MICE stakeholders applaud Malaysia’s further easing of pandemic restrictions
Business events industry players in Malaysia have praised the government’s recent decision to further relax Covid-19 restrictions in Malaysia effective May 1, as this will help put the country in a better position to compete for international business events.
Since May 1, Covid-19 insurance is no longer a requirement to enter Malaysia, and fully-vaccinated travellers aged 13 and above no longer have to undergo Covid-19 tests before and after arrival. Business events activities will also no longer enforce physical distancing, and all economic sectors in the country are allowed to open.
Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) CEO, Abdul Khani Daud, called this announcement “fantastic news”, as this move will “benefit MICE travellers” by providing a “seamless travel experience to Malaysia”.
A Aruldass, managing director of Tourland Travel, told TTGmice: “This news is very encouraging and timely as Thailand and Singapore has also made it easier for MICE groups to enter. This announcement will put us on par with neighbouring countries.
“We have many enquiries coming from India to hold business events here. This month, we have a group of 220 people from India on an incentive trip to Kuala Lumpur, Genting and Port Dickson.”
S Jayakumar, director, Dayangti Transport & Tours, shared that the easing of restrictions coupled with the affordability of the destination, and ease of getting around, has made it easier to market the destination to corporates overseas.
AIME 2022 generates A$120 million in business events
The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) has released new insights on the success of the show, recently held in Melbourne (March 21–23), and online (March 28 to April 1).
New industry research has revealed that buyers placed/expect to place A$120 million in business as a result of their attendance at AIME 2022, a 20 per cent increase on 2020 pre-Covid.
Ninety-five per cent of exhibitors cited AIME 2022 as an important event for their business, with over 94 per cent stating they were impressed with their return on investment. Furthermore, 95 per cent of delegates agree AIME is the place to make important business connections, namely due to its great atmosphere (83%) and strong reputation (81%).
AIME event director, Silke Calder, celebrated the show’s success: “This year AIME defied all expectations. We’ve received incredible feedback from exhibitors and buyers from all over the world, many of whom have revived their business activities as a result of attending AIME.
“It was most rewarding to see the industry back in its natural element – networking and building relationships face-to-face – these are the things that build success and enrich us on a personal level.”
Melbourne Convention Bureau’s CEO Julia Swanson said: “It’s been two years since we’ve hosted an event of AIME’s calibre in the city, and with the support of the Victorian State Government, this event was the first real opportunity to show the world that Melbourne is back in action and ready for business.”
Across the three-day event, there were over 1,660 visitor buyers and suppliers in attendance, and the show also included over 230 exhibitors, and a further 320 hosted buyers present.
Ninety-eight per cent of exhibitors who showcased at this year’s event have expressed interest to attend AIME 2023. Celebrating 30 years, AIME 2023 will be held at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on February 13-15, 2023.
Japan may welcome leisure travellers this month
Japan’s restrictive stance against leisure travellers may ease as early as this month, as the government voiced plans to welcome a limited number of group tours from overseas by end-May on a trial basis.
The decision will hinge on the state of Covid-19 infections following the peak Golden Week domestic travel season, which ran from April 29 to May 5.
The news is a ray of hope for travel and tourism providers who have been feeling the pain of lost revenue from international arrivals, which numbered a record high of 31.9 million in 2019, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.
Under the government’s new plan, all tourist arrivals will be part of package tours with fixed itineraries that must be submitted so their movements can be tracked and contact tracing can be carried out if required.
Visitors will also have to meet certain criteria, including proof of three Japan-recognised Covid-19 vaccination shots, thereby effectively keeping some countries with other vaccination programmes locked out.
However, tourism players are concerned if the reopening would benefit all of Japan since demand and supply for tours remain highest in well-known destinations such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima.
Speaking in London on May 5, Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida said the relaxation of Japan’s border controls would be reviewed and carried out “in stages” alongside consultation with public health experts, with further easing in June. The goal is international arrival protocols on a par with other G7 nations, he said.
Should Covid-19 cases in Japan remain manageable, the government plans to raise the cap on the number foreign arrivals, currently 10,000 people per day, in the coming months to accommodate more international tourists.
MCB unveils new interactive video tool for MICE professionals
Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) has launched a brand-new interactive video planning tool for business event professionals – Ready. Set. Melbourne.
