International meetings are a misunderstood phenomenon.
Most people think about bed-nights and tourism-type expenditure when they think about our business. But meetings are so much more than a high-value, season-spreading segment of tourism: that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Hidden below the surface are the impacts that really make meetings special: knowledge creation and transfer; dissemination of skills and best practice; great new friendships and serendipitous encounters; new solutions to societal or environmental issues; and of course, opportunities for inward investment, partnerships and business deals.
We’re great at measuring the cost of a US$30 breakfast get-together during a congress, but terrible at recognising the US$30 million deal that those delegates are finalising. But obviously the latter is entirely the point of the meeting, and the former is just a small by-product!
So how do we square this view with the way in which destinations showcase themselves at meetings industry trade shows like the recent IMEX in Frankfurt? Here the stands screamed out cultural and tourist-appeal messaging through their imagery and graphics. Are we all selling an outdated concept of why decision-makers choose meeting destinations?
I’m reminded of a bidding seminar I led in Japan over a decade ago, where, after two days of explaining why and how to focus on the decision-makers’ and delegates’ business and intellectual objectives, a young attendee asked: “So are you asking us to forget about the Kimono and sushi?”
She recalled the practice of presenting business gifts in Asia as a simile for bidding for an international meeting, so I suggested: “Think of your solutions to their objectives as the contents of the box; your cultural appeal is the wrapping paper. Both are important, one rational, the other emotional.”
Hopefully the stands at IMEX were filled with discussions about the goals and business needs of the events the buyers are planning, not just reiterations of the tourism appeal on display around them.
“Empty Box marketing” is our industry’s most tempting mistake.
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Martin Sirk is the CEO of ICCA. He has extensive experience working in national and city destination marketing organisations, congress centres, and with a leading global hotel brand, and is an acknowledged expert in the design and organisation of international congresses and the trends that are shaping the future of the meetings industry.
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has announced that , CEO of Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), will join the GBT Board upon the completion of its acquisition of HRG.
Radcliffe was appointed CEO of HRG in 1997, and led the company’s repositioning as a focused corporate services group. He was appointed to its board in 1989, having joined the group originally in 1978. Radcliffe is also a non-executive director of Wincanton, the transport and logistics services provider, and a member of its Audit, Nominations and Remunerations Committees.
David Radcliffe
Greg O’Hara, chairman of the Board, GBT, said: “I will be delighted to welcome David to the GBT Board following the completion of GBT’s acquisition of HRG. He brings a wealth of industry experience and expertise and will play an important role as we integrate HRG, delivering continuity and helping to provide value for all stakeholders and shareholders.”
“I’m excited to be given the opportunity to join the Board of the combined group following the completion of GBT’s acquisition of HRG and to work with the best talent and technology from both organisations. The transaction will create a truly world-class company capable of delivering significant benefits to clients, colleagues and suppliers,” Radcliff said.
Globally, three in 10 business travellers are happy to sacrifice safety for hotel loyalty and rewards incentives, according to research commissioned by travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel.
Travellers in the Americas are likeliest to do so (39%), followed by Europeans (34%) and travellers from Asia-Pacific (28%).
“Clearly, travellers are very focused on their hotel loyalty points – they will go to great lengths to get their hands on those benefits. One way of meeting that challenge – short of tougher enforcement – is to let travellers collect points for booking within policy,” ” said David Falter, president, RoomIt by CWT.
What makes business travellers feel unsafe at hotels?
Almost one in three (30%) Asia-Pacific business travellers expressed concerns about safety at hotels, in contrast to 27% travellers from the Americas and 23% of European travellers.
When asked what makes them feel unsafe, exactly half the travellers surveyed said they worry about an intruder breaking into their hotel room. Four in 10 travellers said they worry about hotel staff inadvertently giving out their room key or information to a stranger (41%) or disruptions caused by the actions of other guests (40%). And a third of respondents identified fires (36%) and terrorist attacks (33%) as causes for concern.
What precautions do travellers take to stay safe at hotels?
As expected, the vast majority of travellers (75%) said one of the measures they take to stay safe is keeping their room door locked at all times.
