BOTH the Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central and The St Regis Macao, Cotai Central have debuted tech initiatives for business event planners and guests.

For MICE planners, there is the secure digital meeting planning tool eVent Portfolio which helps to streamline the event-planning process and enables event planners to be environmentally-friendly.

First of its kind in Asia, the centralised web-based tool integrates all documents and correspondence, and sorts them by time and date into an easy-to-use and intuitive user interface. eVent Portfolio can be used on a PC, Mac or mobile devices, where users can plan events easily and connect with other parties by texting through eVent 911, available three days before an event.

This application is offered free to meeting planners, and Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel and The St Regis Macao are the only hotels in Macau to offer it.

The St Regis Macao’s Astor Ballroom

“eVent Portfolio is Starwood Hotels and Resort’s game-changing, web-based tool that makes planning an event faster, easier and more efficient, and offers an organised, systematic and detailed approach to putting together and managing any medium- to large-scale event. (It also) features a special sustainability tab that lets planners track how much paper, energy and waste they are reducing during their meetings. (This will) kick off a new era of mobile event planning, one that centres around going green,” said Daniella Tonetto, general manager of sales and marketing for Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel and The St Regis Macao.

In addition to eVent Portfolio, all of the 4,400 rooms across both hotels will feature complimentary Handy phone devices that allow all hotel guests unlimited local and international calls (to China, US, UK, France, Australia, and Singapore), along with unlimited data access.

Ambassador Harbourview Suite’s spacious living room

REFURBISHMENT of the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong’s largest suites is now complete, marking the culmination of a four-year renovation project at the hotel.

According to a hotel statement, Presidential Suites were designed to encourage entertaining, each housing a grand piano; a ‘bartender’s corner’; two living areas – a principal area for chairman’s meetings and larger, more formal gatherings, and a junior space for casual, intimate soireés.

In addition, each suite features a study, a dining room for up to 12 guests and a fully-equipped kitchen which allows dinner parties catered by the hotel’s chefs.

Andreas Stalder, senior vice-president of product development for Hyatt Asia Pacific, said: “Guests staying in presidential suites usually travel with an entourage and need a separate entrance for staff, a fully-equipped kitchen and connecting guestrooms. They also often need an extra space, but for differing purposes… so we decided to include an unfurnished room in our new Presidential Suites that can adapt to different scenarios and be fitted out as necessary.”

The two 400m² Presidential Suites follow separate aesthetics, namely Classic Traditional and Contemporary Eclectic.

The 110m² Ambassador Suites are evocative of the Bohemian Chic and Aristocratic Adventurer, while the 80m2 Diplomat Suites were inspired by Oriental Chic and Feminine Aristocrat themes.

Suites in these categories include a living area; a work space/dining area for four people; bathroom equipped with an oversized square tub; twin vanity areas with a TV embedded into the mirror; a walk-in wardrobe; and a separate WC.

Stays at the Ambassador and Presidential Suites come with round-trip limousine airport transfers, a one-hour in-room massage, and dedicated Suite Butler service.

All suite guests are given access to the Grand Club Lounge, also newly-renovated.

Other spaces upgraded in this round of renovations are hotel guestrooms, Grand Ballroom, Grand event venues and Grand Café.

ICC Sydney director of events, Malu Barrios, announcing ICC Sydney as the 2017 MEA National Conference destination. Credit: Oneill Photographics

THE International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) will only be open in December 2016, but it already has the backing of national and international associations such as the Meetings & Events Australia (MEA).

MEA will be hosting its National Conference (April 30 – May 2, 2017) at ICC Sydney – part of a 20-hectare transformation of Darling Harbour – to recognise and award leaders in their field, while also fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration.

This is the latest in a line of high profile wins. Other events set to take place at ICC Sydney include the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) Conference and Exhibition (May 11-12, 2017) and Associations Forum’s National Conference (July 17-18, 2017). The International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) has also announced ICC Sydney as the destination for its July 2017 conference.

CEO of ICC Sydney, Geoff Donaghy, said he is delighted with the local and international response to the precinct, and is looking forward to welcoming some of the industry’s top minds to a space that has been custom-designed to help foster innovation.

“Association events are critical to the mix of a global city as they drive business relationships, knowledge transfer, and industry investment. Their active support means ICC Sydney, and the business events we host, will play a fundamental role in supporting professional development and fostering the local knowledge economy – both of which are key to ensuring Sydney remains competitive and attracts top talent,” he added.

Business events are a major economic driver for the Australian economy and ICC Sydney will play a pivotal role in boosting returns for Sydney and the state, including an expected A$5 billion (US$3.8 billion) in economic benefit to New South Wales over the next 25 years.

GRAND Hyatt Erawan Bangkok is offering a new meeting deal that throws in two benefits for groups that book full-day meeting packages.

Called Grand Goes Beyond, the deal rewards groups with tailor-made morning and afternoon breaks with arrival refreshments, and the choice of a Thai set lunch at Erawan Tea Room or Italian set lunch with appetizer buffet at Spasso.

It is valid from now until December 31, 2016.

Prices start from 1,500 baht (US$43) per person.

Contact the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok team at (662) 254-1234 or email events.bangh@hyatt.com for more information.

THE Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur – located along the capital city’s famous historical mile – has unveiled its latest Residential Meeting Package.

The package includes a one-night stay in an elegant Deluxe Room with breakfast; complimentary all-day use of the main meeting room; morning and afternoon coffee breaks; lunch at Contango; all meeting amenities and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Prices start from RM480 (US$120) per person and is valid until December 31, 2016.

For more information, contact the hotel team at (603) 2785-8000 or email tmklresv@ytlhotels.com.my.

Borneo Convention Centre Kuching

THIS year’s ICCA Congress, which takes place in Kuching, Sarawak from November 13 to 16, marks the first time international association executives will be invited as hosted delegates, as opposed to as occasional speakers.

Martin Sirk, ICCA CEO explained: “Our new strategic plan includes the aim of bringing international associations more intimately into our business community, rather than treating them purely as clients for supplier members.

Our focus is on building partnerships to advance and improve their meetings rather than only thinking about the perspective of destinations and venues.

“This concept was already successfully trialled at our smaller Association Meetings Programme in Norway this July, and we’re expecting about two dozen top associations to be represented in Kuching this November.”

This year’s programme features more half-day “mini-conferences” than previously to enable delegates to explore topics in greater depth.

Sirk explained: “Many conferences seem to be moving exclusively towards short, sharp presentations that are primarily designed to entertain an audience, but we felt that the importance of many of our topics deserves to be treated with seriousness. Thus we created space for real exploration of issues. We’ve included in-depth sessions on crisis communication, on the latest healthcare meeting regulatory and funding issues and the theory and good practice of pricing and sales techniques.”

Local hosts which includes Borneo Convention Centre Kuching and Sarawak Convention Bureau have incorporated corporate social responsibility into the programme through a baby orang utan adoption project.

The 55^th ICCA Congress will be held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching. More than 800 delegates from over 60 countries are expected to attend.

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.