Shangri-La dons VR headsets as part of global sales strategy

January 4, 2016

Hailed as the latest game-changing innovation in the video games and movie industries, virtual reality (VR) headsets have now entered the travel trade in a big way as Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts began the use of Samsung Gear VR across its 17 global sales offices.

According to a media statement, over a quarter of Shangri-La’s 94 properties already have 360-degree videos available for viewing on the headsets, with a full roll-out expected in 2016.

These devices, powered by VR technology company Oculus, are used primarily as promotional and education tools, allowing travel agents, meeting planners and potential clients the ability to virtually experience Shangri-La properties worldwide.

“Shangri-La is investing significantly in technology and the future of travel content, which is why we are embracing virtual reality on this scale,” said Steven Taylor, chief marketing officer of Shangri-La International Hotel Management.

“Travel experts play a critical role in their fields and the traveller’s decision-making process. This is why our first VR efforts are focused on them,” added Taylor.

“Their clients depend on them to ensure holidays, business trips and meetings are enjoyable and effective. Shangri-La’s VR experiences will enhance their knowledge about our hotels and their ability to sell with confidence to their clients.”

Those who have their own Oculus-compatible VR headset can also download and view the 360-degree videos from Shangri-La’s website.

Second Sofitel in Singapore ready for guests

By TTGmice

January 4, 2016

Singapore’s second Sofitel property has opened on Sentosa island, armed with 211 rooms and suites, four villas, more than 1,300m² of MICE facilities, four dining options (including Kwee Zeen pictured here) and what is said to be the world’s largest So SPA facility.

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa spots a bold and elegant design that integrates the surrounding nature within the hotel’s various buildings, and boasts more than 27 acres of tropical woodlands, offering guests a sense of relaxed sophistication and urban resort living.

Offering a rich option for event planners, the hotel’s revamped Conference Centre houses two ballrooms, 15 pillarless meeting rooms, outdoor verandas and a bridal suite. All meeting rooms are illuminated with natural light and stretch out to the outdoor lawn, making them ideal venues for corporate brainstorming sessions, teambuilding, leadership training and cocktail receptions.

The hotel is also collaborating with DirectStreams, a long-standing technology partner of Sofitel, to offer the latest fully-connected innovative lifestyle technology through DirectStreams’ LG Smart TV Guest solution, providing guests with the best technology experience to meet the needs of a diverse audience.

A tantalising retreat

By TTGmice

January 4, 2016

Does the name Lintong sound familiar? Great if the Terra Cotta Warriors came to mind, but give yourself a firm pat on the back if you had guessed it was where the Tang Dynasty Emperor Xuanzong and his famous Concubine Yang used to go for their indulgent baths.

And since October 31, 2015, the county in Xi’an, China is also home to Angsana Hot Spring Xi’an Lintong, a sprawling and luxurious facility that boasts more outdoor hot spring pools than one could possibly experience in a single day.

All 25 outdoor hot spring pools are fed with natural hot spring waters piped down from Lishan Mountain.

Landscaped pools are the most fascinating, as their waters are infused with different herbs and tea – pine for Purifying pools; lavender for Renewal; Shang Nan Quan Ming Tea for Balancing. However, we think that the real crowd-pleaser would be the Yang Gui Fei pool, tucked away in a serene part of the hot spring paradise and beckoning visitors with its secret concoction that promises to revitalise one’s beauty.

There are also six Couple Pools offering flower infusions, five tranquil Forest Pools and a Family Pool that comes with a hydrojet therapy pool and a kid’s pool.

Angsana Hot Spring Xi’an Lintong also offers 12 private cabanas for hire – four Deluxe ones that can accommodate four to six guests each and eight Superior ones for two guests each. These feature a private outdoor hot spring pool, spa treatment bed(s), a relaxation area, dressing area and en-suite bathroom.

Even more facilities are available in the indoor complex: separate onsens for ladies and gentlemen, a large heated indoor pool, a Foot Lounge for rejuvenating foot rubs, a Hot Stone Lounge that warms the body and promotes blood circulation, the signature hydrothermal facility, Spring Forest by Angsana, which marries European spa features with Asian wellness philosophy, and rooms where a range of body treatments are offered.

