Japan has become the first destination to offer an Aman city hotel with the opening of Aman Tokyo in December.
Located on the top six floors of the new Otemachi Tower, the 84-unit urban sanctuary overlooks the financial district of Otemachi.
The centrepiece of the hotel’s lobby, soaring nearly 30m high, is an architectural feature resembling the interior of a paper lantern which diffuses sunlight in the day to illuminate the lobby while at night, the ambience evolves via a series of orchestrated lighting scenes.
Aman Tokyo features three F&B outlets: The Café by Aman which sells Mediterranean-inspired fare; The Lounge by Aman, offering drinks and snacks; and The Restaurant by Aman, serving Asian- and Japanese-inspired dishes.
There is also a glass fronted walk-in wine cellar with more than 1,200 wines, a Cigar Lounge and a Resident’s Library that offers books on Japanese art and culture.
Aman Tokyo’s rooms and suites all contain a deep soaking tub, which is a core part of the Japanese bathing ritural. The 71m2 Deluxe Rooms are the largest entry-level rooms in the city, followed by the Premier Rooms and the Suites which start at 141m2.
Recreational facilities include a fitness centre with yoga/pilates studios, a swimming pool, an inner garden and an Aman spa.
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.
What better way to reward your delegates or clients after a hard day’s work or touring than swigging delicious craft brews from all around the world? If you’re in Bangkok, send them off to Mikkeller for a round (or several rounds) of tipple.
One of three Mikkeller microbreweries in the world (the other two being in Copenhagen and San Francisco), the Bangkok outpost is tucked within a rustic house surrounded by lush greenery and private residences on Ekkamai Soi 10. Since opening its doors early this year – by a trio of beer experts Mike MacDonald, Jakob Rasmussen and Mikkel Borg Bjergso – the bar has bubbled up as a hit among the city’s discerning drinkers for its experimental approach and unique craft beers, offering a varied list of 30 rotating taps and specialised bottles from renowned breweries worldwide.
Private tastings at Mikkeller Bangkok can be arranged for groups up to 20 pax, which enable guests to explore a specific style (brand or country) during these closed sessions, from light beer tastings of around 800 baht (US$24.40) per pax to more aficionado-oriented affairs focusing on vintage and barrel-aged beers, which could go up to 3,000-4,000 baht per pax.
Events are entirely customised for the group and, depending on what’s in stock and the tasting theme, a session typically lasts one to two hours, and includes six beers, along with education, food and extras. Well-received beers include Mikkeller Sukhumvit Pilsner, To Ol Sofa King Pale, Amager Sinner Series Lust and Modern Times Lomaland.
Off-site tasting sessions can also be conducted for bigger groups. But as Mikkeller’s products are draft, off-site events are usually focused on bottles instead, with one or two draft options.
Contact (66-2) 381-9891 or info@mikkellerbangkok.com for reservations and customised tasting programmes.
OUTBOUND tour operators handling MICE business in Malaysia are projecting a drop in business next year no thanks to the ailing ringgit, but destinations with cheaper local currencies will enjoy the silver lining of more Malaysian business.
The ringgit has weakened substantially month-to-date against many major and regional currencies.
Topaz Travel & Tours managing director, Stephen Thomas, said: “We locked in rates a year ahead and had quoted (prices to) the clients in ringgit, and now we have to absorb the difference.”
While the cost of packages are certain to go up next year as a result, Stephen predicts popular MICE destinations are those where the ringgit remains stronger than the local currency.
This includes countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and China. He cited that there were also enquiries for incentives to South Africa.
Richard Vuilleumier, managing director of Panorama Tours Malaysia, also believes that South-east Asia destinations where suppliers provide quotes in local currencies or ringgit and not in US dollars will be favoured for Malaysian MICE.
The weaker ringgit means Malaysian MICE planners will look for ways to cut costs “such as choosing alternative destinations, accommodation or cutting down on meals”, he commented. “Longhaul destinations are sure to be the hardest hit.”
