DUSIT International is dangling US$500 credit vouchers to encourage business event planners to book their functions at any of the 14 Dusit properties in Asia.

Besides shaving US$500 off events held in a Dusit hotel, the vouchers, which are valid till April 30 next year, also offer a 20 per cent discount on the prevailing Dusit Best Available Rate for new group bookings confirmed between October 1 this year and end of April, 2013.

James Ramage, Dusit International’s assistant vice president-global sales, said: “The credit voucher is our way of thanking our trade partners for their continuing support and to provide an attractive incentive with generous discounts.”

He added that the MICE market “is becoming increasingly selective, with clients demanding more than the usual mix of facilities, location and infrastructure”, and explained that the “unique character of the Dusit International brand” is able to satisfy those needs.

THE 175-room Fort Canning Lodge in Singapore, owned and managed by the local chapter of the World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), is stepping up its game to attract more corporate travellers and business events.

Spearheading the initiative is general manager, Jimmy Kwan, who came into the role last month. He joins from Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and Maikhao Dream Hotels & Resorts.

Kwan said: “Fort Canning Lodge has been quietly popular with events organised by local schools, churches and companies, and our meeting and function rooms run at a monthly average occupancy of 60-70 per cent.

“We also receive many leisure travellers, business travellers and residential meeting groups from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, which are now our key source markets. We get a number of Japanese business travellers too, some of whom are long-stay guests.”

Kwan explained that the lodge’s success with travellers and meetings was a result of “loyal customers” and partnerships with travel consultants.

“But I want to raise the bar, first by reaching out to companies located in Orchard Road, around Fort Canning Lodge, which was not done before, and secondly by being more aggressive in our branding efforts. One of the things we have done is to improve the hostel’s website and provide more information and photos (that) travellers and planners can use,” he said.

“Few actually know where Fort Canning Lodge is – we have a great location in the heart of town and close to other business districts, and yet our room rates are around S$150 (US$122). Few also know that we have facilities for meetings and events, including dining functions that are supported by our own kitchen.”

With all guestrooms – lead-in category rooms measure 20.5m² – and 12 event spaces fully renovated last year, Kwan believes that the lodge “is in a good position to receive more business travellers and meetings and events”.

“Moreover, with tighter corporate travel budgets next year against a backdrop of continued economic problems, more attention will be paid to affordable accommodation and venues. Fort Canning Lodge will offer a strong proposition, especially in pricey Singapore,” he said.

THE Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has stepped up its courtship of Chinese MICE by introducing a new brochure targeting the Chinese corporate and incentive markets as well as updated Malaysia Twin Deal (MTD) programmes for China and Hong Kong.

MyCEB CEO, Zulkefli Haji Sharif, told TTGmice e-Weekly that China was as an important source market for corporate and incentive travel, due to the short flight time, cultural similarities and Malaysia being a value-for-money destination.

Unveiled last month, the new brochure, Malaysia – Asia like Never Before, focuses on theme events and experiences, teambuilding, corporate social responsibility and unique venues. It also provides creative ideas on products that are essential for corporate and incentive planners.

The brochure is joined by additional value-adds offered under the MTD programme for corporate and incentive groups from China and Hong Kong. All confirmed bookings for the programme must be made by June 30, 2013 and events must take place before December 31, 2013.

Malaysian suppliers are also doing their bit to draw more MICE business from China.

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has ensured that all relevant corporate material, including its corporate video and business presentation, are available in Mandarin, and has added Mandarin-speaking marketing staff to its team.

Reliance Conventions & Events general manager, Fu Kei Cheong, said the company had seen a 20 per cent year-on-year growth in incentives from Shanghai.

A series of roadshows to Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai last month have also earned Reliance Conventions & Events six confirmed incentive groups from Guangzhou in 2013 and 2014.

CONFIDENCE in achieving its target of RM900 million (US$292.5 million) in total tourist expenditure for international events this year runs high within the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) International Events unit, as it celebrates RM400 million in the bag for 1H2012.

Feeding the positivity is a spate of recent wins of international sporting and musical events, which will be promoted through Tourism Malaysia’s overseas offices to generate international interest.

MyCEB will also work with local tour operators to package these events as part of a tour itinerary to entice foreign visitors to extend their stays in the country.

These events include the Kids Golf World Championship in 2013 and 2014; a one-night-only Jennifer Lopez Dance Again Tour concert on December 2 in Kuala Lumpur’s Merdeka Stadium; and the seven-day World Muaythai Championship 2014 in Langkawi.

MyCEB International Events general manager, Tony Nagamaiah, is especially proud of the Kids Golf World Championship, as it will be held in Asia for the first time. According to Nagamaiah, the event has always been rotated between the US and Europe.

The MICE bureau expects the golf championship to draw at least 2,000 international visitors and generate tourist spend of RM15 million each year.

The week-long World Muaythai Championship 2014 is expected to draw some 3,000 people, including spectators and team officials, from more than 100 countries and generate RM38 million.

The Jennifer Lopez Dance Again Tour concert is expected to be attended by 20,000 spectators, 20 per cent of whom are expected to be from overseas. The total international visitor spend and business spin-off has been estimated at RM25 million.

THE Indonesian government has selected 10 destinations to host preliminary meetings related to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bali next November.

The ten destinations are Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, Palembang, Jogjakarta, Lombok, Manado, Makassar, Semarang and Surabaya.

Indonesia Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, said the move was part of the central government authority’s efforts to introduce other MICE destinations beyond Jakarta and Bali, giving them a chance to host international events.

“Discussion topics on the tourism agenda (for these related meetings) are sustainable tourism development and common visa,” Pangestu said.

