The PCMA Education Foundation honoured three industry stars with 2018 Lifetime Achievement Awards and revealed winners of the 2018 Professional Excellence Awards last week on May 2.
More than 1,000 leaders in the business events industry attended the industry recognition event at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC.
“(The) honourees and finalist each in his or her own way, has pushed the boundaries of their roles and harnessed innovation to advance their organisations and the business events industry,” said PCMA President & CEO, Sherrif Karamat. “They are the best of the best, and their accomplishments inspire industry veterans and novices alike.”
It is known that event registration is very labour intensive and time consuming, and for most event managers it is the one function of event management that they would want to outsource or automate.
Global event management software providers such as Cvent, SignUpGenius, Event Espresso etc. are all considered giants in their field when it comes to events happening outside of China, or events that may not target Chinese Mainland attendees.
Mobile payment platforms are important if an event organiser wants to attract Mainland Chinese attendees
But for events that do want the attention of Chinese Mainlanders, event management software must incorporate mobile payment platforms such as Wechat or Alipay.
According to a survey conducted by Ipsos in 2017, about 77 per cent of Chinese people use mobile payment services.
Statistics from the Payment and Clearing Association of China show that from 2013 to 2016, the number of transactions made through non-banking mobile apps increased from 3.7 billion to more than 97 billion.
In Hong Kong, where mobile payment’s penetration rate isn’t as high as that in China, these global event management software giants still have a competitive edge.
However, with more and more events in Hong Kong targeting attendees from the mainland, integration of event management software with Wechat or Alipay is now the bare minimum requirement for organisers to capture sponsors and attendees.
The global event management software market was valued at US$6.89 billion in 2017 and is projected to reach a value of US$12.51 billion by 2023, with much of the growth coming from China.
So why aren’t event management software providers flocking to form partnerships with Tencent or Alibaba? Perhaps it has something to do with their level of commitment in offering tailor-made solutions to Chinese clients. Most global firms value China as a market. Some may even have ambitious development plans for capturing the expected handsome growth in China’s business events sector.
However, the typical headquarter mindset is to bring as much revenue back from China as possible, while the correct approach is to show commitment to the Chinese market by investing capital, forming joint ventures, and going through the trouble of getting all the necessary licenses to not only accept the Chinese yuan but also the privilege to transfer funds across the border.
It is a lot more work and the process can be painful, but the reward can very handsome.
With over 20 years of regional event management experience in Asia, Roy Ying has held senior marketing communication roles in listed companies and organisations such as a trade & invest promotion agency, a chamber of commerce, and a professional institution. In addition to his current role as the senior corporate communications manager for a major blue chip company in Hong Kong, Ying is also a blogger, part-time lecturer and a contributing author to MICE magazines.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has appointed Raymond Chan as regional director, South-east Asia.
In his new role, Chan will lead the development and implementation of HKTB’s marketing strategies in the South-east Asian region. He will be based in Singapore, and takes over from Simon Wong.
Prior to this appointment, Chan was the senior manager, trade development for the South-east Asia region for the HKTB.
Chan joined HKTB in 2012 and has held different senior positions for marketing, public relations and trade development in Taiwan and the South-east Asia region.
Dusit Thani Hua Hin has appointed Pipat Patthananusorn as general manager.
A Thai national, Pipat brings with him more than 22 years of managerial experience in luxury hotel chains since starting his career in the sales department of Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok. Spells with Royal Orchid Sheraton, Four Seasons and Anantara Siam followed, serving as the executive assistant manager of the latter. He also had a stint as general manager of Pacific World Bangkok.
In 2008, he was elected to the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association’s executive board of directors as co-chairperson of the service development committee, a position he still holds.
If luxury event space in a choice location, bespoke service and stylish elegance rank high on the checklist, then the 491-room luxury hotel on West Beijing Road – in the cultural and business centre of the Jingan district – is a contender.
St Regis Drawing Room
Concept
Opened in May 2017, in time for ILTM China, the hotel organised a flow-around party and threw open its F&B outlets to luxury buyers attending the show. With 14 meeting spaces, totalling more than 3,000m2, of which the largest measures 1,400m2, it was the perfect opportunity to showcase its business events capabilities and mount an impressive debut.
MICE application
The exquisitely designed 1,400m2 open floor plan Astor Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 1,300 guests and is adjoined by a 368m2 foyer, makes it the biggest space in Jingan and among the top three in Puxi. The investment in the ballroom’s 95m2 LED wall projection system gives event planners the ability to create dazzling visuals and entertainment.
During its 2017 ILTM China coming-out party, the hotel closed off its second floor which houses Chinese restaurant Yan Ting, Japanese restaurant Seki-Tei and Bespoke – its contemporary international cuisine restaurant offering a tailor-made menu using seasonal ingredients – which became the after-party venue. Downstairs, live music wafted around the lobby and into Social, its international buffet restaurant.
