Dubai’s ibis One Central opens

March 16, 2016

AccorHotels has added a new property in Dubai with the opening of ibis One Central. The property is next to the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Part of the Dubai Trade Centre District, the hotel will target a mix of leisure and MICE travellers coming to the UAE.

It offers 588 guestrooms, five meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 200 people, on-site restaurants, and an array of amenities including free Wi-Fi, gym access, underground parking, and a complimentary shuttle bus service between the hotel and selected attractions in the city.

Qingdao gets second Grand Mercure property

By TTGmice

March 16, 2016

The 508-room Grand Mercure Qingdao Nanshan Resort has opened adjacent to Qingdao International Exhibition Centre, boasting its own selection of venues that can support a variety of events.

Meeting planners can choose from eight function rooms, two boardrooms and two pillarless Grand Ballrooms that can accommodate up to 1,000 guests.

Guestrooms spot contemporary interiors and are fitted with modern facilities, including a minibar, complimentary Wi-Fi connection and a flatscreen TV.

Dining options include Sunshine Global Western Restaurant, Linhai Xuan Chinese restaurant, and the Lobby Bar and Cigar Bar.

Business travellers can choose to unwind at the resort’s fully-equipped gym studio or take a dip in the pool and relax in the sauna. The resort’s private stunning beach is located within walking distance, where guests can enjoy relaxing strolls and breathtaking scenery.

SIA first to operate international flights from Canberra

By TTGmice

March 16, 2016

From September 2016, pending regulatory approval, Singapore Airlines (SIA) will ply the Canberra-Singapore and Canberra-Wellington routes four times weekly each, making it the first carrier to operate regularly scheduled international flights from Australia’s capital city.

Flights depart Singapore at 23.00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and will arrive in Canberra at 08.35. The flight will then leave Canberra for Wellington at 09.50 and arrive at 15.05 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Return flights will depart Wellington at 20.15 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and arrive in Canberra at 22.05. On the same days, the flight will leave Canberra at 23.30 and land in Singapore at 05.50.

A Boeing 777-200 comprising 38 business class seats and 228 economy class seats will operate on the routes.

Tickets have gone on sale from January 25, with economy fares starting from S$650 (US$452) all-inclusive for Canberra-Singapore return and S$469 all-inclusive for Canberra-Wellington return. Business class fares start from S$3,166 all-inclusive for Canberra-Singapore return and S$1,450 all-inclusive for Canberra-Wellington return.

Singapore Airlines’ partner Virgin Australia will also codeshare on flights between Canberra and Singapore.

InterContinental Singapore completes renovation works

By TTGmice

March 16, 2016

InterContinental Hotels Group, in collaboration with design firm Fbeye International, has completed a major five-year renovation of InterContinental Singapore.

The redesign sees the enhancement and continuation of the hotel’s colonial and Peranakan heritage theme, with the hotel lobby, lobby lounge, all-day-dining restaurant Ash & Elm, and the 316 tower rooms and suites overhauled.

Fbeye also previously redesigned the hotel’s executive club lounge, 67 shophouse-style guestrooms and suites, as well as Cantonese restaurant Man Fu Yuan.

Singapore Expo amps up Wi-Fi service

By TTGmice

March 16, 2016

More than 15,000 active devices can now concurrently access seamless connectivity at the Singapore Expo, following the venue’s upgrade of its Wi-Fi infrastructure.

Two high-speed fibre broadband connections and the most advanced wireless access points have been installed, among other enhancements, to all 10 exhibition halls at Singapore Expo and 32 meeting rooms at MAX Atria. Both are designed for optimal performance due to continuous operation, and workload generated from concurrently active devices.

Aloysius Arlando, CEO of SingEx Venues, said: “With Wi-Fimax, we now offer event organisers, exhibitors and delegates highly flexible and customisable Wi-Fi access; and not just limited to basic Wi-Fi services normally provided by some venues.”

Michael Lim, director of human resource and information technology, SingEx Holdings, said: “The system is part of an upgrade that extended the Wi-Fi service to cover both the entire Singapore Expo and MAX Atria. Only the MAX Atria was covered previously. Along with this upgrade, we are now able to deliver higher user densities and bandwidth.”

The complimentary Wi-Fi service is suitable for webmail, social media and normal Internet browsing. Event organisers who require higher bandwidth of over 2Mbps have the option to increase the bandwidth according to their requirements.

