The Korea Tourism Organization’s (KTO) efforts to diversify its source markets for incentive groups since 2017 are starting to bear fruit.
PTT Public Co., a global gas company based in Thailand, will be taking a large-scale incentive group to the country this year. The 1,312-strong group will visit South Korea in batches, with the first descending on the destination on September 2. The rest will continue to arrive through to December 3, 2018.
Busan is growing in popularity as an incentives destination in the country
The first batch experienced a five-day itinerary, where participants visited attractions in Seoul and Busan, such as Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Jagalchi Fish Market and Gamcheon Cultural Village in the latter destination.
Meanwhile, 941 employees of Vinamilk, Vietnam’s largest dairy producer, are slated to visit South Korea this October.
Another notable incentive group that visited South Korea was MCI Indonesia, which brought 1,143 employees over last winter.
According to KTO, the number of incentive arrivals from South-east Asia reached 139,934 in 2017, reflecting a 31.4 per cent increase from the previous year.
Chulbeom Park, director of the KTO Corporate & Incentive Team, explained that the South-east Asian focus was taken as a means to recover from dented arrivals during the Chinese arrival downturn.
Park added that KTO has plans to expand its incentive promotions in Moscow, Russia.
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) has partnered with Marketing Challenges International (MCIntl) to grow its presence in the North American market.
MCIntl is a full-service global destination marketing firm based in New York City. They are a key marketing and sales partner connecting leading convention bureaus and convention centres to the North American meetings market.
Pryor: expanding the Centre’s in-market reach with North America
The Centre’s general manager, Alan Pryor explained in a statement: “We are excited to be working closely with MCIntl’s Managing Partners Michel Couturier and Jacqueline Hewitt, as well as their team, to expand our in-market reach and optimise our client engagement with North America.
“We have been consistently investing in the North American market to secure meetings, conventions, and incentives and are confident MCIntl’s market expertise, industry insights, and reputation for success will greatly benefit these efforts.”
Pryor continued: “This tie up with MCIntl is another important step to gain first-hand business intelligence to help us better identify relevant North American industry platforms and forums to take our business development strategy to the next level.”
Business travellers from Singapore rank Tokyo (pictured above) as their top bleisure destination
Business travellers in Singapore have rated Tokyo and Bangkok as their top business and leisure travel destinations, in a study conducted by YouGov for luggage brand Samsonite.
The Samsonite Smoother Journeys study also found that Hong Kong is Singapore’s third-favourite business destination, while London ranked third for leisure travel. Mumbai, Bangalore and Jakarta were the least popular, according to more than 500 respondents who participated in survey.
Business travellers from Singapore rank Tokyo (pictured above) as their top bleisure destination
London and Tokyo tied for the top spot among business travellers aged under 34, while Tokyo was the top choice for those between 35 and 44 years old, and those over 45 preferred Bangkok.
The SamsoniteSmoother Journeys study was undertaken to find out what drives Singapore business travellers, as well as some of the things they liked – and didn’t like.
Overall, Samsonite found that one in five (22%) of Singaporeans enjoy overseas business travel a lot, 30% like it a little, and 37% are ambivalent.
“The Smoother Journeys survey revealed some surprising insights,” said Satish Peerubandi, general manager – Samsonite Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines & IndoChina. “For starters, we were surprised to see how strongly Asian cities did. We were also happy to see that a majority enjoyed business travel, even as it has a reputation for being tough for those who travel often. Only 11% of respondents said they did not enjoy business travel, with the majority liking it for the opportunities it brings.”
The advantages of business travel
The study found that many Singapore business travellers enjoy the opportunity to visit new places (94%), leave Singapore for a short while (91%), and work in new environments (88%).
While 60% said they believe they travel “just the right amount”, many still crave for their home comforts. Being apart from family and the fear of missing out on what is happening at home topped the reasons for people disliking business travel, at 57% and 41% respectively.
How business travellers manage stress
Business travellers identified traffic jams, flight delays and airport transfers as the most significant stress creators. When it comes to things they have control over, factoring in downtime and more effective packing and luggage are essential, they said. The study found that those who enjoy business travel are also those who are more likely to undertake activities that will help alleviate stress.
