Pre-pandemic, China was the Philippines’ fastest-growing and second-largest source market – after South Korea – for both leisure tourists and corporate groups.
This was due to China’s close proximity and easy air access to the Philippines, the lure of her many islands, beaches and natural attractions, and a growing cache of modern event facilities. These, combined with the number of Chinese investments in a broad portfolio of local industries help bring about a large corporate base.
Since the pandemic however, Raquel Tria, acting head, MICE head, Philippine Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), has indicated that these selling points are no longer sufficient. Established health and safety guidelines as well as hygiene will be the top priority of clients and organisers moving forward.
As such, Tria shared that in order to provide for both Chinese corporate groups and bleisure travellers, the TPB has ensured that “the accreditation of Philippine tourism establishments is now aligned with the global health and safety protocols through the World Travel & Tourism Council Safe Stamp”.
This will give potential travellers and event organisers peace of mind, knowing that Philippine suppliers are able to cater to the needs of the new normal and ensure safety and hygiene.
These high standards are held across the tourism industry, be it private islands in Palawan, Boracay, Bohol and Cebu, or in the capital of Manila.
In Manila, the safety and hygiene ante has been upped at its four integrated resorts, each a spacious hub for corporate events, incentive groups, and bleisure guests. Within these integrated resorts are luxury hotels, sophisticated event facilities, exclusive restaurants, alongside an array of fun and entertainment.
Jennylyn Santillan, director of sales and marketing at the City of Dreams Manila – one of the exhibitors at IT&CM China – said that other plus points for the integrated resorts are their easy access from the city’s international and domestic airports, and close proximity to the country’s biggest event venues, the SMX Convention Center and 20,000-capacity Mall of Asia Arena.
Although borders have been slow to reopen due to the difference in vaccination programmes around the world, TPB’s recently-launched MICE Assist Program has made it easier for outbound Chinese groups to plan their trips. The programme offers assistance and incentives to China-based business events organisers that are looking to send their clients to the Philippines, shared Ireneo Reyes, Philippine Tourism Attache based in Shanghai.
Assistance, he elaborated, starts from pre-event (application for group visas, locating and contacting certified DMCs and PCOs, site inspection trips and technical visits, etc.), lasts throughout the event (airport assistance, giveaways and hosted events, etc.), and until post-event (assisted tours, feedback from guests to improve services).
Hospitality consultant Jerome de la Fuente, who has spent many years working in China, opined the Philippines should make efforts to snare China corporate groups as they are vastly untapped with an enormous potential, especially for luxury travel.
“(Philippine) MICE players must learn about the Chinese market and its idiosyncrasies. It’s not enough that they can speak Mandarin. They should know the MICE organisers and the corporations. Connections are important as most of the deals are done outside the office,” de la Fuente advised.
The aircraft’s inaugural service from Doha to Milan took place on Friday (June 25), followed by routes to Athens, Barcelona, Dammam, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur and Madrid.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has a total passenger capacity of 311 seats – 30 business class suites and 281 seats in economy class.
Arranged in a herringbone pattern, in a 1-2-1 configuration, each business class suite has direct aisle access with sliding privacy doors. Other features include a 79-inch fully-flat bed and a dedicated phone holder, equipped with wireless charging technology that is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
In economy class, each seat is equipped with a 13-inch Panasonic IFE touch screen in addition to a personal electronic device holder for both mobile and iPad devices.
Qatar Airways said in a statement that it has continued to fly its fleet of 30 787-8s throughout the Covid-19 pandemic due to its strong fuel efficiency and excellent reliability record. The airline added that its investment in the 787-9 once again underscores its commitment to sustainability and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.