TTGmice and Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) are launching the Best Business Events Print Advertisement Award to recognise business events industry suppliers with the most attractive and memorable print advertisement.
The contest is open to all participating business events suppliers (excluding PCEB and BE @ Penang sponsors) at the conference this December.
To participate, applicants are required to submit their best print advertisement visual in high-resolution PDF and a 100-word campaign story to karen.yue@ttgasia.com by November 7, 2017, 17.00 Singapore time.
Three shortlisted entries will vie for attendee votes when the BE @ Penang opens on December 7. The entry with the most votes will win the campaign lead a staycation in Singapore.
Campaign leads of the three shortlisted entries will also do a five-minute presentation of their entry and its back-story during the conference.
The winner, determined by TTGmice and PCEB, will win his/her company the grand prize of a regular TTGmice advertising space worth up to US$14,500.
Shizuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is hoping to attract more international business events and alter its current business mix which is heavily tilted towards domestic events.
Taichiro Ishida, head, MICE promotion section with the bureau, told TTGmice in an interview: “International groups number only a few a year. What Shizuoka gets are mainly groups from the domestic market.”
Shizuoka City’s David Rinehart (second from left) and Shizuoka CVB’s Taichiro Ishida (first from right) and their colleagues
Ishida said the destination’s low profile in the international market was the cause.
“We’re an hour from Tokyo, so it’s not one of the places that are really far away. We have enough Japanese visitors, but people overseas don’t know Shizuoka. That’s why we want to expand our field and make ourselves known,” lamented David Rinehart, coordinator for international relations, MICE & International Affairs Division, Shizuoka City.
Ishida revealed that Shizuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau is targeting meetings and incentive travel buyers in China and the South-east Asian markets of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The city is also gradually opening up unique event venues such as the historical building in Yui Honjin Park, to pique the interest of international event planners. Previously used as a museum, the historical building can now be used for outdoor parties or night cocktail events.
As well, Shizuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau will be joining a Japan National Tourism Organization event next March 2018, and is planning to take part in ITB Asia next year.
However, the bureau is hoping to lure medium-sized groups of no more than 400 delegates.
Rinehart explained: “We have no big chain hotels such as Marriott or Hyatt. Our biggest hotel can accommodate 250 people in one night, while another with the best views can accommodate only 150 people. The city is limited in size, so we have to aim low.”
An example of an ideal group Rinehart gave was a US-based neurological international society group that was looking to hold a small conference in Shizuoka. It would bring 100 people who would stay for four nights.
The Japanese city will also welcome two medium-sized incentive travel groups in 2018 – a 60-pax group from Thailand arriving in February 2018, and a 30-pax group from Taiwan the following month.
Thanks to the efforts of the Korea MICE Bureau (KMB), division of the Korea Tourism Organization, over 30,000 Taiwanese corporate travellers will be visiting South Korea in 2H2017.
This comes after KMB concluded two business events roadshows earlier this year in Taipei (July 11) and Kaohsiung (July 13), where around 300 Taiwanese business events and tourism industry leaders had the opportunity to network with their Korean counterparts. Aside from meetings and presentations, each night featured Korean-themed dining, entertainment, and cultural experience programmes.
South Korea is the fourth most-visited overseas destination for Taiwanese travellers; Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan pictured
Leads from these roadshows are come to fruition.
From August to November, 10,000 employees – in groups of about 2,000 people – of a major Taiwanese catering firm will be visiting Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province on a five-day tour.
In addition, South Korea will also be hosting 27,568 employees – in groups of 1,000 – from one of Taiwan’s largest financial groups. Their five-day itinerary includes trips to Busan, Suncheon, and Yeosu between August and October.
Highlights for both parties include stays in prominent business hotels, trying local delicacies, and exploring popular attractions. Delegates can expect to savour samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), try on a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) in Seoul, ride on scenic rail bike courses, and sightsee at Camp Greaves, the filming location of smash-hit TV drama Descendants of the Sun.
