JEXA protests government’s decision on Tokyo Big Sight

October 12, 2017

An estimated 300 members of the Japan Exhibition Association (JEXA) have protested outside the offices of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) due to the latter’s plans to use the Tokyo Big Sight facility as the international press centre for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and Paralympics.

The exhibitions industry has opposed the use of Big Sight – the largest purpose built venue of its kind in Tokyo – since the city announced its decision in January. They estimate that 232 exhibitions will be cancelled and 78,000 exhibitions-related companies will lose around 230 billion yen (US$2.05 billion) in sales.

JEXA members feel that the temporary facility won’t be of help, given it’s a much smaller floor space

Organisers of the October 5 protest say the city government and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic organising committee have done nothing to solve the problem.

“The city government is not listening to us at all,” said Masato Hori, a spokesman for JEXA.

Meanwhile, the association has dismissed plans for a 23,000m² temporary facility to serve as a venue for the duration of the Games, calling it “inadequate”.

And while the organisers have recently agreed to make one part of Big Sight available for an additional five days and the temporary facility for 35 extra days, event companies say it will still cause “Olympic bankruptcies”.

“It does not solve the problem at all,” said Takaki Shimo of the newly formed Protect the Life and Employment of People Working in the Exhibition Industry organisation.

“The size of the temporary exhibition hall is one quarter the size of the current site. Therefore, job opportunities for exhibitors, exhibition support companies and craftsman will shrink to a quarter of the present scale,” he told TTGmice, adding that it would affect many small to medium enterprises.

In a statement issued to TTGmice, a spokesman for the 2020 Olympic organising committee said that it is “aware that there have been some concerns raised about the use of Tokyo Big Sight during the Games.”

As a result, in conjunction with the city government, the period of time that some venues will be in use has been reduced, and the temporary exhibition facility will be available for a longer time.

“Tokyo 2020 will continue preparing for the Games in cooperation with TMG,” the official added. “We believe that from the Main Press Centre and the International Broadcast Centre at Tokyo Big Sight, we will deliver to the world great stories about the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

HK chief executive kills earlier Wan Chai convention centre plans, details replacement

By Prudence Lui

October 12, 2017

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Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam, who came into power on July 1, has scrapped the government’s decision in February to develop a new convention centre on the Wan Chai Sports Ground site.

In its place, Lam’s administration has approved a plan to demolish three government buildings next to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai North. The site will see the construction of a new wing with about 23,000m² of convention and exhibition facilities, all conveniently connected to HKCEC. As well, office space will be provided in the new venue.

Lam: need for more venues to not lose out on large-sized events

In her maiden policy speech yesterday, Lam acknowledged Hong Kong’s pressing need for more new convention and exhibition venues in order not to miss out on large-scale international events seeking a host city.

This decision from the newly-elected chief executive came on the back of a detailed study.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong will continue with its plans to build a new convention centre above the MTR Exhibition Station of the Shatin-Central Link. This facility will provide 15,000m² of convention space.

In the longer term, Wan Chai Sports Ground may be earmarked for future convention and exhibition facilities.

While local business events specialists applaud the new decision, they also hope the new facility will rise quickly before more overflow events are lost.

Tour Billion Travel’s managing director, Tony Lam, said: “We don’t have enough venue space as (existing centres are) very full during exhibition season. Hopefully, (the new venue) won’t take too long to complete as we are losing MICE traffic to neighbouring destinations.”

Holiday World Tours, managing director, Paul Leung, reckoned that the massive new centre could take five years to complete, and added that Hong Kong has lost mega events to Macau.

New services from KL to Jeju good for incentives

By S Puvaneswary

October 12, 2017

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Canola-field-at-Jeju-do-Sanbangsan,-Jeju,-South-Korea — A canola field on Jeju island

Malaysian outbound events specialists are optimistic of being better able to push Jeju as a destination now that AirAsia X’s has launched a new route to the South Korean resort island.

The airline will commence four new weekly services – on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays – to the South Korean province from December 12. It is the only airline with direct flights between Jeju and Kuala Lumpur.

Konrad Ong, managing director, MICE Hubs Travel & Tours, enthused: “Our corporate clients are always looking for new destinations, and we now can propose Jeju for incentives. In the past, we did not promote Jeju for business events, as there was no direct flights. The direct flights are a savings on both time and cost.”

On why Jeju would appeal to the Malaysian corporate market, Ong pointed out that “it is a beautiful island destination with national parks and natural beauty”.

