WORLDHOTELS, a global brand of independent properties, is planning to add 20 China members over the next two years and focus on increasing its share of MICE business.

Roland Jegge, executive vice president Asia Pacific, named Hangzhou, Chengdu, Dalian, Shenzhen, Kunming and Chongqing as target cities.

“Location, good MICE facilities and a green approach are the key factors we are eyeing. With China MICE groups looking at getting away from the hustle and bustle of city life, we are also keen on mountain resort locations that provide between 200 and 500 rooms,” he added.

As well, Worldhotels launched the Nin Hao Guest Programme in January to help global members qualify and attract the right business from China. Apart from providing Chinese translation for collateral and websites, the Worldhotels Academy also provides courses and training on how to sell to the Chinese and conduct business in China.

Jegge also announced that a former longtime member Hotel Kunlun in Beijing has rejoined Worldhotels’ Deluxe Collection.

Of Worldhotels existing network of 30 hotels in Greater China, the majority are located in Hong Kong, followed by Beijing and Shanghai. The company also has presence in Guangzhou with two hotels and one each in Nanjing, Macau, Shenzhen, Shenyang, Suzhou, Changsha and Wuxi.

Meanwhile, Worldhotels launched World Luxury – a collection of independent hotels certified by LRA by Deloitte – in May. It welcomed its first China member, The White Swan Hotel, in July. The hotel in Guangzhou joins an exclusive club of five others in Phuket, Nha Trang, the Maldives, Gothenburg and Los Angeles.

THAILAND Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Monaco Convention Bureau and Tourism New Zealand have signed up as new ICCA Association Relations Partners.

They join others such as FIEXPO, which signed up as a regional Association Relations Partner for Latin America in 2015.

This is in lieu of ICCA’s inaugural Strategic Plan, where one of its key goals is to bring international associations more closely into ICCA’s global community for the international association meetings industry.

The newly-launched Association Relations Partnership is a collaborative programme designed to help ICCA deliver a programme of new activities and online services that will strengthen its relationship with international associations.

As well, the partnership model allows ICCA tradeshow and destination marketing members worldwide to strengthen their own ties and raise their profile within the international association community.

THE Thai minister of tourism and sports, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, is urging business events in Thailand to proceed as planned as the country mourns the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej last Thursday.

“(The King’s passing) will not have any impact on tourism. Thailand (itself) will proceed with its promotion activities for the sustainable development of the tourism industry according to King Bhumibol’s wish,” Kobkarn said.

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) will maintain its participation in IMEX America this week, but will drop performances from its programme at the show.

While business events, such as roadshows, seminars and meetings, can take place as planned, Kobkarn said some events, especially those involving outdoor entertainment, should be suspended for the next 30 days.

Bangkok’s 18^th International Festival Dance & Music, for instance, has been postponed, “as everyone was not in a celebratory mood”, shared TCEB vice president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya.

PK Exhibition Management, organiser of the massive domestic tourism fair Thai Tiew Thai, will proceed with the event on November 3-6, but will call off performances.

Krit Pattarapan, managing director of PK Exhibition Management, told TTGmice e-Weekly that Thai Tiew Thai will also adopt a different theme – Sufficiency Economy, a philosophy conceived and developed by King Bhumibol.

Sumate Sudasna, president of Thailand Incentive & Convention Association, said the Thai government has sought the cooperation of the private sector to abide by the mourning period do’s and don’ts, particularly the suspension of entertainment activities for 30 days.

However, Sumate believes that this will not negatively impact Thailand’s MICE business, as the people’s unity in demonstrating love and respect for King Bhumibol reflects the country’s culture and character, which will “benefit Thai tourism”.

HAVING identified Indonesia as its second most important source market in Asia, JTB Global DMC Network is stepping up its in-market promotions to raise brand awareness of the company and to showcase its network of DMC partners across the world.

It will host its second roadshow in Jakarta today, fielding representatives from its global network of DMC partners, specifically TPI America (representing North America and Hawaii), Tumlare Destination Management (representing Europe), JTB Global Marketing & Travel Inc. (representing Japan), Lotte JTB (representing South Korea) and JTB CSO (representing Asia-Pacific).

The partners will showcase new and current programmes, and spotlight relatively fresh destinations to the Asian market. For instance, Tumlare Destination Management will highlight Scandinavia and Russia; JTB Global Marketing & Travel Inc. will promote Muslim-friendly programmes; JTB CSO will push multi-destination itineraries in the region.

The event is expected to see a stronger attendance than the first edition in 2015, when it welcomed 100 buyers from more than 50 local travel agents.

Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly in an interview, Toshihide Ozaki, senior manager, global inbound business at JTB, said: “We consider Indonesian as one of the fastest growing and most dynamic in the (Asia) region. We are also aware of the fact that after China, Indonesia is the biggest source market for us in South Asia. Taking this into view, we want to tap the potential and create a market share for ourselves in 2017.”

Ozaki shared that JTB Global DMC Network aims to achieve 870 million yen (US$8.3 million) in sales from Indonesia by end of 2018, up 150 per cent from 2016’s forecast.

While he said business from Indonesia “was not as promising as the last”, he is confident that 2017 will be a good year for the company when the market “bounces back”.

The Jakarta roadshow follows similar showcases earlier this year in Wuhan and Nanjing, China and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. JTB Global DMC Network started its roadshow blitz in 2015 when it kicked off a massive growth plan to expand its global footprint. Key to this plan is the company’s establishment of local sales offices and branches worldwide, as well as acquiring established DMC specialists in key regions.

IBTM world has partnered with the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation and NBTC Holland Marketing to launch Rendezvous – the foundation’s signature networking and fundraising event – at the show this year.

Rendezvous, to take place on November 30 at the Opium Barcelona nightclub, will be an exclusive ticketed event for ibtm world attendees and local MPI members. Proceeds from the event will be invested into the MPI Foundation, which funds scholarships, grants and pan-industry research. Meanwhile, NBTC Holland Marketing is onboard as the exclusive destination supporter and partner for this 2016 event.

“Meeting professionals from around the globe attend ibtm world, which is great exposure for the foundation and its effort to fund education and pan-industry research,” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI.

NBTC Holland Marketing’s director for meetings & events, Eric Bakermans, added: “It perfectly fits our goals to create awareness for Holland as a business event destination and it will be virtually impossible to miss out on this night full of fun and dancing.”