According to Lim, depending on the exact requirements such as bandwidth and the number of concurrent devices, the venue can work out a package for event organisers, which can be scaled accordingly.

Stronger penguin presence

By TTGmice

March 16, 2016

Phillip Island, located just 90 minutes from Melbourne, has long been a favourite on the itinerary for business events hosted in Victoria. In fact, every week, at least one MICE group pays a visit to watch the famed parade of little penguins as they make their way from the ocean to their burrows.

The good news is the Penguin Parade became a whole lot more accessible last November with the launch of Penguins Plus, a new 300-seat platform and an underground viewing area for up to 70 people that doubles as a cocktail function space.

Less than a five-minute drive away is the Nobbies Centre, which as of December 2015 is home to an interactive new exhibition called Antarctic Journey.

The joint venture between the World Wildlife Fund Australia and Phillip Island Nature Parks tells the story of the landscapes and wildlife along the journey from Phillip Island to Antarctica via the Southern Ocean. Augmented reality technology transports visitors to the southernmost continent where they will be met by friendly fur seals and other sea life that jump out of the water.

New association for Macau’s event players to enhance destination promotion, industry standards

By Prudence Lui

March 14, 2016

MACAU welcomed a new association for professionals in the meetings, incentives and special events industry last Tuesday.

Todd Cai, president of the Macau Meetings, Incentives and Special Events Association (MISE), said the association was a year in the making, “after the Macau government announced that MICE is a priority in its tourism strategy”.

“Thus, it’s timely to have an association with an international network to (promote) Macau as a destination (for business events),” Cai added.

He noted that while there were many associations in Macau, most of them were focused on exhibitions and none covered the three segments of meetings, incentives and special events.

“What sets (MISE) apart is that we utilise an English platform compared to the majority of associations here which communicate in Mandarin. With more fascinating new venues coming online, it’s vital to build awareness as international MICE buyers do not understand Macau’s potential and capability well,” he said.

MISE secretary, Bruno Simoes, told TTGmice e-Weekly that many special events in Macau are organised by the government and 90 per cent of production are done by local professionals.

Simoes said: “There is a need for the private sector to drive special events like weddings and sports in different venues. While the tourism sector offers professional education (on areas like) F&B, we don’t see much (being offered) on audiovisual production or stage setup. Therefore, we plan to bring international certification courses like Certified Meeting Professional programmes to Macau.”

Other activities that MISE will get busy with include producing related reports and sharing of international case studies that will help Macau’s meetings, incentives and special events players to perform on par with other excellent destinations.

Simoes said: “This year, our white paper has got three topics to explore, namely transportation, MICE statistics, and special venues for events.”

As a non-profit organisation, MISE plans to kick off destination marketing and do at least two to three business/networking events a year, with guest speakers to discuss pertinent issues or share report findings.

Other objectives include generating business opportunities for members, to attract events from the international arena to Macau, to provide education and training to its members and the MICE industry in general, as well as provide on-the-job training for young members of the MICE industry.

A stable foothold on top: Singapore

By Paige Lee Pei Qi

March 11, 2016

The island nation is the top Asian city in ICCA’s 2014 list

Thanks to numerous large-scale events and high-profile conference wins, the country’s ranking looks solid in the face of global headwinds. By Paige Lee Pei Qi

Singapore continues to outshine its Asian counterparts with its accolade of being the top Asian city to be ranked among the top 10 convention cities in the world by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in 2014.

Steadily maintaining its position as Asia’s Top Convention City for 13 consecutive years while finishing seventh in the overall ranking of convention cities, Singapore hosted 142 ICCA events in 2014, a dip however, from the record 175 ICCA events held in 2013.

Singapore put forth another stellar performance in 2015, with STB supporting more than 350 business events in 2015 – a 27 per cent year-on-year increase from 2014. This resulted in 287,000 visitor arrivals, a year-on-year hike of 0.3 per cent.

According to Jeannie Lim, executive director, exhibitions and conferences, conventions and meetings, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Singapore welcomed the prestigious World Confederation of Physical Therapy Congress last May – the first time it was held in Asia – which saw more than 4,100 participants from 114 countries.

Returning to Singapore last October, after 12 years, was the world’s premier financial services event Sibos 2015, which attracted 8,200 delegates from all over the world, making it the largest Sibos event in Asia-Pacific.

