MICEtalk July 2013

Rs. 100

Volume IV Issue 7 July 2013 60 pages A DDP Publication

Ministry of Tourism, India

Cover Story

Strengthening MICE

Business Leisure An emerging trend

New Zealand Providing diverse MICE opportunities

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.

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Lobby of lebua Resort, Jaipur

Publisher & Editor

SanJeet

Editor-in-Chief

Deepa Sethi

Desk Editor

Neelam Singh

Correspondent

Neha Oberoi

Design

Alpana Khare Neeraj Aggarwal

Advertising

Gunjan Sabikhi Geetika Pathak Shovan Kanungo Udit Pandey Yogita Bhurani

Advertisement Designer

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Anil Kharbanda

Circulation Manager

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MUMBAI: Advertising

Harshal Ashar

reader’s

page

contents 14 Cover story

Business Leisure An emerging trend of MICE

8 Facts Dear Reader, Awareness of healthy work and life balance is creating a demand by corporates for leisure facilities during a business trip. The trend for Business Leisure is growing and hotels are indulging their clients with well-equipped gyms and relaxation spas, which are becoming a must-have in hotels. Extra luxury, like massage chairs in rooms and in-house entertainment after work are being looked for by MICE planners as a must.

Also, with the world business community becoming far more financially conscious, hotels, OTAs and airlines are wooing families by offering special package deals for travel and stay while the spouse is busy with his/her business commitments – and of-course to the participants also for an extended stay.

Business Leisure, in every way, is becoming extremely popular.

12 mice initiative Ministry of Tourism Strengthening MICE

24 MICE Country New Zealand

30 Let’s Talk

Role of Roadshows in promoting a destination

34 MICE City

Durban, South Africa

The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is using this concept to promote its many tourism assets to the MICE industry.

40 Domestic mice

South Africa is working hard at luring Indian companies for MICE to Durban (which has a large third generation Indian community), Johannesburg and Cape Town. They offer the best convention centres and an understanding of Indian habits and needs. Read about Durban as a convention city in this issue.

46 MICE Hotel

Our government is making huge efforts to build the MICE industry in India. MICEtalk brings you excerpts of our conversation with the Hon’ble Tourism Minister, K. Chiranjeevi and the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Anand Kumar about the work in progress for this niche segment.

Deepa Sethi

Madhya Pradesh

Marti Istanbul

48 Sample This

Ramada Khajuraho

50 Yours Officially

Shinu Pillai, Reed Travel Exhibition, Project Manager, IBTM India

52 Expert Talk

The Abc of Business Handshakes

to the editor...

Micetalk is not a casual magazine. It’s very incisive.

It talks about a lot of product lines and I believe everyone in the mice industry should read it. I enjoy the balance that has been created in the magazine.

Arun Varma CEO Allways Marketing

54 Technology

Engage your event audience through real time response technology

56 Movements 58 Events

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facts

Grand Chola Chennai to host 3rd BTME

facts

Kyoto’s MICE offer expanded

The Corporate travel, Incentive and Conference Exhibition ‘BTME 2013’ will be held in Chennai from August 23 – 24, 2013, in Conjunction with India Association Congress. The event will provide an opportunity for exhibitors from India and from around the world to showcase exciting and diverse range of destinations, Conference and Incentive venues, Airlines, Cruises, Destination Management Companies, Event Planners, Hotels and Resorts, Ground Transportation among others to give the discerning buyers from the travel-trade and corporate world to reinforce their choice for business travel, incentives and conventions.

Kyoto Convention Bureau and the City of Kyoto have teamed up to support business events that take place in the city by offering a subsidy towards their use of the regions cultural heritage.

The cultural grant offered to event organisers for the last two years encourages meeting planners to incorporate traditional cultural activities into their events such as maiko and geiko, taiko drum, Koto harp, tea ceremonies and kimono dressing performances. Now the scheme is being expanded to cover the giving of Kyoto handicraft – such as hand cut gold and silver bookmarks, Damascene jewellery, tableware from the Kiyomizu kilns, traditional candles or magic chopsticks - to delegates participating in events being held in the city.

Italy to host 2014 World Publishers’ Congress

ILTM Africa New dates and venue for 2014

Reed Travel Exhibitions has announced that the 2014 ILTM Africa event will take place in the East Ballroom of the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) from April 28 – 30, 2014. ILTM Africa 2014 is expected to host up to 150 suppliers of luxury travel experiences from across the African continent to meet international accredited buyers through a mutual matching, pre-scheduled one-to-one business appointments system.

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Turin will host the 2014 annual World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (Wan-Ifra) Congress, which brings together newspaper publishers and chief editors.

Approximately 1,200 newspaper publishers and editors are expected in Turin from 8 to 11 June 2014, and will take part in two parallel and simultaneous events: the 66th World Newspapers’ Congress and the 20th International Forum of Chief Editors.

Cotai Strip Macao’s MEET FOR FREE offer

Meeting organisers looking to hold a convention at Cotai Strip Macao now have an exciting new option by Cotai Strip Macao where they can enjoy a rebate on a maximum of two days of full-day meetings through the new MEET FOR FREE offer. In order to take advantage of the two free meeting days, planners must contract a minimum of two nights’ stay and 50 rooms per night at any of Cotai Strip Macao’s five international-brand hotels: The Venetian® Macao; Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central; Conrad Macao, Cotai Central; Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central or Four Seasons Hotel Macao. Meeting planners can take advantage of the new MEET FOR FREE offer on standard meeting packages for new bookings that are contracted between June 1 and December 31, 2013, for meetings to be held in 2013 or beyond.

For more details, email: enquiry@cotaistrip.com

facts

Vietnam to host ITE 2013

facts

Major Indian conference to be held in Sydney

The International Travel Expo, Ho Chi Minh City – ITE HCMC is the largest and most established travel exhibition in Vietnam and the Mekong region. The 9th edition of ITE HCMC 2013 is set to cover 5,000 sqm at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, and will be held from the September 12-14, 2013. ITE HCMC 2013 will showcase over 300 exhibiting organisations from over 50 destinations with more than 18,000 international, regional and local trade and public visitors. The exhibition provides an excellent platform to launch inbound and outbound travel businesses in Vietnam and the Mekong region.

