Despite pricier airfares to Australia, Indian business event planners say clients are still clamouring for corporate incentive trips to the land Down Under.
Planners told TTGmice that airfares to Australia have gone up 30 to 40 per cent compared to pre-pandemic times.
Yet, Nirav Desai, head – domestic and international MICE business, WE Events, said “future demand for Australia is looking healthy”, with strongest interest emanating from banking, insurance and pharmaceutical industries.
“At present we have three to four queries of 200 pax each from corporates considering Australia as a destination, said Desai.
He pointed to Australia’s quick visa processing system for giving the destination an edge over European alternatives.
Desai is a one of eight Indian planners who attended the recent Business Events Australia (BEA) Asia Mega Famil Showcase.
“Even though airfares have gone up, this is not a deterrent for insurance, banking and pharmaceutical companies which were not badly affected by the pandemic,” said Sajin Nawshad, director, Akbar Holidays, who added that pent-up travel demand is also helping to grow Indian outbound numbers to Australia.
“Australia has been proactive in its visa processing system for MICE travellers while visa delays in many European countries are creating a challenge (for Indian groups). We expect to close a few MICE groups that will travel to Australia later this year,” shared Bindeshwari Prasad, associate vice president of FCM Travel Solutions India.
Another participant, who requested for anonymity, told TTGmice that his company closed a 900-pax incentive group that would visit Melbourne in July 2023.
He noted a “huge increase in incentive movement to Australia” this year. While his company handled some 15 corporate events to Australia in 2019, he expects the numbers to double this year.
Like his peers, Australia has become both a big hit and easy sell due to the trusty visa processing system for business travellers.
Asian carriers like Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific are profitable once again, shrugging off lingering concerns about inflation and high fuel prices. Things are looking up for hotels too, with major players like Accor bullish about 2023, in part due to China’s reopening.
Patrick Foo is vice president of Southeast Asia, India, Middle East, Africa, Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan with PayPal, a company that has remained at the forefront of the digital payment revolution for more than 20 years.
His new responsibilities will include the continuation of day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all financial-related activities of the company, in conjunction with directing and overseeing all aspects of Finance, Group Accounting, Purchasing, Legal and Compliance functions of the organisation.
With over 28 years of hospitality experience, Nelson has worked in countries such as Malaysia, the Maldives, Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand.
Having amassed more than two decades of business development, sales and marketing experience, Arricivita was most recently director of sales at The Peninsula Bangkok, a position he held for 10 years.
Frasers Hospitality is celebrating its 25 years in business this year with plans for continued strategic growth, comprising inventory expansion and product innovation.
Mark Chan, chief operating officer, Frasers Hospitality, shared that more properties are set to open in South-east Asia and China, across key, economically vibrant first and second-tier cities.
Investment in product innovation through technology will be centred on consumer touch points, such as cloud-based technology, deployment of robots and contactless check-in.
“With the pandemic well behind us and international borders fully reopened, a whole new world awaits and Frasers Hospitality is well-positioned to anticipate and meet the changing needs of the extended-stay market,” said chief executive officer Eu Chin Fen.
Looking ahead, Eu said there has been a “major shift” in demand for long-stay accommodation.
“Remote working is now commonplace, while attitudes towards home ownership have changed among millennials and the next generation. Purposeful living – which allows like-minded individuals to network – is the new ideal, and so too is the concept of flexible leasing, fast outpacing the conventional practice of long-term rental,” she detailed.
She added: “We anticipate a new lifestyle, where individuals seek out spaces that allow them to grow and live life to the fullest, with a healthy balance of work and self-fulfilment. Frasers Hospitality is always looking at enhancing our products and services to align with this ethos.
“In fact, with new developments in store, our next journey will be an exciting one that we can’t wait to embark on as we write the next chapter of Frasers Hospitality.”
To commemorate this milestone, Frasers Hospitality has planned a year-long campaign marked by free stays and other activities to highlight its achievements as a global Singapore brand. A highlight of the anniversary celebrations is a giveaway of 300 free stays.