Sven Bossu, head of Sibos, said: “What made us return to Singapore was the city infrastructure that has luxurious conference halls and leisure amenities near to one another, allowing us to enhance our event.”

“For instance, the Gardens by the Bay is close to our event venue, Marina Bay Sands, allowing us to organise a 5km fun run and walk before the start of the day. This gives delegates a chance to better know each other in an informal setting that may potentially lead to a business partnership,” Bossu added.

According to Vincent Yap, assistant director, institutional division of MCI Group Asia Pacific, 2015 has been a “full year for MCI” with a good run of association events.

Explaining the appeal of the destination, Yap said: “Apart from the easy access, stable political structure and vibrant economy, most MNCs have a local presence in Singapore, which helps to provide an attractive proposition for association conferences, as they seek corporate sponsorship to fund the event.”

Hailing the new Global Association Hubs Partnership with Dubai, Washington DC, and Brussels as a “siginificant milestone” last year, STB’s Lim explained: “This (partnership) was formed in response to the increasing decentralisation of international associations and it aims to raise standards and grow the presence of them in each of the four partner cities.”

Through this partnership, Lim said: “Singapore aims to be a platform for international associations to grow and build their capacity in the region, create opportunities for local and regional associations to develop their global membership base, and cultivate best practices.”

However, even as the business events sector continues to shine, there was an overall six per cent fall in BTMICE visitor arrivals last year, with a corresponding eight per cent drop in per capita expenditure, according to the STB’s latest statistics unveiled on March 1.

According to STB chief executive Lionel Yeo, factors like companies cutting back on both travel and trip budgets were reasons behind the decline in business travel arrivals and spend.

STB’s deputy chief executive, Melissa Ow, added that China and India took a great hit in terms of business travel traffic.

“We recognise business traffic will be subjected to some of the conditions that will impact overall economies,” Ow said. “That means there are many opportunities for us to think about how we might grow our business events.”

However business might be in the coming years, the Lion City can rejoice now over several big wins in its bag. They include the International Council of Nurses World Congress 2019 which will see 3,000 visitors, the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress 2019 which is expecting 6,000 guests, and the Lions Clubs International Convention 2020 for an impressive 20,000 guests.

{Taking Numbers}

{Insider}
Andrew Koh, managing director of Events Architects

Andrew Koh, managing director of Events Architects, proposes three local must-dos

Start your day at a hawker centre

Singapore is famed for its great tasting and affordable food at hawker centres. Experience the hustle and bustle of a typical Singapore morning. Try a popular breakfast option of bread with kaya (coconut jam) and learn to order your hot beverage the local way.

Tour Singapore’s few remaining farms

Visit fisheries and the few remaining agriculture and horticulture farms at Kranji Countryside.

Alternatively, go on a self-guided tour and learn about the magnificent history of Kranji, Lim Chu Kang, Neo Tiew and Choa Chu Kang enclaves through the Kranji Heritage Trail.

Visit the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage site

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is the first and only tropical botanic garden on the list. With a rich history of more than a 150 years, the gardens offer visitors a wide range of self-walking trails to choose from. Free guided tours by volunteers on selected days are also available.

{Spotlight}
All that glitters is silver

Feast your eyes upon the first Philippe Starck-designed hotel in Singapore, The South Beach, which has already been hailed as a visual stunner in the heart of Singapore’s city landscape.

This 654-room designer luxury hotel features an extravagant ballroom that promises to charm your delegates. The grand ballroom, À La Carte, which hosted its first event in October last year, is located in one of the hotel’s four heritage buildings. It seats 370 guests banquet-style, with 320 guests seated on the ballroom floor and 50 guests seated on the mezzanine level which overlooks the entire ballroom.

The venue’s high ceiling is adorned with a “Forest of Lights “– a 11,520-light installation designed by Philippe Starck. The venue is also home to a expansive 9.5m high by 15.8m wide LED wall for projections. Situated within the ballroom are pre-function spaces as well as a VIP holding room.

Also available are 15 additional meeting rooms that are customisable and conducive for private meetings, breakout sessions, product launches as well as exclusive lunches and dinners. Suitable for a variety of group sizes, the meeting rooms can be combined to cater to groups of up to 72.

A spokesman from The South Beach said: “MICE planners have the luxury of curating event programmes to suit the needs of their guests through the spaces and facilities in and around the grand ballroom.”

