Johor to establish CVB

September 18, 2014

JOHOR is on the hunt for hotel investors, as it prepares to set up a state convention bureau in 2016 to bring more business events to the southern-most state of Peninsular Malaysia.

Backed by the Johor state government, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) and Johor Department of Tourism, a working committee was recently formed, comprising members from the private and public sector, to hammer out the details of the new CVB.

Ismail Ibrahim, chief executive, IRDA, said the state is concurrently developing hardware in order to attract more business events. Hotel inventory in Iskandar Malaysia, which is being developed as a metropolis three times the size of Singapore, is expected to increase to 6,600 rooms by end-2015, from around 5,000 rooms now. The state of Johor has about 17,000 rooms.

Ismail added: “Currently, we have a main convention centre known as Persada Johor International Convention Centre in Johor Bahru (capital of Johor) that can accommodate a maximum of 4,000 delegates. We have projected that we will need another three to four convention centres – in Nusajaya, Pasir Gudang and Senai.”

Ismail and his team from IRDA are at PATA Travel Mart to network and attract private investors. Current incentives for the development of three- to five-star hotels are 10-year tax holidays, but additional incentives can be considered on a case-to-case basis.

Ganneesh Ramaa, manager, Luxury Tours Malaysia, said the new set-up would help attract more MICE visitors to the state, which in turn would create business opportunities for suppliers. He added: “To attract more business events, there must also be convention centres that can accommodate group sizes of 5,000 to 6,000 pax and are professionally run.”

Johor will be the third secondary destination in Malaysia to have a CVB, after Sarawak in East Malaysia and Penang in the north, which is in the midst of setting up the Penang International Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PICEB). PICEB is likely to be up and running in early 2015.

Thailand puts on a ‘MICE United’ front to grow industry confidence

By Xinyi Liang-Pholsena

September 11, 2014

IN A concerted effort to recover grounds lost from the volatile political situation earlier this year, industry players in the Thai public and private sector have joined forces to launch Thailand’s MICE United to boost confidence internationally.

Comprising Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International (THAI) and Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA), the alliance seeks to reach out to 250 key influencers, including 100 international media, and 150 high-potential MICE buyers within Asia, while maintaining the important European target market.

“Thailand’s MICE United is a strategic partnership programme designed to re-invigorate the country’s positive image and reaffirm confidence among the international business community,” said Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of TCEB, at the Thailand Connect 2014 – Isan Indulgence media fam trip launch on Monday.

In addition to media fam trips to Isan and Chiang Mai (held earlier in August), the alliance has also planned MICE roadshows in Shanghai and London in September and November respectively.

THAI will offer support for the campaign by flying in international media delegates for the fam trips while RSTA will highlight new products and services of its members in the area.

With these promotion activities in place, TCEB expects 888,210 MICE visitors to Thailand and revenue to reach US$2.9 billion in 2014.

RSTA president, Chai Srivikorn, commented that “(stronger) law enforcement at (the) grassroot levels” has been “a big transformation” that sends an important message to the international business community in Thailand.

When enquired if TCEB has other initiatives in place to convince overseas companies still hesitant about sending MICE events to Thailand when martial law is still in place, Nopparat revealed that the alliance will focus its attention on ASEAN countries that are “more familiar” with the situation in Thailand, with certain markets like China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea already making a “quick comeback” in terms of MICE business to the country.

“Furthermore, Thailand winning the bid for One Young World Summit 2015 despite competition from Japan and Hong Kong shows the (growing confidence in the country),” he pointed out.

Sek Wannamethee, spokesperson of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and director-general of the Department of Information, said: “According to the PM (Prayuth Chan-ocha), martial law will be partially eased in some tourist destinations soon.”

Medical events draw 11,000 professionals to the Lion City

By TTG Asia

September 11, 2014

SINGAPORE is doing a roaring trade in medical and healthcare events, with some 11,000 industry professionals to convene in the city this month for learning and networking.

Major events include Medical Fair Asia that was held this week, and HIMSS Asia Pacific.

Delegates will discuss the major issues and trends impacting the healthcare industry today. HIMSS Asia Pacific will also focus on a range of healthcare issues, from medical equipment and supplies, to healthcare IT and informatics.

Next year, Singapore will welcome medical events including RehabTech Asia, and the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, the largest gathering of physical therapists in the world.

Bloomberg last year ranked Singapore second in terms of efficiency in healthcare systems among 48 countries.

