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ICCA, MCI launch global destination sustainability index

By TTG Asia
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ASSOCIATION, event and communication management company MCI has partnered ICCA Scandinavian Chapter to launch the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index.

The index, which is the first sustainability ranking for event destinations worldwide, aims to promote sustainable growth of international meeting destinations by highlighting best practices and responsible business tourism.

It will evaluate the sustainability performance of cities and bureaus in four key areas: city environmental strategy and infrastructure; city social sustainability performance; industry supplier support; and convention bureau strategy and initiatives.

Guy Bigwood, group sustainability director at MCI, said: “Our vision is to have over 100 cities benchmarking and collaborating together by 2020. I am pleased to announce we have 25 Scandinavian cities based in Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Sweden, as well as our first wave of global cities including Barcelona, Geneva, Stuttgart and Sydney.”

Martin Sirk, CEO of ICCA, commented: “The unique feature of the GDS Index is that this is a bottom-up phenomenon, driven by the destinations themselves.

“We believe this is an excellent platform for leaders in sustainability from every region to showcase their policies and good practices, and for any destination to swiftly improve their competitiveness,” he added.

Revamped Dorsett to target more business travellers

By S Puvaneswary
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THE RM30 million (US$7.2 million) total overhaul of Dorsett Kuala Lumpur, scheduled for completion this July, is likely to stand the hotel in good stead to welcome more business and incentive travellers.

The first phase of renovation works, focused on revamping all 320 guestrooms, was recently completed and the second phase, which involves the refurbishment of meeting spaces and public areas, will commence this month.

Christina Toh, area general manager at Dorsett Kuala Lumpur, told TTGmice e-Weekly that the property would more aggressively court business travellers from the Asia-Pacific region once the renovation works are done.

Arokia Das, senior manager at Luxury Tours Malaysia, opined that the overhaul is likely to make Dorsett more attractive to the Indian incentive segment, in addition to Indian holidaymakers who have traditionally favoured the property.

“Upon completion of the renovations, Dorsett should position itself as a premier business hotel and make full use of its strategic location and tie up with nearby malls on joint promotions,” advised Adam Kamal, deputy president ll of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association.

ICC Sydney to feed delegates’ performance

By Rebecca Elliott
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ICC Sydney’s executive chef Tony Panetta with Pambula Oysters from the south coast of NSW

STARTING from December 2016, delegates attending a conference at the brand new International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) will be fed “fresh, healthy food to nourish the body and mind”.

This is according to the centre’s new food philosophy, Feeding your Performance, which was unveiled at AIME in Melbourne last week.

Speaking at a media conference, CEO Geoff Donaghy said executive chef Tony Panetta had been working with nutritionists and regional suppliers in New South Wales to develop an “industry-first approach to cuisine”.

Panetta said the new food philosophy would span the centre’s retail outlets and events.

He elaborated: “We want everyone to know what they’re eating and where it came from; a bit more traceability and trackability. Some of the hallmarks of our great food will be balance, quality, freshness and taste.”

When asked whether there would be any unhealthy options available, Panetta said: “While we stress that it’s a healthy body and mind we’re after, there’s always a balance in everything we do, and everything in moderation is the key here. So yes, horses for courses. We’re there to tailor and customise depending on the requirements, but our focus is Feeding your Performance.”

Nutritionist and media personality Joanna McMillan said, in a promotional video,Ingredients for Success, that square meals were important for delegates.

She said: “There’s no doubt the delegates will benefit from it (the philosophy), and so will the corporations who are putting their conferences here because they will find that their presenters are going to be sparkier, have more energy and be able to deliver more compelling sessions.”

Gold Coast to welcome first permanent beach venue in May

By Rebecca Elliott
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THIS MAY, Queensland’s Gold Coast is set to welcome its first permanent beachfront venue, Kurrawa Terrace. It will be officially launched – and trialled – at the Australian Tourism Exchange.

The A$1 million (US $714,000) project, funded by the City of Gold Coast and the State Government as a Commonwealth Games Legacy Project, will have the capacity for 150 seated guests and 350 cocktail-style, with additional space available at the adjacent level beach area.

Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly at AIME in Melbourne last week, Anna Case, director of Gold Coast business events, said the space would provide the ultimate “sand between the toes” experience.

“It will certainly give us an edge to say yes, you can do an event now (on the beach) on the Gold Coast,” she remarked.

“One of the biggest things we like to promote to (Asian markets), particularly China, is that we have beautiful beaches. Many of them have never really seen a beach. It will certainly appeal to that market segment,” Case added.