While some events are moving closer to home or downgrading accommodation and expenses, Adam Kamal, CEO of Rakyat Travel, is dealing with the situation differently.
“In 2Q2015, we expect a reduction in MICE movement overseas. Instead, we predict more domestic movement as companies cut costs. Thus, in this current environment, we are marketing domestic destinations more aggressively.”
BACOLOD is chasing big MICE dreams as it sets up a convention bureau and brings more infrastructure to the market.
A city ordinance signed in June this year will see the creation of the Bacolod Meetings and Conventions Promotions Board, to develop incentives, and the Bacolod Conventions Bureau, to promote and implement strategies and support for MICE.
Furthermore, November saw the opening of SMX Convention Center Bacolod, the largest convention center in Visayas with a capacity of 4,000 pax for concerts and 2,800 pax in banquet style.
Dennis O Salvador, SMX Convention Center’s assistant vice president and director of sales, said: “The opening creates demand for the international market to explore Bacolod. We’re already getting leads for events two years from now.”
Ryan T Uy, SMX Convention Center vice president, strategic sales and income management, said event organisers no longer have to look elsewhere because Bacolod can now host MICE events.
Plans are also afoot to build a 200-key hotel, likely a Park Inn By Radisson, and a 150-key Seda Hotel in the city over the next couple of years.
These developments have led to the choice of Bacolod as the host of MICE Conference, the Philippines’ biggest meetings event, in 2016.
THE Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) topped off last week with development at the 80 per cent mark. While completion for the US$318 million project is slated for March, business begins in January.
Danny Budiharto, president director of ICE’s owning company Indonesia International Expo, said: “Michael Bublé will stage his concert here on January 19, with some 10,000 people in attendance. This symbolises the start of the venue’s operations.”
Danny explained the topping off marked the beginning of a new era in Indonesia’s exhibition history and a shift in the country’s convention and exhibition business.
Built on 22ha of land in BSC (Bumi Serpong Damai) City, Tangerang, with a total floor space of 200,000m2, ICE offers 10 exhibition halls with an indoor area of 50,000m2 and an outdoor exhibition space of 50,000m2.
ICE’s meeting facilities will include a 3,600m2 convention hall and 33 meeting rooms capable of accommodating up to 10,000 people.
The venue will also be equipped with support services such as in-house food production, F&B outlets, parking space for 3,000 cars and a four-star hotel with 300 rooms.
ICE, which is managed by Deutsche Messe, is expected to put Indonesia on more equal footing with other MICE destinations in South-east Asia.
Mark Schloesser, president director of Deutsche Messe Venue Operations, said: “Deutsche Messe is committed to leverage the MICE industry in Indonesia by making ICE the preferred destination for conventions and exhibitions in the region.”
The company has so far received enquiries and bookings for tradeshows, conferences, social functions, and more than two concerts to be staged at the venue.
Apart from signing on domestic conferences and exhibitions, Deutsche Messe is targeting international events. Explained Schloesser: “We will not get to the highest (revenue and occupancy levels) in the next two to three years as a new facility usually takes that long to ramp up…We expect to reach the prime operational phase in five years, (with) a lot of big major events coming from within and outside the country.
“Our target groups now are local and national exhibitors and events within Indonesia, followed by those from the South-east Asian countries and other parts of the world,” he added.
BANKING on its traditional strengths in mechanics and robotics, the South Korean city of Daegu welcomed a series of industrial exhibitions and a forum last month.
The four events were collectively called the Daegu International Machinery Expo – a nod to the city’s strength in production of automatic machinery, packaging machines and metal mold casting – and drew more than 17,000 participants over a four-day period from November 19-22.
The 9th International Materials, Parts and Components Exhibition was also held at the same time, alongside the 3rd Daegu International Robot Industry Expo and the 2014 International Robotics Experts Forum, which featured 10 lectures from top minds in the world.
Youngjin Gwon, mayor of Daegu, was cited in a press statement as saying: “I hope that the Daegu International Machinery Expo is the place where companies can exchange information and communicate (with) each other while making a new market and helping Daegu’s machinery and metal industry develop.”