“While most hotel rooms lock automatically, a number of solutions available on the market can provide an added layer of security,” said Falter. “Items such as door wedges, portable door locks and travel door alarms can help a traveller secure their room more effectively.”
More than a third of travellers surveyed (37%) said they take the room key out of key folder so people can’t link the key to the room. Travellers from the Americas (42%) are more likely to do this than those from other regions.
Another tactic is to put the “do not disturb” sign on the door when they leave the room – one adopted by 30% of travellers globally and 35% in Asia Pacific.
Travellers also believe that the floor they stay on can impact their safety and security. Almost a quarter of those surveyed (23%) said they opt for a higher floor when possible, while 15% choose a lower flower. Around two in 10 travellers (21%) said they avoid staying on the ground floor.
“Security experts typically advise staying between the third and sixth floors, where it becomes difficult for an intruder to break in, but you’re still within the reach of most fire departments’ ladders,” added Falter.
Lufthansa Group Airlines has appointed Alain Chisari as vice president sales in Asia Pacific, with effect from September 2018.
Based in Singapore, he will be managing and directing sales activities of the Lufthansa Group Airlines (Lufthansa German Airlines, SWISS and Austrian Airlines) and also Brussels Airlines, in the Asia Pacific region.
The Swiss has held several key positions in the airline industry over the last 20 years.
He previously served as chief commercial officer and management board member at Edelweiss Air, the sister company of Swiss International Air Lines, and prior to that he was head of external relations & alliances and head of leisure sales Switzerland at SWISS.
He also held various positions with Delta Air Lines in Germany, Austria, South Africa and the UK after he had worked in corporate sales functions at British Airways and American Airlines.
Evason Hua Hin in Thailand has appointed Edmond Kwan Che Hang to the role of executive chef.
He will oversee all dining facilities of the resort as it continues to innovate and enhance its menus, intertwining the ethos and philosophy of Blue Lotus, Asia’s premier plant-based learning centre which is located at Evason Hua Hin.
Kwan joins Evason Hua Hin from his previous role at Fusion Resort Phu Quoc, in Vietnam. Prior to that, he spent four years at Kamalaya Koh Samui where he was the executive chef of spa cuisine, specialising in detox and health foods.
The resort will draw upon his more than 20 years of experience across hotels including JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, The Westin Resort Macau, and Bandara Resort and Spa Koh Samui.
Launceston in Tasmania, Australia, has welcomed a new hotel Peppers Silo, the first such development in the city since 2010.
The redeveloped site – from unused grain silos in Kings Wharf – along River Tamar is now a 10-storey hotel featuring 108 guestrooms, including 52 inside the barrels of the former silos, which includes one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Gorge River Room
Amenities at Peppers Silo includes a fully-equipped gym, day spa, child-minding facilities, hairdressing salon, and a restaurant and bar called Grain of the Silos. There are also conference facilities for up to 500 people, as well as private dining rooms available.
An expanding collection of hotels and resorts – particularly in the five-star space – over recent years has facilitated Langkawi’s evolution into a destination favoured by planners of high-end meetings and incentives.
Aerial photo of Langkawi
The St. Regis Langkawi; The Andaman, A Luxury Collection Resort; The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa; Four Seasons Resort Langkawi; Tanjung Rhu Resort Langkawi; Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi; Berjaya Langkawi Resort and The Danna Langkawi all call the Malaysian island home. There are 1,952 five-star guestrooms in Langkawi, making it the island with the biggest inventory of five-star properties in Malaysia.
The 119-key The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, overlooking the Andaman Sea and boasting a 10 million-year-old rainforest backdrop, is the latest five-star brand on the island. Opened on October 1, 2017, the luxury resort welcomes corporate events with its grand ballroom, a venue good for 430 people theatre-style. The pre-function area sits outdoors and offers a majestic view of the rainforest.
Come July this year, The Datai Langkawi will reopen after being closed for major renovations since September last year. With only 121 rooms and a newly refurbished meeting room, this property is keen to capture C-Level meetings and incentives, revealed Aaishah Bohari, its director of marketing & sales.
