THEMED Innovations in MICE – The Way Forward, the inaugural AEC (ASEAN Economic Community)+ Expo 2015 which will be held in Kuala Lumpur from November 11 to 13, 2015, is projected to yield more than RM28 million (US$6.8 million) in economic impact and some RM14 million from visitor expenditure for Malaysia.

AEC+ Expo 2015 is jointly organised by The Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) and the Malaysia Association of Convention and Exhibition Organiser and Suppliers (MACEOS) and supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events.

The three-day event will comprise four components – a B2B business events matching, forum sessions, a MICE Youth Challenge where 23 university teams in Asia will compete on a MICE planning competition, and awards presentations for industry members. One will be the AFECA Gala Dinner and Awards and the RAWR Awards (Recognising Award Winning Results within the business events industry), a joint collaboration between MACEOS and MyCEB.

Participation from across Asia-Pacific is expected, with attendance by some 150 exhibitors and a further 300 to 400 delegates at the forum sessions.

Vincent Lim, MACEOS president, said: “Malaysia was chosen to host the event to complement her role as the chair of the ASEAN Economic Community.”

MyCEB CEO, Zulkefli Sharif, added: “This event gives us an opportunity to enhance the country’s branding internationally as Asia’s business events hub. It will showcase Malaysia’s offerings as well as international business event capabilities to local and international buyers, meeting planners and corporate clients.”

Walter Yeh, president of AFECA, said AEC+Expo is set to become an annual event, and his members will have to bid to host this prestigious gathering.

AFECA was founded in 2005 with the objectives of promoting the growth and development of the exhibition and convention industry in Asia.

THE 15^th International Peat Congress in 2016 will be held in South-east Asia for the first time come August.

It will be hosted by the Malaysian Peat Society in partnership with the International Peatland Society and supported by International Union for Soil Science (IUSS) and International Union for Forest Research Organisation (IUFRO). It will also be the first edition to be organised with the support of a foreign chapter – Peat Society of Indonesia.

The theme of the congress, Peatlands in Harmony – Agriculture, Industry & Nature, will relate to an integrated global perspective for the responsible use of peatlands and the preservation of their unique dynamics and natural biodiversity.

Lulie Melling, congress general, told TTGmice e-Weekly: “The Congress will also provide for researchers, academics and practitioners an ideal platform to congregate, share information and discuss their scientific results and experiences with particular reference to peat and peatlands in the tropics.”

“We are honoured to host this congress which will be in Asia for the first time. Previous congresses were always in Europe and America and the downside of this was the prohibitive costs, especially for Asians from developing nations.

“This event is very important for Malaysians and Asians in general as it will allow more delegates from Asia to attend and benefit from scientific, industrial and governmental discussions. They do not have to spend a lot on travel. It’s an opportunity for the people in the Asia Pacific to attend an International Congress and be able to listen to talks by leading authorities in the field and also to be able to know more about temperate and boreal peat especially in relation to sustainability issues, all at reduced rates.

“Previous congresses held in Europe and US were really too expensive for Malaysians and Indonesians and the numbers that went were small. This will be a good platform to present scientific papers. It also gives a chance for the participants a chance to have international network, exchange and sharing of ideas and have personal discussions with light-minded delegates from around the world. Finally, we hope to be able to build up greater awareness to the world on what is tropical peat and at the same time as a platform to build research collaboration.”

The event is expected to draw the largest number of Asian delegation, at least slightly more than half of the total delegation of 1,500.

SYDNEY will be injecting another A$1.5 million (US$1.1 million) into Business Events Sydney (BESydney) between 2017 and 2021, after a stong return from their initial investment of the same value from 2014 to 2016.

“The City of Sydney’s initial investment supported BESydney to secure 24 events worth more than A$70 million in direct expenditure,” said CEO of BESydney, Lyn Lewis-Smith, in a release.

“The funds drawn on to date have achieved a return of more than A$90 for every $1 invested.”

