BRISBANE Marketing has appointed Rob Nelson as the chief of Brisbane Convention Bureau.
In his new role as general manager, conventions and business events, Nelson will focus on increasing national and international sales efforts including the sales team at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, and Tourism & Events Queensland.
Nelson joins Brisbane Marketing from an extensive career in major events, sport and general management consultancy. He was previously managing the marketing & commercial and group events roles for Events SA at the South Australian Tourism Commission.
INTO its ninth edition, IT&CM China 2015 will take place at a fresh venue in Shanghai this year.
Deemed the Pearl on the River, Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Center of International Sourcing (SHCEC) is located in the centre of Shanghai Changfeng Ecological Business District, surrounded by Suzhou River and adjacent to Hongqiao business area. SHCEC has a total area of 9,000m2 of conference rooms, 16,000 m2 of exhibition area, 5,000 m2 of catering area and 800 underground parking lots.
Furthermore, three properties from the Marriott Group – JW Marriott Shanghai Changfeng Park, Renaissance Shanghai Yangtze Hotel and Shanghai Marriott Hotel Parkview – have partnered with IT&CM China as official hotels for over 400 hosted delegates.
At the same time, IT&CM China is expecting a 25 per cent increase in MICE suppliers and showcase at Thailand’s 60m2 pavilion, which is fronted by Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and includes first-time participant Thailand Incentive and Convention Association.
On the motivation of returning with a larger presence, Vichaya Soonthornsaratoon, director of meetings, incentives and conventions department of TCEB, explained: “China has been one of Thailand’s top three market sources for MICE travellers for the past five years. In 2013, it rose to claim the number one spot. With such a strong performance record and bright prospects, we need to deepen our focus on China. Through our participation at IT&CM China, we will also create more opportunities for our Thai MICE suppliers to meet MICE buyers in China.”
More than 600 international and domestic buyers can be expected at the 2015 show, in addition to long-time exhibitors as well as new players such as Berlin Tourismus & Kongress and Business Events Australia.
Heike Mahmoud, CMP, director conventions of Berlin Tourismus & Kongress, said: “Our goal is to develop and expand our network in China and to promote Berlin’s diverse offers – the modern hotel landscape, the city’s exceptional incentives and high-class restaurants. With its good networking options, IT&CM China 2015 will be a great opportunity to intensify our cooperation with Chinese partners.”
Echoing her agreement is LC Tan, regional business director – Greater China, business events of Business Events Australia: “Trade events like IT&CM China have strategic importance to deepen and strengthen Australia’s relationship with Chinese buyers and business partners as well as create awareness for its trade engagement programme and tailored tools for the Chinese market.”
Over 600 international and Chinese buyers attended the 2014 event, of which some 490 came from the various regions of China. This surged the ratio of Chinese buyers to an all-time high of 70 per cent of the buyer delegation.
THE Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has announced the launch of the ASEAN Rising Trade Show (ART), as part of its strategy to strengthen the Thai international exhibition industry to drive the national economy in 2015.
Underlined by the Think Big, Go Beyond theme, the ART campaign is endorsed by the Thai Exhibition Association, and UFI also participated as one of the judging panels.
Speaking at the Thailand International Exhibitions and Events Forum 2015, Supawan Teerarat, TCEB’s vice president, strategic and business development, said: “The ART is a three-year programme running from 2015 to 2017. The criteria for participation in the programme includes exhibitions that are new and creative, promote business sustainability for trade fairs, demonstrate the growth of international participants from AEC countries and contribute to the growth of the trade fair industry.”
Highlighting five key industries – automotive, energy, food & agriculture, healthcare & wellness and infrastructure – the ART campaign also aligns with TCEB’s strategy to provide financial support for the selected international exhibitions while expanding ASEAN MICE Collaboration programme, initiated since 2011 with the aim to synergise local association-level organisations with the government sector, to capture new markets beyond the AEC to South China.
In 2015, TCEB expects to attract over 190,400 international exhibitions in Thailand to generate a revenue of 17 billion baht (US$521 million). The bureau is targeting over one million international MICE travellers to Thailand in 2015 to contribute over 106.8 billion baht to the Thai economy.
