Singapore-based Xperience DMC has joined euromic, a member-owned not-for-profit association of DMCs.
With the addition of Singapore, euromic now covers eight of the largest Asian economies, giving global meeting incentive planners a network to work within the region. This also brings euromic’s portfolio of DMC service operators to 52 destinations.
Jane Goh
Xperience was established in Singapore in 2018 by Jane Goh, Brian Yin and Gunther Homerlein, who aim to leave their guests with the sense that they had enjoyed the best that Singapore has to offer.
Xperience DMC has been rewarded with five continuous years of recognition in the annual Singapore Tourism Awards.
With borders now open, the Macau government and business events stakeholders have intensified their efforts to create more leisure tourism experiences – that can be built around corporate events and meetings – to lengthen the stay of business travellers to Macau.
As part of the diversification of its offerings, the Macau government has adopted a “1+4” plan. It refers to the ongoing development of Macau’s tourism and leisure industries but with an additional focus on four new industries – big health, high-tech, modern finance, and conventions and exhibitions including culture and sports.
Studio City is a Hollywood-inspired, cinematically-themed resort on the Cotai Strip
The “1+4” plan will clarify the development direction of some industries, and will also include the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
According to the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), the city will host around 700 to 1,000 convention and exhibition events this year, up at least 40 per cent when compared to 2022.
Overall, the tourism sector has been off to a great start, with 200,000 visitors in 1Q2023, buoyed by business events such as a large-scale international corporate conference with over 10,000 attendees in April, and a 4,000-pax finance conference in May.
An IPIM spokesperson explained: “This is why we sent representatives to wave our flags at global events like UFI Global CEO Summit 2023, held in Portugal in February. We also attended UFI Asia-Pacific Conference last March to attract international organisers. So far, gaming expo G2E Asia 2023 has confirmed its return in July along with the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference in 2024; it’s the first time the conference has come back since its debut in Macau in 2008. These demonstrate their confidence in our future.”
Aside from promoting Macau on the global stage, IPIM also develops trade partnerships, as well as tie into event calendars to craft guided local tours suitable for corporates and event visitors.
Meanwhile, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) remains in charge of promoting incentive tourism, since it was transferred to the portfolio of the Secretary for Economy and Finance on February 1, 2021. To further develop the incentives sector, MGTO launched a Travel Stimulation Program.
Under the programme, MGTO provides approved applicants with appropriate destination support, such as souvenirs, cultural performances, half-day tours to experience the Historic Centre of Macao, and more.
In order to be eligible for the programme, corporate groups must include at least 25 non-Macau participants and stay for a minimum of two consecutive nights.
Aside from incentives, the programme also covers wedding tourism, student tourism, and sports tourism.
An aerial view of Macau (Photo by Macao Government Tourism Office)
The private sector has also stepped up efforts to court more international groups as visitors return.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment has currently secured around 10 international events – spanning from meetings to incentives – that will happen over the next six months. Groups vary in sizes, with the largest at around 900 pax.
Its spokesperson shared that more investments will be poured into its non-gaming activities, which aim to bring “world-class shows, art exhibitions, fun-filled family attractions, as well as modern and interactive cultural venues to Macau”. In line with this, Melco Resorts & Entertainment also launched Asia’s first-ever residency concert series.
Other fresh attractions include the opening of Melco’s own branded hotel, Epic Tower, and an all-year-round indoor waterpark in April, all of which are part of Phase 2 of Studio City.
Other projects in the pipeline include the soon-to-open W Macau, as well as new retail and F&B outlets. Upgrades will also Grand Hyatt Macau’s meeting and function facilities.
All of these facilities aim to attract local families and foreign tourists alike, complement Melco’s existing hospitality offerings and further boost the company’s MICE business,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, event management and teambuilding planner smallWORLD Experience is currently rebuilding its team, much like many other businesses in Macau.
Its executive director, partner, Bruno Simões, told TTGmice: “The resumption of business activities only commenced two months ago. Numerous operators, such as restaurants, transportation companies, and event service providers are still grappling to meet current demand.”
Regardless, he is optimistic of Macau’s business events future, adding that he plans to “begin promotional campaigns during the upcoming summer season.”
Although the industry has been down, we are confident that brighter days are ahead. We are currently in the process of healing our wounds, and eagerly await MICE recovery this summer. Let’s stay positive and keep pushing forward!” Simões said.
