China’s comprehensive efforts, including the provision of subsidies, to revitalise its business events sector, are not only boosting demand but also expanding outreach to new source markets.
Eric Zhang, reservations manager of DTH Travel China (formerly Diethelm Travel) noted the recent influx of requests from the European and Russian markets, with prospects to develop the Latin American market.
Zhang: cultivating brand new source markets
European companies with branches in China hold big internal meetings yearly, and usually request excursions or tours focused on authentic local experiences, Zhang said.
Meanwhile, the growing interest from the Russian market, in particular, has picked up in China since last year.
“Overall, travel to China is in demand as many Russians come to seek new business opportunities in various fields,” he said.
Due to Covid-19, many companies in China, particularly those in foreign trade and import-export, shut down.
When China reopened last year, Zhang observed various city governments providing subsidy policies for large-scale exhibitions, although policies varied by city. Airports also actively restored direct flights from abroad.
Both the public and private sectors have also intensified efforts in participating and organising exhibitions and conferences, reinforcing China’s message of reopening for global travel.
Zhang noted that among business events, exhibitions have the highest demand as companies seek new avenues post-lockdown.
China hosts over 1,000 exhibitions of all sizes annually, including prominent events like the Canton Fair, Shanghai World Expo, and Auto China.
The recent expansion of the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) to include Xi’An and Qingdao on March 6, 2024, has been widely welcomed by Hong Kong’s business events stakeholders.
This increases the number of designated Mainland cities eligible for the IVS from 49 to 51. The IVS Scheme allows travellers from Mainland China to visit Hong Kong and Macau on an individual basis; before this, Mainland residents could only visit on business visas or group tours.
The inclusion of two new cities will help boost business tourism; Qingdao’s skyline pictured
Catherine Kwok, general manager of World Harbour Travel Company (which deals with incentive travels from Guangdong), highlighted that while the policy facilitates easy access for leisure travellers, its long-term impact will be felt in the business events segment, and she anticipates a positive effect on “MICE traffic from the northern region”.
Similarly, Charis Yim, deputy general manager – commercial at Nina Hospitality, expressed optimism that the IVS expansion would further boost inbound business events traffic, benefiting Hong Kong’s economy and tourism sector. This comes as China is Hong Kong’s largest inbound business events market.
Ann Foo, director of sales and marketing at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, echoed this sentiment, further emphasising the Chinese market’s significance, which accounts for a significant portion of Hong Kong’s overnight visitors as well.
Foo shared: “We are actively pursuing opportunities from small- to medium-sized MICE groups from mainland cities like Xi’An and Qingdao by collaborating with our sister properties there to promote our hotel on digital platforms such as WeChat. These cities are renowned for their higher income levels and stronger purchasing power.”
Business Events Perth seized the opportunity at IT&CM China – the organisation’s first major travel tradeshow in China post-lockdown – to bring the attention of Western Australia and its capital, Perth, to corporate buyers in attendance.
Alex Ng, associate director business development – corporate & incentive at Business Events Perth, shared: “When Chinese planners think of Australia, they think of Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast – states on the Eastern Seaboard. We are here to showcase that Western Australia and Perth is also an ideal destination for their next business event.”
Business Events Perth wants to position the city and state as a premier destination for Chinese corporates; Perth’s skyline pictured
Perth boasts excellent business events infrastructure, exemplified by the Perth Exhibition and Convention Centre, capable of accommodating over 10,000 delegates, while within the Perth CBD, there are over 13,000 four- and five-star hotel rooms. Additionally, Perth is a compact, walkable city with favourable year-round weather.
China is currently the top Asian market for business events to Western Australia, and continues to attract more Chinese business events year-on-year.
“We are seeing a strong recovery of Chinese business events and we want to ride this trend and welcome more Chinese delegates,” said Ng.
This month, Western Australia will host 1,000 pax from Amway Taiwan. Later on in June, the state will host 2,500 to 3000 delegates from Perfect China, coming in several waves.
To grow the Chinese inbound market further, according to Ng, the Western Australia state government, Tourism Western Australia, and Perth Airport are actively in talks with China Southern and China Eastern to mount direct flights to Perth. Business Events Perth also provides a range of funding incentives and event sponsorship opportunities.
The event aims to foster collaboration and drive growth; organisers and PCEB pictured
Penang is set to host the fourth edition of Electronics Manufacturing Expo Asia (EMAX) and the third edition of Penang Manufacturing Expo (PMAX) 2024 from July 24-26, 2024, at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre.
