China’s meetings and events industry can expect to see greater cooperation between the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which was established in mid-March.
The merger of the culture ministry and the China National Tourism Administration is still a work in progress, according to Jack Yao, vice president, China Business Event Federation and secretary general, CCPIT Commercial Sub-council.
China’s MICE sector ought to get a boost in light of this merger; Beijing’s CBD at night
The consolidation and streamlining of departments and staff at the provincial level of China’s 31 provinces is likely to continue until the end of 2019, he noted.
While it would be difficult for China to form a centralised convention and visitor bureau like some other Asian countries, Yao – who has just been named second vice president Asia Marketing Federation – said the government will now “pay more attention” to develop and promote a “national image”.
He is optimistic a new marketing campaign will be launched by next year and more will be done to foster cooperation between the public and private sectors to promote culture, tourism and trade.
Yao continued: “For the first time, CCPIT is cooperating with the new ministry and the private sector to identify and create business opportunities centred around culture,”
SMEs in the industry TTGmice spoke to said more destination marketing support is definitely needed, especially if China wants to spread business to second- and third-tier cities.
The founder and CEO of a DMC with offices in Beijing and Shanghai said the company has had to rely on its own resources since it was set up about 10 years ago.
She said: “Negative stories about China still prevail and they need to be better addressed, while strong points like the fact that China is one of the safest countries to visit or do business in, the wonderful culture and other positives, should be played up.”
A meetings and incentive veteran commented that because China is no longer a “cheap” destination, it needs to value add by applying technology to create “smart travel”, more meaningful and in-depth experiences.
“For SMEs to survive, we need to know early if city or provincial government support will be given, or not, or else it will be difficult to cap costs. Industry standards are still not uniform in China and the availability of English-speaking staff to be able to attract more international events and business assistance for smaller companies are some of the issues I hope the new ministry will address,” the managing director said.
When travelling for work, employees from Singapore want local leisure activities to be part of their travel experience too, according to new data on the growing ‘bleisure’ travel segment from Amadeus’ Journey of Me report.
The report revealed that 40% of Singaporean business travellers find recommendations that help them plan their itinerary the most useful, and one in four (25%) value sightseeing recommendations
More than 60% of business trips now include a leisure portion
Business travel within Asia is growing at twice the pace of the rest of the world and looks set to overtake the top-spending Americas within the next 10 years. To help tap this growth opportunity and get inside the mind of the business traveller, Amadeus’ research looks at the needs, habits and motivations of the Asia Pacific business traveller. The research, conducted in collaboration with YouGov, surveyed a total of 6,870 respondents across 14 markets in Asia Pacific.
Cost and convenience driving users in the sharing economy
The research found that while employees don’t need to bear the cost of their business travel, Asia Pacific business travellers are just as cost conscious as their leisure travel counterparts, and are most interested in receiving recommendations that help them save money (34%).
The rise in ‘bleisure’ travel is undoubtedly a contributing factor; with more than 60% of business trips now including a leisure portion, and many business travellers are shopping around for the best deal.
However, not all Asia Pacific business travellers are the same. While employees from Singapore find recommendations that help them save money and plan their itinerary the most useful (both 40%), business travellers from China, India and Vietnam prefer recommendations that ensure their safety (37%, 34%, and 37% respectively), Japanese employees prefer recommendations that make their travel more comfortable (39%) and Koreans prefer recommendations for sightseeing (35%).
The focus on cost has seen the sharing economy – specifically ride-sharing services like Uber and Grab, and home-sharing services like Airbnb and Couch Surfing – become widely accepted for business travel, even more so than for leisure. Almost half (46%) of business travellers use ride-sharing services to get around during their trip, compared to 31% of leisure travellers.
