MICEtalk April 2014

Rs. 100

Volume V Issue 4 April 2014 60 pages A DDP Publication

Key Drivers

for Change in Mice

Association

Apps

Rotterdam

on the MICE map

Mantra for

Job Success

DDP Publications Private Limited New Delhi: 72, Todarmal Road, New Delhi 110001, India Tel: +91 11 41669575, 41669576 Fax: +91 11 41669577 E-mail: micetalk@ddppl.com Mumbai: 504 Marine Chambers, 43 New Marine Lines, Mumbai 400 020, India Tel: +91-22-22070129, 22070130 Fax: +91-22-22070131 E-mail: mumbai@ddppl.com UAE: P.O. Box: 9348, Sharjah, UAE Tel: +971 6 5528954, Fax: +971 6 5528956 E-mail: uae@ddppl.com All information in MICEtalk is derived from sources, which we consider reliable. Information is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. The contents of this publication contain views of authors and are not the views of DDP Publications.

De Doelen, Rotterdam

Similarly, opinions/views expressed by any party in abstract and/or in interviews are not necessarily shared/do not necessarily reflect any opinion of DDP Publications. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction strictly prohibited. Material appearing in MICEtalk cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission. The same rule applies when there is a copyright or the article is taken from another publication.

Publications reproducing material either in part or in whole, without permission would face legal action.

Publisher & Editor

SanJeet

Editor-in-Chief

Deepa Sethi

Correspondent

Neha Oberoi

Sub-Editor

Shubhi Tandon

Photographer

Simran Kaur

Design

Ruchi Sinha

Editorial enquiries and enquiries concerning the reproduction of articles should be emailed to neelam@ddppl.com, advertising and circulation enquiries should be e-mailed to gunjan@ddppl.com

Advertising

The publisher assumes no responsibility for returning unsolicited material nor is he responsible for material lost or damaged in transit. Any material submitted to MICEtalk will not be returned.

The publisher reserves the rights to refuse, withdraw, amend or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian Advertisements Code as well as the Advertisements Code of South Asia. The publisher will not be liable for any damage or loss caused by the late publication, error or failure or advertisement or editorial to appear.

Gunjan Sabikhi Shovan Kanungo Paramjeet Kaur Udit Pandey Bharat Chawla

Advertisement Designer

Vikas Mandotia Nitin Kumar

Production Manager

Anil Kharbanda

Circulation Manager

Ashok Rana

MUMBAI: Advertising

Harshal Ashar

MICEtalk is printed, published, edited and owned by SanJeet, printed at Cirrus Graphics Pvt. Ltd., B-62/14, Phase – II, Naraina Industrial Area, New Delhi-110028 and published at 72, Todarmal Road, New Delhi-110001

reader’s

page Dear Reader,

Summer is here, the financial year has ended, movement has started of corporate groups to cooler, fun places for relaxation, motivation, and brainstorming meetings for business in the coming year. Our cover story tells all about the key drivers for a change in MICE requirements.

We take you to Kerala - despite the warmth it is still one of the most popular destinations for MICE groups, and it has become more attractive with Kerala government’s announcement of a five per cent reduction in luxury tax for the non-peak season, beginning June, bringing it within our budgets.

Internationally, Rotterdam in Netherlands is a fresh destination for Indian travellers. It’s on the waterfront with many attractive cafes, restaurants and pubs to relax in after a busy day. It has a number of convention centres that cater to groups from 75 to 1500 people with excellent service and technical support at some of the best hotels. Zagreb in Croatia is another fascinating city on the rise on the new MICE map.

Alternately, the New Zealand Government is going out of its way encourage MICE by developing new infrastructure, along with plenty of activities inland and on their shores. The three hotspots are Auckland, Queenstown and Rotorua. In Thailand, it’s nice to move beyond the main city of Bangkok, to its suburbs for meetings at the one-stop convention centre, IMPACT. We have updated news on apps for Associations, to help them with their budgets, costs, content and the actual format of the event; the mantra to find happiness in your job and something a lot of us have trouble with - small talk at a business get-together.

Our expert gives you steps on how to master it.

If you are planning a MICE trip for your company to a destination and need information on it, please do send us an email - if we have covered it, we will forward the article to you.

Deepa Sethi

Country Talk

22

New Zealand

8 Facts 22 Country Talk

New Zealand

30 City Talk

Rotterdam

34 Venue Talk

IMPACT Convention Centre, Thailand

38 Hotel Talk

Radisson Khajuraho

40 Sample This

Kerala cuts tax on off-season rates

44 Booked For MICE

Brilliant Convention Centre

46 Yours Officially

Raymond Bickson, MD & CEO, Taj Group of Hotels

April 2014

contents 9

Cover Story

Key Drivers for Change in MICE

45

32 48 MICE Initiative

52 Technology

50 Expert Talk

54 Etiquette Talk

Zagreb

Mantra for Job Success

56 Visa Talk

I

57 Movements

12

Apps for Every Association Mastering Small Talk

I

58 Events MICEtalk April 2014

7

facts

New Trade Website by Tourism New Zealand

Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) has announced a new look for its trade website which is now aligned with the organisation’s online brand to provide a consistent look and feel. As the primary source of information to help travel sellers learn more about New Zealand and how to sell it, the website provides training tools and resources such as TNZ’s online modules and the 100 per cent Pure New Zealand Specialist programme.

Oman Attracting MICE with New Convention Centre

Oman is proactive in its efforts to attract major international events that in turn will deliver significant educational and economic benefits to the region. Several site visits have been conducted with leading medical, oil and gas and sciencerelated specialists to showcase the benefits of staging their congresses in a spectacular and historic setting. Although still under construction, the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is targetting significant world standard congresses to host, when it opens for business in late 2016.

8

MICEtalk April 2014

TAT eyes business travellers at Bangkok’s Money Expo

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is looking to interest high-end travellers attending Bangkok’s annual Money Expo in some of the country’s best travel destinations and tourism products. TAT will have a booth that showcases some of the highend Thai tourism products and services at the 14th Money Expo 2014 to be held from May 8-11, 2014.

The event will take place at the Challenger Hall 2-3, Impact Arena, Exhibition and Convention Centre, Muang Thong Thani in Greater Bangkok. Joining the TAT’s booth will be 14 leading travel and tourism-related operators from all regions of the country. This year, the event has been organised by the Money and Banking magazine.

Global hotel prices on the rise: Hotel Price Index report

Hotels.com has launched the latest Hotel Price Index (HPI) report, a regular report on hotel prices in major destinations around the world. The current HPI report draws a comparison between hotel room rates in 2013 and 2012.

The average price of a hotel room around the world rose three per cent during 2013, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI). This means there have now been four years of steady rises in hotel prices since the substantial falls during the financial collapse of 2008/9. The average price of a hotel room around the world rose by three per cent during 2013, when compared with 2012.

Some of the findings of the HPI report include: l During 2013, travellers from India paid more for their hotel rooms as the drop in value of the rupee made travel abroad more expensive.

Indian travellers paid more for hotel rooms in three quarters of the destinations in the HPI report. l Global travellers on an average paid two per cent more on hotels in India in 2013 as compared to 2012 to a national rate of `6,278.

Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi launches exclusive meetings lounge

Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi has launched The Plaza Lounge – an exclusive lounge for its guests staying in Business Class Rooms and Suites. A dedicated lounge with private meeting rooms, wireless Internet, daily buffet breakfast and cocktails plus pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres, the Plaza lounge offers comfort, privacy and maximum productivity for business guests. Guests can enjoy these complimentary offerings at The Plaza Lounge during their stay.

Firenze Convention Bureau wins events worth 14 mn Euros in 2013 Sheraton Hotels & Resorts to open 35 new hotels within a year

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced from the Sheraton Hotels General Manager Summit in Seattle that its largest and most global brand is poised for record breaking growth over the next 12 months with 35 new hotels expected to open. Nearly half of the new Sheraton hotels will open in China, widening Starwood’s lead as the largest upper-upscale global hotel operator in Asia Pacific. Enhancing its reputation as a global powerhouse, Sheraton will also enter numerous new markets including Samoa, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, and return to Iraq.