Sydney will host the 2013 Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas – a conference which will attract about 1,000 delegates from the Asia Pacific. The aim of the Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas – an Overseas Indian Conference - is to connect India with its vast Indian Diaspora and bringing their knowledge, expertise and skills together.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Alexandria to become Egypt’s largest convention centre

Hong Kong Disneyland to transform into ‘Monsters University’

Celebrating the upcoming theatrical release of Disney/Pixar 3D animated film ‘Monsters University’, the Park will be transformed into the Monsters University campus from June 13 to September 1. Monster-style campus life will certainly be memorable with the launch of a series of unique campus activities for guests at Monsters University.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group announces the addition of a new convention centre to Radisson Blu Hotel, Alexandria. Set to open in June 2014, the new 3,600 sqm centre will complement the hotel’s existing 500 sqm of meeting space making it one of the largest facilities of its kind in Egypt.

The new-build centre, which covers two floors, will include a 2,500 sqm ballroom along with 5 flexible meeting rooms, a bride’s room and an indoor car park. It will be fully supported by catering facilities with the ability to cater for receptions, weddings, conferences or board meetings.

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MICE initiative

Ministry of Tourism

Strengthening MICE Neelam Singh

The Ministry of Tourism (MOT), Government of India, is committed to establish India on an international level as a preferred MICE destination. Anand Kumar, Joint Secretary, MOT, in conversation with MICEtalk revealed that the Tourism Ministry is adopting promotional strategies and a synergised campaign in association with the travel trade and state governments to increase India’s share in the global tourism market.

strategic initiative

We are more than ready to host big conventions in India Anand Kumar Joint Secretary Ministry of Tourism Govt of India

“T

he MICE segment has emerged as a substantially high component of growth for inbound tourism. In addition to growing our presence in Meetings, Incentives and events segment; India is well poised to attract large conventions. One needs to acknowledge that the Indian economy is one of the fastest growing economies with immense business opportunities. Hence, all the large format international conventions with rotational policy are now keen to conduct their convention in India,” the Joint Secretary shared. MICE has a bigger role in our annual plan and we are determined to build world class convention-cum-exhibition centres across

MICE initiative To promote MICE in India, MOT has redefined its strategy with India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) towards bidding for international conferences and conventions.

As part of the vision of K Chiranjeevi, Minister of Tourism, and the strategic initiative being undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism to develop state-of-the-art convention amenities in the country; 15 states have come forward to provide their land to build world class MICE facilities in their states. This will include small, medium and large convention centres.

the country for the promotion of MICE tourism, he further informed.

There is no denying that in many states the MICE facilities are still not developed to match international standards. The Ministry of Tourism has mobilised all such states to come forward with availability of land, where either large integrated convention centre, or medium to small convention amenities could be build in PPP mode.

Promoting India

A lot of promotional activities have been undertaken

by MOT to promote India as a MICE destination.

They include participation in international fairs & exhibitions, organising seminars, workshops and road-shows to promote the country, inviting the media and travel trade (travel agents/tour operators) to showcase India as an attractive multidimensional tourist destination offering a vast range of attractions for incentive travel, etc.

In the recent past, India has successfully hosted some big events such as the PATA Travel Mart in 2011 and International Buddhist Conclave and 25th UNWTO Commissions Meet in 2012 12

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MICE initiative

“We are keen to develop India as a numero uno MICE destination. In fact, I have met with the Finance Minister for additional allocation for Tourism Ministry to set up 10 convention-cumexhibition centres across the country for the promotion of MICE Tourism.�

K Chiranjeevi Minister for Tourism, Government of India

Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi (right) with the Finance Minister P Chidambaram (left)

A SWOT Analysis of the MICE sector in India

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Cover story cover

Business Leisure An Emerging Trend of MICE Neha Oberoi

Business leisure is an emerging concept in the business events and meetings industry. In order to attract business delegates, resorts and hotels are offering a high standard of comfort and service and business delegates are increasingly bringing their partners/family with them. This change can be attributed to a wider trend towards achieving a better work-life balance, a quest for constant self-improvement, and to get more out of a team.

MICEtalk, in an attempt to know how resorts are promoting this trend and what special facilities they are offering to business delegates, interviews some stalwarts in the business.

Aerial view of Neemrana Fort

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cover story

Special Packages for Business delegates by The Lalit MICE has always been a highly focussed segment in the travel industry and channeling the business segment to leisure is simple.

For instance, the Lalit group of hotels has premium venues in the country for holding world-class events and conventions ranging from corporate conferences and annual general meetings to launches and other events of international value. For Government Heads, Industrialists, Corporates, autonomous bodies as well as diplomatic delegations their hotel is the most important factor for their meetings, exhibitions, product launches, symposiums, conferences and other related events. There are various options to indulge in between hectic sessions of meetings and conferences. Business travellers, in quest of relaxation, can unwind at Rejuve, the signature spa of the group, under the supervision and care of specialised spa therapists or can enjoy their favorite game of Lawn Tennis, Table Tennis, Billiards or even Golf.

Rakesh Mitra, GM – Sales & Marketing talks about theses facilities, “ The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group has close to 2 lakh sq ft of banqueting space spread across ten properties. Goa and Srinagar are amongst the preferred mice destinations for business off sites and events that also offer spa services and other in-venue entertainment options. The Lalit Grand Palace Srinagar hosts a gamut of events, be it a conference or a meeting or even special private events such as weddings. The Lalit Golf and Spa Resort Goa, on the other hand, is the most optimal destination to host an event due to the configuration of the resort with a km long private beach followed by The Lalit Hotels in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Being popular as tourist destinations the majority of MICE groups look at extending their stays and exploring the city for what they have to offer.

The Lalit provides special offers and packages to its business guests apart from a luxurious and comfortable stay.

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lebua offering recreational activities Properties such as Devi Garh by lebua, Udaipur and lebua Resort, Jaipur offer various venues of different sizes for corporate meetings to suit the needs of guests.

Deepak Ohri, CEO of lebua Hotels & Resorts informs,“ As an example, the unique Bay windows of Durbar Hall and silver lounge at Devi Garh by lebua offer abundant natural light and an inspiring view of the Aravali Hills. Their numerous lounges, courtyards, terraces and gardens can host outdoor corporate and private events such as cricket matches, elephant polo, themed destination weddings, etc. Providing guests with additional options to take up their free time is another way to build the reserve.

Various recreational activities can be organised for the groups such as the guided bicycle trips and treks, camel safaris, corporate blessings at our in-house temple, group yoga sessions, kite flying competitions and many more. We offer a host of activities to engage the spouses as well. There are special cookery demonstration sessions by the Chef, trip to the nearby attractions and shopping area.�

Guided bicycle trips and treks, camel safaris, corporate blessings at in-house temple, group yoga sessions, kite flying competitions, are some popular recreational activities.

