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EL KWANG MANAGING & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR | Co-owner el@bizeventsasia.com
GINA SIN associate editor gina@bizeventsasia.com
felicity zadro guest editor felicity@zadroagency.com.au
Biz Events Asia is published by Business & Tourism Publishing Asia Pte Ltd 51A Kreta Ayer Road, Singapore 089008 Tel: +65 6337 8781 Fax: +65 6337 9060 Email: hello@bizeventsasia.com Website: bizeventsasia.com
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FEB 2016
MANAGING & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR | publisher El Kwang el@bizeventsasia.com
GUEST EDITOR Felicity Zadro Founder & Managing Director Zadro
DIRECTOR Geoff Batt-Rawden geoff@bizeventsasia.com
Contributing Editor Sandra Hernandez sandra@bizeventsasia.com
associate editor Gina Sin gina@bizeventsasia.com
Jennifer Salsbury jennifer@imcconventionsolutions.com
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION PIXO fanix@pixosolutions.com
contributors • Jackie Fast • Felix Rimbach
OFFICE MANAGER Rev Karunakaran rev@bizeventsasia.com
CHINESE CONSULTANT KH Tok
Editorial & Design Coordinator Chua Yi Kiat yikiat@bizeventsasia.com
# Since our last issue (November 2015), apart from reading business journals and trend reports, our team travelled to over 10 cities to speak with numerous industry leaders on changes and trends happening in the industry. This issue’s Guest Editor, Felicity Zadro, Founder and Managing Director of award-winning communications agency, Zadro, worked with us on the overarching article with some trends that may have you think twice about your business strategies. Currency fluctuations have planners concerned over their already restrictive budgets whilst some thrived on deals that have become more affordable. The Australian dollar took a dip that caused a ripple of enquiries in January 2016 from event planners based in South East Asia. We were blown away by Dreamtime, the signature incentive product showcase event of Business Events Australia that earned them this issue’s cover story. The team at Business Events Australia showed how they maximised their budget (every event has one!) with quality outside-the-box experiences like the breakfast networking event on Vardon Avenue in Adelaide (see cover photo captured by El Kwang’s iPhone). Just before launching the annual Planners Guide directory in January, our team embarked on an incentive trip to Sri Lanka. Still relatively unknown, the land of serendipity broke our city-dweller habits and motivated resting, thinking and deep-breathing moments. We know we can achieve more when teams work without silos. Businesses can grow with the right
FEBRUARY 2016
TEAMS WITHOUT SILOS partnerships. This year, Biz Events Asia welcomes new trade show partner, IMEX Group, who is bringing us to Frankfurt in April. We have also partnered with The WOW Awards by EVENTFAQS Media for greater insights into the events industry in India. Never one to rest on our laurels, we will continue to learn and innovate to bring value through the nine themes we have installed for you throughout 2016. We believe that professional education gives companies a competitive edge, and global accreditation like the Certified Meeting Professional programme gives international clientele assurance that they are working with qualified service providers. We thank the Singapore Institute of Technology for supporting our belief by sponsoring our #Knowledge platform. We appointed expert Jennifer Salsbury to anchor the magazine’s new #Associations section as this market remains a reliable revenue stream to MICE cities. A new section titled Dining Matters has been introduced from this issue onwards, in appreciation of all the hard work towards sustaining the food and beverage excellence of an event. We have the “want” to succeed whilst keeping an open mind and enhancing our unique selling point by continuing to do things differently. Our desire to achieve more is underpinned by a stronger team. Gina Sin has been promoted to Associate Editor, and her team will bring you more on time digital news above managing the print platform with Editorial Director, El Kwang. The magazine has also tasked branding guru Ferdi Widjaja and coordinator Chua Yi Kiat to bring our design flair onto the next level. Life is beautiful and we hope you enjoy this issue.
Biz Events Asia is the official media partner and member of:
Our cover image features Dreamtime hosted in Adeliade. Read about it from page 14
SALES & MARKETING SINGAPORE OFFICE Michelle Lim michelle@bizeventsasia.com Charline Wong charline@bizeventsasia.com
THAILAND OFFICE The Amiris Co., Ltd Email: sirima@theamiris.com Tel: +66 81 822 3286
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES CHINA: Mary Yao Email: mary@mhichina.com Tel: +86 10 6551 5663 ext 8008 DUBAI: Lenora Bennis Email: lenora@themediavantage.com Tel: +971 52 846 6212 SOUTH KOREA: Alexander Paik Email: apcomm@naver.com Tel: +82 10 5042 1337
Visit us online for regular updates throughout the month: bizeventsasia.com Privacy Policy: Business & Tourism Publishing Asia is committed to managing your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act. For a copy of our Privacy Policy, please go to bizeventsasia.com/privacy Printed in Singapore by Sunrise Printing & Supplies Pte Ltd. Reg no. 199002858D PPS 1785/04/2013 (022963) MCI (P) 131/02/2015
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CHINA
Guangzhou International Travel Fair 2016 Guangzhou, China | February 2016
JAPAN
25th Conference of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver Tokyo, Japan | February 2016
MACAU
International Conference on Economics and Business Management Macau | March 2016
MALAYSIA
Offshore Technology Conference Asia (OTC) 2016 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | March 2016
SINGAPORE
Singapore Congress of Radiology 2016 Singapore | February 2015
COVER STORY
#CoverStory
DreamS Do Come True dreamtime business session set up designed by bella laide events
Dreamtime in Adelaide demonstrates how to deliver a creative and quality experience 14
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
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Janet Tan-Collis President | SACEOS CEO | East West Planners
“in hosting dreamtime we want to welcome guests to our home and also show them that when it comes to delivering outstanding business events, our local industry is second to none”
WorDS: el KWang
dreamtime business session delegate networking
Damien Kitto Ceo Adelaide Convention bureau
From Top to bottom: The new virgin Australia business Class seat display, dreamtime business session scheduled appointment, incentive experiences at Adelaide’s Cleland Wildlife Park
AusTrAliA shoWs in ACTion Why They Are exCellenT in mixing business meeTings WiTh delegATe-bonding ACTiviTies
According to the Aboriginal Art Culture, dreamtime is the Australian Aboriginal understanding of the world, of its creation, and its great stories. The dreamtime is the beginning of knowledge, from which came the laws of existence. For Tourism Australia, dreamtime is its signature biennial 5-day business events showcase where 100 international buyers and media gather in a host city in the first two days for structured business meetings and city experience before spending three days exploring other Australian destinations. host Adelaide Convention bureau worked with Tourism Australia and global partner airline virgin Australia in ensuring Australia is the leading business events destination on a global stage. damien Kitto, Adelaide Convention bureau’s Ceo said: “in hosting dreamtime we want to welcome guests to our home and also show them that when it comes to delivering outstanding business events, our local industry is second to none.” buyers and media were made feeling welcome and at home months leading up to arriving into Adelaide. The Tourism Australia marketing team ensured an impressive teaser campaign which included an information pack made from sustainable material, renowned south Australian Chef maggie beer’s yummy verjuice made from the juice of unfermented grapes best suited for salads or deglazing the pan when cooking fish and chicken, to a series of well-designed dedicated edm with updates on the showcase.
The official “Welcome to Country” ceremony
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FEB 2016
Damion Breust Director – Head of Event Marketing Asia Pacific | Barclays
upon arrival, the Australians showed how important business events is to the economy. According to Tourism Australia, the country welcomed a total of 631,000 international business event visitors for the year ending
december 2014, with a total expenditure of Aud2.5 billion. Adelaide was the star city of the country in 2015, spotting the newly renovated West Wing of the Adelaide Convention Centre - where the dreamtime business session was held - and hosted 380 domestic and international business events since launching in march 2015. The much anticipated brand new east Wing, scheduled to open in mid-2017, has already attracted 60 confirmed bookings as of January 2016. “The unprecedented level of business events infrastructure the city of Adelaide is undergoing, coupled with the strong food and wine heritage of south Australia means our hosted buyers and media will have a truly unique experience.” said FrancesAnne Keeler, deputy Ceo of Tourism Australia.
“WelCome To CounTry” Post arrival coffee and tea, delegates were led into a cool, dark and mysterious setting designed by young Australian talent, mark Taylor of belle laide events. The sound of bird chirping and in the dark, delegates’ eyes were drawn to the sunrise project ahead of them. As the lights pinned onto the different zones of Australia where the meetings would be held, the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains of south Australia provided the official “Welcome to Country” ceremony. This theatrical opening ceremony complete with welcome speeches from Tourism Australia and useful information about the business session set buyers and sellers in the mood to trade. The setup of the dreamtime business session floor was tastefully and strategically executed. doing away with the traditional expo booths, the newaged setting had clear zone markings, was open, welcoming yet conducive to conducting meetings in private. The entire room depicted the Australian landscape, with themes featuring bespoke water-colour graphics evoking
FEB 2016
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Selina Chavry Golbal Managing Director Pacific World
Daniel Chua Managing Director AONIA MICE
Andrew Chan CEO | ACI HR Solutions
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SOUTH KOREA
Seoul International Sports & Leisure Industry Show Seoul,South Korea | February 2016
FEBRUARY 16
ISSUE 6 #SoundBites
TAIWAN
The 4th Annual Biologics World Taiwan 2016 Taipei, Taiwan | February 2015
10 #TakingTheLead 12 #FreshIdeas
44 #DelveInto Malaysia The inaugural AEC+Expo affirms MICE as ASEAN economy's best bet
46 #DelveInto Sri Lanka 18 #TheTrendEdition
Biz Events Asia's annual incentive trip
Find out what are some of the business event trends that will impact Asia Pacific in 2016
50 #Associations 52 #Wired Up
33 #Knowledge
What’s trending in the event technology scene?
How best to make use of your sponsorship
New section
40 #DelveInto India
55 #Dining Matters
Explore the rich charm of this vibrant country
56 #Engage 59 #Deals
AUSTRALIA
Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo Melbourne, Australia | February 2016
Ho Yoke Ping General Manager Business Events Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)
Deanna Varga Assistant Director Commercial & Visitor Services Australian National Maritime Museum
Max Jantasuwan Group Managing Director Events Travel Asia
Sumate Sudasna President | Thailand Incentive & Convention Association (TICA) MD | CDM Thailand
Daniel Aswin Co-founder Absolutions
Neeta Lachmandas Executive Director The Institute of Service Excellence, Singapore Management University
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#
AUSTRALIA Singapore Airlines scores a first to offer flights that will connect the capitals of both Australia and New Zealand to Singapore from September 20, 2016. Subject to approvals, flights will be operated four times per week. Singapore Airlines will be the first airline to fly between Canberra and Wellington, and will also be the first airline to operate regularly scheduled international services to and from Canberra.
INDIA Biz Events Asia has partnered with WOW Awards & Convention Asia for their June 2016 event in New Delhi. “The partnership will further consolidate the Asian events industry on a single platform to provide businesses, professionals and authorities the much needed growth catalyst. This also ensures that #WOWAsia2016 will not only be one of the most anticipated and well attended convention of the event industry in Asia, but also widely read about via Biz Events Asia’s leading print and digital channels,” said Vishal Nagdev, Convention Director - WOW Awards & Convention Asia (#WOWAsia2016) www.wowawards.com
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CHINA
China welcomes its first Dusit Thani Hotel – Dusit Thani Dongtai, Jiangsu Hotel – the first internationally branded deluxe hotel in the city and the first Dusit Thani in China. Banqueting and meeting rooms at Dusit Thani Dongtai caters to a variety of business and event needs. With a 650-sq m pillarless ballroom that can accommodate approximately 380 people, guests can enjoy 920 sq m of lush, natural landscaping that provides the ideal venue to host outdoor cocktails and social events. Jiangsu Province is an eastern coastal province three hours away from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, as well as the city centres of Suzhou and Nangjing.
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GLOBAL Centara Hotels & Resorts, has been renamed to Central Hospitality International (CHi). The hotel brands, products and services will remain unchanged. CHi serves to differentiate the corporate brand and its member hotel brands, as well as to align the hotel group with the other eponymously named Central Group companies, thus creating greater affiliation and synergy within the Central family. In 2016, the hotel group will see an introduction of additional hotel brands to the Central Hospitality International family.
