Rs. 100
Volume IV Issue 2 February 2013 60 pages A DDP Publication
Cover Story
MICE Obstacles
Madrid
Singapore
Expanding Business Facilities
Equipped for Meetings
DDP Publications Private Limited New Delhi: 72, Todarmal Road, New Delhi 110001, India Tel: +91-11-23731971, 23710793, 23716318, Fax: +91-11-23351503 E-mail: micetalk@ddppl.com Mumbai: 504 Marine Chambers, 43 New Marine Lines, Mumbai 400 020 Tel: +91-22-22070129, 22070130 Fax: +91-22-22070131 E-mail: mumbai@ddppl.com UAE: P.O. Box: 9348, Sharjah, UAE Tel: +971-6-5573508, Fax: +971-6-5573509 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. 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. 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 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. MICEtalk is printed, published and owned by SanJeet, 72, Todarmal Road, New Delhi -110001 and is printed at Cirrus Graphics Pvt. Ltd. B-62/14, Phase-II, Naraina Industrial Area, New Delhi - 110 028
Western VIP Banquet Set-up at Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
Publisher
SanJeet
Editorial Director
Rupali Narasimhan
Editor
Deepa Sethi
DELHI: Desk Editor
Neelam Singh
Design
Alpana Khare Neeraj Aggarwal
Advertising
Gunjan Sabikhi Shovan Kanungo Gaurav Sharma Prem Sagar Shailendra Shukla Udit Pandey
Production Manager
Anil Kharbanda
Circulation Manager
Ashok Rana
MUMBAI: Advertising
Harshal Ashar
MICEtalk February 2013
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reader’s
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Dear Reader, Spain, Italy, Australia, Singapore, India, South Africa… MICEtalk takes you around the world for MICE facilities, destinations, hotels, transportation and more. We also met up with the Managing Director & CEO of Amway India, who shared with us their reasons for choosing a destination and what they look for in it once it is selected. Amway is today pursued by many tourist offices to host their Leadership Seminars in their country, because of the large numbers and professionalism in the organisation of their events. Plenty to learn from this success story! Starting this issue, read about a series of team building activities that can be undertaken during a business event. Write to us if you try them and tell us if they were helpful and enjoyable. We also continue to bring you feedback from our readers and the industry. This time on some of the challenges faced by organisers; on the other hand, the advantages of hosting an event in a city-centre venue. Enjoy reading!
to the editor... Reader inputs are usually enriched with a “Been There, Done That” component, which comes from customer feedback and experiential learnings. Critical to allow readers a strong and actionable listening post, which helps to share experiences with a wide cross section of users. MICEtalk is at the forefront of welcoming feedback and sharing learnings. Runeep Sangha Executive Director PATA India Chapter
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Deepa Sethi Editor
to the editor... I saw the January issue of MICEtalk and was happy to read your new section with comments from the industry. It gives us an insight on developments and possibilities in the MICE sector while highlighting some of the challenges being faced. Keep up the good work! Guldeep Singh Sahni President Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI)
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C S MICE Obstacles
F
MICE C Singapore
T T Teams at Play
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City Center Venues Advantages and Challenges
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M C Madrid, Spain
B
&Beyond Phinda Game Reserve, South Africa
M V
Milano Congressi, Italy
M H
Country Inn, Mysore
S S Amway in Australia
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2013’s Hottest New Technology Trends
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Y O
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Karen Bolinger, CEO, Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau
M E
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facts
The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organisation) (TCEB) joined forces with eight key government and private organisations in laying a framework, with an objective to develop a master plan for Chiang Mai to become the MICE destination for Thailand and ASEAN in next five years. According to the master plan, the development will be divided into three phases. In Phase 1, which begins in 2013, domestic MICE will be set as the target while all concerned agencies work together to improve infrastructure. In the second phase, from 2014-2015, promotion will be extended beyond domestic MICE. In the third phase (2016-2017), Chiang Mai will be promoted as a Global MICE City.
launches Bespoke MICE Website
Home to a number of thriving business districts, the Middle East and Africa has become a distinguished and prominent destination for meetings and events. Recognising a new leading market trend for the region, Hilton Worldwide has created a comprehensive, easy-to-use website to meet all MICE requirements. hiltonmeetingsmea.com is a one-stop shop for all MICE needs and has been designed and customised to provide the latest up-to-date information in a user-friendly format for over 40 hotels across MEA. The site has been built with convenience and simplicity in mind and delivers tailored solutions for world-class events in an easy four-step process.
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Attractive offer for Meeting Planners
FACTS
Chiang Mai to develop as MICE Destination
Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers is giving its visitors a chance to earn Double SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest) Starpoints from every dollar and a free iPad Mini or iPad, if they book their meeting between January 15 and March 31, 2013. The property offers facilities to suit all types of meetings and events with large event spaces equipped with Internet access, advanced audiovisual presentation tools and full technical support. Also, a dedicated event planning specialist and meeting concierge for large scale launch events, international conferences, executive board meetings and small functions are also provided by the hotel. This offer is valid for bookings confirmed by March 31, 2013.
Peru Travel Mart
Peru’s most important trade event for the tourism industry – Peru Travel Mart (PTM) 2013, will be taking place in Lima between May 23 - 26, 2013. It will bring together local and international suppliers, buyers, and wholesalers from the tourism industry across the globe to learn about the destination’s exciting new products and developments, and the latest popular destinations to promote. PTM 2013 attendees will also have the opportunity to experience Peru for themselves with special discounted pre and post tours on offer to bring some of the exciting new products and experiences to life.
Sri Lanka attracts MICE fraternity
FACTS
facts
SriLankan Airlines unveiled a 44-page, handysized MICE brochure that describes the diverse attributes that Sri Lanka has to offer as a MICE destination in Asia, to combine business and leisure. The brochure describes the scale of MICE facilities; a variety of interesting MICE locations including Colombo; Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) and Destination Management Companies (DMC); and Sri Lanka’s many unique attractions that are all within easy reach of each other. The guide gives an overview of what to expect in Sri Lanka and why Sri Lanka’s national carrier, SriLankan Airlines is the best option to get to the destination, enjoying many privileges and discounts on offer.
SITE launches India Chapter
Chicago-headquartered Society of Incentive and Travel Executives (SITE), a global network of travel and event professionals, with over 1900 members in over 90 countries, officially launched its 29th chapter in India in December 2012, comprising 22 members from the region, including three members from Nepal. Membership is open to all MICE professionals at an annual fee of US$445 along with an admission fee of US $50.
