A collaborative and united business events industry will come together at the Malaysia Business Events Week (MBEW) 2017, to be held from September 11-13, 2017 at One World Hotel, Petaling Jaya.
Themed Our Future by Design: Accelerating Transformation, the event aims to speed up the process of transformation and growth of existing business events industries to help draw even more knowledge and business opportunities to Malaysian shores. This would be the event’s third edition after it was first organised back in 2014.
This year’s Malaysia Business Events Week will be officiated by Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Tourism and Culture Malaysia. Organised by Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia. The event will also serve to create a platform for all stakeholders of the business events industry to converge, communicate and debate issues that impact on the future growth and sustainability of the industry.
Delegates will hear insights from renowned speakers such as Johan Mahmood Merican of the Economic Planning Unit; Leoni Ashford, Tourism New Zealand, Aloysius Arlando from SingEx Holdings and Noor Ahmad Hamid, International Congress and Convention Association, among others, over a three-day period of plenary, breakout sessions and networking events.
For more information and to register for the event, kindly visit http://mbew.com.my/. Registration deadline is Friday, September 8, 2017.
Spa Vilnius offers unique wellness conferences
Spa Vilnius Druskininkai in Lithuania is a health resort situated on the banks of the Nemunas River. It boasts a spa which offers mineral water-based treatment programmes, a four-star hotel, bar, restaurant, leisure centre with bowling and darts, winter garden, and a large conference facility.
The meeting venue offers 10 modern and fully equipped-conference halls, the largest of which can accommodate up to 900 delegates. The property is currently offering meeting planners a Wellness Conference option that encourages enhanced productivity through energetic activities, a healthy diet, and an ergonomic workplace.
Conference participants can benefit from activities like Nordic walking and movement during training, as well tailor-made therapies and spa services. Wellness Conferences also feature special menus, mineral water, and important information on healthy eating.
Air Seychelles launches scenic flights
The Seychelles’ national airline is now offering scenic flights at low altitudes, allowing guests a bird’s-eye view of Seychelles’ main island Mahé and its surrounds.
The 30-minute flights depart from Seychelles International Airport, with two itineraries – North Mahé and South Mahé – available. Available daily between 1330 to 1500, the service is operated on a Twin Otter DHC-6 400 aircraft with 19 seats, of which 11 are window seats.
Flights have to be booked 24 hours in advance and will be sold on a charter basis instead of individual seats.
Air Seychelles is currently working with the travel trade and DMCs to distribute the new product.
Scafform Expo goes to Sin City Scafform Global Expo will debut November 7-9, 2018, in Las Vegas, held alongside Hydropower & Dam Expo. The inaugural show will feature manufacturers and service providers of scaffolding and formwork equipment. It is anticipated that in addition to educational content, there will be demonstrations, and an outside display area.
The show in the US will be managed by ConvExx, an independent tradeshow management company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. New Horizons Global Expo acquired the US and international rights to produce the show from DEMOS, the producer and owner of the International Scaffolding and Formwork Exhibition (known as Scafform Expo), which is held biannually in Istanbul, Turkey.
IMPACT Exhibition Management, which manages the massive IMPACT Muang Thong Thani convention and exhibition centre in Bangkok, Thailand, will bring two new-to-market tradeshows into South-east Asia next year.
In partnership with Messe Hannover, IMPACT will launch CEBIT ASEAN Thailand (October 18-20), a regional edition of CEBIT which is a major tradeshow and conference in Europe that focuses on digitisation.
Loy: always a collaborative approach when it comes to organising exhibitions
IMPACT is also partnering SILMO international, a joint venture company between the French Association SILMO and COMEXPOSIUM Group, to launch SILMO Bangkok (June 20-22), a spinoff from SILMO Paris which is a trade event for the optics and eyewear industry.
In an interview with TTGmice, Loy Joon How, general manager of IMPACT Exhibition Management, said: “They are positioned as regional shows, organised to serve the South-east Asian market. We are expecting a lot of international exhibitors to take part along with a strong regional representation of visitors. We will conduct delegate boosting activities for them. In fact, running alongside both exhibitions will be many related seminars, conferences and workshops (which will then drive participants to the main event).”
“We are looking at launching CEBIT ASEAN Thailand as a 15,000m2 show, while the inaugural SILMO Bangkok will be about 5,000m2,” he added.
When asked if CEBIT ASEAN Thailand and SILMO Bangkok would compete with existing tradeshows, Loy said IMPACT’s approach to show organiser customers has always been a collaborative one.
“These events are new to the market and do not compete with our existing clients. We do not compete and prefer to sit down with our customers to explore how we can collaborate on trade events (we are keen on launching). All the exhibitions that IMPACT does, are not done entirely ourselves. We do them with partners.”
At the same time, Loy shared that IMPACT is in negotiations with a potential partner for an upcoming waterpark onsite.
The waterpark will join IMPACT’s other latest leisure facility, the IMPACT Speed Park karting facility. The latter comes complete with changing rooms, shower facilities, a briefing room, function rooms, and a winners’ podium. IMPACT Speed Park was opened in December 2016.