Operated by the award-winning Angsana Spa chain, visitors are assured of outstanding wellness treatments and exquisite service.

Angsana Hot Spring Xi’an Lintong makes a perfect leisure add-on to any business events held at the 400-key Angsana Xi’an Lintong hotel next door – although meeting delegates will need to set aside time to explore and truly enjoy the varied facilities there!

A tough courtship still

By S Puvaneswary

December 31, 2015

Sponsorships are even harder to come by these days, but associations will see greater success by having innovative activities and investing time and effort in building a relationship with sponsors, writes S Puvaneswary

The tough economic environment today and a greater focus on measuring and achieving return on investment have made securing sponsorships an even steeper challenge for many associations. Some are lamenting that it is harder to obtain support today than during the last global financial crisis.

Manoj Verman, president of the Indian National Group of International Society for Rock Mechanics, has observed how event sponsorship is losing its appeal among companies.

“There are other avenues of marketing that are opening up, created by the Internet,” said Verman.

And as conferences evolve to become more web-based and traditional ones see a reduction in live attendance, Verman predicts that courting sponsors will become even more arduous.

Tiani Bradilovic, Melbourne-based conference and event organiser with the Association of Corporate Counsel, said: “Organisations have tighter budgets and they are now demanding more for less. They want us to work for them and bring business to their doorstep whereas our arrangement was to give them access to our members. While they value what we can offer them, they are not prepared to pay for it.”

Speaking from experience, Philippine Council for the Advancement of Association Executives (PCAAE) president and CEO, Octavio Peralta, said new associations such as his, find it even more difficult to get sponsors as compared with established associations.

He said: ‘We have to build our credibility first and then look for sponsors that match our objectives.”

PCAAE’s inaugural 2015 Association Executive Summit in Manila on December 3 and 4 last year was fortunate to have received support from the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board and the Philippine International Convention Center. The former provided grants for PCAAE to hold events while the latter provided the venue.

Sponsors are also becoming more selective of the events they wish to sponsor, remarked Jose Cambler, project manager at Meeting Planner System in Spain. He shared that most sponsors want to participate in congresses because they seek brand recognition and brand recall, but decline other activities.

Gracie Geikie, director/ principal consultant of Planet Borneo Group of companies based in Sarawak, noted that animal welfare projects tend to get less attention from sponsors.

She elaborated: “Seeking grants and sponsorships for SSPCA (the Sarawak Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals) can be difficult because most organisations have budget only for corporate social responsibility programmes which are people related.”

To overcome this obstacle, Geikie used her experience in planning conferences and events to devise out-of-the-box solutions to raise funds for a SSPCA shelter and a proposed new animal village.

“While we still and will always need corporate sponsors, the strategy of creating public events such as a half-marathon, a fun race and a music festival has helped open some doors. It produced a new platform for organisations to support the events, which indirectly supported our cause,” she said.

SSPCA has so far organised the WAG Music Festival, a concert featuring musicians from around the world who chose to perform for free, and the third Animazing Race which welcomed more than 1,000 runners.

But the one event that truly helped SSPCA achieve its objectives and “opened the eyes of several hundred delegates” who stepped up to be ambassadors for its cause, was the Asia for Animals Conference which the organisation had successfully bid for.

Describing the conference as both a challenge and reward for SSPCA, Geikie said it was the first animal and animal welfare conference ever to be held in Malaysia. It took place over a week in October 2015.

Besides considering innovative ways to draw grants and support, association experts recommend investing time and effort to build a relationship with potential and existing sponsors.

Simon Pryor, CEO of the Mathematical Association of Victoria, said it takes time to get a new sponsor, thus associations should build a relationship with sponsors and treat them as their long term “partners”.

He also advised associations to implement a sponsorship policy that looks at the type of sponsors they wish to court for their events. While it is easy to identify sponsors that are a good fit, associations should also target sponsors that seem incongruent as there are companies that will want to come onboard merely to be identified with other big name brands.

International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) regional director for Asia Pacific, Noor Ahmad Hamid, underscored the importance of keeping existing sponsors happy and urged associations to find ways to offer added exposure and value to sponsors.

He said: “The best type of partnership would be one where the sponsor has a stake in the event and can help to design activities around it, in order to promote their products and services effectively. In this regard, the association would need to have the flexibility to customise the event based on the sponsors’ input.”