“From gala dinners to trade conferences and events, they will find added charisma and gravitas from the historical value of the grand ballroom as it is housed in a standalone heritage building featuring expansive high ceilings,” the spokesman added.

The hotel is part of the South Beach mixed-use development which incorporates heritage sites – three army blocks and the well-known Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Club – along with two new tower blocks. The Court Martial Bar, set in one of the army blocks, draws on its courthouse history to serve concept drinks.

The second 1,200m² army block, South Beach Quarter, is home to four new F&B concepts by lifestyle group Massive Collection. These include Vanity, a cocktail bar; Vatos Urban Tacos, a Korean-Mexican restaurant; The Armoury, a gastropub with a wide range of craft beers and boutique wines; and a nightclub.

The South Beach Grand ballroom in all its shimmering
splendour

Building a paradise: Bintan

By Karen Yue

March 11, 2016

Bintan Lagoon Resort has stepped up hardware improvements to keep itself
fresh and attractive to leisure and corporate guests; Nelayan restaurant
(above)is its newest dining destination

Major developments in two new districts in Bintan are spurring existing properties to spruce up, benefitting the destination as a whole. By Karen Yue

The masterplans of both the Lagoi Bay and Treasure Bay integrated resort areas in Bintan bore promises of a massive uplift for the Indonesian resort destination when they were announced years ago.

Although details of what’s to come have changed over time – for instance, Treasure Bay’s developer Landmarks and world renowned wellness brand Canyon Ranch have called off their partnership to build a luxury resort on the island barely two years after the plan was announced on June 13, 2014 – and opening dates for many of the new hardware have been delayed, the developments are enough to spur existing tourism suppliers into revamping their own offerings for a better fight.

At press time in March, new tourism infrastructure that are already in operation include The Canopi and Crystal Lagoon in Treasure Bay. Meanwhile in Lagoi Bay are the Swiss-Belhotel Lagoi Bay, The Sanchaya, the Air Adventure Flying Club, Flyboyz Beach Bar, Plaza Lagoi shopping mall, Bintan Marketplace and Lake Lagoi.

Both The Canopi – which features 41 safari tent-suites – and the Crystal Lagoon, both of which sit side by side, have hosted several teambuilding groups (see Spotlight – Crystal clear adventures).

Swiss-Belhotel Lagoi Bay, which presently offers 130 keys including 60 twin-share rooms, is equipped with function spaces. The Diamond Ballroom can seat 400 pax in theatre-style and be divided into three smaller venues. Four other smaller function rooms are available, along with a rooftop pool deck which has been a hit with planners for networking parties with up to 200 guests.

By the end of 2Q2016, a second hotel tower will open with 27 one- and two-bedroom apartment-style guestrooms and more restaurants.

“Being new is an advantage but we could do with more traffic,” commented Imelda Chen, the hotel’s sales and marketing manager.

Function rooms now see a 50 per cent occupancy monthly, with most meetings being held over weekends.

Chen said most events are by companies based in Singapore, although domestic meetings conducted by Indonesian telecommunications firms and banks are substantial too.

To enhance the stay experience for hotel guests and to encourage longer stays, Swiss-Belhotel Lagoi Bay has built an entertainment centre with a 30-seat movie theatre which can be hired for seminars and presentations, and a games area offering console games, foosball table and pool table.

A fishing facility on the edge of the serene Lake Lagoi, within walking distance from the hotel, is new too. A friendly fishing competition for groups can be organised there.

The hotel is also expanding its fleet of watersports equipment to include jetskis and banana boats.

Chen said the hotel can arrange simple teambuilding activities such as cooking classes and towel-folding classes in its function rooms, as well as Segway and hoverboard trails around Lake Lagoi.

For planners who require a more opulent option for C-level guests, they now have The Sanchaya (see Checking in, page 32).

Fay Gauna Lugue, director of sales and marketing with The Sanchaya, said the 30-key property has welcomed teambuilding groups, corporate meetings and incentives since opening in December 2014. The average size of these groups was 40 pax, with the largest being a 55-pax gathering in April last year.

“We don’t get massive groups because we don’t have that many rooms and our twin-share villas are in Hollywood twin setup,” Lugue explained. To help secure larger corporate groups, she has been pitching to planners the possibility of splitting delegates across a few hotels.