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cover story

What they offer lebua offers the ‘Business retreats package’ and ‘The Conclave’ (Bespoke leadership retreats). Some of the unique value ad-ons of ‘The Conclave’ include guaranteed upgrade of suites, white glove service, lifestyle food and beverage offerings including (but not limited to) fine wines and spirits, cigars, concept open bars, specialty coffees, artisan teas and destination dining, cyber butler, personalised stationery, packing and unpacking services, and a guaranteed unique idea from the meeting concierge.

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Cover story

Heritage Village Manesar

Personalised approach by Select Hotels With recent changes in consumer habits, many hotels are adopting new sales and marketing strategies with a more personalised approach. Select Hotels formulate the best possible efforts and make sure that their guests have a stress-free, calm and relaxed stay. They provide wellness and hospitality experiences at their Spa Aruna to the discerning corporate clients of Delhi/NCR region - to take a break from their fast lives and get pampered at their resort. They design special customised menus prepared by their master chefs to meet the requirements of corporate clients and make sure no stone is unturned for their event to be a successful one. Also, keeping in mind the customer needs and competitors, they make special deals and offers for corporate clients to suit their budgets.

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What they offer We have special discounted packages and offers for our business travellers. Lots of fun and games and outdoor team building activities by our own in-house entertainers are offered which promotes the business leisure concept.

We also provide theme nights, bollywood nights, karaoke nights for our corporate clients and horse and camel rides are also offered to promote business leisure.�

cover story

The key to success in this business is to retain old clients by delivering great rooms, great service and a great experience to our corporate clients.

Gopal Vaideswaran, General Manager & Asst. Vice President – Operations, Select Holiday Resorts Pvt Ltd., opines, “Today MICE is one of the most important segments sustaining the hotel industry and Select Hotels has a major focus on the same. Whether it is a local corporate sales meet, marketing meets, dealer incentives, HR trainings or international workshops or conventions, our Heritage Village Manesar is geared to host groups of 25 to 200 guests. The key to success in this business is to retain old clients by delivering great rooms, great service and a great experience to our corporate clients. With 12 acres of landscaped greenery that supports the phenomenal bird life around us, we give our corporate clients a resort feel. Its royal and palatial settings along with location convenience makes it an easily approachable venue. We also provide a wide range of event management facilities vide our team of in-house entertainers including decoration, games, activities and audio visual aids.

We have 8 state-of-the-art sound proof conference halls and 5 board rooms, dedicated in-house events and conference team, contemporary AV system, fully equipped business centre, pre function lounges, internet connectivity, and extensive lawns for banquets and events. MICE business gives the hotel the required volumes for sustaining such large environs and our resort provides one of the largest conference spaces in the Delhi / NCR region.�

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Leonia focussing on changing needs of the corporate world Leonia Holistic Destination is a unique and a fully integrated Business Leisure destination that comprises of 4 hotels and villa resorts, an award winning 100,000 sq ft Medi Spa, over 50 unique outdoor soft adventure experiences, 10 restaurants, bars and night clubs, 3 International standard theatres for movie experience apart from a 5838 sqm state-of-the-art, pillar less convention centre with a capacity to handle over 6000 guests.

Vikram Lalvani, Group CEO, LMIPHL, shares, “With its exclusive service offers such as naturopathy, aqua gym, squash court, lawn tennis court, badminton court and basketball court, Leonia ensures its clients depart in good spirits post the conference.”

Leonia offers exclusive check-in for corporate clients or groups for a hassle free experience

What they offer Leonia offers swift de-stress at its break out rooms at its meeting venues, which can be employed for a quick corporate motivational talk or for small team-building games/activities and also for a de-stress session from Leo Juventa’s experts either in-between conferences or before lunch or snack break. It provides endto-end solutions for a hassle free conferencing experience (both product and service wise) with its expert meeting organisers and facilitators who manage the venue and see to it that meeting needs are delivered on demand without disturbing the proceedings.

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cover story

Competitive and unique packages by Neemrana Most people frequently visit this property for a break away from the city. Refreshingly, they adopt a casual approach to invite this traffic and build it for MICE. Aman Nath, Co Chairman, Neemrana Fort & Palace, with his refreshing outlook for business & leisure, tells us that, “Our leisure users are so delighted that they find work excuses to return! Many of the conferences are booked like this. Our ‘Alice in Wonderland’ venues bring out the child in the adult. Seven centuries of history in the walls, twelve tiers of experience, guests getting lost in the labyrinths – all these are a plus for our MICE segment guests. They don’t need fake gimmicks to charm them. Our packages are competitive and certainly unique. Conferences which do not seek a run of the mill experience naturally come to us.”

Definitely, there is a marked shift in the hospitality sector with repositioning brands and the spotlight beaming on the combination of business and leisure. There are reinvented services that speak out louder to the MICE sector. Of course, technology, ease of use, great service and venues will always remain the core of a brand but a shift in providing that little extra zing whether artistic, culinary or visual experiences is very much visible.

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MICE country

New Zealand Providing diverse MICE opportunities Gunjan Sabikhi reports from 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.

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MICE country

New Zealand has high quality venues all over the country, for large or small groups and everything in-between. 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 team building adventures.

keep in mind Airline connections There are no direct flights from India to New Zealand. Connecting flights on Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and Cathay Pacific 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 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).

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MICE country

Major Cities of New Zealand with MICE facilities Auckland

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

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.

Auckland Conventions Venues and Events offers a portfolio of venues including the recently opened 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 people in its Great Hall and the atmospheric theatre The Civic, with seating for 2,378 people.

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

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.

Post-event activities • Take a drive or walk up to Auckland’s highest natural point at the top of Mount Eden • 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 • Drive out to Auckland’s rugged west coast along the scenic road that leads to Piha beach

USP of the city The city’s vibrancy and food and beverage offerings

where to stay • Hilton Auckland • Pullman Hotel

MICE country

Rotorua

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.

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 on-site gondola can be themed for incentive groups and corporate functions

USP of the city Geo thermal activity, Maori cultural experiences

Post-event activities • Visit the amazing Waimangu Volcanic Valley with the largest hot water spring - 3.8 hectares - called Frying Pan Lakes.

• Take a scenic flight to White Island (New Zealand’s only active marine volcano)

where to stay • Distinction Hotel • Holiday Inn • Millennium Hotel

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MICE country

USP of the city Adventure sports and spectacular landscapes

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.

