TTGmice news bulletin will be taking a break from December 9.
We will be back on January 4, 2022, when we will continue to deliver the hottest headlines to your inbox.
Meanwhile, TTG Asia Media wishes all readers Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
UFI’s Industry Partners Benchmark Survey checks on services demand
The demand for digital services is highest among event organisers this year, found the second and latest Industry Partners Benchmark Survey released by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, while demand for services considered mandatory for running an event have experienced a steady decline in demand.
Developed by the UFI Industry Partners Working Group, the survey benchmarks and assesses the relationships between industry partners and suppliers and exhibition organisers and venues. It also identifies areas for improvement with regards to collaboration.
In analysing the demand for services of physical events, the survey finds that booth construction remains the most relied upon service (75% of respondents are continuing to use this service in 2021 versus 80% in 2020), alongside staff and security (75% in 2021 versus 79% in 2020).
Use of event technology and software has climbed from 66% in 2020 to 67% in 2021 – the only defined service that has seen greater usage this year among event organisers.
Consultancy services are among the least utilised services, and are experiencing a further steady decline in demand.
It is concluded that that demand for services considered mandatory for running an event have experienced a steady decline in demand.
The survey also discovers a growing demand for event services in Asia-Pacific, while that in Europe is declining.
In determining the impact of services on the success of events, the year-on-year change has been marginal but on the rise. Consultants are found to contribute the least impact on the success of events, while communication and marketing is regarded highly. The latter could be linked to the ability to track the success of marketing activities more effectively than other services, and are the biggest contributors to ensuring event participation.
Survey analysts suggest that consultants’ low perceived impact may be due to inconsistent quality of consultancy services across the industry. That said, there is a significant increase in the perceived value of consultants among pure venue owners, especially in countries in Asia-Pacific.
As the perceived impact of services on event success is relatively homogeneous, it is suggested that a successful event requires a wide array of services.
Findings also indicate that the demand for more innovation from service providers remains high. In rating service providers’ level of innovation, Asia-Pacific respondents gave event technology and software service providers an average satisfaction score of 3.6, with 5 indicating high satisfaction and 1 being low satisfaction. This is the highest score among all other services. Communications and marketing comes in second with an average satisfaction score of 3.5.
Event technology and software as well as communications and marketing service providers also scored highly with European respondents, at an average satisfaction score of 4 and 3.9 respectively.
“The results of our first survey showed in tangible terms the value organisers place on their suppliers and partners for the success of their events. Our second survey goes deeper and also demonstrates where the suppliers and partners relationship stands vis-à-vis the organisers for their recovery period events,” said Ravinder Sethi, chair of UFI’s Industry Partners Working Group.
Sebastian Witt, vice chair of UFI’s Industry Partners Working Group and who is responsible for the survey, said the findings provide “valuable insights for service providers in our industry”.
“We are happy to note that service providers are regarded as an integral part of the exhibition ecosystem and contribute tremendously to the success of our industry. Nonetheless, we observe that service quality is not consistent and demands from service providers are changing; service providers can and should invest more into innovation,” Witt added.
The survey was conducted at the start of 2021 with some 190 companies from around the world, with the majority based in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Complete findings of the second Industry Partners Benchmark Survey can be downloaded from the UFI website.
Oakwood plants first Bangladesh flag in Dhaka
Oakwood will be making its entry into Bangladesh with the signing of Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Dhaka, scheduled to open in April 2022.
Located on Gulshan Avenue within Dhaka’s affluent precinct, Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Dhaka will feature a collection of 89 hotel rooms and serviced apartments, from studios to two-bedroom units.
The property will offer a range of F&B outlets, including a split-level rooftop bar, all-day restaurant, lobby lounge-café and cigar divan bar; as well as meeting and event facilities.
Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Dhaka will add to Oakwood’s enlarging footprint across South Asia in support of its goal to double the global portfolio of managed properties by 2025.
Gold Coast scores a fulfilling year of events
Destination Gold Coast has secured 104 conferences with an estimated economic impact of A$99.3 million (US$70 million) in the 12 months leading up to June 2021, with the level of enquiry and bidding opportunity remaining strong.