An industry and technology hub, Daegu is home to 11 universities and 27 colleges in addition to a host of cutting machine manufacturers, auto part makers and robot institutes.
Despite the rough weather damaging some contestants’ exhibits, the quick-witted organisers have not allowed that to deter fair competition, writes Feizal Samath
Organisers of the Food & Hotel Asia Maldives 2014 – Exhibition & International Culinary Challenge, held across three days in August in the Maldivian capital Male, probably could not be prepared enough for the kind of problems they encountered.
First, a lot of food ingredients, kitchen equipment and other exhibition items had to be transported from Colombo in Sri Lanka, by boat, according to Imran Hassan, energetic Director of CDC Events, the main Sri Lankan co-organiser.
The ship carrying the equipment set off on August 7 from Colombo, but encountered rough weather halfway and had to turn back. A second attempt too, was unsuccessful. The third trip succeeded but upon reaching Male on August 22, the sea was too rough for docking at the port. Special permission had to be obtained from the customs to unload the goods onto a barge mid-sea, then transfer them ashore.
Cake structures were among some of the many delicate items brought by boat. Coming in shaky dhonis (a traditional Maldivian sail boat), some chefs had their cake structures broken, which they had to quickly repair in the morning of the event, a mere few hours before the competition. Pre-made cakes packed inside boxes were also damaged, while pots and pans were jumbled up.
The rough sea also posed the second challenge, according to Imran, of transporting the chefs from outlying resorts, two to three hours away by boat, to Male. Some chefs arrived the night before while others arrived only in the morning of the competition.
For Gerald Mendis, chairman of the Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka which helped to organise the event and put together a team of top international judges, it was one of the most challenging and unusual experiences.
“Judging competitions (in Sri Lanka and other parts of the world) has been relatively easy in terms of logistics, where you move equipment and goods inland. This event in Male was totally different, since the contestants came from other islands,” he recalled.
The organisers felt it necessary to inform the judges about the difficulties encountered by the contestants while they were being transported to Male for the competition.
“We told the judges to be lenient when it came to damaged cake structures. They were flexible and did not deduct marks for any ‘mistake’ or any imperfection due to the unavoidable crisis,” Mendis said.
The event was also subject to the risk of rainy weather, which, if it had happened, would not have allowed half the contestants to make it to Male on rough sea.
“We kept our fingers crossed, and fortunately, it didn’t rain,” Mendis shared.
“Fortunately also, due to the difficulty in transporting the delicate pre-made cakes, there were quite a few Maldivian women from Male who took part in the competition.”
Event
Food and Hotel Asia Maldives 2014
Venue Dharubaaruge Exhibition Centre
Dates August 24-26, 2014
No. of Participants Over 2,000
Objective To facilitate trade among exhibitors from all over the world offering products and services needed by the Maldives’ resort industry
Challenges Transporting 325 chefs from outlying resorts as well as kitchen equipment and other items from Sri Lanka by boat to Male, on rough sea
Solution Requesting the competition’s judges to be lenient with contestants whose exhibits were damaged or affected in the process of being ferried to Male
Not blindly following the client’s instructions, Pan Pacific Singapore’s culinary team proposes an alternative that makes for a successful event, writes Paige Lee Pei Qi
Pan Pacific Singapore was the official hotel partner for the Singapore International Festival of Arts 2014, which took place from August 14 to September 21. In addition to sponsoring 633 room nights for the visiting guest artists and VIPs, the hotel was tasked with the catering and crafting of menu for the grand opening gala at the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall.
The client, Arts House Limited, originally requested for a buffet presentation for the opening gala. However, based on Pan Pacific’s previous experiences with off-premise events, buffet setups for a large number of guests often lead to a longer waiting time.
As such, Pan Pacific’s executive chef, Vincent Aw, suggested presenting butler-passed canapés instead, which would be more convenient for guests, allow for a more engaging session, and be better suited for the high-profile event.