GLOBAL
Thailand tops Pacific World’s Destination Index Survey in December 2015, with China and India following close behind in its popularity figures, based on the number of event enquiries received. In Europe, France leads as the buzz around EURO 2016 Cup’s official team draw took place. Spain plays second in the index, while Greece dropped from its first place in November to the third, but remains a popular destination due to its historic heritage and diverse landscapes. In a close match, Chicago and Palm Springs top the USA destination index, and sees Las Vegas as the third most popular destination after opening up to more direct international flights.
THAILAND
Exclusive Thai residence, The Teak Terrace, is now open for event bookings. Featuring 800 sq m of space and tropical garden, the private venue offers guests a taste of classic Thai style and modern sophistication. The Teak Terrace has a total of 32 rooms, including three master rooms, a large ground-floor suite, and a guest house. Among the more practical spaces for functions are a huge indoor living room, library and bar area, as well as spacious verandas and terrace spaces overlooking the gardens and lotus ponds.
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NUMBERS USD350,000 The value of the event package at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre that conference organisers can bid to win. The 2016 PCMA Citywide Auction of Melbourne closes on November 30, 2016.
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# THAILAND The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has won the bid to host the 2016 UFI Open Seminar in Asia, which will take place in Chiang Mai from February 25-26, 2016. TCEB has set its strategies to bolster Thailand’s exhibition industry by aligning with the government policy to promote the service sector as well as attract trade and investment to the region. According to the strategy, the bureau will foster the exhibition and trade fairs as a platform to reinforce trade and investment in potential cities such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Songkla, Khon Kaen. This is to drive Thailand towards becoming a high-income country with a fair income distribution and a centre of trade and services in the region (Trading and Service Nation).
AUSTRALIA Christchurch and the Canterbury region returns to AIME trade show after five years to unveil its city transformation. Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau (CCCB) is exhibiting for the first time since 2011, and is being joined by Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre to update buyers on the latest from New Zealand’s newest city. Christchurch is already home to many of New Zealand’s newest and interesting event venues including the Transitional ‘cardboard’ Cathedral, Isaac Theatre Royal, Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Christchurch Art Gallery and Rydges Latimer Hotel. The Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau and the Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre are exhibiting with the 100% Pure New Zealand team on stand 4614 at AIME 2016 in Melbourne – pop by and see Caroline, Claire or Rob.
FROM THE BUREAUX
MALAYSIA Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s (KLCC) 10th year anniversary in 2015 attracted a string of international high-profile events. These included the Global Food Safety Conference 2015; 18th Human Genome Meeting 2015; 26th and 27th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits; and the 128th International Olympic Committee Session, contributing to the 1,230 events that attracted close to 1.8 million delegates. Groundwork
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has started on the adjacent Lot 91 development with completion scheduled for 2018. The extension will provide an additional 10,000 sqm of flexible and multi-purpose space, which means more room to comfortably accommodate larger international association meetings and concurrent events.
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#
EAT AND BE MERRY Right in the heart of the experiential event trend is Pialligo Estate. Just minutes from Canberra International Airport, it is a true getaway for teams to bond. Set amongst farm gardens, orchards, an olive grove, a vineyard and Canberra’s famous clear blue skies, Pialligo Estate is a culinary haven for groups of 15 to 350. The four new Garden Pavilions is a fresh approach to catering to a crowd of 100 culinary fans. For an interactive stand-up lunch, split the group into teams of 25 persons and set a
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different food and beverage theme in each pavilion to encourage inter-team mingling under the Canberra sun. The Farmhouse (hatted restaurant) and The Glasshouse (marquee event space) are perfect sit-down dinner venues for around 100 and 200 guests respectively. Visitors to The Farm Shop on the estate can expect to find a variety of their extra virgin olive oil, fruit, vegetables and the estate’s national award-winning smokehouse products like the famous “best bacon of the year in 2014 and 2015”.
Direct Connections Singapore Airlines scores a first to offer flights that will connect the capitals of both Australia and New Zealand to Singapore from September 20, 2016. Subject to approvals, flights will be operated four times per week. “A number of high calibre conferences organised from Australia that have regional and international members have previously indicated that direct flights from Asia and New Zealand are a must for them to consider Canberra,” Canberra Convention Bureau CEO Michael Matthews said. “Direct air access changes the state of play for meeting in Canberra and opens the doors for many conferences and incentive groups that previously found the added connections and associated costs in time and money prohibitive.” Stephen Wood, Manager, National Convention Centre Canberra said, “This announcement is very exciting news for Canberra. It will create wonderful growth opportunities for the whole export sector especially tourism. We can already see a number of benefits for the business events market in linking Canberra directly to both Singapore and Wellington.”
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5
strategic hotel locations,
with access to over
2,300
rooms in Singapore, and more than
100,000 ft of meeting space
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MAKING MEETINGS EASIER At Millennium Hotels and Resorts, we understand that every meeting has a purpose. Be it conventions, conferences or corporate meetings; discover dynamic meeting experiences with only our best. Convene at any 5 strategic hotel locations in Singapore and maximise the potential of your events through 100,000ft 2 of flexible event space. Connect with us at sales@millenniumhotels.com www.millenniumhotels.com
EXPLORE OUR COLLECTIONS
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#CoverStory
DREAMS DO COME TRUE AUSTRALIA SHOWS IN ACTION WHY THEY ARE EXCELLENT IN MIXING BUSINESS MEETINGS WITH DELEGATE-BONDING ACTIVITIES
WORDS: EL KWANG
Dreamtime Business Session set-up designed by Bella Laide Events
Dreamtime Business Session delegate networking
The official “Welcome to Country” ceremony
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“In hosting Dreamtime we want to welcome guests to our home and also show them that when it comes to delivering outstanding business events, our local industry is second to none”
From Top to Bottom: The new Virgin Australia Business Class seat display, Dreamtime Business Session scheduled appointment, Incentive experiences at Adelaide’s Cleland Wildlife Park
DAMIEN KITTO CEO Adelaide Convention Bureau
According to the Aboriginal Art Culture, Dreamtime is the Australian Aboriginal understanding of the world, of its creation, and its great stories. The Dreamtime is the beginning of knowledge, from which came the laws of existence. For Tourism Australia, Dreamtime is its signature biennial five-day business events showcase where 100 international buyers and media gather in a host city in the first two days for structured business meetings and city experience before spending three days exploring other Australian destinations. Host Adelaide Convention Bureau worked with Tourism Australia and global partner airline Virgin Australia in ensuring Australia is the leading business events destination on a global stage. Damien Kitto, Adelaide Convention Bureau’s CEO said: “In hosting Dreamtime we want to welcome guests to our home and also show them that when it comes to delivering outstanding business events, our local industry is second to none.” Buyers and media were made feeling welcome and at home months leading up to arriving into Adelaide. The Tourism Australia marketing team ensured an impressive teaser campaign which included an information pack made from sustainable material, renowned South Australian Chef Maggie Beer’s yummy Verjuice made from the juice of unfermented grapes best suited for salads or deglazing the pan when cooking fish and chicken, to a series of well-designed dedicated EDM with updates on the showcase. Upon arrival, the Australians showed how important business events is to the economy. According to Tourism Australia, the country welcomed a total of 631,000 international business event visitors for the year ending December
2014, with a total expenditure of AUD2.5 billion (USD1.8 billion). Adelaide was the star city of the country in 2015, spotting the newly renovated West Wing of the Adelaide Convention Centre where the Dreamtime Business Session was held - and hosted 380 domestic and international business events since launching in March 2015. The much anticipated brand new East Wing, scheduled to open in mid-2017, has already attracted 60 confirmed bookings as of January 2016. “The unprecedented level of business events infrastructure the city of Adelaide is undergoing, coupled with the strong food and wine heritage of South Australia means our hosted buyers and media will have a truly unique experience.” said FrancesAnne Keeler, Deputy CEO of Tourism Australia.
“WELCOME TO COUNTRY” Post arrival coffee and tea, delegates were led into a cool, dark and mysterious setting designed by young Australian talent, Mark Taylor of Belle Laide Events. The sound of bird chirping and in the dark, delegates’ eyes were drawn to the sunrise projection ahead of them. As the lights pinned onto the different zones of Australia where the meetings would be held, the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains of South Australia provided the official “Welcome to Country” ceremony. This theatrical opening ceremony complete with welcome speeches from Tourism Australia and useful information about the business session set buyers and sellers in the mood to trade. The set-up of the Dreamtime Business Session floor was tastefully and strategically executed. Doing away with the traditional expo booths, the newaged setting had clear zone markings, was open, welcoming yet conducive to conducting meetings in private. The entire room depicted the Australian landscape, with themes featuring bespoke watercolour graphics evoking
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“The unprecedented level of business events infrastructure the city of Adelaide is undergoing, coupled with the strong food and wine heritage of South Australia means our hosted buyers and media will have a truly unique experience.” FRANCES-ANNE KEELER Deputy CEO Tourism Australia
Guest arrival at Vardon Avenue Breakfast Showcase
Enjoying Breakfast on Vardon Avenue
the vastness, beauty and diversity of the Australian continent. Other sensory experiences including the Virgin Australia’s Café and pampering areas offered mini-treatments to help buyers recharge between meetings. Also on display, the new Virgin Australia Business Class seat, centrepiece of the recently launched A330 domestic business class and international business class offering. Marine Debatte, Head of Events Solutions, Asia Pacific & Japan at BI Worldwide, observed: “Dreamtime Business Session was a great opportunity to experience the quality and creativity we can expect in Australia. Production was very inspiring, and the food was exceptional. Sellers were also passionate and knowledgeable, so even though 10 minutes only allowed us to scratch the surface, it’s enough to put a face to a name, build a relationship and keep the discussion going at evening events!”
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Chef Jock Zonfrillo of Restaurant Orana From Top to Bottom: Seafood Tasting at Ferguson Australia, Canapes served at Penfolds Welcome Event, Masterchef Australia 2014 runner-up, Laura Cassai
cave into offering buffet banquets that Asian buyers have done to death.
FOOD & BEVERAGE EXPERIENCE REDEFINED
The welcome event for all buyers and sellers were held at Penfolds Magill Estate. Food and theatre combined to capture buyers’ imagination as the sun set. Guests had the opportunity to sample premium wines from the estate’s reserve casks and learn more about the vineyard which dates back to 1844 - and the pivotal role it has played in the evolution of winemaking in Australia. Others did an exclusive tasting session with Penfolds Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago who teased the palate with a sampling of 2008 Grange.
MICE buyers have come to have great expectations when it comes to all things food and beverage in Australia. The Australian hosts took on the challenge and never once did they
The media set foot on Adelaide’s Rundle Street and relished the culinary art of owner chef Jock Zonfrillo at Restaurant Orana. Using indigenous produce like
Mundarhum Raspberry Leaf, Geraldton Wax and Eucalyptus and local fresh produce, the “Alkoopina” (degustation) experience will have food critics redefine the food vocabulary. Masterchef Australia’s fans were starstruck as Laura Cassai (runner-up in 2014) went round to dress the dessert. Another place to spot a Masterchef Australia star is the 147 year-old Adelaide Central Markets. Poh, Masterchef Australia first season’s runner up, opened Jamface at the markets. Visitors sampled and bought fresh produce from different stores and learnt how to make sauces, pasta and desserts at a cooking school on level 2 of the markets. Buffet breakfast for a showcase? No way! The Adelaide Convention Bureau showed how breakfast networking is done.
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Collaborating with food and beverage purveyors like MotherVine and East End Cellars, Vardon Avenue was closed off so buyers and sellers can kick-start their day networking nestled amongst the freshest hot and cold breakfast stations (as seen on the cover photo). Live music warmed the crowd as the sun set in whilst roving entertainers helped guests to break the ice. On a different day, the Stamford Grand Adelaide put fun into breakfast for the South East Asian buyers by setting the breakfast table right on Glenelg beach with post breakfast tai chi lessons on the cooler broadway. More Australia food and wine were showcased at the gala dinner held at the National Wine Centre of Australia. Also designed, dressed and executed by Belle Laide events, guests were most impressed by the “you’ve got mail” wall on arrival where every guest had a personal mail box with a special thank you note from the organisers and partners of Dreamtime 2015.
