Corporate groups and meetings staying at least two consecutive nights in Seoul and at least 100 total nights altogether may be able to qualify for Seoul’s recently-launched experience programme support.

The programme offers five choices:

1. Walking on the upcoming urban sky park of Seoullo 7017
2. Bicycle riding on the Han River
3. Trekking on the Seoul City Wall
4. Traditional culture programmes such as hanbok wearing, traditional instrument lessons, etc, offered by a Seoul MICE Alliance organisation
5. K-Pop dance lesson and makeover

In addition to the five programmes, interested groups can also propose an experience programme through a local travel agency for consideration of support, as well as obtain financial subsidies and discounts from Seoul.

Jae Yong Kim, director of Seoul’s tourism policy division, said: “Hallyu and (the) overall interest in Korean culture (continues) to attract visitors to Seoul, particularly from South-east Asia which makes up 35 per cent of inbound corporate and incentive groups. Seoul will continue to develop unique experience programmes for them to ensure their time is memorable.”

Interested groups can contact Steve Kwak at the Seoul Convention Bureau at dohwi@seoulwelcome.com.

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is returning the Spice Up Thailand campaign for the fourth consecutive year, adding new privileges for domestic business event travellers and targeting delegates from Asia, especially CLMV countries.

In collaboration with Visa International (Thailand), Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways, Thai Smile Airways and the Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, TCEB is offering privileges such as discounts on hotel accommodation, car rental, airport transfers, restaurant dining and golf course green fees.

TCEB will also run ‘Plan More, Enjoy More’ from May to July, allowing delegates to design their own trips and share their experiences through social media channels using the hashtags #PlanMoreEnjoyMore and #SpiceUpThailand.

The participant who obtains the highest number of likes and shares will receive two international air tickets courtesy of Thai Airways.

From April to December, delegates can access Spice Up Thailand privileges by registering and downloading the Spice Up Privilege Coupons via the campaign website www.spiceupthailand.com, or pick up the Spice Up Privilege Coupon Booklet at the registration counter.

In the campaign’s 2016 run, 46 business events by 16 organisers were registered and more than 43,000 coupons were redeemed. The five most popular products redeemed were restaurants, shopping, attractions, spas, and transportation. The top five nationalities participating were China, India, Singapore, Vietnam and the US.

Yokohama has been chosen as the host for the 23^rd World Congress of the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO) in 2021, an event that will be attended by some 800 measurement technology experts from all over the globe.

The deciding factors were said to be high grades for “the enthusiasm of the local host committee members, the vision of placing importance on the development of young research professionals, the convenience of Yokohama’s transportation network, and the close proximity of facilities such as international conference halls, hotels, malls, etc”.

PACIFICO Yokohama Convention Center

The Society of Instrument and Control Engineers will take on the role of local host, while the current IMEKO president-elect and chairman of the technical board, Masatoshi Ishikawa, dean of University of Tokyo’s graduate school of information science and technology, is set to be appointed President from 2018.

The bid was a joint effort by the city of Yokohama, Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau, and PACIFICO Yokohama Convention Center, in cooperation with the Japan National Tourist Organization.

Japan last played host in 1999 when the congress went to Osaka.

China’s association industry players believe the “delinking” of 70,000 industry associations and chambers of commerce from the Ministry of Commerce by end-2017 will raise professional standards and deliver opportunities.

Those TTGmice spoke to welcome the move as professional bodies will have to move more quickly in tandem with China’s changing economy, and be free to pursue agendas that will benefit their organisations without having to seek government approval.

Zhang Mei, CITS MICE Beijing

While Maggy Wang, China Marketing Association spokesman believes the delinking will give her 20-year-old association more freedom to carry out its agenda, she opined that overseas companies may be less certain about the legitimacy of new associations if they are no longer linked to the Ministry of Commerce.

“To raise professional standards, China’s Ministry of Labor and Social Security is looking into industry certification to ensure associations meet the requirements,” Wang pointed out.

Zhang Mei, director of foreign liaison division, international cooperation department, CITS MICE Beijing, is expecting “more opportunities” and foresees professional associations and chambers of commerce that do not have the experience in running events to outsource them to PCOs.

Zhang said she was interested in certification by IAPCO Education, the international association for professional conference organisers, which launched a two-day “junior level” seminar in Suzhou last year and is following up with a “senior level” programme on April 12 and 14 due to market demand.

Tan Nai Fen, vice secretary-general, statistics information department director and senior economist, China Association of the National Shipping Industry, commented: “Economic change and the need to transform our industry means that we have to move quickly.”

The shipping association, formed in 1995, has about 500 members and organises about 20 major events annually. Most of these events, attended by about 200 delegates each, are held in China.

Tan added that the association had to learn to adapt from industry leader Japan in the beginning.

The Taiwan government has established a New Southbound Policy for the country’s MICE Industry Promotion Program.

The programme calls for more cooperation on investment, trade, industrial development, tourism, culture, and talent exchange with 18 countries. The countries are the 10 ASEAN members, six South Asian countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

Credit: www.meettaiwan.com

Under the initiative, Taiwan will invite more international buyers from the target regions to join or visit trade shows in Taiwan, launch buyer subsidy initiatives, and streamline visa procedures.