Firenze Convention Bureau, Firenze, Italy closed the 2013 bidding activity in positive: 17 conferences acquired in the course of 2013, a total of 13,700 participants, 52,700 overnight stays and an estimated economic impact of 14 million Euros. Among the major events won are the WorldVenturesConvention 2013, an American multi-level marketing company that brought more than 3,500 people at the Nelson Mandela Forum in Florence (November 2013); and the World Congress on the Use of Bio-stimulants in Agriculture (November 17-19, 2015), an important opportunity for discussion on the state-of-the-art high tech agriculture and bio-stimulants – a hot topic at the next EXPO 2015. The International Congress of Acoustics and Vibration (July 1216, 2015) and the 18th European Conference on Mobility Management (May 7-9, 2014) are other events booked at Firenze.

MICEtalk April 2014

9

facts

International Education and Accessibility Congress to be held in Aragon, Spain

The theme of the second International Education and Accessibility Congress meeting, which is to be held in Aragon, Spain is ‘Museums and heritage. In, and with, all the senses: towards social integration in equality’. The event will be held in Centro Ibercaja Huesca, Villahermosa Palace, Aragon, Spain from May 2-4, 2014.

Riyadh Travel Fair 2014 Records 18% rise in exhibitors

ASAS Exhibitions – organiser of the annual Riyadh Travel Fair – has confirmed that the 2014 edition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s largest travel and tourism exhibition will be the biggest to date, with a robust increase of 18 per cent in the number of exhibitors compared to that held in 2013. The annual event now in its sixth year will be held from April 15–18, 2014 and will see new national tourism organisations participating for the first time including stands for Qatar, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The Riyadh Travel Fair will be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capital at the Four Season Hotel Riyadh and is open to travel and tourism professionals as well as the general public keen to discover more about exciting and exotic travel destinations.

EPFL - SwissTech Convention Center opening in April 2014 Hotels.com re-designs hotel booking app for iOS7

Hotels.com has introduced numerous apps for its customers. It has recently re-designed its award winning iPhone and iPad apps for iOS7 in order to deliver a more superior experience for travellers. Some of the features of this enhanced application are: l High resolution imagery l Smoother booking process l The app remembers customer details and securely store payment information l Customers are given the choice to pay for their hotel at the time of booking or once they arrive at the hotel

10

MICEtalk April 2014

The SwissTech Convention Center opens its doors the beginning of April 2014. The completion of this spectacular building constituted the largest construction site in Western Switzerland for several months. The SwissTech Convention Center completes Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne’s (EPFL) “Quartier Nord,” which now comprises commercial stores, student housing and facilities, and a hotel. Thanks to its hyper-modular installations and its 3,000 seating capacity, it is the new first choice option in European convention centres.

facts

Marriott opens first hotel in Osaka, Japan

Marriott Hotels & Resorts has opened its first hotel in Japan’s second largest city, Osaka. The Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel, which has been developed in partnership with Miyako Hotels & Resorts, is set in ‘Abeno Harukas’ - a brand new 300-metre, 60-storey development. The hotel’s lobby is on 19th floor, while all 360 rooms and suites are located on the upper floors of the property. There are two restaurants, including ZK, which takes up the entire 57th level and offers floor-to-ceiling windows with views across the city. Catering for the corporate market, the Osaka Marriott also features seven meeting rooms.

Crowne Plaza New Delhi adds banquet space

The Crowne Plaza Today New Delhi Okhla has developed a new area for the banquets facility. The hotel will offer 6038.7 sq m of open space, ideal for the hosting MICE events. The space was earlier a water body and will now become an excellent facility, to complement the existing ballroom and other banqueting areas.

400-year-old Nijo Castle, Kyoto to host meetings and events

Kyoto’s third most popular tourist attraction Nijo Castle is now available for meetings and events through official DMC – THE J TEAM. The venue, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will be available for gala dinners, drinks receptions and parties. Nijo Castle was built in 1602 by Tokugawa Ieyasu before being used by a succession of military leaders known as Shogun.

Royal Caribbean launch high-speed Wi-Fi on board

Royal Caribbean flagships now have an internet connectivity on the seas, after the fleet was fitted with new satellite capabilities. The new technology was developed to deliver high-speed satellite broadband to remote locations. The higher internet speeds will make it feasible for guests to stream video or post video clips to social media sites, and Royal Caribbean is developing new pricing plans for added service.

MICEtalk April 2014

11

cover story

Change in Mice Key Drivers The MICE industry has proven itself to be practically untouchable with regards to its volumes. Time and again, the MICE sector has emerged as one of the most important facets of revenue for any country.

MICEtalk looks deeper into the changing needs of the industry in the new year and talks about the key drivers that will form the change in the MICE industry.

Technology

New Needs

Neha Oberoi

Volatile Market 12

MICEtalk April 2014

Conference Room at The Peninsula Hong Kong

MICEtalk April 2014

13

cover story

°Volatile market changes impact MICE Volatility in the market is the key business driver for 2014. The volatility of the dollar and the resulting effect on our customers’ environment has a knockdown effect on our businesses.

Pankaj Nagpal, Managing Director Travstarz Global Group opines, “The overall trend for the outbound market has been unstable in the last two years, especially for the MICE industry. There are certain macrolevel factors, such as the sudden and steep depreciation of the rupee against all major currencies, the imposition of service tax on outbound tours, which has no logical sense, and the overall weakness of the global economy have negatively impacted the MICE industry. With the given weak economy, the corporates had cut down on their budgets and the twin development of rupee and service tax impacted their budgets further.

However, having said that, we have seen the quantity go down but the quality of Meetings and Incentives has now gone up drastically compared to what it was a few years back. The corporates are now willing to invest in human resources and in the welfare of its employees, suppliers and partners, as it turns out

Indians are wellinformed travellers now and they have unique requirements and needs that must be catered to to be the key motivating factor and results in lower employee turnover too. Such a scenario has opened up the vast Indian Market. But Indians are wellinformed travellers now, and the expectations of the clients too have gone up and they have different needs and unique requirements that must be catered to. Meetings today are not only another annual activity but have become a platform for learning, educating and networking for the delegates. It is imperative for the MICE organisers to be proactive, anticipate customer behavior and expectations and act accordingly to adapt to these fast changes.”

°Importance of end-to-end services

° Setting up convention bureaus

Rajeev Kale, COO – MICE, Domestic & Sports Holidays, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd brings forth the essential elements to bring about prosperous growth in MICE:

Economy and its uncertainty is driving everything.

With changing needs, there is now a focus on association business thanks to the various policy measures undertaken by the Government that has aided the Indian travel, tourism and hospitality industry’s growth. There are concerted efforts by both the private and public sectors to develop world class MICE infrastructure enabling India as a global MICE brand to take advantage of the burgeoning global MICE business. The association business has evolved from being the activity to the platform for all activities.

1. End-to-end services from air travel, visa, travel insurance, foreign exchange, hotel, and sightseeing options 2. Cuisine which caters to the Indian taste 3. Experiential activities - Tailor-made sightseeing via exhilarating helicopter rides, hot air balloons, gondolas, decadent limo drives and the adrenalin rush of super-cars!

4. Meticulous planning and smooth execution 5. Personalised service is also important, where each customer is contacted individually

Above: Korea MICE Expo 2012 at Seoul’s Coex Convention and Exhibition Center

Prasant Saha, Managing Director, CIMGLOBAL speaks up, “India is one of the leading science and technology research and innovation centre in the world today.

Every Association knows that meeting and collaborating is the only way to keep pace with the world. The world knows India cannot be ignored because of the amount of development happening in this country. India has also shown its capability in coming together successfully in hosting some of the prestigious World Congresses - be it MICEtalk April 2014

15

cover story

There has to be an aggressive and unified MICE marketing approach, and the proven model internationally is by setting up of convention bureaus Commonwealth games, HUGO Conference (Human Genome Organisation), COP Biodiversity, etc. The industry is professional and delivers to international standards at lower costs than the countries in the American continents or Europe. The marketing efforts have been mainly by probably a handful of private organisations. The Government of India, the State Governments have not contributed much to them earlier. But now we see the Government earmarking budgets for MICE infrastructure and MICE marketing.”