In the 2014 fiscal year, Thailand welcomed 919,164 MICE travellers, generating 80.8 billion baht in revenue to the national economy. Among these, 157,996 are business travellers in the exhibition sector with a revenue of 13.6 billion baht. The top five countries with buyers and visitors participating in Thai international exhibitions are Japan, Malaysia, China, Singapore and India respectively.
CARLSON Wagonlit Travel (CWT) today announced the official opening of its new centre in Manila, a state-of-the-art facility offering round-the-clock services to global clients and providing support for its worldwide infrastructure.
Douglas Anderson, president & CEO, CWT, said: “Manila’s reputation as having an excellent business climate for service organisations, its rich pool of qualified talent and inherent philosophy of customer service made it CWT’s first choice for our new centre. As we grow our business around the world, an efficient, customer-focused team is key to ensuring our clients’ travel needs are well-managed.”
The new facility includes a consolidated service centre providing internal support to CWT offices including recruitment and IT service desks; a global technology development team for products and tools; CWT’s global security and network operations centres, operating 24-7 to monitor and manage the performance of the company’s systems, data centres, networks, applications and security risks worldwide; and a centralised travel service centre.
Since it began operations in April 2014, the centre has already grown to 280 team members. Employees at the centre will also participate in a new global CWT training programme this year.
CWT has had a presence in the Philippines since the early 1980s when Rajah Travel joined the CWT network, providing travel services to CWT clients based in the Philippines. Rajah Travel will continue to provide services to CWT’s clients based in the country, while the new, expanded Manila office will support clients globally.
GLOBAL hotel solutions provider HRS Corporate has partnered risk management provider iJET International to roll out new booking tools that integrate its booking data into iJET’s Worldcue systems.
This new interface offers their joint clients improved risk management through the instant tracking and identification of employees and assessment of situations should they arise.
“With the world becoming more connected and global business travel increasing rapidly, multinational businesses are confronted with rapidly changing local risk scenarios. The company’s duty of care for their employees during business trips has become a prominent topic in recent years,” explained Todd Arthur, managing director for HRS in Asia-Pacific.
“It is the employers’ duty of care to protect their staff working around the world. This partnership with iJET, part of our end-to-end solutions, will allow our corporate clients to quickly respond to a crisis or emergent situation calmly and with confidence.”
The seamless integration of all HRS reservation data into iJET’s systems, which combine world-class threat intelligence with innovative technology and response services, will provide companies with a consolidated view of their employees on the road. This closes another gap in the process of value chain, keeping the organisation a step ahead in the domain of corporate travel agencies.
The systems integration will be available to all HRS Corporate and iJET joint clients upon request.
Despite a shortage of skilled staff, the MICE business in Hanoi continues to grow as infrastructure developments keep pace while the city retains its ability to offer groups an experiential visit, writes Greg Lowe
Vietnam’s MICE industry has faced more than a few ups and downs over the past few years, but the sector in Hanoi continues to grow, especially for incentives, according to industry experts.
Infrastructure development and the opening of new meetings-focused hotels have improved the local hardware, while DMCs are focusing on localising experiences for clients, in line with the general trend across the trade.
“Hanoi is Vietnam’s heavyweight incentive destination,” said Hue Nguyen, business development leader at Diethelm Travel Vietnam. “Hanoi’s local authorities have worked hard to keep the momentum going, building efficient infrastructure and offering attractive investor benefits.”
Key developments which have increased the destination’s attractiveness for MICE clients and expanded local capacity for hosting events include last September’s opening of Vietnam’s second-tallest building, Lotte Center Hanoi – a 272m high integrated project comprising offices, serviced apartments, shopping centres and the five-star Lotte Hotel Hanoi – and JW Marriott Hanoi, which opened end-2013 and features 2,400m2 of meeting space on a single floor.
These advances have helped bolster Hanoi’s position as a MICE destination, and raised Vietnam’s profile at the same time. However, some challenges continue to dampen performance, said George Ehrlich Adam, general manager of EXO Vietnam.
“The new JW Marriott with 450 rooms and big meeting facilities adds points for Hanoi as a destination, benefiting the whole industry,” he said. “But it can be difficult to compete for major big conferences due to less flexible visa rules and lack of big commercial purpose-built conference centres compared to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Singapore.”