If an event calls for an intimate space, the exquisite Drawing Room – with its beautiful teardrop chandelier – needs no other embellishment. Likewise, the St Regis Bar, serving more than 50 handcrafted cocktails – including the Mary Jing, its version of the Bloody Mary, which was invented at The St Regis New York – is another ready-to-use thematic venue.
Service
The attentive staff just seem to know how to make guests feel at home. I wandered into the Drawing Room one day, sat down to check my iPhone and it was nice to be offered a glass of warm water – it was cold outside – when I did not wish to order anything to drink.
The ancient walls of Galle Fort are now a landmark loved by visitors
Sri Lanka’s quiet southern coast appears to beckon corporate incentive planners looking for a novel destination with plentiful activities and memorable properties.
The ancient walls of Galle Fort are now a landmark loved by visitors
Ravinder Gairola, deputy general manager of Orange DMC, opined that destinations located along the southern and south-western coastline, are particularly attractive for corporate meetings and incentive groups new to Sri Lanka.
Orange DMC handles leisure and corporate groups to India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Explaining his observations, Ravinder said the southern and south-western regions make convenient bases from which groups can explore Sri Lanka’s main tourism gems – its safaris such as Yala National Park, beaches and pumping waves, and the historic fortified city of Galle.
Ziyan Ameen, destination manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives with Pacific World, agrees that the Southern coast is a hit with corporate groups, largely due to easy access via the Southern Expressway – a 126km route that links Colombo with major cities Galle and Matara in the south. Destinations along the coast also throws up beach and culture activity options.
Ziyan shared that his team has brought corporate groups from Australia and Singapore to the southern coast, with itineraries featuring teambuilding activities in Galle and village tours with traditional games, farm house visits and lunch.
Ravinder pointed out that different destinations along the coastline cater to groups with varying budgets, with Hikkaduwa, Waskaduwa and Ahungalla areas along the south-western coast having more affordable resorts with events capabilities, while Tangalle and Kalutara being more suited for high-end corporate incentives.
Ravinder added: “Tangalle and Kalutara are known for their secluded beaches, and in recent times have welcomed some luxury hotels. Small-sized corporate incentive groups will appreciate these two destinations because there are properties that are not built for big MICE groups, and are pricier than those in other parts of the coastal region.”
Companies should expect to pay US$300 to US$400 per room night for a five-star hotel in Tangalle and Kalutara during the low to mid-season, and up to US$500 or US$600 for the high season, Ravinder advised.
So far, high-end incentive requests to Orange DMC for the southern coast are mostly from the UK. The rest of its corporate bookings are from other parts of the world, with India and China being its biggest source markets.
“We have an Orange specialist based in Taiwan. We have a good reach into the Chinese markets, and our efforts are supported by a Chinese staff sitting in our Sri Lanka office,” said Ravinder.
Giles Selves, area general manager for Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Anantara Kalutara Resort and AVANI Kalutara Resort – all located at the bottom of the teardrop-shaped island – believes that “there is massive potential for growth” in Sri Lanka’s business events sector and his properties are “at the forefront of driving that”.
He explained: “There aren’t many hotels of our size here with an international brand. There are some local brands that have done an excellent job, but having an international brand puts a different slant on things. Our global sales network has a wider reach than the local chains, which allows us to get to key source markets and tell them about our product and the destination.
“As well, Anantara has a strong reputation in many markets. Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort, for instance, gets a lot of business events, while Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara does a lot of corporate incentives.”
Selves shared that his three properties have enjoyed “successful” business. AVANI Kalutara Resort has been in operations for five years while Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort and Anantara Kalutara Resort (see review next page) opened more recently in December 2015 and mid-2017 respectively.
Since its opening, Anantara Kalutara Resort has had buyouts in 2017, and 1Q2018 was reportedly a busy one, with “a very big incentive in April, taking a thousand room nights” as well as “over half a dozen resort buyouts”.
But for the southern region – and the whole of Sri Lanka – to do better in the business events space, Selves said a stronger destination brand was needed.
He said: “Now that there are more international hotels coming into Sri Lanka, there will be wider awareness of Sri Lanka as a destination. But to promote a destination, efforts must be government-led, because the economics of such work do not stack up for the private sector.”
Hairul Maharis has been named general manager of Mövenpick Hotel & Convention Centre KLIA, a Sharia-compliant property scheduled to open in mid-2018 near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
A Malaysian native, Maharis boasts a strong background in the management of airport hotels, having previously overseen the Tune Hotel klia2 and, most recently, ISG Airport Hotel in Istanbul.
Over the course of his 25-year-long career, the seasoned hospitality professional has also worked with brands including Le Méridien, Sheraton and Best Western.