New additions at the hotel include a nature centre where customised nature talks and walks can be conducted as well as The Dapur, a special area where culinary activities for groups can be arranged.
Aaishah shared that the hotel is seeing “strong corporate incentive demand from the French and German speaking markets of Europe for 4Q2018”.
Beyond hotels and resorts, Langkawi demonstrates its seriousness in courting business events with the opening of the Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC) in 2015. The modern facility is supported by two hotels on site – the 221-key The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa and the 89-key The St. Regis Langkawi.
According to Rajiv Kapoor, general manager of The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa and LICC, the convention centre has welcomed several high-profile meetings and events including the 26th ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Regional Workshop, Amway Korea – Diamond Invitational Special Incentive Trip 2017, and Sports Medicine Australia National Conference 2017.
Rajiv added that The St. Regis Langkawi is also attracting a rising number of C-level executives from China, Hong Kong and Singapore who host their executive meetings in the hotel. These meetings come with wine dinners or cosy bonfire dinner parties with jazz music in the background.
He noted that there is a growing trend among meeting and incentive planners to infuse local experiences into the programme, such as by having a Malaysian theme dinner featuring local entertainment.
Rajiv believes that Langkawi continues to charm top-end meetings and events because of its “serene beauty, clean environment and duty-free status”.
He said: “Langkawi is still natural and not over commercialised.”
Destination specialists are observing the same strong demand.
Luxury Tours Malaysia director, Arokia Das, said his company has recorded more than 25 per cent year-on-year growth in incentive and meeting bookings out of India and Sri Lanka in 2017. RFPs are also strong for 3Q and 4Q2018 from the India subcontinent and the Maldives.
Arokia said: “The luxury properties in Langkawi may be pricier than those in Kuala Lumpur, but when you compare them with similar properties in this region, they are really affordable. Service here is also very professional, which ensures an excellent event.
“Furthermore, many of these properties are committed to supporting the environment and local community, and offer corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. As we are seeing more companies asking for CSR activities to be included in the itinerary, we are working with Langkawi properties to offer such experiences.”
Saini Vermeulen, executive director, Within Earth Holidays, has also seen a year-on-year double-digit growth in demand for incentives to Langkawi from Eastern Europe, Germany, and the Middle Eastern countries of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon.
For European groups, Langkawi is usually twinned with the Malaysian capital city and is featured at the end of the itinerary, which is often multi-destination including Thailand and Cambodia.
Saini added that European clients also “usually conduct their incentive programmes during the off-peak periods of February to April and October to November, to escape the cold in Europe”.
“Langkawi is a popular beach destination for incentive groups as it is not as crowded and busy as Bali and Phuket. It is viewed by Europeans as an exotic destination with a lot of greenery and wildlife. Its UNESCO Global Geopark status is an added bonus,” said Saini.
“Another advantage Langkawi offers is that wherever you stay on the main island, you are never more than 45 minutes away from major attractions,” he said.
In a brilliant show of its event creativity and venue flexibility, the events and banquet team at The Star Grand Gold Coast turned its ballroom into a pretty garden, complete with hanging plants and a large vertical garden that backed its bar.
The Star Grand Gold Coast’s ballroom
The ballroom was the Corporate Hospitality Suite during the recent 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, an exclusive venue reserved for who’s who in the sponsors pool and Games.
Quality nosh was all for guests’ pickings at live food stations, including two very charming charcuterie and cheese stalls that were dressed like the most enthusiastic participants at a local farmer’s market.
Chic furniture – gold wire-frame dining chairs and bar stools and oversized couches – completed the look at the Corporate Hospitality Suite and made the venue a functional, living space.
As an Official Partner of the Games, The Star Grand Gold Coast created 12-days of extensive entertainment at various locations across the property, the most impressive of which was the Celebration Lawn where enormous TV screens broadcasted sports events, live music was performed all evening to give off a festival vibe, and appearances from medal-winning athletes were promised.
Kyoto, Nijo-jo Castle a UNESCO World Heritage site
Dozens of Japan’s most revered and historically important venues are opening up to business events with the help of local authorities and the national government.