Organised by NRG Exhibitions (M), EMAX & PMAX 2024 will feature a comprehensive lineup of exhibitors, seminars, and networking opportunities, offering attendees insights into the latest technologies, trends, and industry best practices. From chip manufacturers and semiconductor suppliers to equipment providers and industry experts, participants can look forward to engaging with key stakeholders and exploring innovative solutions that are driving the future of the electronics and manufacturing sectors.
The event aims to foster collaboration and drive growth; organisers and PCEB pictured
The event anticipates to welcome participants from over 40 countries, showcasing more than 200 leading brands and welcoming upwards of 8000 visitors.
Key organisations, such as the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Invest Penang, Penang Foundry & Engineering Industries Association, Malaysia Association of Sustainable Supply Chain and Innovations, SME Associations of Seberang Perai, Northern Corridor Economic Region, IPC Technology Consulting, IEE Penang Chapters, and Malaysia International Chamber of Commerce & Industry support the event.
The Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau, comprising three hotels – Grand Lisboa Palace Macau, The Karl Lagerfeld Macau, and Palazzo Versace Macau – has released an exclusive offer for business events.
The offer applies only to meetings and events with a reservation of a minimum of 10 paid guestrooms for at least one night or more, plus one function room with a minimum spend (collectively, “Eligible Event”). A 30 per cent deposit must be paid before April 30, 2024. Rates start from MOP1,000 (US$124) per night.
The Grand Pavilion classroom setup
Overall, planners will receive a five per cent discount on the master bill, value-added benefits, as well as a complimentary 30-minute welcome reception.
Planners can also receive an additional complimentary room for every 50 rooms booked (with a maximum of 20 complimentary rooms per event), as well as one complimentary room upgrade to a suite for every 25 rooms booked on peak night.
The three hotels offer 1,892 keys, an outdoor garden with a maze, and over 3,700m2 of event space across 21 venues; the largest space can hold up to 2,100 people.
This promotion is availible for new bookings from now until April 30, 2024, where events must be executed before June 30, 2024.
The campaign showcases how Singapore enables event organisers and delegates to positively impact the industry, society, and environment, by turning possibilities into reality.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has initiated a new global marketing campaign aimed at positioning Singapore as the “World’s Best MICE City” for business events.
The campaign invites business events organisers and planners to take a fresh perspective on Singapore’s value proposition as a leading business events destination that can influence purposeful outcomes, amid a competitive landscape.
The campaign showcases how Singapore enables event organisers and delegates to positively impact the industry, society, and environment, by turning possibilities into reality.
Singapore boasts a robust business ecosystem with advanced innovation, technology, and research capabilities, making it a preferred destination for business events activities. It offers a neutral platform for dialogue and unique tourism offerings, along with a strong track record of hosting high-quality events.
Singapore’s sustainability efforts in the business events industry, including targets, standards, certification programs, and incentives for a greener future, are also highlighted.
Yap Chin Siang, deputy chief executive, STB, said: “Positioning Singapore as the World’s Best MICE City is integral to our ambition to maintain a competitive edge, and to reinforce Singapore’s strengths. This is especially critical as MICE event organisers and delegates seek destinations that deliver value and drive positive impact. We remain committed to invest in new MICE products and experiences, and we invite event organisers and planners to co-create business events with us that yield meaningful outcomes.”
This campaign represents the first of six global efforts by the STB to boost Singapore’s economy.
Minor Hotels has named Marlon Abeyakoon as NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort’s new general manager.
With over 25 years of industry expertise in luxury hospitality and rebranding, he has a track record of operational leadership with global brands such as Kerzner, Hilton and Marriott.
Having joined Minor Hotels in early 2020, Abeyakoon was most recently general manager at Minor’s Oaks Ibn Battuta Gate hotel in Dubai.
Industry chatter is picking up about American Express Global Business Travel’s (Amex GBT) Monday announcement to acquire industry competitor CWT, with many concerned about disrupted services in the lead up to the conclusion of the acquisition in 2H2024.
In response to TTGmice’s query about the follow-up impacts on its staff, brand presence, and customers, a CWT spokesperson said on Tuesday that the process was “still at an early stage”, and no information could yet be revealed about “changes… with regards to the CWT brand, products, and teams (until) after the transaction has been completed”.
Stiffer competition in the managed travel space is expected
The spokesperson also echoed CWT CEO Patrick Andersen’s expectations that were expressed in the earlier Amex GBT statement. “We believe that joining forces with Amex GBT will bring exciting new opportunities and positive outcomes for our colleagues, customers, and other stakeholders,” said the spokesperson.
Kishore Rames, travel programme manager with National Oilwell Varco, based in Singapore, said the acquisition was a “big one” and was eager to see how it would play out.