Event brief
Local DMC Discovery Overland Holidays (DOH) was given 1.5 years lead time to organise an incentive programme in Penang, Malaysia, for 265 of Amway of Australia & New Zealand’s top achievers.
Welcome reception at 32 Mansion
The DMC was to create a seamless experience, from meet and greet at the airport up until the group’s departure. The programme had to include sightseeing tours, meals, entertainment and various workshops.
Challenges
The event was to be held two weeks after Penang experienced flash floods in early November, no thanks to a 17-hour non-stop downpour. The event organiser was concerned about the safety of the delegates and considered cancelling the event.
Another challenge was helping the 60-odd delegates who arrived on the 17.10 flight from Singapore to clear immigration quickly so that they would have time to freshen up in their rooms at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang, and still be on time for the welcome reception at 19.30. There were other international flights arriving at the same time which created a queue at the Immigration counters.
Another challenge was to ensure that on day four, the branded Achievers Dine-around went smoothly. This fine-dining experience involved seating 265 delegates at eight different restaurants, in various locations around the city.
Delegates had to be shuttled to the various dining experiences from Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, where pre-dinner drinks were served along with cultural entertainment. DOH also only had 20 minutes to get all 265 delegates moving.
The challenge was to coordinate the transfers to ensure everyone arrived at the different venues around the same time, as the first course was to be served at around 20.00, and the entire meal was to be completed in 2.5 hours later. DOH also had to ensure that the dietary requirements of all delegates were met.
Solution
Lex Lam, director of sales at Discovery Overland Holidays, recalled: “To reassure the organiser after the flash floods, our staff sent daily weather updates, as well as pictures of clear skies and street scenes to show that things were normal and it was safe to proceed with the event.”
While there was heavy rain during the welcome reception, it did not dampen the mood at 32 Mansion, which had photos of Penang landmarks and attractions projected onto the front of the building, supplied by the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau.
“Upon arrival at the airport, we had staff waiting at the aerobridge to greet delegates as they entered the airport terminal. Noticing a long queue at the immigration counters when the third batch of participants arrived, our quick thinking staff requested for two special counters that was opened only for Amway delegates. This helped to create a special arrival experience,” Lam said.
“Prior to the group’s arrival, we received a list of dietary requirements from all delegates, as well as their choice of restaurant for the Dine-Around dinner experience. We trained the waiting staff in all of the eight restaurants on how to greet delegates, and how we wanted to have the food served,” he added.
As serving staff would have to take a delegate’s order for their choice of main course, different coloured stickers were placed on their chairs to help waiters serve main courses correctly. This also helped to adhere to the various dietary requirements.
Delegates left in batches for the various restaurants from Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, with those travelling furthest leaving first. This was done so that everyone could arrive at their designated restaurant at around the same time.
Key takeaways
Lam recalled that having a back-up plan was important. For instance, the sightseeing itinerary to Penang Hill had to be scrapped as the road leading to Penang Hill was closed due to road maintenance after the flash flood. Instead, delegates were taken to Tropical Fruit Farm, Tropical Spice Garden and Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm.
Another takeaway was the need to work closely with the organiser to further enhance the delegate experience.
Event:Amway Achievers Penang 2017 Organiser: Amway of Australia & New Zealand Destination: Penang Date: November 21-25, 2017 Number of participants: 265
Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur has recently unveiled a meetings and accommodation package, priced at MYR625++ (US$159++) per delegate.
Available until December 29, 2018, the Essential Meetings package includes one night’s accommodation in a deluxe room and a full-day meeting package, including light breakfast, lunch, two coffee breaks and use of a meeting venue from 09.00 to 17.00.
The Topaz Room on Level 2
The package also comprises the free use of standard audiovisual equipment and LCD projector, Wireless Internet access, one complimentary breakout room, and one room upgrade to the next category for every 15 rooms booked, or a Park Suite upgrade for every 30 rooms booked.
The package is valid for single occupancy only, and is subject to availability. A 10 per cent service charge, six per cent GST and RM10 (US$2.50) Tourism Tax for non-Malaysian guests will apply.
In order to effectively manage a constantly growing portfolio of events, UFI has reorganised roles and responsibilities within the Paris headquarters.
Jana Hofmann has moved from the events manager role, and is now UFI’s programme manager. In her new role, Hofmann will focus on event content and production and will be the main project lead for the UFI Global Congress.
From left: Karen Cohen; Jana Hofmann
Karen Cohen has joined the UFI team as events manager. She takes over from Hofmann and will manage UFI’s event activities.
Cohen brings to the team her broad experience in event management and operations, notably in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining UFI, for the past 10 years, she was responsible for the events department at the Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel. She was also a member of the Advisory Board Event Management Marriott Europe.
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