He added, “In my opinion, there has to be an aggressive unified MICE marketing approach, and the proven model internationally is by setting up of convention bureaus. For example, Hyderabad today has one of the finest Conference centre called HICC managed by the Accor Group, thanks to the Andhra Pradesh Government and the setting up of India’s first CVB that has made Hyderabad an exception and has been voted Asia’s best MICE centre. India, with more than 50 metro cities, has only one CVB which is one of the factors of other cities recognised as MICE destination on the global map. The same convention bureau can also advise and work with the Government and drive more convention centres.”

° Need for industry training Another area that needs to be seriously explored and addressed is to have institutions that provide industry talent. Raghav Gupta, Director, Venues and Vacations shares his opinion on this idea, “Just like we have professional chefs, F&B personnel, revenue and accommodations managers, now we need to have skilled and talented MICE managers.

They need to be professional in more than just one area of service. Even with growing chains such as Four Seasons, Marriott and Starwood and the domestic chains expanding their wings

16

MICEtalk April 2014

within India, there is clearly a need for skilled talent which the hospitality industry has recognised for the growth of MICE. Another reason why we need to look at having skilled MICE managers from a professional platform, as they all need MICE managers and not just banquet or meeting organisers. For MICE management companies, it is important we enhance our in-house skill sets to meet with such demands.

So far, our country has people in the MICE segment, who have learnt their subject over the years with onthe-job experiential learning and try and groom their support teams. But if the same veterans from the industry can get MICE managers as younger students, our efficiency and hence the deliverables will be at power with the expectations of the client.”

cover story

° Change in meeting spaces Companies with growing businesses are looking to invest in meetings of larger scales, as the infrastructure to conduct meetings of this scale has grown across India.

Vishal Suri, CEO, Tour Operating, Kuoni India points out, “The meeting space is changing. The traditional ‘boardroom-style’ space is being replaced by an innovative approach where huge outdoor meeting spaces or smaller cosy nooks for limited

gatherings and different kinds of seatings are being requested.

Corporate houses are increasingly seeking unique experiences that indeed translate to “Luxury”. Many innovations are nowadays being introduced through customised packages such as theme-based high-teas, gala dinners, energypacked power breaks, relaxing foot or shoulder massage during breaks and specialised exclusive theme dinners.”

Double Tree by Hilton Huagiao-Kunshan, Huaqiao, China

cover story

Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore

° Focussing on the domestic market With budgets being downsized there is a switch to more economic venues within India. Rajiv Duggal, Senior VP - Tourism, Hospitality, SPVs, Lavasa Corporation Limited says, “The present market demands MICE agents to have quality knowledge of domestic MICE destinations, as the spends will be reduced overall for the next 12-14 month. We have to understand that domestic India can be as entertaining as an overseas trip. Innovation will be another key factor, like what can we do different that will give the customer a unique experience.”

The present market demands MICE agents to have quality knowledge of domestic MICE destinations, as the spends will be reduced overall 18

MICEtalk April 2014

° Keeping pace with evolving technology Technology - changes constantly. New generations of customers, workers, companies have evolving needs.

Technology and social media have made the world a small place. The MICE industry has also been impacted with the latest developments on the technology front that have come to the aid of the industry to help them organise events in a much more organised and easier way. This is helpful, especially in today’s times, when delegates are come from different parts of the world and the entire supply chain for the event too is scattered around the world.

Anil Verma, Vice President Sales, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd adds, “Technological advancement has led to the evolution of new marketing and communication channels which are faster and diverse. This generation’s tech-savvy executives want state-of-the-art technology more than the décor and ambience.

Wireless connectivity and overhead projectors which

cover story

used to sound fancy a few years back have become a standard expectation. Upgrading conference venues with high-end technology is not enough. The client today wants the hotel staff to talk to him in the same tech-savvy language i.e. people who understand the modern day technology and provide quicker solutions.

Meeting planners today have started demanding multiple projection sources, 24x7 connectivity, touch panel controls, etc. Conference venues will soon be required to have smart-touch podiums, high-resolution e-Posters, enhanced Virtual Meeting facility, high-quality sound effects, plasma built-in screens, etc.”

With all the above it is obvious that our delegates and clients have new and different needs. As said earlier, the Indian traveller is now well informed and the expectations and needs of the clients have accordingly changed drastically over the few years.

° Innovation is the key Pankaj Malhotra, Director - Corporate Sales & Operations, Epic India Tours & Events comments, “The present scenario for MICE agencies is that client wants to excel the WOW factor each year in same budget parameters. So, definitely a volatile market, shedding more investment on MICE, and passing the co-ownership to the trusted MICE agency by enrolling them from the start of conceptualisation of any campaign would prove to be prosperous. Clients would continue to have new, different and more demanding needs which help us in challenging the MICE segment conceptualisation leading to innovation in each campaign.”

20

MICEtalk April 2014

Clients would continue to have new, different and more demanding needs As corporates invest more for human resources, the meetings and conferences have become a delegatecentric experience. With the changing needs, it is extremely important for the MICE organisers to understand the exact requirements and expectations of the clients and then act accordingly. There is a need to identify the specific ideas based on client inputs to make the events successful. The meeting planners need to tap technological advancements effectively to deliver unique delegate experiences and meet the fast changing expectations of the clients.

tech advancements Various web-based applications help planners and suppliers to communicate electronically on the same page and be in-sync for the entire event. Event marketers will have the ability to market inexpensively to targeted audiences using audio/video blogs (online journals) and RSS (Really Simple Syndication) newsfeeds.

Presenters can submit proposals to a website where attendees can comment, ask questions, pan the speaker from previous presentations, and more. The online booking for various services such as hotels, transfers, etc. has also helped the MICE organisers in a big way. In the future too, technology will continue to play a vital role in the MICE industry.

country talk

Auckland

Above: Overview of Auckland

MICE Facilities

From contemporary venues alongside the city’s sparkling harbour to historic buildings in and around the city centre, to hotel based conference centres and dedicated convention centres, Auckland has a variety of MICE facilities.

Vector Arena is a multipurpose arena in the central city with a seating capacity of 12,000 and with a capacity for a buffet dinner of 1,800.

Auckland Conventions Venues and Events offers a portfolio of venues such as the Viaduct Events Centre with a banquet capacity of 1,200 people. Other venues are Aotea Centre’s ASB Theatre, with a capacity of 2,068; the Auckland Town Hall, with room for 1,529

The centrally located SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre can host everything - from mega launches to intimate gatherings and has purpose built meeting spaces for groups ranging in size from 20 to 2,000 guests cocktail style.

USP of the city

Many of Auckland’s top venues feature the latest technology and amenities, from state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment to free Wi-Fi and enticing food and beverage offerings.

The city’s vibrancy and food & beverage offerings

New Zealand has high quality venues all over the country, for large or small groups and everything inbetween. Choose a destination depending on the atmosphere you want to capture. You can enjoy the lifestyle and energy of harbourside cities or break away to a rural retreat. The tourism hotspots are all well-equipped for business events too, which makes them great places for meetings and team building adventures.

22

people in its Great Hall and the atmospheric theatre, The Civic, with seating for 2,378 people.

MICEtalk April 2014

New

country talk

Above: Auckland Sky Tower

Above: Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland

accommodation • Hilton Auckland • Pullman Hotel

Post-event activities

À Take a drive or walk up to Auckland’s highest natural point at the top of Mount Eden À Catch a ferry to Waiheke Island to check the beautiful views of the Hauraki Gulf, Rangitoto Island and the city skyline from the gardens, while sipping on world-class wine À Drive out to Auckland’s rugged west coast along the scenic road that leads to Piha beach

Zealand Diverse MICE Opportunities Gunjan Sabikhi reports from New Zealand

MICEtalk April 2014

23

country talk

Rotorua

Above: The Energy Events Centre, Rotorua

MICE Facilities

Rotorua offers a variety of flexible meeting and event venues, from purpose-built venues on the edge of Lake Rotorua, to mountaintop options accessible by gondola.

The city’s largest venue, Rotorua Energy Events Centre, is located on the edge of Lake Rotorua. It has ten separate spaces for conferences, exhibitions, and award dinners. It can accommodate 2,600 delegates for a seated banquet or 4,000 people in theatre style.