THE UNTOUCHED INCENTIVE ISLAND Buyers sourcing for a unique high end incentive location should look no further than Kangaroo Island. Only less than an hour flight from Adelaide, Craig and Janet Wickham, owners of renowned incentive operator Exceptional Kangaroo Island (EKI) made buyers feel right at home the moment they touched down. Following Tourism Australia’s theme, a stroll amongst the Aussie bush led buyers to the Wickham’s home for an Australian brunch on the deck. According to the Wickhams, the island retained closed to 50 percent of the original wildlife habitat in a mix of national and conservation parks, and is perfect for
Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island
“Dreamtime Business Session was a great opportunity to experience the quality and creativity we can expect in Australia. Sellers were also passionate and knowledgeable, so even though 10 minutes only allowed us to scratch the surface, it’s enough to put a face to a name, build a relationship and keep the discussion going at evening events!” MARINE DEBATTE Head of Events Solutions, Asia Pacific & Japan BI Worldwide.
those who yearn for a getaway that comes with clean air and fresh food. Although the island population is less than 5,000 people, the island offers a broad range of accommodation. Perfect for senior management retreat, the 21-suite Southern Ocean Lodge is an upper upscale luxury accommodation edged atop a secluded cliff. It also offers two meeting lounges suitable from 12 to 40 guests. Larger groups preferring easy access to shops and amenities can consider the 76room Ozone Hotel. EKI is able to assist in designing a two-day incentive programme that includes quart biking amongst the national parks, tasting honey at the Island Beehive, and premium fresh seafood tasting at Ferguson Australia – a great photo opportunity with a five-kilogram Australian King Crab. The Wickham-designed unique dining experiences for the Dreamtime buyers by using locations like an old woolshed and native plants as bespoke table centrepieces. Most importantly, the food served was unforgettable. The highlight for most visitors to Kangaroo Island is Seal Bay Conservation
A unique dining experience curated by Exceptional Kangaroo Island
Park. Visitors get an overview of the Australian sea lions ontogeny and the island’s conservation integrity at reception before embarking on a walk down the 900-metre Don Dixon boardwalk leading to breath-taking expanse of the ocean, sand dunes and limestone cliffs. The guide brought the buyers right on the beach with dozens of sea lions resting from their exhausting ocean diving missions.
“The part that impressed me most about Dreamtime is the breakfast event on Vardon Avenue. The closure of the avenue was a special touch, and the food and beverage quality was splendid. The setup was beautiful and allowed a conducive environment for productive networking with the Australian sellers” THERESA LEE Head of MICE, FCm Travel Solutions Singapore.
Quad Biking Experience
The Ozone Hotel
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#TheTrendEdition
THE
TREND EDITION
BIZ EVENTS ASIA SCOURED BUSINESS JOURNALS, INTERVIEWS WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS AND REFLECTIONS ON THE BIG CHANGES GOING ON AROUND US.
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KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMES FROM INTEGRATED COLLABORATION TO NONTRADITIONAL EVENT SPACES, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR BUSINESS EVENT TRENDS IN ASIA PACIFIC? WORDS: EL KWANG & FELICITY ZADRO
By now, most industry business leaders may be very well versed with some 2016 trend reports presented at leading tradeshows like IMEX America (October 2015) to ibtm world (November 2015). In 2016, a vital part of ensuring ongoing success will be staying attuned to the changes within the events industry and ahead of the pack in how business is being done and by whom. Leading into popular APAC tradeshow AIME 2016, we present some trends from the Australian business events industry and finishing with a couple that concerned the industry in Asia. The trends are the result of scouring business journals, interviews with industry leaders and reflections on the big changes going on around us. This report is not an exhaustive list of the trends in our industry, but rather, aims to be an indicator of some of the changes to the fundamental ways we do business in events. We hope this report will spark some new ideas for your organisation and keep you at the head of your game.
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TREND
01
Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has declared that his nation will be a hub of innovation in which good ideas will be supported with an ecosystem to encourage them to flourish. And for good reason too. The post-mining boom economy modelling by PricewaterhouseCoopers shows an innovation focused economy has the potential to raise the Australian GDP by AUD37 billion (USD25.5 billion) in 2024, with a longer term contribution to GDP as high as AUD136 billion in 2034, creating close to 540,000 jobs.
So the start-up is the new black, and in the events industry we will see the emergence of a whole new raft of suppliers hitting the market, as they take their cue and confidence from the new era of innovation. This surge will come from new players to the space, but particularly from those who have worked at some of the bigger companies and venues of the industry and want to break out on their own.
THE ERA OF START-UPS AND DISRUPTORS
This will impact venues, as non-traditional business event spaces such as nightclubs, bars and restaurants will compete to secure the small-to medium-sized meetings and events. For the “new idea hungry” event manager, this is great news as more options spring up, but not for the traditional venues and hotels wanting to book event spaces. With fully cloud-based business solutions, social media at the ready, computer literate and educated teams, the start-up businesses in this sector have lower entry to market costs than their predecessors and have the potential to inspire a wave of disruption at a speed never seen before. Established businesses with high overheads, dated systems, and labourintensive business models need to keep both eyes open to see who and what offerings start-ups and disruptors are providing. It is not just a case of them doing the same thing cheaper; many will offer a new way of doing things altogether. Delwin Kriel, Sales Manager, for the Asia-Pacific Incentive and Meetings Expo (AIME) which sits in the IBTM Global Events Portfolio of Reed Exhibitions, said that he can see this
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trend through the sales enquiries for exhibition stands at AIME this year. “There has been a lot of interest in the show from the ‘new-to-market or startups’ who want to crack the business events sector. They are looking for a gateway to the industry to demonstrate why their product, service or offering is better or different. AIME is one of the only places where this is possible on a face-to-face level. “In our debutant category, we have seen a surge of interest from the technology, hotel and tourism promotion sectors. Their point of difference often sits around their business providing more efficient processes, products that save time, deliver more information about their destination or event – and hence ROI to end-user. “They are all hungry for new introductions, business connections and leads, and provide a new competition for the marketplace,” said Kriel.
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AIME 2015 trade show organised by Reed Exhibitions
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In 2016, the conversation around the digital impact on the way we communicate, buy and sell focuses on the human desire for connectedness. Sounds contradictory? Not so, for despite increasing internet usage, the need for human connections – especially in the event industry – will remain vital to ongoing success and competitiveness. Richard Shapiro, Author, Founder and President of The Center for Client Retention, a US-based research and consultancy firm, when talking about the desire for human connectedness online said: “The key to highly sought after repeat business will be to establish and maintain the human connection. It is essential for any company to show their customers that each specific visit/ business matters and they continue to be important beyond the sale.” This is increasingly important in the context of what Accenture terms as “Switching Economy”, which refers to the revenue up for grabs by consumers
THE PERSONALISED DIGITAL CUSTOMER JOURNEY
switching companies to purchase from, either fully or partially. Kevin Quiring, Managing Director of Accenture Strategy said: “Today’s customer’s sense of loyalty to an existing provider is often eclipsed by a competitor’s personalised and tailored experience. Our research (launched in 2015) shows that some companies are opening the door to ‘non-traditional’ competitors who are often more willing to ‘do things differently’ and offer prospective customers more opportunities for customisation.” As personalised online experiences ramp up in the B2C world, consumer’s expectations of what their online experiences will be when doing business in the B2B world will follow suit – demanding better, more personalised interaction and connectedness. Practically, this is achieved through numerous digital and creative strategies, some of which are making huge headlines in 2016. For example, the need to respond to Googles’ new mobile optimisation guidelines is on the top of every marketer’s list this year. This boils down to companies damaging their SEO rankings by not having a “mobile
responsive-designed website”. It should be a key priority for all businesses to ensure customers can access the website properly through a smartphone and/or tablet. Video is also growing in importance as it provides a great way to stand out of the pack to hold attention, be memorable, sell a message or tell a story. It is a relatively cost-effective solution to telling your stories in a personable way and providing rich content for answering your customer’s questions. Online strategies include companies needing to not only have a website, but one that is connected to social media, to review sites and aggregator sites (such as bureaux and tourism organisations) providing multiple online touchpoints for people to research before they buy. In addition, companies need to focus their attention on designing a seamless customer journey that goes both offline and online, whereby the customer experiences the same level of care, personalisation and value from an integrated brand perspective. It goes without saying that many companies will need to review their budget on digital marketing in 2016 to ensure they are up to date with the changing nature of doing business.
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TRANSPARENT COLLABORATION
There are a few forces that come together in 2016 that will see an increase in transparent collaboration as a business model in the events industry.
best examples of collaboration we can see in events today are seen in the live entertainment, sport and popular culture applications.
With the proliferation of technology, marketing techniques and even catering styles, companies cannot be experts in everything; there are simply too many options and channels now available. There is a definite need for companies to fully embrace the multi-channel strategy, particularly in the crowded user-driven media environment to ensure their messages expand to the full customer experience of a brand.
“Collaboration across businesses is seen where user-generated content feeds back into events to trade off the emotion of a live experience to generate loyalty, legacy and advocacy and ultimately more business. Companies such as Nike, Adidas, UEFA, the NFL and the EPL tend to have captured the essence of emotion and work hard to provide fans and audiences a reason to fully immerse themselves into an event or brand experience.”
To conquer this issue, and continue to deliver seamless solutions for clients, we will see the rise of transparent collaboration to deliver integrated results for clients over the next few years. This will replace the project in-sourcing and certainly the white-labelling (where companies use other firms but do not disclose to the client). For example, hybrid events, spectator engagement at sporting events, managed social media activity at exhibitions, multi-site simultaneous events – even the merge of marketing and public relations as channels, is pushing the need for multi-skilled teams to work more closely together. Further still, companies banding together to capture market share and attention will increase. A flick through any events related publication will reveal the launch of new partnerships which are creating unique products, incentives to purchase or just a really distinct point of difference. Smart businesses are leading this charge and finding ways to develop collaborative cultures. Stephen Horsley, Business Development Manager, KOJO, a leading integrated storytelling firm, says that some of the 22
“This collaboration is often clientled, as the role of events has shifted to being the epicentre of an extended brand experience for their clients. The challenge for leaders is to invest in creating open, creative relationships with others amongst the competitive environment.” “I truly believe that a shift away from transactional business relationships toward more collaborative environments is the only way companies and their partners can invest the time needed to create, adapt and evolve in an overall media environment that changes by the day,” said Horsley. Amongst the collaborative environment, clients might still want to retain one point of contact and even one invoice, and evidence of systems and processes that show success stories of companies working together. Clients may understand the skills required, however, they won’t want to manage different suppliers. This provides a new value-proposition for companies to sell. The company who has the best networks, processes and systems set-up to work formally with other organisations will have the greatest appeal and value.
IN ASIA,
transparency continues to be a challenge. Often masked behind cultural reasons, failed collaborations are caused by mismatched company core values, unrealistic expectations from partners and poor communication that lead to distrust. Large MNCs seem to have more successful partnerships for SME. Fast partnership formation may score a business deal, however, it may not be good operationally if partners have not discussed the unpleasant side of partnership like how to resolve disagreements and legality concerns. According to Singapore based legal counsel Vicki Heng, “Partnerships must take into consideration finer details such as brand and intellectual property protection and ownership, as well as the financial implications of termination of deals entered into by the partnership with third parties.” Before forming a partnership, companies should consider the following in the partner selection process: Begin the discussion from the highest level of authorised decision makers Conduct due diligence. Fully understand the reasons, benefits and risks of forming a partnership without infringing any anti-competition law set in the countries the partnership intend to operate in. Engage a business mediator who can remain neutral and allow both parties’ legal teams to collaborate yet protect their own respective companies. The ability to communication transparency and agree on what information should be included and what are kept confidentially from each other. Manage disagreements instantly so they do not lead to further miscommunication and affect clients’ confidence in the partnership. Review the partnership frequently in the first term before the renewal.
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Secret escapes for successful events
Whether you are wanting to motivate your team or thank them for their success, it makes sense to take them somewhere that will inspire them towards even greater achievements. At Central Hospitality International (CHi) formally known as Centara Hotels & Resorts, we have professional-standard meeting and event venues of all sizes, set amidst vibrant cities, exotic hideaways and tropical beachfronts. Visit CHi’s new more about how we can turn your event into an experience that matches the best performances of your team. Visit us at centralhospitality.com/mice FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT US ON
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Athlete Luo Yutong interacting with guests at Double Tree by Hilton Guangzhou
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TALENT MANAGEMENT, A BIZ EVENTS ASIA #TalentAndMentor SECTION SPECIAL
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Anyone from the MICE and hospitality industries will say it takes a team to deliver successful events. Not just any other team, but one that is trained and aligned in the same vision. Japan may be facing talent shortage with its ageing population, whilst India is set to be the third largest economy by year 2030 according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report. It is estimated that 65 percent of India’s approximately 1.29 billion population in 2016 is under 35 years old. So irrespective of the level of population, talent management specialists tend to aim at quality talent over quantity. The challenge for 2016 remains attracting quality and hopefully, experienced talent and retaining the current talent pool.