Mexico to host 5th edition of CULTOURFAIR
The 5th edition of CULTOURFAIR, International Cultural Travel Fair, will take place in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico from October 2 -3, 2013, sponsored by Guadalajara’s Convention Bureau. CULTOURFAIR is a two-day travel trade market directed to the cultural and heritage market, where worldwide travel and tourism organisations and companies meet by individual and pre-requested appointments with European, USA, Latin American and Asian pre-selected hosted buyers organising or contracting these kind of travels: product development managers of tour operators, wholesaler companies and travel agencies.
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enhances Online Resources for Meeting Planners
Visit Orlando has re-launched its primary online resource for meeting professionals – OrlandoMeeting.com – following a comprehensive overhaul of the site’s design and structure to create a more effective and efficient experience for users. OrlandoMeeting.com includes a wealth of information, including the latest news on venues and attractions, accommodation listings, planning tools, online RFP submission forms, and direct access to the Visit Orlando sales team. The site’s new search experience puts meeting planners in direct contact with the category or contact they need, while enhanced optimisation promises a smoother, more error-free experience. There is also a link to Visit Orlando’s Twitter feed for industry updates and announcements.
WTM Latin America
The first edition of Reed Travel Exhibitions’ (RTE) World Travel Market Latin America is taking place in Brazil in April 2013. For Leisure, MICE and Business Travel, WTM Latin America is a three day businessto-business (B2B) event which brings the world to Latin America and promotes Latin America to the world. To be staged annually in the economic powerhouse of São Paulo, WTM Latin America will utilise the knowledge, expertise and experience of organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions and successful sister event World Travel Market in London.
Cover story cover
Bumps in the road of MICE Neha Oberoi
In our series on the Industry Viewpoint we’ve firmly established that yes, MICE Tourism is the way to go! It’s definitely an ‘Ace for Tourism in India’. Recognising this, India is also bringing itself at par with the more mature markets in this segment and this issue helps understand the challenges the industry faces whilst pursuing this segment of tourism aggressively. MICEtalk had been able to narrow down on the challenges that hinder MICE tour operators.
Time taken to finalise deals Governments throughout Asia have realised that hosting MICE meetings and incentive travel is a vital form of global engagement. They add MICE development to their policies because they see MICE as key to their economic development strategies. However, the biggest challenge still faced by tour operators and travel agents alike is the amount of time faced to close deals. Especially, with the large number of players in the market; competition is cut-throat and due to unorganised elements costs are disturbing.
Subhash Verma, Chairman, Travel Plus, states, “Competition is unavoidable, with all players taking a stake in the pie; hotels, airlines, etc. The principals are in competition.” He reinforces that MICE is a growing segment in spite of restraints like costing and maintains that all the operators should stand up to corporates and avoid standardisation.
MICE is a specialised field and we should choose our field cautiously to face corporates attempting to take advantage of competition between service providers 12
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cover story
Budget limitations With the current European debt crisis and the devaluation of the Rupee, the size of MICE events from long-haul markets has become smaller as organisers try to save money. This year also, tight budgets will hinder progress in the MICE movement.
M.S. (Kuki) Chawla, Chairman, Siddharth Travels Pvt. Ltd., feels, “With the proliferation of new hotels and agents throughout Asia entering into the MICE arena and information freely available on the web, we are in a constant tussle for commission protection. With more exhibition grounds, accommodation units and entertainment facilities being constructed across the globe, there is a need for the use of dynamic packaging tools to provide financial protection, i.e., travel at prices equal to or lower than what anyone can book online. Thus, the agency’s interests are safe guarded in addition to professional travel agency advice.”
With more exhibition grounds, accommodation units and entertainment facilities being constructed across the globe, there is a need for the use of dynamic packaging tools to provide financial protection
Rakesh Lamba, Director, Prakriti Holidays, recommends managing MICE by focussing on the mid level segment. “We’re geared up for handling sizes of 100-200. By doing justice to the mid-level segment, we can avoid the constant negotiation that comes into play with really large groups and work towards bringing in repeat clientele,” he informs.
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Visas and Delays Outbound Mice trips are also constrained by the delay in the issue of visas, generally in cases of West Europe and North American countries.
Heena Munshaw, Managing Director, Beacon Holidays, reiterates, “The delay in issuance of visas is a huge grievance whilst organising MICE. To avoid the hassle of last minute changes, checking all visa and customs procedures carefully and well in advance is the key and hoping that laws and regulations in the countries are clear and userfriendly.”
Airlines Increasing airfares by major airlines, increasing airport fees, imposition of high taxes by the government, and the risk involved in paying deposits to airlines out of the agents’ pocket, which most of the time is forfeited, are adversely affecting both inbound and outbound travel.
Vineet Gopal, Managing Director, Engee Holidays and Joint Secretary, Outbound Tour Operators Association of India, states “High cost of airline travel is a dampener for both international and domestic travellers. Moreover, for organising travel from all corners of the country with limited flights to long-haul destinations and co-ordination of departures is an uphill task.”
The importance of a MICE movement is realised in how the job is handled and everything works like a dream if we work in advance. Even our airline woes will cease to cut our margins if we can plan. Especially, since most airlines offer discounted fares if you’re an early bird 14
MICEtalk February 2013
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Meeting Spaces The sheer scope and scale of present and future demand is staggering. However, the lack of convention spaces to handle all the criteria for size, stage, setting and IT requirements is affecting the numbers and domestic business is moving to alternate countries. Especially with regard to India, the lack of infrastructure is damaging the potential. Small hotels and meeting spaces have led to a decrease in the number of international delegates participating in conferences organised in India. Sarab Jit Singh, President, Indian Tourist Transporters Association and Senior Vice President, Indian Association of Tour Operators, proclaims, “The state governments need to rise up and stake claim as they are the ones who benefit from MICE activities. The plan on the cards to increase the number of convention spaces in major Indian states along with heightened awareness for promotion of India as a MICE destination should be realised with target checks every couple of years.”
Multi–Culturalism Language and cultural differences when dealing with suppliers, multi-cultural considerations such as different ethics, styles of service, laws and regulations, and contrasting meanings when communicating, are all factors in setting and receiving a supplier’s response for expected services. In case of dealer incentive trips, availability of Indian food is also a deciding factor while choosing a destination. However, some simple tactics suggested by Vineet Gopal, work like a dream for quality service such as relationship building at the venue, understanding business and its norms in different countries, relying on destination management companies and lastly flexibility and minute detailing; and still you don’t always know what is best.
Another great way to combat the same is brought forward by Pankaj Malhotra, Director, Corporate Sales & Operations, The Organizers India, “These days, the entire world is open to exposure and is well versed with standard working procedures, however, if the location is very offbeat we make sure we do a reconnaissance tour before the final event to streamline our operations well in advance.”