Above: Rotorua Convention Centre

24

MICEtalk April 2014

The city’s largest venue, Rotorua Energy Events Centre, is located on the edge of Lake Rotorua

country talk

Skyline Rotorua

The centrally-located Rotorua Convention Centre has capacity for up to 1,000 people, and Skyline Rotorua, perched on top of Mt Ngongotaha is capable of accommodating up to 500 guests for a banquet dinner or 1,000 guests for a cocktail function.

Skyline Rotorua offers great views over Rotorua and the surrounding landscape, and the cabins of the onsite gondola can be themed for incentive groups and corporate functions.

keep in mind Airline connections: There are no direct flights from India to New Zealand. Connecting flights on Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways with stopovers in their respective hubs are available.

International gateways in New Zealand are Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Currency: 1 NZ$ = 47 INR Time difference: New Zealand is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

USP of the city Geo-thermal activity, Maori cultural experiences

Post-event activities

À Visit the amazing Waimangu Volcanic Valley with the largest hot water spring - 3.8 hectares - called Frying Pan Lakes À Take a scenic flight to White Island (New Zealand’s only active marine volcano)

where to stay?

•

Distinction Hotel

•

Holiday Inn

•

Millennium Hotel

Skyline Rotorua offers great views over Rotorua and the surrounding landscape, and the cabins of the on-site gondola can be themed for incentive groups and corporate functions MICEtalk April 2014

25

Queenstown

country talk

26

MICE Facilities

Queenstown provides excellent meeting and event venues ranging from modern restaurants offering stunning views of the lake and mountains in central Queenstown to purpose-built venues in the unique and stunning Wakatipu Basin. For private and corporate events, choose from one of over 150 restaurants and pubs or opt for something different such as a winery, boat cruise, historic homestead, themed marquee events or restaurants with spectacular views.

USP of the city

MICEtalk April 2014

Adventure sports and spectacular landscapes

where to stay?

•

Copthorne Queenstown Lakefront

•

Crown Plaza

•

Millennium Hotel

•

Hilton Queenstown

•

Heritage Queenstown

Team building activities in New Zealand À Visit the Sky Tower in Auckland and travel 328 metres up in glass-fronted lifts to the spectacular viewing platforms. À Go for world-class mountain biking trails – all located in lush native forests, in Rotorua.

country talk

Above: Overview of Queenstown

Above: Incentive activities in New Zealand

MICEtalk April 2014

27

country talk

food options New Zealand offers a plethora of exciting restaurants, bars and night clubs to experience.

Vineyards and winery restaurants in the Queenstown and Gibbston areas are some of the best in New Zealand. The Tandoori Palace in Queenstown offers great Indian food. Experience Rotorua’s stylish, interesting and fabulous cafes serving great coffee.

Post-event activities

À If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, then you’ll recognise many of the locations of Middle-earth here À Visit Paradise Valley that is just forty minutes from Queenstown

why new zealand?

World-class facilities in some of the most awe-inspiring locations on earth make New Zealand a standout destination for conferences and business groups Lord of the Rings tour at Glenorchy, on the side of Lake Wakatipu, near Queenstown

28

MICEtalk April 2014

city talk

Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second-largest city and one of the largest ports in the world, is an excellent location for conferences and business events, due to its easy accessibility and the wide range of facilities it offers - not only for the business community, but also for NGOs and associations.

Neha Oberoi

MICE City on the Waterfront

Rotterdam

MICE Facilities in Rotterdam

Rotterdam has a hugely diverse range of locations for business events. Large congress and event locations can easily accommodate over 1,500 people.

Congresses can also be held in exceptional locations and locations by or on the water. Suitable locations for smaller groups are also available. Most congress and event locations are in or along the edge of the city centre, close to shops, restaurants and hotels.

Below: Allianz Coolsingel

LantarenVenster

LantarenVenster is located in a light and spacious building, situated on the waterfront at the Wilhelminapier in Rotterdam. It features a multifunctional hall, five film theatres and a foyer. The venue is ideal for events from 20 to 750 people.

Ahoy Rotterdam

Ahoy Rotterdam is a multi-functional events accommodation. The venue has a Congress & Meeting Centre, six Exhibition & Event halls and the famous Ahoy Arena. It offers a platform for live communication, business and entertainment with room for all meeting sizes – from a small group of ten to 200 pax, up to 850-15,000 pax.

why rotterdam?

Large conventions capacity: Up to 10,000 people and hotels within walking distance.

Accommodation: 4,250 hotel beds in the city of Rotterdam alone.

Accessibility: Accessible from 249 cities in 99 countries with 84 airlines via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Rotterdam The Hague Airport.

Logistics network: Rotterdam with great metro, train and bus connections.

Incentive for Associations: Via the Incentive Fund for International Association Congresses.

30

MICEtalk April 2014

RDM Campus Congrescentrum

The venue was Rotterdam’s most famous shipyard which was used to build ships. Now renovated, this Rotterdam industrial heritage site is used as a venue for meetings and events. Situated directly on the Nieuwe Maas waterway, the Campus offers spaces for MICE for groups of ten to 300 persons.

De Doelen

In downtown Rotterdam, De Doelen is perfectly suited for events for groups of 100-3,000 guests.

It has three groups of halls - The Willem Burger Complex, designed especially for congresses and corporate events. It is also a concert hall - the Grote Zaal Complex and the Jurriaanse Complex.

The venues are furnished with white leather seats, chandeliers and marble floors - displaying elegance at every turn. Regardless of the client’s choice, completely exclusive use of the venue is guaranteed.

The congress centre is known for its central location, in close proximity to the train station, hotels, restaurants and urban facilities.

Above: Incentive activities in Rotterdam

MICEtalk April 2014

31

city talk

Above: Overview of Rotterdam

Unique Venues Oceandiva:

Special event location Two exciting ships offer unlimited possibilities for business and corporate events from 50 up to 1500 guest in Germany, the Netherlands or Belgium. There are more than 1001 moorings to welcome guests.

You can create a sit-down dinner around a product presentation or organise a walking dinner on the outer deck while enjoying the skyline of Rotterdam, Dusseldorf, Antwerp or Cologne. With more than 3750 sq m on the water there is enough room for creative ideas. The rooms on Oceandiva are multifunctional and can be completely adapted to a brand and look & feel.

incentives for associations Rotterdam offers the Subvention International Associations Congresses. The incentive fund is meant for initiators of international association congresses. If you work in the international scientific, medical, creative, food, industrial or port sector and would like to bring your European or global conference to Rotterdam, the municipality of Rotterdam is willing, under certain conditions, to offer financial support.

Hulstkamp Gebouw

The Hulstkamp Gebouw, is one of the 518 national monuments of the city. The venue is commonly known as a versatile event location. Its five adjoining halls can accommodate events from 30-1000 guests. It can cater to dinners, social soirees, convention and receptions.

The near proximity to the Erasmus bridge and the banks of the Maas makes this establishment easily accessible by car, boat and public transport. In addition, spacious and free parking facilities are available in front of the building.

Buitenplaats Vlaardingen

Less than a 25 minutes drive from Rotterdam is Buitenplaats Vlaardingen, situated in the green Middle Delfland. The farmhouse has a cultural and historical value, because of the upstairs room, the karnmolen and the authentic haystack. Buitenplaats Vlaardingen offers excellent meeting rooms. It also offers some opportunities to participate in outdoor activities for the more adventurous souls.

Above: Beurs World Trade Centre, Rotterdam

32

MICEtalk April 2014

Some examples of this meeting breaks are Mountain biking, Archery / Crossbow Shooting, power yoga, Nordic Walking & Inline skating.

venue talk

One-stop Shop for Conventions

IMPACT IMPACT, Muang Thong Thani, is a complex with an arena, convention centre and exhibition hall - all in one. Located in Amphoe Pak Kret in suburban Bangkok, Thailand, IMPACT Arena, Exhibitions and Convention Centre is currently the second largest exhibition and convention venue in Asia. Spanning over 140,000 sq m of indoor spaces, their facilities are integrated and interconnected to provide a hassle-free and pleasant experience for visitors. The venue offers both indoors and outdoors facilities.

accommodation Within 20 kms radius of IMPACT, there are 12 hotels with over 3,000 rooms. Their own hotel Novotel features 380 ultra-modern rooms. Located at the heart of the venue, Novotel is directly connected via a sky-bridge to IMPACT

34

MICEtalk April 2014

hotels nearby IMPACT • • • • •

Rama Gardens Hotel TK Palace Hotel Bangkok Miracle Grand Convention Hotel Luxor Hotel Buddy Oriental Riverside Pakkred

MICEtalk April 2014

35

venue talk

Meeting Facilities

IMPACT Challenger - Comprising of three interconnected halls with a combined column free space of 60,000 sq m. It is currently the world’s largest column free hall.