Pieter De Weerd, area general manager for Accor Northern Vietnam, agreed that bidding for large-scale meetings is a crunch point for the local sector. Hanoi often loses out to other regional destinations for events with more than 1,000 delegates due to the relatively small number of hotels that can accommodate larger groups and other issues such as transportation. However, the destination is performing well for mid- to large-size groups.
He said: “Hanoi offers a nice package combining good hotel venues, unique culture and great food. And for incentives the proximity of Halong Bay is of course a big plus.
“Furthermore, I am convinced that once the new airport is fully in operation, the new bridge crossing the river open, the highways to the east fully deployed and the public transportation projects activated, Hanoi will have a large boost in the incentive market and events.”
Despite the challenges, the rich cultural heritage of the city and surrounding areas provide ample opportunities for creating experiential incentive itineraries. Diethelm’s Hue said immersive elements can include visiting local contemporary artists in their studios, tai-chi classes on the grounds of the Ly-dynasty Tao Sach Temple, bicycle tours of the capital’s backstreets or catching a performance at a water puppet theatre.
While DMCs are continually searching for new products to offer clients, repackaging existing offerings also proves affective, said Torsten Edens, managing director of Diethelm Travel Vietnam. “We are re-engineering most of our classics, “ he said. “It is not always about coming up with something different; most of the time it is about adjusting to what the markets require.”
The Press Club, itself a venue, has adjusted its offering to include off-site options such as hosting events in the 1,000-year-old Temple of Literature. In terms of trends, general manager Kurt Walter said group sizes have reduced slightly to 30-60 pax.
“There is strong demand for impeccable services and facilities from the finance and banking sector, from Germany, France, the US and Hong Kong,” said Walter. “Our customers are high-end.”
The Press Club will undergo a renovation to upgrade its facilities from May to September in order to better tap the high-spending segment.
While many people in the trade cite the skills shortage among local staff as a key challenge for the MICE sector, they remain confident Hanoi’s plus points outweigh this and other negative factors.
“Where there are challenges, there are also opportunities,” said Press Club’s Walter. “Hanoi provides an ideal destination for MICE events. It is the capital of Vietnam with over a thousand years of history, arts and culture. It is also close to other attractive destinations like the UNESCO site of Halong Bay, as well as Ninh Binh and Sapa. And, in general, there’s been a surge in five-star hotels which house state-of-the-art conference facilities.”
Vietnam’s second-tallest building, Lotte Center Hanoi
Ideas
Post-incentive programme: A James Bond mission
Day 1 In the early morning, join a private tai-chi master who will teach the art of tai-chi combat. Agents will be assessed for their ability and focus with each awarded a score.
After lunch, navigate through Hanoi’s labyrinth of 36 streets to collect clues to complete your team’s ‘undercover’ mission. Clues will eventually lead you to a secret meeting point, where you will receive the brief for the remaining mission of the day.
Accommodation will be at your selected hotel.
Day 2
Halong Bay
Journey to the sub-tropical islet hideaway (Halong Bay), once the lair of Dr No when he resided in Vietnam. Board your private boat. Special Agents will undergo water-based training and search for clues as to the current whereabouts of Professor Huy Nguyen No.
A black-tie dinner with entertainment will be taken in the very cave previously inhabited by Dr No.
Accommodation will be aboard Bhaya Classic Cruise.
Day 3 To improve the martial arts skill, Special Agents can opt for more tai-chi practice on the sundeck before disembarkation at Tuan Chau pier and transfer to the airport for your next flight.
Itinerary provided by Diethelm Travel Vietnam
Need to Know
Eat like a local
Experience the fabulous diversity of Hanoi’s vibrant culinary scene at ground level with Hanoi Street Food Tours, run by two local food enthusiasts and bloggers, Van Cong Tu and Mark Lowerson. The specialist operator takes groups along boulevards, down back-alleys and through markets. Tours take a couple of hours to a full day and the experience embraces the full range of food available, from pho noodles to French desserts.
Email to tuvancong2003@gmail.com or visit
streetfoodtourshanoi.blogspot.co.uk
Sky bar
Top of Hanoi Kitchen & Bar offers panoramic views of the city from its location on the 65th floor of Lotte Tower. The illuminated venue features a dining garden which serves contemporary brasserie-style cuisine. Guests can dine at tables or opt for cocktails in comfy sofas.