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Ground Transport Obstacles For delegates moving within and beyond the city is also a task in terms of public transportation movement from the airport, etc. Sarvin Warden, Partner, Designer Incentives, shares his thoughts on the bleak situation, “The consistency in outsourcing large coaches is difficult. Mostly the large coaches are available in metro cities. Often we have to charter good coaches from metro cities to ply in other cities resulting in increased costs. Mini Coaches are non-existent in virtually all cities of India. Railways are impossible to use for top-end MICE events simply because of the existing scheduled timetable of trains. Whilst there has been a tremendous development in this area, using road transportation for MICE events especially for intercity transportation is just too cumbersome and time consuming. Usage of intercity road transportation is done out of necessity. Many countries in the world offer traffic police escorts - service for a charge. This service is non-existent in India.�
We need more flexibility from railways to charter trains, compartments and to do one’s own housekeeping including decor and catering on board
There is a growing recognition of the complexities that arise inevitably through the intermingling of people in different spaces through MICE. With heightened awareness of the big slice that is MICE amongst all the operators and the Government, there is a guarantee for thrilling possibilities in this sector for the upcoming years. 18
MICEtalk February 2013
MICE country
Expanding MICE Facilities Singapore
Having a diverse range of convention centres, exhibition halls and unique meeting venues, Singapore provides event organisers with the flexibility to package business events regardless of their size, needs or budget. The options are being steadily expanded as new facilities become available.
latest expansion To address the growing trend of ‘Confex’ events, a new convention wing, Max Atria is coming at the Singapore Expo. The modern and newly-revamped Suntec Singapore is expected to reopen in the second half of 2013 after a makeover. The opening of the iconic Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore and Gardens by the Bay further extend the range of interesting venues available in Marina Bay, allowing event organisers to explore new concepts. Venues such as Universal Studios Singapore, Cavenagh Bridge and Singapore Turf Club also form original backdrops for unforgettable experiences for the business delegates.
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MICE country
USP of singapore Be it excellent infrastructure, public transport network, variety of dining options and the safety in soft adventure activities, the travellers are at ease in Singapore.
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MICE country
Singapore offers the promise of a deeper and more engaging experience beyond a usual holiday through experiential and shared learning and bonding activities.
how to create terrariums (self-sustaining bottled gardens), cooking with herbs and spices as well as creating your own potted garden.
Unique and unconventional meeting venues
attracting indian travellers
The compact nature of Singapore ensures numerous shopping, leisure and accommodation options available for all kinds of budgets. Hort Park Hort Park, a 23-hectare park located in South-west Singapore, offers unique team building activities, various outdoor and indoor meeting venues, and provides guided tours and hands-on workshops on
Following the principle of visitor centricity, Singapore launched its differentiated marketing campaign for India ‘Singapore The Holiday You Take Home with You’ in 2012. Recognising that Indian travellers are digitally savvy, the marketing campaign includes online and mobile advertising, a dedicated India landing page on the YourSingapore destination website and social media engagement efforts.
meeting over a meal Food is always close to the hearts of Singaporeans, hence meal times are another opportunity for parties to understand one another on an informal basis, establishing trust which translates to the business context. Who knows, you might just strike your million dollar deal over the dining table!
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MICE country
Boasting an exhibition hall of 40,000 sqm and an outdoor display area of 100,000 sqm, CEC’s unique location along the coast is ideal for events relating to the aviation, automotive and marine industries.
Marina Barrage With its 10,000 person capacity, it is an ideal venue for large-scale events set against panoramic views of the city skyline. Smaller function rooms within Marina Barrage can also be utilised for off-site meetings. The Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC) Recently hosting the Singapore Airshow, CEC is a huge multi-dimensional facility which is capable of hosting large scale public and trade exhibitions as well as specialised events. Max Atria (Singapore Expo) With 8,000 sqm of MICE space to Singex’s existing inventory totalling over 123,000 sqm of indoor and outdoor space, Max Atria was recently awarded the Building and Construction Authority Green Mark Platinum Award. Gardens by the Bay This unique venue includes a two-hectare event lawn having a capacity of up to 30,000 people, alongside unique horticultural, retail and food & beverage offerings.
a quality MICE destination In 2011, Singapore was ranked by ICCA as the Top Convention City for the 10th consecutive year In 2011, as per UIA Global Rankings Singapore was the Top International Meeting Country.
Interesting meeting venues
The recently opened Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa was used by Ferrari before the 2011 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix for an exclusive party of 600 guests. Similarly, at the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands, creative spaces are available for corporate and private functions. The options range from individual galleries to the entire museum, catering for up to 1,200 people.
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MICE Support from the local convention bureau
Singapore Events and Convention Bureau (SECB) works together with industry partners to facilitate the customising and co-creating of meaningful experiences that cater to the needs of business travellers, enhancing the business travel experience and Singapore’s value proposition as a business venue. Besides strategic partnerships, Singapore also helps industry trade associations to connect with the relevant and appropriate government agencies to help facilitate the organisation of shows in Singapore.
business etiquettes • Punctuality is important as it shows that you respect your business associate’s time. • A light handshake is the most widely practiced form of greeting for both male and female associates. • Business cards are presented and received with both hands. It’s best that you don’t write on them or stash them away haphazardly, as that might be misconstrued as disrespectful. • Gift-giving is generally acceptable among business counterparts, though it’s best to keep such exchanges simple, inexpensive and not too personal.
Veg Food in Singapore
Singapore boasts of myriad vegetarian restaurants such as 7 Sensations, Beets, Cafe Salivation, Jelina Vegetarian Garden, LingZhi for Chinese vegetarian gourmet cuisine, Pita Pan for traditional Mediterranean cuisine, Whole Earth the first and only Thai-Peranakan Vegetarian restaurant, Zen Japanese Vegetarian, the only pure Japanese vegetarian restaurant, and so on.
about singapore Remember Smoking is prohibited in all airconditioned areas (e.g. shopping centres, restaurants, cinemas, public buses, the MRT, taxis, lifts), common corridors, void decks and staircases within residential buildings, outdoor hospital compounds, as well as a 5-metre radius from any entrance/exit and bus shelter.
The Bombay Cafe, a funky restaurant known for Mumbai street food and snacks, has everything from golgappas to gobi Manchurian all the dishes available at the restaurant. 26
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team talk
Teams at Play Neha Oberoi
Nowadays, experiential learning is leading in the space of outbound team building programs. With constant focus on teams and evolving them to function as a single unit as well as appreciating the diversity of all members, MICEtalk delves further into what is available for such requirements. Shift from ‘I’ to ‘We’
All major corporations are working first and foremost to attain a common goal — the move from ‘I’ to ‘We’. Hence, typically the first session of any team-building exercise is focussed on getting the participants in touch with a pride of place and their reason for being in the organisation. In a nutshell, unless you feel like you are contributing, you are not likely to take yourself seriously and that will reflect in your work. Any organisation has the tendency to put people in silos, its structure and set up (which it can’t do without), albeit to maintain order. But it leads to an illusion amongst their people that it is their own goals and their own team’s task that are important to them. The challenge arises in resisting the temptation of viewing any situation that one encounters outside of
one’s silo as ‘not my problem’ and constantly keeping a holistic view of goals and tasks. Team building activities are useful for improving team dynamics, building trust, facilitating communication and teamwork. Here are a couple of exercises/games that demonstrate to team members that each and every person of the team is of paramount importance to move towards a common goal.