Peralta agrees, saying: “It makes more sense to work for a long-term relationship with sponsors and come out with packages, such as a one-year partnership, rather than getting sponsors for individual events.”

Keeping competition fresh

By TTGmice

December 31, 2015

12DEC-Malaysia-Junior-TIger-Cup — Malaysia Junior TIger Cup winners

Event brief
The idea behind the Malaysia Junior Tiger Cup culinary team challenge was formulated by Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s executive chef, Richmond Lim, who desired a platform to develop the talent of aspiring young chefs.

It took a year for the centre and the Malaysian Association of Hotels to conceptualise and plan the Malaysia Junior Tiger Cup, before it was inaugurated at Culinaire Malaysia 2015, a culinary challenge held in conjunction with the 13^th Malaysia International Exhibition of Food, Drinks, Hotel, Restaurant & Foodservice Equipment, Supplies, Services & Related Technology (commonly known as FHM 2015).

The Malaysia Junior Tiger Cup saw 12 teams of five young chefs and chefs-to-be create three modern cuisine dishes – an appetiser, a main course and a dessert item.

According to Lim, the inaugural competition attracted strong interest, with participants from Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, the UAE, Thailand and Singapore.

Challenges
Like any culinary competition, sourcing for and providing fresh quality ingredients to the participants were of utmost importance. The organisers were particularly concerned about the storage of ingredients for the Mystery Box challenge. Additionally, due to the large number of participants, the centre expected a high wastage of ingredients.

Lim explained: “The Mystery Box challenge was the most unusual element of the event as teams had to catch live eels and cook them as part of their dish. We needed a plan to ensure the eels were safely stored and kept secret from the competitors.”

Another challenge for the organisers came in the form of the event layout, which unexpectedly proved to be an inconvenience for both the judges and the audience. The judges had difficulties moving around the event area while the audience were unable to get a direct view of the competition happenings.

Solutions
To ensure that the ingredients remained fresh for participants to use in their cooking, the centre worked closely with suppliers to select top quality produce and followed a delivery timeline. The centre also utilised its technologically-advanced kitchens to store the items.

Food wastage was minimised by using a cabinet trolley refrigerated container system that was invented for the competition. The system enabled ingredients not used during the competition to be stored and later recycled for other purposes, such as in the preparation of committee meals. The same system was also used in Culinaire Malaysia 2015, which resulted in a 60 per cent decrease in food waste collected in 2015 compared with Culinaire Malaysia 2013.

As for the eels in the Mystery Box challenge, they were placed in a tank equipped with an oxygen pump.

The layout problem was, unfortunately, without a solution. Lim commented: “This is an area which will need to be addressed at the next edition, perhaps by having a raised viewing platform for spectators or a ‘live’ feed projected onto big screens.”

Key takeaways
Emphasising on the importance of early preperations to minimise challenges and avoid setbacks during the event, Lim said: “To cope with the organisational and coordination challenges, groundwork started almost one year in advance. Of course, having an experienced team on the job helps!

In addition to the numerous teleconferences and meetings with the organisers, internally we had countless inter-departmental meetings to go over all the different aspects.”

Event: Malaysia Junior Tiger Cup 2015
Organisers: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and Malaysian Association of Hotels
Venue: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Date: September 29 to October 2, 2015
Number of participants: 12 teams of five chefs

Exploring different angles

By TTGmice

December 31, 2015

Looking at various solutions to tackle challenges is how Dongyue Group, with Taiwan Tour’s support, ensures its annual meeting runs smoothly. By Prudence Lui

Event brief

Dongyue Group is one of China’s top companies for fluoride and silicon products. Every year, it searches for an appealing place to launch new products, check out recent technology, and exchange ideas with clients.

In 2013, Taiwan was picked and five months prior to the event, Taiwan Tour signed the contract to help organise the conference, distributor meetings and post-conference tours. Taiwan Tour also arranged for a visit to Formosa Plastics Group’s complex in Mailiao for a business exchange.

Challenges

Out of a total 544 attendees, about 70 per cent of the delegates were Chinese who came from more than 400 major China enterprises.

