THE Philippines’ efforts to get back into the MICE loop are paying off, judging from the sharp increase in the number of exhibition and event organisers coming in.

Marisa D Nallana, chair, Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS) said that foreign groups have started mounting events and fairs here during the past few years.

Among these are three Singapore-based Conference & Exhibition Management Services of Singapore, APAC Expo, and Terrapinn; UBM Exhibitions Philippines, which is a member of the UBM Asia Group of Companies; and AMB Exhibition of Malaysia.

Nallana said: “Some foreign organisers and mergers & acquisition companies are in the Philippines to set up a representative office, team up with local organisers for shows/events, buy local fairs to add to their list of exhibitions, and tie up with local organisers for international exhibitions.”

“Thai organisers have come to check out the major venues here. They are looking into possible collaboration for certain exhibitions.”

NTOs are also making their enthusiasm known.

“Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau is open to collaboration with PACEOS and major industry associations. Likewise Singapore Tourism Board and Taiwan External Trade Development Council,” she said, adding that these developments prove the Philippines’ image is improving.

DUBAI will welcome the 57th edition of the ICCA Congress in 2018, it announced this week.

Hosting the ICCA Congress is one step towards the destination’s Tourism Vision 2020 to increase arrivals to the emirate through a regular stream of events, of which business events form an integral part.

Steen Jakobsen, director of Dubai Business Events, a division of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, commented: “The ICCA Congress is known to attract a gathering of meeting industry professionals from across the globe and will be a fantastic opportunity for the emirate to familiarise leading ICCA members with everything Dubai and the Middle East has to offer for business and leisure tourists.”

Likewise, ICCA CEO, Martin Sirk, commented: “Dubai is positioning itself as the Middle East hub for association development, and the potential for ICCA membership growth is very exciting, so there are very compelling business opportunities for both ICCA and our members.”

INTERNATIONAL DMC and event management organisation Pacific World has forayed into three new emerging MICE destinations – Croatia, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives – through parent company TUI Travel.

Existing TUI joint ventures on the ground in each destination will direct Pacific World’s operations.

In Croatia, Pacific World is tying up with Gulliver Travel, a strong player in the Balkan region’s MICE scene, for Pacific World Croatia.

Aitken Spence Travel, with its longstanding relationships with local suppliers, is the appointed partner for Pacific World Sri Lanka and Pacific World Maldives.

Harsha Krishnan, strategic development director of Pacific World, said: “Through the shared ownership structure provided by TUI Travel, we can guarantee service standards and ensure that creativity and the customer experience is second to none.”

THE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre in 2016, the first time the conference is taking place in the Middle East.

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) announced this week that ATCE will run from September 26-28, 2016.

Explaining the choice of Dubai as the next host destination in a press release, Jeff Spath, 2014 SPE president, said: “SPE’s membership is dispersed globally. More than 11,000 of our professional members and 2,200 of our student members reside in the Middle East.

“Dubai’s position as the crossroads of the east and west make it an ideal meeting point for our global industry.”

ATCE gathers approximately 10,000 attending engineers, scientists, managers, and executives for networking, as well as certification and training opportunities. The event will also see the annual general meeting of SPE members where awards and recognitions are given out to industry technical leaders.

An exhibition of over 10,000m2 will run concurrently.

Khalid Zainalabedin of Saudi Aramco has been selected as the ATCE 2016 programme chairperson.

SOUTH Korean city Daegu has redesigned the visitor experience through four new itineraries unveiled recently by the Daegu Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

Known as Deagu Colorful Tour, the tours explore four different geographical regions and experiences in the city.

The Daegu Modern History Alley Tour takes visitors through several downtown locations that clue them in on Daegu’s contribution to Korean history, including the original site of Samsung Group’s headquarters. Yangnyeongsi, South Korea’s oldest and largest oriental medicine market, is also on the itinerary, as is the historic textile market, Seomun market.

Alternatively, visitors can travel to Suseong or Gachang beyond downtown Daegu to experience local life by hiking Mt Apsan or unwinding at a jjimjilbang, or Korean bath house, in Spa Valley.

The third itinerary offers cycling down the Nakdong river path for beautiful sunset views and a trip to Mabijung Mural Village, which is full of art and culture.

The last focuses on the Mount Palgong area and its various attractions such as Gatbawi, a statue of Buddha made during the Unified Silla Kingdom era, and Donghwasa, a temple housing a 17m Buddha statue and where visitors can take part in a temple stay programme.

DESTINATION Asia has promoted Michael Assef to the position of director of meeting and events in Shanghai.

Assef’s duties in his new role include consolidating meetings and event business in Shanghai, and developing Destination Asia’s incentive programme offerings with the help of the existing Shanghai team.

Prior to his current post, Assef was product and MICE manager in Cambodia.

A RECENT study by CWT Meetings & Events has suggested that compliance and end-to-end meetings management will remain top of the agenda for companies in 2015.

Released earlier this month, the 2015 Meetings & Events Forecast has found that meeting planners are taking note of strong success in end-to-end meetings management, with time and financial savings as well as an accurate overview of total event costs being benefits of such practices.

Meeting planners in Germany have realised savings of up to 23 per cent, while in Australia, average savings of 10-20 per cent have been achieved. Interest in end-to-end meetings management is increasing across the Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions. However, the study noted that meeting planners in China will be unique in going against the end-to-end trend and are expected to continue to separate business into group air, hotel room, meeting space, and land operations bookings – using a specialist vendor for each one.

Compliance will also remain top-of-mind among meeting planners, especially for pharmaceutical organisations that have to abide by meeting and events regulations imposed by the Sunshine Act.

Floyd Widener, senior vice president, CWT Meetings & Events Worldwide, said in a press release: “This is the third edition of our forecast, and it’s interesting to see the renewed focus on compliance in our industry. With 2015 on the horizon, the forecast provides valuable insight for our clients to refer to in upcoming budgeting and negotiations, whether they’re focused on meetings, events or strategic meetings management.”

The report, which is available at this link, offers several recommendations to help meeting planners achieve success in the next 12 months. They include trying hybrid events to save costs and involve remote employees unable to participate in person, basing events in-country or in-region to minimise costs, carbon footprint and delegate travel times, and working with an agency with strong industry relationships to get the best deals and supplier terms.

A NEW pillarless convention hall has opened at the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort and Spa.

Named The Chandelier, the space is said to be the largest and most modern resort conference facility in Thailand’s western region. Measuring 892m2 in size and boasting a 7.6m high ceiling, The Chandelier can accommodate up to 680 pax in 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.

Chatchaya Glaiprayong, director of sales & marketing of Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa and Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas, said: “Our associates are excited to exhibit this new facility’s versatility to the public. With so many different event possibilities, we are eager to host and create memorable experiences in all aspects, from exclusive conferences to world-class events”.

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.

NEW business events booked at The Mira Hong Kong by June 30, 2015 will enjoy a number of perks, including an upgraded sixth room for every five rooms booked; a free conference package for the sixth person for every five delegates; a complimentary hour-long cocktail with five kinds of canapés at Vibes or one of the Specialty Suites for bookings of at least 50 room nights; and a free iPad mini for the event planner with a total minimum spend of HK$150,000 (US$1,934) net on one event, inclusive of room and F&B charges.

Conference packages offered at The Mira Hong Kong are priced at HK$850 and HK$700 for a full- and half-day arrangement respectively. The package includes luncheon, two/one thematic coffee break(s) and a full set of meeting amenities.

Terms and conditions apply.

Contact mice@themirahotel.com and quote “MICETOTHEMAX2015” to enjoy this offer.