Multi Vine challenge
It is a high energy rope activity that requires support and team work to accomplish the challenge safely. There are many ropes that form a STAR shape. The members are required to start at the closed end of the rope and balance themselves on outstretched arms while moving towards the open end. The rest of the
team has to act as balancers and spotters to ensure if any member falls off the rope he/she is safe.
Pipe Dreams
The team has to transport ‘crazy balls’ from the start point to the end point using several pipe pieces held by a number of participants. At the end point, they have to deposit these balls into a glass and only then is the task complete.
Team building activities are useful for improving team dynamics, building trust, facilitating communication and teamwork 5-pointed Star
This activity requires all participants to be blindfolded. Each participant is then given a part of a rope to hold. The group is then expected to form a 5-pointed star as per instructions of the facilitator. A new challenge is presented after each task is achieved,.
Spider’s Web
The team must determine how to get every team member from one side of the web to the other, without touching the web and while using each opening only once. For more info, visit www.greatindianoutdoors.in
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let’s talk
City Centre Venues Advantages and Challenges
The question facing all the Convention Centre officials is that with the tourism industry maturing in the MICE segment how can they maintain a competitive advantage? New and expanded convention centres are emerging all over the globe and with assets built to drive national economies, it becomes important to address this question. Does being a city centre venue put them at an advantage when it comes to meetings and conventions? MICEtalk finds out what the advantages are and the challenges they face being a city centre location.
“Being a City centre venue is really an advantage” The Convention Centre Dublin Marie Lawlor
Head of Conference Sales Being located in the heart of Ireland’s capital city brings with it a host of advantages. Dublin is one of Europe’s premier tourist destinations, and we find this is a strong driving factor in attracting delegates to sign up for conferences and events. For delegates, the city combines a strong business and innovation focus, with a cultural, architectural and musical heritage that begs to be explored. City centre venues are also extremely accessible. For example, the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) is just 20 minutes from Dublin Airport, with over 63 direct routes to all major UK and European cities, as well as daily flights to the Emirates and several North American cities. The CCD is also located in Dublin Docklands on the edge of the city centre, so we are minutes away from the main motorway network and ferry ports, meaning that city centre traffic can usually be avoided. Furthermore, delegates can also benefit from excellent road and public transport connections, enabling them to explore the rest of the city with ease. Dublin’s relatively small size and the CCD’s central location makes it a perfect choice for international clients who want to get a taste of Dublin’s shops, bars, restaurants, nightlife, and tourist attractions, where delegates are often impressed by the city’s competitiveness and value for money. A host of hotels and facilities lie within walking distance of the venue, and we find this gives delegates much greater freedom to manage their stay here, enabling business and leisure to be easily combined.
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let’s talk
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Datuk Peter Brokenshire General Manager
Yes, when it comes to meetings and conventions, being a city centre venue is definitely an advantage. The Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) is strategically located within the iconic 100-acre ‘city within a city’ development that offers a stimulating environment to work, live, stay, dine, shop, visit and enjoy life. Other components include a 50-acre park, the signature PETRONAS Twin Towers, the Asy’Syakirin Mosque, six-storey Suria KLCC shopping centre, PETROSAINS interactive science discovery centre, Galeri PETRONAS and the Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS, home of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. To top this is the ‘Greater Kuala Lumpur Development and Economic Transformation Programme’ (Greater KL) that includes the planned development of an eventual 42-kilometre overhead pedestrian walkway that links major places of interests and hotels around Kuala Lumpur city, providing added convenience and flexibility for visitors to get to and from hotels or shopping destinations and other strategic locations. Challenges: • Space is one of our biggest constraints. In an effort to meet the increasing demand for larger space, we have secured an additional 2,600 sqm in the form of a standalone marquee. Also, the development of Lot 91 by the Centre’s owner, KLCC Holdings Sdn Bhd, will see our exhibition floor capacity grow by 20,000+ sqm and enable us to host events with over 6,000 delegates. • Parking is another challenge. However, as mentioned above, the development of Lot 91 will provide additional three levels of an underground car park with about 1,500 additional spaces. • Traffic: Unfortunately, Kuala Lumpur is known for its congestion especially during peak hours. However, we work closely with the Kuala Lumpur City Council to ensure traffic flow around the Centre is properly managed, especially when there is a major event or activity being held here. We are also confident that the pedestrian walkways mentioned above, which are used by approximately 3.3 million users monthly, will help ease the vehicular traffic within the precinct.
“Strategic location does make a difference” MICEtalk February 2013
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MICE city
Equipped for MICE Madrid Neelam Singh
MICE city
MICE movement to Spain is growing from India year-on-year. It’s not only Spain’s rich culture that makes it a one-of-a-kind destination, but its architectural blend with modern infrastructure is what makes cities like Madrid provide for a different experience to Indian business travellers. MICETalk checks out what Madrid, a city where the sun never sets, offers Indian executives wanting to experience worldclass facilities.
M
adrid is exceptionally well-equipped for trade fairs, conferences, and exhibitions, with two convention centres, and two trade fair complexes. Lavish palaces and castles mingle with modern buildings in Madrid, giving rise to a varied selection of venues for holding conferences, meetings, and all kinds of receptions.
Palacio de Congresos
Spain´s first conference venue, the building has stood on the Paseo de la Castellana, opposite the Real Madrid football stadium. With its famous mural by Joan Miró decorating the main façade, it has been organising conferences and conventions for over 30 years. Located in the financial heart of Madrid and near some of the city’s best hotels, it offers numerous options for organising conventions of up to 2,000 people. At the same time, it can provide facilities for small group events. The centre features a variety of spaces, conference halls, exhibition halls, auxiliary halls, auditoriums, summary tables and floor plans. It can also meet the most demanding of event hosting requirements, with music performances by international stars. Many basic services are included in the hiring fee for the various venue options available. For more info, click http://www.madrideyc.es/palacio/index_i.cfm
meetings & conferences at airport There is a large, multi-functional and modern business center on-site at Madrid Barajas International Airport’s Terminal Four. Its facilities include two formal waiting lounges as well as meeting rooms. Other services available include a courier service, fax service, printing and photocopying. Working breakfasts and lunches can be arranged and there is a relaxation area with a selection of newspapers, mobile recharging stations, internet workstations and a hydro massage shower.