Discova Japan has appointed Takahiro Kondo as the new regional contracting manager, stationed in Tokyo, Japan.
He brings a wealth of expertise and experience in the travel industry to the company, having worked for many years in various capacities, including product development, contract management, and supplier relations.
In his new role, Kondo will be instrumental in driving innovation, developing new travel products, and cultivating strategic partnerships with local suppliers.
Emirates has named Rashed Alfajeer as the manager for Singapore and Brunei.
He succeeds Rashid Al Ardha, who has moved on to manage the airline’s operations in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Alfajeer embarked on his professional journey with Emirates a decade ago when he joined the Emirates Commercial Outstation Management Trainee Programme in 2013. He has held several key positions around the globe, and was most recently the manager for Iran and Central Asia.
Centara has appointed Pannarat Tantrativud as the new assistant vice president – CRM & customer service.
She will be responsible for leading Centara’s CRM and loyalty strategies, as well as the Customer Contact Centre, ensuring optimal customer service, relationship management, retention and commercial returns.
Prior to joining Centara, she was the general manager at Scale 360 Co.
Large-scale venues no longer sell floor space, they also help to enrich destination experiences for visitors; Singapore skyline pictured
Instead of working in silos, large-scale venues in Singapore have gone beyond selling floor space and are working together with the community to spread economic benefits around.
For instance, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) has moved away from traditional venue thinking, which is just about selling space, to build richer experiences for delegates and visitors to the integrated resort. This is how its Bay Precinct Strategy was born.
Large-scale venues no longer sell floor space, they also help to enrich destination experiences for visitors; Singapore skyline pictured
Paul Town, chief operating officer, MBS, elaborated at the recent Singapore MICE Forum: “If we have an event with 8,000 people, we are unable to accommodate them all in our rooms alone. This is why we’ve partnered with other hotels (such as Swissotel The Stamford, and Pan Pacific Singapore) in the Marina Bay area.”
Town added that it was not just about partnering with hotels, but also with attractions in the area such as Gardens by the Bay, and the National Gallery, to “build a much richer” pre- or post-event experience.
“It’s not about keeping the delegates on the property anymore; we want to provide a broader Singapore experience,” he added.
This is why MBS has also built a calendar around six to eight signature festivals that revolve around F&B, music, art, wellness, and retail and fashion, which delegates can enjoy after a day of business events.
Constellar’s group CEO, Chua Wee Phong, agreed that the Singapore Expo, a large-scale venue the company manages, has had to go beyond selling space and instead, rethink how its clients – who are event organisers – can deliver immersive experiences to their customers in turn.
“We created the Singapore Expo Advantage Program, bringing together our expansive network of partners, service providers and suppliers, to provide a one-stop service for event organisers looking to host event experiences at our venue. Through this programme, our clients can access a diverse range of travel, accommodation, media partnerships, event support and lifestyle activities to design bespoke experiences for their attendees,” revealed Chua.
However, Chua pointed out that the entire business events industry should rethink the way it delivers experiences, and not just large-scale venues. “There is a lot more we can do as a community to harness collective strengths across the value chain, building a stronger brand for Singapore as a global MICE destination.”
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is also doing its part to attract more large-scale events to the city, acknowledging that the spill-over of large-scale events benefits many more segments of the tourism community.
Edward Koh, executive director, conventions, meetings & incentive travel, added: “We continue to enhance the supply and discoverability of our leisure offerings that international MICE travellers can enjoy as part of their itinerary.”
For instance, business travellers on short visits can redeem a complimentary leisure experience under SingapoRewards, STB’s tourism incentive programme which offers a range of activities such as tours and workshops by local tourism businesses.
“We have also enhanced other assistance schemes and incentives offered to MICE groups and event organisers to provide them with more avenues to experience Singapore alongside their business engagements. One example is the In Singapore Incentives & Rewards Global 2.0 programme, which offers close to 80 experiences at various attractions, dining and leisure activities.”
In 2019, Singapore’s business events sector contributed an economic value-add of S$3.8 billion (US$2.8 billion) and supported more than 34,000 jobs before the disruption caused by the pandemic.
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has rolled out its new website, built in partnership with design and innovation agency AKQA’s Melbourne team.
One of the standout features of the new website is the introduction of 360-degree virtual tours filmed by SmartView Media, a Matterport 3D Virtual Tour provider in Australia.
A screenshot from the new website
More spaces will be added to the virtual tours in the coming months, eventually showcasing all 35 room types available to book at MCEC.