Another agent, Syed Razif Al-Yahya, group managing director of Sutra Travel & Tourism Management Group, agreed: “Direct flights are necessary for the business events segment. In the past, one had to go through Busan or transit at another point in South Korea to get to Jeju, which was not practical for this segment.”

But now with the new flight route, Syed commented that the Korean tourism board in Malaysia should create more promotions related to Jeju for both the corporate market and travel agents, as he feels that the island has the necessary facilities to be both a meetings and incentives destinations.

As for Hidden Asia Travel & Tours’ managing director, Nanda Kumar, he believes that “Jeju is a very affordable destination”, and would be good for incentive travels.

He shared: “The four weekly flights are perfect for four-day packages, which is the standard incentive package. We will be promoting the destination through our email blasts to corporate clients in our database.”

In the first eight months of the year, the number of Malaysians who visited South Korea totalled 176,140, a five per cent growth year-on-year.

Global business travellers identify top challenges on the road

By TTGmice

October 12, 2017

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Time spent in transit is the most challenging aspect of business travel, according a new report released today by the GBTA Foundation. The work environment while travelling, layovers and rebooking flights and hotel stays also topped the list of most challenging aspects for Asia-Pacific business travellers.

The study, Creating a Frictionless Travel Experience – Asia Pacific, conducted in partnership with Sabre Corporation, identifies the main challenges business travellers face during their travel experience while also looking to understand what organisations are doing to make this experience a better one for their travellers.

The top pain points all have one thing in common – they are time consuming and business travellers prefer to remain as productive as possible while on the road.

“It is no secret that business travel drives business growth and face-to-face interactions help get business done,” said Michael McCormick, GBTA’s executive director and COO.

“Ultimately those who travel want to save time when possible, be productive and have a pleasant experience while accomplishing their business goals. A better understanding of the challenges business travellers face can help organisations better serve their road warriors as they work to provide the right tools, resources and policies,” McCormick added.

“With advances in technology, corporate travellers are plugged in and connected more than ever before. While the technology is out there, this report demonstrates that we still have work do to make corporate travel more seamless, reducing the number of apps and tools needed to organise their trip, while also optimising compliance and reducing costs,” said Wade Jones, executive vice president and president, Sabre Travel Network.

Jones added: “It is critical we organise and align our resources to execute on integrating technology into a sustainable, data-rich platform that supports the business travel experience across the spectrum of planning and booking to reconciling expenses at the end of the journey.”

Why does the business travel experience matter?
Business travel can have a considerable impact on employee satisfaction and retention as a large majority of business travellers say their business travel experience impacts their overall job satisfaction at least somewhat across all Asia Pacific markets. This is truer among millennials.

Business travel not only influences how employees feel about their current company, it can also influence whether they take a job in the first place. A decent share of business travellers indicate a company’s travel policy is an important factor when considering a potential new employer.

However, this share varies widely by regions ranging from 31 per cent in Japan to 86 per cent in India. Additionally, the vast majority of travellers say the quality of their business travel experience impacts their business results at least somewhat.

Improving the traveller experience
When asked what perks or amenities impact their business travel experience the most, convenient and comfortable hotels most often topped the list for business travellers, although it did vary slightly by region. Also high on the list were non-stop flights, paid time off for long trips and booking flexibility.

Looking at optional purchases business travellers make on their own to improve their experience is also telling. These include hotel high-speed Internet, airport lounge, black car service, airplane/train Wi-Fi and seat upgrades. Travellers most often mention that these purchases help them improve their productivity on the road.

Technology also makes an important contribution to business traveller satisfaction, enabling a more efficient travel process. Business travellers indicated a variety of technological amenities would enhance their travel experience with automated destination info, mobile payment, itinerary management apps, live chat capabilities for travel policy inquiries and safety apps topping the list in most regions.

China-based travellers are especially interested in mobile payment, and along with their India-based counterparts, are especially interested in live chat capabilities for travel policy inquiries. Despite Japan’s reputation for technological innovation, its business travellers are less likely to say that various technological amenities would enhance their travel experience.

Destination brands: new approaches or old school?

By Industry Expert

October 12, 2017

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Branding has always been a core element of destination promotion. Yet, when a recent study asked DMO chiefs from around the world what they considered to be their most pressing issues, branding came out top. Why the sudden concern if they’ve been branding all along?

Let’s explore what branding really is. Many people think about logos, ads and communications when they talk about branding. But a brand is really what’s in the mind of the consumer, not what’s in a promoter’s communications.