Consequently, an international selection of canapés for 500 guests was approved and presented. Aw crafted the menu to present a variety of items including meat, seafood, vegetables and dessert to entice guests to sample them. As the Wagyu Beef Sliders has consistently been one of the most popular items on the menu at Atrium, the hotel’s lobby bar, the culinary team prepared additional servings of this dish as a main. Most savoury dishes were also served on homemade bread and pastries to fill guests’ stomachs.
To ensure consistency in the quality of food, the initial crafting of the canapés was done at the hotel while the final preparations were completed on-site by the chef and his team.
The decorations for the gala were intentionally kept to a minimal, as the main focus of the event was on the setting – the recently unveiled architecture of the conserved Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. To enhance the old-world charm of the colonial building, the team decided to use steel and glass-top cocktail tables, which served as an aesthetic contrast to the building, while providing a place for guests to enjoy the food and drinks more comfortably.
The culinary offerings and charming presentation of the canapés were well-received by the client and guests alike.
“Pan Pacific Singapore made the opening gala of Singapore International Festival of Arts so memorable with the delightful canapés of a beautiful variety paired with delicious beverages – just right to send us off happily to the performance,” said Lee Chor Lin, CEO of Arts House Limited.
Event
Singapore International Festival of Arts 2014 gala openiing
Client Arts House Limited
Venue Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall
Date August 14
No. of participants 500
Objective To deliver a presentable and palatable menu for the grand opening gala at the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall
Clockwise from left: Occupy Central in Hong Kong, APEC in Beijing, Malaysia Airlines’ mysterious disappearance, military coup in Thailand and the new Kaohsiung Exhibition Center
The year brought heart-wrenching accidents, prolonged political strifes and nature’s wrath in some places, all of which hurt business tourism. Despite this, the meetings industry in Asia-Pacific soldiered on. TTGmicelooks back to a year too significant to be quickly forgotten
Welcome additions
Here’s a recap of new infrastructure additions in the region this year that can only be good for the MICE industry
AUSTRALIA
Sheraton Melbourne Hotel
Dockside Pavilion an anchored floating pontoon at Darling Harbour, opened mid-year to cater for up to 1,440 pax banquet-style and 2,000 pax standing.
Melbourne this year welcomed more business hotels, including Quest Melbourne Airport, Sheraton Melbourne Hotel and DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne.
HONG KONG
PMQ, heritage site of the former Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters, provides two events spaces including the 600m2 Qube and 1,000m2 Aberdeen Courtyard and Marketplace, as well as pop-up stores on different floors.
Kai Tak Cruise Terminal offers a picturesque location with four flexible indoor venues totalling over 3,000m2 that can accommodate up to 3,000pax each. Tenants include the Federal Restaurant Group, which opened a production kitchen and banquet facility for 80 tables.
Hong Kong Maritime Museum has relocated from Stanley to Victoria Harbour at Central Pier No. 8. It comprises 15 galleries, an exhibition and events space, and a rooftop café, catering for different MICE events.
INDONESIA
The expanded Sepinggan Airport opened in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan and can now accommodate 10 million passengers a year, up from 1.7 million previously. Balikpapan is an important industrial city in Indonesia with many multinational companies, especially the oil and gas sectors.
Ciputra Artpreneur opened in August in Jakarta. It is a 10,000m2 art-dedicated space comprising a museum, a theatre, exhibition galleries and multi-function rooms, with capacity for 300 to 1,500pax, theatre-style.
MACAU
Macpro Gallery and Macpro Business Center located in a commercial building at the heart of Macau Peninsula opened early this year. Both offer affordable venues within a non-gaming environment. The business centre offers rooms for small meetings of seven pax or larger gatherings of 20 to 40pax, theatre-style. The gallery has a chic design and is suitable for small- to medium-sized events.
MALAYSIA
klia2 opened in May as the largest low-cost carrier terminal in the world. MICE planners can organise a half-day shopping programme at its four-level mall comprising 225 commercial outlets on the day of departure, or make arrangements with Malaysia Airports Holdings to have special lanes at the immigration for international meeting delegates, avoiding long queues.