Alongside cost saving, the top reasons business travellers use the ride-sharing and home-sharing services is for ease and convenience (59% for ride-sharing, 50% for home-sharing) and better quality and service (43% for ride-sharing, 39% for home-sharing). However, for Australian (47%) and Hong Kong (36%) business travellers, the flexibility of the sharing economy is the top reason that they choose to home-share.
Renaud Nicolle, vice president, travel channels, business travel Asia Pacific, Amadeus, said: “The rise of ‘bleisure’ means that business travel behaviours are becoming more aligned to leisure travel, including cost consciousness. Sharing economy providers benefit from this trend thanks to the competitive products, flexibility and convenience they are able to offer and deliver. Business travel agencies in Asia Pacific need to enhance their product and service offering to be able to cater for the experience their travellers expect.”
Access to maps is more important than work emails
While business travellers are cost conscious, there is one creature comfort they will happily pay for – connectivity.
While leisure travellers rely mainly on Wi-Fi, business travellers are open to multiple options to stay connected, and are happy to invest. Wi-Fi remains the popular choice, but purchasing a local sim card at the destination is a close second for business travellers from Indonesia (54%), Singapore (52%), Philippines (51%), Hong Kong (47%), New Zealand (45%), Vietnam (45%) and Malaysia (44%). On the other hand, Korean (64%) and Japanese (40%) business travellers prefer to use international roam-as-you-go services, while those from India (56%), Thailand (51%), Australia (43%) and Taiwan (42%) prefer to buy an international phone or data package before they leave home.
While it would make sense that these employees choose to stay connected to keep up-to-date with work, this is not listed as the highest priority by any Asia Pacific business traveller, except those from Korea (56%). Instead, access to maps and location information is rated as the top priority for staying connected (53%), followed by letting people know they’re safe (50%).
Business travellers from Singapore are mostly aligned with their regional counterparts, however they place a greater priority on local leisure activities. While access to maps and location information is their top priority (67%), researching things to do at the destination is a close second (63%), on par with letting people know they’re safe (63%).
Recommendations wanted
Travel providers have a unique opportunity with business travellers, as they find the recommendations they receive from various platforms more relevant than leisure travellers do.
Recommendations that helped them save money (34%), ensured their safety (31%) and made their travel more comfortable (29%) were deemed the most useful. The top three sources they listed for relevant recommendations were online booking websites (51%), social networks (49%) and travel review sites (47%). However, in Korea and Taiwan, travel agents are still rated as the top source (56% and 52% respectively). Even post-trip, two-thirds (66%) of business travellers are open to receiving recommendations, most likely because they will return to that destination in the future.
“Business travel is a real growth opportunity in the Asia Pacific region, but to capitalise on this, travel providers need to have a clear understanding of the needs, habits and motivations of the business traveller. They also need to be ahead of the curve when it comes to technology, ensuring they can offer the technology that business travellers have adopted and habitually use.
“It is all about personalisation, and pushing the right message at the right time to the right traveller, every time. This level of personalisation makes their business trip simple, stress-free and rewarding at every stage of the journey – from search and booking to expense reconciliation; from airport parking, lounge access, hotel and meeting rooms to departure control systems and baggage check-in,” Nicolle said.
First Middle Eastern property for Hampton by Hilton
Hampton by Hilton has made its debut in the Middle East with the opening of Hampton by Hilton Dubai Airport, also the largest property in Hampton’s global portfolio.
The 420-room hotel is located near the Dubai International Airport and the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA). The hotel offers facilities such as a rooftop gym, large infinity bull, fully-licensed bar, and a 24/7 business centre. Guests will also enjoy a free hot breakfast, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi.
Vienna Convention Bureau has a new director
Christian Woronka will be succeeding Christian Mutschlechner as director of the Vienna Convention Bureau next year.
In his new role, Woronka will be responsible for the management and consolidation of the Convention Bureau and Market Management departments, and for the expansion of conventions and congresses, corporate meetings and incentives. He will also further develop the Vienna brand in the meetings industry.