A clear brand strategy will also have a clear brand promise

In the effort to build brand, a destination has taken the first step when it has devised a value proposition that encapsulates the destination’s promise:

Benefits – how the customer gains by using the destination
Differentiation – why the destination is special
Reason to believe – the proof that the brand offer is real and dependable
Personality – how the brand feels and comes across

Once brand positioning is agreed upon, the goal is to achieve a nexus between the brand promise and the customer’s perception. But, this is where the world of branding has undergone a tectonic shift. This world has been disrupted by the Internet. DMOs used to initiate most of what consumers used to hear about destinations. Now peer to peer channels have trumped DMO messaging.

Destinations no longer control the message – they can only seek to influence the message. So, what does this mean for you?

There is an old saying that brands are promises made and promises delivered. Nothing undermines a brand faster than a failure to deliver against expectations. In today’s world, millions of consumers can easily express their views on the authenticity of your brand. Every time a customer shares disappointment your brand is weakened. Alternatively, your brand strength is directly proportional to the extent to which their expectations are fulfilled and voiced.

This means that communication can only go so far. First, yours is but one voice in a crowd. Second, what communication you do is worthless if the brand promise isn’t fulfilled.

This is why DMO chiefs are so focused on brand. They’ve been disrupted. So, what should they do?

The key today is to focus as much or more on delivery than on communication. In the old world, DMOs saw little role for themselves in delivery. After all, a DMO can’t deliver the product, local suppliers do that.

In the new world, DMOs will realise that they need to assert influence on the quality and consistency of destination delivery because it is so vital to building brand strength. If an essential role of DMOs is building brands then DMOs have to find their logical role in delivery.

When a destination has a clear brand strategy, the brand promise also is clear. In my view, DMOs of the future will have local suppliers who encourage and support their role in destination delivery. Think quality assurance. Think measuring fulfilment of the promise. Think a new focus for DMOs.

Gary Grimmer is CEO of GainingEdge, a global business events consulting firm providing services in relation to destination development, convention centre development and in-market sales representation. Grimmer was formerly CEO of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau and has consulted on projects throughout Asia and the world.

TTGassociations bags Travel Trade Media of the Year award

By TTGmice

October 12, 2017

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TTGassociations magazine, a sister publication of TTGmice, has earned the Travel Trade Media of the Year award from the Media Publishers Association Singapore (MPAS).

TTG Travel Trade Publishing’s publisher Michael Chow picked up the award at the 2017 MPAS Awards and Media Ball on September 26.

TTG Travel Trade Publishing’s Michael Chow (third from left) picks up the two trophies and is joined by fellow colleagues and industry friends, Resorts World Sentosa’s Michelle Phua (second from left), Gardens by the Bay’s Alloysius Teng (second from right) and Suntec Singapore’s CH Kong (far right)

Launched in April 2014, the quarterly print publication for Asian association executives advocates the use of association meetings and events as an effective medium for trade associations to engage, educate and raise the professionalism of their members, and ultimately to remain relevant in their industry.

Besides destination reports that focus on local business event capabilities and specialised support offered by the convention bureau, every issue of TTGassociations also carries features such as Profile, Guide To and Case Studies as well as a News section and an On the Shelves product update section.

Profile is a Q&A-style cover feature that spotlights a selected Asian trade association’s chief, with points of discussion covering the chief’s aspirations for his/her association, opportunities and challenges facing the association and its industry and how they are being tackled, and how meetings and events are being conducted to convey the association’s objectives, among other things.

Guide To features take on a different theme each issue, and are aimed at introducing readers to various products and services association executives may need in planning their event. Past Guide To features have included subvention support, event management technology and integrated resorts.

TTGassociations enjoys a circulation of 2,000 across Asia-Pacific in print and 5,000 digitally.

The 2017 MPAS Awards has also bestowed the Feature of the Year Bronze award to TTG Asia’s Dark Side of Dark Tourism, an analysis published in the July 2017 issue. In it, TTG Asia’s Marissa Carruthers examines the relevance of Cambodia’s attractions of death and suffering – the infamous killing fields and slaughter sites.

SIA uses more sustainable ingredients in their inflight meals

By TTGmice

October 12, 2017

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Singapore-Airlines-inflight-meal — An inflight meal in economy class on SIA currently

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced at the World Gourmet Forum in Singapore that it is committed to significantly enhancing sustainability practices in its in-flight F&B offerings.

Under the new initiative, a “From Farm to Plane” concept will be introduced to promote environmental sustainability and support local farmers’ communities.

An inflight meal in economy class on SIA currently

Efforts in SIA’s sustainability strategy include using fish from fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council for their sustainable fishing practices, and obtaining produce – such as cherry tomatoes, pumpkins, green beans and lettuce – from local farms in countries the airline serves.

