Hot idea Unique venues can create greater excitement around an otherwise solemn business event objective
Event brief
Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) launched its global business events campaign, Penang 2020: BE Unfiltered, on July 12, 2019, in conjunction with Experience Penang Year 2020 and Visit Malaysia 2020. It aims to grow business events visitorship to the Malaysian state and showcase four new products including a mobile app containing information on Penang for delegates.
Penang-based Dreamz Productions Events Management was roped in by PCEB to co-organise the event as well as select an appropriate setting.
Event highlights
Hin Bus Depot, a former bus depot that is now a unique venue, was selected for the launch. Its large and flexible grounds were the winning factors, recalled Dreamz’s managing director Cheah Weiyeong.
Cheah explained that the venue could be divided into several sections that would support the main launch event, the press conference, and dinner party for attendees. The sprawling land onsite also provided the perfect spot to feature a collection of Penang’s famous hawker stalls in an open air setting.
A memorable entry and registration area was created – arriving guests were greeted by an art gallery that exhibited works of local artistes which they could pose with for photos going onto their social media platform. This ensured expanded visibility for the launch event.
Challenges
As this was PCEB’s first time using Hin Bus Depot for its event, Cheah said his team had to work very closely with the bureau to determine the right setup for the event.
Cheah said: “The challenge was to find the best layout for Hin Bus Depot as there were no designated stage area and seating area. There were also limited facilities and amenities available at the venue compared to the usual hotels or ballrooms, such as dining tables, chairs and equipment like large LED screens and lighting effects for the main event.”
Another challenge was the weather, as parts of Hin Bus Depot were outdoors and not sheltered.
Solutions
Meticulous planning and PCEB’s unwavering support were keys to getting around the challenges.
PCEB gave Dreamz approval for all required equipment to be rented, thus solving the problem of the lack of standard event facilities and amenities.
A wet weather contingency plan was drawn up. “(Our solution) was to move the hawker stalls to the covered patio so guests could continue to enjoy their food (even if it rained),” Cheah said.
Event Launch of Penang 2020: BE Unfiltered Venue Hin Bus Depot Date July 12, 2019
Attendance: Approximately 100 people
It is not uncommon to hear about business travellers taking a couple of days after a working stint to rest and relax – where time and schedule permits – before flying back to reality.
The lines between business and leisure have been blurred years ago, with corporate travel managers and event planners believing that bleisure – a word the industry has coined for the act of turning a business trip into a pleasurable vacation – will continue to gain traction. This upward trajectory is buoyed by factors such as supportive superiors and companies, and the rise in experiential travel.
Buyers at IT&CM Asia 2019 believe that the bleisure trend is driven by the younger workforce, who take work-life balance seriously and are encouraged by the minimal extra expenditure needed for a pleasure extension since the airfare has already been paid for by the employer.
Seneshash Yitbarek, general manager, Ethiopia-based Business Plus Vacation, does it herself.
“When I travel for exhibitions and tradeshows, I take a few days off to explore the destination,” she said.
Doing so allows her to “connect with the locals”, who are a “good source of information” on what to do in the destination – all of which is knowledge she takes back to her clients.
“Compared to the past, business trips now must have (an element) of leisure, whether it is part of the event programme or a personal extension,” observed Cindy Lie, executive director of Indonesia-based Infinity Holiday.
While the thirst for bleisure is strongest among the younger generation of business event attendees, Lie noted that the trend is also catching on among the older business travellers.
Faten Elbeaini, owner of Lebanon-based Daily Tours, said the desire to combine business and pleasure was natural among her clients, as they had to “travel all this way from one country to another”. Her clients would often carve some time out to explore the event destination.
According to a report released in October 2019 by CWT, companies were mostly supportive of bleisure travel if employees paid for their personal expenses (76 per cent), especially in Asia-Pacific (79 per cent).
The study, created by CWT and conducted by Artemis Strategy Group between January 29 and February 9, 2019, found that respondents regarded the possibility of extending a business trip for pleasure as a job perk. The average number of times in the past 12 months that the respondents had extended their trip was 2.4. Travellers from the Americas took the lead with 2.7 times, followed by 2.4 in Europe, and 2.3 in Asia-Pacific. The average number of extended days – globally – was 4.3 days.
Punhan Gajarov, administrative services unit senior specialist (corporate travel manager), from Azercell Telecom in Azerbaijian, said: “For us, it’s a long way from anywhere, and we (the company) are happy for our staff to rest for a couple of days.”