Singapore bids for global transport congress in 2019

By Paige Lee Pei Qi

September 11, 2014

THE Land Transport Authority (LTA), together with the Intelligent Transportation Society Singapore (ITSS), is bidding to host the 26th edition of the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress in 2019.

An international platform for government transport agencies, industry players, and academic and research institutions to exchange information, review, and showcase the latest global ITS products, services, plans and technological achievements, the annual ITS World Congress typically attracts about 5,000 international participants.

The result of the bid will be announced next April during the 14th ITS Asia Pacific Forum in Nanjing, China.

Chew Hock Yong, chief executive of LTA, said: “Singapore is well placed to host the ITS World Congress in 2019 as we would be able to showcase ground-breaking technologies, such as the use of advanced data analytics for transport planning and our autonomous vehicle trials.

“Winning this bid will also bring the ITS World Congress to South-east Asia for the first time, and provide a boost for the ITS sector in this region,” he added.

Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Hangzhou names new executive assistant manager

By TTG Asia

September 11, 2014

WYNDHAM Grand Plaza Royal Hangzhou has appointed Angela Chen as its new executive assistant manager, in charge of sales & marketing.

Cheng brings with her over 12 years of working experience in the hotel industry, and has chalked up hospitality experience with Sofitel Luxury Hotels, and Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts.

Meetings brand, MICE manual on the cards for Philippines in 2014

By Rosa Ocampo

September 10, 2014

THE Philippines will roll out a new meetings slogan and MICE manual later this year to raise awareness of what the country has to offer as a business events destination.

Tourism Promotions Board COO, Domingo Ramon Enerio III, hinted that the brand will be connected to It’s More Fun in the Philippines because “if you are happy, then you are more productive”.

Enerio said the goal of the MICE manual is to acquaint meeting planners with business meeting facilities in the Philippines, as business meetings is one of the five central themes of the Visit Philippines 2015 campaign.

The other four are history, culture, lifestyle, and entertainment.

Local MICE players had clamoured for MICE branding and a MICE manual during the Philippine MICE Conference in June.

The move is timely given the year-long series of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings involving 25,000 international delegates in 2015.

Over 150 small to medium-sized APEC meetings are due to take place, not including bigger events that will culminate in the November summit.

“This provides an opportunity for us to put our best foot forward,” said Enerio.

Other events also on the 2015 calendar include the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Manila in September, and Madrid Fusion Manila, an offshoot of one of Europe’s most celebrated gustatory festivals.

Take a virtual step into Suntec Singapore

By Paige Lee Pei Qi

September 10, 2014

SUNTEC Singapore is now inviting guests on a virtual tour of the convention centre, before they even travel to the venue, through Google Maps’ Street View.

Marc Bakker, assistant director of marketing & communications, Suntec Singapore, said: “It is possible to walk our halls from the comfort of your screen. This is an important benefit for decision makers outside Singapore, who can now have a comprehensive view of the new venue prior to coming for a full site inspection or during their shortlisting process.”

Users will be able to see 360º indoor panoramic shots of the centre’s indoor facilities, such as the entrance driveway, the 36 meeting rooms on Level 3, the concourse area, and the halls on Level 4 and Level 6.

Expecting this to set Suntec Singapore apart from its rivals, Bakker said: “In this industry, we are always competing at a global level for the most prestigious events, anything we can do to help interested parties visualise our centre helps in the decision-making process.

“By providing a virtual walk-through with panoramic high-resolution imagery, people can get a much better feel for what kind of venue we are without having to take the trouble and expense to come on site,” he added.

Google Maps Street View is a “simple and convenient” way to experience the convention centre, said Bakker.

He added that Suntec Singapore’s next step is to create an online environment for clients to similarly visualise the convention centre’s event space personalisted specifically on their own event requirements.

Visitors can start their virtual tour of Suntec Singapore on Google Maps here: http://bit.ly/1tXC5P1

The Village

By S Puvaneswary

September 6, 2014

Dining in a restaurant that resembles a village house set over a lake, provides planners a chance to create lasting impressions for their guests, writes S Puvaneswary

What sets The Village at Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside apart from other restaurants is its location – it is right over the stunning Putrajaya Lake and built on stilts. The view it provides is particularly attractive, as diners can see large stretches of the lake and the brightly lit Wawasan Putrajaya bridge in the distance. And if you are at the restaurant before 19.00, you can catch the sunset.

The Village has a semi open concept, with no walls to block the gentle breeze that blows from over the lake. There is a high attap roof, more to shelter diners from the rain than the sun, as the restaurant opens for business only after 18.30. To supplement the natural breeze are several ceiling fans.