According to Taiwan Tour’s vice general manager, Angel Lin, one challenge was the visa application, as there were some limitations for Chinese when it came to entering Taiwan (not all cities in China were eligible for Taiwan’s FIT visa application). About 25 per cent of delegates were affected by this. Moreover, Dongyue booked hotel rooms late, hence there was a shortage of about 200 rooms.

Solutions

Taiwan Tour connected Dongyue with Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) which solved their problems with immigration and customs for such a large group. Dongyue also explored various ways to tackle the visa issue, such as applying for a business visa instead.

To resolve the room shortage problem, Taiwan Tour gave its own 200-room hotel allotment (a set number of rooms that the agency contracts from a hotel) to Dongyue.

Meet Taiwan also offered assistance such as venue researching and providing complimentary souvenirs for delegates.

Key takeaways

Taiwan Tour recommended a site visit to the leading Formosa Plastics Group Complex which had positive feedback. It is vital to pick a corporate which possesses similar scale of operation and ranking in order to promote exchange. The factory visit also showed mainland MICE groups that apart from sightseeing, Taiwan had more to offer such as business exchanges with local industry players.

The level of expertise in planning and executing the event helped Taiwan Tour bag a silver award in the Corporate Meeting and Incentive Travel category at the Taiwan MICE Awards 2014.

Going all out to impress

By TTGmice

December 31, 2015

W-Taipei_Case-Study_Roxy_02_ChioTian_Drums_cmyk — W Taipei ChioTian Drums

Event brief
W Taipei has been welcoming summer with its signature Shock Wave Summer Party for the past two years, an event that precedes a series of pool parties held every Sunday and one that is rolled out in partnership with Roxy, a global brand renowned for its surfwear and boardsport products.

The summer festival was due for its third edition in May 2015 and the luxury hotel needed to develop a concept that would continue to impress its guests.

Challenges
W Taipei knew it had to outdo itself for the 2015 edition and at the same time meet Roxy’s show requirements.

Wet weather concerns were also on the minds of the organiser, as the party was to be held outdoors.

Additionally, as pool operations had to be halted during the set up of the event for four days, W Taipei had to be ready for potential complaints from hotels guests who were being inconvenienced.

Solutions
To raise the bar on the 2015 edition, the hotel featured an opening act by the hotel’s very own music curator Sona Eyambe, a music genius who had toured the world with popular DJs Derrick Cator and Mark Farina and spun for parties hosted by luxury labels such as Louis Vuitton.

To bring an even more energetic vibe to the party, W Taipei built a million-dollar concert-standard stage on the WET Deck by the pool, which came with a giant backdrop that spelt ‘WOW’, a massive 250-inch LED screen and a crystal runway, revealed Julian Lin, the hotel’s assistant e-marketing manager.

Fellow organiser, Roxy, chose to up the entertainment ante by having Chio Tian Folk Drums & Arts Group as the curtain-raiser and held a fashion parade featuring world surfing champion Kelia Moniz, global brand ambassador Monyca Eleogram and 20 celebrities and models to showcase its summer bikini collection.

To spread Roxy’s brand message “#ROXYReady to explore Taiwan”, finger food was served on specially designed surfboards while Taiwan’s representative dessert – pineapple pie – was featured on the menu to give off a summer vibe.

To guard against wet weather, the hotel installed a large tarpaulin over the WET Desk and a drainage system. It also conducted a traditional ceremony to pray for good weather.

To prepare its guests for the party, the hotel posted closure notices on its website and online travel agency sites, and issued advisories to its guests via reservation confirmation emails and pre-arrival emails. The same notices were placed on premises too.

The hotel was also prepared to transfer guests to its sister hotel Le Méridien Taipei should they insist on swimming during the affected days.

Key takeaways
Lin discovered that the presence of “many celebrity-like models with huge influence on social media” at the event allowed the hotel to benefit from publicity generated by Roxy’s VIPs and media.

“For an instance, the welcome amenities we prepared for the Japanese models and bloggers created an enormous social media impact for our hotel,” he noted.

