CWT M&E projects growth in 2020 despite challenging headwinds

September 12, 2019

CWT Meetings & Events (CWT M&E), the global meetings and events division of CWT, revealed in its 2020 Future Trends Report that the US$840 billion meetings industry is poised for an 8% growth in 2020 despite looming geopolitical and economic headwinds.

The report notes the protracted trade war between the US and China is creating general uncertainty in the global business community heading into 2020. Adding to the anxiety is the future of Brexit and its cascading impact on the European Union.

Despite a wobbling global economy, CWT M&E predicts that the sector will still show a single-digit growth

Over in Asia, the protests in Hong Kong that started in June have put businesses on alert, as continued unrest in the city is bound to impact demand across the region. Growing concern over the impact of climate change is also increasingly clouding business sentiment.

Despite these issues, there are reasons to be upbeat, said Kurt Ekert, president and CEO at CWT.

“The need for live events is becoming more relevant than ever before,” Ekert said, with up to 30% of marketing budgets expected to be spent on live events in 2020. “Face-to-face meetings are critical to establishing connections between brands and their customers, and employees and their companies, especially during times of uncertainty. Knowing how to manage risks globally while putting together an authentic and measurable experience for all participants will be key for success in this space in the coming year and beyond.”

Digitalisation
The Future Trends Report identifies key developments in the industry in 2020, including digitalisation, with event websites being created at a rapid pace – up 52% year-over-year – as more customers utilise these sites to drive increased engagement.

Mobile devices are also adding new functionality with apps that go beyond setting travel itineraries to allowing organisers to create a higher degree of personalisation for attendees. CWT M&E estimates the number of event apps created since 2017 has jumped 83%, while the percentage of attendees downloading apps rose from 50% in 2017 to 74% year-to-date in 2019.

Demographics
This emphasis on digitalisation is being driven by the changing demographics as millennials are poised to become the biggest group of business travellers globally from 2024 onwards. Right on their heels are the so-called centennials (born 1996 onwards), the first group that can claim to be digital natives as they have never known a world without the Internet, smartphones and apps.

“This younger group of travellers is all about experience, authenticity and participation,” said Derek Sharp, senior vice president and managing director, CWT M&E. “Not content to merely ‘attend’ events, millennials and centennials use technology to actively ‘participate’ in the experience – pre-event, during the event, and post-event. Organisers are responding with innovations that put a premium on the ability to personalise experiences, coupled with ways of measuring the resulting engagement.”

Authenticity
When it comes to experiential events, including incentive travels, the report shows a move towards experiences that feel authentic, where travellers can immerse themselves in a destination like locals and not as high-end tourists. Hand-in-hand with this trend is the growing attraction of off-the-beaten-track destinations versus the usual tier-one cities.

This has raised some safety and security issues with 42% of travellers subjected to pre-travel risk assessments as part of the travel approval process, a 5% increase year-over-year.

Socially and environmentally responsible incentives also rank high for 2020, fuelled by this next generation of participants who view climate change as an increasingly pressing issue, according to CWT M&E’s findings. These sustainable initiatives include replanting trees and other efforts to care for the environment – and leave a lasting legacy long after an event concludes.

Global programmes
As global meetings and events programmes become more centralised, new technologies in the form of artificial intelligence and bots are transforming how these programmes are managed across multiple regions and markets.

Organisations are taking advantage of these innovative tools to derive more visibility and real-time data and feedback. As technology shrinks timelines and response times, the result is a streamlined process that ultimately leads to better adoption and a changing mindset around meetings.

The complete report can be found here.

Oakwood Premier Melbourne to rise in 1Q2022

By TTGmice

September 12, 2019

Oakwood has made its foray into Australia’s luxury hotel and serviced apartments segment with the signing of Oakwood Premier Melbourne.

Scheduled to open in 1Q2022 within a 40-storey tower, Oakwood Premier Melbourne will be situated along the Southbank of Melbourne city at Fishermans Bend.

Oakwood Premier Melbourne to open in 1Q2022

Oakwood Premier Melbourne will house 392 hotel rooms and serviced apartments, of which 154 rooms will cater to transient travellers on short stays, while the remaining 238 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, ranging from 35 to 65m², will cater to guests looking to reside mid- to long-term.