Since 2009, new policies have been implemented to make castles and palaces, traditional gardens, natural sites, UNESCO-listed locations and other iconic heritage landmarks across the country available for event hire.
Kyoto, Nijo-jo Castle a UNESCO World Heritage site
These efforts not only provide new venues for business events competing to deliver the most impressive experience, they also bring about two other critical benefits – the promotion of the country’s rich cultural heritage and the provision of funds to maintain these ancient sites.
“We believe that the use of historical sites for events enhances attendees’ experience of Japanese culture, allowing them to interact in traditional landscapes and atmospheres that can only be found in Japan,” said Etsuko Kawasaki, executive director of the Japan Convention Bureau, in an interview with TTGmice.
“In the case of facilities that also operate as tourist attractions, we believe that hosting business events boosts their awareness and popularity, and may inspire attendees to visit again on pleasure trips.
“Revenue from these events sometimes contribute to the preservation and restoration of the sites,” Kawasaki added.
One of the notable heritage venues now available for corporate hire is Kyoto’s Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses a number of national treasures and important cultural properties.
“We hope that planners will take full advantage of the castle’s historical significance and value to create events that will help locals and people from all over the world understand the importance of preserving cultural properties and feel the charm of Kyoto,” said Takumi Kinoshita, head of the castle’s management office.
Besides corporate incentive events and international meetings, Nijo Castle has also hosted art exhibitions, traditional Noh performances, storytelling and film screenings.
“By accepting events like these, we are able to create opportunities for people to visit the castle,” Kinoshita said. “We feel this helps to spread awareness of our history, culture and what makes us appealing.”
And as rental income is channelled into the continued repairs and restoration of the castle, planners and event attendees become valuable contributors to the preservation of the country’s cultural assets.
The importance of the venues, however, means that operators must take the utmost precautions to ensure that event usage does not harm the ancient sites.
“Being an owner operated company gives us some freedom but we have to be very careful to abide by the rules for cultural properties,” said Alex Bradshaw, a spokesman for the UNESCO-listed Sengan-en Japanese garden and stately clan house in Kagoshima.
“Since we are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we have to carefully consider which events to accept and reject,” he said, adding that clear guidelines that are strictly enforced will mitigate damage.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Park Association, which connects planners with the management of several traditional parks in the capital, such as the Kiyosumi and Hamarikyusen, takes careful steps to protect the venues.
“When plans are being drawn up for an event, we will ask for details about the temporary objects that will be installed and make sure that they will not cause any damage, do not change the terrain in any way, leave no holes (in the ground) or so on,” elaborated association official Masayuki Nagata.
Detailed discussions around the use of heritage venues mean that planners will need around six months to prepare for their events, but the outcome is worth the effort, believes Bradshaw.
When asked if pushing Japanese heritage venues for business events would be tantamount to exploiting local culture and history, Bradshaw said: “Traditional culture was generally not conceived to make money – although there are plenty of examples that did – but money is required to keep these sites from falling into disrepair.
“If the sites can be both used and supported, then I don’t see why (using them for business events) would be a bad thing.”
The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok, has launched a new meetings offer entitled Travel Well.
This offer is valid for groups of 40 rooms or more with a minimum stay of two nights and at least one full day meeting or a dinner. Room rates start from 4,600++ baht (US$143++), and double or twin supplement starts from 750++ baht per person.
The Terrace offers panoramic views of the city
The package offers the following inclusions: single accommodation including daily buffet breakfast; a complimentary BTS Skytrain card valued at 200 baht for each delegate; airport fast-track service; round-trip limousine transfers for VIPs; complimentary 30-minute welcome reception; free Wi-Fi in guestrooms and meeting rooms; and one complimentary room night for every 30 paid room nights.
Spanning over 1,725m2, the hotel’s 14 function venues include Altitude, a rooftop space with stunning cityscape views, a Grand Ballroom, meeting rooms, boardrooms, and more.
Travel Well applies to new bookings through July 31, 2018, for stays until 31 March 31, 2019.
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