Event: Shock Wave Summer Party and Roxy 25th Anniversary Fashion Show
Venue: W Taipei’s WET Deck and WET Bar
Date: May 29, 2015
Number of attendees: 300

The islands where MICE finds happiness: Fiji

By Rebecca Elliott

December 30, 2015

The South Pacific archipelago of more than 300 islands is becoming a larger blip
on the radar of MICE organisers
Picture by nigelspiers/123RF.com

A dedicated convention bureau is now in place to take the country’s growing MICE market to the next level, writes Rebecca Elliott

After many years of political instability, Fiji is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance, with tourism and the MICE sector coming out on top.

According to Fiji’s inbound operators, 2015 has been the best year they’ve had to date in terms MICE business. And with the advent of the Fiji Convention Bureau this year, there’s no sign of the South Pacific destination slowing down.

At the helm of the bureau is director of events, Sally Cooper, who has been with Tourism Fiji since 2013. Prior to this, she spent more than 10 years working with an inbound operator on conferences, incentives and events in the country.

Speaking exclusively to TTGmice at the Pacific Area Incentives & Conferences Expo (PAICE) in Auckland in November, Cooper explained that with more than 500 convention bureaus worldwide, it was time Fiji had a much stronger voice in the MICE market.

“Most of the service providers had been driving the market, the inbound tour operators, as well as the large properties that can accommodate large conferences,” she said.

“Tourism Fiji always represented the market, but we didn’t have a dedicated person that actually managed this side of it.”

Cooper said following the democratic election in September 2014 there had been a great “boom” in investment with the likes of AccorHotels and Starwood building new properties, coupled with organisations having the confidence to bring their corporate programmes back to Fiji.

“There’s a lot of positive growth and much of it is focused on the conference and incentive market, so we have to be there to drive it and fill those hotels.”

The bureau is funded by Tourism Fiji and prides itself on being a “neutral and unbiased” information portal. It represents the entire destination rather than a membership base.

Cooper said: “We’re presenting multiple options to professional conference organisers and they’re getting the option to choose something that caters entirely to their programmes, their group, their individual needs rather than just hearing about the bigger players that have the marketing dollars to represent themselves internationally.”

Also speaking to TTGmice at PAICE, director of sales and marketing of the Sofitel Fiji Beach Resort and Spa, Michael Bell, said the new Fiji Convention Bureau was working very well for the hotel.

“We’ve seen a 30 per cent lift in conference business from last year to this year,” he said.

“When you look at shows like this you know you’re not just competing with other hotels in Fiji, but also with other destinations around the world, and I think it’s important that we have a professional body that understands the MICE market.”

Cooper said Asia was one of the bureau’s focus markets going into 2016. Early in the new year, they’re expecting a number of charter flights from China – mainland Chinese visitors don’t require a visa to visit Fiji. While in April, Fiji Airways will begin twice-weekly direct flights between Singapore and Nadi International Airport.

“The biggest attraction for the Asian market is the people of Fiji. It’s a very friendly, laid-back and warm culture. When people come to Fiji they’re welcomed as if they’re coming back home, they’re family, not visitors to the country, and I feel that has a great deal of appeal.”

{Taking Numbers}

{Insider}
Tony Whitton, managing director of Rosie Holidays

Tony Whitton, managing director of Rosie Holidays, proposes three Fijian must-dos

For the benefit of others

Make a connection with the Fijian community, whether through a corporate social responsibility event or through some of the wonderful interactive Fijian village experiences Rosie Holidays can offer.

Be marooned for a day

Take over a deserted island for the day for an exclusive “Fiji Postcard” island experience. This can either be fully indulgent with beach cabanas and massages, or action-packed with jet skis and snorkelling safaris.

A night of merrymaking

Experience one of our dinner events – fabulously formal or a fun Fijian theme. The event can be on a beach under stars or in the jungle next to a cascading waterfall and be complemented by uniquely Fijian entertainment. Think marching bands, traditional dance troupes and a Pacific fire show extravaganza.

{Spotlight}
A dignified dame’s lofty ambitions

Affectionately referred to as the ‘grand old lady’ of the Pacific, The Grand Pacific Hotel, located in Fiji’s capital of Suva, is the newest five-star hotel to open in the country.

With a history dating back to 1908, the original building, which once hosted Queen Elizabeth II, closed its doors in 1990.

In 2011, its resurrection was announced in a joint venture between Fiji National Provident Fund, Papua New Guinea Superannuation Fund and Lamana Development PNG. The Fiji National Trust was an advisor to the project to ensure the new build remained true to its colonial heritage.