Somewhere between a video showreel and a choose-your-own-adventure book, Ready. Set. Melbourne is an interactive video experience that integrates engaging clickable options for business events professionals to access information about Melbourne’s and regional Victoria’s capabilities as a business events destination.
The interactive video experience allows association decision-makers, appointed event planners and attendees to select the video that resonates most with the information they are seeking at a specific moment of their planning journey.
All videos are infused with further interaction points, providing in-depth local knowledge that will help viewers to host, plan and attend a conference or corporate incentive program in and around Melbourne.
MCB chief executive Julia Swanson explained the Ready. Set. Melbourne video uses the latest digital technology for viewers to interact with unique Melbourne choice-driven video experiences.
“Viewers getting to make their own choices is the cornerstone of the video platform. Ready. Set. Melbourne hands over control to the viewer, they’re in driver’s seat, making choices that then personalises the experience as they advance through the content.
Interactive content is nothing new to MCB, where it previously launched the Delegate Destination Site, digital bid books, virtual planners and exhibitor tool kits and virtual booth enhancements with animated avatars
“Like every video platform on the market, MCB is experimenting with new ways to foster engagement of its services. At the same time, we are also attempting to create an offering that isn’t found anywhere else, much like we did when we first introduced the Melbourne Virtual Site Visit and offered users the ability to explore Melbourne’s business events offering via a 360-degree first-person immersive VR experience,” Swanson said.
Ready. Set. Melbourne. was created in partnership with Business Events Australia through its Advance Program.
Wellington readies for a healthy roster of international conferences
With New Zealand’s borders now open, the capital city Wellington is preparing for a busy calendar of in-person events in 2022.
Business Events Wellington’s manager Irette Ferreira said: “These range from domestic events, which have sustained the city’s conference market since borders closed in 2020, to international conferences secured over the past several years which are now able to welcome delegates and speakers from around the world with no event restrictions.”
Upcoming events include the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works’ IIC Biennial Congress, which will now go ahead in a hybrid format in September at the National Library.
In October the city’s health sector will welcome both the 4th Feeding the Future conference of the Infant Nutrition Council of Australia and New Zealand, and the Combined Scientific Congress of the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists and the Australian Society of Anaesthetists.
The city’s high-tech strengths will come to the fore when it hosts both the ACM Interactive Surfaces and Spaces Conference, and the International Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference in November.
Looking ahead, Ferreira predicts that 2023 is set to be a bumper year for Wellington. Major conferences scheduled to take place next year include the 10th International Crustacean Congress, the Island Biology Conference, and the International Zoo Educators Conference.
Tākina, the new Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, is also on track to open mid-2023, with more than 60 conferences already pencilled in.
Tākina will be able to accommodate a plenary of up to 1,600 delegates, with two divisible plenary halls on separate levels which can be combined. It will also offer a 1,800m2 exhibition hall with adjacent space to boost capacity, stand-alone meeting rooms, and fully integrated best-in-class AV and ICT systems.
Seoul lays out MICE support plans for 2022
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization have revealed their plans to help support the recovery of the business events industry in 2022.
A maximum of 200 million won (US$156,832) has been set aside for international conferences with more than 20 per cent of participants attending on-site. This can be used for high-tech usage fees, etc., and unlike the previous year, PCO expenses have been added to the support. The support for the international conference invitation stage has also been increased to a maximum of 60 million won to attract more international conferences.
As for exhibition support, a maximum of 80 million won will be provided for a total of 34 exhibitions. Selected exhibitions will receive intensive consulting on information technology utilisation methods and online marketing approaches to plan their own innovative exhibitions. In addition, live streaming shopping operations during the exhibition period will be offered.
At all MICE events within the Seoul MICE Safe Zone, specialised disinfection services, quarantine gates, and quarantine products will also be provided.
Meanwhile, under the Specialized Safe Recovery support, Seoul experience-centred tour programmes, Seoul VR experience booth, and Seoul Safety Care Service will be provided for meetings with more than 50 overseas participants.
The use of the 3D virtual conference platform, Virtual Seoul 2.0 will continue to be provided free of charge. Additional usage dues such as setting a server fee are supported up to six million won.
Finally, The Future Seoul MICE Contest welcomes proposals for innovative projects or events from business events-related companies in Seoul. The contest has been split into two fields – meeting technology and unique venue. A total of 400 million won in support will be offered to the winners along with marketing and promotional consulting support.
