Following an NZ$12 million (US$8.3 million) refurbishment, Mecure Wellington has been rebranded into the Grand Mecure Wellington, a flagship property.
Overlooking the city’s Cuban Quarter, all guestrooms and suites have undergone a makeover and now feature 49-inch TVs, Bose sound systems and rainshowers in the ensuites. As well, three additional executive guestrooms have been added, bringing the total number of rooms to 114.
Facilities on the property include free Wi-Fi, six pillarless meeting spaces, a 12m-long indoor heated swimming pool and gym (to open mid-2017). As well, a new standalone restaurant, the Forage Kitchen + Bar – which incorporates a nose-to-tail and flower-to-root philosophy – has been added.
Grand Mercure Wellington joins a network of over 40 Grand Mercure hotels in the Asia-Pacific Region.
The capital city has a successful track record in attracting and hosting large-scale congresses
Over the past few years, Malaysia has emerged as a popular destination for international leisure and business travellers. We are seeing more and more international organisers selecting Malaysia as the destination for conferences and meetings – more commonly known now as business events.
ICCA statistics could be used to compare Malaysia’s standing in business events, particularly in the international associations meetings market. ICCA track association meetings based on the following criteria: the association meeting must have at least 50 participants, is organised on a regular basis, and is rotated among three countries at least.
In 2015, ICCA captured a record number of 12,076 rotating international association meetings. Within Asia-Pacific, Malaysia ranked ninth in the number of meetings, fourth in average meeting size, and seventh in the number of total delegates.
International Association Meetings in Asia Pacific – 2014 and 2015
The exhibition segment is also an important component of the business events market that Malaysia is targeting. According to UFI data, Malaysia currently stands at number 10 in terms of annual size of total space sold within the region.
Trade Fair Markets By Estimated Net Square Metres Sold – 2015
Benefits beyond tourism
Despite the bright growth potential, the profile of the business events industry is not as prominent as the other segments in the tourism sector, such as the leisure market or eco-tourism. Until recently, the business events sector was only measured based on its contributions to the tourism industry.
Undeniably, like other tourism segments, the business events sector stimulates business for hospitality-related companies. Based on studies that are supported by international experience, the business event visitor spends three times more than the average tourist and has a large multiplier effect. Around 40 per cent of them travel with spouses and 60 per cent of them return as tourists later.
However, many have overlooked one key fact – the business events sector makes a broader contribution to the national economy beyond mere ringgit and sen.
According to UNWTO, in addition to being one of the key drivers of the tourism industry’s development, the business events sector is an important generator of income, employment and investment – benefits that go beyond tourism.
Today, countries all over Asia are on the move – they want a piece of the business events market because they understand that this sector offers immense benefits. If Malaysia is not proactive, she will lose out to competitors.
These are some of the advantages of the business events sector:
– Spreads knowledge and enhances innovation: The sector offers an opportunity to bring world’s best practices and international knowledge to the local sector. This will result in stronger local knowledge which then helps in capacity building within the local tourism industry
– Enhances international profile and reputation of Malaysia: Business events are capable of creating awareness for Malaysia due to local and global media coverage.
– Creates ongoing legacy for research: New collaborations formed through networking sessions can escalate the development of new products and technologies.
– Boost educational outcomes: Business events offer opportunities for capacity building for early-career researchers and practitioners, young people in the industry, emerging leaders as well as postgraduate students.
– Networking opportunity: Stakeholders from all over the world and from various sectors, such as researchers, academics, suppliers, practitioners, all convene during a conference, which provides face-to-face networking opportunities.
Business events bring much more than tourism dollars to a destination’s economy
A promising 2017 for business events tourism
Business challenges are abound in 2017. To rise above these, business events operators must remain optimistic and innovative by focusing on high-growth activities and industry sectors. Three top trends will shape the growth of business events in 2017:
1. Ease of travel and safety. In view of the current uncertainty in the world, ease of travel and safety will be a main concern and will influence the selection of meetings location. Managing safety and security issues related to meetings will be a top priority for any meeting planner.