The KMB is providing various forms of support to enhance each visit, including free or discounted admission for certain venues or rental equipment, complimentary cultural performances, and more. Additional support for transportation and accommodation is being provided by local provinces and cities.
In 2016, 883,465 Taiwanese travellers visited South Korea (up 60.8 per cent from the previous year).
Encouraged by “remarkable growth and potential” in its business events performance, second-tier Chinese city Hangzhou is furthering its steps onto the global business events stage by launching business events training for local practitioners and a service centre to gun for hosting rights of international meetings.
The new MICE Talent Program brings experienced PCOs from abroad and across China to Hangzhou where they provided special training for the city’s business events stakeholders in a bid to raise their level of professionalism to global standards. This in turn will encourage leading conference organisers to host their events in Hangzhou.
Hangzhou finds its footing on the global MICE stage
In June, Hangzhou city government also established the Hangzhou International Meeting Bidding Service Center, an organisation that partners local companies, organisations and convention ambassadors to provide bidding services for international association conferences and other meetings.
In addition, the city is also doing more to get target planners to experience the best of Hangzhou.
The recently-concluded Hangzhou, Inspiring New Connections event brought international PCOs to the city where they participated in a programme comprising interactive experiences and site visits suitable for business events. Some of the activities included visits to the China National Silk Museum, cruises on West Lake, tea-picking in Longjing Village and yacht racing.
At the end of the event, a banquet and sharing session was held at Hangzhou International Expo Center, the main venue of the G20 summit.
The Hangzhou Tourism Commission also ran a parallel event in Paris, France, where two pop-up venues were set up to give European-based conference organisers a chance to experience the Chinese city without leaving the continent.
The 28th annual TTG Travel Awards 2017 has named 82 outstanding travel and tourism stars last Thursday in Bangkok.
Eighteen new winners have emerged across various categories, taking home the signature Hermes trophy for the first time. Debuting winners include Mandara Spa, and Sands Expo and Convention Centre Marina Bay Sands who have successfully claimed titles that were dominated by long-time winners, taking the honour of the Best Spa Operator and Best Convention & Exhibition Centre respectively.
Indonesian tourism minister Arief Yahya, Marina Bay Sands’ Ailynn Seah, and TTG’s Darren Ng at the awards
Other first-time winners who made their way into the TTG Travel Awards include American Airlines Group Inc., Hainan Airlines Holding Co., The Siam, Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau, and Oneday Korea Tours and Travel.
They are among the 52 award-winners across Travel Supplier and Travel Agency categories that were voted in by the travel trade industry, comprising majority TTG Asia, TTG China, TTG India, TTGmice, TTG- BTmice China, TTGassociations and TTG Asia Luxury readers.
Outstanding Achievement Award recipients handpicked by TTG’s editorial team for exceptional contributions as industry role-models are, Peter Bellew, CEO of Malaysia Airlines Berhad, as Travel Personality of the Year; Indonesia as Destination of the Year; Thomas Cook India Group as Travel Entrepreneur of the Year; Tourism Authority of Thailand for Best Travel Marketing Effort and Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas as Most Sustainable Travel Company. All are first-time winners to these titles.
The complete list of BT-MICE Award winners are:
Cathay Pacific Airways for Best Airline – Business Class
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok for Best Business Hotel
Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld for Best Meetings & Conventions Hotel
Singapore for Best BT-MICE City
Sands Expo and Convention Centre Marina Bay Sands for Best Convention & Exhibition Centre
Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau for Best Convention & Exhibition Bureau
Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Grab have struck a partnership which will see the integration of their mobile apps to offer convenience to customers travelling to the airport in six South-east Asian countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
SIA customers can now book Grab rides through the SingaporeAir mobile app. Customers using the app will see an option to book a Grab ride to the airport seven days before their scheduled flight. Selecting this option will direct customers to the Grab app, where they can choose to order a Grab ride to the airport on demand or in advance. The airport will be automatically listed as the destination, so the user simply fills in the pick-up point and desired time.