Skytrex@Perdana Quay Langkawi opened in August and is great for holding corporate events and team-building activities. The park offers challenges for different levels of fitness. Customised programmes can also be organised to suit organisational needs.
The new four-star Imperial Hotel Kuching offers 339 guestrooms and suites, including two executive floors. Its pillarless Imperial Grand Ballroom can hold up to 1,400 pax for banquets, while the Boulevard Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 500 pax for receptions. There are nine multi-function meeting rooms of varying sizes.
SINGAPORE
Singapore Sports Hub
Singapore Sports Hub opened in June, boasting a 55,000-seat stadium capped with the world’s largest free-spanning dome roof. It also houses two restaurants, a multi-purpose indoor area able to hold up to 3,000 seats, and the Sports Information Resource Centre, intended for exhibitions.
Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, the grand dame of Singapore’s performing arts scene, opened its doors in June, following a S$158 million (US$127.1 million) refurbishment. The concert hall, which can seat 600pax, has foyer spaces to accommodate standing events of up to 150 guests. Perfectly suited for cocktail events seeking to inject elegance and style, this venue, which is also known as Singapore’s oldest performing arts centre, will be sure to impress both foreign and local guests.
Nestled in the relaxing surrounds of a rainforest, Faber Peak Singapore has undergone a revamp with three new restaurants: Spuds & Aprons, Faber Bistro and Moonstone – all with a view. Two new event spaces, The Ballroom and The Private Dining Room, can be used for a 30pax meeting or a 300pax product launch.
SOUTH KOREA
Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Dongdaemun Design Plaza opened in March in Seoul and has been billed as the world’s largest freestanding asymmetrical building. It offers a total floor space of 86,574m², as well as five meeting halls for a wide array of events.
South Korea’s first man-made island complex Some Sevit opened in April on the Hangang River in central Seoul, ahead of a major new MICE Zone currently being developed in the Gangnam district. It comprises three islets that include a convention hall, restaurants, water sports facilities and a floating stage.
WE Hotel, Jeju, launched in February, boasts a beautiful primeval forest as well as facilities for medical treatments and plastic surgery. There is also an events/banquet hall for up to 220pax theatre-style and 200pax for banquet. There are 82 hotel rooms and 30 patient rooms.
TAIWAN
Kaohsiung Exhibition Center
The 853-key Grand Hyatt Taipei completed its first phase of renovation in July. It has 13 well-equipped meeting rooms, including the pillarless grand ballroom which can fit up to 840 guests for banquets and 1,400 pax for conventions. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.
The newly opened 303-key Mandarin Oriental Taipei features a range of event spaces, including the 960m2 Grand Ballroom for up to 1,200 guests. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and meeting packages offer well-equipped function rooms.
Newly opened in April, Kaohsiung Exhibition Center offers space for 1,500 standard booths and a conference hall for 2,000 pax, two conference halls for 800 pax each and 10 conference rooms for 20 to 40 pax. The facility has the potential to host marine-related trade events as it is located along a deep, natural harbour, allowing boats to be brought into the exhibition space.
THAILAND
Queen Sirikit National Convention Center became Asia’s first events space to achieve ISO 20121: Event Sustainability Management Systems accreditation, enabling the venue to compete more effectively for international events from organisations like the UN.
CentralFestival Samui opened in March adding 90,000m2 of retail and lifestyle space to the island’s offering with around 200 international branded stores, a bowling alley and cinema. The Port, when it opens, is set to become one of Samui’s key clusters of gastro bars and chic restaurants.
The North Pattaya Alliance was officially launched in June, with seven hotels pooling together almost 3,700 rooms and a host of meetings facilities in a bid to change the area’s sleazy image to one of a high-end MICE destination. Additional support is provided by Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Tourism Authority of Thailand and City Hall.
VIETNAM
Lotte Hotel Hanoi
The five-star Lotte Hotel Hanoi opened in September, offering 318 guestrooms with complimentary high-speed Internet access, three F&B outlets, a spa and three large function rooms, including the Crystal Ballroom for up to 1,200 pax. The Hanoi National Convention Centre is only 15 minutes away by taxi.