2. Increasing prevalence of technology in meetings and conventions. Technology will continue to have significant impact on the organisation of meetings and conventions, and challenge the industry. The Internet of things, social media and mobile devices are behind this transformation.
3. Creativity. Organiser needs to be more creative in terms of delivering business events that engage attendees in more multidisciplinary ways. Because of digitisation, event technology will be inherent in every element of the meeting experience from pre-show to post.
Untapped potential The business events sector is definitely capable of being an agent of change for both the tourism industry as well as the socio-economic transformation of Malaysia. And there is never a better time than now to snap up the vast opportunities the business events sector has to offer.
Local players first must have a better understanding of the needs and drivers behind the business events industry to be able to better engage and cater to their demands. Business events segment is very different from the leisure tourist.
In addition to a high level of standards and service, Malaysia industry players need to innovate their product offerings and design more ‘wow’ experiential activities. Malaysia also lacks unique off-site venues that cater to the international market, compared with our neighbouring destinations. As such, product innovation is key to strengthening Malaysia’s competitive edge and to meet the current and future needs of clients.
To tap into the business events market, industry players need to engage with meeting planners and association organisers at an international level. We need to profile and market ourselves more internationally. Cross collaboration between partners and government agencies is also critical to success.
Victor Wee is a professor with the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts at Taylor’s University. He enjoyed a distinguished civil service career where he served as Tourism Ministry secretary-general as well as chairman of Tourism Malaysia. He led the formulation of the Tourism Laboratory for the Economic Transformation Programme that served as the roadmap for the tourism industry for 2010 to 2020.
The first Four Points hotel has arrived in Japan with the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Hakodate on May 2.
Located within walking distance of Hakodate JR Station and 20 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport, Four Points by Sheraton Hakodate is a convenient accommodation option for both business and leisure travellers.
For business event planners, the hotel offers more than 1,200m2 of versatile function facilities, including a grand banquet hall which can take in up to 600 guests.
Other facilities include an all-day dining restaurant which serves authentic Japanese cuisine alongside international favourites, a bar on the top floor where diners can enjoy night views of Hakodate, and a spa.
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has announced a refocussed commercial leadership structure as part of the organisation’s effort to create and deliver value for customers around the world.
Elyes Mrad has been made senior vice president and general manager, international, overseeing the EMEA and APAC regions as well as American Express GBT’s Travel Partner Network (TPN). He was last managing director, American Express GBT, EMEA.
Elyes Mrad
David Reimer has been promoted to senior vice president and general manager for North America, overseeing the US and Canada. He was last managing director, American Express GBT, APAC.
David Reimer
“Last September, we started on a journey to optimise and simplify our commercial organisation in an effort to create greater intimacy and operational efficiency for the benefit of our customers,” said Philippe Chérèque, president, American Express GBT.
“I feel confident that this new structure, with David and Elyes in their expanded roles, will enable more nimble decision-making, increased alignment to our strategic goals and accelerate our time to market.”
Hiroshima University has won the bid to host the International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS) Congress 2020.
To be held in May 2020, this is the first INORMS Congress to be held in Asia, and many participants from Asian countries are expected to attend.
City of Hiroshima
The bid was done with the support of the Hiroshima Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the City of Hiroshima. Hiroshima CVB’s bid support included bid document preparation, venue finding service, and arrangement of official invitation letters from the president of Japan Tourism Agency and the mayor of the City of Hiroshima.
The three parties have been working together to attract and support conventions held in Hiroshima since they entered into an agreement on partnership and cooperation in 2015.
INORMS was formed in 2001 to bring together research management societies from across the globe and its congress serves as a platform for interactions, sharing of good practice, and joint activities between member societies.
Melbourne Convention Bureau returned to Hong Kong last Monday with its first trade initiative since exiting the market for Shanghai in 2012.
The half-day showcase connected four Australian suppliers with 19 key buyers based in Hong Kong.