“Our recreational facilities enable us to offer our customers options to integrate business with pleasure. They can have a complete business and social programme under one roof,” said Loy.
According to Loy, IMPACT Speed Park has been used for teambuilding programmes by many corporate groups that were meeting onsite.
Loy remarked that he is aiming for IMPACT to be seen as an integrated resort, as the complex features four dedicated convention and exhibition centres providing over 140,000m2 of indoor spaces, two hotels – ibis Bangkok IMPACT and Novotel Bangkok IMPACT – and The Portal Lifestyle Complex, a four-storey shopping and lifestyle mall.
Adelaide Convention Centre’s (ACC) East wing was launched last Wednesday in a spectacular fashion which included fireworks, a narrated light show, and South Australia’s State premier appearing by hologram.
The opening completes the end of a nine-year redevelopment project costing almost A$400 million (US$318 million). Its centrepiece is a plenary hall with the world’s largest rotating drums seating 320 people each, a feature demonstrated to more than 500 guests who sat in two auditoriums to experience it revolve 180 degrees towards a stage as the Adelaide Youth Orchestra performed.
ACC was declared open with much fanfare
South Australia’s premier, Jay Weatherill, then appeared in holographic form to start his speech, before turning up in real form to finish it.
The plenary itself provides 3,000m2 of flat floor space for exhibitions or banquets and seats 3,500.
It can also be configured in 15 ways, making it Australia’s most flexible convention space, Simon Burgess, ACC’s director of convention & exhibition sales, told TTGmice.
“Innovation is the key to the future of conferencing,” added Burgess. “I think we’re very much ahead of the curve right now but we’ll need to continue to innovate”.
Burgess: 95 conferences secured so far, wouldn’t have been possible without the expanded wing
The launch of the East wing is part of Adelaide’s wider A$5 billion redevelopment of the city’s Riverbank, Adelaide Oval, the casino and other connected areas.
“(The launch) wasn’t cheap,” said Burgess. “But we want people to know we have a facility here that can accommodate world class conferencing.”
Another highlight of the new space is a sparkling ‘starry night’ aerial backdrop with more than 35,000 fibre optic lights, available for banquet events when the plenary is in flat floor mode.
Currently, 95 major conferences have already been secured for the expanded centre, none of which would have been possible without the new East wing, said Burgess. This includes the International Astronautical Congress which starts on September 25, which will be the largest event ever held in Adelaide in terms of international delegate numbers.
The India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) is expected to complete its restructuring process by the end of this fiscal year. The restructuring will result in ICPB being able to bid for international association events.
“We expect an increase of almost four times the number of association meetings taking place in India once the restructuring process is completed,” enthused Chander Mansharamani, ICPB’s vice chairman.
“We also want state governments to establish their own bureaus so that a corpus can be formed, where 50 per cent of funds can be contributed by the government of India, while the rest of the contribution comes from state governments interested in bidding for an event,” said Suman Billa, ICPB’s chairman and joint secretary of ministry of tourism.
To support this new responsibility, a division will be created to help in the preparation of bid documents and to assist in visa application process.
The restructuring will also involve the hiring of marketing professionals who will participate on ICPB’s behalf in all international tradeshows, and organise roadshows in India.
In addition, ICPB is looking at ways to generate revenue such as by charging local association chapters a fee for compiling bid documents or a visa facilitation fee.
And on top of all that, ICPB intends to engage an agency that can help it gauge the total number of business events taking place, their economic benefit, and how to grow the segment for India.
“We already have invited companies to express their interest. We expect the process to be competed in the next two months,” added Mansharamani.
Meanwhile, the ministry of tourism is looking to have a mechanism in place to reflect the number of business event arrivals, as well as easing the process of obtaining conference visas. An option, according to the National Institution for Transforming India think tank, was to add conference visas to India’s e-visa facility.
“We have requested the government to simplify the process of getting conference visas, as many conference delegates tended to visit the country on a tourist visa (which is easier to obtain),” shared Billa.
Hanoi-headquartered Asia DMC has launched a business events division to handle corporate events and incentives in Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.
The division will be led by Subhash Chandar, in the position of business development manager – MICE. He will report to Asia DMC’s group managing director Linh Le.
Chandar: market shift to more creative and smaller events
The division was created following demand from the booming economies in China and India, where companies are looking for highly personalised events for senior executives and top achievers.
“MICE is not new to us,” said Chandar. “We can handle large and medium sized events – but we are also seeing a market shift as demand increases too for more personalised, creative events that are smaller in scale.”
The company will leverage on its expertise and long-term supplier relationships to deliver events managed by on-the-ground teams focusing on destinations like Angkor Wat, Bagan and Halong Bay. Unique venues include Terrace of the Elephants in Angkor Thom in Angkor Wat, which can hold up to 400 delegates; island dining on Ban Chan Beach in Halong Bay for up to 100 delegates; and dining at Ho Chi Minh City’s Reunification Palace for up to 500 delegates.