The property reopened in May 2014 and is blessed with beach frontage. The hotel features 103 rooms across four room types, and 10 suites including six, one-of-a-kind designs. In addition, it offers 1,250m² of function space across six rooms. The biggest space is the Britannia Ballroom, the largest pillarless ballroom in Suva, which can cater for up to 420 people for banquet dinners or 500 cocktail-style.

Gordon Rigamoto, director of sales and marketing, said: “The hotel is currently rated Best Hotel in Suva on TripAdvisor and Expedia ratings. The property has great potential for sole use or buyout for medium to large programmes that want a true Fijian experience.”

Since opening, the hotel has hosted high calibre international events like the African Caribbean Pacific-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, as well as regional conferences such as the Pacific Island Development Forum.

Facilities in the hotel include three restaurants, two bars and the Swiss Bakery, which holds the record of the longest Swiss roll ever baked. There is also a business centre, day spa, swim and fitness centre, a tour desk and free Wi-Fi.

Rigamoto said the hotel has received more enquiries from Asia for MICE events.

As such, he said: “We plan to explore opportunities in Asia, mainly in Hong Kong due to the direct flight access to Fiji. China, South Korea and Singapore are also markets that we are looking to target in 2016.”

Outlook a box of chocolates: Malaysia

By S Puvaneswary

December 30, 2015

Malaysia has dropped in terms of popularity when it comes to
groups seeking MICE destinations
Picture by paulwongkwan/123RF.co

The trade’s reaction to Malaysia’s MICE business is a mixed bag due to her prevailing economic instability, reports S Puvaneswary

Malaysia is currently reeling under the combined onslaught of a depreciating currency and sluggish economy.

On the MICE front, there are signs that the sector from China could benefit from the market turmoil. On the other hand, the recent reduction of seats between Kuala Lumpur and Delhi is hampering growth, while the strong Singapore dollar is driving MICE business elsewhere.

Operators in Malaysia handling the Chinese market are seeing strong bookings for 2016, driven by improved air links from China and visa exemptions for Chinese groups of 20 pax and more from October 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016.

Air China has also resumed four times weekly services between Beijing and Kuala Lumpur since October 25, complementing the daily services of Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia X. China Southern Airlines has also commenced thrice weekly services from Guangzhou to Kota Kinabalu since December 1.

Li Haijiao, account manager of Beijing-based Comfort MICE Service, said: “Better direct air accessibility and visa waiver for groups will definitely help to promote (Malaysia).”

Chinese MICE groups are showing a stronger interest in Malaysia thanks to the competitive prices, observed Winnie Ng, deputy general manager of Kuala Lumpur-based Pearl Holiday Travel & Tour.

She said: “With good rates and promotions from five-star hotels in the capital, many (Chinese MICE) are opting for five-star properties. We have a confirmed a booking of between 1,500 to 1,800 pax from a multilevel marketing company from China for May 2016, and another for 3,300 pax in July 2016.”

However, all is not as rosy for operators handling the Indian MICE market. Malaysia Airlines’ decision to halve frequencies of air services between Kuala Lumpur and Delhi since September 1 has resulted in a loss of MICE business to Malaysia, sources told TTGmice.

Suneet Goenka, group managing director of Red Apple Travel in Kuala Lumpur, declared the reduced frequencies “a disaster”.

He elaborated: “It is going to be difficult to get MICE business from the northern part of India where corporate companies place great value on connectivity and pricing.”

Goenka revealed that some Indian companies have already removed Malaysia from their list of preferred destinations. He also warned that reduced capacity would lead to higher airfares on the India-Malaysia sector.

Also impacted by Malaysia Airlines’ service reduction is Hidden Asia Travel & Tours in Kuala Lumpur. Its managing director, Nanda Kumar, said: “Many corporate companies in India want their staff to arrive on the same day. Due to this, we have lost a number of potential MICE businesses to other destinations.”

However, Rajendra Dhumma, director of Classic Travels & Tours, downplayed the effect. He said that the weakened ringgit is enough to keep Indian clients interested in Malaysia as it makes the country “an even more attractive destination”.

“Many companies in India have also cut spending and will opt to send employees on (cheaper) airlines like Malindo Air,” he added.