SECRET TO STAFF RETENTION Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) knows the secret to retaining staff is to place the utmost importance on their wellbeing. Singapore-based Managing Director of FCTG, Suyin Lee, said that FCTG Singapore’s retention rates are the highest in any of the Flight Centre markets with an average retention of 90 percent. The group plans to grow to 400 Singapore based staff with a further 150 based in South East Asia by 2020. To kick-start, the company announced their fully owned operations in Malaysia in November 2015. FCTG is ushering in 2016 with a new product in Singapore to promote health and wellness in the workplace, beneficial to its staff with the aim of increasing productivity in the workplace and enabling work-life balance. The group will also launch a health-focused café on site accessible to both its employees and the public. “This is a great example of a company understanding the importance of its people strategy and linking it to productivity. The ubiquitous ‘work-life balance’ axiom can often be overused,
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The importance of talent development takes the cake when it comes to ranking important 2016 trends in Asia. Page 9 of the American Express Global Meetings and Events Forecast report stated that a key trend is companies focusing on employees. The report indicates training and internal team meetings as a predominant area of growth.
Be home for dinner
SUYIN LEE Managing Director Flight Centre Travel Group
Interactive 360 degree immersion event at Hilton Beijing Wangfujing
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or misused even, but FCTG appears to have taken a holistic approach with great success, one which many in the travel industry still struggle to adopt. In the 2015 ACI Report, only 15 percent of respondents stated salary as their only reason for accepting a job – so one would think the secret for an organisation is finding out what the other 85 percent wants.” said Andrew Chan, Founder and CEO of ACI HR Solutions. Happy staff lead to happy customers, which are crucial when travel consultants seek to gain customers’ trust. The Flight Centre shops successfully busted the myth of “costing more when booking through a travel agent”, and have been attracting business professionals with the simplest to the most complex itineraries. Their shops in Singapore recently launched a Virtual Reality experience that virtually immerses customers into a destination of their choice - from Scuba diving at The Great Barrier Reef to admiring the bright lights of Tokyo and wandering through the Ancient Town of Hoi An.
BEN GEORGE Senior Vice President, Sales & Revenue Management, Asia Pacific Hilton Worldwide
crisis, a support self-bookers would not have access to. Lee ensures a flat hierarchy and a fun company culture that is backed by open communication channels, team recognition and opportunities. Coupled with travel opportunities, FCTG attracts and retains a large millennial workforce. Besides having a “work hard, play hard” mantra, Lee instils a sense of work-life balance in her team by encouraging them to be home for dinner.
FCTG invests heavily in technology upgrade, training and development so they can effectively manage travel
RISE TO A PROFITABLE SOLUTION
Hilton Journey to Rio event
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During an interview with Ben George, Senior Vice President, Sales & Revenue Management, Asia Pacific of Hilton Worldwide regarding Hilton’s eight-year partnership with the Chinese Olympic Committee to support Chinese athletes since 2011 leading into the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, George delved into the subject of talent. Having operated in China for over a quarter of a century, Hilton appreciates talent and identifies with the dreams and aspirations of the people in China. Through this partnership, Hilton will be launching
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and activities aimed at helping the Chinese public connect with Team China’s athletes, learn more about the dream destination and host country of Brazil, as well as get into the spirit of the Games. Tailored to meet the rising demand for 360 degree immersive events, Hilton delivered two Olympic-themed events at Hilton Beijing Wangfujing and DoubleTree by Hilton Guangzhou in August 2015 that engaged the five senses of every guest.
Bruce McKenzie with athlete Yutong Luo cheered for Team China
As a manager and mentor, George prefers developing talent from within the organisation and make learning accessible. For businesses to thrive, leaders need to rise above the occasion and concentrate on solution creation. To reduce the threat of a shallowing talent pool and with global expansion in sight, the hotel group established the RMCC (Revenue Management Consolidation Centre) solution in 2004 where talent
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Mark Liversidge and athlete Xuejuan Luo cheering for Team China
Centre) solution in 2004 where talent can specialise and focus on what they are good at instead of climbing the corporate ladder through management training programmes if they are not interested in the latter. According to the Hilton Worldwide website, the four RMCC global offices services 34 percent of Hilton Worldwide properties and has generated more than USD52 million in market share growth in the last 12 months. “While China may be the most populous country in the world, it surprises many that it remains one of the toughest markets to source talents. In addition, salary levels have risen significantly over the past five years. To succeed in this complex market, multinational companies not only need a strong overall
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP; BEYOND THE GENDER TAG an exclusive interview conducted by EL KWANG I was too young to experience the hype generated when hotel veteran Jennie Chua was appointed as General Manager of Raffles Hotel in Singapore over two decades ago. This appointment would have been rare for the western world, let alone in Asia. Fast forward to March 2015, not only did we celebrate International Women’s Day, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific announced a strategic roadmap to empower female associates. The company has also signed the United Nations’ Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP), pledging to support the empowerment and advancement of women in the workplace and community and establishing high-level corporate leadership for gender equality; and promoting education, training and professional development for women. “Diversity and inclusion are key components of Starwood’s business strategy. As an equal opportunity employer, we continue initiatives to support the surfacing of female talent and leaders,” said Stephen Ho, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. Since 2003, Starwood Careers has nurtured more than 10,600 associates across different levels in the
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Women in leadership at Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel and The St. Regis Macao. From left: Riin Meri, Daniella Tonetto, Rachel Chan, and Janet McNab”
organisation and surfaced closed to 72 percent of its female General Managers internally. However, this article is not about how women had to work and fight hard to get to the top job, it is more about gender and opportunity equality. Four women on the leadership team of Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel gave insights just hours prior to The St. Regis Macao opening event, the second hotel under their care. Janet McNab, Managing Director of the two hotels started clearing the myths with the statement “there is no glass
ceiling”. Speaking from experience, she added “it is about what women think we can achieve. If you are a good operator, decision makers welcome females, and gender does not matter. It is about support.” Riin Meri, General Manager – Finance agreed with McNab and shared her own experience: “I did not have obstacles throughout my career based on gender, not in the hospitality industry.” Though McNab expressed that “the career path may be harder for women due to the choice of starting a family or relocating to another country for a better role.”
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NEW VERSION OF FUNDAMENTALS “The fundamentals of leadership has not changed,” said Dilip Puri, Managing Director India and Regional Vice President South Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts at an interview during the opening of The St Regis Mumbai in November 2015. He believes in spending time with his team and encourage future leaders to be remain humble. What has changed is the approach in which a leader should communicate with the team; in terms of content versus context.
Busting the myth of putting family planning on hold whilst progressing at work, Daniella Tonetto, General Manager – Sales & Marketing, had her first child in Asia where the mentality is having only three months maternity leave instead of 12 back in Australia. With understanding bosses, supportive husband and a dependable support system, it is relatively easy for women to remain focused on building their career. Women are encouraged to be upfront with their family planning. Rachel Chan, General Manager – Human Resources advises women that it is “natural for women to have children. In fact, having children allow women to better understand how important work can be as they now have a focus in their lives.” Tonetto stated that often the challenge for women with families are from those without one. As a manager, she ensures her team understand that it is about fairness, productivity and getting the right results. Irrespective of gender, anyone deserves to go home on time, they just need to get organised. If one chooses to spend more time at work socialising and for continuous learning, they are welcome to do so. McNab who recently hosted a “Female Leadership Networking Session” for her staff reassures them
With the new workforce, one has to deliver a message differently to be effective. When it comes to mentorship, it is not just about the older generation mentoring the younger ones. “Millennials can be mentors too,” explained Puri when citing a couple of examples learning from millennials, especially in the digital and social media space. When it comes to giving advice on work-life balance, the keen golfer who de-stresses on the golf course believes in the mantra of “incorporating what you love into your life, keep learning and spend quality time with the family”.
that family is important and there is equal opportunity and support for everyone. Tonetto dispelled the myth of “women can have it all” and said “it should be about having whatever you desire regardless of gender.” The four leaders in unison said that to succeed, one must have the “want” and those with the right DNA for the business will be groomed and given opportunities. Tonetto said “hospitality is about having the desire to ‘want’ to work; to have the ‘want’ to be there, the ‘want’ to do it day in day out, otherwise it will not last.” To build successful teams, these ladies do not allow members working in silos. “If there is after hour drinks, all will be invited or there will be no drinks.” McNab feels that the millennials are having a more challenging time now as the competition is stiff and information technology overload. The pressure seems immense, giving themselves little time to accumulate work experience. Everyone needs a balanced life and allocate time for eating, sleeping and leisure activities. McNab balances her life by cooking for her husband, whilst Chan jogs, Tonetto watches
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human capital strategy, they would be well advised to also have a separate and more focussed one for the China market if they want to win the war for talent.” said Chan
Millennials can be mentors too
DILIP PURI Managing Director India and Regional Vice President South Asia Starwood Hotels & Resorts
television programmes and Meri paints (a collective gasp in the air as the other three never knew of Meri’s talent beyond the spreadsheets!) Although appreciative, these women do not want the tagline “women in leadership”. They inherited that because the men to women leadership ratio is not on par yet. I agree that it is not about gender as no one has ever used the term “working husband, brother, son” on me.
67%
59%
33%
41%
17-19
39%
61%
17%
27%
73%
83%
29-36 36-46 46-56
56+
Male
Female
The above graph shows a steady decline of women in the travel and hospitality industry as the age group increases. More women than men enter the industry early on in their career before the ratio slowly drops off. Source: 2015 ACI Salary & Employment Trends Report.
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THE POWER OF A BRAND BIZ EVENTS ASIA EXPERIENCES A HOTEL OPENING THAT DELIVERED NOT JUST ON EXPECTATIONS BUT THE POWER OF ITS BRAND.
With over a 100-year legacy, The St. Regis brand brought its renowned “Allow Me” signature butler service into its 36th hotel. The 400-room St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central officially opened its doors on December 18, 2015 with a grand celebration one would have come to expect from a destination like Macau. “The opening of The St. Regis Macao is another significant step in Macau being able to differentiate itself from other destinations and further enhances Macau’s ability to draw even more leisure tourists and business travellers from throughout the region and across the globe.” said Sheldon G. Adelson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Sands China Ltd. At the hotel’s opening press conference, the visionary business man was predicting that the Macau economy will turnaround for the better in 2016 as the destination focuses its effort on business events and other forms of entertainment like Planet J, an immersive, player-centric live action role-playing theme park.
Jamie Cullum, international jazz-pop singer performing at The St. Regis Macao Grand opening Gala Dinner
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An international selection of media and buyers were flown into Macau as the first guests to check into the hotel. They experienced the very best of hospitality from city tours to culinary experience curated by the Macau-based Starwood team who takes care of both the St. Regis Macao and the newly heralded Sheraton Grand Macao, Cotai Central. Fay-Linn Yeoh, Asia Pacific Brand Director, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and The Luxury Collection conducted a brand immersion session that affirmed the strength of the St. Regis brand as the team’s every move was accentuated with the luxury touch. What made this opening programme a standout is the hotel’s ability in delivering desired outcomes. Fastidious event planners will be impressed with the team’s ability to change venue and re-set up the gala dinner to accommodate larger number of guests with less than four hours’ notice. The hotel surprised some guests with The St. Regis Macao aficionado’s treat of cognac tasting and Le Nuz du Vin 54 aromas masterkit showcase experience in The Private Room of The Manor (hotel restaurant) besides the ritual of bloody mary tasting.