At present, Woronka is the director of the Cologne Convention Bureau, where he has been since 2008. He was named director in 2012.
After 34 years of service to the Vienna Tourist Board, Mutschlechner will retire in February.
Security event to launch in Birmingham
The Security Event – powered by Security Essen will be held from April 9-11, 2019 at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. It will be co-located alongside three established exhibitions from the British company Western Business Exhibitions’s portfolio: The Health & Safety Event, The Fire Safety Event and The Facilities Event, and is expected to host over 100 of the world’s leading security brands.
This project aims to provide European security businesses a comprehensive platform for business operations in the UK.
Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has launched a new offer entitled Smart Meetings, targeted at meeting organisers and event planners who hold events at Pan Pacific and Parkroyal properties worldwide.
A Full Day Residential Meeting Package will include five per cent savings on the catering and banquet bill (excluding taxes); use of meeting room from 08.00 to 17.00; meeting setup with flipchart, whiteboard, markers and bottled drinking water; Wi-Fi access; morning and afternoon tea breaks including two refreshments with coffee/tea; and buffet or set lunch with free flow soft drinks. Note there is a minimum booking of 15 delegates and 10 guestrooms.
Pan Pacific Hanoi’s Hoi An meeting room
In addition, if event planners were to book a next meeting to be held within the next 12 months from the last meeting date, they will be able to save an additional three per cent on the catering and banquet bill (excluding taxes) at the next hotel.
Meeting organisers will be rewarded with a complimentary one-night stay before or after the meeting, and a complimentary room upgrade with Club access and benefits for the entire stay. For hotels without Club, a complimentary breakfast and a two-category room upgrade is offered.
A host of other privileges are also being offered, and the more rooms booked and delegates hosted, will increase the number of privileges. For instance, 10 rooms and 15 delegates will entitle planners to select one privilege, while 50 rooms and 65 delegates will entitle planners to four privileges.
One of the meeting spaces in Pan Pacific Yangon
Privileges include two local hotel-specific privileges such as complimentary parking or airport transfers; one complimentary room for every 20 paying rooms (maximum two rooms per night); one complimentary delegate for every paying 35 delegates (up to three delegates per group); one complimentary room upgrade to the next category for every 20 paying rooms (maximum three rooms per night); one complimentary delegate for every paying 25 delegates (up to three delegates per group); a 50 per cent savings on breakout room rental for minimum of 45 delegates; a 20 per cent savings on dining for all meeting delegates; and complimentary one hour cocktail including canapés, beer and house wine (minimum 25 rooms and 50 delegates).
Organisers are also automatically included in PPHG’s new corporate loyalty programme, Pan Pacific Connections, where they earn points for that can be used to redeem rewards.
Smart Meetings run from now until March 31, 2019, and for meetings and stays held before December 31, 2019. This is subject to availability and black-out dates may apply. Other terms and conditions apply.
Located on Labuan Bajo, Waecicu Beach, the only five-star hotel in Komodo has opened with 13 suites and 192 guestrooms, each offering ocean views.
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Resort and pier
Room
Bathroom
Main pool
Rooftop venue
Resort illuminated at night
Facilities on the 1.4-hectare Ayana Komodo Resort, Waecicu Beach, in southern Bali includes six F&B venues, a spa with five treatment rooms, gym, two swimming pools, a children’s pool, and a kids’ club. There is also a grand ballroom that can hold up to 220 pax reception-style, as well as several meeting rooms.
In addition to the new resort, the resort will also launch a 54m-long and 11m-wide, nine-bedroom phinisi ship named Ayana Lako di’a. The ship will take guests around the island for short explorations of approximately two to three nights per trip.
Wharf Hotels has appointed Stephen Antram as general manager of Marco Polo Shenzhen.
Prior to this appointment, Antram was the general manager of Intercontinental Beijing Beichen.