Members of SIA’s KrisFlyer and Grab’s GrabRewards programmes will enjoy additional benefits under the partnership, where GrabRewards members have the option to convert their GrabRewards points into KrisFlyer miles.
Environmental experts to gather in Portorož in 2019
The 6th European Conference on Environmental Applications of Advanced Oxidation Processes (EAAOP-6) will take place from June 26-30, 2019, at the Grand Hotel Bernardin Convention Center in Portorož-Portorose, Slovenia.
The event will bring together 300 scientists and engineers from all over the world to present their findings and discuss future trends and directions concerning various environmental applications of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).
A student paper contest will be also held as an integral part of this event, as well as an exhibition of scientific and process equipment and other materials.
Sandton and Gauteng land bid to host Meetings Africa
Gauteng Province and its Sandton Convention Centre (SCC) in Johannesburg have won their bid to host Meetings Africa for the next five years. The venue had previously hosted the event for 12 years, and next year’s edition will take place on February 26-28.
Eighteen African countries were represented at Meetings Africa 2017, which attracted 298 exhibitors, 177 international hosted buyers, 57 African association hosted buyers, and 126 local corporate hosted buyers.
NH Marseille Palm Beach opens
Standing in La Joliette – the new business district of Marseille in France – is the four-star NH Marseille Palm Beach. Offering 176 rooms in an historical Haussmanian building, meeting facilities include 12 naturally-lit meeting rooms, as well as a 322-pax auditorium with sea views.
Aside from recreational facilities such as a private pool overlooking the sea and a fitness centre on the sixth floor, the property also boasts Spanish restaurant Tablafina, Mediterranean eatery La Reserve, a cocktail bar in the lobby, and a winter garden where drinks and snacks are served.
As the use of sharing-economy suppliers such as Uber, Airbnb, Grab and Lyft becomes increasingly prevalent, travel managers are beginning to integrate them into their corporate travel programmes.
“Even though they weren’t included in my company’s corporate programme, our travellers were already using companies like Uber,” said Adriana Nainggolan, travel programme manager, APAC, Autodesk.
The sharing economy is booming
“These companies are providing additional solutions for companies that need more cost-effective travel programmes.”
The “undeniable” benefits, listed Nainggolan, were cost savings, legitimate market presence, and resource-friendly business practices.
For United Spirits Limited in India, employees often have to travel to remote areas in the country where public transport is not an option. Compared to private rentals and taxis, local car hire company Ola turned up “huge cost savings” of “one-third the rate”, shared Jani Jermans, consultant – mobility & wellness, United Spirits.
Before incorporating Ola into its travel programme, Jermans first gleaned feedback from employees who used the service, and ensured the service promised and provided several guarantees.
These include having all employees’ email addresses tied to the corporate account, conducting an education session for the employees to ensure they correctly log their corporate rides using a drop-down menu, having a team account manager to provide round-the-clock support, as well as an SOS service in case of emergencies.
United Spirits is currently looking to incorporate Ola and Uber into its corporate travel programme, said Jermans.
In the hospitality sphere, Airbnb has also conducted “many dialogues with corporate clients to offer business-ready apartments and properties”, said Stephenie Lee, business development director of FCM Travel Solutions.
Business-ready rentals include assurances such as laptop-friendly stations, high-speed Wi-Fi connection, full private apartment rental, flexible cancellation policies and high-ranking hosts, noted Lee.
She shared an instance of a client that once spent “near A$30 million (US$23.6 million)” on domestic travel expenses, a high percentage of which went into long hotel stays and non-flexible travelling dates.
She continued: “When Airbnb became popular, professors and staff started to book (apartments) on their own – there was no control. We had a conversation with them (about it), and as a TMC, we decided to provide a solution – we will book it for them.”
Lee established a special arrangement with Airbnb to allow them to book on behalf of individuals using their account, which could be switched between personal and business profiles.”