The initial investment has been effective in helping to activate the city precinct during the development of the new International Convention Centre Sydney and Darling Harbour precinct.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said the programme had been a great success and the city was delighted to continue investing in the bureau.

“Among others, this partnership brings high-yield international incentive visitors to Sydney who spend up to 6.5 times more per day than regular holiday tourists, benefiting our shops and restaurants. Earlier this week BESydney announced the Cathay Life Taiwan Summit has been secured for 2016, a great example of how the City’s current investment is helping to pay dividends for local businesses into the future.

“We are happy to work with Business Events Sydney to secure more events, which will help off-set potential economic impacts of the central business district light rail works and the Darling Harbour redevelopment.”

On October 12, BESydney announced that up to A$113 million of corporate incentive events have been secured for 2016 and 2017 including Nu Skin Greater China Success Trip 2016, Cathay Life Taiwan Summit 2016 and Amway China Leadership Seminar 2017, with broad support from Destination New South Wales (NSW) and the City of Sydney.

To date, BESydney has injected up to A$249 million into the NSW economy by securing more than 53,000 Asian incentive delegates over the past three years alone. This represents 20 per cent year-on-year growth from this sector, which has contributed to BESydney’s strong result.

Some 146 events previously secured by BESydney, estimated to be worth A$404 million in direct expenditure to NSW, will take place between January 2015 to December 2023.

THE International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) has released the 2015 edition of Trends in the Conference Centre Industry, compiled by PKF Consulting, CBRE Hotels.

The report shows that for three years running, occupancy has improved and rates are stronger, more so for IACC’s corporate meeting venue operators. Participation from day meeting venues in this survey has also increased and they provide valuable data on what is a growing member category for IACC. The average External Day Meeting rose significantly to US$105.

Mark Cooper, CEO of IACC, noted that corporate meeting venues lead the recovery with the highest ADR and RevPAR.

IACC members had predicted a bumpy ride – business wise – for last year but sentiments have improved, with all venue types expecting positive occupancy growth this year. Corporate venues are forecasting the greatest improvements by year-end.

IACC conference hotel venues with 200 or more guestrooms have reported a 6.5 per cent increase in occupancy so far this year, outperforming their comparable resort member properties.

Cooper said: “It is encouraging to see another year of improved performance and (there are) clear signs that this important sector of the meetings industry is being invested in by member customers.

“We are also seeing a greater number of our members attending learning events and conferences, as they invest in education and innovation, which will result in a skill-enhanced workforce to prepare for increased demand within the small meetings segment in the coming year.”

According to the report, resort meeting venues achieved the greatest increase in Complete Meeting Package rates, showing a 2.6 per cent increase over the previous year.

Executive conference venues had forecasted a 5.9 per cent increase in conference package rates in 2015 and resort venues a 3.4 per cent increase in Complete Meeting Package rates, while a 12 per cent increase in package rates, which includes room hire, technology and F&B costs, was reported for day meeting venues.

THE Philippine Council for the Advancement of Association Executives (PCAAE), the country’s first and only organisation that caters to the needs of professional association managers, will hold its third annual summit on December 3 and 4, 2015 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila.

The Association Executives Summit (AES) III is expected to be the biggest gathering of association professionals to connect with colleagues while obtaining practical tips to help their organisations succeed. Supporting the event are the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB), the PICC, the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), CGK Formaprint, Avanza, Stars & Events, Ex-Link Events and TTGassociations, a publication of TTG Asia Media.

AES participants will learn best practices in association and membership organisation governance, leadership and management from distinguished speakers and thought leaders in the field from here and abroad.