Queenstown

Queenstown provides excellent meeting and event venues ranging from hip restaurants offering stunning views of the lake and mountains in central Queenstown to purpose-built venues in the unique and stunning

Many of Queenstown’s top venues feature the latest technology and amenities. For a real wow factor, guests can be transported to event venues by helicopter, jet boat or even steamship

team building activities • Visit the Sky Tower in Auckland and travel 328 metres up in glass fronted lifts to the spectacular viewing platforms.

• Go for world-class mountain biking trails – all located in lush native forests, in Rotorua.

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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.

Post-event activities • You’ll find many of the Lord of the Rings locations • Visit Paradise Valley that is just forty minutes from Queenstown

where to stay • Copthorne Queenstown Lakefront • Crown Plaza • Millennium Hotel • Hilton Queenstown • Heritage Queenstown

let’s talk

Role of Roadshows in promoting a destination Neha Oberoi

Every year the travel industry witnesses a lot of activity by the various National Tourism Representations in the form of Roadshows. MICEtalk ventures into the NTO’s midst to understand what drives these promotional campaigns, what are they looking for and how do they help in promoting a destination and also to find out whether they actually produce tangible results. Read to find more...

Roadshows create awareness Stefan Ionkov

Head of Commercial & Economic Office of Bulgaria to India Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria Roadshows are not only a necessity, but an obligatory tool for every destination to promote itself in a successful manner in front of travel specialists. Roadshows create awareness, they are focused on what the destination can offer especially for the Indian traveller and to reach the right audience.

Roadshows, organised by the Commercial Office of Bulgaria in India, aim to give very precise and structured information to travel agents such as a variety of options for their clients in the destination, air connectivity to the destination, the variety of hotels, prices, visa procedures - almost everything to complete the whole picture.

Strategy We want to increase awareness about Bulgaria as the best value-for-money destination for Indian travellers and that is why we prove it with facts during the roadshows - for example pricewise we show what the prices are for the complete journey to Bulgaria broken into segments - how much does the air ticket cost, what is the price of a 5-star or 4-star hotel, how much will be the cost for dinner and most importantly the vivid nightlife in our country.

Results show increased interest of travel agents We have observed results in increased interest of travel agents to the destination. The next step is to make them go and experience the destination on a familiarisation trip to Bulgaria.

We want to increase awareness on Bulgaria as the best value-for-money destination for the Indian traveller 30

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let’s talk

Focussing on MICE B2B shows Reem Khokhar

Regional Manager - Asia Pacific, VisitEngland

We generally participate in two sorts of roadshows - destination training provided to trade contacts and sales missions - which involve suppliers from a destination meeting with the trade and building business contacts and opportunities. Roadshows do assist in creating awareness of a destination; reinforcing messages and creating and maintaining relationships with trade contacts. As we have done several destination training roadshows in the past, this year our budgets are focussed on participating in MICE B2B shows and oneon-one meetings in various cities. In-house destination training at the offices of trade contacts is also something we are doing this year.

Strategy In our roadshows, we provide an overview of the destination: main attractions, suggested itineraries, unique selling points, practical information, go-to resources and more. For example in our VisitEngland training we showcase England as a MICE destination; taking the audience through some of the key MICE destinations (Manchester, Liverpool, Brighton, Birmingham, etc.), unique venues (from castles and cruises to festivals or sports stadia), why choose England and how VisitEngland can assist them.

Results show ongoing and spread out growth It’s not always easy to measure immediate results, but the trade contacts from roadshows get in touch with us for further information and we do assist with the information they need to sell the destination to their clients. It may not be immediate, but an ongoing and spread out growth.

Roadshows expand our network to newer cities Tina Singh

Asst Vice President, Canadian Tourism Commission, Representative in India Being one of the most effective educational tools, roadshows help provide detailed information to our existing trade partners. Not just that, through such workshops, we get to expand our network to newer cities. We at CTC in India conduct workshops in conjunction with our supporting provincial partners: British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta and Quebec. The Province representatives personally give presentations to Indian Travel partners about destination Canada.

Strategy CTC usually focusses on such roadshows before the peak vacation season.

However, Canada being a four-season premier destination, we also organise workshops throughout the year. We also include frequently asked travel specific information for our agents during these roadshows. The Canada Specialist Program (CSP) is also a part of all these workshops.

Results show tremendous growth We have been noticing tremendous growth after these successful roadshows conducted year-round in metros Delhi and Mumbai and in Tier II cities of Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. In effect we are reaching our goal of year on year growth in the number of tourists from India to Canada.

Focus Canada – India, held in February earlier this year at the Fairmont - Jaipur, has proven to be one of the most winning annual business-to-business exchanges organised by CTC. It provided a unique opportunity for networking and relationship building between Canadian travel industry partners and key travel agents from India.

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Roadshows facilitate business relationships Catherine Oden

Director, Atout France India Our overall objective behind organising roadshows is to facilitate business relationships between our French partners and the network of Indian travel trade professionals.

Workshops provide an ideal platform for promoting different facets of the destination and reaching out to a large yet selective database of agents all under one platform. Each year, we welcome new participants to make a foray into the Indian market. For them our roadshow provides a good base to create an awareness about their destination and at the same time interact with agents interested in promoting their products.

Strategy We plan an annual roadshow that takes place every autumn in September in New Delhi and Mumbai. It’s ideal as that is when travel agents/tour operators start their preparation for their brochures for the next season. We also organise a workshop in February-March in collaboration with the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau, enabling Parisian partners to promote their product in the Indian market Another important value addition is an insight into current travel trends prevalent in the market.

Partners are keyed into the needs and requirements of the evolving Indian traveller thanks to their one-on-one interaction with agents.

Results show inclusion of new products in travel itineraries Post the roadshows, we have observed the inclusion of new products or destinations in travel itineraries. Post the workshop, delegates do engage in follow up activities in the form of individual sales calls and there is always a dialogue of communication open between the delegates and the agents for future ventures.

The city of Dijon’s increased presence in the Indian market corroborates this statement. The destination has been visiting India as part of our workshops since the last 3 years. Today, the destination welcomes more Indian visitors than earlier.

Roadshows present the perfect opportunity for our partners to optimise their presence at such events 32

MICEtalk July 2013

MICE city

Durban boasting big MICE facilities Neelam Singh

Durban is a sophisticated cosmopolitan city where East meets West. Its world-class convention centres are known for hosting some historic conferences on a global scale. Durban’s conference venues are of a high standard, with custom built venues designed to international specifications.