Proposed facilities within Oakwood Premier Melbourne include an all-day dining restaurant, meeting venues, a sky lounge, a lobby bar and fitness centre, as well as upscale retail spaces.

Located along the southern banks of the Yarra River, Oakwood Premier Melbourne will be in close proximity the Melbourne Convention Centre, the Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex, Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium and the National Gallery of Victoria.

This signing follows the recent announcement of Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Dandenong in April 2019.

Beyond Asia: P&J Live, Somerset House, and Destination DC

By TTGmice

September 12, 2019

P&J Live is Scotland’s newest state-of-the-art arena

P&J Live, Aberdeen opens for business
Scotland’s newest 48,000m² state-of-the-art arena in Aberdeen, the P&J Live, has opened its doors to guests and event planners.

Developed by Aberdeen City Council and development partner Henry Boots Developments, P&J Live’s main arena can seat more than 10,000 people (with maximum capacity exceeding 16,000) and includes the exclusive 50-pax Show Deck and 16 luxurious private hospitality suites.

For dining events, planners are supported by a 150-seat restaurant and an in-house catering coffee shop. The venue also houses a VIP lounge, seven conference spaces, 2,000m² exhibition halls – each with a seated capacity of 1,700 – and 11 meeting rooms.

There are also three on-site hotels, as well as 2,400 car park slots.

The £333 million (US$411 million) event complex has a naming rights partnership with DC Thomson Media, the owner of The Press and Journal regional newspaper.

Somerset House offers 24/7 exhibition as add-on to corporate events
Somerset House is combining its artistic and corporate offering, by allowing event planners who hold functions at the central London venue, to have private views, curated talks, and tours of its exhibition 24/7.

The 24/7 exhibition offers over 50 multidisciplinary works and explores how people can reset the natural rhythms of life – work, leisure, rest and sleep – through the work of international artists, designers, scientists and thinkers.

In addition to private tours and viewings, Somerset House can work with event planners to bring 24/7-related content into the corporate event programme and to allow delegate engagement with resident artists.

This offer is available between October 31, 2019 and February 23, 2020.

Washington DC plays up unique venues for business events
Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organisation for Washington, DC, is rolling out the Connected Campus initiative as part of its next-phase sales efforts, which shows planners how to use non-traditional spaces within three blocks of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to create a diversified meeting layout.

“Our Connected Campus initiatives is an opportunity for us to showcase how attendees can utilise unique spaces near the convention centre to accommodate larger groups and compete against cities boasting more spacious convention centers,” said Melissa Riley, vice president of convention sales and services at DDC.

Non-traditional venues such as the United Methodist Church have bookable meeting space that showcases the authentic DC.

The Connected Campus initiative will be launched at the 2020 PCMA Convening Leaders from January 5-8, 2020.

In 2020, DC will welcome 20 citywide conventions and special events (2,500 room nights on peak and above), generating 466,713 total room nights and an estimated economic impact of US$360 million.

Chatrium adds new long-stay property to Bangkok scene

By TTGmice

September 12, 2019

Chatrium-Collection1 — CHATRIUM HOTELS & RESIDENCES

Chatrium Hotels & Residences has opened its latest property in Thailand’s capital, the Maitria Residence Rama 9 Bangkok.

Maitria Residence Rama 9 offers a wide variety of rooms, from the 30m²Studio Residences and 48m² One-Bedroom Residences, up to its largest space, the 105m² Grand Deluxe Two-Bedroom Residence. Each features fully-furnished rooms and kitchenettes.

Facilities include hotel security, swimming pool and the Coffee Club, which will open in 2020.

The development is steps away from Shrewsbury International School Bangkok City Campus, RCA and Piyavet Hospital, and is also within a 10-minute drive from Thonglor and Ratchada.

Sue Sullivan leaves CINZ

By TTGmice

September 12, 2019

Sue Sullivan has resigned as Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) chief executive, after five years in the role.

