CHINA Southern Airlines will commence thrice-weekly service from Guangzhou to Adelaide starting December, the second airline to fly direct to the Australian city this year, with Qatar having started a daily service in May.

“This presents a huge opportunity for Adelaide with the Chinese market,” said Damien Kitto, CEO of Adelaide Convention Bureau.

“Over the past 18 months, our focus on China has been increasing with a dedicated Mandarin speaking staff member joining our team. Relationships (are also) being developed and strengthened via more regular in-market visits and showcase events such as Dreamtime.”

The Adelaide Convention Bureau stated that they will be channeling resources towards the wider Asian region as well as sending its director of sales and marketing to Qingdao in tandem with the Adelaide City Council’s trade mission happening this week.

The bureau is also positive that incentive groups will be lured by the nonstop service coupled with the prospect that South Australia produces 80 per cent of the country’s premium wine, allowing Chinese travellers the chance to visit the notable wine region while passing through nearby destinations such as Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln.

Kitto added: “Adelaide’s offering of an abundance of fresh food including some of the best seafood in the world, premium wine, ease of accessibility and convenience with an enviable environment and lifestyle has, based on feedback from both delegates and those visiting on familiarisations, proven popular with the Chinese market.

“The direct flights by China Southern Airlines, along with flights from Asia by Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Cathay Pacific further increase our opportunities within the Asian market and China.”

ACCORHOTELS debuted its Novotel brand in Xi’an’s CBD last month with an aim to lure small corporate meetings, incentive groups and product launches.

The 275-room Novotel Xian SCPG Hotel is a 15-minute drive to the China Railway High-speed station and 30 minutes to Xi’an Xianyang International Airport. Function rooms range from 60m² to 130m² in size and are able to fit between 50 and 110 pax theatre-style.

According to Accor spokesman Kelly Chen, the hotel has secured pharmaceutical, automobile and cosmetics industry meetings for between 20 to 80 participants since its opening on July 28.

The hotel features a “crab” set-up, ideal for meetings with audiovisual presentations as it allows the speaker to move among the participants and make visual contact with them.

Other facilities include three F&B outlets, a fitness centre and computers with Internet connection.

Novotel Xian SCPG Hotel sits alongside Accor’s four existing properties in the area, namely Sofitel Xian on Remin Square, Grand Mercure Xian Renmin Square, Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian and Mercure on Remin Square Xian.

Hong Kong

HONG Kong’s exhibition industry contributed HK$52.9 billion (US$6.8 billion) to the economy in 2014, up 29 per cent from 2012, according to a study commissioned by the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA).

The Economic Impact Study, which takes into account direct and indirect expenditure, found that the industry accounted for 2.3 per cent of the city’s total GDP for the calendar year.

It further revealed that the industry provided around 83,500 full-time jobs – a 9.6 per cent increase from 2012 – both within the industry and in supporting sectors including hotel, F&B, retail, stand design and construction, and logistics and freight forwarding.

As well, the industry contributed fiscal benefits (i.e. benefits arising from various government taxes associated with exhibition activities and participants) amounting to HK$2.1 billion.

Stuart Bailey, chairman of HKECIA, said: “The study shows the many ways in which exhibitions fuel Hong Kong’s wider economy – for example by spinning off economic benefits and extensive workforce to supporting industries, and attracting high-spending international business visitors to the city.

“(It also) reveals that overseas exhibition exhibitors and visitors continue to spend more than international overnight tourists,” he added.

According to the report, leisure travellers spend an average of HK$7,960 per visit. This is compared to foreign exhibition visitors who spend on average HK$12,776 per visit and international exhibitors who fork out HK$12,829 on average, a 61 per cent increase from their leisure counterparts.

Given these benefits, he urged: “I hope our policymakers will take the findings of this study into account as they plan for the infrastructure and facilities that Hong Kong needs in the years to come.”

Noraza Yusof, general manager at Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau

THE board members of Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau have agreed to the formation of a dedicated body to coordinate the promotion, branding and facilitation of events in the capital of Malaysia.

This is being initiated as part of the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Master Plan 2015-2025, which identified the need to develop a Kuala Lumpur-specific business events unit with focused strategies and initiatives.

“There is no clear vision or strategy for the (MICE) sector in Kuala Lumpur. Governance/ organisation of the industry remains at the national level, under the Malaysia Conventions and Exhibitions Bureau (MyCEB), which is not able to focus its efforts on Kuala Lumpur,” stated a Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau report.

“Hence the need to develop a Kuala Lumpur-specific MICE unit with its own set of Kuala Lumpur-focused strategies and initiatives,” it further explained.

The new body will also provide event support and facilitation for organisers and help with liaising with Kuala Lumpur City Hall on approvals.

Noraza Yusof, general manager at Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau, said the dedicated unit will come under them. It will be made up of a small team who will work in collaboration with Malaysia Conventions and Exhibitions Bureau to strengthen the city’s business events branding and positioning.

Funding for the unit will come from charges that Kuala Lumpur City Hall plans to implement in the near future.

THE Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) has appointed Sudesh Sharma as deputy director of operations, a role that has been newly created “in recognition of the need for broader internal support and succession planning”.

Sharma brings with him over 25 years of experience working in the hotel, banquet and convention industry in markets such as Singapore, Bali and Malaysia.

He was most recently director of food and beverage at Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. He has also held several other senior positions in similar capacity with hotel brands including Sheraton Hotel and ANA Hotel in Singapore, Hard Rock Hotel in Bali, and the Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel and Istana Hotel in Malaysia.

He has also served as project consultant for two years, advising hotels and commercial developments on food and beverage components.

In his new role with KLCC, Sharma will work with and assist the director of operations on primary functions which include planning, implementing, monitoring and improving service delivery of the operations department.

LICC’s Grand Ballroom

THE LANGKAWI International Convention Centre (LICC) has recently enhanced is half- and full-day meeting packages.

Half- or full-day meeting packages, complete with lunch and tea break are priced are RM160 nett (US$40) and RM180 nett per person respectively. Both packages come with complimentary use of an LCD projector and screen, a flipchart and/or whiteboard and two microphones from a choice of wired, wireless, lapel or table microphones. Conference stationery, mints and bottled water are also provided throughout the meeting duration. For additional meeting rooms, a discounted rental charge will be applicable.

For clients who wish to add dinner to the package, there will be a choice of buffet or set menu starting at RM180 nett per person.

“A variety of Asian and international cuisine is available; including Malay, Chinese, Indian, Western and fusion, providing our customers with a delicious conclusion to their meetings,” said Tengku Ramizan, director of LICC.

Moreover, LICC is offering complimentary return transfer pickups for any confirmed clients whose guests are staying at hotels, excluding the neighbouring Westin Langkawi Resort and Spa. LICC delegates will also be able to enjoy 30 per cent discount for any spa treatment and 20 per cent discount for beverages during events.

All promotions are available until December 31, 2017.

Contact the LICC team at info@licclangkawi.com or visit www.licclangkawi.com.