Melbourne Convention Bureau’s director of incentives and corporate meetings, Jasmine Lim, told TTGmice that it is time for Melbourne to do more in Hong Kong since travellers are put off by safety, visa and political issues in other parts of the world.
She said: “Although there were not many (business event) groups from Hong Kong to Melbourne in the last five years, I think current security issues in Europe and visa issues in the US will (change the course of demand). For the Chinese market, recent political exchanges have also struck Japan and South Korea off travellers’ list.”
Lim noted that Greater China is Melbourne’s strongest source market, putting in over one-third of total economic contribution from all arriving incentive groups between 2010 and 2016.
“Hong Kong has been a small market but we see potential growth in the coming 12 to 18 months, given the increased capacity from inaugural, five-weekly Hong Kong-Melbourne service by Virgin Australia from July 5. We see more groups will be looking to travel to Australia,” added Lim.
Already in the bureau’s bag are the 5,500-pax International Dragon Award Annual Meeting this August and the 3,000-pax incentive from AIA Hong Kong for January 2018.
With Melbourne seen as a key transit point to Tasmania, Lim said the bureau has also been recommending twin-city itineraries to corporate buyers. For instance, while the main group of delegates stay on to enjoy Melbourne, a smaller VIP group could head to Tasmania.
Suppliers are also keen to offer new programme ideas to entice the increasingly well-travelled Hong Kong market.
Blake Harris, managing director, Triump Leisure Solutions, featured in the Hong Kong showcase, said: “We handled Prudential Hong Kong a week ago and it’s vital to come up with new and creative event ideas like fireworks and water jetski shows. We have proposed a beach party for 2,000 people in Bondi Beach as no other operators has arranged this before.”
Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan is determined to build a stronger business events base, by attracting groups with 350 delegates or less, despite being in a destination with limited air accessibility and seat capacity.
The hotel’s general manager, Peter Padman, said the five-year-old property recently welcomed a group from Tier 1 cities in China earlier in April. The group comprised 260 delegates who looked into the bird nest business in Sabah, and it was the first time the Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan hosted a Chinese group.
Padman added: “The organiser from China will be hosting a similar event in September which is expected to attract some 200 delegates.”
In addition, a 120-strong student group from China will be holding a workshop at the hotel this June, and will be making use of its conference facilities.
Currently, Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan is the only international-branded hotel in Sandakan. Corporate and business events currently make up 40 per cent of the hotel’s business mix, where the key sectors are government, banking, and telecommunications.
Aside from the local and Chinese markets, the property is also reaching out to business events organisers in Singapore, Australia and India who are on the lookout for new secondary destinations. The main draws in Sandakan are soft adventure, eco-tourism activities and bird-watching.
Sarawak’s latest campaign, Redefining Global Tribes, which champions the impact of business events on the global economy, will be introduced at various key trade events worldwide from today.
The campaign will debut at the Associations World Congress in Vienna, Austria today before travelling down to the Australasian Society of Association Executives Conference and Exhibition in Sydney, Australia on May 11. It will then be introduced to attendees at IMEX Frankfurt on May 16.
Amelia Roziman, COO of Sarawak Convention Bureau, said: “Redefining Global Tribes is deeply rooted in key Sarawakian tribal values: Unity, Community and Identity.
“By applying the same principles to our latest campaign, Sarawak intends to solidify all business events communities under one global tribe to give business events a stronger identity in the economy.”
To kickstart the new campaign, the bureau and Borneo Tru Events have come together to organise the Tribal Warrior Challenge in Kuching on August 19. The challenge comprises a special obstacle course that can be tackled by business events professionals and members of the public. More than 4,000 participants are expected to join.
Terence Lim, general manager of Borneo Tru Events, explained that the challenge will offer three categories and the trail will be set “within the beautiful landscapes of Borneo”.
The Rite of Passage category (8km) and the Headhunter category (12km) are open to the public, while the Bizst Mode (5km) is reserved for business events professionals selected by Sarawak Convention Bureau.