“There is a cooperative culture among hotels in Bintan and we refer business we aren’t able to take on to one another,” she remarked, adding that hotels collaborate on recreational activities too.

She said: “We work closely with Nirwana Gardens in organising ATV and elephant rides for our guests. A segment of the Crystal Lagoon is reserved for our guests during the monsoon season when our beach is closed. And since we do not have a kids club, we point our guests to The Canopi where plenty of suitable activities are available.”

While chiefs of existing resorts recognise the intense competition the new developments bring, they agree that fresh products will help to raise awareness of Bintan.

“(They) create a buzz for Bintan and boost tourist arrivals,” remarked Gerald A Hendrick, vice president, business development and hotel operations, Bintan Lagoon Resort.

Agreeing, Alpha Eldiansyah, general manager of Banyan Tree Bintan, expects stronger arrivals to the island, as well as more repeat visitors and longer stays at his property and Angsana Bintan as a result of guests wanting to experience all the new attractions.

“Bali went through a similar transition and became a world renowned resort destination with its own character. Bintan now has the potential to grow into a more comprehensive MICE destination while retaining the rustic charm and rainforest setting that makes it such an attractive getaway,” said Eldiansyah.

But Bintan’s established players are not content to let the newbies get all the attention.

Asad Shiraz, director of marketing with Bintan Resorts International (BRI), which markets Bintan’s tourism developments, told TTGmice that “existing resorts are responding by upgrading their facilities and enhancing their appeal by adding new recreational choices to their resorts”.

Indeed, Bintan Lagoon Resort has been undergoing an intensive renovation since 2015, starting with a rebranding in July, upgrading and enhancements to Silk nightclub and Terrace Sports Bar, and boosting its Wi-Fi system. It opened Powerhouse Gym and Jungle Gym for kids. Soon to come is a refreshed Kopi-O restaurant and monthly activities for guests.

Hendrick said: “These works have positioned the resort as a trendsetter in Bintan.”

The 20-year-old Nirwana Gardens complex has also refreshed the rooms in Nirwana Resort Hotel’s west wing in 2015 and opened the new PADI-certified Max’s Dive Centre in November.

Further renovations will be made to the east wing, Banyu Biru Villas, Indra Maya Pool Villas and Mayang Sari Beach Resort, while the complex’s Internet will be powered up with fibre-optic cables and guests will get 1MB of complimentary usage.

Recreational offerings will be enhanced too, with new and upgraded sports equipment coming online. One of the latest fun offerings at Nirwana Resort Hotel is the guided sunset and sunrise tours on ATVs and Ninebots, allowing participants to enjoy the surrounding nature in style.

Walid F Birak, general manager of Nirwana Resort Hotel, said: “MICE groups need activities, and our resort has many to offer. But to truly grow our corporate event business, we need the help of an international airport. The current domestic airport operates only three domestic flights a day.”

The airport in question is the Bintan Resorts International Airport, whose opening date has shifted to early-2018 from 2015. Gallant Venture, which leads the project, is in “various discussions with airlines, airport operators and other related businesses at present”, said Shiraz, who added that construction is now progressing “at a fast clip”.

Tourism players in Bintan are also urging a much stronger destination marketing effort to highlight the new and improved Bintan.

Lugue said: “My biggest obstacle is the impression business event planners have of Bintan. But Bintan today is different. Before, the mangrove was its only attraction. Today there is so much more to do and see.”

When asked what BRI is doing to change and improve consumers’ perception of Bintan, Shiraz said: “We will have to relentlessly promote all the new) aspects through all channels at our disposal and within our reach.”

He added: “Bintan is not a ‘side-destination’ of Singapore. It is an equally attractive partner – if not different. Bintan adds to the appeal of a Singapore programme by giving it a beach holiday dimension, a nature escapade dimension and an Indonesian cultural dimension, just to name a few.”

Conduct a presentation at Swiss-Belhotel Lagoi
Bay’s new theatre

{Taking Numbers}

{Insider}
Anshuman Narayan, estate manager of The Sanchaya

Anshuman Narayan, estate manager of The Sanchaya, recommends three things to do in Bintan

Go flying

Capture a bird’s-eye view of scenic Lagoi Bay by taking to the sky in an open cockpit ultralight seaplane with Air Adventures Flying Club. You can feel the adrenaline coursing through your veins as the aircraft takes off and you will be in awe of the spectacular views.