Hai Au Aviation kicked off its seaplane service in September with the launch of a Hanoi-Halong Bay route. This high-end sightseeing of Halong Bay via a 12-seater Cessna Caravan C208 EX is an alternative to skip the three- to four-hour overland drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay.
Luxury Travel Vietnam and cruise company Huong Hai Ha Long launched Emperor Cruises in September, which will start its first cruises in Nha Trang by mid-2015. MICE groups can sail the clear waters and lush islets of Nha Trang Bay on board a junk boat or a 32-pax cruise boat.
Reporter’s notebook
As is the tradition, TTGmice editors and reporters share
their best and worst moments when on duty during the year
Raini Hamdi Senior editor
Best
My best interview this year was with Kwek Leng Beng, executive chairman, Singapore-based City Developments Ltd. I could not believe my luck that he spent nearly three hours with me for the interview and that I could ask him anything. I was even more delighted when he answered each question freely and frankly, and nothing was off-the-record. Look out for his South Beach Hotel project which is opening next year; it is linked to Suntec International via an overhead bridge. ‘Chairman Kwek’, as his men addressed him, was particularly happy about that MICE opportunity.
Worst My worst experience was when I was harangued by a tourism official at ITB Berlin this year after we ran a factual account of how the country’s bad image was affecting bookings. I also could not believe how one of the industry players from that destination, whom my reporter interviewed for views on the issue, stoop so low so as to turn around and deny he was interviewed after the article was published.
Karen Yue Group editor
Best This has been a glorious year, largely because TTGmice underwent a transformation to give it a fresher, more vibrant look, with new sections. The magazine is always looking to make itself more relevant to its readers and to consistently deliver the quality content it is known for, so it gave me great joy to see this dedication being acknowledged through yet another award. The cover story in the November 2013 issue won the PATA Gold Award Travel Journalism – Business Article. It was the fourth PATA Gold Award TTGmice has won to-date. Adding to the excitement, we unveiled TTGassociations, a quarterly publication for association secretariats and event planners.
Worst
It takes a lot to get me down and I have no terrible work experiences this year to share. However, I do wish more marketing and communications officers would understand that editorial coverage is not for sale and that TTGmice – or any respectable publication – owes it to its readers to run objective and relevant content. Gracia Chiang Deputy group editor
Best
I had such a great first-time cruise experience on an Oceania fam trip to Greece and Turkey that I am already dreaming of my next voyage. Being the restless traveller that I am, I was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed spending seven days onboard. I saw for myself why cruising’s appeal for leisure and MICE is growing among Asian travellers. What did I like? Waking up to a different gorgeous view every day, no transportation and packing hassle, and the all-inclusive fine cuisine!
Worst Being stuck in Sanya’s airport for over eight hours and almost missing my connecting flight back home from Guangzhou. Despite being a VIP guest of China Southern Airlines for the WTTC Global Summit, I had great difficulty securing a seat on the next available flight out of Hainan after my original one was delayed.
Strangely, I also found the logistics for such a high-profile event was not well-executed. I was told that I would be able to make it for the half-day city tour the morning of my departure, but on site, I was told there would not be enough time. Wrong information was also given out about the airport pickup timings. It was a harrowing trip, plus it was not particularly productive as it was hard to arrange for interviews or get face time with top executives. Hannah Koh Assistant editor, TTG Asia Online
Best
Prague, right after ITB Berlin. Is there a place as magical? Long the site of political and ideological clashes, none of this was obvious during the extremely photogenic violet hour when the setting sun cast a golden glow on medieval buildings and the magnificent Charles Bridge.
Worst There’s a casual cruelty in this industry I sometimes feel, amid all the wining, dining, boozing and schmoozing. A particular five-star hotel unveiled its refurbished meeting spaces this year with a rooftop party and I aimed to get a story out of it. The sales director and comms folk were wonderful: kind and considerate, they helped me locate the marketing director who was best positioned to comment. Said marketing director agreed to meet for a quick quote at a certain hour and location, but failed to turn up, despite repeated reassurances from the sales and comms folk, who had run off to look for him. I surrendered after 20 minutes and headed home for the night, later sending in follow-up questions that earned pretty dissatisfactory answers. I regret when courtesy is so clearly lacking from the other side.
