In setting the stage for last week’s IT&CM China Keynote Session and panel discussion on the Future of MICE in China, keynote speaker and moderator, Gary Grimmer, CEO of GainingEdge, said the destination was “waking up” and “the whole game and competitive environment in Asia will change”.

Grimmer commented that China’s success so far has been marketing driven but it is becoming more “aware” and “adept” at business events.

Gary Grimmer

“But there is still room for growth in exhibitions while China needs to think strategically about the next steps in developing its conventions sector,” he added.

When asked if Chinese cities needed sophisticated CVBs, he said “only if they want to be number one in China and among the top five in Asia” and “the CVBs would be different from other destinations but would still take on the functions of a bureau”.

In Asia based on ICCA rankings, Hong Kong, at number three, is the top business events city in Greater China, followed by Beijing (fifth), Shanghai (ninth) and Hangzhou (24^th).

He told TTGmice: “China is lagging in international conventions and that is really important for the transformation of its economy. It will do well to present a case to every minister in charge of trade and foreign direct investment to develop a convention strategy for global trade.”

The lack of differentiation between conventions and exhibitions in China, as pointed out during the panel discussion, had resulted in a shortage of purpose-built venues with flexible, multifunction spaces.

He added China is also not promoting itself enough and needs people driving convention sales and organising bids.

The growing number of millennials joining the workforce in China and their keen interest in sharing economy travel products will require changes to corporate travel programmes, opined leaders at Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT).

Kelly L Kuhn, executive vice president and chief customer officer, CWT, said in her CTW China presentation last Wednesday: “Millennials are comfortable with Airbnb and similar offerings as (they offer an experience of) being home away from home. The sharing economy is here to stay.”

Aibiying, as Airbnb is known in China

Kai Chan, president, Asia Pacific, CWT, believes sharing economy accommodation and transportation services should be included in corporate travel programmes to meet demand.

She said: “There is nothing wrong with including them as long as you can track your travellers at all times.”

A travel manager with a technology company in Shanghai said: “Didi Chuxing was legalised by the government last year and its operations are regulated. This makes working with them possible and we are in talks. But before we work with them, we have to ensure a system is in place to track client movements.”

A travel manager of an MNC with offices in China, said while adoption is dependent on his headquarters in Germany, he personally prefers to book with traditional hotel suppliers which ensures accomplishment of duty of care responsibilities.

According to Kuhn, China has a huge growth potential for managed travel. China’s business travel market is forecasted to be valued at US$345 billion in 2017, up from US$260 billion in 2015. However, only 20 per cent of Chinese companies are managing travel today.

The International Feng Shui Association (IFSA) has confirmed its next convention in Manila, the Philippines. Taking place November 18 and 19 this year, the International Feng Shui Convention is expected to attract 200 attendees.

Mayet S Santillan, project development officer with the Events Marketing and Services Division, MICE Department, Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, told TTGmice that the country won hosting rights because of its proven track record in welcoming trade meetings, close historical ties with China, and a large Filipino-Chinese community that believes in feng shui.

Mayet S Santillan

Santillan explained: “We have more than adequately provided a hospitable venue for (many) international conventions and promoted international camaraderie, service and understanding among trade associations in the region.”

She added: “We have a thriving local feng shui community and industry. We have many local feng shui masters and one of them is Marites Allen, the first and only Filipina to be accredited and awarded the prestigious title of Master in Feng Shui by the IFSA.”

According to Santillan, the local feng shui community is active and conducts an annual convention since 2005.

When asked how hosting the convention would benefit the Philippines, Santillan said: “People pursuing feng shui as a professional career will get training while individuals will gain guidance on life decisions related to wealth, health and relationships.”

Santillan believes other industries will stand to gain too.

“Many feng shui practitioners in businesses such as real estate, fashion, lifestyle and education, can benefit from new knowledge coming through the convention,” she said.

The TPB will support IFSA and delegates with venue selection, link-ups with government and private entities, airport facilitation, souvenirs, a welcome dinner, and tour packages through the Philippine Tour Operator Association, among many others.

Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK), a division of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, has upgraded its Hong Kong Rewards! programme for 2017/2018, this time with more enriching experiences for event delegates.

Some of the new offers are provided by Hong Kong Disneyland, where groups of 50 or more guests will enjoy a complimentary dinner and shopping discounts to make the most out of their magical moments at the themed attraction; the Hong Kong Jockey Club, where groups with at least 20 pax can access the facility’s Happy Wednesday themed carnivals for free food and beer; and 50 participating hotels that are dishing out complimentary cocktail receptions for groups of 50 or more.