Power, water and LED lighting is available on site, but catering facilities, shade structures, marquees and garbage disposal must be arranged by the event organiser.

“If they (the Council) get a good (number of) bookings from our events sector, they’re going to invest in more space along the coastline, which we’re excited about. This (current) space is going to be the leader of many more,” said Case.

Business travel traffic dulls for Singapore

By Paige Lee Pei Qi
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THE decline in business travel to Singapore last year has dented overall tourism performance for the destination as tourism receipts fell 6.8 per cent year-on-year in 2015 to S$22 billion (US$15.7 billion), even as international visitor arrivals climbed 0.9 per cent to 15.2 million.

Poorer tourism receipts were largely due to a six per cent fall in BTMICE visitor arrivals, with a corresponding eight per cent drop in per capita expenditure, according to the Singapore Tourism Board’s chief executive Lionel Yeo.

Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly, Yeo said while 25 per cent of the total number of visitors to Singapore belong to the BTMICE pie, their expenditure can be double that of a leisure traveller.

Yeo said: “As the average BTMICE visitor spends about twice more than the average leisure visitor, the fall in BTMICE visitor arrivals and spending due to companies cutting back on both travel and trip budgets has had a significant impact on our tourism receipts.”

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

“But we are encouraged by the performance of our business events in 2015 where attendance was very healthy,” she added.

Ow highlighted that STB supported more than 350 business events in 2015, which was 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.

“An example is Sibos 2015 in October, which saw over 30 per cent increase in attendance to more than 7,000 visitors,” she said.

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

Significant upcoming business events secured by the Lion City 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, as well as the Lions Clubs International Convention 2020 which is expected to host an impressive 20,000 guests.

Last year, STB announced a 35 per cent increase in marketing investment to enhance the Lion City’s BTMICE appeal.

When asked how STB plans to further court the BTMICE traffic in 2016, Ow said: “We will continue with our strategy to work with our industry stakeholders, to be more specific and targeted in our approach. We will also expand on our media partnerships and as well as global partnerships with online partners.”

Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia are top Asian destinations: Pacific World

By TTG Asia
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ACCORDING to the Global Destination Index 2016 compiled by destination and events management company Pacific World, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia are Asia’s hottest destinations for meetings and incentives among source markets including North America, Australia and other parts of Asia.

Bert Chamrernnusit, destination manager of Pacific World Thailand, commented on the results: “(The lifting of the) state of emergency and martial law in Thailand has contributed to (Thailand) being an appealing (destination) for meetings and incentives.”

Meanwhile, Wayan Sumadi, meeting & incentives manager of Pacific World Indonesia, attributed Indonesia’s popularity with the US market to “the government expediting visas to enter the region and improving flight connections to Indonesia”.

He added that Bali in particular was most popular as it satisfies the demand for special activities that involve interactions with the locals.

Commenting on the popularity of Singapore, Gina Lim, destination manager of Pacific World Singapore, said the city has been able to keep up with clients’ demand for itineraries that go beyond the conventional sightseeing.

“Clients want to be stimulated, inspired and engaged. Singapore is constantly reinventing (itself) with improved facilities to meet the challenge (of impressing a world-savvy audience).”

Malaysia first in SEA to host World Cancer Congress

By S Puvaneswary
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At the WCC 2018 press conference held on February 29 (from left): Clare Ratnasingham, vice president, National Cancer Society Malaysia, Rafidah Aziz, principal patron of National Cancer Society Malaysia and Ho Yoke Ping, general manager – business events at Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau

MALAYSIA has triumphed over India in the bid to host the 2018 World Cancer Congress (WCC) and the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit.
With this win, it is the first country in South-east Asia to host such a prestigious medical forum.

Slated to take place in October 2018, the congress is expected to attract more than 3,200 cancer experts from 11 countries who will convene in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

“Hosting the congress in Kuala Lumpur will bring the highest scale of awareness to policy makers and influence cancer policies regionally to support a cohesive approach to cancer issues,” said Rafidah Aziz, principal patron of National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM).

She added that the impact will be far-reaching, saying: “(Hosting the WCC) would spur activity in regional cancer associations, increase government spending on programmes against cancer, heighten awareness on cancer prevention, and facilitate collaboration within the regional cancer community.”

Ho Yoke Ping, general manager – business events at Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), added that the event will create “immense publicity and global visibility for Malaysia” and raise awareness on Malaysia’s work on cancer control and prevention.

With 40 per cent of delegates expected to be from Malaysia, Ho added: “It is an excellent platform for Malaysia to engage and network with the rest of the world and to discuss best practices with experts from other countries
.”

