IN A city where the corporate and MICE market had been languid until just a mere five years ago, it’s a vastly different scene now in Yangon as Myanmar’s growing economy has led to an influx of international investment and business activities since the country opened its doors in 2011.

It is no wonder then that Sedona Hotel Yangon, established in 1996, has since turned its attention to the city’s nascent MICE market. The deluxe five-star hotel soft-opened the new Inya Wing in October, adding 431 guest rooms and suites to the existing 366-room Garden Wing to bring its total room number to 797 – the biggest in Yangon.

The huge boost in room inventory has made it viable for Sedona Hotel Yangon to pursue the MICE market, explained Mok Kok Meng, general manager of Sedona Hotel Yangon. He said: “The owners see it as very exciting times to be in and therefore the extension was part of the plan to venture into MICE. That was planned way back in 2011 until its fruition today.”

As well, the 19-year-old property has also spruced up its ballrooms and existing function spaces this year while implementing high Internet speed of 100mbps to cater to the fast-growing MICE and corporate market, Mok added.

When asked which sectors are doing well for MICE market, he commented: “All the big boys are coming in – cars, fashion, retail, oil and gas, tobacco, etc – basically any sector that comes with a growing economy is now very interested in entering Myanmar.”

Sedona Hotel Yangon recently hosted the 14th Annual Conference of Hospital Management Asia from September 3 to 4, which saw the attendance of over 700 delegates from 30 countries.

“We are going into a lot of international MICE shows like ITB, EIBTM and IT&CM China,” said Eugene Yeo, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing.

“Singapore is a strong MICE market for us, and we are working with Preferred Hotels & Resorts to organise a fam trip for all PCOs (from Singapore) to come into Yangon. Other MICE markets we are going after will be China as well as Thailand.”

EIGHTY per cent of global travel managers surveyed for CWT’s Travel Trends, Program Priorities: A Traveler-Centric 2016 have named safety and security as factors that have a high or very high impact on their travel programmes next year.

The same sentiment is shared by their peers in Asia-Pacific, with 75 per cent of travel managers here ranking safety and security as top priority.

The online study which had surveyed 1,016 travel managers/travel buyers from 515 organisations in 55 countries worldwide in October and November, also found that 63 per cent of respondents expect mobile and wearable technology to have a big impact on their travel programme next year, while 58 per cent of them are looking for more data on traveller behavior and programme performance.

In addition, low-cost carriers (LCCs) will continue to have a high or very high impact on travel programmes in 2016, according to 53 per cent of respondents.

Growth has been particularly dramatic in Asia-Pacific in recent years, researchers noted, adding that LCCs have taken over 60 per cent of capacity share in several domestic markets, such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

The study pointed out that in business travel, LCC’s capacity share has grown to 12 per cent overall, but varies widely between countries, ranging from only a few per cent in Australia and Japan to the bulk of air bookings in Thailand and India.

Commenting on the study, David Moran, executive vice president of CWT, said: “Travel managers have told us loud and clear that the traveller experience will play a major role in the 2016 travel programme. Whether it’s proactive destination information, help in an emergency, multichannel access or personalised services – everything is designed to provide travellers with a seamless experience at every stage of a trip.”

TAJ Tashi Thimpu, located within Thimpu Valley in Bhutan, is offering a conference package that features the use of a conference hall between 09.00 and 18.00 on the days of stay, buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner at a designated venue, and 10 per cent off spa treatments.

The package is priced at 12,000 rupees (US$180) per room night for single occupancy and 14,000 rupees for double, including taxes.

Guests can enjoy complimentary basic Wi-Fi, although premium access requires a nominal fee.

The offer is valid for bookings with at least 15 rooms, for stays in December 2015 as well as January and February next year.

Email tajtashi.thimphu@tajhotels.com for reservations.

CONVENTION and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) has agreed to collaborate with a company formed by Wellington-based international filmmakers Peter Jackson and Richard Taylor, along with Wellington City Council in a plan to build a combined convention centre and movie museum.

The building is to be sited opposite Te Papa Museum on the Wellington waterfront and will boast exhibition space and six meeting rooms that can accommodate 1,100 people for full-format conventions and 2,250 theatre style, as well as props from the collection of Jackson and Taylor’s company for the museum.

“Wellington is the geographical centre of New Zealand, and a hub for creativity, technological expertise, culture and cuisine. It is the base for many associations, with a good range of accommodation, easy access to government, and it’s walkable. This purpose-built convention facility, configured to meet modern and future needs and expectations, promises huge benefits for the city and the country,” said Sue Sullivan, CEO, CINZ.

REDUCED buying power among some Asian clients as a result of weakening currencies, and a less than desirable economic climate of late have done little to dent year-end corporate party bookings for Hong Kong hotels popular for such gatherings.

The Langham Hong Kong’s director of sales and marketing, David Fung, told TTGmice e-Weekly that forward group bookings are keeping pace with expectations, adding: “We have good (bookings) for December and had done a number of events and year-end functions. Our loyal clients have booked their annual events this year, as they had done last year. We have also acquired new clients.”

The Peninsula Hong Kong shared that it has seen a slight increase in the number of bookings and budget for year-end gatherings.