Durban International Convention Centre

The largest convention complex in the country, it is situated between beachfront hotels and the city’s central business district. The Convention Centre along with its indoor arena cover an area of 18,000m²/193,750 ft² and through the use of operable walls can be subdivided into over 40 configurations to suit any event requirement.

special features • Raked auditorium – 1800 delegates • Plenary sessions for up to 3000 guests • 6x6 service grids in main halls • Interpretation facilities for five languages and a base language • Fully air-conditioned

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MICE city

Olive Convention Centre

Located in central Durban, it is close to many hotels and tourist attractions. It features six venues, ranging in size from the main auditorium, which is capable of hosting up to 1,500 delegates to The Boardroom, which can host a couple of dozen delegates.

It can host a wide variety of events, ranging from weddings to music shows, product launches, press conferences, gala and themed events, to graduation functions, among many others.

Packages include kitchen, parking, mints, bottled water, notepads and pens. The equipment includes CD players, projectors, cordless microphones, and an onsite technicians.

connectivity Mumbai—Johannesburg—Durban Delhi—Dubai – Durban South African Airways provide daily flights to Johannesburg from Mumbai.

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Hotels with MICE facilities Fairmont Zimbali Lodge and Resort, Durban Located at a 15-minute driving distance from Durban International Airport, the Fairmont Zimbali Resort with its 154 well-appointed rooms and conference facilities is an ideal venue for meetings, incentives and social events.

Conference rooms Capacity Marula Ballroom up to 220 guests in banquet-style, 300 in theatre-style Imbiso Room 80 delegates in cinemastyle seating, 40 delegates in u-shape, 35 in boardroom style and 60 in a schoolroom configuration The property has a private health club, Willow Stream Spa and 18-hole golf course.

Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani It is one of the largest conference hotels in KZN with seating for over 400 people classroom style, and is also just a short walk from the best beaches. Its 734 stylish rooms, 15 conference venues, two fully equipped gyms, three sparkling swimming pools (1 heated), eleven restaurants and bars, free high speed, quality connectivity WiFi – (500MB per room per day) help guests relax and rejuvenate in the comfort of its fantastic surroundings.

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The Royal Hotel Durban Easily accessed from Durban International Airport, the hotel has 213 rooms and 13 conference rooms. The largest conference room can host up to 500 people. It has a health centre, while other leisure time activities include harbour cruises, night horse-racing and deepsea fishing.

Alpine Heath Resort & Conference Centre Located in the stunning Northern Drakensberg, the Alpine Heath Resort and Conference Centre is midway between Johannesburg and Durban. It has 100 chalets and three conference rooms, as well as three breakaway rooms and a business centre. Its largest conference venue can accommodate up to 380 people.

There are numerous activities for recreation including a gym, sauna and steam bath, fly-fishing, mountain biking, golf, hiking, swimming, tennis, squash and putt-putt.

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MICE city

Post-event activities in Durban

Shop at Gateway One of the largest shopping malls in the Southern Hemisphere, Gateway offers a number of top international brands and stores and over 30 restaurants to choose from. Here one can find some good Indian food outlets with Hindispeaking staff.

Victoria Spice market offers a truly unique mix of traditional African and Indian culture.

Big 5 experiences Enjoy an exclusive safari experience by visiting the game reserves near Durban that guarantee authentic Big 5 experiences.

Big Swing Built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Moses Mabhida Stadium boasts a sky car that transports you to the platform at the very top of the stadium allowing for a magnificent view overlooking Durban. Don’t miss ‘Big Rush Big Swing’. This is the world’s only stadium swing and the largest swing of any kind in the world.

domestic MICE

Madhya Pradesh

Geared up for MICE Madhya Pradesh is fast emerging as the most preferred MICE destination of India with its exotic tourist attractions and amiable hospitality. The rich archaic sculptures, dense sanctuaries, exotic nature, vibrant cities and delectable cuisines are enough to occupy any team. An ideal business convention doesn’t go headlong into meetings; it focusses on creating a bond and strengthening team spirit. MP offers an opportunity of leisurely activities after professional pursuit of targets.

Jahaz Mahal, Mandu

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domestic MICE

MICE venues of Bhopal

The capital of Madhya Pradesh is a fascinating amalgam of scenic beauty heritage and urban planning. The old city has teeming market places, mosques and palaces to enchant the traveller and the new city offers equally impressive parks and gardens.

Bhopal is connected by air with regular flights from Delhi, Indore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Raipur.

Hotel Jehan Numa Palace, Bhopal is one of the grand conference hotels in Bhopal that has received various heritage awards for its extreme richness from the department of tourism. It has around 100 rooms and 4 conference halls to cater to large sized meetings.

Another important MICE venue is Noor-UsSabah (the Light of Dawn). Located at a vantage altitude in the city and blazed with a stunning view, it offers a wide array of halls catering to your requirement ranging from 10 persons to 600 persons.

bhopal hotels with MICE facilities • Palash Residency • Lake View Ashok

• Noor-Us-Sabah • Amer Green

• Jehan Numa Palace

• Shan-E-Bhopal • Wind & Waves

need to know about MP • MP is well connected with the rest of the country by air, rail and road network.

• MP has five domestic airports in Bhopal (capital), Jabalpur, Gwalior, Khajuraho and Indore.

• Commom languages are Hindi and English, tribal areas use their own tribal languages.

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domestic MICE

Pench National Park provided the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s Famous work, The Jungle Book.

The natural scenic beauty of Madhya Pradesh along with easy accessibility by air, rail and road and its exceptional meeting venues make it one of the most frequented places in India for MICE

Palash Residency, Bhopal

MICE venues of Indore

This largest city of MP, together with its satellite towns of a and Dewas is one of the fastest growing economic regions in India. It’s proximity to the Gujarat-Mumbai grid is a major factor behind its economic potential.

A trading hub, Indore has a series of hotels anchoring MICE movement in the city with Sayaji being the largest.

Indore is well-connected by air with daily flights to major cities of India and by the train network.

MICE venues in Gwalior

Gwalior is a historical and major city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. A number of hotels cater to MICE such as Tansen Residency, Central Park & Usha Kiran. It is connected by air and train to major cities of India.