Among confirmed speakers and panelists are Mr. Francisco F. del Rosario, President, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Mr. Henry Schumacher, Vice President, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Ms. Susan R. Locsin, National President, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Mr. Ricardo Nicanor N. Jacinto, CEO, Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), Ms. Emily A. Abrera, Chairperson, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Ms. Amor Maclang, Founding Director, Geiser Maclang Marketing Communications, Inc., Ms. Marissu Bugante, Chairperson, Communications Committee, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Mr. Jojo Ajero, CEO, Xsite Solutions, Ms. Erly de Guzman, Sunlife Certified Financial Planner, Dr. Donald Patrick Lim, Chief Digital Officer, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Sherlo Reyes, Chief of Program, The Fundraisers Network for Development, Inc., Ms. Yayu Javier, President & COO, Avanza, Ms. Gwen Albarracin. President & CEO, Marketing Association of the Philippines, Ms. Myra Contessa Sarmenta, Asst. national Executive Director, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Ms. Evelyn Salire, Secretary General, Philippine Retailers Association.

From overseas, speakers are Mr. Noor Ahmad Hamid, Regional Director, International Congress and Convention Association (ICAA), Ms. Tania Goodacre, Events Manager, Australian Trucking Association and on video, Mr. John H. Graham IV, President & CEO, American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

Aside from the various educational tracks offered during the event, the summit highlights the presentation of the ‘Ang Susi’ Awards to recognise associations in six categories for their outstanding achievements in helping the environment, empowering people, serving communities, enhancing trade and industry, developing technology solutions, and for being agents of change. An individual award, the Association Executive of the Year, is given to an outstanding career professional who has sustainably managed an association through the years with remarkable results.

“We look forward to the social and professional development opportunities available from networking in an intimate setting with fellow members of the association community,” said PCAAE President & CEO, Octavio B. Peralta.

For registration and other inquiries on AES III, please contact Enrique Florencio, ADFIAP Secretariat, at telephone number +632 8161672 or e-mail inquiries@adfiap.org.

Please also check out the PCAAE website or  Facebook page.

SWITZERLAND is raising its budget by 50 per cent to trap more MICE from Asia, one of its most successful source markets for meetings and incentive travel.

Urs Eberhard, head of markets, Switzerland Tourism, said part of the increased marketing spend will tap South Korea with plans to invite important buyers and travel agencies to the third Asia Trophy next year.

The Asia Trophy was launched last year to give Asian MICE buyers – a different market segment with different needs – live experience in Switzerland, apart from the existing and bigger Worldwide Trophy.

Despite Switzerland being pricey and the weakening of Asian currencies which make the destination even more expensive, Eberhard said Asia’s booming economy means corporations will continue sending their winners and top employees to incentive trips.

In fact, about three weeks ago, Switzerland hosted an 800 plus pax incentive group for a Singapore insurance company. And last March, it also hosted three incentive groups of 50 pax each from a Philippine-based pharmaceutical company.

“Switzerland as a prize has a huge value. Incentive participants feel that they are indeed very valuable,” Eberhard explained.

He said that in Asia, India and South-east Asia are the “highest producers of incentive trips to Switzerland”. Incentive groups from India will increase from 95 this year to 120 next year. The 70 groups from South-east Asia will grow to 100 to 110 next year. From 50 groups this year, incentive groups from China will double in 2016.

New destinations being promoted apart from the usual Zurich, Geneva, Jungfrau and Zermatt includes Ticino, Gallen, Lausanne and the scenic routes covered by the Grand Tour of Switzerland.

Jurg Schmid, CEO of Switzerland Tourism, said new products opening next year will further enhance Switzerland as a destination for both leisure and MICE.

These include the opening of the extension of the FIFA world football museum in Zurich; Charlie Chaplin Museum in Montreux which will allot space for MICE; the Gotthard base channel, the world’s longest railway terminal connecting northern Europe with the south; and the 50th year of the Montreux Jazz Festival in July 2016.

FOLLOWING a successful run with Asian incentive arrivals, Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) is stepping up efforts to grow MICE business from South-east Asia by employing a new business events manager who will promote the destination through industry tradeshows and familiarisation trips out of his office in Singapore.

Taking on this responsibility is Edward Kwek who will help the tourism bureau grow arrivals from Thailand by five per cent this financial year, said Steven Dixon, TNZ’s regional manager South and South East Asia.

Dixon pointed out that Thailand is a “recognisable market” and business from incentive travels is growing, although numbers are “under-reported”.