Amit Singla, managing director of Scotch & Water Innovations based in Bangalore, disagreed.

He said: “Organisers who can pay for scheduled carriers will want a direct connection for their MICE groups. The suspension of the morning flight departures from Delhi to Kuala Lumpur will also affect onward connections for business travellers from India.”

Elsewhere, despite the Singapore dollar gaining strength against the ringgit, Malaysia appears less desirable as a destination for Singapore MICE groups, with specialists reporting slower business events bookings.

R.A. Jits Travel & Tours managing director, Harminderjit Singh, said the strong Singapore dollar and good flight connections out of Singapore have led corporate clients to look for destinations further afield, and many are opting for Thailand.

Similarly, Raaj Navaratnaa, general manager at New Asia Holiday Tours & Travel based in Johor Bahru, has received many enquiries from incentive clients in Singapore considering destinations such as Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Its inbound business from Singapore on the other hand had dropped by 30 per cent, a situation that was further aggravated by the haze in August, September and October and the ‘red shirt’ rally in Kuala Lumpur in September.

Navaratnaa remarked: “We had a big meeting group of 600 pax from Singapore, who had planned to have their meeting in Kuala Lumpur end of September, cancel because of the rally. They went to Thailand instead.”

Navaratnaa added that the main challenge for Malaysia is that there are no new impressive product offerings to provide repeat clients with new experiences.

“Twentieth Century Fox World Malaysia in Resorts World Genting and Movie Animation Park Studios in Perak, both of which will open in 2016, will definitely help because corporate clients from Singapore tend to bring their families along, especially if the trip coincides with public and school holidays.”

{Taking Numbers}

{Insider}
Anthony Wong, group managing director of Asian Overland Services Tourism & Hospitality Group

Anthony Wong, group managing director of Asian Overland Services Tourism & Hospitality Group, suggests three places to visit while in Malaysia

Nothing fishy about this place

Aquaria KLCC, a world-class aquarium that showcases marine life and small animals from around the world is located at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre complex. It gives visitors a chance to get up close with marine life without getting wet. The venue is an interesting place to hold corporate cocktails, product launches and press events before or after the main event at the convention centre.

Watch a Kadazan musical

When in Sabah, do make it a point to watch a live theatre performance called Sininggazanak, shown twice daily at J Borneo Native Village. The musical is the only live performance in Sabah showcasing the indigenous Kadazan tribe. There are twice daily performances at 09.30 and 13.30.

Cycling state of mind

Go on a cycling tour in Penang. Get some exercise while you take in the scenic view of paddy fields, villages – complete with cows and goats – and a mangrove forest in Balik Pulau. After an hour, the guide will take a short break at Kuala Sungai Burong, a nice and quiet place to relax. There, a simple local picnic basket awaits you. After lunch, take a leisurely stroll along the riverbank lined with coconut trees.

Carving a Muslim niche: Taipei

By Paige Lee Pei Qi

December 30, 2015

More facilities in Taiwan are being Halal-certified, including the
National Palace Museum and Taipei 101 (pictured above)
Picture by tpgimages/123RF.com

The Chinese destination is making numerous adjustments in an effort to woo more Muslim MICE groups, reports Paige Lee Pei Qi

A growing interest in Muslim-majority source markets has emerged among Taiwan’s business event players, as overall visitor numbers from these markets rise.

According to Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s director-general David Hsieh, arrivals from these markets rose 12.5 per cent year-on-year, achieving 180,000 travellers. However, the composition of Muslim business travellers remains a small one, noted Thomas Tsou, secretary general, Taiwan Convention & Exhibition Association, who added that Malaysia and Indonesia are the current top two Muslim markets for Taiwan.

Tsou said this segment of travellers requires halal restaurants and Muslim-friendly facilities, and if Taiwan intends to court this niche, it needs to “meet these basic food and accommodation requirements”.

Hence, the Chinese destination has awarded 24 travel-related businesses and facilities a Halal certification in May this year, a move that is expected to boost its MICE appeal among Muslims.

Today, Taiwan has a total of 70 Halal-certified event venues, including the National Palace Museum and Taipei 101 as well as hotels and restaurants in tourism hotspots like Alishan National Scenic Area in Chiayi County and Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County.

