Jakarta’s terror attack barely dents MICE demand

January 21, 2016

THE recent terrorist bombing in Jakarta appears to have marginal impact on business travel sentiments to Indonesia, going by the muted reaction of international buyers at ATF 2016 to the tragic event.

S Rajan, president & CEO of US-based Air Safety Equipment, sees no impact on his company’s business travel to Jakarta. “We are organising a Boeing aircraft equipment product launch in Jakarta in September 2016 and there have not been any concern from participants regarding their safety and well-being in the destination.”

Likewise, Muhamad Zaki, president of RZ Travels US, has not received any cancellations. “Terrorism does not stop people from travelling,” he said. “Our clients still travel as we all realise that there are risks everywhere you go.”

Iris Bloedorn-Millotou of Sunhotels Group and Incentive Travel Spain concurred: “I think nowadays people realise (terrorism) could happen anywhere. People do not want to be intimidated.”

Tama Tour Indonesia, however, has received concerned enquiries from a 1,500-pax incentive group from the US intending to visit Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung and Bali in the coming months.

He said: “We will have to tell them what the ground situation is because they are feeling very uncertain.”

There could be broader implications on long-term travel demand for the region, as Jay Serrano, general manager of US-based JJB Travel, foresees a 20 per cent decline in travel demand to Indonesia and South-east Asia.

Malaysia’s IMR Group director, BP Tan, said: “There used to be more concern about the crime and accident rate when we conduct a risk assessment about a country, but now we have to also take into consideration terrorism.”

Read more ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2016 stories in the digital edition of our Show Dailies here.

Additional reporting by S Puvaneswary and Paige Lee Pei Qi.

New faces at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

By TTG Asia

January 21, 2016

MELBOURNE Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has welcomed new hires across various departments, including operations, event planning and F&B.

Samantha Kent, who was from Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, joins the venue’s customer experience and optimisation team in the newly created position of business development manager. She has many years of experience in business development and events, and has worked in the UK and New Zealand across hotels and stadiums.

Neil Mather, who is named MCEC’s senior manager food and beverage, was last director of food and beverage at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. He has worked with iconic Melbourne venues including Zoos Victoria, Melbourne Arts Centre and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Grant Padula, who is now senior manager operations, recently played a key role in the opening of the new Melco Crown Entertainment Studio City Casino in Macau. He brings with him more than 17 years of experience gained from working in large integrated resorts and the hospitality industry.

Joining MCEC from Diversified Communications and taking on the role of planning manager, Elissa Duke has a wealth of knowledge across all aspects of event planning and execution. Duke will lead the venue’s planning team.

Prue Rogers and Paul Rumble have also taken on senior manager roles in customer experience and technology services respectively.

Global Exhibitions Day to highlight industry’s benefits

By TTG Asia

January 21, 2016

THE inaugural Global Exhibitions Day will be staged on June 8 this year, to commemorate the people working in the exhibitions industry and display career opportunities that the industry has to offer.

An initiative by Paris based UFI and Dallas based International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the campaign is expected to see participation by exhibition organisers, venues, associations and service providers worldwide.

It aims to promote the value of exhibiting for companies, the role of exhibitions for development of trade and internationalisation, as well as their role in driving innovation and competitiveness of companies.

“There are many great national and regional initiatives, addressing exhibitors, visitors, policymakers and other stakeholders. Uniting these achievements under one common umbrella will strengthen the messages and multiply the reach”, said UFI president Sergey Alexeev and IAEE chairperson Julie Smith.

RWS takes S$10 off event rates

By TTG Asia

January 21, 2016

RESORTS World Sentosa in Singapore is offering a S$10 discount per person on its meeting and dinner packages for events booked before June 1, 2016.

Events must be held before September 1, 2016 and guests should meet the minimum requirement of 30 and 50 persons for meeting and dinner packages respectively.

The offer is applicable for new bookings only and subject to availability.

Other terms and conditions apply.

Conrad Manila expects to do well with MICE crowd

By Rosa Ocampo

January 21, 2016

THE 347-key Conrad Manila expects to generate a “pretty substantial” one-third of business from MICE when it opens in March or April, said its general manager Harald Feurstein.

Business events will come naturally for the luxury hotel as it will be connected by footbridges to SMX Convention Center in the convention and exhibition hub within the Manila Bay area.

Feurstein said the facilities are complementary.

With the hotel’s proximity to the Arena sports and entertainment venue and Manila’s business centres and tourist attractions, as well as its two levels of upscale retail shops within, Conrad Manila is also expected to draw “other market segments”.