Li Lei, founder of Youli Consulting, opined that sharing economies like Airbnb “still have a lot of space to improve” for business travel, maintaining that hotels still have a stronghold with corporate comforts like a meeting lounge, a gym and ironing board.
He said: “They can learn from hotel chains and make their service standards more concise and consistent.”
It is a toss-up between Malaysia and the Philippines to host the 2026 World Congress of Applied Linguistics, said the International Association of Applied Linguistics’ (AILA) secretary general Christina Gitsaki.
AILA held the most recent edition of its triennial congress in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro in July this year, and has decided on South-east Asia for its 2026 gathering. The last time the congress was held in South-east Asia, was in Singapore in 2002.
A speaker at ALIA in Rio de Janeiro
As it searches for its next venue in the region, Gitsaki said the main consideration was finding a large convention centre with 30 to 35 breakout rooms and a plenary hall to accommodate the targeted turnout of 1,500 to 2,000 delegates.
“Many centres are built for exhibitions and include a large exhibition space but not many breakout rooms. We want a small exhibition space and many breakout rooms.”
Other criteria include three-, four- and five-star hotels within walking distance to the convention centre, or a good public transport system allowing delegates to travel conveniently back and forth.
AILA is open to having the congress outside the capital city too, as long as the main criteria are met.
“It is good if the convention centre adopts green practices, but is it is not as important a consideration as the (aforementioned) criteria,” Gitsaki added.
AILA’s world congress is the largest event in applied linguistics, bringing together researchers and practitioners from all areas of the field for five days.
Different parts of the world are chosen for the different editions of the congress to reflect the association’s global character, TTGmice understands.
A gala dinner that features seven rare vintage champagnes paired with a curated musical programme of opera, jazz, classic vinyl pieces, dances, and Michelin-inspired dishes will soon be an experience available to those looking to impress the crème de la crème of their business partners.
Aptly named The Ultimate Champagne Dinner, the idea was developed by Athikom Jeerapairotekun, managing director of Thailand-based Premier Incoming Group Services – PIGS DMC.
Delegates emerging from the ASEAN MICE Forum at IT&CMA for their coffee break were surprised by an opera performance by Grand Opera Thailand’s Stefan Sanchez (centre), a fun stunt by Premier Incoming Group Services – PIGS DMC for the launch of its new luxury dinner event idea. Photo: Richard Caleb Lai
The Ultimate Champagne Dinner was launched on September 26 at IT&CMA 2017, through a surprise opera performance by Stefan Sanchez, CEO of Grand Opera Thailand and impresario during a morning coffee break. Sanchez is also the curator of The Ultimate Champagne Dinner’s musical programme.
“This is the Rolls Royce of dinners. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event and, due to the scarcity of the vintage champagnes, it is not for everyone and is reserved for a very exclusive and extra special occasion,” remarked Athikom.
While Athikom declined to state the price range for this idea, David Barrett, CEO of Hype Global, who represents PIGS DMC as its publicity agent, revealed that one of the vintage champagne costs a whopping 50,000 baht (US$1,507) per bottle.
To complete the exclusive experience promised by The Ultimate Champagne Dinner, Athikom recommends that a “flexible and fabulous” venue be used.
“Our preferred venues would be Nai Lert Heritage Home in central Bangkok. We also have a couple of palaces and historic landmarks that we can open doors to. (Beyond) the capital, we would love to arrange this at The Slate in Phuket or at 137 Pillars or Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai,” he said.
The event ideally takes 12 to 16 guests, or up to 32 people. PIGS DMC is able to execute the event in other destinations, and is in talks with clients who have requested for Vietnam, Cambodia and Dubai.
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
Shizuoka City’s David Rinehart (second from left) and Shizuoka CVB’s Taichiro Ishida (first from right) and their colleagues
Indonesian tourism minister Arief Yahya, Marina Bay Sands’ Ailynn Seah, and TTG’s Darren Ng at the awards