Call (84-4) 3333-1000 or visit www.lottehotels.com
Lotte Hotel Hanoi
Having opened last September, the five-star hotel in the city’s tallest building added 235 rooms and 83 suites to Hanoi’s supply. It features four restaurants, two bars, a bakery, gym and spa, and more than 1,200m2 of meeting space. Groups can utilise two meeting rooms and a ballroom which have a combined seated capacity of 1,200 people.
Call (84-4) 3333-1000 or visit www.lottehotels.com
Khon Kaen in north-east Thailand may be your next emerging destination not least because of its proximity to Indochina and South China, writes Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid
A recent boost in marketing and promotional efforts to raise Khon Kaen’s visibility might help the province gain more traction among international corporate and meeting planners.
One of the largest cities in Thailand’s north-eastern region, and more commonly referred to as Isaan, Khon Kaen has steadily risen as a domestic MICE destination in recent years. But trade players are hopeful that with its growing flight connections and geographic location near Indochina and South China, Khon Kaen will become a strong contender for the international MICE business.
In 2013, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) signed an MoU with Khon Kaen to promote the province as the fifth MICE City in Thailand – the others being Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
This was followed by the implementation last June of the four-year Provincial Development Model (2014-2017) that mapped out key strategies to reach outlined goals.
In 2013, Khon Kaen’s MICE industry generated US$33.9 million in revenue from 692,292 local and international visitors, according to TCEB.
Pornthip Hirunkate, managing director, Destination Asia Thailand, opined: “The popularity of Khon Kaen is certainly growing and there is great potential for it to develop along with Isaan in general as a MICE destination, especially with its close proximity to Laos. Journeys can continue north into Vientiane and access to southern Isaan is just a two-hour drive from Bangkok.”
She added: “There is great capacity for Isaan to grow as a MICE destination with the Chinese market looking for experiential events and more authentic encounters. It has a developed infrastructure and there is plenty of accessibility throughout the region via LCCs.”
At the same time, a growing selection of boutique hotels in Khon Kaen offers “more authentic Thai experiences”, Pornthip pointed out.
Concurred Thanavalai Laorauvirodge of Supanniga Home, a four-key boutique resort in Khon Kaen: “Supanniga Home is a unique property that is suitable for a niche portion of the market. We have hosted functions for global companies in which the executives spend the day doing workshops and attend meetings in our garden.”
He continued: “We have seen more interest and bookings for high-end MICE events for the past two years, and we expect this will only continue to grow.
“Most of our MICE clients are from domestic offices of international companies.”
Growing MICE demand has led the 48-key Wishing Tree Resort to expand its meeting facilities to accommodate an additional 200-300 pax and afford MICE groups the possibilities to organise outdoor activities at its riverside location, according to resort manager Pasuta Sukmanop.
But while prospects generally appear positive for Khon Kaen, the province needs to diversify its attractions and MICE feeder markets, according to industry members. The meeting demand is still predominantly domestic, with government meetings and academic seminars comprising the bulk of MICE business in Khon Kaen, they said.
“Some 80 per cent of our MICE business is from the government sector, typically larger-scale meetings lasting two to three days to a week, while the remaining 20 per cent is from the corporate sector, usually smaller-scale meetings of between 50 and 100 pax, ranging from pharmaceutical to automobile companies hosting dinners for their regional salespersons,” said Sirikwan Tesarin, assistant director of sales-corporate at Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid.
“(Academic) conferences are important too, especially with conferences/seminars from Khon Kaen University and Mahasarakham University (in neighbouring province),” she added.
Likewise, academic conferences and government meetings also make up a significant MICE market for Centara Hotel & Convention Centre Khon Kaen, said the hotel’s spokesperson. The hotel, which opened in December 2013, and the Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid, are the province’s only two internationally branded hotels with convention facilities.
Statues of dinosaurs: Dinosaurs are the symbol of the province
Sirikwan hence suggests the development of more attractions in Khon Kaen that will widen the selection of recreational choices for MICE delegates, especially as competition heats up with Udon Thani, the province’s main rival city in Isaan.
As to leveraging dinosaurs – Khon Kaen’s provincial symbol and source of heritage pride since paleontological discoveries in the 1970s – she commented: “The dinosaurs (discovery) are 30 years old! It’s time we develop new icons for Khon Kaen.”