To me, the restaurant’s architecture resembles a typical Malay village house.

MICE application
The Village offers an air-conditioned private dining room with glass walls that let in unhindered views of the lake. This space is just perfect for private functions and can easily take 40 guests in a banquet setting. The hotel can provide portable projectors and screens for events held here.

Just outside this private dining room is a large open deck which works well for cocktail parties. If privacy is what the planner desires, then it is privacy he shall get, as this deck is quite secluded from the main dining area.

I can picture men and women chilling out on this deck, sipping champagne or their preferred drink, after a long day of meetings and presentations.

The Village can also accommodate larger groups of 200 people or more in its the main dining area. This space has a cosy ambience, complete with wooden chairs and tables that are commonly found in many Malaysian homes, and lush potted plants.

If you fear the attack of mosquitoes in this al fresco venue, fear not. Blue-tint fluorescent lighting installed throughout the restaurant helps to keep bothersome bugs away.

F&B concept
The Village specialises in a mixture of Malaysian, Asian, Mediterranean and western cuisine.

Come every Friday and Saturday, a seafood barbecue takes over and guests are invited to stay on after their meal for refreshing mocktails and cocktails at the stylish bar.

On other days, planners can choose from an extensive a la carte menu, or tailor one to suit their guests’ dietary requirements.

This restaurant serves the best masala braised lamb shank I have ever tasted, while the gratin lobster on percik sauce and stir-fried vegetables is to die for. I ended the evening with an excellent tiramisu.

Although The Village has a pork-free menu, there are no restrictions on alcohol consumption.

Service and ambiance
It is Malaysian hospitality at its best at The Village. The service staff are attentive and the young sous chef, Ahmad Zaidi Abd Razak, is most entertaining. He amused us with personal anecdotes and regaled us with stories of his teenager years, of how he loved to ride his bike, but after it got stolen he took up cooking to pass time. And that was how he ended up becoming a chef and loving his career ever since.

With soft music playing in the background, chef Ahmad Zaidi’s stories and that evening’s perfect weather, I wished good times would never end.

Contacts
Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside
No 2 Jalan P5/5, Presint 5,
62200 Putrajaya.
Email: reservation@pullmanputrajaya.com; website: www.pullmanputrajaya.com
Opening hours
18.30-22.30pm, daily

Heaven on Hayman gets a facelift

By TTGmice

September 6, 2014

Following an extensive revamp, the 160-key One&Only Hayman Island has reopened in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef with an all-suite Pool Wing, rooms and suites with ocean/lagoon views, beach villas and penthouses.

For corporate groups, the luxury property offers its own Entertainment Centre, an ideal venue for large seminar-style meetings with 10 to 300 guests. It comes with a fully-equipped stage, high ceiling, excellent audiovisual facilities, natural light and views over One&Only Hayman Beach. The Entertainment Centre is split-level and can be divided into two separate rooms.

One&Only Hayman Island also welcomes teambuilding and incentive groups, offering a variety of watersport activities and corporate challenges, as well as an array of indulgent recreational and dining experiences that are tailored for top achievers.

Other facilities at One&Only Hayman Island include dining destinations, a spa, a fitness centre, an adult-only pool, family pool and children’s beach area, making it perfect for accompanying families.

New tower, name for Hyatt Regency Incheon

By TTGmice

September 6, 2014

The Hyatt Regency Incheon, South Korea was rebranded Grand Hyatt Incheon on September 1 and now boasts expanded meeting space with the opening of its new West Tower – just in time to welcome the participants of the 17th Asian Games.

Ratnesh Verma, senior vice president, real estate and development, Asia Pacific, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, said: “The hotel, including the addition of a new tower, further solidifies our brand presence in this key gateway market.

“With its dramatic meeting facilities, large number of rooms and its proximity to the airport, the expanded hotel offers a unique destination within Asia that is attractive to meeting and group business. We continue to remain committed to South Korea as a strategic market with its robust economy and a renewed attraction both as a business and leisure destination.”

The 522-key hotel is minutes away from Incheon International Airport, and offers 500 more rooms with the launch of the West Tower that connects to the East Tower via a sky bridge. The West Tower boasts residence-style rooms with kitchens for long staying guests, a 1,250m² Grand Ballroom and multi-dimensional event venues, an all-day dining Grand Café serving Western and Asian cuisines, the Swell Lounge, two swimming pools and a children’s play zone.

Meanwhile, extensive renovations are scheduled to take place in phases at the East Tower over the next 18 months.