In the past year, Asia DMC has handled numerous large groups, such as a 350-pax group from Volvo Eicher which headed to Siem Reap for Eicher Go Pro, and a 200-delegate incentive for Godrej India to Ho Chi Minh City.
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has inked a management contract with Phu Quoc Tourist Investment & Development JS Company to develop the Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc.
The signing marks the second resort in Vietnam for the group, following Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh Bay, slated to open in 2018.
Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc’s lobby
Scheduled to open in 4Q2017, Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc will have 522 rooms and suites, as well as a casino – the first in Vietnam to permit domestic entry. Facilities include an all-day dining and bar option that will serve international cuisine, fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool, spa and VIP lounge.
Located a 27km drive away from Phu Quoc International Airport, the new-build hotel is also part of an integrated resort that includes a convention centre, safari park, theatre, water park, retail stores, multiple restaurants and a 27-hole golf course.
ITB Asia 2017 has sold out ahead of its 10th anniversary show this October, which organisers attribute to a surge in booth bookings from the global market.
The growth in exhibitor numbers is led by BRICS economies, among which South Africa (+200 per cent), Russia (+183 per cent) and Brazil (+100 per cent) pave the trend, while China also expanded its presence at ITB Asia by 31 per cent this year.
The Finland booth at last year’s ITB Asia 2016
In particular, a 25 per cent increase is seen from Africa, with Tunisia and Rwanda set to make their debut at the show this year, joining Kenya Tourism Board and other African exhibitors from Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Sudan.
European exhibitors grew 23 per cent, led by the Greek National Tourism Organisation and Spain Tourism Board, while exhibitors from the Balkan Peninsula are also increasing in numbers.
In addition, Scandinavian markets have marked a 21 per cent growth as leading markets such as Finland and Norway show stronger exhibitor demand.
Promote Iceland will make its ITB Asia debut this year, in addition to other first-time exhibitors such as Brazil’s Rio Convention and Visitor Bureau, the Moscow City Government and an African Pavilion.
Meanwhile, Asian participation remains strong, contributing to 60 per cent of exhibiting companies, with strong showing seen from South Korea (+112 per cent) and Japan (+89 per cent).
Organised by Messe Berlin and supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Exhibition Bureau, ITB Asia 2017 will take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands from October 25-27.
The benefits of collaboration in every industry are well-known, though the extent and success of doing so depends on multiple practical and political realities.
In the business events world, national (such as SACEOS), regional (such as AFECA) and global (such as the PCMA) associations exist, each courting their own set of members. All of them aim to develop the industry by possessing a stronger collective voice.
Effective collaborations will have associations working closely to address common challenges
However, in a business landscape where increased competition leads to firms being less picky about the type of events managed, it makes less sense for businesses or individuals to be part of several associations – each representing a specialised aspect of the business events industry, which in its essence is “aggregator” industry.
One thing for sure, getting together will have the usual benefits such as economies of sale and scope, providing members with more benefits at lower costs. The corollary might be the usual politics and pains of collaboration, but the gains far outweigh challenges if these associations truly exist to serve industry and members, instead of narrow interests.
One common issue faced by business events industry associations is the difficult to grow memberships, attract sponsorships, develop and market content profitably, and create meaningful and profitable events, often for a similar set of audiences.
Effective collaborations should see associations working closely together to address these common challenges at a strategic level, beyond the piecemeal support given from event to event.
As a business owner invited to be part of different associations in the industry, a fundamental manifestation of such a collaboration might be in the form of paying for a core membership and a “rider” to enjoy limited or full benefits from partner associations.
This will result in a win-win-win situation.
1. Associations win by gaining members they would not have otherwise, with incremental revenues, and a stronger voice. More benefits may be offered to members at less cost and effort in a virtuous cycle of growth. More members imply more reach and potential revenue sources, while encouraging associations to streamline duplicated efforts and events.
2. Members win by having access to a related but wider range of benefits and networks without having to pay several full memberships, as overlaps do not make sense.
3. Industry wins as this pragmatic approach encourages more strategic collaborations between the various associations that exist. In addition, more industry involvement from the ground up also aids in efforts to set standards and share best practices, especially important for a relatively fragmented industry to have a stronger collective voice to fight common industry ills, and prevent client abuses.
Complex as it might seem, it is hoped that given the benefits, associations will unite to overcome any organisational challenges that exist in the better service of their common stakeholders and industry.
Daniel Chua is the chief executive of Aonia, a client enabler through Events that Engage, Energise and Empower worldwide. Aonia specialises in serving MNCs in the pharmaceutical, finance and technology sectors.
Actively involved in the business events industry since 1999, Chual has a global network of business events partners, and has an extensive knowledge of hotels and venues in major cities that are most suited to client needs.
Carlson Wagonlit Travel has appointed Michael Ryan as managing director for Australia and New Zealand. Based in Sydney, Ryan has more than 20 years of business development and management experience across a range of industries. He joins from American Express’ Merchant Services division.
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.