Paige Lee Pei Qi Assistant editor-Singapore
Best I will bestow this honour to Tourism Australia for the VIP treatment rendered to all guests during the Australian Tourism Exchange in Cairns this year. Just imagine: upon arrival at the airport, we were taken by surprise as the traditional Gimuy Walubara Yidinji dancers spontaneously danced around us as we collected our luggage. But it didn’t stop there. We were even greeted by helicopters and ships cruising along the harbour that rolled out welcome banners! Now, how’s that for a warm welcome?
Worst
Staying in one of the hotels in Cambodia which was undergoing renovation works. Word of advice to all hotels: It does not go well with guests to welcome their mornings with drilling and hammering noises at 7am. Xinyi Liang-Pholsena Assistant editor-Thailand/Indochina
Best Attending AIBTM in Orlando this year was quite an eye-opening experience for me. Besides it being my virgin trip to the US, what was also interesting for me was to mingle among trade reporters from around the world and observe the greater importance that American consultants placed on education and the faster adoption of technology (think Google Glass) in the US’ MICE industry. Asia is a diverse continent, no doubt, but I would like to see a stronger spirit of being nimble and adapting to technology among event and exhibition planners, especially in the more advanced economies in the region.
Worst Following a press conference, I approached the head of a CVB to request for more information and comments. After introducing myself and presenting my business card, I posed my questions to him and asked if he could share his namecard too. His reply was quite unexpected though: “If you already know who I am, why do you need my namecard?” Kathy Neo Copy editor
Best
My five-day fam trip to Okinawa. The sponsor, Okinawa Convention & Visitor Bureau, customised my itinerary well and responded readily to my interview requests. It was also my first trip to Japan, making it doubly memorable.
Worst Fortunately, none. S Puvaneswary Editor-Malaysia/Brunei
Best
Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s Business Events Week in August was the best MICE conference I attended this year. I enjoyed the interactive sessions and it was also a great opportunity to network with MICE players from all over the country.
Worst
The Malaysia Tourism Exchange 2014 conference, jointly co-organised by Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association and Kris Destination Management in Kuala Lumpur. The programme was not updated so I was hugely disappointed when the invited VIP from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture was not present to give the keynote address. Tourism Malaysia’s director-general, Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, was also not present to deliver the country’s marketing plans. In fact, there was no keynote address and no representative from Tourism Malaysia to present the marketing plans. The event started late and after a brief introduction of all the speakers, the MC immediately held a press conference. I reluctantly went, out of politeness, and as expected, the media had no questions to ask as the sessions had not started. So, to kill time, the MC gave us a lengthy briefing about himself and the different companies he had worked for in the past, and his achievements. Mimi Hudoyo Editor-Indonesia
Best
The best travel mart and fam trip I had this year was New Zealand’s TRENZ. The show was well organised and the breakfast talks were interesting and informative. The participation of all stakeholders – government, airlines, hotels, attractions, airports and ground handling operators enabled me to complete the various assignments I was given.
Worst I was assigned to interview and attend a destination presentation by a visiting NTO but I had already accepted an invitation to a media conference by a cruise company at around the same time. To honour both, I interviewed the NTO 30 minutes before his presentation, then rushed to the next appointment, as the PR company said the cruise executive’s time was also limited. Turned out that not only was he 90 minutes’ late, he did not seem to be in a hurry at all.
Greg Lowe Correspondent-Thailand
Best Covering the Euromic AGM in Cairo in January was without a doubt the highlight of my year. Organised as an incentive, after three days of visiting sites in and around the Egyptian capital, and attending a few meetings, we were treated to a five-day/four-night post-event cruise of the Nile, taking in the archaeological wonders of Karnak, Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Philae and Aswan.