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palacio de congresos Being in the vicinity of the Nuevos Ministerios metro station gives it a special link to the Barajas airport, which is roughly a quarter hour away. The metro station has baggage check-in as well.
Madrid Conference Centre
Located in Campo de las Naciones, only five minutes from the Madrid Barajas Airport (1 metro stop), its avant-garde design has given it great versatility, with the technology and services that are necessary to absorb all market demands. The centre has rich experience in organising conferences, meetings, presentations, exhibitions and events.
There are large exhibition areas, two auditoriums, an all-purpose hall with an area of 2,200 m², and thirty rooms and halls with different capacities equipped with state-of-the-art interpreting and communications facilities. It also offers the latest security services For more info, click http://www.madrideyc.es/palacio/index_i.cfm
Plaza de la Villa
Madrid Conference Centre provides a team of professionals for every event, whose experience guarantees the quality of the support and backup provided before and during the event 34
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MICE city
The Cibeles Fountain
IFEMA North and South Convention and Congresses Centers
IFEMA’s Convention and Congress Centre is a division specialised in managing space for trade fairs, events and congresses. It is in the same area-walkingdistance between Campo de las Naciones but is within the exhibition fairgrounds (the fairgrounds are 10 pavilions for exhibitions in which these conference spaces are located between both ends/entries). For more information, refer http://www.ifema.es/Institucional_06/centro_ convenciones/centro/presentacion/index.htm
Madrid is one of the world’s most liveable cities and one of the top places to do business, offering solutions for every taste thanks to an unbeatable quality/price ratio NTO support available The Prado Museum
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Spanish Tourism Office in Mumbai provides all the support required for speeding up visas for MICE groups.
IFEMA’s Convention and Congress Centre
MICE city
Hotels with banquet facilities
Madrid’s hotels are of exceptional quality, combining comfort with outstandingly professional and personalised service. The accommodation, geared to conference, incentive, business, and cultural travel, is equipped with all the facilities necessary for holding meetings. The Westin Palace, Madrid Its 467 guest rooms and suites are equipped with every modern convenience. Hotel Convención – Madrid The proximity to El Retiro, Madrid central park and the city centre makes this hotel a very convenient place to stay. AC Hotel Cuzco With 319 fully equipped rooms and a fitness center, the hotel is centrally located on Paseo de la Castellana, close to Madrid’s Palacio de Congresos and to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
USP of the city Madrid’s happening nightlife is a major attraction. Its pubs, bars, discos and flamenco clubs have a tremendous atmosphere, while by day there are traditional verbenas (open-air dances), popular festivals or the San Isidro bullfighting festival - rated as the world’s most important.
Post-event activities
1. Go on a Tapas Tour and have an informal meet and arrange team-building activities in a relaxed environment. 2. Watch a Flamenco Show and unwind yourself. 3. Visit a Museum or Monument and experience the rich culture of Madrid along with its lively street life. 4. Go on a Las Rozas Village and El Corte Inglés Shopping Tour Plaza de Espana
5. Take a one-day trip to experience the World Heritage Sites like Toledo, Ávila, Segovia, Álcala de Henares and the Royal Monastery of El Escorial. 6. Unwind with Kids at The Warner Bros Park in the south of Madrid that brings all the magic and razzle-dazzle of Hollywood.
Shopping in Madrid
Everything from fabulous antiques to the very latest designs is available in the centre and suburban areas, which are open all day. Five main shopping areas in Madrid are Salamanca, Chueca, Centro, Princesa and Cuatro Caminos.
Vegetarian option
There are quite a few vegetarian restaurants in Madrid. Also there are Indian Restaurants in Madrid such as Currys Indian Restaurant, Diwali Indian Restaurant, Mumbai Massala, etc.
Offers from the local convention bureaus
The Madrid Convention Bureau (MCB) provides assistance by: • Presenting candidacies with technical documentation adapted to every need, undertaking the necessary expenses to attract organisers. • Organising inspection visits to Madrid to show the organisers, in detail, what the city has to offer (covering the expenses derived from these trips). • Providing information on the city. • Facilitating contacts with the most suitable service providers for each case. • Providing publicity for the event (using material designed specifically for that purpose: posters, leaflets, videos, electronic screens). • Officially welcoming congress attendees, as well as providing participants with tourist documentation on Madrid.
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For further information, mail mumbai@tourspain.es For further information about Madrid Convention Bureau, mail info.mcb@esmadrid.com
booked for MICE
Mix MICE with Jungle Safari in South Africa Neelam Singh
Encompassing an impressive 23,000 hectares (56,800 acres) of prime wilderness in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve offers a unique combination for organising meetings and events in forest lodges along with some fine game viewing experiences.
connecting phinda &Beyond Phinda Game Reserve offers Pick & Drop facility for its guests from Durban Airport.
special features • A conference hall with capacity of 30-50 people • Screen with projector in the Conference room • Access for disabled with assistance • Internet access available in guest area only
W
ith its close proximity to the Indian Ocean, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is ideally situated to offer excellent experiences along with bush walks.
&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge
A warm and friendly welcome awaits delegates with families (children) at Phinda Mountain Lodge. A total of 25 suites are positioned to offer you the opportunity of a lifetime. Boasting a conference hall for delegates, kid’s room to keep your children busy with lots of indoor games and a small in-house shop to buy anything from African souvenirs to exclusive &Beyond jackets, the Mountain Lodge has everything for its guests.
&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge: Exclusively Yours
For a small group of delegates, Phinda Zuka Lodge is the best place with only four thatched Zululand bush cottages overlooking a watering hole where all sorts of animals come to drink. Its main area consists of a lounge and an open kitchen for interactive cooking.
‘The more you know your guests, the better it is to host them’ is what Ryan Crow, Zuka Lodge Manager believes in
exclusive dinner parties &Beyond Phinda game lodges offer lantern-lit dinner parties under a starlit sky with the exclusive option of private butlers catering to your wishes to make your stay memorable.