First new-build voco property in Australia opens Melbourne
IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened its first new-build voco property in Australia, voco Melbourne Central.
For planners, eight light-filled event spaces seat up to 90 people for intimate settings. Located across three floors and spanning 493m2 is a choice of pool terrace, boardroom, medium event spaces and a flexible three-in-one space with breakout rooms – all with natural daylight and city views.
There are 252 rooms in total, all of which are equipped with free Wi-Fi and Smart TVs.
Sustainability is also practised here. Starting with the guestrooms, voco’s bedding is made from 100 per cent recycled materials, while the linen produced in line with the Better Cotton Initiative supports sustainable cotton harvesting. To date, the initiative has equated to over half a million bottles that have been recycled to make voco bedding across the hotels.
Other sustainable elements throughout the property includes a herb garden on the seventh-floor terrace, locally sourced ingredients on the menu, pottery and porcelain from local makers, a lighting system that responds to the natural cycle of light, and biodegradable straws.
Facilities on-site include a rooftop plunge pool and 24/7 gym, alongside two F&B options.
In a nod to voco Melbourne Central’s location as the home of the Cobb & Co stables, which originated during Victoria’s gold rush period in the 1800s, the restaurant has been named Blacksmith Brasserie & Bar. The restaurant’s open-plan kitchen serves up lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, and breakfast daily.
Meanwhile, Blacksmith Brasserie overlooks an outdoor terrace, with seven-metre-high ceilings accentuated by 180-degree vistas of the sky and city rooftops, a mix of casual and informal seating, and outdoor dining space.
Led by South Korean executive chef Ian Lee, Blacksmith Brasserie features classic dishes such as beef brisket tacos, barramundi parcel and a mizuna yuzu salad with crispy cheese chips.
UAE-based dmg events CEO takes the reins at UFI
UFI has elected Geoff Dickinson, CEO of dmg events, as its president for the 2023 – 2024 term.
Under the leadership of Dickinson since 2010, Dubai-headquartered dmg events is one of the top 20 international exhibition and conference organisers, with 10 offices around the world organising nearly 100 events annually.
This is the first time any event professional from the UAE has been appointed to this role.
UFI is the global association of the world’s leading tradeshow organisers and its main goal is to represent, promote and support the business interests of its members and the exhibition industry in general.
The UFI president is elected by the UFI’s board of directors for a one-year mandate, becoming its legal and official representative, chairing the executive committee, the board of directors and the general assemblies.
UFI represents around 50,000 exhibition industry professionals globally, and also works closely with its 63 national and regional association members and includes 795 member organisations in 83 countries and regions around the world.
voco Melbourne Central makes several new hires
Newly-opened voco Melbourne Central has appointed Erik Stuebe as general manager, and Christine Bridge as director of sales & marketing.
Prior to this move, Stuebe was general manager of InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, a position he held for the past six years. In addition to being voco Melbourne Central’s general manager, he is also the area general manager for Victoria and Tasmania.
Meanwhile, Bridge brings with her a depth of experience and knowledge having held various leadership positions during her eight years with IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Meanwhile, Ian Lee is the new executive chef of voco Melbourne Central’s Blacksmith Brasserie.
Originally from South Korea, Lee’s career in global luxury hotels spans nearly 30 years.
He has amassed numerous prestigious accolades to his name, including winning the World Culinary Competition, the Black Box Culinary Competition Gold Medal and Potential of People Award.
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The hotel offers 218m2 of flexible function space, accommodating up to 130 people. Fully equipped with advanced audio-visual capabilities, video meetings and live streaming services, and a large LED media wall, the space is also lit by natural sunlight.
Meanwhile, the rooftop terrace offers an outdoor alternative for intimate gatherings and cocktail sessions.
Business travellers and event attendees can stay in one of the 274 guestrooms, while VIP guests can be put up at one of the four Premier Pool Rooms or Premier Pool Suite. These rooms feature private swimming pools and sunbeds on their terraces, with premium amenities such as Bluetooth speakers, Nespresso coffee machines, air purifiers and Korres toiletries.
F&B options include Spanish-inspired AC Kitchen, an all-day dining restaurant that serves daily buffets with local and international favourites; rooftop bar Kloud for crafted cocktails overlooking the city; and the signature AC Lounge for coffee and tea.
Other amenities include a gym and sauna, as well as an indoor playground and educational programmes for business travellers with their young ones in tow.