conditions apply too.

Armed with more than 1,300m² of event space and a team of in-house event planners, Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong is able to support a range of meetings and events.

Meeting planners can also enrich their programme with a selection of five- to-10-minute activities. Meetings with Muscle allows delegates to test their limits with a fitness session at a camp or at one of the hotel’s outdoor venues. Movers and Shakers calls on delegates partake in stretching exercises prior to the meeting, during the breakout sessions or at the end of the day. Cocktail Conference invites delegates to indulge in a post-meeting cocktail at one of the hotel’s al fresco dining spots.

Visit www.aubergediscoverybay.com for more information.

BUSINESS event managers are seeing a rise in demand for outbound meetings and incentives after the recent 13^th Malaysian General Election on May 5.

In an earlier report, Malaysian corporates had held off meetings and incentive trips in the first half of 2013, in anticipation of the country’s general elections (TTGmice e-Weekly, February 26, 2013).

Abdul Rahman Mohamed, deputy general manager, channel management, Mayflower Acme Tours, said his company had received more enquiries for travel management programmes, especially to Asia, for 2H2013.

“It is good that Malaysia Airlines had increased its weekly frequency from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket to 26 times weekly from June 1, as Phuket is a popular incentive destination and companies like to travel on full service airlines.”

The company also has two confirmed long-haul bookings for incentive groups of under 50 pax each for the third and fourth quarter of this year. One will head to Monaco and the other to Canada.

MICE Hubs Travel & Tours managing director, Konrad Ong, said he had received three firm incentive bookings for Danang, with the earliest being two weeks after the general election and a third for Osaka this August.

He added: “Danang is popular because of its wide variety of food and short distance. We think we’ll be getting more incentive groups wanting to travel to Asia this year (although) lead times are short, with two to three weeks being the trend now.”

He anticipated that 2H2013 would see more overseas bookings compared to the first half of the year, which saw a lot of domestic travel for incentives.

He explained: “In the first half of 2013, everyone was expecting the general elections to be called very soon, and wanted to be in town to vote. In the second half of the year, there are a lot of airline promotions and companies are buying air tickets direct, and using our services for ground arrangements.”

Poto Travel & Tours group CEO, Abdul Rahman Mohd Ali, said he had secured incentive bookings to Turkey, Spain and central Europe for the second half of 2013.

Demand for incentive travel is expected to pick up further after Hari Raya (August 8), and he anticipates demand for Europe in 2H2013 to fare better than the same period in 2012 and 2011 due to increased promotions and seat capacity from Middle Eastern airlines.