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Apart from offering an excellent safari experience, Zuka Lodge also organises small events like engagements/weddings and is known for giving a personal touch to all its events. Accommodation: Each cottage boasts a luxurious en-suite bathroom, complete with a circular bath chamber, double shower and twin hand basins. Siestainviting lounging chairs on the private verandas allow for gentle contemplation.
booked for MICE
Plethora of Activities
• &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve provides a two to five-hour, whale viewing expedition by boat at the nearby Sodwana Bay. Available from June to October, guests may encounter humpback whales, mink whales or even marvel at a spray sent high above the blowhole of a Bryde’s whale. • At Phinda, guests can go for scuba diving at Sodwana Bay - one of the world’s top ten dive sites with a coral reef that is home to more than 1,200 fish species. • Zulu Village Tour: Interaction with neighbouring Zulu communities in their homes that provides insight into the local culture and its fascinating customs, beliefs and traditions. • Maputaland Beach Adventure: Half-day beach outing by land or air, allowing opportunities for swimming, snorkelling or soaking up the sun. • Turtle Nesting Adventure: A moonlit escapade to view leatherback and loggerhead turtles emerging from the Indian Ocean to lay their eggs in the beach sand (available November to February). So, the next time you plan your conference, plan it at the Game Reserve and treat your delegates to the exciting safari experiences post the business of the day.
spice of life At &Beyond Phinda game lodges, you will get excellent South African food and no meal in the country is complete without a glass of wine. So enjoy its cuisine that is rich in colour, taste and flavours with a range of fine wines. For more info, visit www.andBeyond.com
Boasting Large Congress Facilities Milano Congressi, Italy
Designed in 2002, doubled in size in 2005, and extension in 2011 has placed MiCo - Milano Congressi, among the largest conference facilities in Europe and worldwide. Unanimously accepted as one of the fashion capitals of the world, Milan hosts a number of art, design and fashion related trade fairs throughout the year. Catering for up to 18,000 people in 70 fully appointed conference rooms with permanent control booth, featuring two plenary rooms, one with seating for 4,000 and another for 2,000 and an
auditorium that seats 1,500, Milano Congressi is the ideal venue for large-scale performances and for international conferences requiring a large number of rooms. In the same way, the exhibition halls offer 54,000 sqm of exhibition space and can also be set up as extra plenary rooms accommodating more than 5,000 people.
MICE venue
the official carrier Lufthansa is the official carrier for Milano Congressi. Event organisers offering their delegates the chance to fly with Lufthansa will be granted a discount of up to 10% on fares in Economy class and on most Business class flights.
tech-support available Video projector, sound system, translator booths, control room, fixed video cameras, closed circuit TV, Wi-Fi Internet access and optical fiber cables. Availability of free Wi-Fi is a complimentary service that comes with a group booking of the venue.
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MICE venue
special support The venue, in tandem with the company that manages the airports in Milan, can arrange for special support to welcome and benefit the group, make announcements at the airport, help with fast immigration, etc. at the nearest International airport for groups booking for their event at the Milano Congressi.
Staying options
own coterie of suppliers The MiCo team prepares customised projects to create a perfect event in line with your budget. Though, the venue relies on internal suppliers for food and audio-visual technologies, it is also open to explore different solutions together with the customer, if required.
With a parking lot for more than 1,100 cars, a heliport and direct access to Milan’s future subway line 5, the venue is located right in the centre of Milan
The venue works in liaison with hotels in the vicinity. There are around 2,000 bedrooms available for groups from luxury to budget hotels. Additionally, there are over 20,000 in the city and 30,000 in the metropolitan area. The official support of the Association of Milanese hotels also offers a free hotel allotment service with favourable rates.
Transport facilities
The venue is well-equipped to deal with any kind of need for private transport (shuttles, helicopters, limousines, etc.) based on requests received for city tours, social events and other tourism opportunities (pre and post-tours).
Getting delicious food
Catering service at the venue is guaranteed by top Italian professionals who give their utmost attention to every detail. The venue provides pure vegetarian food for Indian groups, provided it has been informed at the time of reservation. To know about the capacity of various facilities visit: http://www.micmilano.it/TabellaSaleORG_en.html For further information visit: www.fieramilanocongressi.it
Country Inn & Suites, Mysore
A Perfect Gateway for MICE
Corporates can bring their own vendors without incurring any additional costs, however, the property has its own event management personnel to put together the nitty-gritty of an event
accommodation Escape to a world of stately charms in any of 130 guest rooms including 12 suites and one special needs room. Designed exquisitely to accommodate all needs, guest rooms are chic, stylish and spacious with contemporary amenities.
meeting facilities
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Venue
Area
Theatre
Ballroom Boardroom I Boardroom II
2500 Sq ft 360 Sq ft 360 Sq ft
300 — —
MICEtalk July 2012
Class Room 120 — —
U Shape 72 — —
Board Room 80 9 9
Cluster
Cocktail
110 — —
250 — —
Sound System Yes Yes Yes
MICE hotel
Carlson Rezidor has opened its 1st Country Inn and Suites by Carlson in South India in Mysore – ‘the City of Palaces’. Country Inns & Suites (CIS) is managed by Country Development & Management Services (CDMS). Country Inns & Suites (CIS), Mysore, is ideally located in the Hebbal Industrial Area of Mysore, surrounded by greenery away from the hustle and bustle of the city. In order to cater to the needs of both leisure and business travellers, the property offers elegant wellappointed rooms, range of dining options and excellent facilities for conducting business meetings and conventions.
MICE Facilities The property has a ballroom, the main banquet hall, spanning over 2500 sq ft, accommodating 325 people, along with two board rooms and two one-to-one meeting rooms with a capacity of 10 to 12 guests. CIS, Mysore also offers a pre-function area, spread over 1700 sq ft, exclusively meant for bar counters, live counters and buffet spread. The sprawling banqueting facility flows into a lawn, to ensure that there is no space crunch. A group of 35 to 50 guests can be accommodated in pool deck, a place designed for high end barbeque dinners.
CIS, Mysore offers hi-tech audio-visual facilities from the renowned house of JBL, all the board rooms are equipped with LED TV, Projector & Screen
Dining Options Mosaic: Global Cuisine Restaurant, offering a delectable mix of Western, Arabic, Oriental & Indian favourites. Spice: The Indian Speciality Restaurant, offering an eclectic variety of Kebabs & Curries. Mezz Bar: Serving a variety of exotic cocktails and premium liquor.
CIS, Mysore offers multi-cuisine dining options, with emphasis on local and traditional specialities MICEtalk July 2012
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success story
Amway takes 4000 to Melbourne For Amway’s India Leadership Seminar 2012, Australia hosted the largest Indian MICE group ever to visit the country. Melbourne was the chosen city to conduct this and its apt infrastructure made it the most suitable option. MICEtalk has details…. Devika Jeet William S. Pinckney MD and CEO Amway India
How has it been hosting such a large number of people? How did you decide on an international destination and not a domestic one?
