Biz Events Asia October 2016 by BEAM

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For enquiries, please contact: Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (868264-K) Suite 22.3, Level 22, Menara IMC 8 Jalan Sultan Ismail 50250 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

T +603 2034 2090 F +603 2034 2091 mycebci@myceb.com.my www.myceb.com.my

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MAX BOONTAWEE JANTASUWAN GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR Events Travel Asia

max@eventstravelasia.com

SELINA CHAVRY GLOBAL MANAGING DIRECTOR Pacific World

selina.chavry@pacificworld.com

GINA SIN EDITOR - DIGITAL BEA gina@bizeventsasia.com

EL KWANG CHIEF EDITORIAL OFFICER | CO-OWNER el@bizeventsasia.com

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

GUEST EDITORS Selina Chavry selina.chavry@ pacificworld.com

jennifer@imcconventionsolutions.com

DIRECTOR Geoff Batt-Rawden geoff@bizeventsasia.com

Max Boontawee Jantasuwan

Kristie Thong

EDITOR - DIGITAL BEA Gina Sin gina@bizeventsasia.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jennifer Salsbury

CHIEF EDITORIAL OFFICER | CO-OWNER | PUBLISHER El Kwang el@bizeventsasia.com

max@eventstravelasia.com

OFFICE MANAGER Rev Karunakaran rev@bizeventsasia.com

WRITER Ong Wenli wenli@bizeventsasia.com

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION PIXO fanix@pixosolutions.com

CONTRIBUTOR

EDITORIAL & DESIGN COORDINATOR Chua Yi Kiat yikiat@bizeventsasia.com

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OCTOBER 2016

EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Trawling through websites that publish customer feedback, the positive comments on customer service experience often carry key words such as “personalised”, and “intuition”, and positive experiences are often attributed to the service person rather than the company providing the service. In business events, we believe in curating experiences that engage the emotions of the attendees and essentially, those of the planners and service providers when they see their efforts acknowledged by the smiles on their customers.

If the trend is for planners to have better meeting and incentive design, end users would have to pay for that privilege of tapping into their talent. To deepen the engagement, meeting and incentive designers must be allowed to have a voice, to take things personally and be trusted that they do not compromise the professionalism that has earned them their reputation in the first place. If the client is really ready for change that is beyond lip service, let the planners’ actions do the talking. Only then, the business events industry will further professionalise and gain additional respect from the non-industry audience. At Biz Events Asia, we take things personally as we believe in, and love, what we do. We have lost advertising opportunities because we had to turn down requests that do not serve our readers. Our readers are no fools especially the next generation. Despite how others cast doubts, we continue our commitment in getting audited twice a year by CAB (Circulations Audit Board) without including digital magazine statistics as part of the average 12,376 copies per edition (result as of March 2016) that we physically pay cash to print and distribute.

The ability to engage emotions take personal touches no training or standard operating procedure manual can teach. It takes a planner’s personal effort and sensitivity to other people’s emotions to curate that one WOW moment - that one moment’s emotion that cannot be repeated or captured on video. That is the beauty of live events created for people who love interacting with people. However, there seems to be a mismatch between being personal and professionalism. How often have we been told “don’t take it personally” when our hard work is being criticised? Does “being professional” mean keeping silence on things we do not feel is right?

On a personal note, I am dedicating this edition to Madam Tan Ah Hui, my mother-in-law and nurturing grandmother to my team member, Kiat. She left us during this production.

The reality has not shifted from the saying “actions speak louder than words”. It is through our actions that personal branding, identity and unique selling points are created. It is then through that personal branding that attracts the best employment and for business owners, job opportunities.

Thank you for supporting our work and we hope you fulfil the designs of your heart whilst reading this edition.

El Kwang Chief Editorial Officer | Co-owner OCTOBER 2016 BIZEVENTSASIA.COM

THE PULSE

OF ASIA FOR

BUSINESS EVENTS

Biz Events Asia is the official media partner and member of: Our cover image features Thailand's familiarisation programme, TIME 2016, at Siam Society, Bangkok.

SALES & MARKETING SINGAPORE OFFICE Michelle Lim Director of Business Solutions michelle@bizeventsasia.com Charline Wong Campaign Advisor charline@bizeventsasia.com Gavin Sim Director of Business Solutions gavin@bizeventsasia.com

THE

INCENTIVES MEETINGS & EDITION

Michelle Choon Marketing Manager michellechoon@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: Rahul Sequeira Email: rahul.sequeira@themediavantage.com Tel: +971 56 693 1213 SOUTH KOREA: Alexander Paik Email: apcomm@naver.com Tel: +82 10 5042 1337

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CHINA

Asia Tour Shanghai Shanghai, China | October 2016

JAPAN

Imec Technology Forum Japan Tokyo, Japan | November 2016

HONG KONG

Engaging Millenials Work Event Hong Kong | November 2016

MALAYSIA

Conference on Social Studies Communication and Education Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | November 2016

SINGAPORE

ITB Asia Singapore | October 2016

COVER STORY

#CoverStory

“Our focus is to synergise meaningful relationships between international buyers and sellers from Thailand’s private sector.”