The St. Regis Macao aficionado’s treat of cognac tasting and Le Nuz du Vin 54 aromas masterkit showcase experiences
The Foyer - The St. Regis Macao Cotai Deluxe King Room - The St. Regis Macao
The St. Regis Macao grand opening after party
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TRENDS WATCH AT IBTM WORLD Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, ROB DAVIDSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, MICE KNOWLEDGE AND IBTM WORLD INDUSTRY ANALYST ILLUSTRATES KEY GLOBAL TRENDS THAT WILL AFFECT THE BUSINESS EVENTS INDUSTRY AT THE IBTM WORLD 2015 TRADE SHOW. WORDS: GINA SIN
KEY MARKET SECTORS:
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) Spending in 2015 increased by 2.4 percent from 2014 at USD3.8 trillion Enterprise software remains as the largest growth in expenditure
PHARMACEUTICALS As one of the most intense “knowledge drive” industries makes it a natural client sector for conferences and events Expanding populations in emerging markets will see strong growth in pharmaceutical product demands
CONSTRUCTION China and Southeast Asia account for almost half of the global infrastructure spending Accelerating urbanisation in China, India and Indonesia will result in higher demand placed on infrastructure development, water sourcing, power generation, telecommunications and transport
CHINA 7 percent growth rate in 2015 shows slowest growth pace in a quarter century China still expected to surpass the US as the world’s top business travel market by 2017
MIDDLE EAST Following a collapse in oil prices, focus has shifted to meetings and events as a source of revenue and employment Oman is set to be a serious contender to host major international and regional congresses
AFRICA According to American Express Meetings and Events report, the number of planned hotel openings has increased up to 40 percent in 2015 as compared to 2013 North Africa rates high for desired activities and attractions, its relevant infrastructure and facilities, technology and amenities to support meetings and events.
EUROPE Rise in corporate events spending remains elusive due to sluggish economic growth However, European convention centres have outperformed the rest of the world in revenue growth (AIPC)
TRENDS IN DESIGN OF MEETINGS AND VENUES More destinations are seen marketing themselves on the bases of satisfying attendees’ five senses “Drag and drop” venues – reusing or reinventing existing spaces such as refurbished A rising “Airbnb effect”. Intermediaries such as SnapEvent in Paris puts event planners in touch with people who have homes or part of their homes that can be rented out
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#Knowledge
THE FUTURE OF SPONSORSHIP EVEN THE MOST SOPHISTICATED ORGANISATIONS NEED TO ADAPT TO REAP THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A STRATEGIC SPONSORSHIP. Sponsorship has evolved at such a rapid pace that the growth of the industry is currently outpacing that of advertising. This growth has been driven by fundamental shifts in the way our entire world has transformed due to the advances in digital technology - making strategic sponsorship more valuable to brands than it has ever been in previous years. Sponsorship is no longer just about a logo. With consumers receiving thousands of marketing messages each day, sponsorship has the ability to harness passion points and cut through the noise more effectively than any other marketing platforms. Conversely, with so many marketing messages, the value of the logo alone has decreased significantly meaning that if your sponsorship does not engage beyond the logo, then you are not realising the true potential of sponsorship. In order to understand what sponsorship assets are beneficial in today’s landscape, consumer insight and objectives need to be identified at the outset. In order to make your sponsorship work harder, look beyond the typical purchases of a branded title, tickets and hospitality and focus on how the partnership can truly work for your business overall. Priceless opportunities, exclusive content, and access (to athletes/CEO/VIPs) are key drivers for engagement and are often under-utilised by brands because they are not planned in or considered before rights are purchased. Focus on sponsorship assets that are based on objectives, not eyeballs.
JACKIE FAST Managing Director Slingshot Sponsorship
The approach of using unique sponsorship assets to drive a business beyond marketing was taken by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the Maclaren F1 team sponsorship. Facing issues in supply chain management, GSK chose to sponsor the Maclaren F1 team, not for branding, but for access to their world-class engineers. This access helped overcome internal issues through strategic insight that would have only been possible through a partnership with the team. The strategic use of these sponsorship assets has since been rolled out across other GSK product lines, significantly supporting their business operation’s objectives in addition to marketing. The failure of events and rights holders to evolve beyond providing a logo placement has driven a new trend of brands becoming rights holders themselves. Rather than struggling with the constraints of typical sponsorship packages, brands are becoming creators. An example of this comes from The North Face who wanted to build an authentic communication platform with adventurers, and when
they couldn’t find the right existing platform, they set out to create one themselves. With the event creation wholly led by the brand, every element and sponsorship asset of the programme was aligned with the brand’s marketing and business objectives. Acting as a rights holder, The North Face took their opportunity out to other sponsors facing the same issues and secured Jeep as an additional sponsor - helping The North Face mitigate the risk of their investment and amplify the activity. The pace of change within sponsorship is enormous, but fundamental truths still remain. The power of collaboration is vast, and our digital capabilities now make this collaboration easier than ever previously possible. If sponsorship is built to create mutual benefits, it is important to understand that what used to benefit a brand a decade ago is no longer relevant in today’s digital world. Biz Events Asia’s #Knowledge section is brought to you by the Singapore Institute of Technology.
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Singapore Redux NOT ONE TO REST ON ITS LAURELS, THE LION CITY CONTINUES TO OFFER NEW VARIED OPTIONS TO TURN BUSINESS EVENTS INTO UNFORGETTABLE AND FUN EXPERIENCES
ADVERTORIAL 34
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Hit
'REFRESH' in
THE SOUTH BEACH
SINGAPORE KEEPS IT FRESH AND FUN SO NO TWO EVENTS OFFER THE SAME EXPERIENCE NATIONAL GALLERY SINGAPORE
Singapore
Ask any global business leader about Singapore and chances are, you will get responses about its standing as a leading global business and services hub with a strong drive towards innovation. Lesser known is that the city has an equally vibrant lifestyle scene that enables business visitors to play just as hard after work. Planners are coming back to Singapore for more because each time they think they have it all, the city offers something refreshing. Take the National Gallery Singapore, for example, which opened in late November 2015, housed in the former Supreme Court and City Hall heritage buildings, the new visual arts institution is home to the world’s largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian modern art. The Gallery offers six unique event spaces perfect for groups ranging in size from 50 to 200 guests. Host the perfect welcome reception on the Padang Deck or Coleman Deck situated on level six with stunning views of some of Singapore’s landmarks such as the Singapore Flyer, Esplanade and Marina Bay Financial Centre. Book group tickets to on-going exhibitions for delegates who appreciate art for an enriching downtime. The South Beach, an uber stylish lifestyle hotel and brainchild of celebrated French designer Philippe Starck. Needless to say, this 654-room property oozes style from every corner. Several
female-only guests for extra security and comfort. Located adjacent to Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre and some of the city’s famous shopping and dining locations, the contemporary luxury hotel is perfect for those who believe in living life to the fullest. Nestled amongst modern towers is a heritage building where the 578-sq m Grand Ballroom is located, replete with Light. The South Beach also offers 19 state-of-the-art meeting rooms and informal meeting spaces throughout the hotel lobby and public spaces to further enhance the balance of work and life. After experiencing the electrifying energy within the city centre, delegates can rejuvenate in wide open spaces around Singapore. Tap the 36-kilometre Central Urban Loop, Singapore's latest Park Connector Network Loop, and create a walking trail for your delegates. Together with the North-Eastern Riverine Loop and the Eastern Coastal Loop, they link the city centre to green spaces in Eastern Singapore. Alternatively, conduct a yoga or picnic session at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, after completing a National Orchid Garden, Rain Forest or Healing Garden tour on the lush grounds of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
GRAND BALLROOM AT THE SOUTH BEACH
Visit www.bizeventsasia.com/read/magazine to download a free copy of the 15 Inspiring Experiences in Singapore supplement produced by the Singapore Exhibitions & Convention BureauTM.
SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS (CREDIT: NATIONAL PARKS BOARD)
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Airport
SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT
AN EXCEPTIONAL SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE BEGINS AND ENDS AT THE ISLAND’S INTEGRATED GATEWAY
integrated
Singapore Changi Airport
MORE THAN 350 RETAIL & SERVICES OUTLETS
DFS WINES & SPIRITS FLAGSHIP’S PRODUCT ASSORTMENT
WORLD'S FIRST BUTTERFLY GARDEN IN AN AIRPORT AT TERMINAL 3 TRANSIT
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great BOEING B777-300ER IN SINGAPORE AIRLINES LIVERY
SINGAPORE AIRLINES ELEVATES THEIR AWARDED WORLD-CLASS SERVICE STANDARDS WITH ITS NEW PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS LOBSTER THERMIDOR, AVAILABLE ON SINGAPORE AIRLINES SUITES AND FIRST CLASS
Let delegates embark on a journey to their meeting or incentive trip in Singapore with the globally awarded Singapore Airlines. Having won over 70 awards in 2015 from Best Airline for the fourth consecutive year by Robb Report China’s “Best of the Best” awards to being named Fortune Magazine (USA)’s top 50 World’s Most Admired Companies, Singapore Airlines certainly lives up to its tagline The signature Singapore Girl smile guides boarding passengers through have won awards from DestinAsian magazine and AB Road (Japan). The new Boeing 777-300ER aircrafts are KrisWorld’s next generation entertainment system with a touchscreen handset accessing over 80 on-demand movies and numerous television programmes, games and music from around the world. Event planners should try the brand new USD80 million Premium Economy Class service on selected Singapore with the bespoke contemporary and stylish full leather furnishing that offers more space, comfort and convenience. Each seat has a width ranging between 18.5 and 19.5 inches and offers an eight-inch recline. Complementing this is a sleek 13.3-inch full HD monitor, the
largest in its class. Active noise-cancelling headphones will also be provided to To ensure a seamless experience that begins on the ground, Premium Economy Class passengers get to access priority check-in and baggage handling, as well as enjoy baggage allowance of 35 kilograms. The epicurean journey on board is second to none. Besides showcasing famous Singaporean dishes, the world-acclaimed chefs, such as New York-based Alfred Portale, Australian culinary star, Matt Moran, and China’s Jade Garden Executive Chef, Zhu Jun, taste buds is a curated list of wines that would please oenophiles, as attested to by Business Traveller Poland and Magazyn Wino Sky Vineyards 2015 which had awarded the airline with multiple accolades, including Best Sparkling Wine, Best Sweet Wine, Best White Wine in First and Business Class, and Best Red Wine in First Class. Premium Economy Class passengers will enjoy an extensive range of food and beverage choices, curated wines, Champagne and Premium Economy Book-The-Cook product, featuring popular dishes. All these, complete with Singapore Airlines’ renowned world-class service, is the best way to usher international delegations into Singapore.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL CULINARY PANEL
PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS
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Double the privileges for meeting and incentive groups
Teaming up with Changi Airport Group and Singapore Airlines, the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau has developed a host planners and MICE delegates. Find out how the Singapore MICE Advantage Programme (SMAP)
will sweeten the deal and double the privileges
DOUBLE THE SMAP PRIVILEGES:
DOUBLE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY SIA ECONOMY CLASS TICKETS
SGD40 CHANGI SHOPPING VOUCHERS PER PAX OR SGD20 CHANGI SHOPPING VOUCHERS PER PAX + DISCOUNTED ADVERTISING SPACE AT CHANGI AIRPORT
AN ETHNIC WELCOME PERFORMANCE (LION DANCE OR TRADITIONAL DANCE)
SMAP PRIVILEGES: BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPANTS
CHANGI AIRPORT SMAP OFFERINGS
for shopping and dining at Singapore Changi Airport
BENEFITS FOR ORGANISERS
terminals at Singapore Changi Airport Singapore Changi Airport to greet your
BENEFITS FOR ORGANISERS
BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPANTS
X2 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SMAP OFFERINGS
minimum spend on airfare
SMAP PARTNERS:
TM
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THE WORLD’S MOST AWARDED AIRLINE
THE WORLD’S MOST AWARDED AIRPORT
THE DESTINATION OF WORLD CLASS MEETING FACILITIES
WITH THE EASE OF MIXING BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE
DOUBL E P R I V I L THE EGES
LET YOUR ONE-OF-A-KIND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE TAKE FLIGHT IN SINGAPORE
FOR A LIMITE CONTA D TIME ONLY * CT SEC B NOW !
Let Singapore wow you with a myriad of differentiated experiences, from the moment you step onboard Singapore Airlines, till you depart Changi Airport. With our exclusive privileges and discounts, Singapore has never been an easier choice. Find out more about the Singapore MICE Advantage Programme at www.yoursingapore.com/mice, or contact secb@stb.gov.sg for further enquires. WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE FOR THE 20th CONSECUTIVE YEAR (TRAVEL & LEISURE MAGAZINE (USA)) WORLD’S BEST AIRPORT FOR THE 3rd CONSECUTIVE YEAR (SKYTRAX 2015) TOP INTERNATIONAL MEETING CITY FOR THE 8th CONSECUTIVE YEAR (UNION OF INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS GLOBAL RANKINGS 2014)
TM
*Double privileges apply to specific privileges within SMAP only, for events confirmed by 31 March 2016, and for events held by 31 Dec 2016. Other Terms and Conditions apply.