This year we have brought 4,100 Indians to Melbourne. In our first year the incentive trip was in Goa with around 100 participants. As the business is growing, the number of people who qualify for these incentive trips are also increasing. Our trips are very popular as
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we pay for everything. Australia’s infrastructure made it an easy choice to cater to such a large group. Over the years, we have felt the need to find a balance between going international and remaining in India. India has a lot of potential as a major destination but at the same time when you start handling a large group you have to have the infrastructure to support it. In India we can support 200-300 people but when you start talking about 4,000 people, it gets harder.
success story
Though we prefer to do more in India because we believe that there are some fantastic places where you can take groups but you need bigger and better infrastructure. We have taken smaller groups to Agra and Goa on multiple occasions.
Has there been sufficient change in the cost for taking such a large group abroad? What is your budget for an incentive trip? There isn’t very much difference in the costing between India and abroad. People expect a certain standard to be met by Amway and the infrastructural challenges in India make it an expensive destination. A destination like Melbourne is considered a mega destination and gives people better incentive to work harder. These folks are our top business-owners who have been working with us for three to five years and they deserve the best.
success story
Our budget changes trip by trip and it goes up each year because of inflation but approximately it is at least Rs. 2 lakh per person. This includes airfare, accommodation, food, gifts and shopping money that we give to all the people we bring on the trip. It’s a nice package and we feel this is a very important and worthwhile investment. For our VIP trips, usually the budget is almost unlimited.
Are incentive trips motivating?
In 1998, we started in India and within our first 12 months we did business of 100 crores. This year we will
cross 2,400 crores. This gives a sense of combination of financial incentives and the trips are a major part of it. Different people work for different things. Some want money and some want to see the world. We help people to see the world at our cost. We also have a very good reputation with the embassies and in all the trips that we have had over the years, we have never had anyone not come back with us. People are more likely to get a visa through Amway because we have such a good reputation.
What are some of your basic requirements from a destination? Where are you planning to go next year?
We want a destination, which is culturally friendly to Indians. The last thing you want is to land somewhere and the people and culture are not friendly. We are very careful about the location we choose. Australia is culturally friendly to Indians and Indian food is very easily available here. Although, Indians like to travel and be global but they really do like their Indian food. From a shopping perspective also, Indians like a destination where they get an opportunity to shop. The destination also needs to be safe. You should be able to go out in the day and feel comfortable in the city. Logistics support is also a must. We need to be able to get people in and out of the city easily. We also look at options that we can present to our qualifiers that are unique and different such as sightseeing places. Our next destination is Toronto.
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technology
2013’s Hottest New Technology Trends As annual Las Vegas high-tech industry expo, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) recently underscored dozens of new advancements to revolutionise the meetings and conventions business. Here are five true game-changing innovations that promise to transform the industry in more practical, everyday ways.
PERFORMANCE
Thanks to chipmakers like AMD, Qualcomm, and NVIDIA, all growingly concentrating on such mobile solutions, set-top PC horsepower and graphics performance, also increasingly available for your pocket. Combined with universal access to cloud computing solutions including SlideShare, MightyMeeting and Prezi, this means pitching sponsors and strategic partners is suddenly becoming easier than ever. Assets and presentation materials can now be shared via portable screens. Nowadays, your desktop travels wherever you do, and – whether focussed on engaging end-users or B2B clients – it’s painless to provide attendees with 3D floor plans (via virtual or on-site video demos) or offer advertisers first-hand tours of featured venues without hopping an international flight.
SHARING
CONNECTIVITY
The year’s biggest theme—‘Smart’ (Internetconnected) mobile devices, all supporting ondemand downloads and options to create or share media. With over 1.2 billion sales of smartphones and tablets expected in 2013, event and venue websites shouldn’t just be optimised for these platforms (think smaller screens and more immediate user access), among attendees’ new primary research tools. Ongoing promotional programs and content should also be built that support corresponding formatting and bandwidth, higher viewing and consumption frequency, and one-touch sharing capabilities.
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Smartphones, tablets and low-cost HD camcorders now make it possible to quickly capture learning or announcements and create and share broadcastquality video en masse at little cost. Businesses and venues of every size can now assemble learning libraries, build evergreen promotional assets, or even live-stream content using apps like Qik or Livestream at little expense. Such initiatives pay lasting dividends by letting you easily extend the value of events and campaigns far beyond day-of activities and attendance.
PROMOTION
Given the content’s growingly disposable nature – especially on mobile devices – it’s now obvious. Ongoing publishing efforts should be a part of every organisation’s outreach programs. Events provide the perfect venue to tap experts, executives, and community leaders for learning, insights and advice which can be used to generate added value and help raise awareness all year long.
As part of programs, workshops and events, ask all to share stories, provide hints and tips, and offer support or inspiration. Quotes and commentary can then be incorporated back into newsletters, mailers, trailers and more, providing year-long benefit. Events provide the perfect venue to tap experts, executives, and community leaders for learning, insights and advice which can be used to generate added value and help raise awareness all year long.
PARTICIPATION
Search engines have become a core frontline for customer interaction. In a world where businesses are growingly defined by their online footprint, suddenly, we’re all in the publishing business. Given data’s growingly disposable nature, content marketing efforts should be an ongoing part of promotional efforts. Happily, enterprises are filled with subject matter experts who can serve as ambassadors via blogs, newsletters or podcasts.
About The Author
technology
Bestselling leadership and innovation speaker Scott Steinberg is a regular on the international lecture circuit, and heads management consulting and corporate training firm TechSavvy Global. A top-rated provider of keynote speeches, workshops and seminars, he’s been seen in 600+ outlets from CNN to NPR. For more, visit his website at www.AKeynoteSpeaker.com.
yours officially
Australia an Aspirational and Motivating MICE Destination Devika Jeet
From the financial multiplier effect of the Amway incentive group to the basic requirements of any Indian group, we get details on what the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB) offers Indian MICE groups. Karen Bolinger, CEO, Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau
How has it been getting Amway India to come on board for the conference?
Amway is a large international corporation and we have dealt with Amway China, Indonesia and other Asian groups in the past. It’s really about addressing the cultural differences and the expectations that our Indian colleagues may have. When we pitch for the business we have to sell Australia as an aspirational destination to make sure that it’s motivating enough for people from Amway to come here. Once they have decided on Australia then we have to go into pitching ourselves against other destinations and states in the country. We were up against Sydney and our biggest plus point is that we can accommodate the group in one wave. The MCG was also very appealing and this is the first time we are going to have such a large group on the hallowed turf. Philip Island was closed and used exclusively for the Amway group. It is all about offering something that no one else can do and Melbourne works well together as a destination to get these things to happen here.
How have the figures been for business tourism from India?
We have over 6,000 recorded business visitors coming to Melbourne from India. We are getting more and more business from India but they are usually small groups at this point. The group size ranges from 100250 from Asia specifically. We calculated the economic impact and multiplier effect of the Amway group on the city and it works out to around AUD 21 million and this does not include shopping.