Announcing the results at the marketing body’s Annual General Meeting on November 24, Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said the city is looking forward with renewed optimism.
According to O’Callaghan, the Gold Coast is well positioned to lead the visitor economy into recovery with business events set to contribute significantly.
“There is a strong desire to meet and connect in person and we have been highly aware of this consistent sentiment across the industry as this demand will drive growth,” she said.
“Business events are a vital part of our visitor economy, particularly as they support Gold Coast’s economy from Monday to Thursday and during off peak periods.”
“Our future pipeline reflects this with 144 conferences and meetings, worth an estimated A$191 million (US$136 million), committed to meet here between 2022-2030.
“Beyond our world-class infrastructure, natural environment, and extraordinary delegate experiences, we’ve also been quietly building a knowledge economy that will contribute significantly to strengthening our business events sector,” she noted.
Conferences newly confirmed for the Gold Coast include the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2022; the 35th Topical Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 2023; and the Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) National Convention, 2023.
Desaru Coast puts new spin on event possibilities
Desaru Coast Destination Resort in Johor, Malaysia has launched MICE Reinvented, a new campaign that aims to inspire new ways of hosting business and social events at the destination.
It puts forth five distinct event pillars: Corporate events, reimagined; Future-proof conference and exhibitions; Wanderlust destination weddings & celebrations; Sports & such and, Nature & nurture.
Roslina Arbak, managing director and CEO, Desaru Coast Destination Resorts, said in a press release: “Just as the pandemic redesigned the way we live, it has driven us to relook and rethink how events will look like in the future.
“Leveraging our portfolio of assets as an international destination in the world where people seek inspiration, rejuvenation and reconnections, Desaru Coast has reimagined all possible spaces and experiences across the destination to offer a multitude of integrated indoor and outdoor programmes.
“Future (events) at Desaru Coast can be designed with an enchanting mix of indoor and outdoor experiences to include all five-star facilities along with curated activities at the beach, forest, mangroves, local villages, golf courses, ballrooms and conference centre.”
The destination offers four-, five-star international hotel brands with an inventory of close to 800 rooms, indoor event spaces that can accommodate more than 2,300 delegates, two award-winning golf courses, and the region’s largest waterpark.
Desaru Coast has a positive reputation among sporting events. In 2019 it hosted the Desaru International Bike Week, which drew over 45,000 bikers and visitors to the destination.
Come 2022, L’Etape Malaysia will be held in the destination on June 4 and Desaru Coast Ironman on July 24.
Queensland to reopen borders earlier than planned
With Queensland fast approaching 80 per cent of fully vaccinated residents, the Australian state has decided to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated interstate travellers from Covid-19 hotspots from December 13 at 1.00 – four days ahead of initial schedule.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told local media that “nominating a time and date provides travellers and business with certainty to make their plans”.
Fully vaccinated interstate travellers can arrive by road or air, and must provide a negative Covid test in the previous 72 hours. They will not need to serve quarantine.
Fully vaccinated International arrivals must provide a negative Covid test within 72 hours of departure for Queensland, and fulfil a test on arrival. These travellers are required to serve a 14-day home or hotel quarantine.
Travellers no longer have to wait two weeks to be considered fully vaccinated; one is enough. However, all travellers from hotspots must get a test on day 5 after their arrival.
Vaccinated border zone residents will also be allowed to move freely across the border without the need for a PCR test.
Unvaccinated residents will continue to face travel restrictions.
“We will live with Covid – but on our terms,” Palaszczuk said.
Only fully vaccinated people will be permitted to enter pubs, clubs, cinemas, festivals and theme parks in Queensland from December 17.
Philippines to implement a MICE Ambassadors Programme
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines is putting together a MICE Ambassadors Programme, tapping Filipino association executives as frontrunners when it comes to securing and bidding for international events.
TPB has indicated it will provide special support through the planning to bidding stages, as well as the actual running of the event. Arnold T Gonzales, TPB’s acting head MICE department, said this was part of the government’s efforts to revitalise business events.