She will be leaving the association at the end of November to take up a new role in Canterbury, as chief executive of Christchurch and Hanmer Attractions.

Sullivan was initially appointed in June 2014, and has taken the organisation into a new chapter of member-focused industry leadership, according to CINZ board chair, Tony Gardner.

Marriott veteran takes helm of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa

By TTGmice

September 12, 2019

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa has appointed George Varughese as general manager.

Varughese has been with Marriott International for over 25 years and brings to the role a wealth of global experience through his hotel career in Austria, Germany, the US, China, Malaysia, Australia and Thailand. His experience spans several disciplines including four hotel openings.

Prior to joining The JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, he was general manager of the Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse.

New GM heads up Okura Prestige Bangkok

By TTGmice

September 11, 2019

The Okura Prestige Bangkok has appointed Dutch native Niek Hammer as its new general manager.

Hammer began his career at Hotel The Grand, a Westin Hotel & Resorts International property in Amsterdam, and later spent two years at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort, a Marriott International hotel in Braselton, Georgia.

Prior to his new role, Hammer was general manager of Hotel Okura Macau.
He also previously held the position of assistant F&B director at Hotel Okura Amsterdam, and subsequently, the hotel’s deputy general manager with F&B oversight.

JTB partners Cvent to sell event solutions in Asia-Pacific

By Karen Yue

September 10, 2019

Cvent-JTB-123 — From left: JTB's Hideki Takaoka, Mizuho Hara, and Toru Ikuta; and Cvent's Brian Ludwig and Will Kataria

Cvent and JTB have entered into an 18-month-long partnership that will allow both companies to share business synergies to better assist their clients in events management.

As Cvent’s first Platinum Partner in Asia-Pacific, JTB will sell and use the technology specialist’s range of event management solutions for its current and future clients in the region.

From left: JTB’s Hideki Takaoka, Mizuho Hara, and Toru Ikuta; and Cvent’s Brian Ludwig and Will Kataria

Under the partnership, JTB will be extending three solutions to the market: event management, MICE agency and lead agency. Event management is the straightforward usage of Cvent’s event management technology to deliver events for clients. The next level, MICE agency, is management of the entire suite of Cvent technology offerings including the venue sourcing platform, Cvent Supplier Network. As a lead agency, JTB will develop, implement and manage a bespoke Strategic Meetings Management (SMM) programme for an organisation utilising Cvent’s solutions.

Will Kataria, director, Cvent Singapore, told TTGmice in an exclusive interview: “JTB is a renowned brand in Asia with a wide reach and we are proud to partner with them. Their industry expertise can help our customers elevate their events and grow their MICE business, while their broad regional impact can help introduce our platform to a new audience.”

All of JTB’s offices in the region are able to utilise Cvent’s event management technology immediately with support from the operations team.

Hideki Takaoka, senior manager for MICE business at JTB Asia Pacific, said: “Initially, JTB will have a centralised operations team running product management for our clients. Other operation centres will be launched in specific countries once needs based on business volume is determined.”

The sales initiative will be rolled out in three phases.

According to Mizuho Hara, manager, events & promotions business and Cvent strategic partnerships with JTB Asia Pacific Headquarters, the first phase, which will commence in 2019, includes Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. In 1Q2020, sales will be activated in Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines and Vietnam, after which the final phase will be launched for the remaining countries.

Hara said having Cvent as the “go-to platform” for JTB will bring extensive benefits for both JTB and its clients.

“Prior to this partnership, JTB used various events management systems, often those chosen by the client. Relying on Cvent systems mean that everything will be centralised. Should we have another event with the same client, we would have their history on the Cvent platform. And should they have an existing Cvent account, we would be able to support them in making sure their compliance policies are met.

“JTB will enjoy uniformity in the back-end and become subject matter experts.”

Kataria believes that JTB’s extensive market reach will help bring attention to the advantages of SMM adoption, which has been slower in Asia compared to North America and Europe.

“Eighty per cent of Fortune 500 companies globally are Cvent SMM customers but the highest adoption rates come from their North American and European locations, with limited adoption in Asia. That tells us that there are vast opportunities for Cvent and JTB to drive more adoption here,” remarked Kataria.