What are the usual Indian MICE trends that you have seen?
The usual programme ranges from 4-5 days and some might include dual cities. Usually, Indians club a city and regional experience. They come into the city and then might do some business sessions, sightseeing, shopping, and then go for some regional touring. The
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key regional touring includes, Philip Island, sovereign hill and the great ocean road. There are some cultural differences with an Indian group, especially their habit of eating dinner late at night, but Australia is a very adjusting and welcoming country. Indian groups prefer Indian and vegetarian food.
What is the role of the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau? What according to you makes the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre stand out from the rest?
Ours is not a profit organisation. Partially funded by the government and working with 260 partners, we work to attract large international conferences to Melbourne. The convention centre is one of our partners and they are the biggest recipients of the business we get. We sell the big picture and not the minute details. A major part of our role is connecting our members, blocking hotel rooms, putting the itinerary together for something that is fairly close to what they might want to do. We also work with the corporate to find an inbound tour operator or help facilitate those requirements. We also connect with a special event organiser and help facilitate through customs, immigration and help with the visas. We look at all kinds of groups but we like to work with a minimum group size of 50 people. We also work with Indian tour operators and travel agents. The Melbourne Convention Centre is the first 6-star green star convention centre in the world. It’s Australia’s largest convention centre and not many Centre’s are as well located as this one. We have 5,000 rooms surrounding this Centre that are at a walkable distance. They have 52 meeting rooms and Australia’s largest Plenary hall which seats 5,500 people and can be broken down to conduct banquet meetings also. It’s partly owned by the state government under a publicprivate partnership.
Movements Shangri-la’s-Eros Hotel, New Delhi, appoints Director of Business Development-MICE Saurabh Khurana has been appointed as the Director
AirAsia Expedia appoints new CEO
of Business Development - MICE for Shangri-La’s - Eros Hotel, New Delhi. Prior to this assignment, he was working with Hilton Worldwide as Assistant Director of Sales. Saurabh has almost a decade of experience in the hospitality industry. In his current role, he will be responsible for generating business in the MICE segment and to build a strong team to drive revenue and explore new business opportunities. He has worked with Starwood, The Leela Group and American Express.
CWT appoints Meetings & Events Director,
Australia & New Zealand
AirAsia Expedia (AAE), the unique joint venture between AirAsia, the world’s best low cost airline, and the Expedia group, the world’s largest online travel company announced Kathleen Tan as Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Kathleen will oversee the Expedia brand, AirAsiaGo, and Backick online travel agency (OTA) businesses in Southeast Asia, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
CWT Meetings & Events, a global leader in events and meetings management, announced that Gloria Nykl is appointed meetings & events director, Australia & New Zealand. Nykl will be based in Sydney and will report to, Steven Smith, senior director meetings & events, Asia-Pacific. Nykl has extensive knowledge of the events industry, with 15 years of experience across the full spectrum of corporate events. Nykl holds strong business relationships with suppliers in all major regions and has an extensive knowledge of event venues and destinations worldwide.
The Westin Mumbai Garden City appoints Director of Sales and Marketing Stephanie D’Silva has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at The Westin Mumbai Garden City. Stephanie has completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Xavier’s Institute of Management. She has over 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Stephanie’s prior assignments include Director of Sales at Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces Mumbai, Commercial Sales Manager and Deputy Sales Manager at Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces.
MAASTRICHT CONVENTION BUREAU
appoints Sales Manger Convention Hans Lafeber joined the team of
the Maastricht Convention Bureau, as sales manager conventions. The Maastricht Convention Bureau is a foundation which promotes Maastricht & region as a destination for conferences and corporate meetings. Lafeber already has experience in the world of conventions: he has had various jobs, including at congress centre Amstelveen, Accommodatie Buro (Kluwe) and Stichting Vakbekwaamheid Horeca.
KLCC
welcomes new Sales Manager – Exhibitions The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) has promoted Alice Lem Chu Hong to Sales Manager – Exhibitions. With more than 13 years in the meetings and events industry, Alice joined the Centre in July 2011 as Exhibitions Floor Manager. In her new position, she will be responsible to deliver and implement a commercially effective sales plan to achieve optimum venue occupancy and profitable business mix in the exhibitions division.
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events
events calendar
EVENT
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VENUE
CITY/COUNTRY
DATE
Outbound Travel Mart (OTM)
Mumbai and New Delhi
India
February 08 - 16, 2013
Moscow International Festival (Golden Dolphin)
The Moscow Gostiny Dvor
Russia
February 14 - 17, 2013
Our World Underwater Show
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois
February 15 - 17, 2013
Los Angeles Times Travel & Adventure Show
Los Angeles Convention Center
Los Angeles, California
February 22 - 24, 2013
NATAS Travel Fair (National Association of Travel Agents of Singapore)
Singapore Expo
Singapore
February 22 - 24, 2013
19th AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo)
Melbourne Convention Center
Melbourne, Australia
February 26 - 27, 2013
Travel Tour Expo (Philippine Travel Agencies Association)
SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex
Pasay City
February 11 - 18, 2013
19th Annual Honolulu Festival
Honolulu
Hawaii
March 01 - 03, 2013
ITB – Berlin (Internationale TourismusBorse)
Berlin
Germany
March 06 - 10, 2013
Guangzhou International Travel Fair
Guangzhou Jinhan Exhibition Center
China
March 07 - 09, 2013
Cruise Shipping Miami 2013
Miami Beach Convention Centre
Miami, United States
March 11 - 14, 2013
MATTA Fair Kuala Lumpur (Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents)
Putra World Trade Centre
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
March 15 - 17, 2013
Beneath the Sea Travel Show
Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus
New Jersey, USA
March 22 - 24, 2013
LIDS 2013 (London International Dive Show)
ExCel Center
London, UK
March 31 - 01 April, 2013
ASTA International Destination Expo (American Society of Travel Agents)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
April 04 - 07, 2013
20th Marine Diving Fair 2013
Sunshine City Convention Center
Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan
April 05 - 07, 2013
COTTM (China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market)
National Agricultural Exhibition Center
Beijing, China
April 09 - 11, 2013
ADEX 2013 (Asia Dive Expo)
Sands Expo and Convention Centre
Singapore
April 19 - 21, 2013
WTM Latin America
Transamerica Expocenter
São Paulo, Brazil
April 23 - 2,5 2013
MICEtalk February 2013
Postal Registration No.:DL(ND)/6150/2011-12-13 WPP No.:U(C)-305/2011-13 for Posting on 29th-30th of Advance Month at New Delhi P.S.O. Date of Publication: 22/1/2013, RNI No.:DELENG/2010/34144