Many also allow for time to go to the gym or to shop, while close to half said they like to plan time for meals with colleagues or friends.
For a significant majority, efficient and effective packing was seen as a critical method to help ease stress, while many said that having a proper bag with easy access to laptops and toiletries when passing through airport security would improve their experience.
Other key findings of the survey include:
Younger women are more likely to travel then younger men (46% vs 26%).
About half (52%) of business travellers spend an average of three to four days on business trips.
Four in five admitted to working on the plane for some part of the flight, while 35% of business travellers put their time in the skies to productive use by working either 50% of the time or more.
Looking professional while travelling for work is essential for Singapore’s business travellers. Fifty-three per cent of travellers said they wore business attire while flying either half of the time or more, of which 75% said this was because they would go straight from the airport to work meetings.
Concept
The recent release of the Crazy Rich Asians movie has piqued global interest in Singapore as a ‘rich’ destination – not simply for its luxury experiences, but also for its diverse cultures, including a colourful culinary scene.
Inside a private dining room in New Ubin Seafood at CHIJMES
In response to this, tour company Wok ‘n’ Stroll has crafted the Crazy Rich Asians – Behind the Scenes Food Tour. It takes guests behind the scenes of locales mentioned in the movie and its original novel, some of which include restaurants and hawker centres.
Our journey started at CHIJMES, where Wok ‘n’ Stroll’s resident food guide Simon imparted tidbits about the historic chapel and how the movie’s wedding scene was filmed here. Complementing this stop was a visit to Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant New Ubin Seafood’s newest outlet at CHIJMES.
The tour also provided a glimpse into Singapore’s famous hawker culture with a stop at Lau Pa Sat’s evening market, where a row of grilled satay, oyster omelette, carrot cake and murtabak (pan-fried bread with stuffing) awaited us.
The night ended with a swig of the iconic Singapore Sling, accompanied by a stunning evening view of the Marina Bay skyline at LeVeL33 Craft-Brewery Restaurant & Lounge.
The Crazy Rich Asians – Behind the Scenes Food Tour is also available in the day with a different itinerary that features other places such as the Botanic Gardens and Keong Saik Road.
MICE application
As each tour is limited to a maximum of 10 pax (and a minimum of six), larger corporate groups can be split into different groups and still enjoy a lower rate per participant. The original price is S$150 (US$109) per person.
The tour runs every Sunday at 18.00. Our session lasted four hours, during which we were ferried from place to place in a private mini-van. The meeting point is confirmed and disclosed after booking.
Service
In the restaurants, the best seats in the house were reserved for the tour, such as a private room and a corner table with an unobstructed panoramic view. At the evening market, a row of tables had been “choped” (local slang for “reserved”) for us with tissue packets and table mats – no mean feat in a crowded hawker spot. Food is served before or upon arrival.
Wok ‘n’ Stroll’s guides, such as Simon, are closely linked to the culinary scene in Singapore, and happily share local anecdotes with participants.
Dorsett Kuala Lumpur has recently renovated its function facilities, and is offering a new Meet, Eat & Sleep @ Dorsett package.
The package is available from now until March 31, 2019, and is priced at RM140 nett (US$34) per person per day. If inclusive of overnight accommodation, prices start from RM295 nett per room per night.
Camelia Room
Subject to a minimum booking of 15 guestrooms and 15 delegates, the package includes complimentary Wi-Fi, meeting equipment such as one LCD projector, screen and flipchart/whiteboard, and lapel/wireless microphone.
Bookings of 15 to 30 guestrooms will earn the group two add-ons, while bookings of 31 rooms and more will get three.
The add-ons include three per cent off the total bill, up to a maximum of RM5,000; one complimentary guestroom with breakfast on day of meeting; one complimentary room upgrade to a suite; F&B voucher valued at RM100; one complimentary valet parking; complimentary soft drinks during the refreshment break; and an hour-long welcome cocktail for up to 30 people at Windows Lounge.