The experienced hotelier has over 40 years of knowledge in the hospitality industry, with over 25 years in Asia. He possesses a track record in operations management, business development and talent development across Europe and Asia with international luxury hotel companies.
Shane Christopher Ingram has been appointed as hotel manager for Hilton Garden Inn Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman North and Hilton Garden Inn Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman South.
Ingram most recently served as director of operations at Hilton Colombo Sri Lanka, where he began his hospitality career with, working in various departments such as housekeeping, the executive floor and the front office.
The 28-year hospitality veteran went on to hold various positions in Hilton, locally and internationally, such as a revenue manager in Hilton Colombo Sri Lanka, and later in Hilton Petaling Jaya as the director of business development and director of operations.
Buoyed by bookings of its traditional venues, first made available for business events in 2016, Tokyo is focusing on promotion of these venues and the addition of new ones in 2018.
Incentive visitors to Japan doubled year-on-year in 2017, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and, as unique venues are an important consideration for incentive groups, Tokyo hopes to entice more business with its efforts.
Akasaka Palace by Kakidai
The largest growth in 2017 over 2016 was from China and Singapore, which brought double the number of group – as well as larger groups. Globally, the peak season for incentive travel to Japan is October and November, but March is also popular among South-east Asian countries due to the cherry blossom season.
Venues in demand usually offer a unique experience, showcasing Japanese culture, tradition or way of life.
They include one of Japan’s most revered buildings, Akasaka Palace, which provides accommodation for official guests of the Japanese government, as well as the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Edo-Tokyo Open-air Architectural Museum, Nogi Shrine and Daikyo Temple.
More sites are being made available regularly. Following the success of an inaugural business event at Tokyo’s 300-year-old Hamarikyu Gardens in 2017, the site became popular as a unique venue in 2018.
The garden, which once belonged to Japan’s most powerful samurai lord, is “a perfect location for evening parties and drink receptions,” thanks to its location among many of the city’s four- and five-star hotels.
According to Hironobu Fujimura, director of sales on the business events team at Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB), the TCVB and Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) see maximising Tokyo’s distinctive venues as key to bringing more business events to the capital. And expectations of incentive buyers are high.
“Year after year, the needs of the parties at such exceptional venues are increasing, especially for the incentive travel market. They always need the ‘Wow’ factor and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for their attendees,” explained Fujimura.
In response, the TCVB launched a booklet, Tokyo: More Ideas for Meetings & Incentives, in November 2017. It divides incentive opportunities in the capital into five areas: CSR, culture, teamwork, enterprise and technology, while offering Tokyo as a city in which to connect, learn and contribute.
Incentive groups can engage in a wide range of activities, from pruning bonsai trees with a world-famous expert and doing yoga in a temple. On offer are also visits to successful Japanese companies for learning opportunities or for a sneak preview of cutting-edge technology.
“Increasingly, incentive groups visit Tokyo to gain insight that they can apply to their own companies,” said Fujimura, adding that the five topics covered are those that the TCVB get the most enquiries about.
TCVB also launched a new website to introduce areas in Tokyo that are convenient for business events planners due to their concentration of venues, hotels, restaurants and shops. According to the website, Roppongi is a popular option because its “luxury hotels and unique venues are perfect for holding incentive events”.
Building on this, the TCVB and TMG launched a Unique Venue Service Center in May 2018, to encourage the use of unique venues in Tokyo.
Staff at the centre, near Shinjuku, will introduce designated unique venue facilities, propose event plans, provide coordination support with appropriate administrative agencies required for running events in these spaces, and provide information about venue operators, catering and other services.
Meanwhile, JNTO is continuing to host the Japan Best Incentive Awards to recognise and share best practice in incentive travel.
“One of last year’s attendees presented a tour in which teambuilding activities for a group of 360 participants included tasting unrefined sake in a sake brewing workshop, and a kimono photo competition using Instagram, which landed them the Best Creative Planning Award,” shared Etsuko Kawasaki, executive director of the JNTO.