Explaining how Malaysia came to be selected as host destination, Clare Ratnasingham, vice president of NCSM, said: “Both NCSM and MyCEB spent almost seven months preparing for the bid presentation at WCC 2014 in Melbourne.

“The final decision on which country to host WCC 2018 was made after Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) visited the two bidding countries, India and Malaysia.”

Other government agencies involved in WCC 2018 and the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit include the Ministry of Health, the National Cancer Institute, the Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development, the National Population & Family Development Board and the Ministry of Tourism & Culture.

Bintan Lagoon Resort invites groups to meet for free

By TTG Asia
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BINTAN Lagoon Resort in Indonesia is dangling a free full-day meeting with coffee breaks and other perks to corporate groups that are staying overnight at the complex.

Priced from S$160 (US$114) nett per person per day, the Meet for Free package includes a night’s stay in a Deluxe Room with buffet breakfast, two-way ferry service, return land transfer, Wi-Fi access, complimentary use of a meeting room plus two coffee breaks with two snack items, and buffet lunch. Terms and conditions apply.

Meeting planners can also choose from a list of complimentary add-ons, such as 80 balls swing at the driving range, 15 minutes on the Ninebot trail and access to Powerhouse Gym.

For an additional S$90 nett per pax per day, corporate groups can add an unlimited golf game to their itinerary.

The integrated resort features a dedicated conference centre called the Great Hall, nine function rooms in the main resort building and the golf clubhouse, a comprehensive Adventure Training Centre with professional facilitators to execute corporate programmes, two 18-hole golf courses, a 1.5km stretch of private beach, and its own ferry terminal that operates direct services to Singapore.

For more information, email jaclyn.tan@bintanlagoon.com.

Australian, New Zealand event buyers gain more interest in Asia

By Rebecca Elliott
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ACCESSIBILITY, relative affordability and culture are among the factors driving MICE planners from Australia and New Zealand to choose Asian destinations for their events, according to hosted buyers at AIME this week in Melbourne.

Debra Grandidier from Brisbane-based Events and Leisure, who has events in Vietnam and Thailand later this year, said these destinations seem to offer the same products for less money than in other countries.

“With our dollar being great value in Asia at the moment it’s exactly the destination people are looking for,” she said.

Although Erin Gillin, who represents Strata Community Australia, has yet to book business offshore, she told TTGmice e-Weekly that she is surprised at the capacity available in Asia and with destinations being a short trip away, the region was a logical option for events.

Hot Events New Zealand’s business director, Victoria Wales, opined that improved air access to Asia, as well as culture, food and safety, were driving Asia’s popularity among corporate clients.

“Asia is perceived to be safer now than Europe,” Wales said.

However, she found it challenging to negotiate with Asian suppliers.

“We find we struggle with flexibility of suppliers, but we work with preferred ones now and that’s how we’ve gotten around it,” she remarked.

Strengthening trade links between New Zealand and China are also helping to raise outbound MICE demand for Asia, observed Mark Ferguson, a travel trade specialist who will join Extra Mile in New Zealand next week.

Macau wants to correct Australian buyers’ destination perception

By Rebecca Elliott
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THE Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) had put forth a strong showing at AIME 2016 earlier this week in Melbourne in an effort to correct Australian buyers’ perception of the Chinese destination as one that is strong only in gaming.

IPIM, which is responsible for marketing Macau, almost doubled the number of exhibitors on its stand from the previous year.

Mike Williams, senior partner at GainingEdge who is assisting IPIM with its MICE strategy, said the organisation is working on consolidating Macau’s product offering.

“The big job is to demonstrate the diversity of products in Macau and that Macau is heading off in a new direction,” said Williams, adding that high-end incentives in particular are on IPIM’s radar.

“When you’ve got Michelin-star rated restaurants and most of the major hotel brands present in Macau, (the destination) is much more appealing to the international (MICE) market than it was 10 years ago,” he said.

The bulk of Australian MICE business to Macau has so far been incentives, according to Williams, and IPIM intends to establish Macau as a platform for associations wanting to take their meetings offshore where they do not need a local host.

The destination saw a huge improvement in its ICCA rankings from 2013 to 2014, moving 55 places up to the 101st position.

Executive director of IPIM, Irene Va Kuan Lau, said: “We have to showcase Macau not only in Asia and Europe, but Australia too, as it is one of the most important source markets.”

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTGmice | Karim von Alvensleben helms as GM of Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane
TTGmice | Imaginative settings
TTGmice | Gloria Guevara to lead WTTC as president and CEO