IMPACT Exhibition Center - Comprising of eight multi-purposed halls with a combined space of 47,000 sq meters and six function / meeting rooms.

IMPACT Forum - An all-purpose convention centre that houses one 11,165 sq m exhibition hall, a 2,000 sq m grand ballroom with a seating capacity of 2000 pax and over 30 function / meeting rooms, a large lobby reception area, wellness centre, business centre and press centre.

IMPACT Arena - 4,000 sq m arena with 11,000 seating capacity suitable for large scale events, international concerts, sporting and entertainment events.

services IMPACT offers a series of personalised services to cater to the ever growing needs of MICE travellers: • • • • • • • • • • • •

36

Floor space consultation In-House F&B catering services Event Management Services Wedding Planning IMPACT Off-Site/Outside Catering Services Visitor Services Total Media Logistic, operation and technical support Sales and marketing support Live entertainment Exclusive gifts and momentous Pre and post-event tours for overseas guests

MICEtalk April 2014

Royal Jubilee Ballroom - Thailand’s largest column free ballroom.

Jupiter function Rooms - The Royal Jubilee Ballroom is complemented by 16 equally elegantly decorated smaller Jupiter function rooms, each with 88 to 214 sq m of space, perfect for breakout sessions, seminars, product launches, trainings, breakfast briefings, luncheons, dinners, functions and parties.

Novotel Bangkok IMPACT - Located at the heart of IMPACT, the four-star hotel features 380 ultramodern rooms.

AKTIV Square - Vast outdoor area of 34,000 sq m suitable for outdoor events, concerts and all types of outdoor activities.

IMPACT Lakeside - Over 100,000 sq m outdoor space set against backdrop of a beautiful lake suitable for innovative outdoor events – day or night.

What IMPACT offers

Car Parking - Indoor and outdoor car park areas with IMPACT challenger catering to as many as 2000 cars.

Internet Facilities - Wireless Internet, ADSL services and Internet Cafes.

Business Centres - Six business centres conventionally located along the exhibition halls fully equipped with meeting rooms, business support facilities ranging from computers, printers and scanners to high-speed Internet access, photocopying.

Childcare Centres - Two Childcare centres are available during event days for children from five to 12 years.

Bonded Warehouse - A designated bonded warehouse to ease costs of shipping exhibits for events at IMPACT. First Aid Centres - Four First Aid Centres with trained medical staffs are on standby.

Transport

There is an array of transportation services such as on-call taxis, minibuses, public buses, IMPACT Link, inter-fairground shuttle buses connecting to the centre.

Above: Events at IMPACT Convention Centre

Located in the suburb, away from the traffic congestion in downtown Bangkok, IMPACT is: À 30 minutes from downtown Bangkok via congest free expressways À 45 minutes from Suvarnabhumi International airport via expressways À 15 minutes from Don Mueang International Airport On-call taxis are also available at our various taxi stands and kiosks operated by staff at IMPACT Challenger.

IMPACT Link Shuttle Bus Services run between Bangkok city and IMPACT. A fleet of minibuses serves the 30-minute route between Mo Chit Sky Station and IMPACT.

MICEtalk April 2014

37

hotel talk

MICE in the Heart of Tradition

Khajuraho

As the corporate world is giving increasing preference to leisure destinations for hosting conferences and events, Radisson Khajuraho, which is well equipped with banqueting facilities for MICE, becomes an ideal choice.

accommodation On site, the Radisson Khajuraho offers four wellappointed suites and 86 luxury hotel rooms

38

MICEtalk April 2014

hotel talk

USP This unique venue features a traditional Indian village theme. Ideal for corporate gatherings, the venue is rented exclusively to businesses in the evenings

Location

Conveniently located near the Khajuraho Airport and the train station, the hotel is easily accessible from nearby industrial centres. The hotel is just four kms from the airport, railway station, marketplace and a world heritage temple complex. Radisson Khajuraho has the largest rooms inventory in Khajuraho with flexible options for events, including outdoor space.

MICE Facilities

The venue can accommodate up to 175 guests. The hotel staff is happy to help with every detail for the event. They also offer a wide range of set-up options available in the hotel’s boardrooms.

Support services:

Corporate services include transportation, complimentary Wi-Fi for in-house guests and the largest spa in Khajuraho.

Food and entertainment: Dining options include a 24-hrs coffee shop ‘Temple Cafe’, 24-hrs room service and the Temple Bar. They have varied entertainment options including recreation facilities such as pool table, tennis, badminton, volleyball

courts, a library and a daily puppet show, etc. They also provide options on request for yoga classes and folk dance.

Post-event options: The adventurous souls can take a relaxing day trip to Panna National Park, 27 kms away, or Pandav Falls, 34 kms away.

Arun Kumar Manikonda, Hotel Manager, Radisson Khajuraho said, “We are also upgrading our banqueting facilities which will enable us to host large conferences and events as well. We design customised packages for MICE meetings, as per the company’s requirements and at extremely competitive rates. We recently hosted conferences for major companies / associations such as the ICICI, ONGC, etc.”

MICEtalk April 2014

39

sample this

Kerala cuts

# Tax on off-season rates

The Kerala Government has announced a five per cent reduction in luxury tax on hotels during the three-month non-peak season from June.

Industry leaders feel this move along with steps to promote MICE tourism, allocation of `206.65 crore for development work and marketing of the destination—will go a long way in promoting Kerala.

Megha Paul

40

MICEtalk April 2014

sample this

Tax #

W

ith the Kerala Government announcing major tax concessions for the state tourism industry in the state budget 2014, God’s Own Country is poised to become a ‘round-the-year destination’ for travellers and an important centre for international conferences. The budget, presented in the state assembly on January 27, 2014, by K M Mani, Finance Minister, offers several tax concessions to the tourism industry. The major announcement includes a reduction in luxury tax to five per cent on hotels from June to August to promote off-season tourism. The step is expected to help reduce tariff in hotels and resorts in the state’s major backwater and hill destinations.

Tax concessions will help tourism industry According to AP Anilkumar, Tourism Minister, Kerala, the tax concessions announced in the budget will certainly help the tourism industry, which plays an important role in the state’s economy. The concessions will give a new fillip to the tourism industry in Kerala and help the state discover new avenues of growth for this important sector, which has received several international awards and recognition.

The cut in luxury tax in the off-season is expected to increase the number of tourists arriving in Kerala during the off-season months from June to August

Other announcements for the tourism industry relate to substantial increase in allocation for marketing destinations and implementing special tourism projects.

incentives for MICE The government has also reduced luxury tax on convention centres and auditoriums with a daily rent exceeding INR 20,000 to 10 per cent from the existing 20 per cent, in a bid to promote MICE tourism, a niche category for facilitating national and international conferences, conventions and seminars.

Above: MICE Event at Kochi

MICEtalk April 2014

41

sample this

Focus Canada at Kochi

Lowering of taxes will attract more MICE Suman Billa, Secretary, Kerala Tourism said, “Kerala has always been a destination for travel throughout the year. By making luxury tax on hotels and resorts during June-August only five per cent, the government is helping the state tourism sector in a big way to promote monsoon travel.” The luxury tax cut for convention centres and auditoriums is expected to directly help the tourism sector in Kerala through MICE tourism. The reason quoted by many companies for not coming to Kerala for organising international conferences, seminars and conventions was high tax. Now with the lowering of taxes, the state will attract more MICE travellers and companies from abroad, he affirmed.

The luxury tax cut for convention centres and auditoriums is expected to directly help the tourism sector in Kerala through MICE tourism

The government’s decision is welcome “High taxation in segments like MICE and hotels has been the major bottleneck in the growth of the tourism sector in the state. The recession in Europe, competition in traditional markets like Sri Lanka and a host of other factors have hit tourist arrivals to the state. The last season was bad compared to last year. Thus, we welcome the government’s decision for the sector and their decision to reduce luxury tax on hotels and convention facilities,” said EM Najeeb, ChairmanKerala Chapter, IATO informed.