Indore hotels with MICE facilities • Fortune Landmark • Amar Vilas • Sayaji • Chokhi Dhani

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• Hotel President • Infiniti

• Sarovar Portico

Post-event activities in MP

There’s a plethora of activity options available in MP. Being rich in wildlife, it has been declared as the TIGER STATE OF INDIA and holds some of the most accessible havens for endangered tigers.

domestic MICE

From boardrooms to forts, from jargon to jungle park rounds, and from meetings to adventurous activities, MP offers an absolute delight for business travellers

Bandhavgarh known as the white tiger country, this park has a large biodiversity. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is one of the highest known in India. The park has a large breeding population of leopards, and various species of deer.

The nearest airport is at Jabalpur. (190 km) Pench Situated in southern Madhya Pradesh, bordering Maharashtra, the national park is rich in flora and fauna. Apart from tigers, leopard chital, sambhar, nilgai, wild boar, jackal, wild dog, porcupine, jungle cat, fox, striped hyena, gaur, chowsingha and barking deer are some commonly seen animals. There are more than 170 species of birds including several migratory ones.

The nearest Airport is Nagpur. (92 km) Kanha This national park has a significant population of Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, the sloth bear, Barasingha and Indian wild dogs. There are more than 200 varieties of birds making Kanha a bird watcher’s paradise.

The nearest airport is Jabalpur. (160 km)

Samode Safari Lodge, Bandhavgarh

Kanha Safari Lodge, Mukki

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Marti Istanbul Hotel

Welcoming MICE Guests Located only 20km away from Atat端rk International Airport, Istanbul, Turkey, and walking distance from the metro station and other important venues like Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center and Istanbul Congress Center, the location of Marti Istanbul Hotel in the vibrant neighborhood of Taksim is one of its many attributes.

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MICE hotel

T

he area is surrounded by bars, restaurants, as well as many shops and galleries, giving the hotel guests an opportunity to be right in the midst of action in Istanbul. The famed shores of the Bosphorus and several major historic sites such as the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia are all within easy reach.

Marti Istanbul Hotel comprises 270 luxurious guest rooms and suites spread over 11 floors. It offers a full range of luxury services and amenities, from tastefully appointed restaurants and generous meeting facilities to an exceptional, top-floor Spa.

majority of guest rooms also feature marble and glass enclosed bathrooms with separate rainforest showers.

Suite guests enjoy lavish hammam-style basins surrounded by richly textured mosaics.

Turkish flair in rooms Award-winning Turkish designer Zeynep Fadillioglu designed Marti Istanbul Hotel. She employed her passion for storytelling throughout Marti Istanbul Hotel, using colors, textures, textiles and architecture to fashion rich yet clean public spaces and guest rooms with Turkish flair.

MICE facilities

With 823 sqm of meeting and event space, the hotel is a quintessential destination for business meetings and upscale celebrations. The hotel’s elegant ground floor Ballroom and accompanying foyer can accommodate up to 400 guests, while its six mezzanine-level boardrooms are ideal for private meetings and events.

Also all the meeting rooms come with free Wi-Fi internet access and offer natural daylight.

Water-themed installation

Art plays a major role throughout the hotel, as Fadilloglu worked closely with a team of Turkish artists to create hand-painted wall designs. One distinctive piece is the water-themed projection installation by Kutlug Ataman, a Turkish Carnegie prizewinner.

Luxurious Accommodation

All accommodations feature contemporary in-room technologies, including a 42-inch flat screen television, an iPod docking station and Internet access. The MICEtalk July 2013

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sample this

location

Ideally located less than a mile away from Khajuraho Airport, Ramada Khajuraho is just minutes from the most treasured sites in this ancient temple city and near to Panna National Park.

Plan your next meeting in Khajuraho at Ramada Nestling in Khajuraho, the world famous UNESCO site, famous for the temples and the scenic beauty, Ramada, Khajuraho boasts the city’s finest restaurants, conferencing, banqueting, and business centre facilities. Its unique location makes the Ramada, Khajuraho, ideal for business delegates who require a nice balance of business and pleasure.

A

ppreciated for the finest world-class closed rooms, centrally air-conditioned banquets, poolside and picturesque lawns with exclusive catering, Ramada Khajuraho offers the best and most diverse experience. The name itself conjures images of magical concoctions that will help lift your spirits and unwind.

Capacity

50-1500 guests

for meeting breaks Apart from a perfect place and a team of seasoned professionals, Ramada, Khajuraho offers well appointed highly spacious guestrooms and restaurants to relax and relish during or before the function.

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sample this

24-hour business centre Ramada Khajuraho offers a 24-hour business center, conference room with high-speed Internet access and dry cleaning service. Non-smoking rooms and suites are also available.

New Addition

Ramada Khajuraho is geared up to cater all your requirements with the newest addition of ‘Gautam Rishi’ the convention center that lays down a wide choice of options to organise personal and professional events. All the halls are located at reminiscent locations and claim versatile areas of sophisticated design complete with modern amenities. The banqueting area is complemented by an equally spacious pre-function area that lends itself perfectly for buffet set-ups and special decor that allows guests to move through the halls and participate in the varied activities.

Organising conferences

Ramada Khajuraho fulfills the technology, capacity and quality criteria of almost all event requirements.

From the large ballrooms to the boardrooms, all the conference and banqueting options offer very high quality spaces and totally flexible planning variations.

special features • 5 star hospitality with 2 banquet halls, restaurant, bar, 3 beautiful lawns, 85 well appointed rooms, highly appreciated catering services • Tailor-made packages • Modern audio-visual facilities • Wireless Internet • Support system • 24 hrs high capacity energy back up • Travel assistance

Providing modern amenities

Grill a barbeque lunch in its tropical courtyard or dive into its heated outdoor pool, the Khajuraho hotel offers all the modern amenities you need for a relaxing stay. Each spacious guest room comes with a refrigerator, on-demand movies and access to guest laundry facilities. Go for a workout in its fitness center, and indulge your senses in an Ayurvedic massage or its sauna and steam room.

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IBTM providing right impetus for MICE The first IBTM India will take place at the Grand Hyatt in the financial hub of Mumbai from 12-14 September 2013.

It will provide an integrated platform for MICE and Business Travel sectors to come together and transact business, share knowledge and network.

Shinu Pillai, Reed Travel Exhibition, Project Manager, IBTM India, shares with MICEtalk the potential India has as an emerging MICE destination and his expectations from the event.

What are your plans for IBTM India 2013?

This event has been launched as a direct result of the buyer and supplier demand that we have witnessed in the region. The key brand values and objectives for IBTM India are the same as those across all of our events – to provide the best business opportunities, best networking and best education for all attendees.

This ensures solid return on investment for all our exhibitors and buyers.