Director of catering and conference services, Vindy Lui, said: “We’ve generated more revenue from corporate events (this year-end). A few of our key corporate clients have held large-scale events, such as Moet Hennessy’s 150-year celebration and Van Cleef & Arpels’ gala dinner which unveiled the new Seven Seas jewellery collection.”

And according to Grand Hyatt Hong Kong’s director of sales and marketing, Cecilia Lo, budgets for such dinner-and dance parties have not been cut.

Lo explained that clients regarded such activities as being “absolutely necessary”, as they serve to appreciate clients and to entertain and engage employees.

There are, however, some hotels whose year-end corporate event bookings have softened.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong saw fewer corporate dinner-and dance parties this year despite recording a higher overall MICE volume for 2015, noted director of sales and marketing, Kristy Lee.

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong’s clients from Europe, Japan and Australia – countries whose currencies had weakened this year – had reduced group sizes and stuck to standard menus for their year-end gatherings.

Director of catering Anna Wong said: “Clients are less inclined to upgrade the menu and beverage arrangement. We are being as flexible as possible in accommodating their budget, as long as we make a reasonable profit.”

DIFFERENT government regulations across South-east Asia, specifically those governing bank loans, are expected to result in a bleak future for Indonesian convention and conference players as the ASEAN Economic Community is officially formed, predicted the president of the Indonesia Congress and Convention Association (INCCA).

Speaking at the 8th Indonesia MICE Outlook 2016 seminar on December 2 in BSD City, Tangerang, Iqbal Alan Abdullah said: “The way I see it, the business climate will be greyish dark as we enter the AEC era.”

Iqbal explained that the AEC will facilitate the entry of more foreign business event owners and organisers onto Indonesian soil, intensifying competition in the country. To compete effectively, Indonesian business event owners and organisers will need to grow their portfolio of events and to do so, they will require additional funding.

“The problem is, the bank interest rate in Indonesia is 13 per cent while in Singapore, for example, is only three per cent. Furthermore, Indonesian banks require a long list of supporting documents with loan applications. And after all that, companies can only loan up to 40 per cent of the event cost or 50 per cent (for rare cases),” said Iqbal, adding that some banks in other countries need only a letter of appointment for a large event and will grant up to 80 per cent of the event cost.

Ketut Salam, managing director of Pacto Convex, played down Iqbal’s concern, saying that financial institutions are naturally prudent and reputable event companies will have little trouble securing bank loans.

Iqbal’s cautious projections for 2016 also stems from the weakening Indonesian rupiah that has encouraged overseas MICE players to bring their shows to Indonesia, further intensifying competition for business in the country.

Effi Setiabudi, chairman of the Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association, too, expects a greater presence of international exhibition companies in Indonesia, drawn to the country’s “huge population and healthy economy”.

However, Effi has interpreted this development positively, describing it as “good times ahead” for Indonesia’s exhibition sector.

THE Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) is spurring association executives to group themselves into an association by next year.

Tai Lee Fen, MyCEB’s manager – association development, said an association of associations would give them one voice in tackling common challenges and they can have advocacies.

Even as the association is not yet in existence, so strong is the bureau’s support for it that it already held in Kuala Lumpur in November what would be the group’s first annual conference, Malaysia Association neXt.

Tai said 120 people graced the event which is meant to create a platform for all associations to learn, exchange ideas, network and debate issues that impact them.

She revealed that MyCEB could provide funding support to the association, such as for the secretariat.

While the bureau has 500 national associations on its database, it is not yet known how many of them will join the planned association.

Tai said there are many examples around the world where the society for association executives have been successfully established including in the United States, Australia and the Philippines.

CARLSON Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has upgraded its CWT To Go smartphone app with new functionality.

Additions to version 11.0 of the app include new systems to make it easier for planners to monitor trips, enhanced airport maps and a click-to-call service for travellers to quickly get in touch with a counselor.

The next version, already in the works, will add the ability for travel managers to book and handle profiles for their travelers.

David Moran, executive vice president at CWT, said: “As a leading travel management company, it’s up to us to help travelers be more productive by giving them great tools at their fingertips.

“That could mean helping them navigate an unfamiliar airport, or giving them easier access to our counselors when they need a helping hand.”

CWT To Go is free to download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

MANILA will host the 11th International CEO Forum for Development Banks next week, a global event lured into the country through private sector effort.

It will welcome 100 delegates from 22 countries and has the support of the Tourism Promotions Board, which is encouraging associations to bid for and invite international events into the Philippines.

The Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and Pacific (ADFIAP), helmed by secretary-general Octavio Peralta who is also president and CEO of the Philippine Council for the Advancement of Association Executives (PCAAE), invited the CEO Forum to be held in Manila.

Peralta said hosting the CEO Forum is “in a way voluntary on the part of our (ADFIAP) members…and since I am also involved in PCAAE, I help promote the country as a conference destination through its Tap In Ambassador programme”.

The annual CEO Forum rotates around Asia, and Manila last played host in 2009. The event serves as a platform for development banks to share experiences and ideas on operational practices, issues and challenges as well as to network and undertake cooperation initiatives.

It will be hosted jointly by the Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines with support from the Pag-Ibig Fund, Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. and PhilExim, all ADFIAP members in the country.