Gonzales further disclosed – at the 9th Summit of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE) – that bid assistance would vary depending on the magnitude of the bid. Moreover, there is already an existing MICE Plus programme which planners will be able to tap onto for technical and financial assistance.
PCAAE founder and CEO Octavio Peralta pointed out that since the early days of the association, it already had its own TAP-In (TPB Ambassadors Program to Attract International Events to the Philippines) in place.
“In essence, TAP-In is encouraging our members with international affiliation to promote the country as a destination for MICE events,” Peralta noted.
He added that TPB should provide “all-out support to the MICE industry” by being a “total partner”, and not just “a provider of service”.
This means that associations should be able to receive assistance from the bidding process right through the conducting of the event, significant financing help, as well as in-kind support prior, during, and after the event.
Peralta suggested that support could include information on travel, health and safety, destination and venue options, travel visa facilitation, courtesy lanes at the airport, delegate and sponsor generation, as well as post-tourism options.
Trafalgar crafts bespoke mini group tours for Singapore market
Groups of 12 or more travellers can explore destinations in a safe bubble made possible by Trafalgar’s customised mini group tours, which come complete with a dedicated On-Road Team – including a travel director and driver – trained in physical distancing, hygiene and medical protocols, as well as destination expertise and local knowledge.
Aimed at Singapore residents looking to take advantage of the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs), the private trip can be crafted on a wide array of destinations with little or no surcharge on the original itinerary price.
Travellers can choose from over 300 award-winning group tours offered by Trafalgar, covering destinations such as Spain, Ireland and Hungary.
Trafalgar has updated its vaccination policy, requiring all guests to be fully vaccinated for guests’ peace of mind. In addition, the company’s wellbeing director will ensure that the establishments and locations to be visited comply with local health and safety protocols.
In the event of travel advisory changes, Trafalgar also offers free cancellation and booking changes.
MBB-Consulting Partner Group offers commercial audit service for exhibition stakeholders
London-based MBB-Consulting Partner Group has launched a commercial audit service to help event companies address performance concerns through the expertise of its international team.
The commercial audit service takes a deep-dive analysis of an event business’s current operations, with the objective of identifying practical steps to significantly improve its commercial performance. It will scrutinise various areas of operations, such as sales and team culture, systems and process integration, and financial and price planning. The results can then be referenced and compared to international benchmarks and industry best practice.
The group believes that this service is particularly timely as companies seek to emerge stronger from the disruption caused by the pandemic.
Matthias Baur, one of the founding members of the MBB-Consulting Partner Group, also believes that the events industry has been held back by underperformance.
He added that the service’s “unique blend of incisive research capabilities combined with a deep understanding of the practicalities faced by events businesses” will able the group to deliver “market leading results”.
The service is designed specifically for exhibition organisers and venue owners.
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Industry leaders speaking at the Indonesia MICE Outlook 2022 last week in Bali have expressed optimism in the country’s business events future, with confidence stemming from a schedule of international events as well as strong domestic appetite for local meetings.
The Indonesia MICE Outlook 2022 was organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.
Raty Ning, chairman of ICCA Indonesia, said 30 international events are scheduled to take place in 2022, and among them are the 2022 G20 Bali summit, the 7th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, and an Asian Venture Philanthropy Network meeting.
She expects the G20 summit to spin off even more government-led meetings and events with in-person attendance, while the country continues to benefit from a strong showing of domestic business events.
“The year will be more exciting if the government could provide financial incentives to local associations to (encourage them to) organise events, such as annual scientific meetings and national deliberation,” she added.
Raty hopes government offices will also hold events around the country to fill available spaces and spread out the economic benefit of meetings and events.
Gary Grimmer, CEO, GainingEdge, opined that Indonesia’s recovery, along with the strength of her domestic market, was “in line with the prediction that at the end of 2021 the industry will start to move, and in 2022 it will increase as the regional market recovers”.
However, he expects global meetings to only resume in 2023.
Commenting on 2022 event trends, Grimmer said virtual and hybrid meeting formats will continue to play an important role as they allow organisers to reach larger audiences, allow for an integrated virtual contingency plan, and increase revenue.
“Future options may include multi-channel content to form a larger global event,” he added.