Where IBTM India differs from the other shows in the IBTM portfolio is the way in which buyers and exhibitors are matched. We are introducing a mutualmatch making strategy in order to achieve meetings, which are mutually beneficial to both parties. In addition to this, both buyers and exhibitors will have an opportunity to choose who they would like to meet with. We believe that this format will benefit both buyers and exhibitors, promoting valuable and profitable business meetings.

To find out more about IBTM India or to register to attend as an Exhibitor, please visit www.ibtmevents.com/ibtmindia or email shinu.pillai@reedexpo.ae

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How large do you think the event will be?

The first edition of the show will include 100 meetings for industry and Business Travel suppliers from international and Indian hotels and venues, national/state convention bureaus, travel/destination management companies, event management and entertainment suppliers, professional conference organisers, airlines and technology providers.

yours officially

Exhibitors will be matched by a proportionate number of top-level buyers – 50 international and 50 from India.

Are you expecting people from around the world?

Yes, we are expecting people from all over the world to attend the first edition of IBTM India. The Hosted Buyers will be split into 50 international and 50 from India, ensuring that the show represents the host nation, whilst still remaining international. It is important that we have a strong representation of Indian Hosted Buyers as many of our exhibitors view the show as a gateway into the lucrative Indian market.

In terms of international attendance, exhibitors who have already signed up from around the world include; Barcelona Convention Bureau (Spain), ICEE Travel (Turkey), Vienna Convention Bureau (Austria), ATY Events (Turkey), Cvent (USA), Tourespana (Spain), Tourism Toronto (Canada), Tourism New Zealand (New Zealand), Kuoni Private Safari (South Africa), Switzerland Convention Bureau (Switzerland), Cyprus Tourism Organisation (Cyprus), Regal Hotels (Hong Kong), Gran Melia Don Pepe – Marbella (Spain) and Munich Convention Bureau (Germany).

IBTM India will be a closed-door event, bringing together 100 buyers and 100 suppliers from India and across the world for an exclusive table-top event in outbound business, estimated in 2010 to be worth some US$600m for the sector, with projections of a 13 per cent increase in the coming years.

Global MICE industry associations such as Site, ICCA and ACTE are very active in this market. We work closely with each of these organisations to bring together every aspect of the MICE industry through IBTM India; we are committed to integrate, educate and elevate the standards of India’s meetings industry.

How did Reed plan to come to India?

The IBTM Events Portfolio is the world’s leading showcase for the meetings and events industry, and a number of factors were considered when choosing India as our next MICE destination. India’s MICE industry is still very much in its growth stage, and we are witnessing the emergence of new destinations within the country. We are also seeing second tier cities developing quickly, attracting MICE business from major cities such as Mumbai and Delhi.

Mumbai, where IBTM India will be hosted, is the commercial and financial capital of India. The city houses India’s major corporates and multi-national companies thus offering a great buyer-base for the show. Mumbai sets the perfect stage for IBTM India with its vibrant culture – it’s the perfect place to begin your Indian experience.

What kind of support are you getting from the Ministry of Tourism?

We have been working closely with the India Ministry of Tourism to ensure that the first edition of IBTM India is as successful as possible.

The Ministry has a strategic plan of commitment in place for the development of new convention centres and a significant number of global hotel chains, and is focussing on developing new facilities and venues to support the growth of the MICE industry in the region. This really is an exciting time for us at Reed Travel Exhibitions to be expanding into India.

Do you think India is on the right track to become a MICE destination?

Yes, India holds enormous potential for the MICE industry with a projected GDP growth of over 8 per cent in the next 5 years. As the world’s third largest economy, India is also showing an increase

Anup Nair, President, Site India Chapter comments: “With positive growth trends in the Indian economy, and the increasing competition in the manufacturing and services sectors, India presents a potentially lucrative market. This has brought many international corporations to India and created a burgeoning work force that offers a huge market for motivational experiences. In my opinion, the Outbound & Inbound MICE segment in India needs professional education and training to deliver quality programmes. IBTM coming to India and partnering with the Site India Chapter will give the right impetus to this drive.

We welcome this initiative by the Reed Travel Exhibitions.”

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technology

Engage your event audience

through real-time response technology For anyone who has managed a meeting or provided a presentation to a group, mobile tech distraction is an increasingly common challenge that needs to be managed during a live meeting: ringing, texting, email checking, ‘tweeting’, ‘angry-birding’…how to keep your attendees engaged and focussed among all these distractions?

T

he use of mobile phones, tablets and laptops at events has become so prevalent that event planners need to find effective solutions to incorporate them into daily practices and, moreover, turn them into engaging and learning tools.

Mobile Event technology has revolutionised the way organisers, attendees and event stakeholders interact with each other and participate in an event.

Utilising mobile technology for enhancing audience response

Make your sessions more interactive by connecting with those just sitting in the audience and create pathways for speakers, panellists,

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technology

and moderators to interact and exchange with your event attendees. Here’s a brief overview of how Live Polling Features can enhance your event.

LIVE Questions Extracting questions from your audience is often an expensive exercise or a major technological challenge.

With Live Questions, your audience uses their mobile devices to submit questions during your sessions.

Audience members can view submitted questions, ‘like’ their favourites and add their own comments to each question. Through this, your speakers can easily view and prioritise the important questions and can tailor their responses accordingly.

LIVE Polling during business events With Live Questions, the audience can submit their questions for discussion, but what about when a speaker wants to ask a question of the audience?

With Live Polling, speakers and moderators can gather feedback from attendees in real-time. They can create a simple poll, instantly share it with their audience, set a timer, and gather tabulated results as they are submitted. You can simply input your question, limit each user to a single vote and securely get results.

Admin Portal for moderators and speakers Systems like EventEdge Live give speakers and

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, Darren continues to drive creativity in events and the way they are run.

Contact: info@invisage.net moderators an easy to use tool that provides them a platform to easily manage every question and the poll.

By using this portal you can access and delete questions that are inappropriate, hide questions, mark them as answered and view all submitted comments. For polls, you can create, view, and export results before during, and after each session or the entire event.

Tech savvy event managers

are already utilising social media, event apps, collaborative networks, discussion groups, branded channels, web casting, digital posters, live streaming, hybrid and virtual technology at their events. These tools are relatively new in terms of the event industry but are evolving at a rapid pace and are quickly becoming an expectation for future event participants.

expert talk

Handshakes are the universal physical greeting that accompanies the verbal exchange of pleasantries. In the business world today, handshake has emerged as the only physical contact between professionals.