Dorsett Kuala Lumpur’s meeting facilities range from 32m2 to 150m2, with seating capacity from a minimum of 40 to 200 in theatre-style.
New look for The Radisson Collection Hotel, Strand Stockholm
The Radisson Collection Hotel, Strand Stockholm opens its doors after an extensive renovation by Swedish Architectural Studio Wingårdhs.
For the refurbishment of the 170 guestrooms, Wingårdhs repurposed existing furniture and fittings such as the doors and floors, and used dark tones and wood.
Located on the top floor in the historic tower of the hotel, at the top of a spiral staircase – originally a public view point overlooking the city – the Tower Suite benefits from a private roof terrace and sweeping panoramic views of Stockholm.
As part of the renewal, the hotel also introduced an authentic Swedish brasserie The Strand, headed up by chef Richard Williamson. The Strand seats 200 guests and consists of an all-day restaurant, with a large bar separating two different seating spaces.
The hotel also offers four meeting rooms including the Harbour Suite, which can also be used as a private dining space for functions, dinners and events.
Barbican, Worldspan to deliver full event service
Barbican Business Events has teamed up with Worldspan to meet the growing need for full event services among the venues’ clients, particularly associations and smaller corporate events.
The partnership will see Worldspan deliver services under the Barbican Business Events brand including delegate registration and management, production, transport and accommodation. The technical support element will be supported by Anna Valley, a well-known creative AV supplier, specialising in corporate events.
Dubai plays host to first Association Leaders Getaway
The Dubai Association Centre (DAC), a joint initiative of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), will host the city’s first-ever Association Leaders Getaway.
Taking place from December 10-13, it follows on from the success of the first Dubai Association Conference, held in late 2017, which focused on building a strengthened community and robust ecosystem for associations in the region.
The Getaway is designed to offer a unique platform for networking, trials and discussions, all set amid immersive experiences and scenic settings around the city. Some of the confirmed sessions include: Association Insomnia: What Keeps Association Executives Up at Night?’, a workshop aimed at identifying workable solutions to overcome current challenges; Youth Integration, which looks at how associations are becoming more appealing to the next generation; and Working Together to Advance Humanity, a panel discussion led by the Dubai Future Foundation.
The four-day event will bring together 60 attendees representing local, regional and international associations, in addition to Dubai Government representatives, university students and academics, as well as association volunteer leaders. It will also help to curate curating themes and topics of interest for the next Dubai Association Conference in 2019.
Stéphanie Walters has joined The Datai Langkawi as director of sales.
She will be managing all the direct B2B transactions for the European market, as well as developing the golf segment of the business.
Walters brings with her almost 10 years of sales experience and a global outlook derived from living and working in Europe, the Middle East, North and South America, and South-east Asia, for international hotel management companies such as One&Only Resorts, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and Jumeirah Hotels.
Noku Beach House is the latest luxury villa to join Elite Havens’ repertoire.
Perched on Balinese beach in Indonesia, and reportedly Seminyak’s only private beachfront villa, the property offers six suites, a pool, multiple dining areas and alcoves, and manicured gardens and lawns. Deep inside the villa is an exclusive spa, and a space that can be converted into an outdoor cinema.
Noku Beach House
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The interior is undertaken by award-winning designer Alex Zabotto-Bentley, who has brought custom furnishings and Indonesian artefacts into the space.
The outdoor poolside dining and rooftop terrace are built from a 100-year-old pier from Borneo.
Noku Beach House can be an ultimate reward for top achievers. It can hold an event for more than 200 people.
Topi Manner will assume the post of CEO at Finnair from January 1, 2019.
Manner will take over from Finnair’s current CEO Pekka Vauramo, who has left the airline to become the CEO of Metso Group. Finnair’s current chief financial officer Pekka Vähähyyppä will act as interim CEO from now until the end of this year.
Manner has had a long career in several management positions at Nordea, the largest financial group in the Nordic countries. Since 2016, he has been a member of Nordea’s Group executive management and held the post of head of personal banking.