MEHK pointed out that some perks are now made available to small groups of 20 pax staying for a brief two nights, “so even small- and medium-sized groups who are pressed for time can take advantage of a world of offers”.

To qualify, groups must arrive between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018.

Second- and third-tier cities making a bid for association meetings must play up their key industries and benefits these economic pillars can bring to related trade associations, said destination representatives.

At a presentation session titled Second Wave Cities during IT&CM China’s Association Day last Thursday, panellists Allen Hu, chief representative, Shanghai office of the Suzhou Culture and Expo Centre Co and Izumi Shimada, director, marketing, sales and business development with Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau spoke of their destinations’ readiness for business and associations events while also admitting that more had to be done to raise their profile among international meeting planners.

Izumi Shimada

Shimada said: “Fukuoka is the third top performing international meetings city in Japan, but global awareness of it is not high. International meeting planners usually think of popular cities like Tokyo and Osaka first.”

To win over association meetings, Shimada said the CVB brings attention to Fukuoka’s thriving technology, energy and medical sectors, and connects local commercial and academic organisations with foreign trade associations to facilitate knowledge exchange.

For Suzhou Culture and Expo Centre, Hu said the venue takes the initiative to “understand the key industries in Suzhou and China, and the activities and objectives of important local academic institutions”.

“By doing so we can approach the right international trade associations and show them the benefits of hosting their next global meeting in Suzhou,” he said.

Allen Hu

With international access into Suzhou dependent on two airports in Shanghai, a 90-minute journey away by car or 22-minute by high-speed rail, Hu added that his venue also works with trade associations to study attendance potential as a result of the event location.

“We understand that international air accessibility has a bearing on attendance numbers,” he explained.

When asked if offering attractive subventions – financial support from the host city government or CVB – could nudge associations over to the destination, Shimada said: “Fukuoka does not have endless funding so we prefer to play up the strengths of our local industries and use our ability to facilitate exchange of knowledge, culture and business for visiting association delegates.”

Agreeing that dangling monetary help is no longer the way to win association meetings today, Kitty Wong, president of the World PCO Alliance, said: “Subventions used to be among the top three considerations of association meeting planners. But for some associations today, host city choice is based on the proactiveness of the local chapter in taking the lead in event planning and promotion, global accessibility and infrastructure, and the legacy of knowledge the meeting can leave behind.”

“A city wanting success will need to work hard to help the association achieve that legacy,” she added.

A network has been launched to connect young professionals from across the spectrum of the business events industry, foster active learning and advocate for the sector.

Called Meetings + Millennials, the network will operate as an online community and include face-to-face meetups at all major MICE events.

Co-founder Gráinne Ní Ghiollagáin said the network was established when she and the other two co-founders, following their participation at the ICCA Forum for Young Professionals in Barcelona in 2015, realised that there was no formal setting to meet again and develop their connections.

“Meetings + Millennials provides us with that important place and – importantly – it helps us dispel the cliché that we’re an ‘entitled generation’”, continued Ghiollagáin, who is also business development manager at Croke Park Meetings and Events.

Another co-founder, Anne Berrevoets, events coordinator at European Association for International Education, added that “the voice of our generation is not yet heard in our industry the way it would be in the startup sector or tech, for example”.

“Since we presented at ICCA we have been asked to conduct sessions at conferences in Paris and Frankfurt. These allow us to educate corporations, agencies and associations on how to get the best from their millennial team members,” concluded co-founder Aoife McCrum, also social media and digital marketing manager at SoolNua.

The Slate resort in Phuket is offering the wellness-focused Mind Your Meeting package for new group meeting requests.

Lobby Podium at The Slate

The offer includes meeting space from 08.00 until 18.00; a healthy lunch with responsibly sourced ingredients plus two coffee breaks; two 15-minute “mindful interventions” with group mentoring by the hotel’s meditation and yoga expert; dedicated events service personnel; Wi-Fi; a Digital Detox Point to deposit mobile phones; and two flipcharts or whiteboards, and stationery.

Priced at 1,600 baht (US$46.20) per person, the package is valid for group stays of at least 15 delegates.

Mandarin Oriental, Macau has launched Meetings with More, which bundles meetings with pampering breaks and room perks.

Highlights for the full-day package include local-themed coffee breaks and massages or stretching sessions during breaks.