Worst
Trying to get believable occupancy figures from a centrally located business hotel in Bangkok. After weeks of delays, panic set in when it unintentionally disclosed occupancy figures that could still only be best described as wildly optimistic. Back-pedalling ensued, along with claims that the data couldn’t be used as it was inaccurate. Prudence Lui Correspondent-Hong Kong
Best Hong Kong Disneyland Resort’s Celebration of Sales Excellence event which took place in Adventureland. The queue area outside Theater in the Wild was transformed into a cocktail and dinner venue for the first time. I was impressed by the creative décor and music, coupled with the provision of straw safari hats and animal print scarves to guests, which set the mood for adventure and exploration.
Worst I requested for two media interviews at the 3rd Global Tourism Economy Forum but the PR informed me on the day that only one materialised. During the group interview session, we the English media were mixed with the mainland Chinese reporters and simultaneous translation was needed for all questions raised. This wasted a lot of our time. Caroline Boey Senior correspondent-China & Special Projects
Best I’m so happy whenever industry officials in China reply to my emails and questions. I give two thumbs up to the Shanghai International Conference Management Organization, and the MICE Department of the Hangzhou Tourism Promotion Centre. Both organisations provide insightful comments, and the same-day reply is an unexpected bonus.
Worst I can’t recall any! Rosa Ocampo Correspondent-Philippines
Best The Philippine-India Travel Exchange stood out because it was well organised with well-chosen buyers and sellers. Organiser Glen Agustin and his team from the Department of Tourism were helpful. Buyers from India were Philippine specialists and were also approachable, open and easy to talk to. Plus, the venue was great: Sunset Pavilion tent at Sofitel Philippine Plaza’s landscaped garden on the edge of Manila Bay.
Worst Several trips of mine were marred by flight delays either on takeoff or touchdown or both due to runway overcapacity in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Once, the plane was already in Manila but had to delay landing by 15 minutes. On another occasion, the aircraft had to stay an extra 90 minutes in Bangkok due to busy traffic in NAIA’s runway. Feizal Samath Correspondent-Sri Lanka/Maldives
Best
My best MICE event was visiting the newly renovated Bandaranaike Memorial International Hall, the country’s biggest convention centre in Colombo, for a musical performance and witnessing the new changes. With its modern facilities, convention rooms and halls, it is the best location for business meetings, exhibitions or conventions. It can accommodate 1,000-1,500 pax in the main conference hall, has large break-out rooms (some with the capability to accommodate 200 pax) and an exhibition centre that can accommodate 200-250 booths.
Worst When a top travel consultant pulled out of a last-minute interview and I had to rush to get a replacement story to meet an urgent deadline. No apologies from the man – won’t contact him again!
Natasha Dragun Correspondent-Australia
Best My best fam trip was to Chicago for IPW 2014. I was blown away by the creativity of the city’s MICE sector and its ability to deal with thousands of extremely demanding travel journalists and travel trade members. A good range of pre- and post-fams were on offer, as well as dozens of trips to take in everything from the city’s architecture to its craft distilling scene.
Worst An evening event hosted on board a boat carrying guests around Sydney’s harbour. There were way too many people on board, which meant I was crammed in a corner with food and drinks flung at me. The speeches lasted the whole event, which meant no time for networking. And to make it worse, they were in multiple languages, which slowed everything down. The worst part? Being on board meant people could not escape.
– Other team members: Marianne Carandang, Shekhar Niyogi, Rohit Kaul, KC Sim, Redmond Sia, Goh Meng Yong and Lina Tan
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
Clockwise from left: Occupy Central in Hong Kong, APEC in Beijing, Malaysia Airlines’ mysterious disappearance, military coup in Thailand and the new Kaohsiung Exhibition Center
Raini Hamdi
Karen Yue
Gracia Chiang
Hannah Koh
Paige Lee Pei Qi
Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
Kathy Neo
S Puvaneswary
Mimi Hudoyo
Greg Lowe
Prudence Lui
Caroline Boey
Rosa Ocampo
Feizal Samath