The Kamu Connection – Rural, Natural and Sustainable, Laos
Conducted by EXO Travel Laos, the programme begins with a 2.5-hour scenic cruise up the Mekong River from Luang Prabang. Kamu Lodge, located next to Kamu Village, is a safari-style tented lodge which comprises 20 units. Observe villagers or join them planting or harvesting rice, net fishing, gold panning and cross-bow shooting. Teambuilding activities can also be included.
Panning for gold at the Kamu Village
Kamu Lodge provides seamless integration into the local environment by tapping local knowledge and materials. It employs villagers, who share and teach others to deliver the Kamu experience in an authentic and sustainable manner.
Guests support social enterprise in an authentic setting. While appreciating the ancient community, participants also learn more about themselves. Besides giving employment, Kamu Lodge collaborates with the local health authorities to provide medical care to the villagers and helps them through micro-credit financing supported by the Laos Village Development Fund.
Duration: Two days/one night or three days/two nights; open year-round but the best time to visit is between November and March Group size: Up to 40 people, twin-sharing Contact: laos@exotravel.com
Flat Out Formula One, Singapore
Led by Catalyst Teambuilding, the activity sees teams selecting a charity to race for. Using detailed plans and a material kit, participants race against time to construct an almost-life-sized Formula 1 racing ‘car’. They then decorate and brand it in corporate, team and charity motifs, and formulate a race strategy.
In the final Grand Prix race, the teams line up their cars – a driver in the car and two pushers behind – and race for prize money for their chosen charities. The team whose car to go over the finishing line first wins, although all teams can donate to their charity no matter their placing. Awards can also be given for the best-decorated car.
From branding their vehicles with their beneficiaries’ logos to competing for prize money to be donated, participants are able to take charity into their own hands and attain a sense of accomplishment for their contributions. They can also involve beneficiaries in the building and decorating of the racecar, as well as include a young beneficiary in the driver’s seat to give them a memorable experience of the race.
Duration: 1.5 to two hours Group size: From 20 pax Contact: info@catalystteambuilding.sg
Hole in One, across Asia
Delegates work in teams to design and build a challenging mini golf course which they will play in a tournament. The unique aspect of this activity is that the golf course must be built with canned goods and non-perishable food items, and these items are then donated to a local food shelter or charity after the event.
In Hong Kong, Team Building Asia works with Feeding Hong Kong, a local food bank that bridges the gap between hunger and food wastage. Beneficiaries vary across Asia.
Hole in One gives participants a change to donate to a good cause. Prior to the event, participants are asked to contribute five to 10 items based on a wish list provided by the assigned charity, to use in the building of the golf course.
Duration: 1.5 to two hours Group size: At least 18 people Contact: paula.ng@teambuildingasia.com
Art and Culture Journey, Guangzhou, China
Designed by Jingbo Culture (Hengqin) and implemented by Life Power (CHN) Team Building Training Co., this full-day programme marries art, heritage and culture with CSR opportunities. Participants get to explore Huangpu Old Village where they will interview local artists, traditional craftsmen and indigenous inhabitants.
Fun elements are offered through a bespoke treasure hunt involving craft sessions to make traditional book frames, wooden New Year folk paintings, movable-type printing and lacquer art.
The activity offers an opportunity for participants to learn about the historical, cultural and social significance of intangible cultural heritage. It also supports conservation efforts and art development. By showcasing the work of local artists and traditional craftsmen, they are given a chance to make a living.
Duration: Full-day Group size: 20 to 100 people Contact: jbc.artnculture@gmail.com; brian.yau@lifepower.com.hk
Farm Day Hosted by the Karen Tribe, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Offered by Asia DMC – Thailand, the first stop in this activity is the Karen village in Baan Thung Luang (Mae Wang district). Visit the local market before meeting the home host to learn about the culture and history of the villagers.
Next stop is an organic farm to join workers in picking vegetables and ingredients for lunch. Enjoy cooking and eating with bamboo sticks in the traditional style. After relaxing, work at the farm again with the villagers. Round off the day with a bamboo raft ride along the Mae Wang River.