Go play on the lawn

Make a roquet shot during the quintessentially British sport of croquet on our manicured lawn overlooking powder-white sands, palm trees, aquamarine waters and picturesque islands. Make the most of Bintan’s glorious year-round tropical climate by escaping to a bygone era playing croquet or pétanque, with tea, Pimm’s or pastis as refreshments.

Go see the fireflies

Cruise down Sebung River by night and experience the mangrove forests’ serenity. Known as lightning bugs, the fireflies are literally the stars of the show, collectively twinkling like Christmas tree lights. Brimming with stars, the night sky over Bintan is also brilliant.

{Spotlight}
Crystal clear adventures

The new Crystal Lagoon in Bintan’s Treasure Bay integrated resort complex is both an eye candy and a gem of a playground for corporate groups seeks active fun for teambuilding programmes or pre/post-meeting get-togethers.

Equivalent in size to 90 Olympic swimming pools, the lagoon is South-east Asia’s first and largest recreational sea-water body that uses a unique and patented water purification system. The eco-friendly technology uses 100 times less chemical products than conventional swimming pools and consumes only two per cent of the energy needed by conventional filtration pools.

Besides its sustainable draw, Crystal Lagoon is set to excite event planners with its myriad of fun water sports. Thrill seekers can swim, wakeboard on a cable ski circuit, kayak, ride a paddleboat, go water-ZOVBing (water-walking in an inflated ball) and fly nine metres up in the air on a hydro-powered Jetovator, among many other activities.

The clear blue waters is also adorned with a floating inflatable bouncing waterpark that provides hours of fun.

The white sandy beach around the lagoon is great for volleyball, and numerous sun loungers allow participants to take a rest and get a tan.

And since the Crystal Lagoon is man-made, it remains safe for users during the monsoon season.

Singapore-based teambuilding specialist, The WOW Experience, is able to support corporate groups looking for fun at the Crystal Lagoon.

Should corporate groups desire to meet before the games, The Canopi, a collection of safari tent-suites located along the Crystal Lagoon, offers a rustic function room that is good for 70 pax in a classroom setup.

According to Jasvinder Kaur, spokesperson of Landmarks, the developer of Treasure Bay, The Canopi has hosted several corporate groups for three-day/two-night teambuilding programmes which included water games at the Crystal Lagoon as well as other activities such as trekking and mangrove tours.

“These groups are mostly 50-pax in size because The Canopi has only 41 tent-suites,” she said, adding The Canopi has been seeing “very strong interest” from leisure travellers across the weekends, corporate groups and even public event organisers.

“There have been requests for us to add more tent-suites, and this is something we will consider,” she said.

Time to shine: Cebu

By Rosa Ocampo

March 11, 2016

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino is one of the few hotels in Cebu that can
support mid-sized business events

An upcoming convention centre, more international branded hotels, a larger airport and better air links will change Cebu’s fate, writes Rosa Ocampo

Several developments taking shape in Cebu will help the Philippine destination realise its dream of becoming a business events hub in two years’ time.

A soon-to-come convention centre will address the city’s lack of large-scale venues, while more international hotel chains are eyeing Cebu for their next portfolio expansion which will quench the city’s thirst for global brands.

Walid Wafik, vice president–general manager of SMX Convention Centers, told TTGmice that SMX Convention Center Cebu, slated for an end-2017 opening, will be able to accommodate up to 5,000 pax.

SMX Convention Center Cebu will also have an arena for huge concerts and similar events, as well as a hotel that has yet to be branded, Wafik revealed.

Due to the absence of a convention centre in Cebu, industry sources said the destination has had to reject big events. Mid-sized gatherings in Cebu are usually held in the meeting facilities of hotels such as Radisson Blue Cebu, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu.

The growing presence of global hotel chains seeking to add properties in Cebu is a much needed development in a province where the majority of hotels are family-owned.

Dusit International will open the 295-key Dusit Princess Hotel Cebu in 2018 and is looking to add another in Cebu’s Oslob resort town, while Asian hospitality chain Plateno Hotels Group is shopping for new opportunities in the province.

Jean-Luc Kebers, managing director of 3D Hospitality Bridge, said interest from foreign hotel investors is good for the industry because it creates competition with local developers.