Gajarov sees greater demand for leisure extensions when work assignments take his staff to South-east Asia, as air tickets cost more and it is a nine-hour flight to the region.
Peter Lombard, founder of US-based Globe Guides, finds higher bleisure occurrence among companies that are willing to “give their staff some fun time” and are “not particular about them coming back to work immediately”.
He often sees half the group staying on for a few days before or after the business event to experience the host destination.
When asked what do people favour doing during their leisure extensions, Lombard said: “It’s the new norm to do something that your peers have not done, whether it’s a cooking class, or trekking. Also, (bleisure travellers) don’t want to go to a popular temple and follow a flag; they want small group tours to a temple that’s one hour away and is peaceful and quiet, and be able to interact with the locals.”
The blurring of lines between business and pleasure is also impacting the way business events are conducted, with more planners looking at ways to inject fun into a solemn programme.
Lie noticed that her clients were increasingly requesting for fresh ideas to experience a destination. She recently organised a meeting and incentive programme in Bangkok for an Indonesian insurance company, which included a teambuilding activity with a local theme. Delegates got to visit a local market to buy ingredients to make som tam (green papaya salad); travelled by public transport such as the BTS; and learnt muay thai from a professional.
Similarly, Gajarov is seeing a greater push for business events with a local flavour, where the fun part of the event may be held in a different destination in the same country.
For instance, a C-suite meeting may take place in Bangkok while the teambuilding activity and recreation are conducted in Phuket.
“We try to ensure our teambuilding programmes are done outside of an enclosed venue. If we find ourselves in a wine-making country like Italy, Moldova or Spain, we let our staff visit a vineyard, pick grapes, and learn how to make and bottle wine,” he elaborated.
Event brief Launched in 2001, the biennial International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies (ICMAT) is an iconic series in Singapore’s events calendar. The event is organised by the Materials Research Society of Singapore (MRS Singapore), a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1999.
ICMAT’s objectives are multifold, but its primary purpose is rallying materials science research and expert members from Singapore and overseas to network, learn from each other and, explore potential collaborations.
ICMAT 2019 was expecting more than 3,000 delegates, including four Nobel laureates, from more than 50 countries.
Conference highlights included 45 technical symposia in over 50 parallel sessions, nine plenary lectures including four by Nobel laureates, two Nobel Laureate Public Lectures, an Editor’s Forum, a Young Researcher Forum, and a Forum titled ‘Why So Few Women in Science Engineering and Technology?’.
This year’s ICMAT was opened by Singapore deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat, displaying the government’s continued support of the event – previous editions were opened by senior ministers of Singapore too.
According to B V R Chowdari, MRS Singapore president and conference chair, organisers utilised as many as 52 meeting rooms for parallel sessions, a single large room to accommodate over 3,000 delegates for the Nobel laureate lectures, as well as a conference banquet and spaces for networking, coffee breaks and mealtimes.
Challenges ICMAT is a six-day event and its success hinges on the quality of its programming and quantity of attendees. Chowdari said: “With 45 technical symposia, the total number of both national and international symposia chairs was as large as 225 members.”
Managing that sizeable crowd both in real time and e-space was not easy, he admitted.
Other challenges were having to attract the same crowd of similar research interests to the recurring event, as well as keeping the conference truly international, Chowdari said.
He added: “We also had to compete with a large number of conferences being organised by other professional societies and private organisations, and plan how to make the event financially viable in light of rising costs of organising a conference.” Rising hotel rates aside, an upfront financial commitment of S$1 million was also required for this year’s event.
Solutions The doubling in size of ICMAT over the last decade, alongside an improvement in the quality of speakers, helped in easing the challenge of attracting the same delegates to Singapore again, according to Chowdari.
To keep the conference truly international, each symposia featured Singapore scientists from various local universities and institutes, co-chairing with their overseas counterparts.
Several technical symposia were co-organised with members of other materials research organisations from around the world, thereby increasing international participation.
With conference participants seeking authenticity and quality, as well as the opportunity to network with high-profile researchers, the presence of Nobel laureates at every ICMAT event has become a real drawcard.
Apart from governmental endorsement, the backing of similar professional societies played a key role in participants picking ICMAT over events run by private organisations.
Chowdari shared: “We managed to attract a large crowd by keeping the registration fee relatively low and providing significant financial assistance to needy participants through sponsorships from various universities and institutes, where the conference fit into their research interests and there was significant interest among its students and faculty.