42

MICEtalk April 2014

sample this

Tax # Kerala is a success story in tourism and hospitality According to Jose Dominic, MD & CEO, CGH Earth, Kerala is a success story in terms of tourism and hospitality based on responsible tourism, focussed on three key principles - sustainable, inclusive and local. The state has remarkably demonstrated how tourism can be a vital catalyst for community participation, empowerment, inclusive development and ecological preservation. “The government’s announcement of developing destinations such as Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady, Fort Kochi, Munnar, Wayanad and Vagamon and creation of rural tourism project in Idukki are proactive steps,” he added.

MICE events lead to overall state development As per Saji Joseph, GM, Le Meridien Kochi, this is generally the leisure off-season period and any value addition given to the domestic customers will only encourage more visits and generate the visibility and viability of the destination. Talking about boosting Kerala as a MICE destination, he added, “This is important for Kerala as all these MICE events generate extension of holidays to all the destinations in the state and create an overall development for all stakeholders.”

MICE events are important for Kerala as they generate extension of holidays to all destinations and create an overall development tourism breather • Five per cent reduction in luxury tax on hotels for three months • `50 crore for prime tourist destinations • Sea-life Leisure Park at Varkala • One-crore Rupees for Idukki Rural Tourism Project

MICEtalk April 2014

43

booked for MICE

B

rilliant Convention Centre boasts of 1,00,000 sq ft flexible meeting space spread in 15 independent halls of varied sizes, which are ranging from 300 sq ft to 22,500 sq ft. Further there is an exhibition hall of 25,000 sq ft, a landscaped garden for outdoor events and 108 luxurious rooms and parking provision for more than 1500 cars.

Whether it is a convention of 3000 delegates or an industrial exhibition of 200 stalls or a meeting of 30 people or a small lifestyle exhibition of 25 stalls or a small social gathering of just about 100 people, BCC is an ideal venue to host any desired event.

The biggest difference between BCC and other similar facilities is that it is entirely an event -focussed set-up, which provides both exclusivity and flexibility to plan his/her event as per his/her desire and preferences.

USP BCC boasts of the largest air-conditioned pillarless hall of 22,500 sq ft in central India with a height of 15 metres and has an exclusive pre-function area of 10,000 sq ft for support activities.

It is ideal to host conferences of up to 2500 delegates, music concerts, industrial exhibitions, wedding functions and many other events.

Meeting Facilities

There are 15 independent venues at BCC ranging from 300 sq ft to 22,500 sq ft. They are ideal for meetings, conferences, exhibitions, banquets. All the halls have requisite acoustics treatments and pre-function areas to enable smooth functioning of the events.

Brilliant Convention Centre

Indore – Equipped for MICE Brilliant Convention Centre (BCC) is a state-of-the-art, technologically advanced and one-of-its-kind facility located in the heart of Indore.

accessibility BCC is just 12 kms from the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport, Indore. This makes it an ideal venue for both conventions and exhibitions.

Exhibition venue

The exhibition hall at BCC is approximately 25,000 sq ft and is fully equipped to accommodate 80-100 stalls for any event.

Accommodation

There are 108 luxurious rooms at BCC each of about 400 sq ft. comparable to any star hotel. There are 57 King size twin rooms, 28 double rooms and seven suites. Further, there are eight connecting rooms on each floor.

It is also close to all the major star hotels of Indore, resulting in a room inventory of a further 800 rooms in proximity to the BCC.

Tech-enabled

The entire facility is Wi-Fi with 100 per cent power backup, equipped with ramps to assist the physically challenged, following green building rooms with water

treatment plants, VRV technology of air-conditioning, using sunken windows to reduce A/C cost and many more features.

What Brilliant Convention Centre offers:

À A fully equipped business centre having all the facilities like desktop, printer, fax, internet, STD/ ISD and photocopy. À A recreation room with games such as table tennis, chess, card games, etc. and a gymnasium. À 100 cover rooftop restaurant and 24x7 room service.

BCC has already hosted medical conferences such as PEDICON, AMASICON, OPATHALOGY, GLACOMAFEST and 21st IANCON. Moving forward BCC hopes to attract many such conventional and exhibitions to Indore which will in its own way boost the local economy of the city.

MICEtalk April 2014

45

Q&A

yours officially

Q How has the year 2013 been for you?

Raymond Bickson, Managing Director & CEO, Taj Group of Hotels, talks to MICEtalk about the hotel industry and shares his business outlook, along with discussing strategies about recasting Taj as a multibranded hotel group, not just a single luxury brand.

Megha Paul

Attracting

The hospitality sector faced unprecedented challenges on account of the sluggishness of the domestic economy, influx of new supply of rooms in the market and weak economic environment in US/ Europe, which are the key source markets for the highend hotels in India. Business travel also has not been good because the economic conditions here have not shown any improvement. With the depreciating rupee and the high cost of overseas holidays, the only increase has been in the domestic tourism segment. Taj, as a brand, has remained consistent in this turbulent time and has witnessed occupancy levels of 68 per cent across its properties as opposed to the average occupancy levels of 58 per cent across Indian hotels.

How has the domestic business been? What is your opinion of the Q rising competition on home turf?

The hotel scenario in India has changed dramatically over the last few years. Till a few years ago, the three big domestic hotel chains could afford to be content, since they had a combined 60-plus per cent market share in the absence of competition. Now, there are over 50 big hotel brands with huge loyalty

Taj

business travellers to

46

MICEtalk April 2014

programmes. And since over 80 per cent of visitors to India are business travellers, chances are they would be drawn to these foreign brands. The challenge, thus, is to maintain Taj’s domestic market share. Acquiring land and approvals is another challenge in the Indian market. While the demand for hotel rooms will grow this year, the continued commissioning of new capacity, across the key markets, will put pressure on the rates.

Q What are your plans for the future?

The idea is to have an asset-light model via management contracts. This is necessary if we want to get more market share. Despite the current pressures

new openings For the year 2014, the Taj Group of Hotels have a pipeline of 14 hotels, including the new Vivanta

by Taj in Dwarka.

in the industry, the hotel chain has continued to roll out its new hotels in the domestic markets with recent launches of Vivanta, Gateway and Ginger. The group, through the Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHCL), operates four brands – Taj (in luxury segment); Vivanta by Taj (in the upper upscale category); Gateway (for the upscale segment) and Ginger (in the economy segment). The Vivanta, Gateway and Ginger are part of the Taj Group’s strategy to have a large footprint across India. Going forward, it will be an important growth vehicle for Taj and we are looking at quickly scaling up the brands to a large number of hotels across India. We opened one hotel every month last year. The most recent opening of Taj was The Gateway Hotel EM Bypass Kolkata. As for luxury hotels, the cost of land is sky rocketing. So we will see fewer openings this year.

Hospitality industry is a cyclical business. We are all sitting on top of real estate. We cannot say the hotel sector is immune to the disasters in the realty industry.

Thus, in order to have a balanced portfolio, we cannot depend solely on the Indian market. It takes time for us to grow outside but there are challenges in the Indian market as well. We also have more outbound Indian travellers than inbound travellers. We need to cater to this market as well. Our international expansion is through Taj, which is our most well-known brand.

Currently, we have some international properties of Vivanta by Taj that include Sri Lanka, Maldives, etc.

Q&A

is your strategy for expansion in the overseas market?

QWhat

MICEtalk April 2014

47

MICE Initiative

Zagreb lures MICE Travellers The capital of the Republic of Croatia, Zagreb, is one of the oldest European cities with a history running back to the 11th century. Since Croatia’s accession to the European Union in July 2013, Zagreb has also become the new metropolis of the European Union.

T

alking about positioning Zagreb as a MICE destination for the Indian market, Amelia Tomasevic, CEO, Zagreb Tourist Board & Convention Bureau, informs that Zagreb is a new MICE destination for India.

Zagreb Convention Bureau participated in workshops organised with European Cities Marketing in Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi recently and the Board expects development of this segment in the Indian market.