Feurstein remarked: “We can be all things – MICE, leisure and business (travel). We’re a little bit of everything but we’re really good in all of that.”

Conrad Manila will satisfy the need for a business-friendly luxury address in the Manila Bay area, which currently offers five-star hotels in the integrated resorts of Solaire and City of Dreams, which may appeal to a different type of travellers.

The hotel’s comprehensive facilities include a ballroom for up to 1,000 pax, a junior ballroom for 450 pax, seven meeting rooms, a boardroom that can seat 20 to 50 pax and the Verandah outdoor function space for up to 400 pax.

Dining options include the Sea Lounge Bar, China Blue which is led by Chinese master chef Jeremy Leong, and Brasserie on Three which offers healthy cuisine made with organic ingredients.

Philippines whet tourists’ appetite with food festivals

By Rosa Ocampo

January 21, 2016

APRIL is dubbed “food month” in the Philippines as it readies to host two international culinary events – Madrid Fusion Manila and World Food Street Congress – in addition to a month-long gastronomic feast across the country.

“This is an opportunity for us to share to a global audience the richness and contemporary edge of Filipino gastronomy,” said Tourism Promotions Board COO Domingo Ramon Enerio III.

A highlight of the food month is Madrid Fusion Manila taking place from April 7 to 9, said Enerio, which will feature a larger contingent of world-renowed and Michelin-star chefs in its second edition this year.

Expected to draw some 1,000 tourists, Madrid Fusion Manila will feature Spanish and Asian chefs, including Joan Roca of three-Michelin-star El Celler de Can Roca, S Pellegrino’s world’s best restaurant for 2015; Eneko Atxa of two-Michelin-star Azurmendi Restaurant in Basque, Spain; and Yoshihiro Narisawa of three-Michelin-star Les Creations de Narisawa in Tokyo.

The World Street Food Congress, which were held in Singapore for past two years, will take place in Manila from April 6 to 9, confirmed Enerio.

A big hit in Singapore, the Food Congress promotes comfort and street food in a bid to preserve food culture and heritage, professionalise the street food craft and open business opportunities.

Projected to bring in about 1,000 tourists, the Philippines might negotiate to be the venue for the World Street Food Congress next year depending on the success of the event.

Taking place in conjunction with the April food month is the Flavours of the Philippines, a food festival featuring food markets and curated Filipino menus in numerous establishments around the country, Enerio said.

Flavours of the Philippines will include activities such as kulinarya tours, cooking lessons and demo, food fiestas and sales, weekend markets in Legazpi Village, Makati and Centris in Quezon City, among others.

Read more ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2016 stories in the digital edition of our Show Dailies here.

AirAsia’s new Guangzhou link fuels Malaysian interest in the Chinese MICE market

By S Puvaneswary

January 18, 2016

SOME Malaysian MICE players are intensifying courtship of MICE operators in Guangzhou, encouraged by AirAsia’s new four weekly direct service between Langkawi and Guangzhou since January 24.

John Chan, business development director, Kris International Traveltours, said: “This new route had elevated the status of Langkawi as a premier destination for MICE alongside Penang and Kota Kinabalu.

“Chinese travellers have also become more culturally and environmentally conscious. Langkawi’s status as a UNESCO Geopark, coupled with its beautiful beaches and rainforests will appeal to them.”

Chan believes that the new low-cost air link comes at an opportune time, when the yuan is weak. Smaller Chinese companies will be able to find savings by flying with budget carriers.

He added: “We have (also) increased our promotional efforts in neighbouring cities in Southern China to take advantage of the new flights to get more MICE business to Langkawi.”

Another inbound MICE operator, Mint Leong, managing director of Sunflower Holidays, told TTGmice e-Weekly that she will introduce new incentive itineraries in Langkawi at the upcoming Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings China in Shanghai in April.

“With these direct flights, meeting planners and incentive houses can make Langkawi a mono destination, without having to twin it with Kuala Lumpur,” Leong opined.

“MICE hardware in Langkawi has expanded with the opening of Langkawi International Convention Centre last year while the upcoming The St. Regis Langkawi in April will provide more high-end inventory. There are also a number of new attractions that will appeal to the Chinese for post-show tours,” she added.

Christian Metzner, general manager at The Andaman Langkawi, said the resort will beef up its offerings of teambuilding activities this year.

Iskandar Zulkarnain, director of sales at the resort, revealed that the resort was eyeing the meetings and incentives market from China, especially during the resort’s low periods.

