MALAYSIA’S travel industry is feeling the effects of the global economic slowdown, and players interviewed are bracing themselves for a tough year ahead.

While the oil and gas related industries and the banking sector are harder hit by global economic movements, Foo Sze Zhaun, business development manager of Corporate Information Travel, said business travellers going for trade fairs and exhibitions in Europe have picked up slightly for the automotive, publishing and industrial machinery sectors.

Foo added that corporate demand is shifting from longhaul to regional destinations.

Syed Razif Al-Yahya, group managing director of Sutra Group of Companies, said the group’s revenue from government and corporate travel is expected to drop by 40 per cent this year.

After witnessing reduced government travel budgets and delayed corporate payments, Syed intends to mitigate the impact by courting the leisure travel segment, which currently comprises only 10 per cent of the group’s total business.

Malaysian hoteliers are also tweaking their target markets and products to ride out the economic storm.

Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar’s general manager, Eric Tan, said the property will target more regional travellers, while Dorsett Kuala Lumpur is giving itself an edge in the competition for business travellers by collaborating with Zuger International and equipping guestrooms with smartphones that afford guests free 3G connectivity, local calls and SMSes.

IN CONJUNCTION with the opening of its sister hotel, 347-key Conrad Manila, SMX Convention Center Manila will offer convention and accommodation packages. The hotel will open in March or April.

Walid Wafik, SMX vice president – general manager, said: “We have been holding big exhibitions and events. Guests usually stay in other hotels. But soon, event organisations can (enjoy) exhibition and room packages with Conrad.”

With its own extensive meetings and banquet facilities, Conrad Manila is also hoping to complement SMX by becoming one of the caterers for the convention centre. The centre recently accredited 11 food caterers.

Wafik said that as Conrad will be connected by two footbridges to SMX, guests can enjoy the ease of access in getting to the convention centre and back.

SMX and Conrad Manila are part of SM Hotels & Convention Corp.

STARTING next month, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is launching a new scheme to support Indian companies bringing groups of 150 or more delegates into the UK, making the visa application procedure a more straightforward one for event organisers.

“In the last few years, UKVI has tried to improve its visa offers for Indian travellers. The new MICE scheme recognises the growing value of this market, and we are keen to support organisations bringing large groups to the UK,” said James Brokenshire, UK’s immigration minister who was on a five-day visit to India.

MICE groups will be given a point of contact at UKVI to discuss their trip and visa requirements, as well as a checklist of supporting documentation required. The organiser will then be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and agree to screen all visa applicants to ensure that they are eligible to apply for a visit visa under the MICE scheme. Once the applications are received, UKVI will assess them together as a group and return them in a timely manner.

Applicants under the MICE scheme can apply for their UK visa up to six months in advance. UKVI is also offering an option to avail premium services – such as group appointments where members can apply at the same visa application centre on a particular day and time – at an extra cost. Applicants can also utilise a priority service, allowing them access to a visa in three to five days.

“The processing time for group visas was previously long and there was uncertainty whether all travellers in the group will be issued a visa. Now with a dedicated point of contact, MICE organisers will be able ensure that all required documents are in place and their queries are addressed promptly,” commented Jasbir Singh, head – outbound tours, Travel Spirit International.

TO BRING repeat business and attract new ones, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Philippines relaunched its Signature Events Programme with a dash of sweetener during the second year of its MICE Fair last week.

Since the introduction of the enhanced Signature Events Programme a few years ago, Lorrie Gamalinda, director of sales of Shangri-La’s national sales office – Philippines said “there has been a steady increase in MICE business” across the five Shangri-La hotels in the country. The programme provides specialised service delivery and greater value-added service for event group bookings with a minimum of 25 rooms.

With the opening of Shangri-La at The Fort, Manila next month, the relaunch is also intended “to further create awareness for meeting planners on the bigger benefits and savings when they book with Shangri-La,” she added.

The sweetener to the Signature Events Programme is in the form of exclusive rewards for local groups when they book multiple Shangri-La hotels. The contract must be signed on or before March 31, 2016 for stays until December 31, 2016.

Exclusive rewards can either be for booking a minimum of two hotels or resorts with at least 500,000 pesos (US$10,513) in combined room and catering revenues per hotel, or revenue-based rewards for a minimum of one million pesos (US$21,027) in combined room and catering revenues per hotel.

“Just like last year, the MICE Fair served as a platform to further amplify the strength and position of Shangri-La Philippine properties as the leader in the MICE market. It also showcases the unique selling points of each hotel (and provides) fresh and innovative ideas for meetings, teambuilding sessions and other important corporate activities,” Gamalinda said.