THE ESSENCE OF TIME THAILAND BELIEVES IT TAKES TWO HANDS – THE SELLERS’ AND THE BUYERS’ – TO CLAP IN BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE MEETINGS AND INCENTIVES INDUSTRY.

Read how Thailand executed experiential familiarisation programmes that are truly educational.

If business event buyers’ sound advice is “try before you buy”, then the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has been doing just that for the country’s target audience during the past few months. Familiarisation programmes have been an effective way for buyers to experience a destination. In fact, leading event bureaux in Asia Pacific are renowned in delivering signature programmes; ones that not only generate economically impactful business leads but also connect buyers with keen sellers.

Alex Wong

EXCLUSIVITY IS THE KEY This year’s Connections Plus saw 35 buyers from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, Europe and Australia experience the buzz of Bangkok city and the boutique charms of luxury in Koh Samui. Besides the official oneon-one buyer and seller business exchange sessions in both destinations, destination management company (DMC) Destination Asia worked with the

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Janet Tan-Collis President | SACEOS CEO | East West Planners

Nooch Homrossukhon, Director of the Meetings and Incentives (M&I) Department at TCEB, invited Biz Events Asia to experience two programmes engineered by her department, which gave us a deeper understanding of her team’s underpinning strategies. Homrossukhon said in an exclusive interview with Biz Events Asia at the Connections Plus July 2016 programme, “Over the past few years, Thailand is very fortunate to have gained the attention and support from global meeting and incentive buyers. TCEB aims to give our buyers deeper knowledge of how we can deliver successful experiences. Our focus is also to synergise meaningful relationships between international buyers and sellers from Thailand’s private sector.”

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

NOOCH HOMROSSUKHON Director, Meetings and Incentives Department TCEB

WORDS: EL KWANG

Damion Breust Head of Corporate Relations Asia Pacific Barclays

project leader from TCEB, Mrs Piyawan Yamarat, in curating unique incentive experiences like the one hosted on the private island of Koh Som. On arrival at the island, a long floating “runway” was laid from the boat to the coast to mark a sense of VIP arrival. Photographers were waiting at the end of the runway to take the perfect shot of every delegate against the picturesque backdrop of the clear blue sky and deep blue sea. Whilst on the island, a range of indoor and outdoor activities were designed to fill the laid-back day. Outdoor adventurers either snorkelled, played volleyball or lazed in the sun while the shade lovers enjoyed massages, read a book or simply hung out at the bar. A number of hotels, like the Amari hotel on this occasion, in Koh Samui are experts in delivering offsite catering services. Partnering with a creative production company, this unforgettable activity was produced to allow delegates to further bond with each other. “Incentive clients know that they are lucrative buyers to destinations and they expect sellers to present unique products like what we have experienced at Koh Som today. I know we frequently use words like ‘budget’, which may give false perceptions that we are all about the price but our clients will pay for the exclusive experiences if the price is right,” said Alex Wong, Managing Director of Asia MICE Production who was impressed by the experience. Homrossukhon added, “Through the familiarisation programmes, we create authentic activities not only to showcase our mature capabilities in delivering successful events, we also utilise these buyers’ precious time to close any possible gap between our already successful marketing campaigns and

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Selina Chavry Global Managing Director Pacific World

Daniel Chua Managing Director AONIA MICE

Andrew Chan CEO | ACI HR Solutions

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SOUTH KOREA

Daegu Art Fair Daegu, South Korea | November 2016

OCTOBER 16

ISSUE

THAILAND

World of Food Service Pattaya, Thailand | October 2016

6 #Sound Bites 10 #Taking The Lead 12 #Webspace 14 #Fresh Ideas

58 #Delve Into Singapore The sixth Singapore MICE Forum urges adaptability in volatile times

64 #Knowledge How to best quantify your return on investment

22 #Meetings & Incentives Edition

How to use clever meeting and incentive design to gain market share

68 #Associations The Associations Forum presents practical planning strategies

72 #Wired Up 38 #Delve Into China Pumped up efforts by Sanya and other second-tier cities are taking centre stage

A special event for communication professionals to herald a new age of digital

64 #Associations xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

74 #Dining Matters

AUSTRALIA

Discover Europe Travel Expo Sydney Sydney, Australia | October 2016

Ho Yoke Ping General Manager Business Events Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)

50 #Delve Into Indonesia

Shangri-La launches The Table programme

Bali & Beyond Travel Fair 2016 reveals 10 unconventional destinations to explore

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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VIETNAM

Wyndham Hotel Group has unveiled plans at a recent signing ceremony for a USD446 million Wyndham Soleil Danang located on Son Tra district. Set to become the city’s tallest building at 199 metres, the 779-room, 57-storey hotel tower will be part of a fourtower hotel and condotel complex currently under construction. Comprising 3,200 apartments, studios and hotel rooms, extensive conference facilities, a retail and dining precinct, and recreation parks, the hotel is expected to open in September 2018.