Deluxe room at Mandarin Oriental, Macau

When booking the package, planners get to enjoy group rooms from MOP1,500 (US$187.50) per room night including breakfast and Internet access plus complimentary room upgrade to the Waterfront Suite for every 10 paid rooms per day (maximum of three suites per day).

The Meetings with More package is valid until December 29, 2017 for bookings of minimum 10 rooms per night.

UK-based Collinson Group has seen recent success with corporate take-ups for its Priority Pass worldwide airport lounge membership programme, most of which are from clients in the oil and gas, education, telecommunications and pharmaceutical sectors.

In an interview with TTGmice, Tony T. Low, general manager and senior vice president, Asia Pacific lifestyle benefits, Collinson Group, said the majority of Priority Pass members receive their membership though issuing banks although “a sizeable number (hundreds of thousands)” are direct customers.

New Turkish Airlines Lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport 

“A wide range of companies, from SMEs to MNCs, across a variety of industries have purchased Priority Pass Corporate Membership to support their travelling employees,” said Low.

He added that while “some companies still view airport lounge access as a luxury, many (others) recognise that it is a valuable and practical solution which provides benefits to both employees and employers”.

Low explained that companies could reap both financial and non-financial benefits through the provision of airport lounge access.

“Travel friction – the wear and tear of regular business travel on employees – has an impact on motivation, morale and employee engagement. Benefits such as airport lounge access can make staff feel more valued and engaged with the requirement to travel and spending time away from home,” he said.

“A lounge access programme (also) supports better travel policy governance and there are cost efficiencies at the airport where the cost of lounge access will be less than expenses claimed for food and drink subsistence and Wi-Fi while on the road.”

Low: lounge access for cost efficiencies

Low shared that research conducted by Collinson Group has found that six out of ten (59 per cent) frequent business flyers consider access to a premium airport lounge to be an ‘important’ or ‘very important’ factor when selecting an airport, with 40 per cent admitting to going straight to the lounge when they arrive at the airport.

“Within the workplace, employers have a Duty of Care to provide a safe, secure and positive environment for staff to work. It’s important that this same Duty of Care is extended to staff traveling on business,” Low said.

To educate companies on the benefits of a Priority Pass membership, Low said the company attends and exhibits at leading business travel events worldwide, and distributes benefit-led and thought leadership materials through blogs, industry media and regular updates to its LinkedIn followers.

Meanwhile, Priority Pass has added 12 airport lounges to its global network this month. They include Miracle First Class Lounge at the International Terminal, Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok; Turkish Airlines Lounge Washington at the Midfield Terminal – Concourse B, Washington DC Dulles International in the US; and Wellcome Lounge at the Domestic Terminal, PMIA Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

Low said: “Collinson Group has maintained a strong rate of growth and in the past 12 months has added over 130 airport lounges globally to the Priority Pass programme.”’

Today the programme offers access to over 1,000 lounges.

When a group of 3,000 Chinese incentive delegates visits Adelaide this June, South Australia will receive its first Asian incentive group of this scale and an estimated A$11.2 million (US$8.58 million) boost to its visitor economy.

Perfect China, a company focusing on kitchenware and personal care products, will bring its top sales representatives to Adelaide in two groups on June 17-20 and June 24-27 – the third time it has chosen Australia for such a large group and its first time to Adelaide.

Over the coming months, an itinerary will be compiled by the Adelaide Convention Bureau working in conjunction with Perfect China’s agent in Shanghai. The itinerary will allow visitors to explore Adelaide at their leisure, potentially encouraging retail and hospitality spending.

According to the Adelaide Convention Bureau, incentive tourism presents a massive opportunity for South Australia and the State Government’s 2020 A$8 billion tourism target. Incentive visitor spend per day is up to nine times that of a leisure visitor and almost double the daily average spend of a conference visitor.

Commented Jay Weatherill, South Australian premier: “The State Government has invested an extra A$70 million into promoting South Australia… and the additional funding for our Major Events and Conferences Bid Funds has seen our visitor economy grow to a record $6.2 billion – which is up a staggering A$800 million on the previous year.

“Chinese visitors make up 10 per cent of South Australia’s international visits, but an amazing 25 per cent of international expenditure at just over $250 million.”

Business tourism incorporating incentive tours and business events is a high-yield segment for South Australia. In the last financial year, the Adelaide Convention Bureau won business worth A$210 million of economic benefit for the state, with visitation by over 50,000 delegates and 220,900 bed nights.