Meanwhile, Pangestu said infrastructure development across Bali, which includes the expansion of the Ngurah Rai International Airport and the construction of the Nusa Dua-Airport-Benoa toll road and underpass at Simpang Siur, is “on track” and will complete by mid-2013, before the APEC Summit.

YEARS after Amway China led its incentive group for the first time to Taiwan by cruise in 2009, the destination will once again welcome delegates from the company in 2013.

Apple Tours, the appointed DMC for the event, will fly 12,000 to 15,000 top distributors from China and Hong Kong into Taiwan in five batches, with each group spending five days in the destination.

The event will span from March 12 to April 1.

Amway Taiwan, corporate relations director, Nadia Ding, said the 2009 trip to Taiwan was “the first direct cross-strait sea transport in 60 years” between China and Taiwan.

“But on that trip our distributors spent most of their time on the cruise ship, and was only on land for a few hours,” she said.

“Mainland Chinese find Taiwan an attractive destination given the historical background and rich tourism resources. (Our programme next year) will be more of an FIT arrangement. Distributors are encouraged to explore Taiwan on their own.

“Instead of sightseeing or shopping, we have come up with six itinerary options that explore Taipei and other cities. One itinerary, for instance, offers a day trip to Kaohsiung or Tainan via high-speed train. With the help of (smartphone applications), distributors may travel around easily. Many itineraries also aim to showcase the nightlife of Taipei,” she added.

As some of the participants were on the 2009 programme, Amway China has arranged for different experiences in the coming trip. For instance, the 2013 event will feature a closed-door shopping party with celebrities in major department stores, as well as a bicycle tour around Taipei, a gala dinner with cultural performances in an outdoor camp site.

Participants will also be given taxi coupons in lieu of cash.

Ding complimented the Taipei City Government for approving the use of the outdoor camp site as well as the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall for the business sessions.

“This saves us from having to demolish and reinstall venue set-ups, as five groups will arrive and depart separately over three weeks. Our key challenge now is to find ways to woo our sophisticated distributors of different age groups and interests,” she said.

BUSINESS Events Sydney (BESydney) has been tasked to manage business event enquiries and bookings for the future Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP) in Darling Harbour and the Glebe Island Expo until operators of the two facilities are appointed.

According to Tim Parker, project director of Infrastructure NSW, the company behind the SICEEP project, Glebe Island Expo will be a temporary facility.

“It is designed specifically to house exhibitions scheduled during construction of the new Darling Harbour venue, and will be removed once our new, world-class precinct opens at Darling Harbour,” Parker told TTGmice e-Weekly.

He added: “Glebe Island Expo will be up and running by the time the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Sydney Entertainment Centre are closed for the construction of the new facilities in December 2013.”

According to a press statement by BESydney, major public exhibitions and trade shows affected by the Darling Harbour development will have first right of refusal for bookings for the interim facility.

The interim facility is expected to secure additional events too.

Speaking of BESydney’s new responsibility, Parker said: “BESydney’s team has extensive knowledge of the events market and the expertise to oversee the enquiry and booking process for both Glebe Island Expo and SICEEP.

“Our aim is to make the enquiry and booking processes as streamlined and user-friendly as possible. BESydney is already bidding on events for 2017 and beyond that will take place in the new facilities. The company is well placed to manage enquiries.”

Lyn Lewis-Smith, BESydney CEO, said: “BESydney will be a one-stop shop for business events. Glebe Island Expo is part of the Sydney-wide interim solution that will enable Sydney to remain a vibrant hub for business events while SICEEP is constructed. The new facilities will deliver great opportunities for business events in the city, both now and in the future, and the team is looking forward to working closely with the industry to ensure their success.

“We already have a dedicated Event Delivery department that assists clients with sourcing venue options for their events. BESydney has been working closely over the past months to re-home the conferences and congresses it secured for Sydney that will be affected by the SICEEP development.

“This team will be expanded and will have dedicated staff to take on the responsibilities of the Glebe Island Expo and SICEEP.”

STAR Cruises’ SuperStar Virgo has been appointed the official event venue for the 9^thCongress of the World Federation of Soh Associations next month.

Said to be the first congress to be hosted on a cruise, the event will take place on the newly refurbished ship from October 17-19, with port calls at Malacca and Kuala Lumpur.

More than 1,000 representatives of Soh Clan Associations from China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, America and Europe are expected to attend the biennial congress, which is organised by the Soh Clan Association (Singapore) this year.

It was first held in Manila in 1994.

FOOD PLAYGROUND, a cooking studio launched recently in Singapore, is looking to serve up cultural- and culinary-themed teambuilding programmes to corporate clients.

Founded by Daniel Tan, who was with The Ascott Group and Pan Pacific Hotels Group, and another business partner, Food Playground had its first corporate group earlier this week. The event was a product launch and cook-out for some 20 international media representatives, hosted by a multinational home appliance manufacturer.

Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly at his cooking studio in Tanjong Pagar, within the central business district, Tan said: “I’ve had several enquiries from companies wanting to do teambuilding at Food Playground. We can tailor the programme for private groups, such as by featuring specific dishes or creating a cooking competition for teams.”

Food Playground’s cooking studio has a well-equipped kitchen with large workstations for 16 people and an instructor, as well as a spacious dining area where participants can dig into their own creations after classes.

Corporate event planners can also opt for Food Playground’s three-hour Cultural Cooking Class as a pre- or post-show tour option. The programme will begin with a half-hour visit to a local wet market, where participants will be introduced to local spices, tropical fruits and the locals’ way of life, and followed by 90 minutes of cooking instructions on two popular local dishes and an hour of dining and interaction. It is priced at S$99 (US$80.50) per person.

Programmes offered are commissionable, but the commission rate has yet to be firmed up.