The certified restaurants and hotels offer a wide range of cuisines, from Indian and Thai to Turkish and Egyptian, according to Taiwan Tourism Bureau which has been working with Taipei-based Chinese Muslims Association over the past few years to establish the certification.

A local hotel which is favoured by Muslim MICE groups is the Regent Taipei. Besides having a Muslim-friendly restaurant, the hotel also welcomes Muslim travellers with a special accommodation package that includes guestrooms with a prayer rug, a compass, a Quran, Salat schedules and bathrooms furnished with bidets.

Michael B Gaehler, general manager of Regent Taipei, told TTGmice that Muslim guests have grown “around five to seven per cent since we started this initiative”.

The majority of the hotel’s Muslim guests hails from the Middle East and South-east Asian countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia.

Gaehler said: “We keep enhancing (our property) to ensure every Muslim visitor feels at home when staying with us.”

Taiwanese event planners are doing their part to make Muslim event delegates feel welcome too.

Stacey Yang, sales director of TW MICE Event & DMC, said special arrangements would be made to cater to the dietary requirements of Muslim delegates, either through the venue’s kitchen or from another that is Halal-certified.

Tourist attractions are also jumping on the bandwagon by coming up with Muslim-friendly facilities.According to Hsieh, all of Taiwan’s 13 national scenic areas under its administration are now ready for Muslim visitors.

“Of note, a Muslim prayer room opened in January at the Taipei Main Station, the first in a domestic public transportation hub,” he remarked proudly.

Yang said: “The increasing number of Muslim-friendly facilities in Taiwan sends a positive signal to the Muslim community that we are ready to welcome them and this will make them more interested in the destination.”

Taiwan is now ranked as the 10^th best destination for Muslim travellers outside the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member states, according to the recent Global Muslim Travel Index.

Taipei Main Station boasts a Muslim prayer room

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Elaine Chin, director of sales and marketing, Marriott Taipei

Elaine Chin, director of sales and marketing, Marriott Taipei, recommends three things to do in Taipei

Eat your way around town

Taipei is home to one of Asia’s most exciting places to have cheap and tasty street food. Food stands are available on nearly every corner of the street, and in night markets. Taiwanese-style seafood, such as grilled squid and oyster omelettes, is a must-try for those visiting the capital for the first time.

Get in touch with nature

Visit the Shei-Pa National Park, located south of the capital. This is a region filled with magnificent mountains – within the park, there are 51 peaks over 3,000m high. It is a mostly wild and undeveloped area, with a range of wildlife that includes many rare and endemic species.

A day trip out

Organise a day trip to Jiufen. This small town has quaint streets, teahouses and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Although the town does not have any hotels, there are several charming guesthouses for groups who opt to stay for a night.

Hillside teahouses in Jiufen

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Giant in the capital city

The grand ballroom’s pillarless layout allows guests unblocked views

Since September 2015, Taipei city landscape has been adorned with a massive integrated complex that comprises a 320-room five-star hotel, luxury apartments, a convention centre and a shopping mall.Taipei Marriott Hotel, as the giant complex is known, boasts the largest state-of-the-art convention centre in Taipei. The eight-storey building features 3,000m² of flexible multifunctional spaces which can be used for small breakout sessions to large-scale conferences and conventions.

The most iconic venue throughout the centre is the 1,260m² grand ballroom on the fifth floor, which is currently the largest pillarless ballroom in Taiwan’s international star-hotel category.

These spaces also come with the latest audiovisual innovations and access to gourmet catering and expert event planning.

The hotel’s other selling point is its location – it sits on the north bank of the Keelung River and within the Taiwanese capital city’s new commercial hub. Guests enjoy great accessibility from the hotel, as it is just a 10-minute drive to Songshan International Airport.

Henry Lee, COO for Marriott International, Greater China, said: “Our close proximity to important landmarks, gorgeous settings and modern facilities make the property the ideal choice for business travellers and vacationers who want a high-end experience and easy access to commerce, culture and recreation.”

The property is supported by Marriott’s signature Meetings Imagined website which aims to reinvent how meetings are planned, by making them more visual, social and purposeful. This online platform provides expert tips and the latest meeting and event trends, and inspires planners with a variety of ideas from ice breakers to food and music. – Paige Lee Pei Qi