“We also kept in mind the need to minimise organisational costs without comprising on our hospitality.”
Key takeaways According to Chowdari, ensuring a high-quality programme, a sizeable attendance, and the financial sustainability of ICMAT were critical factors in organising a successful event.
He said: “Our continued success in motivating the reputed scientists to be part of the organisation, and attracting the best speakers, encouraged higher participation rates. It was also important to join hands with similar organisations without losing one’s own identity.”
Event 10th International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies Organiser Materials Research Society of Singapore VenueMarina Bay Sands, Singapore Date June 23-28, 2019 Number of participants 3,092 from 56 countries
Just as China’s open Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has spurred Chinese cities to aggressively court international association meetings, the Middle Kingdom’s own industry associations are making firm moves to build business exchange and knowledge-sharing platforms with their country partners and international peers.
To prepare Chinese associations going international, the China Association For NGO Cooperation (CANGO) – under the Ministry of Civil Affairs – and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Commercial Sub-council launched the China Congress of Associations and Chambers of Commerce in 2018.
Held on October 17 to 18, 2019, the congress welcomed associations, investment promotion and commercial bureaus and meetings management suppliers from China and beyond, national and city-level convention and exhibition bureaus, as well as CCPIT chapters.
Alicia Yao, the event’s organising committee chairman, said the event aimed to “guide associations’ management of research institutions, conference development and investment promotion, help trade associations to carry out brand building, establish a cooperation mechanism between the Belt and Road trade associations, and provide a platform for international and domestic cross-border exchanges”.
Emphasising the Chinese government’s full support of the local associations’ move to go beyond their borders, Yao pointed to the issuance of the Notice on Fully Hearing the Opinions of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Associations in the Process of Formulating Administrative Regulations and Regulations Administrative Standardization Documents by The General Office of the State Council in March 2019.
Vivian Zhang, director of event specialist MCI China, observed many Chinese domestic associations had begun to market themselves as international entities that were committed to being academically authoritative, raising the influence of the industry and having a strong voice.
Zhang said: “Chinese industry associations have resources and academic status. The challenge is how to make use of these resources to develop healthily.”
She observed that Chinese association heads were now younger and more exposed internationally, adding that association communication had also changed from one-way – external to internal – to two-way.
Citing an example, she said the China Infection Control Annual Conference of the China Association for Infectious and Preventive Medicine had Chinese experts and scholars deeply involved in the planning stage of the International Academic Annual Conference.
For long-established associations to grow, Zhang said new strategies and professional support were needed.
Faced with limited staff headcount, Chinese associations must re-examine their core focus, advised Zhang. Her suggestion is to outsource operations to a professional management team and for the association to concentrate on building its core content.
Mike Williams, senior partner and consultant at GainingEdge, an agency that advises the convention and meetings industry, also suggested that Chinese association executives attend training by Union of International Associations (UIA) and International Convention and Convention Association (ICCA) held in China on governance, financial management, membership growth, and case studies of association best practices.
While Chinese associations are eager to do more, the ongoing US-China trade war could impact their efforts, opined Kitty Wong, president, K&A International and past-president, World DMC Alliance.
She explained that associations needed “approval” from the central government to organise any event. With China tightening up surveillance, Wong opined the national associations cannot do much without approval and may not even consider bidding for international conferences to be held in China.
She added: “Without a local organising committee to back them up to obtain approval and/or sponsorship, there is no reason for international NGOs to bring a conference to China.”
Still, she encourages Chinese associations leaders to attend international congresses, conventions and seminars outside China “to make friends and exchange ideas with colleagues in their own fields globally”.
“Don’t be shy in connecting with the world,” she advised.
This article was first published in TTGassociations January 2020, a sister publication of TTGmice
Earlier this March, the Taipei City Government established its first MICE office – a breakthrough after years of effort – in a bid to create a sound environment to further develop the city’s business event sector against a backdrop of an ultra-competitive Asia market.
TaiNEX 2 opened in March this year, and when combined with TaiNEX 1, makes for the country’s largest venue
And the city is smartly playing to her strengths, vividly highlighting unique locations where business events can be held such as the Huashan 1914 Creative Park and Taipei Expo Park; bettering its infrastructure with the recent launch of TaiNEX 2; and wearing its newly-minted Michelin-star status proudly.