China is the largest foreign tourist market for Langkawi. Due to the direct flights, Langkawi Development Authority is planning to organise B2B promotions in Guangzhou and neighbouring cities in the 2Q2016 to attract more leisure and MICE business.

Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort rolls out new experiential meeting programmes

By TTG Asia

January 15, 2016

Aerial view of Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort

FIVE new packages for meetings and events are now available at the 203-key Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort, offering activities that range from engagement with the Balinese community to customised teambuilding experiences.

Aimed at enhancing the delegate’s experience, these packages are: Share Your Plate programme where guests create a meal with unknown ingredients which will then be shared with children from the local orphanage; a 15-minute post-lunch activity with Sheraton’s fitness team; a three-minute SHINE Spa massage session during coffee breaks; a selection of power bars and candies at the refreshment lounge; and an After Work Happy Hour session where beers and cocktails are served at the refreshment lounge. Prices per pax vary.

These packages come with use of the hotel’s meeting spaces, complimentary microphones, a projector, conference sound system, clutter-free meetings set up, stationery, candies and bottled water.

Surrounding corporate firms to provide bulk of business to upcoming Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila

By Karen Yue

January 14, 2016

Shangri-la at the Fort, Manila’s premier suite

ONLINE marketing initiatives and sales promotions for the 576-room Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila in Bonifacio Global City that had begun long before its scheduled opening on March 1 this year, have led to strong expressions of interest from local and overseas MICE planners.

In an interview with TTGmice e-Weekly, the hotel’s general manager, John Rice, said hard hat tours for interested parties and available rate structure and meeting packages have allowed the hotel to “submit our offers and negotiate for high potential leads”.

While the Shangri-La brand needed little introduction, Rice’s team made an awareness campaign their “first order of business”. It touted its extensive conference and meeting spaces – 21 in total and said to be the city’s largest collection – among other selling points, drawing the attention of event planners.

The Grand Ballroom, measuring 1,800m², and other function rooms are inspired by a jewelry box and outfitted with Lasvit chandeliers that resemble a necklace and wall panels that look like brooches.

Rice expects “good demand particularly from within the Bonifacio Global City accounts, as there is a very limited supply of meeting venues and (five-star) hotel rooms in the area”, with the brand and facility size drawing mostly “corporate and social milestone events”.

“We will also be the venue of choice for our exciting and creative meeting packages and services, courtesy of the on-trend facilities this comprehensive complex will have the flexibility to offer,” he added.

Shangri-La at the Fort intends to leverage its close proximity to Kerry Sports Manila, a 8,000m² sports complex across levels five and six within the same mixed-use development, to court sports events and corporate programmes that desire some action.

“Sports is popular locally, particularly basketball and badminton which Kerry Sports Manila will have the facility to host through The Arena, an NBA-grade indoor basketball court which can be converted into a badminton court. Our multiple training zones and the Adventure Zone may also be the venue for teambuilding exercises, family-bonding activities and themed breaks,” said Rice.

Meanwhile, Rice hopes that the country’s successful hosting of the 2015 APEC meetings in Manila will “put us back on the map of new MICE destinations”.

SECB beefs up Greater China-focused assistance scheme with new partners

By Prudence Lui

January 14, 2016

SINGAPORE Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB) has enhanced its Inspire Great China 2.0 events assistance scheme with three new partners – Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa Leisure Group and Singapore Turf Club – in a bid to drive stronger MICE traffic from Greater China.

The programme has three tiers – basic, value and premium – and aims to promote Singapore’s unique attractions by packaging curated itineraries that appeal to visitors from the region. Applicants may apply before the end of 2016 and travel to Singapore before March 31, 2017.

Director of SECB, Low See Peng, said: “M&I groups are accorded VIP treatment with complimentary exclusive one-of-a-kind experiences. It’s an upgraded version with tailor-made offers from our new partners.”

For instance, the premier tier – available to groups with more than 400 pax staying at least two nights in Singapore – will see partners like the Singapore Turf Club offering a complimentary light buffet, free-flow soft drinks, a guided tour to the parade ring, a workshop on “how to pick the winner”, and admission to the racecourse.

Low said the programme will introduce distinctive events and experiences in Singapore to fend off keen competition.

“We’ll keep fine-tuning and see which ones are popular,” he added.

Gardens by the Bay’s assistant director of events venue sales, Aloysius Tang, said: “We have zero incentives from Hong Kong so there is definitely room to grow.”

Last December, SECB led a delegation of 15 suppliers to Hong Kong and met with some 50 key MICE agents.