Ideas
3 Days/2 Nights in Khao Yai
Day 1
Kick off the morning in Bangkok with a visit to Pak Khlong Talat, the city’s biggest flower market, and Nakorn Kasem, popularly known as the Thieves Market.
Wild deer pose in the beautiful landscape of Khao Yai National Park
Following a two-hour drive to Khao Yai, enjoy lunch at your own expenses and check into the hotel. At 16.30, you will be picked up from the hotel to check out a small hill opposite a bat cave.
Enjoy the landscape as the sun sets and watch bats flying out of the cave.
Then, enter the Night Safari in the Khao Yai National Park for animal watching before heading over to the camping area where field staff will prepare a barbeque dinner for you.
Exit the forest around 21.30 for transfer back to the resort.
Day 2 After breakfast, drive to a viewpoint and stop for pictures of the surrounding landscapes from higher ground.
Start your soft-trekking tour of around three hours, with equipment like binoculars provided, and have lunch in the jungle prepared by the field team.
Visit a waterfall and while having excursions or swimming in the area, the field staff will serve snacks and cold drinks.
Transfer back to your hotel to freshen up before continuing to PB Valley Khao Yai Winery.
Begin with a guided 75-minute tour of an established vineyard and winery, with explanations about the various grapes for wine-making and orchards grown with fruits like the dragonfruit. There are ample photo-taking opportunities at other vineyards along the way.
The guided tour of the winery concludes with wine tasting at the foyer of the winery, followed by a Western set dinner at the Great Hornbill Grill restaurant served with a glass of red or white wine.
After dinner, return to hotel.
Day 3 After breakfast, check out and drive back to Bangkok, where the tour ends at the hotel or the airport.
Itinerary provided by Go Vacation Thailand
Need to Know
Khao Yai Convention Center
Having recently opened its doors in July 2014 as part of a mixed-use development, Khao Yai Convention Center (KYCC) offers 3,700m2 of indoor meeting space, including a grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 1,000 pax seated and 1,700 pax theatre-style, a 970m2 exhibition hall and seven meeting rooms.
KYCC adjoins the upcoming 11.5ha Scenical World, an expansion and rejuvenation of the existing Life Park amusement park that will add a shopping mall (Greenery Park Mall) and a water park (Splash World). Scenical World will soft open in early-2015, and shuttle buses will be provided to transfer guests and delegates from one point to another.
The development is also home to the 254-room Greenery Resort, the 116-room Botanica Khao Yai and the 300-room Khao Yai Foresta that is scheduled to open in two years’ time.
Hybrid meeting package at Amari
Amari Watergate Bangkok has rolled out a Hybrid Meeting package, which leverages technology to enable meeting planners to reach more delegates via the virtual environment, by connecting multiple events happening simultaneously in different locations and including attendees who may not otherwise be able to attend.
“We are moving with the times and embracing technology to enhance our guests’ meeting experience. Hybrid meetings are showing tremendous growth this year as more corporates look to extend the reach of their conference message using enhanced webinar technology,” said David Barrett, executive director events of Amari Watergate and Amari Pattaya. Microsoft, eBay and ICCA are among organisations that have realised the value of hybrid meetings, said the hotel.
The package offers the traditional face-to-face meeting while giving the organiser the opportunity to share content, ideas and experiences with attendees across multiple geographies and time zones.
For the face-to-face, planners can make use of Amari Watergate’s Connections meetings hub for gatherings of up to 50 pax, the Banglampoo room for meetings of up to 100 pax and the Watergate Ballroom for large-scale events of up to 600 pax.
Valid until December 31, the package is priced at 1,700 baht (US$53) per person, excluding the cost of technical set-up. It includes the use of a meeting room set-up; room rental from 08.00-12.00 or 13.00-17.00; one coffee break with fresh pastries; one lunch per person; a dedicated high-speed Internet line, separate from hotel Wi-Fi; video cameras; video editing suite and live-streaming; and a production team, among others.
Sheraton Hua Hin unveils new convention hall
A new pillarless convention hall, The Chandelier, has opened at the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort and Spa. Measuring 892m2 in size and boasting a 7.6m high ceiling, The Chandelier can accommodate up to 680 pax theatre-style or 800 guests for cocktail receptions. It also comes with a spacious foyer and direct access for vehicle displays, and is equipped with the latest technology.