These hardware developments bode well for Cebu’s business events sector, and they complement the ongoing expansion of Mactan International Airport which will have a second passenger terminal by 2018, said Mary Grace Paulino, tourism officer of the Cebu Provincial Government. The new terminal will double the airport’s capacity to 12 million passengers yearly.

International air links are also being improved. In March Philippine Airlines began direct flights from Los Angeles; Emirates connected Dubai with Cebu via Clark International Airport; EVA Airways launched services from Taipei; XiamenAir started direct services from Xiamen, China.

Matt Poonin, manager sales and marketing, Travelite Travel and Tours, is confident that the new services will boost arrivals from the US, China, Taiwan and Europe especially the French, Dutch, German and UK markets, aided by the new Emirates service.

Poonin told TTGmice that before Emirates had begun its Dubai-Cebu service, a French automotive distribution company had approached Travelite for a series of incentive trips in Cebu for April 2016. Participants will fly from Paris via Dubai, a popular transit point for European travellers today.

Alice Queblatin, managing director of Southwind Travel & Tours (Cebu), expects more MICE groups from the Middle East to come on the wings of Emirates’ new service as well as plans by Qatar Airways to resume direct services between Doha and Cebu this year. Qatar Airways used to serve this route until five years ago.

Kebers expects Cebu to grow as the main gateway to the Philippines.

“Cebu is strategically located as you pass it to go to Bohol or Siquijor in the Visayas and to Siargao in Mindanao,” said Kebers.

He added that “many flights from Manila and China (come through) Cebu” and that “will help solve the (congestion at) Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International airport”.

Jerrie Mendoza, sales manager of Waterfront Hotel & Casino, believes that the recent infrastructure developments will attract more business events from South-east Asia and change the MICE profile that is now dominated by the domestic market.

Meanwhile, a MICE task force is being considered to further harness business amid the positive developments in Cebu. If that pushed through, the team would comprise the Department of Tourism, the local government and private sector players.

{Taking Numbers}

{Insider}
Ann Olalo, director of sales and marketing with Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu

Ann Olalo, director of sales and marketing with Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, recommends three must-dos in her city

Marvel at Cebu’s ancient Christian landmarks

Visit the huge Basilica del Santo Niño and the 595-year old Magellan’s Cross in front of it. Both landmarks bear testament to the city’s Christian faith, a heritage from Spain.

Chow down local eats

Try Cebu’s famous lechon (whole pig spit-roasted over charcoal) and mangoes.

Go shopping

Make time to shop for local souvenirs and Cebu delicacies such as dried mangoes and other dried fruits, dried seafood, cookies of varied ingredients, and more.
Magellan’s Cross, planted by European explorer Ferdinand
Magellan in the 16th century

{Spotlight}
Celebrating Cebu’s craft

Destination Specialists (Cebu) Inc. has begun offering a customised arts and crafts tour to highlight the province’s renowned artisans and their products ranging from export-quality furnitures to dried mangoes.

MICE and inbound manager Merlyn Ebora said the bespoke programme – which is fast gaining popularity among corporate groups – is not merely a tour; participants can also craft their own accessories and ship purchases back home.

The tour includes a stop at the factory of world-renowned furniture maker and manufacturer Kenneth Cobonpue, whose unique pieces grace the homes of royalties and celebrities worldwide. Over 300 craftsmen make upmarket products for his eponymous brand Kenneth Cobonpue and Hive, a collection of Filipino and international designers.

Another interesting activity is the visit to Alegre guitar factory to see the intricate processes involved in assembling the string instrument. Skilled artisans make high-quality guitars that are exported to the US, Canada, Japan and other countries. Participants are also introduced to the assorted types, designs and sizes of guitars.

The tour then goes to the production facilities of Kor Landa Accessories, formed more than 30 years ago by French custom jeweller Jean-Daniel Christin. Kor Landa produces mainly fashion jewellery for export. They are made of natural materials like wood, mother of pearl and stones, and sometimes synthetic produce.

The Cebu experience wouldn’t be complete without visiting the factory of leading dried mangoes exporter Profoods International in Mandaue City. Participants will see how the fruits are selected, prepared, ripen, peeled, sliced and packed. There is also a mango museum and a shop offering discounted buys.

Ebora said other arts and crafts facilities can be included in the programme, depending on participants’ interest.

From left: Alegre guitar factory, Kenneth Cobonpue showroom