PLANNERS can look to take up Ozo Wesley Hong Kong’s new meeting packages when they book its cheekily named meeting venue Talk.

The space allows a range of configurations from 12-pax boardroom meetings to cocktail functions and classroom or theatre seating of 40 guests.

A Full-Day Meeting Package comes with use of the venue from 09.00 to 18.00, two refreshment breaks with snacks, and one set lunch for HK$500 (US$64.50). A Half Day Meeting Package includes venue rental from 09.00 to 13.00 or from 14.00 to 18.00, as well as one refreshment break with snacks and one set lunch, priced at HK$400.

Prices are per person and subject to a 10 per cent service charge.

Furthermore, Ozo Wesley will throw in a 20 per cent discount for meeting packages if 20 or more room nights are booked.

Details are on the Ozo Wesley website.

VICTORIA has added to its catalogue of MICE products with the milestone opening of the A$28 million (US$22 million) Vibe Hotel Marysville.

Officially launched last Tuesday by the Victorian minister for regional development, Jaala Pulford, the new-build comes six years after the small township was ravaged by the Black Saturday bushfires on February 7, 2009.

Located 90 minutes from Melbourne in the Yarra Valley at the base of the city’s closest alpine resort, the 4.5-star hotel features 101 guestrooms including five suites, a conference centre with capacity for 300 guests theatre-style and five meeting rooms, spa and wellness centre, outdoor pool and Radius Bar & Grill restaurant.

TFE Hotels group director of marketing, Emma Fraser, said the group has a rolling 12-month strategic activation plan in place with each of its trade partners to take the Vibe Hotel Marysville to market.

“Our joint venture partner, Far East Hospitality, gives us the gateway to Asia and this is a perfect opportunity for us to ensure all of our hotels are featured in Asia from a rooms and MICE perspective,” she said.

“We also have a GSA in that market to deliver business into our Vibe Hotels, as well as our key MICE hotels in the TFE Hotels portfolio.”

At the time of the launch, over 1,300 delegates had attended a conference since it opened to the public in February.

JUMP Street KL trampoline park will use its birthday wish on attracting more corporate business when it turns one year old next month.

Events manager, Azlan A Aziz, said the park’s operator Jump Street Malaysia is targeting to have at least 30 per cent of its business come from the corporate segment in 2016, compared to under 20 per cent now.

Jump Street KL is located in a renovated warehouse in Section 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and equipped with 145 interconnected trampolines from the floor right up to the walls.

The venue can cater to corporate events of up to 500 people, such as teambuilding activities, product launch parties and family day outings.

Corporate packages can be customised to meet the company objectives, with refreshments and lunch provided for by Jump Café on the first floor.

In addition to the main play areas, there are three meeting rooms that can be joined to form one large space for up to 80 people in theatre seating. A second outlet, Jump Street Penang, opened in January 2015 and is located in Bayan Baru.

Azlan said the company plans to work with more event companies, local DMCs and PCOs, as well as do its own direct marketing to corporate companies.

The bulk of business now are birthday parties. “Our weekends are full of such events as well as locals who come here for a spot of fun. The corporate market is important to us as it will help to fill the place during weekdays.”

Corporate companies that have had their events here include Dell Malaysia, British American Tobacco Malaysia and SapuraKencana Petroleum.

“A trampoline park is still new to Malaysians but it is familiar among expatriates from the US and European markets, thus it is currently easier to market to multinational companies rather than local companies,” said Azlan.

To create greater awareness of its facility and offerings, Jump Street KL will organise a national trampoline dodge ball tournament at the end of 2015, its second after the November 2014 tournament that saw 16 teams participating.

THE Philippines last week hosted the Madrid Fusion Manila (MFM), demonstrating its readiness to take on high-prestige, large-scale events.

One of the most prestigious international gastronomy congress and exhibition brands in the world, the inaugural MFM kicked off at SMX Manila with 1,088 registered delegates from 15 countries and 80 exhibitors, including 30 from Spain as well as chefs from Singapore and Hong Kong.

Dexter Deyto, vice president and general manager at SM Conventions Specialist, said SMX had to invest in extensive back kitchen facilities to meet the event’s demanding specifications.

For MFM, the challenge in hosting it lay in the coordination between PCOs, Spanish event organisers Arum and Foro de Debate, and the Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board, said Marisa Nallana, PACEOS chair and one of the lead coordinators.

However, she commented that the Philippines is ready for such mega events. “We’re ready – in terms of personnel, organiser (capability), and staffing.”

Deyto also pointed out that the nation has hosted such events before, such as Philconstruct, which took up all of SMX Manila’s convention space. It will also welcome even bigger events by the Philippine Franchise Association and the Asia Pacific Retail Convention and Exhibition, both to take place in October.

However, Nallana pointed out that areas for improvement encompass reducing the amount of waiting time for government processes, such as bidding, processing of bids, approvals, etc.

Verna Buensuceso, tourism department project director for MFM, said: “Initiatives such as these, and upcoming events like Routes Asia and dive show brand DRT Manila are helping us improve as a MICE destination.”

She added that the Philippines is now regaining lost ground against its neighbours.