Talking about the increase in visitors from India, she adds, “In 2012, we had 120 per cent more overnights and 67 per cent more arrivals than 2011 (when we had eight per cent more arrivals as compared to 2010). We witnessed 27 per cent increase in arrivals in comparison to 2012. This was driven by leisure arrivals. However, interest for incentives and

meetings is also growing, and I think that in the near future, Zagreb will be recognised as a great destination for Indian business travel.”

Regarding the air connectivity from India, Zlatan Muftic, Director, Zagreb Convention Bureau, reveals, “The connections to Zagreb are excellent via Frankfurt, Vienna, Munich, Istanbul (Austrian, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa), and other European hubs from where Croatia Airlines, our national carrier is flying to Zagreb. There is also connection with Qatar Airways from Doha.”

expert talk

Shabnam Mehra Life Coach & EFT Practitioner

Mantra for Job Success So what constitutes ‘a perfect job’? Is it the opportunity to grow, showcase our strengths and potential or the one with the greatest salary ever and stock options thrown in for good measure? But the list doesn’t stop there. Once the job starts, the market needs to be right, the right opportunities need to come along, the targets need to be overachieved and there has to be scope of a work-life balance.

50

MICEtalk April 2014

expert talk

I

t’s not that people do not want to work for ‘a perfect job’. They will work really hard and are smart, but then the recognition also needs to keep pace. Even then one frequently hears people say that, “if I could, I would retire at 40 and relax on beach or play golf or read”.

Nowadays, organisations need to create an atmosphere which is physically, environmentally and emotionally nurturing so that the employees are motivated enough to bring out their best and work towards achieving the vision and growth of the company. But what about the employee’s style and approach? Why are some people labelled as team players, while others are called overaggressive or poor managers or lacking in vision, etc.?

Do these traits change when a person changes his job?

Sometimes they do, but more often than not, the traits surface in any job.

So, it just may be that securing a great job could be arranged by working on our own mind and our inner self. To start with, we can ask ourselves, why are we even in this job? Was it just the fact that the offer came along or that the pay was good? Or was it because this job was a part of the long-term vision? Is the job very mechanical or are you passionate about what is being created?

battling with his own sense of inadequacy of not being good enough, or not finding value in his job, can he deliver excellence in a job or inspire his subordinates to overachieve? Instead, frustrations will percolate to all levels and no one is going to love their job in that office. On the other hand, a person totally engaged in creating innovation or achieving his vision, can inspire people even in a tool shed.

In no way would I like to diminish the importance and necessity of money and providing for our families as important factors of a job. But, if even for a moment, we permit ourselves to align our passions with the job (content or style of work), maybe we can find our ‘perfect job’.

‘Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life’ - Confucius For more details contact: shabnamsmehra@yahoo.com

To be truly happy in the workplace, we need to spend time on understanding ourselves and aligning our actions with our own vision Last year, an article in Forbes commented on a worldwide Gallup Survey on how many employees are happy in their jobs. Not surprisingly, only 13 per cent voted that they were completed engaged and driven by their jobs. A 63 per cent of those surveyed voted that there were not drastically unhappy with their jobs, but managed by putting in very little energy, and the other 24 per cent voted that they actively hated their jobs.

To be truly happy and satisfied in the workplace, we need to spend time on understanding ourselves and aligning our actions with our own purpose and vision.

To understand and then accept oneself requires a lot of honesty, but without that, no external provisions will give us happiness. For example, if an employee is MICEtalk April 2014

51

technology

Apps for

Every Association Event Apps have been in the business events industry for quite a few years now and event planners now have easy access to full featured communication and engagement tools. business? Do you particularly need one to promote your brand or business?

Listed below are the aspects you need to think of, before developing an app for your business: À Your Target Audience À Your Budget À Your App Content À Cross-Platform Formatting À Cost Vs. Profit Research has shown that association members would like to receive and have access to association information on their mobile devices. They want access to this information 24/7 and mobile devices represent the perfect vehicle for delivering this information.

I believe that all associations and their members will benefit from the development of their very own member engagement tool.

M

obile apps are a part of every conceivable business today, irrespective of their size or services they offer. Apps are the best way to keep your customers engaged with your product - they act like gentle reminders to pull them back to your product of service, while also generating new customers in the process. However, are mobile apps really necessary for each and every

52

MICEtalk April 2014

One of the apps for associations in MemberDirect, developed by Core-Apps LLC. MemberDirect has been developed specifically for associations and contains information such as a list of members to contact, a calendar of events, buyer guides, marketing research, industry documents, etc.

For associations who use Core-Apps FollowMe or EventLink event applications, MemberDirect will also connect seamlessly to each association event, providing users with a convenient way to access their content any time they choose. And, for users who only require access to the event app, FollowMe or EventLink are also available to download and use with just the event content in a mobile app.

technology

app features

Apps are the best way to keep your customers engaged with your product - they act like gentle reminders to your customers and also help generate new customers

• Association information and communication is now mobile!

• Provides members with a single source for access to all events and important information relating to their industry • Provided member networking tools • Direct content/data integration every day of the year • Content Security – Application content can be offered to members of the broader community • First association mobile app with convenient connection to event app • More features than any other association app • Easy to integrate • Admin portal and statistics for control and analytics • Revenue generating tools through advertising and sponsorship sales • Deployed on all phone platforms (iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and Web based)

One source for information on-the-go The app gives members all of the association’s information in one easy-to-use app. With a member directory listing, calendar of events, news feed, social media integration, push alerts, custom tools.

Always a custom solution From the app image, to in-app icons and colours, the app can be customised to suit the user’s needs and styles. Plus, with the next-generation architecture the app has been designed with, most changes to the app can be done on the fly without users having to download an update to the app.

Valuable feedback when you need it Statistics are embedded in the app to allow association staff to discover what kinds of users are using the app and how they use it. Staff can view statistics summaries through a custom admin portal, as well as through their app store accounts.

It is my belief that MemberDirect or related tools will become an essential tool for associations to communicate, promote, and publish their information for the mobile user. So when people ask me, ‘Does every organisation (Association) need an app’. My response is yes. A mobile communication and engagement tool, carefully planned, developed and deployed will be a valuable asset to any association and its stakeholders.

about the author Darren Edwards is the founder of Invisage Creative Services in Australia. With more than 20 years’ experience and knowledge in the meetings and events industry, Edwards continues to drive creativity in events and the way they are run.

Contact: info@invisage.net

MICEtalk April 2014

53

etiquette talk

Shital Kakkar Mehra Practitioner of Corporate Etiquette and International Protocol in India

Mastering Small talk is defined as ‘matters of little consequence discussed between strangers’.

Effective small talk in the business world is a great way to impress people and get attention.

It serves as an icebreaker, opens doors for conducting further conversation and helps build relationships. While it may appear that some people are ‘gifted’ and conduct excellent small talk, it is a skill that can be acquired with a little bit of planning and practice.

talk

small

What to talk about?

Small talk requires little creativity or originality – there are a few common topics which are frequently used as ice breakers in most business and sociobusiness settings.

Popular topics:

) Current

events: As there is no substitute for knowledge, reading the popular business newspapers / magazines is a must.

) Variety of subjects: A little knowledge on a variety of topics like books, movies, art, travel, local cuisine helps.

) Sports: Even if you aren’t a sports enthusiast, 54

MICEtalk April 2014

update your knowledge on large international and domestic sporting events.

) The event you are currently attending:

Central theme / topic, hosts, large sponsors, speakers/ panelists (if any).

) Interest in others: Never start a conversation by speaking about yourself, instead, get people to talk about themselves – a subject most people love! Ask open-ended questions related to their professional life, achievements and hobbies, and invest time in listening to their responses.

Business cards contain adequate information and make great conversation starters.

etiquette talk

How do I know whom to approach?

taboo topics Religion and politics ignite passion and are best avoided. As diversity in the workplace has emerged as a relevant issue, questions related to personal life and gender are also best avoided.

In networking events, it is best to speak with either a single person or a group (more than three). Couples should be avoided.

When approaching a single person, look for positive non-verbal gestures and start the conversation by offering a crisp selfintroduction and relevant small talk.

When joining a group, introduce yourself and shake hands with each member of the group.