“Will CWT be around, or will it be all Amex GBT only in the future? As far as we know, as we are working with CWT, it is still business as usual,” said Rames, adding that corporate buyers like himself should be concerned about monopolisation by a single big player.
“As a big agency, it can dictate the price and transaction fees, and it can choose the types of services that it will offer. We are watching this with a lot of interest,” he told TTGmice.
While Rames predicted stiffer competition for smaller TMCs, he said there would still be corporates that prefer dealing with smaller agencies.
“If (the smaller agencies) play their cards right, if they are well organised, they can still do very well because some companies may not want a large TMC servicing them. They may not have that much of travel spend to commit Amex GBT,” he reasoned.
Ani Tom, senior manager – administration with VA Tech Wabag in Chennai, India, said the acquisition could give Amex GBT a stronger presence in Southern India, where CWT has a good reputation for its “latest technology” and good sourcing network.
He, too, expects more intense competition in the managed travel marketplace, but said other TMCs could face off the giant by ensuring reliable technology, good prices and good service for their corporate clients.
Morgann Lesné, an expert in travel technology M&A from Cambon Partners, said the deal was “further proof that 2024 will turn out to be the biggest ever year for M&A in the travel technology space”.
“A wave of inevitable consolidation following Covid needs to take place while, at the same time, high interest rates have stalled start-up fundraising, leading to people having to merge or face closing. Meanwhile, record tourism figures for 2023 and a very positive outlook for 2024 are leaving many players feeling confident that now is the right time to acquire competitors,” he said.
Amex GBT had earlier acquired DER Business Travel in 2006, 30SecondsToFly in 2015, HRG in 2018 and Egencia from Expedia Group and Ovation Travel Group in 2021. – Additional reporting by Rosa Ocampo
Amid the ringgit’s depreciation against major currencies and Malaysia’s economic growth slowdown, destinations in China have become increasingly popular among Malaysian companies with tight budgets for incentive programmes.
Faeez Fadhlillah, co-founder and CEO of Tripfez Travel & Tours, highlighted a growing demand for secondary destinations in China, such as Xi’an and Zhangjiajie, over first-tier cities.
He shared that these secondary cities offer better value for money, with potential savings of approximately 10 to 15 per cent on ground costs compared to their first-tier counterparts. Additionally, these secondary cities could provide experiences encompassing cultural, natural, and scenic attractions.
Secondary Chinese cities like Xi’an (pictured), Zhangjiajie, Suzhou and Zhuhai are deemed more affordable by budget-conscious Malaysian corporates
Faeez also highlighted Xi’an as another secondary destination that will appeal to incentive groups, especially with AirAsia X’s new thrice-weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur to Xi’an starting on April 4. This appeal is due to the city’s wealth of historical attractions, including the Terracotta Warriors and The Great Wild Goose Pagoda.
He said: “Currently, AirAsia X is the sole provider of direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Xi’An. I believe that with improved connectivity, it will become even easier to promote the destination to larger groups.”
Mint Leong, managing director of Sunflower Holidays, added that cost-conscious corporates are also opting for four-star local hotels that are away from central business districts.
Savings are also obtained by offering more independent leisure time for delegates and covering only some meals.
For the same reason, secondary destinations like Suzhou, Zhuhai, and Chongqing are increasingly being considered due to their affordability.
Adam Kamal, director of Suka Travel & Tours, which specialises in Muslim outbound travel, opined that Kunming makes for a great incentive travel
destination for Muslim clients due to the availability of Muslim-friendly food. Kunming also has an “abundance of natural beauty which you do not find in first-tier cities”.
Adam shared that China Eastern Airlines’ new services to Kunming from Kuala Lumpur has improved access. This route is also serviced by AirAsia and Batik Air Malaysia.
That said, agents do not see first-tier cities losing their shine among Malaysian corporates. Adam has also observed a surge in enquiries for travel to Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in the second half of 2024.
The availability of halal food in large restaurants has contributed to this interest, as well as the impact of China’s visa-free policy. Malaysians can now visit China for up to 15 days, from December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024.
“This policy change has significantly bolstered China’s attractiveness as an incentive destination, particularly when compared to East Asian rivals like South Korea,” Adam stated.
He further emphasised China’s allure as an affordable destination, where transactions are conducted in renminbi, offering a contrast to Europe where the prevalent currency is the US dollar.
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
Minor Hotels has named Marlon Abeyakoon as NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort’s new general manager.
With over 25 years of industry expertise in luxury hospitality and rebranding, he has a track record of operational leadership with global brands such as Kerzner, Hilton and Marriott.