Pu Lin, director of arts, Taiwan Creative Industry Development (which oversees Huashan 1914 Creative Park), said: “There is only one Huashan. Foreign companies like Google like to come here, and make use of our unique indoor and outdoor spaces to present their products. TedX Taipei is also held here every year.”
In addition to being a function space, Huashan 1914 Creative Park also doubles up as lifestyle destination for delegates to explore in their free time, as there are quaint shops and hole-in-the-wall cafes that have set up homes here.
Similarly, the 14-hectare Taipei Expo Park has a lifestyle component – the 9,900m2 Maji Square, filled with more than 80 lifestyle shops and F&B options. The park has numerous indoor and outdoor spaces, three of which are dedicated for corporate and association groups: the Expo Dome, Eco Ark, and Expo Hall.
Rich Shen, director administration management of Taipei EXPO Foundation which manages Taipei Expo Park, shared: “We can hold tradeshows and gala dinners at the Eco Dome; while large-scale performances or speeches can head to the Expo Hall which can seat 1,200 comfortably.”
Elsewhere in the city, the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2 (TaiNEX 2) began operations on March 4 last year year, expanding the city’s MICE infrastructure. The US$240 million venue features 30,240m2 of exhibition space, a 6,100m2 Sky Garden (opening in November), and 14 conference rooms – where the largest can hold 3,600 guests.
Just across the road, TaiNEX 1 has 45,360m2 of exhibition space, a 22,680m2 column-free Sky Dome, and nine conference rooms. When combined, TaiNEX is the country’s largest exhibition venue.
“It is very convenient to hold events here, as within a five-minute-drive radius are six hotels, and in 2022, there will be an additional hotel and shopping centre nearby,” revealed Philip Huang, executive director of TaiNEX 2.
When asked how Taipei’s MICE business has fared over the years, project manager of ABLY Conference and Exhibition (part of Taiwan Tour DMC), Lilly Lee, shared that she has seen the city’s business event sector grow year-on-year, since the company started handling such events around a decade ago.
“But competition is pretty tough,” she opined. “While Taiwan may be cheaper than South Korea and Japan, we are more expensive than Bangkok.”
Hence, she stressed that during a pitch, they focus on Taiwan’s unique points and cultural attractions. One new way to sell Taipei was through gastronomic adventures, thanks to the inaugural Michelin Guide Taipei which launched in 2018, featuring a total of 110 dining establishments.
For instance, groups can arrange to dine in a private room at three-Michelin-star Cantonese restaurant Le Palais, the only restaurant to be bestowed with three stars. Delegates can also go on a gastronomic hunt for the 10 street food vendors listed in the guide during the evenings after a long day of meetings.
“We are also working closely with private stakeholders like PCOs, to identify the best chances of bringing in an international meeting,” Lee Jerchin, deputy managing director, Taipei MICE Office, shared.
The ultimate goal, he pointed out, was to “bring Taipei’s name to the international masses”, as “we want to be the top business event city in Asia”, acknowledging that it is going to be a tough road ahead. Currently, Taipei sits at sixth position on ICCA’s 2018 city rankings.
However, the destination is making strides. A recent large win was the Rotary International Convention 2021 which is expected to bring 40,000 people to Taipei, and generate NT$4 billion (US$219 million) for the economy. Organisers say it is the largest meeting of its kind in decades.
Before that, the World Trade Centre Assembly 2020 is expected to bring in another 300 delegates.
Tetsuya Sakai, professor and head of department, department of computer science and communications engineering, Waseda University, organises an annual computer science and information retrieval conference for 800 pax, and shared he was pleased with Taipei’s offerings.
He elaborated: “As the conference attracts students, academics and professors, I need a destination that has a wide range of choices in terms of accommodation and food. For example, students will be able to stay in cheaper hotels and explore night markets for cheap eats, while professors may be able to eat at restaurants and stay in star hotels.”
Meanwhile, professor Rindit Pambayun, department of agricultural technology, Palembang-based Sriwijaya University, talked about how halal-friendly Taiwan is, and is a great destination for conferences with a Muslim majority.
“There are halal-vending machines and prayer rooms in convention centres, while I was surprised to find a Koran in my room at the Howard Taipei. My dietary needs was also adhered too. This shows that the government is putting in the effort (to attract Muslim visitors).”
The UNESCO-listed Giant Buddha in Leshan is the largest Buddha statue in the world
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has revealed next year’s PATA Travel Mart will be held in Leshan, Sichuan, China from September 3-6.