With the “From Farm to Plane” concept, Singapore Airlines intends to use more sustainable and meatless ingredients, as well as local produce, in its inflight meals. The airline will work with its panel of chefs, and partners overseas and in Singapore to source for such ingredients.

The new menus will initially be introduced to Suites customers on selected routes from later this year, and will progressively be made available to customers travelling in other classes.

Beyond Asia: Church House Westminster and Westminster Abbey, TCI Europe2018, and PCMA 2018 Convening Leaders

By TTGmice

October 12, 2017

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Two London venues strike up partnership
Church House Westminster and Westminster Abbey have partnered to offer organisers and their delegates a unique experience in the heart of Westminster.

The two venues will work together to provide receptions, dinners and events across a host of spaces which includes cloisters, gardens, halls and meeting rooms.

Robin Parker, general manager of Church House Westminster, said in a statement: “I envisage receptions in the Abbey followed by dinners here at Church House or perhaps a day of conferencing at Church House followed by a tour and drinks at the Abbey.”

Church House Westminster has 21 flexible meeting spaces, the largest of which is the Assembly Hall, capable of holding up to 664 delegates.

Sofia to host next year’s European TCI Network conference
TCI Network has chosen Sofia in Bulgaria as the location for its European Conference in 2018.

Taking place from March 20-22, the regional conference will promote closer ties among cluster practitioners in Europe as well as allow a better understanding of the Balkan region.

The 2018 conference programme promises to be varied and will encourage 1:2:1 meetings as well as plenary sessions. Delegates will also have the opportunity to explore the city’s cultural attractions and monuments.

PCMA returns to Texas in 2021
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) will hold its Convening Leaders 2021, on January 10-13, in Texas.

The conference will be held at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Centre, and is expected to attract around 4,200 global professionals for senior-level education, community building and orchestrated networking.

Meanwhile, the PCMA 2018 Convening Leaders will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Music City Centre. Also, Pittsburgh and San Francisco were confirmed earlier this year as host cities for the 2019 and 2020 Convening Leaders respectively.

[Sponsored Post] Discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites with Budget

By TTG

October 11, 2017

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For an enriching road trip experience, why not stop off for an encounter with some of the world’s most diverse World Heritage Sites? Drive through the rolling hills of The Lake District in England or stop over at the poignant Robben Island in South Africa; UNESCO World Heritage Sites offer a mix of both cultural and natural legacies for travellers to enjoy.

Choose Budget for a great range of cars to suit your requirements combined with its detailed local knowledge, flexibility and great value for money. With approximately 3,500 locations in more than 120 countries, visiting the world’s UNESCO sites with Budget comes easy. Budget shares five of the many UNESCO sites from around the world.

Los Alerces National Park, Argentina

If it’s the great outdoors that ticks the boxes, stop off at Los Alerces National Park in Argentina, which is only accessible by car on the eastern side. The park lies in the shadows of the snow-capped peaks of the Andes and Budget road-trippers can take a boat trip on the four lakes to enjoy the views of The Torrecillas Glacier. With limited transport to reach the national park, hiring a car is the best way to access this untouched natural beauty.

Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, Canada

For a world-class journey, experience a drive along the Icefields Parkway, which stretches over 200km through the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. Pull over to explore the unspoiled mountain lakes and ancient glaciers of Banff and Jasper National Parks, home to diverse wildlife and majestic viewpoints. This is a winning combination for Budget drivers – a vast UNESCO world heritage site paired with one of the world’s most epic road trips.

The Lake District, England

The Lake District is the perfect spot if your idea of heaven is shimmering lakes and picturesque villages and renting a car means you can explore this beautiful region at your own pace. Home to England’s largest natural lake and highest mountain, the national park is packed with outdoor opportunities. Stretch your legs by exploring on foot, or simply relax in the beautiful surroundings of England’s first national park to gain World Heritage status.

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, Japan

Budget drivers can soak up the views of Mount Fuji while following the old road which links the new capital of Japan to the old. Worlds apart from the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, Kyoto is punctuated by cherry-blossom trees. But what makes this city special is the tranquil temples that line the city’s waterways, which make the perfect pit-stop for culture vultures.