The Chandelier joins three other event venues – The Grand Ballroom, State Room 1 and State Room 2 – at the 240-key Sheraton Hua Hin Resort and Spa.
Courtyard by Marriott opens in South Pattaya
The Courtyard by Marriott South Pattaya has opened its doors within walking distance to Pattaya Beach and Walking Street. The seven-storey hotel offers 132 rooms with natural lighting and contemporary décor, each equipped with amenities such as a flat-screen LCD TV, satellite TV with international channels, electronic personal safe and flexible areas for work and relaxation.
The all-day dining MoMo café offers a combination of Western delicacies as well as Thai specialties, while MoMo Bar serves refreshing signature drinks, snacks and light music for chilling out in the evening. Other facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a 24-hour gym and Ananya Massage.
Tamnak Hill and Multi-function room, fully equipped with the latest audio-visual equipment and Wi-Fi access, can accommodate up to 150 guests. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in-room and throughout all public areas of the hotel.
Jetstar Pacific links Bangkok-Hanoi
Traffic on the Bangkok-Hanoi route is set to increase from March 29 when Jetstar Pacific starts daily flights between the two capital cities on Airbus A320 aircraft. This is the Vietnam-based carrier’s second flight to Thailand after it commenced daily services on the Ho Chi Minh City-Bangkok route on December 10 last year.
The SVP-lodging services and operations of Marriott International, Asia-Pacific, talks to Greg Lowe about reimagining meetings for Millennials
How significant is the influence of Millennials and what are you doing to connect with them in meetings They for sure are decision-makers. The eldest are around 35 years old. Tech firms and ad agencies are run by them. They are also the generation that will travel more than any other, and the way they travel and share their experiences are different from previous generations. They want to collect and share their experiences through social media. They have grown up in a much more visual environment. This affects what they expect to see and experience at an event. These trends have influenced our thinking and the development of Meetings Imagined.
Can you explain more about Meetings Imagined and your other MICE-related digital developments?
[n Two years ago we took a close look at our meetings business. Back then meetings accounted for 32 per cent of global roomnights. We decided it was time to reinvent that space within our properties.
We focused on the purpose of meetings and identified seven reasons why people meet: promote, celebrate, decide, ideate, network, educate and produce. There are different ways to approach meetings which are dependent on why the meeting is taking place. We decided to put all of our knowledge into one site – MeetingsImagined.com – where we could communicate with meeting planners and we rolled the concept out at 13 hotels across Asia-Pacific.
A picture says more than a thousand words and Meetings Imagined is an intuitive platform which uses thousands of images of our facilities and events to show planners what we can do. Planners and delegates can post pictures of the set-up process or coffee breaks. Our hotel teams can post too, so that helps create some friendly competition between properties to see who gets the most engagement with their content.
We’ve also launched Meeting Services App. It’s a closed-loop system which enables planners to communicate with our events team in real-time from their smartphone or tablet. So, if you’re in a meeting with 160 people and don’t want to leave, you can use the app to request for the lighting or air-conditioning to be adjusted, order more coffee or delay lunch. Our team will respond immediately and inform the planner of how their request is being processed.
The app will soon be able to handle the billing process too, which is a major development as billing is the current pain point for most planners.
Since planners and delegates can post on Meetings Imagined, how do you deal with risks from negative feedback when things go wrong?
Our team does check that the content posted is relevant, but beyond that users can say what they want. In this day and age you cannot try to filter what people say, especially on social media. We try and make sure that events go smoothly. Occasional mishaps happen, but if that’s the case then we use it as an opportunity to learn and improve our services.
How important is it for you to keep innovating and do you ever worry that other operators will simply copy the good ideas that work?
Innovation is fundamental. It’s flattering to be copied. And if we are (followed), then it energises the team to (come up with) something better. Our team in Bethesda (US) has an innovation lab where they do anything from testing room design to developing other products and services. It’s key to developing performance and staying ahead of the crowd.