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UNEXPLAINABLE ATTRACTION A SURVEY THAT DRAWS ATTENTION TO A RISING LUCRATIVE MARKET Soon to be the world’s third largest economy and with 65 percent of its population under the age of 35, India is a rising force to be reckoned with. Known for its cost effectiveness, English language proficiency and large working talent pool, many are drawn to working with the Indian market. The Indians are renowned for its wheeling and dealing prowess. Its determination for negotiation is second to none. Companies who have not invested wisely into this market are left wounded and accrued distrust. Whether
one likes dealing with this market or not, many cannot resist the charm India has on its visitors. Sellers who are trying to secure business from the Indian market often wonder if it is profitable. As India is such a big market, understanding it will be like entering a maze without the promise of return on investment. To gain greater insights, Biz Events Asia sought understanding from Karishma Hundalani, Founder & Editor-In-Chief of EVENTFAQS Media whose partner
company, tmf dialogue marketing India, recently conducted a study involving the short-haul MICE programme trends of top corporates and intermediaries in India. The sample size includes 50 respondents, a majority that represents the MICE decisionmaking function within large corporations that invest heavily in MICE programmes, as well as intermediaries that manage the maximum budgets of corporates that carry out MICE programmes in India.
TOP 10 SURVEY FINDINGS:
1:
Industries taken
MICE
programmes to short-haul destinations in the past two years: Insurance (32%); Pharmaceuticals (21%); Cements/Paint (21%)
5: Short-haul programme types: Incentives (45%), Conferences/ Meetings (30%)
group size for 8: Average short haul destination:
300 delegates
2:
Automobile industry in India conducted numerous MICE programmes in short and long haul destinations
Over 64% of MICE programmes
held in an Asian destination 3: are (including UAE/Middle-East)
building activities are an 6: Team important objective for incentive programmes
percent of Indian MICE programmes 9: 80 go to short-haul destinations. Budget
range from USD750 to USD1,500 per head for a two-night/three-day itinerary. Smaller groups have higher per head budget than groups of 100-300 delegates.
short-haul 4: Popular destinations include
Hong Kong + Macau (23%), Dubai (14%), Bangkok (10%)
that affect 7: Elements the buying decision:
Night life, Value-forMoney, Shopping and Aspirational qualities of a destination
and Singapore 10: Thailand were considered as most
favourable destinations in relations with ease of visa applications, event planning and MICE bureau subvention support.
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#DelveInto
MYSTICAL MUMBAI THE FINANCIAL HUB WHERE CULTURE, DIVERSITY AND LUXURY GO HAND IN HAND WORDS: EL KWANG Love it or hate it, India has been one of the most talked about countries in Asia for centuries. On a St. Regis Mumbai signature aficionado tour, the guide enthused like a passionate historian showing us the old maps of Mumbai before the historic land reclamation of the Seven Isles began around 1784 whilst leading us to places of interest. The financial capital that generates 80 percent of the income for the country is also the capital with the second highest number of Art Deco buildings in the world. The population in Mumbai is as diverse as its selection of culinary experiences. However, what underpins the charm of Mumbai is its culture and history. Famous for textile mills in the 1980s, the district of Lower Parel has transformed into a posh entertainment and business location. The Ruia family, owners of The Phoenix Mills Limited, started operating in Lower Parel during the early 1900s, a similar time when the St. Regis legacy began in New York City. Naturally, the Ruia family saw the match in legacy and branded their 395room hotel as the St. Regis Mumbai.
The Ruia family and Starwood Hotels and Resorts team
Natty Congeroo & the Flames of Rhythm
The luxurious hotel is home to nine elegant restaurants, bars and nightlife destinations. The Sahib Room & Kipling Bar, inspired by the colonial era, are renowned for their robust Indian delicacies and flavours. The restaurant’s Head Chef Angad Rai is extremely passionate about his Ayurvedic cuisine that sometimes takes 15-16 hours to cook, and once famously said: “I will leave if the hotel doesn’t allow me to ground my own spices”. The hotel’s grand opening party on November 6, 2015, was held at the opulent Astor Ballroom with a ceiling height of 23-feet (7 metres), and extends out to a spacious outdoor Terrace located on level 9. Entrée was served in the glamorously dressed
The Astor Ballroom
Large outdoor terrace
ballroom whilst the official programme was carried out. Jazz legend Natty Congeroo & the Flames of Rhythm kicked off the party as local celebrities, VIPs and invited guests mingled and enjoyed their favourite dishes from international food stations set on the large outdoor terrace. In true luxurious fashion, champagne continued to flow throughout the evening and at the afterparty held at The Penthouse on levels 37 & 38, where guests danced their troubles away. Mumbai knows luxury and how best to deliver it. As Jim Petrus, Global Brand Leader, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts said at the official hotel press conference: “Luxury is about the ability to appreciate the finer things in life.”
“Luxury is about the ability to appreciate the finer things in life.” JIM PETRUS Global Brand Leader St. Regis Hotels & Resorts St. Regis Mumbai signature aficionado tour
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IMEX
Frankfurt 19–21 April 2016
Why is doing business at IMEX so enjoyable?
“We came. We saw. We conquered our To Do list.”
You see a lot of smiling faces at IMEX, the well-loved event at the heart of the meetings industry. The explanations for this are simple: 1. Being able to meet with destinations, venues and suppliers means that event planners can get so much work done, it saves them weeks of time – a liberating feeling! 2. Spending time with like-minded people is a heartening experience. Meeting up with contacts old and new bonds business friendships and feels good. 3. The aisles are oozing with information, creativity, culture and innovation, so everybody goes home buzzing with exciting ideas they can’t wait to share.
imex-frankfurt.com Call: +44 (0)1273 227311 Email: info@imexexhibitions.com Tweet: @imex_group
Come to IMEX in Frankfurt on 19-21 April 2016, and go home with a smile.
IMEX. Who knew business could be such fun? The worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events.
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INAUGURAL MALAYSIA PULLED AEC+EXPO 2015 OFF AN IMPRESSIVE HOSTING TO THE AEC+EXPO AFFIRMS MICE AS INAUGURAL 2015 HELD AT THE LUMPUR ASEAN ECONOMY’S KUALA CONVENTION CENTRE. BEST BET As chairman of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, Malaysia welcomed 150-plus exhibitors from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, China and other Asian regions to promote the best each nation had to offer from November 11-13, 2015. The new economy paradigm shift predicts the MICE industry to be the next engine of growth for most countries in ASEAN. With the theme “Innovations in MICE – The Way Forward”, business opportunities to network and share many innovative and creative ideas and technology to spur the growth of manufacturing sector in general and MICE industry in particular happened at the expo. “This endeavour goes a long way toward establishing AEC which is based on robust regional development. The ASEAN region is the 7th largest economic region with 10 percent of the world’s population,” said Walter Yeh, President of Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA). AFECA is the federation representing the MICE industry in Asia. The November 2015 event presented the AFECA Awards, AFECA Forum and the AFECA Asia MICE Youth Challenge to commemorate AFECA’s 10th anniversary which hoped to inspire young MICE professionals by showcasing their endeavours. The AFECA Asia MICE Youth Challenge was much awaited at the event. “The debut AFECA Asia MICE Youth
Challenge 2015 is an international challenge for all students majoring in MICE or Business Events, Business Management, Hospitality and Tourism related fields. We aim to provide an international platform for students in Asia to develop their creativity and present fresh and unique ideas for the MICE industry,” shared Walter Yeh, President of AFECA. Another highlight of the event was The rAWr Awards, a recognition and tribute award for outstanding achievements in the MICE industry in Malaysia. rAWr stands for Recognising Award Winning Results and is a joint initiative between Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and Malaysian Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers (MACEOS). “The rAWr awards is to recognise the industry’s hard work and dedication to deliver successful events. MACEOS members
were very excited about it as it is like the ‘Oscars’ for the business events industry. Besides raising industry standards, such recognition drives value to MACEOS membership,” said Dato Vincent Lim, President of MACEOS. BMW xDrive Experience 2014 by Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn. Bhd. walked away with the Best Event Award. Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur won the Hotel with Meeting Facilities Award for Excellence. Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (Convex Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.) was chosen for Purpose Built Convention & Exhibition Centre Award for Excellence. Special Awards for International Incentive Operator Award of Excellence were given to the following stellar countries: China, India, Indonesia and Korea.
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Sigiriya Rock Fortress
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ROUTE AWAKENING BIZ EVENTS ASIA WENT ON ITS ANNUAL INCENTIVE TRIP TO SRI LANKA, AND DISCOVERED A QUIET BEAUTY NOT QUITE LIKE ANYWHERE ELSE. WORDS: GINA SIN
In an age of speed and easy accessibility to the furthest corners of the globe, few destinations can remain fresh and undiscovered. But when we first revealed to some of the people in and outside of the MICE industry that we were headed for Sri Lanka, there were mixed responses that included: “Nice! What can you do there?” to “Why would you go there?” However, most people responded that they’ve always wanted to visit, or shared how it is one of the best places that offers a respite from their hectic schedules. Sri Lanka, although a small island, is known for having a great variety of scenery, culture, biodiversity, and economical venue choices for conference and incentives. It also has a history that spans over 3,000 years. In antiquity, the Persians and Arabs referred to Sri Lanka as Sarandib, the origin of the word “Serendipity”, and we can understand why.
UP NORTH The team arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and took a five-hour drive up north towards Kandy. Set on a plateau surrounded by mountains, the city
is home to tea plantations as well as biodiverse rainforests. The second largest city in the country after Colombo, Kandy was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka, and home of the wellknown Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Heritance Kandalama Hotel played home for the next two nights. An architectural masterpiece by Geoffrey Bawa, the most prolific and influential architect in Sri Lanka, Heritance Kandalama overlooks the rock fortress of Sigiriya, and sits at the heart of the cultural triangle of the island, close to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The unpaved road through the jungle gave no clues to what to expect, and suddenly the path breaks as we turn into a world of minimalist white pillars and cool curving corridors lined with enormous limestone boulders.
ANCIENT MARVELS Ideal for team building, it was a test of mental and physical endurance as the team encouraged and motivated each other during the climb up the 200-metre high rock of Sigiriya. Also known as Lion Rock, Sigiriya was constructed by King Kasyapa at the end of fifth century AD as his new capital and palace. This ancient citadel surrounded by the remains of
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Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Heritance Kandalama
an extensive network of gardens and other features lets visitors witness one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning. Marvel at its meticulously designed site plan and frescoes that cover most of the rock’s western face before reaching the top, and spot what could possibly be “the world’s first infinity pool”, built almost two millennia ago. Slightly over an hour’s drive from Sigiriya, enter the monumental ruins of Polonnaruwa, which rose to prominence between the 11th and 13th century. Irrigation systems were far more superior than those of the Anuradhapura Age during the 12th century, when King Parakramabahu I made sure that every drop of water falling from the skies was to be used toward the development of the land. The ruins at Polonnaruwa are within walking distance and many of them set in treeshaded areas, a welcome refuge from the tropical sun. En route back to Dambulla, it was a surprise that turned out to be an exhilarating ride through the jungle of Minneriya National Park on a jeep safari. Extending 8,889 hectares, this national park is famous for its large population of elephants in herds of 100 to 150 roaming in the jungle and seen in the catchment area of the lake. Spotted deer, sloth bear, jackals, 160 species of birds, 26
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varieties of fishes and 78 varieties of butterflies are some of the biodiversity recorded by the park.
Ambalama Villa
HAVE A GALLE Easing into the well-deserved respite, we head south for Galle, but not before stopping mid-way for lunch at Lunuganga Estate. Learn about the inspiring work and life of Geoffrey Bawa at his native home, which remained his first muse and experimental laboratory for new ideas until his demise in 1998. Chasing dusk under a sky awash with opals, pinks and aquamarines, the team finally arrived at the beautiful Ambalama Villa. This exclusive villa features four spacious suites that face the Indian Ocean, a large living area that we used as a brainstorming space and a large pool that opens out to a beachfront lawn. Team bonding games were held on the lawn before indulging in a poolside seafood barbecue that only the house chefs knew best.