A handshake reveals a great deal about our inner traits, personality, feelings and levels of motivation.

The Abc of Business Handshakes You Shake Hands when

• Introduced to a person • Entering a meeting/boardroom room • Congratulating a business associate • Inking a business deal or at the end of a negotiation • Departing after a business meeting / at a networking event/ social gathering • Offering condolence Shital Kakkar Mehra Practitioner of Corporate Etiquette and International Protocol in India

Power points on Handshakes

• Always extend your right hand with the thumb up and fingers out, as it helps the other person connect better with your hand.

• Shake from the elbow - moving the shoulder muscle makes the handshake too firm and moving the wrist muscles make it too dainty.

• Maintain shoulder-to-shoulder stance as it projects confidence and conveys positive body language.

• Offer a dry hand, as we associate clammy hands

with nervousness and anxiety, all negatives in the business arena.

• Shake hands with everyone - there exists no hierarchy when shaking hands in business.

• Be mindful if someone has a disability, especially with older women and men and wait until they offer their hand.

Handshake across the World

• AUSTRALIA/CANADA/USA: Firm grip and two smooth strokes. In the US, it can sometime extend to three strokes.

• CHINA/JAPAN: Light grip, three to four gentle strokes.

• INDONESIA: Nodding, accompanied with the hand shake.

• MIDDLE EAST: Limp and lingering, slight up and down movement with plenty of eye contact, accompanied with the traditional verbal greeting.

• HONG KONG: Less firm than their western counterparts. Socially, older persons before younger and women before men.

• SINGAPORE: Soft, light touch.

• PHILLIPINES: US style handshake, accompanied by a pat on the back.

Some queries regarding Handshakes What should I do if I extend my hand for a hand shake and the other person does not reciprocate?

Nothing! Just move on and pretend it never happened - etiquette is about putting other people at ease.

What are the gender rules about handshaking?

Globally, business has become gender-neutral. Any one who offers their hand first, man or woman, has an advantage. A quick handshake helps eliminate the initial hesitation that most people have in the first few seconds of meeting a new person.

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Pics courtesy: Simran Kaur

Shaking hands in India is the form of greeting when a person meets with others in a business or a social setting. However, women in India practice different styles those in progressive work environments are extremely confident about handshakes while the rest are still hesitant to extend their hand.

Movements Kuoni Business Travel, Kuoni India

Leonia Holistic Destination appoints

appoints new COO

Manoj Chacko has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Kuoni Business Travel, Kuoni India. Manoj holds 21 years of work experience with 15 years of extensive work across the travel and aviation business.

In his past assignments, he has worked with renowned companies like Emirates as well as American Express, where he was their Vice President and country head for their business travel division.

In his new role, Manoj would focus on further strengthening the position of Kuoni Business Travel. With his leadership and interpersonal skills, strategic thinking ability and very innovative approach to resolving problems and issues, he will lead the company to greater heights.

BESydney appoints new Client

Relationship Manager

Australia’s leading convention bureau, Business Events Sydney (BESydney) appoints Martin Boyleas the Client Relationship Manager UK/Europe. Martin has extensive experience across the business events sector and for the past four years has worked with European and international associations at international management company Congrex UK as Director of Association and Conference Development.

Vikram Lalvani, Group CEO, LMIPHL. With over 15 years of incisive experience in critical leadership positions, Vikram’s just concluded assignment was with Sutherland Global Services as Head of Asia Pacific with over 20,000 employees and turnover of $ 400 Million. He has experience in Global brand dealing with Business Transformation, Knowledge Management, IT enabled Services and Business Process Outsourcing for Fortune 100 companies

Deepak Sharma, Head – North Sales, LMIPHL, having a diversified and rich experience of more than 12 years in hospitality Industry, Deepak has worked with Nirula’s Hotel, Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels, The Westin SohnaGurgaon Resort & Spa and Ista hotels. At Leonia, his key focus is on Business Development in North India, along with achieving sales target with effective sales strategy, to ensure proper sales administration and identifying, locating and converting potential corporate.

The Claridges New Delhi appoints Manager, Marketing Communications Urvashi Malik is the new Manager – Marketing Communications. She has over 5 years of rich experience in Hotel industry.

In her new role, she will be responsible for driving PR & marketing campaigns, deciding marketing strategies, media planning and responsible for all the other marketing communications initiatives for the The Claridges New Delhi and The Claridges Mussoorie.

She has been associated with the leading hotels like ITC Hotels, Hilton Worldwide India and The Park Hotels.

Sridhar Swain, Head Finance, LMIPHL, A qualified CA, Sridhar was associated with brands like Pricewaterhouse Cooper & Ista Hotels in his previous assignments. He has been instrumental in the design, development and delivery of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). His key professional strength lies in managing working capital of the business by preparing proper cash flow.

events

events calendar

EVENT

VENUE

CITY/COUNTRY

DATE

IT&CMA and CTW (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia-Pacific and Corporate Travel World)

Bangkok Convention Center

Bangkok, Thailand

Oct 1-3, 2013

TTG Incontri

Rimini Expo Centre

Italy

Oct 17-19, 2013

Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) 2013

Grand Inna Muara Hotel & Convention Centre

Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Oct 18 - 21, 2013

ITB Asia

Suntec Singapore

Singapore

Oct 23-25, 2013

International Tourism and Travel Show

Montreal

Canada

Oct 25 - 27, 2013,

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2013

Yas Marina Circuit

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Nov 1-3, 2013

ICCA Congress 2013

Shanghai

China

Nov 2-6, 2013

World Travel Market

ExCeL Exhibition Centre

United travel

Nov 4 – 7, 2013

Business Travel Market

ExCeL Exhibition Centre

London, UK

Nov 6 – 7, 2013

ICOMEX

Centro Internacional de Mexico City, Exposiciones y Convenciones WTC Mexico

Nov 6-8, 2013

BTC, 2013

Fortezza da Basso

Florence, Italy

Nov 12 – 13, 2013

International Golf Travel Market 2013

Costa Daurada

Spain

Nov 11-14, 2013

Dubai Airshow 2013

Dubai World Central

Dubai, United Arab Nov 17-23, 2013 Emirates

World Luxury Expo, Doha 2013

St. Regis Hotel

Doha, Qatar

Nov 17-19, 2013

EIBTM

Fira Gran Via

Barcelona, Spain

Nov 19 – 21, 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: 22/6/2013, RNI No.:DELENG/2010/34144