Listen intently to the ongoing conversation before contributing your view point.

Small talk can lead to big talk and finally big business!

How do I say it?

The objective of all small talk is to find a common thread between you and the other person. Being at complete ease and putting him/her at ease is essential.

Display positive body language such as direct eye contact, a smiling face, maintaining appropriate personal space and facial expressions that display genuine interest and help put the other person at ease and further the conversation.

Display positive body language to show genuine interest and help put the other person at ease sample icebreakers • How did you come up with this idea?

• How do you know the host?

• Have you ever been to any of their earlier events?

• What got you started in this industry / practice?

• What got you interested in marketing / profession / research?

• How has your business been impacted by the current upturn / downturn?

• What are the new trends in your industry?

MICEtalk April 2014

55

visa talk

Visa Requirements New Zealand þ Completed and signed application form þ Appropriate fee þ Two passport-sized colour photographs for

Visa Checklist

everyone included in the application

þ Passport or travel document for everyone included in the application

þ Medical or chest X-ray certificates if required

by Section E: Health certificate for everyone included in the application

þ Evidence of financial support consisting of -

a completed Sponsorship Form For Temporary Entry (INZ 1025); or evidence showing the applicant has sufficient funds in their name to support themselves

Netherland þ Valid passport must not be older than ten years also it

must be valid for at least three months longer than the intended stay. The passport must also have at least two blank pages to affix the visa and should be brought along with all old passport booklets þ One application form to be filled and duly signed by the passenger in their own handwriting only þ Two Photos (White background, 80 per cent face) þ Covering Letter addressed to The Visa Officer, Embassy of Netherlands þ Return Confirmed Ticket þ Health Insurance þ Hotel Booking confirmation þ IT return for last two years (personal) þ Bank Statement for last six months (personal with bank seal) þ Prior appointment with VFS þ Occupation Proof Required þ Leave NOC form company letter head þ Salary Slip for three months þ Authority letter on Company Letter Head from person authorised to submit and collect the documents on applicant’s behalf (please download the format from the FORM SECTION of the Netherland visa website)

þ Evidence that the applicant has the means to

leave New Zealand consisting of - a completed Sponsorship Form For Temporary Entry (INZ 1025); or pre-purchased travel out of New Zealand; or evidence showing the applicant has sufficient funds in their name to purchase travel out of New Zealand

þ If the applicant’s partner and/or dependent

children are included in the application - evidence of their relationship with the applicant’s partner and evidence that the applicant is currently living together with the partner in a genuine and stable partnership; and/or evidence that the applicant is the parent or legal guardian of the children included in the application

Thailand þ Passport valid at least six months with two opposite

blank pages þ One visa application form þ Two photographs with white background (35x45mm, 70 per cent face) þ Covering letter for stating purpose of visit - Business Card þ Confirmed Return Ticket þ Confirmed Hotel Booking þ Original Bank Statement for last two month till date with bank seal on each paper. Minimum balance of `50,000 per person

For more information, contact Komal Pandya; 91 9958881431; komal.s@travelclinic.in

56

MICEtalk April 2014

Hilton Chennai

appoints GM

Preferred Hotel Group appoints Executive Vice President - APMEA

Preferred Hotel Group announced the appointment of Anthony Ross as Executive Vice President - APMEA. Ross brings more than 25 years of international hospitality experience. Most recently, Ross served as Vice President – Operations, Marco Polo Hotels. Prior to this, Ross was area general manager for Swire Hotels’ operations in Beijing. Ross also spent seven years working for Pan Pacific in Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore, as well as for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in Hong Kong and Monaco.

Courtyard by Marriott Pune City Centre announces new GM Gagan Deep Singh has been

appointed as the General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott Pune City Centre.

Prior to this, he was the Director of Operations at JW Marriott Mumbai.

Singh comes with about 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

Singh started his career with the Marriott in 1999 and has worked in various F&B roles in JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai, Renaissance Mumbai Hotel and Convention Centre and Lake Side Chalet, Marriott Executive Apartments, Mumbai.

Novotel Kolkata Hotel and Residences appoints GM Raj Kakarla has been appointed as General Manager, Novotel Kolkata Hotel and Residences. Kakarla comes with a comprehensive experience of 23 years in the hospitality industry. Prior to this, he has worked with Oakwood Premier Prestige Bangalore and Oakwood Residence Whitefield Bangalore. He has also worked with Stamford Hotels & Resorts, Australia; Stamford Grand Adelaide, South Australia and Stamford Plaza Adelaide, South Australia.

Hilton Chennai announced the appointment of Parag Sawhney as General Manager. Sawhney brings with him 14 years of diverse experience in hotel operations, including food and beverage management, front office management and guest relations among others. He began his career as a management trainee in Pune, India, at Hotel Kundan Palace and then at Holiday Inn. He joined Hilton Worldwide in 2006 on being appointed Front Office Leader at Hilton St. Anne’s Manor, United Kingdom.

Hilton Bangalore Residences appoints GM

Hilton Bangalore Residences announced the appointment of Vikas Sharma as General Manager. Sharma, appointed as pre-opening general manager for Hilton Bangalore Residences in December 2012, brings more than two decades of experience in the hospitality industry. In his former role at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Sharma was the general manager for Aloft, Bangalore. Prior to joining Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., he has worked with The Chancery Pavilion, Bangalore and Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces in Mumbai and Bentota, Sri Lanka. He also served as the Director, Food & Beverage, for InterContinental, New Delhi, and was part of the pre-opening team at the Radisson Hotel, New Delhi.

ShangriLa’s – Eros Hotel, New

Delhi welcomes new Director of Sales Sanket Chugh has

taken over the Sales portfolio in the capacity of Director of Sales at Shangri-La’s - Eros Hotel, New Delhi. He has over 14 years of rich experience in the hospitality industry. Prior to this assignment, Sanket has worked with the Oberoi Hotels and Resorts and the Taj Group, holding leadership positions in their properties across the country.

MICEtalk April 2014

57

events

events calendar EVENT

58

Venue/Place

CITY/COUNTRY

DATE

International Conference on Sustainable Tourism

Milenij Grand Hotel 4 Opatijska Cvijeta

Pula, Croatia

July 08-10, 2014

Hawaii Lodging Hospitality & Foodservice Expo

Neal S. Blaisdell Center

Honolulu, USA

July 9-10, 2014

Travel & Tourism Fair - Hyderabad

To be announced

Hyderabad, India

July 11-13, 2014

World Luxury Expo Abu Dhabi

Emirates Palace

Abu Dhabi, UAE

July 11-13, 2014

The Travel Industry Exhibition

Royal Hall of Industries & Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park

Sydney, Australia

July 18-19, 2014

India International Travel Mart Bangalore

Palace Ground

Bangalore, India

July 18-20, 2014

Annual International Conference on Tourism and Hospitality Research

Hotel Fort Canning,Singapore

Singapore

July 21-22, 2014

Cebu International Travel Expo

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel

Cebu, Philippines

July 24-26, 2014

Thailand Retail Food & Hospitality Services

Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC)

Bangkok, Thailand July 24-27, 2014

India International Travel Mart Chennai

Chennai Trade & Convention Centre

Chennai, India

July 25-27, 2014

Annual ICHRIE Summer Conference

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina

San Diego, USA

July 30- August 1, 2014

India International Travel Exhibition Aurangabad

To be announced

Aurangabad, India

August 15-17, 2014

Canadian National Exhibition

Exhibition Place

Toronto, Canada

August 16 - September 02, 2014

Incentive Travel & Conventions Meetings India

Kempinski Ambience Hotel

New Delhi, India

August 19-21, 2014

IncentiveWorks

Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Toronto, Canada

August 19-20, 2014

Fourth India Association Congress 2014

Fairmont Jaipur

Jaipur, India

August 23-24, 2014

China Guilin International Tourism Expo

Guilin International Conference & Exhibition Center

Guilin, China

August 29-31, 2014

MICEtalk April 2014

Postal Reg. No. :DL(ND)-11/6150/2014-15-16 WPP No.:U(C)-305/2014-2016, Posting on 29th-30th of Advance Month PSO, Market Road PO, New Delhi-110001, Date of Publication:22/03/2014 RNI No.:DELENG/2010/34144