When asked why Asian organisations are slower to pick up on SMM, Kataria said education around event technology is lacking.

“I don’t think Asia planners have enough exposure (to event technology and its application for SMM). They are also consumed in their long list of daily tasks. SMM is a concept that, many organisations struggle with. There is a need for it but the decision makers within those organisations don’t realise the positive impact it can have on their business and ROI,” he said.

Kataria pointed out that an SMM programme implemented properly achieves cost savings and additional revenue.

He said organisations could reduce expenses on venues and guestrooms by up to 15 per cent in a year, and save 20 to 30 per cent of a planner’s time on a daily basis.

In terms of revenue benefit, an SMM programme can collect valuable event data – such as what excites attendees and what they want to buy – and channel that to the organisation’s CRM for proper interpretation that ultimately improves business interaction.

“We have seen companies growing their revenue by 15 to 20 per cent through a good SMM programme. It can pay for itself in six months,” he said.

JTB and Cvent are no strangers to collaboration. JTB India held a Gold Partnership with Cvent in 2018, allowing it to offer Cvent products to the Indian market. Hara revealed that the partnership won JTB India several big clients such as L’Oreal, Siemens and Abbott, as well as SMEs.

HRS completes merger with Lido Group

By TTGmice

September 10, 2019

HRS

Lido Group, a provider of automated hotel and hospitality technology in Australia and New Zealand, is now merged with global hotel solutions provider HRS, with Lido staff moving into a new HRS office in Sydney this month.

Steve Mackenzie, CEO of the Lido Group, will retire upon completion of merger-related activities.

HRS has now merged with Lido to better serve the Australian market; Sydney pictured

Launched in 1987, Lido facilitates hotel agreements and bookings between corporations, government agencies, and more than 8,500 hotels in its network.

The merged entity, which will take the HRS name, is the culmination of a partnership that started with a minority investment in 2016. As a result of this merger, companies working with Lido will now have access to HRS’ 500-plus experts in the world’s top 60 business travel markets to negotiate and support their hotel agreements.

“This merger is good news for a marketplace that is increasingly aggressive in implementing automation and technology that minimises hotel costs while maximising business traveller satisfaction,” said Ana Pedersen, managing director of HRS Australia/New Zealand.

This merger will also help drive results for Lido and HRS clients – from hotel negotiations to booking and payment – at a time when lodging costs in Australia are projected to increase.

GBTA projects that overall business travel spend in Australia will grow by more than four per cent annually, from US$23.6 billion in 2018 to US$28.9 billion in 2023.

As well, a significant number of business-grade hotel rooms will be added to the procurement opportunity mix. More than 300 new properties are coming online in the next five years, representing an additional 45,000 rooms. Melbourne and Sydney both anticipate more than 10,000 new rooms by 2025.

Meetingmax, Aventri complete integration of platforms

By TTGmice

September 10, 2019

shutterstock_272659703 — Meetingmax and Aventri have completed the integration of both their platforms

Event software companies Meetingmax and Aventri have integrated their room block and event registration platforms, promising clients streamlined processes and greater control.

The integration is between the Meetingmax room block management and Aventri event registration systems.

Meetingmax and Aventri have completed the integration of both their platforms

The integration enables event planners to easily identify attendees who have registered for an event – but not booked a room yet – and encourage them to do so, which will increase in pick-up rate and revenue. In addition, planners no longer need to toggle back and forth between platforms, while real-time data sharing enables them to pull comprehensive reports in seconds that draw on data from both systems.

The Meetingmax/Aventri integration also gives planners greater control over inventory. They can customise the setup so only registered attendees can book within the hotel room block. What’s more, they can allow attendees to only see the sub-blocks designated for them and limit the number of rooms an attendee can book. In this way, the platform ensures all rooms in the block go to the right people.

For attendees, the integration means a smoother experience, where they can go from registering for an event to booking accommodation without needing to enter their information twice. All attendee communication from the system has the same look and feel to avoid confusion and strengthen branding.

The new integrated system is available for both new and existing customers of Meetingmax and Aventri with no additional set-up costs.