Also, the country wants to attract company representatives from the target regions for international conferences or company meetings/incentive tours, and loosen visa application procedures or grant visa-free entry for certain South-east Asian countries. Taiwanese companies are also encouraged to join trade shows in ASEAN countries and South Asia.

In addition, Taiwan hopes to bring in more Muslim buyers and visitors from countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, by sharing information on the country’s Halal-certified food, restaurants, and facilities.

Other initiatives include fostering the development and exchange of talent, where internships in Taiwan will be provided to students from South-east Asia; working with major business events organisations to establish green standards; and strengthening cooperation and exchanges with relevant organisations and associations.

Celebrity Cruises has declared its intention to pursue more business events groups based in Asia from industries such as insurance, banking, global corporate groups.

At an event held in Hong Kong yesterday, Alexis Puma, its manager for international charter sales, said: “Cruising as an incentive has just started getting popular and we are keen to spread the word about our sailings.”

Magic Carpet platform

However, Puma acknowledged that most of the company’s cruises in Asia are 10 days or longer, and are too long for most of their business events clients. Regardless, she indicated that the company was able create something to suit their needs, via a ship charter, as well as a customised itinerary.

“However, the corporate group has to be fairly large given that our fleet capacity in double occupancy varies between 2,100 to 2,800 guests. Currently, we have two charters booked in Asia operating out of Japan with 2,160 guests. For this group, we took an existing deployment and tailor-made a seven-night journey for them,” Puma shared.

In Asia, Celebrity Cruises is currently courting Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The company will launch new vessels to further grow this segment.

The 2,918-guest Celebrity Edge, setting sail on December 16 next year, will sport the Magic Carpet platform cantilevered from the side of the 16-deck ship. The size of a tennis court, the platform will transform into a different venue depending on the deck it is located – a restaurant for 90 guests on Deck 16, an open-air expansion of the main pool area on Deck 14, an al fresco extension for a restaurant on Deck 5, and a luxury embarkation station at Deck 2. For groups, the space can be transformed into a bar, space for live music performances, or a private dinner function.

Two additional yachts – the 48-guest Celebrity Xperience and 16-guest Celebrity Xploration – will give planners 65 extra capacity and charter options for Galapagos Islands.

Puma said: “This is definitely a bucket list opportunity. For the MICE segment, it’d be an ultimate reward experience for super performers.”

Apart from team building events and group shore excursions, Celebrity Cruises is able to offer other perks such as complimentary meeting rooms, an all-inclusive beverage package, an onboard photographer, high-speed Internet at sea, and a complimentary daily programme.

JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok is offering a rate of 5,500++ baht (US$153++) per room per night for any event held in June.

The rate includes superior deluxe accommodation for single occupancy, daily international buffet breakfast at Marriott Café, complimentary meeting package or group dinner arrangements as well as high-speed Internet connectivity throughout the entire stay.

On top of the rate, event planners can select three of the five following perks: five per cent off master-billed rooms, meeting package and room rental; complimentary Internet in meeting room; triple points on eligible revenue; one complimentary room night for every 25 paid room nights; or one complimentary room upgrade for one night for every 25 paid room nights.

As well, event planners can earn a signing bonus of 1,000 extra points for every event booked.

Booking is open now for meetings to be held from June 1-30, 2017.

Terms and conditions apply.

To enquire, email Sivaporn.C@marriott.com.

Hong Kong’s Regal Airport Hotel has published its 2017 Residential Meeting Package rates, which are from HK$1,380 (US$177.60) per person per day.

The package includes one night’s accommodation (on twin sharing basis) with in-room Internet access, full-day meeting package with Wi-Fi access (one IP access per person) for one day, and free daily buffet breakfast.

Regal Airport Hotel’s ballroom

Planners can also access rewards such as a 30-minute stretching exercise during meeting, a 3km run or hike down Wisdom Path in Lantau, and use of MICEAPP+ to stay in touch with event delegates.

Terms and conditions apply.

Email meet@airport.regalhotel.com.

Pacific World foresees that emotional engagement will be a significant factor to consider when planning events for 2017, and has created new products and designed experiences to stir emotional engagement to enhance the effectiveness of meetings, incentives and event programmes.

Selina Chavry, Pacific World’s global managing director, said: “We believe that emotional engagement is key to the success of any event and will continue to develop products and services to achieve that.”

Traditional handicraft puppets being sold in Myanmar

As highlighted in its recently published Destination Index, the top emerging trend in 2017 – “Being Local / Go Local” – is reflective of this need. As such, meeting and event planners can look forward to experiences such as meeting with local craftsmen and artisans, engaging with local entrepreneurs, as well as becoming part of an eco-label community at an organic farm.

In addition, Pacific World has also identified the rise of CSR experiences as one of the ways to engage participants even more. The company has linked up with local small NGOs in destinations like Myanmar and Dominican Republic, allowing planners to work on tailored projects that help with sustainable development.

The last trend identified is “Events with a Purpose / Incentives with a Meaning”, and Pacific World wants to generate emotional engagement between the guests and the brands/companies, and also between the guests and the destination. For this, Pacific World product developers in each country and region will collaborate with their creative & marketing team to monitor industry needs.