Accessibility is at the forefront of the new website’s design, which will provide a better user experience for browsing on smartphones and tablets, as well as on accessibility devices such as screen readers.
Supported by Tourism Australia’s Business Events Advance Program, the virtual tours showcase MCEC’s facilities and spaces to customers from around Australia and the world. With 20 per cent of current website users from overseas, the tours will enable customers and visitors to virtually explore MCEC’s spaces, no matter where they are browsing from.
MCEC’s head of marketing, Liz Kozmevski, said: “The website is the first touchpoint for our customers and our visitors, and we wanted it to reflect the exceptional experiences they receive inside our venue.”
In addition to the virtual tours, the new website offers a wealth of information and resources to help customers plan their events. It showcases the best of Melbourne, inspiring visitors and organisers who have their eye on the city for their next event.
“When you book an event at MCEC, you’re not just booking a room, you’re booking a whole experience, from the layout and technical requirements to the food and wine served to delegates, to accommodation and incredible add-on experiences around Melbourne. The new website makes it easier than ever to get inspired and plan every facet of your event,” said Kozmevski.
With events and in-person connections back in focus, optimism abounds in the meetings and events industry this 2023.
Adaptability will still be paramount as the industry navigates the continuing resurgence of business events, new ways of working, changing attitudes to travel and ongoing supply challenges.
The FCM India Meetings & Events team kept busy in 2022 sending 150,000+ corporate customers around the world. According to FCM India’s Meetings & Trends Report, the top 10 destinations from India included Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Australia, Baku, New Zealand, the UK, Switzerland, and France.
Indian corporates are showing a keen interest in travelling for events
Strong demand continues The surge in bookings in 2023 continues to shape the sector. High demand is seen right across the industry, despite organisations facing changing attitudes to work-life boundaries and budgetary constraints.
“The global MICE market size, in terms of revenue, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6 per cent from 2022 to 2030 to reach US$1,563.3 billion. FCM Meetings and Events India has achieved better performance than pre-Covid levels by more than 50 per cent,” said Manpreet Bindra, president of FCM Meetings and Events.
Willingness to travel, or not Indian travellers defy the international trend (a reluctance to fill their calendars with out-of-office commitments) by displaying a keen interest in travelling for events. However, one significant change has emerged in their approach – Indian travellers are now intentional about their travel choices and the impact it has on their overall well-being.
The era of red-eye flights and hectic dash-in-dash-out itineraries has come to an end. Instead, they seek more pampering, experiential activities, and theme-based events that make them feel more connected. Indian travellers now crave a holistic travel experience that includes group activities, adventurous pursuits, and a balance between relaxation and enrichment. They understand the importance of self-care and prioritise activities that contribute to their overall well-being.
Sustainability takes a starring role It’s clear companies increasingly consider sustainability a powerful mandate when planning meetings and events. This presents an opportunity for meeting and event organisations and planners to take the lead and assist their clients in developing action plans to minimise these environmental impacts of events.
Other simple changes can make an impact, such as adopting delegate apps and onsite technology to replace paper usage; collaborating with eco-conscious suppliers to reduce environmental impact; emphasising local and sustainable food and beverages; reducing and recycling waste; choosing venues committed to reducing carbon emissions; and partnering with local charities during larger events.
Wellbeing for all In 2023, there is an increased focus on caring for the mental and physical well-being of employees – and that includes when they are attending meetings and events. This trend is shaping event planning, with a shift to designing more holistic gatherings at unique and different destinations.
Companies are also recognising the need to factor in more breaks during events, more wellness activities, less packed schedules, and more informal downtime that allows for genuine connection.
FCM India Meetings & Events have organised morning yoga classes, spa treatments, and engaged motivational speakers from various industries such as Cricketers, and Mount Everest Mountaineers to inspire business travellers.
Embedding well-being into an event is also being seen as an important way to reward and retain employees in what remains a very tight labour market.
Rising costs and meeting spend The rapid surge back to in-person events has been a challenge for venues, hotels, airlines, and event planners. Travel constraints, capacity issues, labour shortages, supply chain issues and travel disruptions are all easing, but they are factors that are not expected to fully stabilise until 2024.
“Planners and venues are still seeing a trend to book at the last minute or with short lead times, and venue availability remains tight. All these factors mean that the cost of a meeting per attendee has increased, at a time when business budgets are tight, and employees are working at capacity,” said Bindra.
