Lim Guan Eng, chief minister of Penang, will be proclaiming April 6 as Penang Meetings Industry Day during the Penang Meetings Industry Day press conference on April 4.

This is in conjunction with the Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), an annual global advocacy day that sheds light on the value of the meetings to people, business and communities.

Ashwin: putting Penang on international GMID platform

In support of GMID, Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) and the Penang business events industry have come together to create awareness of the power of meetings.

Ashwin Gunasekeran, PCEB CEO, said: “From March 23 to April 6, we will be carrying out a social media campaign to put Penang on the international GMID platform, and share a ‘Meetings Mean Business’ message.”

To show Penang’s active participation, all hotels, venues and DMCs have been encouraged to post their meetings – including corporate or college meetings – on Instagram, with the hashtags #GMID17, #BusinessEventsPenang, #ExperiencesUnfiltered, #PenangUnfiltered, #ICCAMY and #ICCAWorld.

“At the same time, we are also building human capital by educating students and undergraduates in colleges and faculties of Tourism & Events on the importance of meetings and potential of the business events industry.”

The March 22 attack in London has underlined the growing necessity for business events to come with a crisis contingency plan, industry players say.

Joost de Meyer, chairman and CEO of US-based First Incentive Travel, said: “The London incident is a reminder that the world today is no longer as secure. However, it does not make sense to stop travelling in order to stay safe. Companies can choose to go somewhere they perceive to be safe for incentive programmes, but business meetings have to happen wherever the money is. So the key is to plan for crisis and be ready to respond.”

Kitty Wong, president of Taiwan’s K&A International Co. and World PCO Alliance, agrees, noting that while “safety cannot be guaranteed”, steps could be taken to minimise impact when security issues arise.

“As a PCO, we can and have to provide a safety plan for the client. This is an increasingly common request now. We also recommend that they buy insurance,” said Wong.

Wong noted that since many clients are unsure how to get started on safety planning, the World PCO Alliance is helping to write a set of guidelines on this.

Ulrike von Arnold, deputy director, Vienna Convention Bureau, opined that the host city, too, has to take responsibility for the safety and security of event delegates as “it is the city that attracts business events and delegates over”.

Von Arnold added that meeting planners should also study the safety standards of event venues and be clear about escape routes. She warned against venues that keep ballroom doors locked or have fire escapes blocked by audiovisual equipment.

That said, von Arnold believes that “we are living in the safest of all times”.

“We have 24-hour access to worldwide communications now but we are too focused on negative news. We have managed to overcome most diseases and (spot potential attacks before they happen),” she said.

Sydney’s Carriageworks – a contemporary multi-arts centre in Sydney – has been chosen as the newest location for the Millennial 20/20 Summit on November 14-15, 2017.

The Millennial 20/20 series celebrates the modern age of commerce and business powered by millennials and future generations. The summit will focus on the impact of technology, which is drastically altering how today’s and tomorrow’s consumer will interact with brands in sectors such as finance, retail, entertainment, tourism, consumer goods and more.

Simon Berger, founding partner of Millennial 20/20, explained the rationale behind the summits: “The millennial generation has unprecedented access to technology that makes the way they deal with brands more complex than any preceding generation. The millennial 20/20 Summits have been created to showcase how leading global organisations and start-ups are interacting with this new breed of consumer.”

Millennial 20/20 has partnered with Hannover Fairs Australia, also based in Sydney, to stage the event.

Other editions to be held this year include London (May 3-4, 2017) and Singapore (26-27, 2017). Earlier this month, New York played host as well on March 1-2, 2017, when it attracted close to 3,000 attendees.

Langham Hospitality Group has launched the No Strings Attached PLUS programme offering event planners and organisers booking at participating hotels more flexibility with rewards and privileges.

“In todays’ fast paced society, plans change quickly. We understand the importance of flexibility when it comes to planning meetings and events,” said Simon Manning, vice president of sales and marketing for Langham Hospitality Group.

The Langham, Shenzhen

No Strings Attached PLUS privileges hence include waived cancellation terms; no attrition rate charges; complimentary Internet charges; and no minimum spend on food and beverages required.

Also included are perks such as complimentary room, room upgrade, 30-minute cocktail reception, themed refreshment break and round trip airport transfer, in addition to carbon footprint offset with a range of sustainable options to choose from.

The offer may be booked from April 1 to August 31, 2017 for events taking place from April 1 to December 31, 2017. For more information, visit www.langhamhotels.com/en/no-strings-attached-plus/.

The group is also rewarding loyal planners with additional benefits – with a minimum spend of US$6,500, all takethelead members can qualify for hotel rewards or miles from any of the group’s 11 selected frequent flyer/ travel and lifestyle rewards programme partners.

The implications of US president Donald Trump’s efforts to ban travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries are being felt in the associations sector, with organisers looking at alternative locations for their meetings.

The first travel ban attempt was blocked in January, while a second round of watered-down edicts is presently being challenged by a number of federal judges in the US. For the associations sector, however, the damage has been done and organisers are increasingly unwilling to chance speakers or delegates being refused entry into the US or, in a worst-case scenario, being detained and deported.

Industry players who spoke to TTGmice also expressed concerns over incidents of people not from the seven targeted nations but with Arabic names being refused entry into the US.

John H Graham, president and CEO of the Washington DC-based Center for Association Leadership, said: “Associations that are arranging meetings with international delegates have been negatively impacted already, with people from the technology, sciences and computers sectors prohibited from attending events.”

Graham revealed that many medical and pharmaceutical companies and associations are now moving their meetings from cities in the US to Canada.

He added the the travel ban has put “a cloud over the US as a welcoming country” which “hurts not only association meetings, but has an impact on people from countries not directly named in this ban, who won’t travel now to the US in protest”.

For meeting planner Ashridge Associates UK, a 450-pax conference scheduled to take place in the US was axed shortly after the announcement of the travel ban, due to concerns that some Muslim delegates might be rejected at immigration although they were not from the affected countries, according to Theodore Spyrou, the company’s senior executive.

Halona Padiachy, director of international partnerships for the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said her organisation “would consider changing the location of an event if speakers, delegates or conference attendees were blocked from taking part.”

“We believe in the freedom to travel as being a key human right,” she emphasised. “And we advocate for tourism as a driver for peace and acceptance among people and countries.”

On the other hand, some meeting specialists have downplayed the negative impact of the travel ban.

Fabian Schreder, senior business development manager, Meeting Point International Germany, said: “Tighter security measures mean a safer destination.”

Taiwan-based K&A International Co, president, Kitty Wong, said most Muslim delegates at association meetings would be from Egypt, Malaysia and Turkey – countries not affected by the ban.

This article written by Julian Ryall and Prudence Lui

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.