Amelia said the Tribal Warrior Challenge could be used as a platform for teambuilding, corporate events, celebrations, orientation trips, bootcamps and incentive trips in Sarawak.
Opened officially on the last day of February this year, Mercure Singapore Bugis is a new-build located among a mix of office blocks and shopping malls, old and new.
The hotel enjoys a convenient location, being within walking distance of Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Other main venues in the city and the CBD are accessible by short train or taxi rides.
Rooms Mercure Singapore Bugis offers 395 rooms and suites in four categories – Standard Room, Loft Room, Superior Room and Executive Loft Room. As with most new-builds in space-starved Singapore these days, rooms are smaller. Despite the size, rooms do not feel claustrophobic, and they deliver on comfort with a layout that allows ease of movement.
Reflecting the brand’s promise to bring the destination’s uniqueness into the property, every guestroom floor features a different collection of quirky photographs and artworks that capture a specific side of Singapore. These commissioned pieces add a lively touch to common spaces.
All rooms come with a Handy integrated mobile device which offers guests unlimited free mobile Internet access, free local and IDD calls to 10 key destinations worldwide, and an up-to-date city guide along with exclusive merchant discounts.
MICE facilities The cubic hotel may look small from the outside but it surprises like Mary Poppin’s bag in terms of event facilities. Level two houses the 215m2 pillarless Queen Ballroom (below) which can accommodate a 120-pax banquet and be divided into three independent function rooms.
Three three other meeting rooms – Bugis Central, Capitol Boardroom and Marshall Junction – sit on a floor above and can each take in events with up to 20 pax. Bugis Central opens up into an outdoor courtyard with vibrantly coloured modern furniture.
Head up to the topmost floor and one will find Sky Deck on level 15, an open space with colourful seats on plush carpet grass and adorable chicken sculptures tucked among lush landscaping. The youthful vibe of Sky Deck has made it a popular choice for more casual corporate launch events.
Another venue option is a sheltered deck close to the Straits Poolside on the seventh floor.
Other facilities There are three F&B outlets here. BARtistry@One22 on the lobby level exudes a German bar vibe and serves a variety of premium coffees, beers, housepours, classic and Asian-inspired cocktails as well as wines from Mercure’s Flavours of the Cellar wine list.
A floor up sits Song Garden Chinese restaurant which takes in 120 diners in the main dining hall and even more in six private dining rooms. The largest dining room boasts a 25-seat round table with a motorised Lazy Susan system, and has been booked often for corporate luncheons.
On level three is the hotel’s all-day dining outlet, Royale. The 136-seater adopts a baroque interior and its menu features international and local favourites. A buffet line is offered every morning and on week nights.
I particularly love the hotel’s REDADYTOWORK, a chic alcove in the lobby with plush furnishings and oversized book shelves filled with reading materials and interesting ornaments. There is plenty of room for one to sit alone and bang away on one’s laptop, or use one of two complimentary iMacs at a workstation. There is also a six-seat meeting table.
Elsewhere, there is an infinity lap pool and a 24-hour gym.
Room count 395 Star rating Four Contact Tel: (65) 6521 6088; Email: HA0D7-RE@accor.com
Emirates has reopened its first and business class lounge at Singapore’s Changi Airport, after a five-month-long refurbishment.
The lounge is located in the departure area above Boarding Gate C1, and is part of a network of 41 dedicated airport lounges – representing an investment of over USD$360 million – located in major airports worldwide.
All Emirates first and business class travellers, as well as Skywards Platinum and Gold members travelling in Economy Class, will have complimentary access to the lounge, which now has the capacity to accommodate 222 people, up from 179 people.
Decked out with leather armchairs and Italian marble floors, the new lounge features facilities such as LED TVs, shower facilities, a business centre, as well as a prayer room. There will also be a hot and cold food served buffet-style, and beverage services which includes champagne, wines and spirits.
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.