The Karen people believe that living a simple life is the way to eternal happiness, and they carry out their beliefs by living with few frills. In interacting with this traditional, ethnic-minority community, city folks will not only contribute to the local economy but also realise how comfortable their own lives are.
Duration: Full day Group size: Up to 15 people; larger groups will be split into smaller numbers Contact: product.th@asiadmc.com
Survival Skills in Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia
Leave your team in the good hands of Happy Trails! Asia, as they leave the urban environment to have a lifetime adventure at Taman Negara National Park in Malaysia. This 130 million-year-old rainforest is the oldest rainforest in the world and one of Malaysia’s main tourist draws.
Learn survival skills in Taman Negara National Park
Participants will battle each other on a bamboo rafting race along a tropical river, and master survival skills by building shelter and fire and cooking a basic meal with “natural utensils” and wild edible plants. In the afternoon, they get busy with trapping and hunting. As night falls, activity winds down with a relaxing movie in the jungle cinema.
The programme provides work opportunities and an income for indigenous people who lead in the activities.
Duration: Three days/two nights Group size: 20 to 150 people Contact: sales.malaysia@happytrailsasia.com
Helping Hands, across Asia
Team Building Asia’s Helping Hands is a unique and powerful CSR programme that gives corporate groups the chance to lend assistance to land mine victims around the world.
Teams work together to build a prosthetic hand from 30 pieces of plastic and metal. They also face the extra challenge of being able to use only one hand to complete this task – they must cover their dominant hand throughout the activity. As well as building team performance and communication, participants get to create something that changes the life of a person in need.
The prosthetic hands are donated to amputee land mine victims in Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia, along with a note from the team that built it, allowing the participants to connect with the person they are helping. The event finishes with each participant knowing they have made an impact to someone’s life.
Duration: 1.5 to two hours Group size: At least five Contact: paula.ng@teambuildingasia.com
Vietnam Toy Makers
Conducted by smallWORLD Experience (Vietnam), this activity splits participants up into teams where mates work together to solve a series of problems and win challenges in an indoor setting. Each triumph scores the team a range of materials, which leads onto the second part of the exercise – building toys.
Ranging from racing cars and tracks, to trains, dolls and teddy bears, toys are crafted with love and passed on to local under-privileged children. The last stage of the session sees participants wrapping their gifts and writing an accompanying card.
Beneficiaries are organisations that work directly with underprivileged children in Vietnam. This programme enables teams to use their creativity, and leadership and communication skills to put a smile on the face of children.
Duration: Two to three hours Group size: 10 to 120 people Contact: info-vn@smallworldexperience.com
Art & Culture Journey, Macau
Delivered by Coforte Organisation Development, this programme takes participants around Macau to discover the work of local artists and a former shipbuilder through visits to museums, exhibitions, galleries, historical buildings and a shipyard. They will also attend a craft workshop where they will learn to make a wooden paddle and keychain with wood that was once used to build ships. As well, there will be a treasure hunt.
The programme supports conservation of traditional industries in Macau, and promote art development.
Duration: Full-day Group size: 20 to 100 people Contact: coforte.hk@gmail.com / brian.yau@lifepower.com.hk
Meet the Sacred Dancers of Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia
The Sacred Dancers of Angkor is a prestigious school that teaches apsara – Cambodia’s traditional dance. Here, students learn the discipline it takes to perform the ancient art form, which dates back to the Khmer Empire. Each dance is a prayer for blessings on the land, environment and people.
Sacred Dancers of Angkor
Corporate groups get to experience this, where they learn and practise the subtle yet intricate gestures and moves that form part of the enchanting dance. There is also an opportunity for participants to meditate with students.
The school is a side-project of the Nginn Karet Foundation for Cambodia, which supports 14 villages in Banteay Srei, the Siem Reap district, where the school is based. The charity offers aid to poverty-stricken villagers through programmes that provide clean water, hygiene, health care, nutrition, education and literacy. Profits from the school are ploughed back into these projects.