Meals have to be pre-planned with the villa’s house chefs, which includes a humbling trip to the various fish, spice and vegetable markets that locals frequent daily. The head chef’s wide repertoire of cuisine includes anything from fish and chips to black pepper crabs and their local curries and rice.
Polonnaruwa
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antiquity, the Persians and Arabs referred to Sri Lanka as Sarandib, the origin of the word ‘Serendipity’, and we can understand why.
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Sri Lankan Black Pepper Crabs
DISCOVER AND UNWIND After a day’s brainstorming session, an invigorating Sri Lankan massage at Galle Fort Spa is not to be missed. Subject to the type of treatment chosen, the unique strokes knead away all tension in the muscles leaving the body serene and relaxed. Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese and fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century. Shop along the quaint boutiques of the fort, which is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument that after 423 years keeps its polished appearance. It also withstood the Boxing Day tsunami and is
today dotted with Dutch colonial villas, museums and churches. A trip to Sri Lanka will not be complete without exploring a tea plantation. Handunugoda Tea Estate, a Virgin White Tea Factory, specialises in the production of the world’s most soughtafter specialty teas including Sapphire Oolong and Lapsang Souchong. It also features a special blend called The Suicide Club, a personal favourite that has a hint of brandy. The Virgin White Tea of Handunugoda is the only white tea in the world that is completely untouched by hand, and contains 10.11 percent antioxidants – the highest known antioxidant content in any tea. Get a first-hand look at the production
Handunugoda Tea Plantation
process and tour around a working, living museum that operates machines which are over 145 years old. The farm also produces cinnamon, among other spices, as well as harvests natural rubber. Sri Lanka etched in us fond memories of a seductive, melancholic beauty of a nation recovering from almost three decades of civil war and the after-effects of the 2004 tsunami. The island is an escapist paradise opening into the Indian Ocean – an infinite distance from all the angst found in some city-dwellers. It also taught us gratitude, the importance of transparent communication, and better understanding of each team member.
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#Associations
AIPC CREATES AN ASIAN SUMMIT GLOBAL CONVENTION CENTRE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST AIPC ORGANISES ITS FIRST ASIAN SUMMIT TO DISCUSS CURRENT ISSUES AND PROSPECTS IMPACTING INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION. WORDS: JENNIFER SALSBURY
AIPC 2015 Asia Summit panel
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Monica Lee-Müller speaking up at the AIPC 2015 Asia Summit
The middle of October in Singapore is a busy place for our industry. The energy surrounding the travel and meetings industry on a study trip “East Meetings West” organised by Berlin based K.I.T. Group during ITB Asia 2015 was impressive. Interaction between the various groups running their separate events was remarkable, so it was no surprise that some of the Association’s executive participants on the study trip found themselves on a panel at the first AIPC Asia Summit held in Singapore on 22 October, 2015, in conjunction with local MICE association, SACEOS. In the somewhat specialist world of convention centre management, the AIPC (International Association of Convention Centres) is a legend. Well established around the world with a leading role in JMIC, AIPC seeks to encourage, support and recognise excellence in running this type of facility. JMIC is the Joint Meetings Industry Council with 17 meetings industry organisations in membership, including Asian Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaux (AACVB), and is supported by USbased Convention Industry Council (CIC). AIPC is not only a specialist within the convention centre management world that brings professionalism and industry best practices to a surprisingly diverse field, it is also active in enhancing relations within broader communities that these venues serve. It helps members to spread awareness about the value that meetings and professional venue management can bring to its surrounding businesses and related industries. For example, AIPC conducts research into economic impact measures and produces documents to support advocacy campaigns of members approaching their local authorities and funding bodies. As part of a series of regional summits, AIPC recognised the fast growth of the convention centres in Asia (identified clearly through feedback in member surveys) by initiating their first Asia Summit. “Education and exchange are two of the most important things we do as an organisation, so it only makes sense that this is where we are focusing in our regional development,” says AIPC President Geoff Donaghy. “By tapping into both global insights as well as that of top regional representatives, we can
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create a good sense of context that is important to centres and destinations seeking to grow their business presence in the most effective way”. AIPC focused this programme on the following objectives:
JENNIFER SALSBURY Contributing Editor
To develop and deliver a regional industry seminar that reflects and responds to the professional development expectations of AIPC’s Asian members and/ or potential members To provide an opportunity for those engaged in the Industry to update their knowledge and expertise in areas specifically related to convention centre management and marketing To deliver locally relevant content by adapting the AIPC knowledge base to respond to local conditions and priorities The event was a balance between the overviews from global trends and a summary of the local scene from Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok based venues, as well as updates from new convention centres in Sydney and Jakarta. There
was a consensus that customers and events were both changing. Buzzwords included “disrupters” and “adapters”, but the overall feeling was that “technology doesn’t change what we do as convention centres, it changes how we do it”. At a round-up session, Moderator Siew Hoon Yeoh led a discussion on what was needed within the Asian region. Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (HML) stated there was still a need to improve, and Asians should be more encouraged as there are now “new venues that are more sophisticated, well-developed and with better quality of services coupled with the tradition of Asian hospitality – venues should really be proud of the region and claim their position in the world”. Commenting after the Asia Summit experience, Lee-Müller further added how HML was a long-term supporter of AIPC and how they regularly send teams to attend the AIPC Academy in Brussels for career and professional development opportunities. She hopes to see more China inclusions as it is the area where the biggest development is taking place in Asia – well over 200 centres coming on in the next few years – and felt that AIPC would benefit by establishing an Asian office to conduct a stronger regional awareness campaign for their practical training towards industry standards and professional accreditations. These can and should be adapted to local elements involving “interpretation” rather than straight “translation”.
Jennifer Salsbury is the CEO at IMC Convention Solutions, an international consultancy for those wishing to understand more about the China and Asian markets. She has over 30 years of experience in destination and convention centre marketing, specialising in international associations and having strong personal connections in meetings industry organisations. Contact Jenny at jennifer@imcconventionsolutions.com
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OF USEFUL SERVANTS AND DANGEROUS MASTERS WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTS IN THE BUSINESS EVENTS SCENE THROUGH THE YEARS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TRENDING TECHNOLOGIES TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2016?
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#WiredUp
Christian Lous Lange once said: “Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master.� 100 years later this statement remains true, especially right now in the MICE industry in Asia. No matter if you are an event organiser, planner, venue operator or supplier, technology in 2015 has become an essential component of delivering the event experience as much as it has become a significant cost and risk driver. New technologies provide opportunities in rather unchartered territories (e.g. analytics) and new event concepts require entirely new applications of technology (collaborative hybrid conferences). 2016 will be an exciting year as several new technologies enter the general market (e.g. Virtual Reality), while existing and proven technologies from other regions will migrate to Asia (e.g. wearables). The six key trends captured in this article are in different stages of maturity and application, but all of them will have a substantial impact on changing the event environment in 2016:
1. VIRTUAL REALITY DEVICES VR has to be mentioned as the number one item on this list. While VR will not impact all players in the MICE industry, the introduction of consumer-level priced devices in early 2016 will result in major tectonic shifts with regards to product and service promotion on (as well as the general need of) conferences and exhibitions. Example: For a hospitality group, Globibo provided a fully immersive environment showcasing its hotel facilities via VR in an exhibition. This VR application was developed in an entirely unprecedented price-level and, as early adopters, the client benefited double: providing an absolutely realistic presentation combined with attracting a lot of attendees that were initially just interested in the technology as such.
2. DISPOSABLE SMART WEARABLES Disposable Smart Wearables had a very soft start in Asia in 2014/2015. While this moderate approach is a direct result from several market circumstances (e.g. supplier maturity, risk-averse event organisers, lack of successful business cases), the initial dust has cleared and rock-solid applications appear to now provide benefits that significantly
outweigh the operational cost. Disposable Smart Wearables will be used more and more for smart access control, tracking, payments, content exchange, networking and auxiliary services. Example: For a three-day conference targeting successful entrepreneurs, Globibo leveraged fashion-styled NFCwristbands not just for entry control, but also for networking, cashless payments and access to event parties. Several key individuals were invited with preloaded cash credits on their wristbands to motivate their attendance, and sponsors could provide special credits to individuals based on given parameters.
3. AUDIENCE COLLABORATION & INTERACTION Traditional voting systems started around 15 years ago to sustain the trend of audience engagement. With the proliferation of smartphones, participation has gradually increased during events, and successful organisers attempt to go further than only engagement. However, fragmented IT solutions and inexperienced utilisation of such tools have not yielded to game-changing additional value for the participant or event organiser. Industry-specific technology champions now produce much clearer business cases before, during and after the event with second or third generation solutions. Example: For a collaborative conference in Hong Kong, topics and speakers had to be determined during the registration process. Globibo worked with the organiser to monitor quantitative live feedback during the event to allow direct and immediate modification of the running session. A credit and merit based contribution structure was also actively moderated via a panel of predetermined subject matter experts to foster qualitative input and content that all participants could use (based on their ticketing-tier) up to three months after the event.
4. HYBRID EVENTS & CHARGEABLE CONTENT ACCESS Hybrid events began around 2012 to integrate live in-person events with virtual components. Events in Asia are also used to video material being shared
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during or after the event for marketing purposes. While some of the content is streamed live on the web, 2016 is very likely to see more bi-directional exchange between online and physical event environments especially those focussing on content sharing. Example: Many ticketed conferences require time and travel commitments of senior executives that may have difficulties pre-determining their calendar. For a client targeting C-suite executives, ticket sales were always prone to cancellations (including subsequent requests for refunds) or low conversions/signups in the first place. Globibo and the organiser conceptualised a ticket structure providing full online access to all streams of the event - live as well as recorded and available via any device at any time. This new ticket structure resulted in a 38 percent increase in direct registrations as well as a reduction of 52 percent in cancellations, significantly increasing the profitability of the conference.
5. SENSORS & BEACONS Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) solutions had a very difficult start, mainly due to misunderstood or misrepresented opportunities. Both general sensors and transmitters (e.g. beacons) provide great value in events, conference, exhibitions or venues. Exhibition organisers have slowly experimented with beacons to increase engagement with key sponsors, and this trend is likely to continue. Leading industry venues like Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre have started using sensors and real-time analytics to optimise cleaning patrol, increasing customer satisfaction and reducing cost. Entertainment events, in particular, will use sensors for noise, heat or movement to increase convenience and create more memorable experiences. Example: For a corporate event, Globibo designed beacon-based badges for 200 of their most important customers and partners. Upon entering within two meters of the beacon, the senior management team could view on their mobile devices a full profile of the attendee based on their in-house CRM. Beyond simple profile data, purchase
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history, order pipeline and technical issues/complaints were also visible. This project was only successful because: a. the client used a good amount of time to educate its senior management team how to use the information in a non-intrusive way b. the client could control the signal-receiving devices (an often misunderstood parameter).
6. ACTIONABLE ANALYTICS Big data and analytics have been a trend for many years, often still without providing solid returns for clients or event organisers. With the first generation of event applications, event analytics were largely based on reports that could be generated from the data derived from the application’s original capabilities. The information provided were insightful, but remained largely theoretical. In 2016, this is likely to turn around to specifically designing application to assess particular data for an explicit purpose within the event itself or for the next series of the same event. Example: Audience Response (voting, Q&A, survey response) or even session attendance provides very big insights into the personal preference of each participant. Together with a conference organiser, Globibo contextualised the data to customise invitations as well as event application to the participant dynamically, accommodating local data protection policies and legislation. In the invitation sessions, topics and speakers highlighted the good feedback that the participants previously provided. The subsequent increase in registration compared to the measured benchmark was estimated to be between 33-47 percent.
DR. FELIX RIMBACH Director Research & Development Globibo
#
JotItDown
The six trends highlighted in this article are set to drive the technical opportunities for the business events industry in in 2016. As mentioned in the introduction, if we put the cart before the horse, such technological trends can be a “dangerous master”. On the one hand, experiments cost money and can affect organiser, supplier or venue operator’s creditability. On the other hand, participants expect value and experience – technology is a fantastic servant to render both. So let structure follow strategy, not the other way around and good luck in 2016.