“We are delighted to be returning to Leshan, Sichuan, China for PATA Travel Mart 2020, having previously worked closely with our various partners to organise the PATA Annual Summit 2015, as well as the annual Emei Global Summit,” said PATA’s CEO Mario Hardy.
The UNESCO-listed Giant Buddha in Leshan is the largest Buddha statue in the world
The UNESCO-listed Giant Buddha in Leshan is the largest Buddha statue in the world
Leshan is a prefecture-level city located at the confluence of the Dadu and Min rivers in the Sichuan Province of China. The city is located on the south-western fringe of the Red Basin in southern Sichuan, about 120km from Chengdu.
Leshan annually receives over 25 million visitors, with its centrepiece tourist attraction being The Leshan Giant Buddha of Mount Emei – a Cultural, Heritage and National 5A tourist attraction. Other leisure activities in the area include hot springs, skiing and rural tourism.
Travellers can connect to Leshan via Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, then board a car, bus or speed train from the airport to Leshan city. It takes approximately 1.5 hours by car or bus, or 40 minutes by speed train.
Pauline has been appointed the new general manager of Eastin Hotel Makkasan Bangkok.
With more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, Pauline started her career as the public relations manager at a four-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur, before moving into the general manager role at The Naviti Resort in Fiji.
Liao Xi; Ly Hour Group's Oknha Ly Hour; Cambodia's secretary of state for Public Works and Transport Poeu Marly; City Link's Oknha Ly Sopheark; and Hertz Asia Pacific's Nicholas Waring
Hertz Asia has announced City Link Transportation (Cambodia) as its franchise partner in Cambodia.
The Cambodian rental company will operate several Hertz brands – Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty and Firefly – in Phnom Penh, where vehicles range from sedans to luxury limousines. City Link will also offer Hertz Chauffeur Drive service for airport transfers and business travellers.
Liao Xi; Ly Hour Group’s Oknha Ly Hour; Cambodia’s secretary of state for Public Works and Transport Poeu Marly; City Link’s Oknha Ly Sopheark; and Hertz Asia Pacific’s Nicholas Waring
Eoin Macneill, vice president Asia Pacific, Hertz, said: “This is the first time Hertz has awarded all four brands to a single franchisee in Asia; showcasing that we’re confident City Link has the expertise to deliver a range of mobility solutions with the great service that our customers have come to expect.”
In a statement, Hertz said that rental demand will grow in the future, with more than 15 million international and domestic tourists expected to explore Cambodia annually by 2030.
“As travellers become more aware of Cambodia and all the self-drive opportunities available, Hertz can help people discover the beauty of the country through a range of car rental services. We are excited about the Hertz and City Link partnership and believe there is a great future for us here with our new franchisee partner in Cambodia,” noted Macneill.
Earlier this month, South Korea welcomed 3,500 international employees from Shanghai-based multinational retail company WEINA Cosmetic for an incentive trip that featured some of the best sights around Gangwon Province.
To manage the massive movement, participants were split into three groups. All were accommodated at a resort-style hotel in Gangwon, with a star-studded welcome ceremony at the Gangneung Curling Center on December 17. The grand event featured Korean-themed cultural entertainment arranged by the Korea MICE Bureau (KMB), such as performances by Korean traditional music artiste Gukak; B-boy group S-Flava; and a Korean musical. The group also enjoyed an exclusive K-POP performance at Yongpyong Resort in Pyeongchang, featuring Hallyu star, Min Kyung-hoon.
Over the course of six days, they visited attractions such as the Jade Garden Natural Arboretum in Chuncheon, Ojukheon House, and Gangneung Coffee Street.
This past year, KMB has been pushing to recover the Chinese incentive market, promoting new, Hallyu-related contents as part of its programme. Efforts have borne fruit, with official figures for the number of Chinese incentive travellers to South Korea in 2019 as of November estimated at 99,857, indicating an increase of 200 per cent year-on-year.
Cape & Kantary Hotels has appointed Timo Kuenzli as general manager of the five-star Cape Fahn Hotel, Koh Samui.
The Swiss has nearly 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and has worked in a range of tourist environments including America, Europe and Asia.
Kuenzli has been with Cape & Kantary Hotels for several years, having spent time at Cape Nidhra Hotel, Hua Hin; Kantary Hills Hotel, Chiang Mai; and Cape House Hotel, Langsuan, Bangkok. He was then appointed to the post of general manager at Cape Kudu Hotel, Koh Yao Noi.
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