There’s an ever-growing desire for technology from guests, but it’s also about the hardware and what our teams provide. Events these days are much more of a blend of work and play. Every event is different. If you need to ideate or educate, then there are certain formats for that. However, you can also be very creative. It’s much less about listening to financial reports and watching presentations. We’re using all parts of our properties and even host small groups in the hotel library.
At our own regional operations meeting in Bangkok we broke down into smaller groups, and arranged labs with 20 people. We had a treasure hunt making use of different properties across the city where teams had to make som tum (a spicy Thai salad) in the open kitchen. It’s all about having a more immersive experience. And it needs to be fun. However, rolling these ideas out across 4,000 hotels has its own logistical challenges.
What gets you out of bed in the morning after more than 25 years in the trade?
I love this business passionately. We have an amazing team. And it’s the best time to be in Asia-Pacific, where we’re growing rapidly, entering new markets and building a lot more new hotels. That means we can design our new properties to match the needs of guests and the emerging trends in the market.
At the same time the market and guests from the region are themselves developing. If you look at the JW Marriott Phuket, which opened in 2001, for the first six to seven years it was popular with guests from the US, UK and Europe, then there was a shift to Russia and the Middle East. Now it’s changed again. The number of Chinese, Korean and Indian guests is increasing.
It’s super interesting to see the changing demographics.
BANYAN Tree Hotels and Resorts is pushing for a bigger share of the regional MICE market with a new meetings programme and a dedicated meeting and event website for event planners.
The group will launch its Meet for Good in 1Q, incorporating volunteerism and CSR elements, said David Spooner, vice president for sales and marketing, during a recent trip to Hong Kong.
The programme details have not been finalised but will ride on what Banyan Tree already offers guests currently, including activities such as tree planting and reading to local children.
Banyan Tree also works with EarthCheck to measure how much carbon is generated during meetings and aid clients in holding carbon-free meetings.
Said Spooner: “We observed (a demand for) responsible meetings and the trend of more engagement in CSR, incorporated with experiencing the local flavours of food and entertainment.”
China makes up Banyan Tree’s biggest MICE market in Asia-Pacific, although in terms of the number of booked rooms, incentives form the largest share of traffic at its Indonesia, Thai and Vietnam resorts, he revealed.
Meanwhile the group will continue to boost awareness of Banyan Tree and sister brand Angsana’s MICE capabilities, where the segment accounts for eight to 10 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. “A lot of MICE organisers…think we only do leisure groups and couples. In fact, we do have a demand for small executive retreats, incentives and board meetings.”
“Meeting organisers can look for functional information like capacity charts and size of meeting rooms via their mobile phones, laptops and tablets. Moreover, the site also features Destination Dining for meeting organisers who need special and exclusive dining options like al fresco dining on top of a mountain,” explained Spooner.
ITS upcoming transition into a convention hotel will enable Marriott Hotel Manila to bat for bigger meetings and more than double MICE’s contribution to room sales, said general manager Bruce Winton.
The 8,000m2 Marriott Grand Ballroom (MGB), the Marriott group’s biggest convention and exhibition space outside the US, is set for a grand opening on May 18.
Apart from a 3,000m2 pillar-less main ballroom for up to 5,000 pax, MGB also has two chapels and six multi-purpose venues called VIP Skyboxes.
But the 228 additional rooms, which will be bigger and more luxurious than the hotel’s existing 342 rooms, will be launched only towards year-end.
“2015 will be a transition for us and the dynamics will change. Since the additional rooms won’t be ready until the end of this year, the rooms-to-MICE-space ratio might be skewed,” he said.
Winton said that demand for MICE was strong but the hotel had to turn away a lot of business “because we don’t have enough rooms”.
Once the additional rooms come on stream, MICE contribution to room sales would increase from the current 20 per cent to almost 50 per cent by end-2016, he said.
Winton expects half of MGB’s business to be MICE, including association meetings, and the rest to come from entertainment and social events such as weddings.
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
Experience the fabulous diversity of Hanoi’s vibrant culinary scene at ground level with Hanoi Street Food Tours, run by two local food enthusiasts and bloggers, Van Cong Tu and Mark Lowerson. The specialist operator takes groups along boulevards, down back-alleys and through markets. Tours take a couple of hours to a full day and the experience embraces the full range of food available, from pho noodles to French desserts.
The SVP-lodging services and operations of Marriott International, Asia-Pacific, talks to 