To encourage more Thai business event planners choose New Zealand, TNZ will build on its existing relationship with key industry partners, including New Zealand Immigration and airlines to improve visa approval processes for Thai travellers.

Dixon noted that there are currently three preferred agents in Thailand and they enjoy faster visa processing privileges.

Editor’s Note: A correction has been made to this story. The first version had reported that the search for a South-east Asia business events manager was still on. That was a mistake.

HYATT Regency Kinabalu has launched a stylish multifunctional event venue centred around a show kitchen, called The Residence. It can accommodate up to 160 guests, is  furnished with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, and complements the newly renovated Tanjung Ria Kitchen restaurant, The Lounge and The Poolside Bar.

The multipurpose layout of The Residence enables event organisers to use the facility for various purposes, ranging from small parties to entertainment dinners for important clients. The venue can also be combined with Tanjung Ria Kitchen restaurant for larger gatherings of up to 300 people.

Bennett Peter, director of sales and marketing at the hotel said the new offering was necessary because “the hotel customer of today needs, demands and expects flexibility and versatility in experiences and  service”.

Arifin Darmawan, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, said: “Imagine you have been in a meeting room all day and when it’s time for a coffee break…the doors open and suddenly your meeting room is transformed into a show kitchen with chefs ready to serve you delicacies and beverages… all prepared right in front of you. Now that is a truly memorable meeting.

“The new facility exudes an aura of elegance and relaxation with its contemporary yet classic décor, complemented by natural daylight window panels. With show kitchens and multiple rooms, the focus is on one-on-one guest engagement and personalising the entire hotel experience.”

Peter added: “The launch of The Residence truly solidifies the position of the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu as being the landmark in the heart of downtown Kota Kinabalu for luxurious stays, exciting dining and memorable meetings.”

TTG TRAVEL Awards 2015 culminated last Thursday evening in celebration of 83 top performing travel and tourism companies and individuals in Asia-Pacific.

Eighteen new winners, including Gardens By The Bay for Best Themed Attraction, Etihad Airways for Best Airline – Business Class, The Westin Singapore for Best New City Hotel, and Myanmar for Destination of the Year, emerged across various categories, taking home the signature Hermes trophy for the first time.

Amid strong competition, 16 winning organisations were able to grow from strength to strength, making their remarkable comebacks into the awards. Among them were The Langham Hong Kong for Best City Hotel – Hong Kong and Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre for Best Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Veteran organisations such as Qatar Airways (Best Middle Eastern Airline), Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Best Convention & Exhibition 
Bureau), Resorts World at Sentosa (Best Integrated Resort) and Singapore Tourism Board (Best BT-MICE City) defended their titles with consecutive wins.

Regal Airport Hotel and Banyan Tree Spa were inducted into the TTG Travel Hall of Fame for having won the same award over l0 years. A virtual Hall of Fame (http://www.ttghof.com) was launched in late September to showcase the accolades and memorabilia of inductees to a global audience.

For the first time, the Awards also honored two industry partners – Jae Pil Sho, editor and publisher of TravelPress Korea and Chower Narula, managing director of World Media – for their lifelong contributions and immense dedication to the travel trade industry and TTG Asia Media.

SHENYANG New World EXPO has appointed Diane Chen its new deputy general manager.

Chen joined the company in June 2012 as director of business development.

Commenting on Chen’s promotion, Shenyang New World EXPO Management chairman, Cliff Wallace, said: “Diane has demonstrated her commitment to China’s exhibition and meeting venue industry and to making EXPO Shenyang the landmark exhibition and meeting venue.  Her enthusiastic leadership of pre-opening staff progress and response to and grasp of the industry as well as her superior people and communication skills have been admirable.”

Chen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and a Master Degree in Business Strategy Management.  She has a certificate in International Business and Operations Management, and is a member of the International Association of Venue Managers.

Shenyang New World EXPO, slated to open in spring of 2017, is part of a massive multi-use complex in the Chinese city’s Hunhe River and adjacent to the city’s Golden Corridor which runs through the central business district.