Virtual fatigue is real Data from FCM Meetings & Events show planning for hybrid and virtual events had dropped off by 75 per cent by the end of 2022 compared to the previous year.
Bindra said: “In 2023, Indian travellers are feeling more relaxed and confident about travelling. The removal of testing and quarantine conditions has contributed to this positive shift, and it’s having a ripple effect on the meetings and events sector. People are realising the true value of in-person interactions and are embracing them with enthusiasm.”
Technology drives experiences The seismic shift in the way we all do business post-Covid has given rise to technology that is now a permanent part of the meetings and events world. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and live streaming have arrived, and they have the power to deliver multifaceted experiences to diverse audiences.
This accelerated uptake of tech is also enabling businesses and event planners to capture important data for in-depth analysis and reporting. Events in 2023 are now more costly, meaning companies want data that can show a return on their investment and that an event has delivered on its goals and objectives.
FCM India has a Meetings & Events Mobile App that offers features to enhance communication and connectivity for large travel groups. It supports logistics and information sharing before the travel, during and after.
A rendering of the Crowne Plaza Geelong, set to open in 2026
In partnership with Plenary Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts will be bringing its Crowne Plaza brand to the Victorian regional city of Geelong.
The brand new 200-room Crowne Plaza Geelong will open in 2026, part of the Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre precinct development project, which forms part of the Geelong City Deal, a collaborative plan by the Australian and Victorian governments and the City of Greater Geelong to transform the region. The redevelopment, which was unveiled last week, includes the construction of a purpose-built convention and exhibition space.
A rendering of the Crowne Plaza Geelong, set to open in 2026
Connected to the convention and exhibition centre, facilities within the Crowne Plaza Geelong will include a restaurant, bar, pool and gym, as well as its own meeting spaces.
With the new 180-room Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong due to open in September this year, IHG is on track to be the largest global hotel operator in Geelong. Over the next 12 months, IHG will also be opening six new hotels in Greater Melbourne, under the Crowne Plaza, voco, Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn brands.
Cameron Burke, IHG Hotels & Resorts’ director of development for Australasia and Pacific, said: “This is an incredibly exciting development, and we will be delighted to be part of a precinct that will become a crown jewel for the city of Geelong. The addition of Crowne Plaza to Geelong would help capture visitation from both corporate and leisure travellers alike and serve as a strong endorsement to the pipeline of growth opportunities we’re currently experiencing throughout metropolitan and regional markets.
“With the opening of Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong also imminent, we’re excited at the prospect of becoming the largest global operator in Geelong and to maintaining our accelerated growth trajectory across Australia.”
Exhibitors and buyers can look forward to more appointments this year
IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific 2023 will be returning to Bangkok, Thailand, from September 26-28, 2023.
Held at the Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, the three-day conference programme has been redesigned, and will feature new components such as the Asian MICE Cruise Conference, Association Day Forum, and ASEAN MICE Forum.
Exhibitors and buyers can look forward to more appointments this year
The Asian MICE Cruise Conference will discuss the post-pandemic cruise comeback as well as explore new ways to meet, while the Association Day Forum by International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) will be a session for thought leaders and industry experts to connect, exchange ideas and chart a course toward a future of growth and association success.
Attendees can also look forward to the ASEAN MICE Forum which will be hosted by Society for Incentive Travel Excellence and Kasetsart University. The forum aims to gather the industry experts and professionals to engage in insightful dialogues on topics such as What Corporations Want Versus What Qualifiers Want From the Incentive Travel Experiences, and Embracing Sustainability and Empowering Community.
The opening keynote will be presented by Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation and adviser of Phuket Tourist Association, highlighting the positive impact tourism and business events partnerships can have on local communities.
There will also be a fireside chat with both Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Thailand Incentive and Convention Association officials on how business events can support the development of cities and the livelihood of the locals.
Pre-show activities such as a city tour hosted by TCEB, a fam trip hosted by Topgolf Megacity, and a grand opening ceremony and welcome reception will also be part of the programme.
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
In his new role, Kondo will be instrumental in driving innovation, developing new travel products, and cultivating strategic partnerships with local suppliers.
Alfajeer embarked on his professional journey with Emirates a decade ago when he joined the Emirates Commercial Outstation Management Trainee Programme in 2013. He has held several key positions around the globe, and was most recently the manager for Iran and Central Asia.
Prior to joining Centara, she was the general manager at Scale 360 Co.