Duration: Half- or full-day Group size: Up to 20 Contact: marketing@easia-travel.com
Forest and Wildlife Conservation at Sap Langka Wildlife Sanctuary, Lopburi, Thailand
Offered by Diethelm Travel Thailand, this activity in Lopburi gets participants to build weirs – barriers across rivers to help manage the flow of water. Weirs provide easier access to a sustained water supply and also help to reduce water-flow during the rainy season, thereby lessening the chance of flooding.
For a more competitive angle, participants are spit into groups, and each will fight to fill empty spaces between bamboo sticks with rocks. Jungle survival training is also conducted, with tips on dealing with snakes, finding water from plants, making fires and cooking using only natural resources.
Teams work together with a shared goal for the common good – the sanctuary’s protected animals, particularly 44 wild elephants who may be at risk during flash floods. Besides physical exertion lifting and passing heavy stones, being deep in the forest gives an appreciation of the precious natural environment.
Duration: 2 days/one night Group size: 50 to 120 people Contact: press@diethelmtravel.com
Rags To Riches, across Asia
Prior to the activity, Team Building Asia collects clothing and other recyclable items on behalf of teambuilding participants. On the day of the session, teams are formed to partake in a dynamic networking and communication challenge to create a giant version of their logo (or bespoke image) using all the donated items. A unique matrix guides teams as they work together to position their donations in pre-determined, marked out areas. There is an ideal photo opportunity at the end as everyone celebrates their collective creativity. The donated items are then delivered to the chosen charities.
Rags To Riches encourages participants to think more about recycling unwanted items that would have otherwise been discarded.
Duration: One to three hours Group size: At least 20 people Contact: paula.ng@teambuildingasia.com
Coral Teambuilding, Langkawi, Malaysia
In line with reef conservation efforts by The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort, Langkawi, a unique teambuilding activity has been developed around the resort’s Coral Conservation Project. This unique activity involves transplanting corals under the expert guidance of the resort’s coral curators before relocating them to the ocean using rafts built by teambuilding participants. The latter emerge from the activity feeling a sense of accomplishment, having made a real and tangible difference to the environment.
Globally, coral reefs are under threat of extinction due to negative habits of human. With the project, participants are given the opportunity to halt the destruction and save the marine ecosystem for future generations. Reef regeneration also creates a sustainable fishing resource that will help the local community for years to come.
Duration: 60 to 120 minutes, depending on group size Group size: 10 to 100 people Contact: sales.theandaman@luxurycollection.com
Elephant Valley Project, Cambodia
Caring for captive elephants is at the heart of this non-profit organisation that offers respite to the over-worked elephants that dot Mondulkiri’s jungle in Cambodia. Offering a spacious sanctuary for the animals to return to the wild, Elephant Valley Project invites teambuilding groups to visit the gentle giants in their natural habitat, watching them wallow in mud pools and tear out saplings with their trunks. There is also the chance to help Elephant Valley Project with its onsite projects, working together to build water towers, improve the banana and bamboo farms, and carry out deforestation programmes.
Caring for captive elephants
Elephant Valley Project not only carries out vital work to keep the dwindling elephant population alive while offering a new lease of life to captive elephants, it also carries out essential educational programmes and offers support to help protect the wild elephant population in Mondulkiri. Funds collected by Elephant Valley Project are put into these conservation efforts.
Duration: From half-day programmes to five-day/five-night arrangements Group size: Up to 15 people Contact: elieoperations@gmail.com
Toy Factory, Singapore
Asia Ability puts participants into teams and provides them with wooden parts, which they must assemble into a range of high quality children’s toys. Teams complete mini-tasks, like trivia, to access tools and paints. Once the toys are completed, they can be decorated with brand colours and incorporated into educational games designed by the teams. The session ends with a fun and informal finale where each team shows off their game and creations on stage, and presents their gifts to members of the selected beneficiary.
Participants have a hand in assembling quality toys for children in need
Participants have a hand in assembling quality toys for children in need from a local charity, school or home of the company’s choice. They are also able to present the gifts in a meaningful and celebratory ceremony. Usable game materials from the session are also donated to the beneficiaries.
Duration: 1.5 to three hours Group size: From 12 pax Contact: ask@asiaability.com
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.