Robben Island, South Africa

Beneath the imposing Table Mountain lies Cape Town – a city of contrasts located on the Atlantic Coast. History buffs will be fascinated during a visit to the haunting prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 18 years, which gained UNESCO status in 1999. From here, Cape Town offers the ideal starting point for Budget drivers to begin their journey along the world-famous Garden Route.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites – there are 1,000+ of them, all of which are recognised for their exceptional natural beauty or outstanding cultural importance that are worthy of protection for all humanity. These are only five of many. Be inspired to go and explore the big, beautiful world. Pick a car, take a drive and check out the world’s most intriguing sites to visit.

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(Photo Sources – Budget, Getty, Pixabay, UNESCO WHC)

[Sponsored Post] JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong Unveils Brand New Ballroom

By TTGmice

October 11, 2017

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JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong proudly unveils its brand new ballroom on 3 September 2017, making it one of the largest, newest and pillar-free hotel ballrooms on Hong Kong Island with state-of-the-art facilities and elegant décor, ideal for every special occasion from small meetings to grand wedding receptions, with a new level of luxury. The refurbishment of the JW Marriott Ballroom is unparalleled to any other similar projects in the city, as it strengthens the hotel’s stance in becoming the best venue in town for all kinds of events with style and quality.

Spanning over 8,000 sq. ft., the massive ballroom is equipped with top-notch facilities, cutting-edge lighting and audio-visual technology to create innovative events. Elegantly furnished with opulent, starry chandeliers on a high ceiling (15 feet), the ballroom is adorned with advanced lighting technology, providing a multitude of stunningly unique lighting effects. Designed and crafted with care by Dutch light artist Jan Pauwels, the contemporary piece of lighting is chic and breezy, yet elegant and graceful with subtle sparks and glows to uplift the venue to another level. Transform the ballroom into your ideal venue and make your event-planning dream come true with the high-definition LED wall. With its size up to 12m (W) x 3m (H), the wall is available to further elevate the visual experience of any event, whether in the form of photos, videos, special graphics or live coverage.

The JW Marriott Ballroom has the flexibility to be divided into 6 individual salons with private entrances and LCD signage, and is able to host events in different scales, ranging from 18 persons (classroom style) to 1,100 persons (grand reception). A spacious foyer and a selection of break-out rooms are available on the same floor, perfect for meetings, workshops and pre-event cocktail receptions. Looking for break-out rooms for events in even larger scale? Event planners can utilise Man Ho Chinese Restaurant on the same floor, as well as two harbour view meeting suites on Level 30. A brand new dressing room is also available, perfect for grand wedding receptions and all kinds of large scale celebrations. Chic and elegant La Tavola food and bar stations are available to offer extra flexibility, enabling guests to create their ideal event settings effortlessly with personalised food & beverage menus and solutions.

Not only is the hardware of a venue important, a personal touch is what makes an event successful. With an international team of culinary and service professionals with experience of hosting over 10,000 events in the past, it is our continuous mission to make every event at the hotel a successful one by offering bespoke and crafted service to our guests. The hotel has received numerous accolades, such as winning the 3rd place within Hong Kong in Cvent’s Top 50 Meeting Hotels in Asia Pacific in 2017, and being named one of the Top 5 Best Overseas Business Hotels by Condé Nast Traveller. Some of the top talents in the team include Executive Chef Stephen Doe – JW Marriott Global Chef of the Year 2007, Executive Chinese Chef Jayson Tang – Gold Award in 2016 Best of the Best Culinary Award by Hong Kong Tourism Board, and Pastry Chef Andy Yeung – 2 Gold and 1 Silver Awards in IKA Culinary Olympics Competition 2016.

Strategically located in the prestigious Pacific Place and directly connected with the Admiralty MTR Station, the JW Marriott Ballroom boasts exceptional accessibility, being just a stone’s throw from a host of world-class attractions, cultural landmarks and the central business district.

The brand new JW Marriott Ballroom accommodates up to 672 persons banquet style and 1,100 persons for receptions.

4 multi-purpose function rooms – Admiralty, The Peak, Queensway and Victoria for small board meetings or corporate dinners from 18 to 60 guests.

The spacious foyer provides an ideal setting for welcome drinks and coffee breaks.

Continue

JEXA protests government’s decision on Tokyo Big Sight

HK chief executive kills earlier Wan Chai convention centre plans, details replacement

New services from KL to Jeju good for incentives

Global business travellers identify top challenges on the road

Destination brands: new approaches or old school?

TTGassociations bags Travel Trade Media of the Year award

SIA uses more sustainable ingredients in their inflight meals

Beyond Asia: Church House Westminster and Westminster Abbey, TCI Europe2018, and PCMA 2018 Convening Leaders

[Sponsored Post] Discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites with Budget

[Sponsored Post] JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong Unveils Brand New Ballroom

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