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# BEEF IT UP IN THIS NEW FEATURE, BIZ EVENTS ASIA FINDS OUT WHAT MAKES W SINGAPORE – SENTOSA COVE’S AWARD-WINNING STEAKHOUSE, SKIRT, A CUT ABOVE THE REST, AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND ITS SUCCESS. WORDS: GINA SIN
Food. A multisensory experience that plays one of the most crucial roles at an event. It goes beyond being fuel for the body and seeps into the passion and knowledge behind presenting a plate of culinary excellence. Understanding and identifying your favourite cut of beef will help elevate your dining experience, or even guide others in making the right choice. Picking the perfect cut: Identify taste preference. A ribeye’s abundant fat melting through the steak gives it a rich tenderness, while a T-bone is a prime cut that combines tenderloin and strip. SKIRT’s Black Market T-Bone and Bone in Striploin – Rare Black Angus cattle (MS5+) is a cut that is sold exclusively to the restaurant. Know your colour. Rare steaks are seared and still 75 percent red through the centre; medium rare meats should have a 50 percent red centre; steaks done medium well are seared throughout with a slight hint of pink.
Types of feeding. Whether it was grain- or grass-fed makes a difference. Grass-fed usually contains less total fat than grain-fed beef, but contains a higher level of omega-3 fats and antioxidants. During our time at SKIRT, we met August, a talented millennial with a passion for hospitality. His passion and enthusiasm piqued our curiosity and allowed us to delve further into one of the restaurant’s success elements – people.
As part of the “Building World-Class Brands” training programme, all W Singapore’s talents will need to complete its “Service Culture Training” module, which uses e-learning, videos, podcasts as well as tried and true classroom training for a more flexible and experiential learning approach. Aptitude and attitude are two key aspects to getting the right talent. To take on a guest-facing role in the hospitality industry, an individual needs to have a passion to serve and delight – which August fits right in. “Every interaction or touchpoint with a guest has an impact on the guest’s expectations and can affect the possibility of a guest’s repeat patronage. What I find particularly challenging, but yet interesting, is the potential to anticipate such expectations and to consistently deliver above and beyond those expectations,” shared August. Reflecting the same passion, Starwood Hotels & Resorts has also launched its Food Trends for 2016 in anticipation of intimate supper club-style dinners through SPG Moments. Learn more about this on www.bizeventsasia.com/ spg-culinary-moments.
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GOING FOR THE WIN SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE AWARDS RECIPIENT FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION, SING MONG KEE, BROUGHT HOME THE BACON BY HELPING SINGAPORE WIN THE BID TO HOST THE 26TH INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS WORLD CONGRESS IN 2019. WORDS: GINA SIN SANDRA HERNANDEZ
Formerly the President of the Intelligent Transport Society of Singapore (ITSS), Sing was recently named Best Business Event Champion for being an effervescent MICE Ambassador. He tirelessly championed to help Singapore win the bid to host the ITSWC 2019, the best-in-class congress that is expected to attract 5,000 foreign delegates and generate SGD11million (USD7.7million) in tourism receipts. These numbers may likely go up based on visitors figure in the last ITSWC in Bordeaux, France, which attracted 12,000 delegates. Chew Men Leong, Chief Executive of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said, “With Singapore moving towards being a Smart Nation, we are well placed to host this prestigious event. We will take this opportunity to showcase how we have been able to use smart technology and other innovative ways to transform our land transport systems and, in turn, improve the travelling experience for all users.”
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In an exclusive interview with Biz Events Asia, Sing candidly answered questions on his involvement with the bidding process for Singapore to host conferences. Biz Events Asia (BEA): Tell us about the bidding trends you’ve observed through years of bidding. Sing Mong Kee (SMK): The bidders are getting more creative in their proposals with interesting theme and well thought-out conference programmes, firm financial commitments and numerous support letters from government agencies and key industry players. The bid documents have become more voluminous and video about the bidding city in DVD is common. BEA: What are a few topics you can’t do without in the bidding process?
SMK: Organising lobby activities, seeking financial support, looking for venues for the conference, gala dinner, technical visits and hosting dinners. BEA: In the years leading up to the congress, what are the things you and your team do to prepare to host the congress? SMK: We need to set up several committees to focus on different areas of work. We will seek sponsorship from the industry local and overseas. We need to work out the marketing strategy for the event. BEA: After two unsuccessful bids, what did you do right to finally win the congress? SMK: We treated every vote important for our win. We engaged and communicated with every voter and even visited them in their home country to explore collaboration initiatives.
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EXHIBITION ORGANISER ABOVE THE REST
WINNER FOR SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE AWARDS’ EXHIBITION ORGANISER OF THE YEAR, HR SUMMIT 2014, BELIEVES A WINNER HAS TO HAVE EFFICIENT PROJECT MANAGEMENT SECOND TO NONE, INNOVATIVE AND INTERACTIVE IDEAS THAT ALLOW BUSINESS NETWORKS TO BE IMPROVED THROUGH FRUITFUL DISCUSSION AND PRODUCTIVE OUTCOMES BASED ON THE EVENT’S SUCCESS IN MEETING ITS GOAL.
The HR Summit 2014, through its Marketing Director, George Smith (GS), shared what it takes to bag the prestigious award from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). Smith comments on the trends that will shape up the way exhibitions are organised. BEA: Share with us some user-engagement trends in MICE. GS: Mobile apps are definitely leading the way in terms of user-engagement trends across MICE. Delegates and attendees appreciate how a good mobile app can transform a congress or summit into an immersive and engaging experience. Not only can they keep track of all the sessions happening throughout the day, they can also stay connected with other delegates through activity feeds and network at the touch of a button. Smart registration is yet another hot engagement trend for MICE across the region – it’s a potential goldmine that allows organisers to impress delegates with personalised touches and get to know them even further still. BEA: Can you provide some details about the post-summit webinar? GS: This HR Summit Exclusive Community was created for delegates, speakers and
partners of HR Summit. In this expansive global network, HR professionals, business gurus and management leaders discuss wide-ranging HR issues, from strategy to talent attraction and retention. This is a great opportunity for them to interact with fellow HR professionals and HR Summit speakers via constructive debates and discussions, touching on topics and concerns that span across different business fields and cultures. BEA: What are the omni-channel tools used? Are there any mobile applications? GS: HR Summit leverages on various platforms of social media - a powerful tool for MICE in today’s digital landscape. More importantly, we developed a sophisticated and interactive mobile app which elevated the summit and exhibition experience for delegates and sponsors alike. This mobile app allowed delegates to follow all summit sessions throughout the two days and keep track of international speakers. They are also able to download complete schedules, speaker notes and whitepapers instantly via the app. Even personalised agendas were made possible, not to mention instant polling and Live Q&A sessions.
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AN EVENING OF EXTRAVAGANCE PACIFIC WORLD SHOWCASES THEIR CREATIVITY AT THE ANNUAL IBTM WORLD TRADE SHOW HELD IN BARCELONA. WORDS: GINA SIN
Over 120 ibtm world attendees experienced an “Evening of Extravagance in Barcelona” at the new unique venue, One Ocean Club. Hosted by global DMC and event management company Pacific World, guests sampled gastronomic Spanish delights and had fresh oysters shucked right before them and served with different exotic sauces and caviar paired with a vodka shot. “Delivering events with the wow factor is what we love doing best and this one was no exception. Over the years this party has been included in the “most attended” list of events during ibtm world and we are happy to face the challenge of surprising meeting and event planners from all over the globe,” said Patricia Silvio, Global Marketing Manager for Pacific World .
even had the chance to drive them. The crowd was also serenaded by a jazz band that played on a PianoBar (half piano, half bar), while being served Bellinis and Kir Royale. Graeme Barnett, Senior Exhibition Director, ibtm world who attended the evening commented: “As one of our key partners for ibtm world, it’s great to see the full range of what Pacific World can offer, from the planning and delivery of large scale event logistics to more intimate event management and production. Either way, the team at Pacific World gets it right and we look forward to seeing how creative they can be for 2016!”
The event was organised in collaboration with Chic Outlet Shopping (luxury shopping and venues around the world) and DriveMe Barcelona, which provided Ferrari tours through the Barcelona coast that night. Some guests
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#Deals visit www.bizeventsasia.com/deals for more deals online
Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore SINGAPORE
Get a Club Room at an introductory deal offer of SGD 299 (USD210) per night for two persons at Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore. Book a minimum of three nights and enjoy the Club Lounge benefits. These include cocktail hour from 5pm to 7.30pm, mid-afternoon culinary delights, and more. Website: www.hoteljen.com/singapore/ tanglin/about/
Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit THAILAND
Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit has introduced “Inspired by You, Created by Us�, a customisable MICE package that allows meeting planners to fine-tune the deal by choosing two value-adds from a list of four, available for half- or full-day meetings. Prices start from THB4,444 per room per night. Bookings must be made by February 29, 2016. Tel: + 66 2126 9999 Email: H5213-SL20@sofitel.com
Angsana Bintan INDONESIA
Book a stay at Angsana Bintan and enjoy a complimentary full-day meeting, inclusive of lunch and coffee break. Rates start from SGD 198 nett per person. Offer is valid for bookings from now until March 31, 2016 and stays from now until October 31, 2016. Tel: +65 6849 5747 Email: sales-bintan@banyantree.com
Preferred Hotels & Resorts
PHILIPPINES
Pay for two and stay for three when you book at any of the three participating Preferred Hotels & Resorts properties - Discovery Primea, Discovery Shores Boracay, and Discovery Suites. Enjoy a complimentary third night at one of the other two hotels or extend your stay at the original destination. Website: www.preferredhotels.com/ discoveryphilippines
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关有成 总编辑
孙蕙蓉 副编辑
el@bizeventsasia.com
felicity zadro guest editor felicity@zadroagency.com.au
gina@bizeventsasia.com
2016年2月份
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打破各自为政的藩篱 自去年最后一期（2015年11月）到现在，除了广泛阅
闻名遐迩，但是作为一个奖励旅游目的地，斯里兰卡
读商业期刊及趋势报告外，我们全体同仁还飞往超过
还是鲜为人知的。我们在这里度过了一个最难忘和愉
10城市，向当地行业中的领导者讨教，请他们与我们
快的假期。
分享有关会展业的变化和趋势。本期特邀编辑，也是 屡获殊荣的传播机构――Zadro创始人和董事总经理
团队精神讲究的是大局意识、协作精神和打破彼
Felicity Zadro，将与各位读者一起探讨行业中的一些
此的界限，最忌讳的则是各自为政。我们深信适
新趋势。
当的合作伙伴将促进业务的增长。今年Biz Events 亚洲将与IMEX集团合作，我们也会在4月远赴
货币波动无疑对会展业产生了一定的影响。有些活动
法兰克福参加IMEX展。我们也将与印度WOW
策划公司也因为货币的波动而必须减少开支，但有些
Awards（EVENTFAQS 媒体）合作，深入了解印度
则盈利增加。最近，澳元大幅度贬值，这将带动旅游
的会展业。
业，预计到澳大利亚举行会议及奖励旅游的旅客将增 加，尤其是来自东南亚的商务旅客。
所谓“满遭损，谦受益”，我们会不断学习和革新， 为各位读者提供有深度的独特见解和精彩文章。今
梦幻时光2015，这个作为澳大利亚旅游局最具标志
年，我们将以9个主题与大家讨论与行业相关的课题。
性的商务会奖展会议顺利在去年12年举行。与往年相
在此，我们要感谢新加坡理工大学，支持我们的信
同，这个商务旅游盛会让许多国际买家和媒体代表留
念，赞助我们的“知识平台”。
下了深刻的印象。澳大利亚商务活动部门（Business Events Australia）向各位宾客展示了如何最大化他
拥有一支强大的队伍是企业成功的关键。今年，我们
们的预算，但又不失其品位和质量，例如在瓦登大道
有幸邀请 Jenny Salsbury成为本杂志的特约编辑。 撰
（Vardon Avenue）举行早餐联谊活动。
稿人Gina Sin也从今年起被擢升为副主编。品牌专家 Ferdi Widjaja和新加入的协调员蔡宇杰将携手合作让
在发布最新的活动策划指南之前，我们全体同仁到“
我们的设计更上一层楼。
印度洋上的明珠”――斯里兰卡进行奖励旅游。这个 有“宝石王国”之称的岛国所生产的星光蓝宝石早己
生活是美好的，希望我们的内容能丰富您的生活！
Biz Events 亚洲是以下机构的会员及指定官方媒体:
封面照片：澳大利亚梦幻时光2015。 请翻阅页62-63了解更多详情。
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