New openings in recent months are making options for incentive planners more plentiful. They include luxury shopping complex Ginza Six, which has more than 10 high-end restaurants, a banquet hall, a 480-seat Noh Theater and a 4,000m2 rooftop garden.
With Japan hosting the Rugby World Cup and G20 Summit in 2019 as well as the Olympic and Paralympics in 2020, a host of new venues, products and experiences are expected to be launched in Tokyo. The capital’s business events market is also getting ready for the likely rise in demand.
According to Kawasaki, JNTO has already received some enquiries from event professionals who aim to organise meetings related to these global events.
The first Kempinski in Singapore will be opening its doors to guests for stays from October 1, 2018.
Located in the downtown Civic and Cultural District stands the The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, part of Capitol Singapore which comprises a 39-unit residential tower, a retail mall, and the Capitol Theatre.
Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
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Heritage Suite Living Room
Heritage Suite Bathroom
Bidwell Suite
Grand Deluxe Room
View from Terrace Room
Saltwater pool
The Bar
Exterior
Walkway
Capitol Theatre
The hotel offers 157 guestrooms and suites, spanning almost 50 unique configurations as the building. In all eight room categories however, guests can expect regular mod-cons such as a Sonos audio system, complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, and a generous work desk area. For suite guests, a stay includes complimentary daily breakfast.
For meetings and events, the property offers event spaces ranging from the Private Room, good for 12 guests, to the Salon, which can hold 220 pax theatre-style.
Other facilities include a spa, gym, and saltwater pool. The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore will also have several F&B offerings in the months to come, anchored by its signature restaurant that has been conceptualised by a three-Michelin-star chef.
Myanmar is rising in popularity as an incentive destination for Dhammayangyi Temple in Bagan pictured
Longhaul demand for Asian incentive holidays is spreading beyond the usual favourites to destinations such as Vietnam and Myanmar, according to buyers at IT&CM Asia.
Ben Gosman, managing director of Netherlands-based FreeStyle Incentives, said Vietnam is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to the long-popular Thailand.
Myanmar is rising in popularity as an incentive destination for buyers from Europe; Dhammayangyi Temple in Bagan pictured
“The euro is weak compared to the dollar. It used to be at 1.5 dollar per euro, now it’s 1.1 – we lost 40 per cent,” he said. “Compared to the Thai baht we also lost 40 per cent in the last three years. With the euro down, Thailand gets more expensive, and Vietnam becomes very, very attractive.”
In Vietnam, Phu Quoc is an emerging destination for Gosman although mass tourism and construction on this island are becoming growing concerns.
This is also one of the reasons behind the change in FreeStyle Incentives’ Thailand programmes in recent years, with Hua Hin now offered as the beach leg in place of Phuket and Koh Samui.
“We used to offer Phuket and Koh Samui, but two or three years ago, we cut those out. It saves us a flight, and these areas are too crowded. We try to stay away from mainstream destinations.”
Meanwhile, Vietnam and Myanmar are also rising in popularity at Italy’s Ita Events, although Thailand remains the main South-east Asian destination for incentive tours, said Sandro Saccocio, senior project manager.
“Clients like South-east Asia for the food experience. They also like to (get hands on), so local cultural activities such as painting, fruit sculpting and weaving keep clients interested,” he said.
Udo Landow from Show D’Vision Germany is on the lookout for destinations with the “wow appeal”. He added: “In Malaysia, we look for lesser-known islands that are not so commercialised but have good convention facilities to support corporate groups.”
Nevertheless, classic destinations like Bali and Bangkok still rank highly on meeting and incentive planners’ radar.
“I am interested particularly in Bali because there is a new flight that will directly connect with (Moscow). I am also exploring Phuket and Pattaya to see if there are new hotels and activities for me to bring incentives and meetings over.” – additional reporting by Paige Lee Pei Qi
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