GLOBAL

MALAYSIA

Those attending this year’s ibtm world trade show held in Barcelona, Spain, will get to enjoy Catalonia through its produce and cuisine at the welcome reception as Barcelona Convention Bureau celebrates being awarded the European Year of Gastronomy. Announcing the theme for this year Graeme Barnett Senior Exhibition Director, ibtm world said, “Following a long list of great themes that include the green open spaces of Barcelona and its international fame as a sporting destination, this year Catalan cuisine is in the spotlight. More than a culmination of delicious experiences, it has become an admired model of gastronomy”. The welcome reception will take place on November 29, and will feature different zones and activities dedicated to Catalan products, its people and places.

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has named Borneo Convention Centre Kuching’s (BCCK) Research Officer, Ricch Chan Wei Chiang, “Researcher of the Month for July 2016”. The ICCA Research Department recognises members’ research contributions based on the input uploaded onto the database and the researcher with the highest score for a particular month is awarded “Researcher of the Month”. Chan, in acknowledging the award, said, “It is paramount to provide our sales and business development team with accurate and timely information to pursue opportunities in business events. It is equally important that we share/update the ICCA database with the right information to assist our fellow ICCA members to achieve the same goal.”

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SINGAPORE

The Luxury Collection and Tribute Portfolio brands by Starwood Hotels & Resorts have made their debut in Singapore with the signing of two boutique hotels. In partnership with boutique developers Harpreet and Satinder Garcha, the two distinctive properties – The Duxton Club, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Singapore and Hôtel Vagabond, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Singapore – showcase Singapore’s rich heritage in repurposed heritage buildings in the Tanjong Pagar and Jalan Besar conservation districts respectively. Hotel Vagabond, Singapore

THAILAND

Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH) recently hosted 5,000 delegates for the 32nd Thai Electrical & Mechanical Contractors Association (TEMCA). The two-day event brought back the biggest electrical and mechanical products showcase in Thailand to the vast exhibition space of PEACH. It also featured insightful seminars for its participants that included consultants, contractors, dealers and end users. Established since 1985, the TEMCA has made its mark in Thailand’s electrical and mechanical industry with a membership of more than 380 companies.

AUSTRALIA The 25th annual Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) in Melbourne will celebrate this milestone on February 21-22, 2017 with a range of commemorative and future-focused initiatives to engage the community. AIME 2017 is set to unveil a revitalised awards programme, new competitions, increased international participation, tightly-qualified Hosted Buyers, a diverse range of exhibitors, an enhanced AIME Knowledge Programme and a range of networking functions. For exhibitors, a range of new promotional and sponsorship opportunities have been developed to increase their return on investment. The fruitful appointment system from 2016 will be back with additional features added to drive the 71 percent of mutual matches between exhibitors and buyers even higher.

NUMBERS

USD1.6 trillion The amount of global business travel spend that the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has forecasted to reach in 2020.

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MALAYSIA Marking 10 years of business events in Sarawak, the 8th Anak Sarawak Award (ASA) ceremony recognised 90 meeting hosts and honoured seven special winners to acknowledge the contribution they gave to the growth of business events in the state. The decade saw the Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) win 424 events that encompassed almost 167,000 delegates from around the world. In the same period from 2006 to July 2016, SCB has also supported 194 other events, equivalent to almost 56 thousand delegates, injecting a further RM92 million (USD22.3 million) into the state’s turnover. “Business events was virtually uncharted territory in Malaysia until the state bureau began a decade ago,

an initiative that has resulted in the positioning of Sarawak as one of the leading second-tier destinations of the Asia Pacific region,” said B Dato’ Sri Dr. Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad Abdullah, Chairman of SCB. Acknowledging that it is the impassioned people who drive the business events sector, Mike Cannon, Managing Director of SCB, asserted: “We are witnessing a revolution of programmes, campaigns, ideas and initiatives which create innovative changes.” The seven awardees received grants of RM10,000 or RM20,000 to be used for international marketing efforts or to attend conferences, such as the ICCA Congress 2016 in November in Kuching to build or reinforce influential business event networks, skills, capacities, and knowledge.

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FROM THE BUREAUX NEW ZEALAND More than 1,300 of the best scientific minds are heading to New Zealand in August 2020 for the largest international conference on photosynthesis. Rotorua has won the 18th International Congress on Photosynthesis Research over other potential host locations across the USA and Europe. The conference is a joint venture between Tourism New Zealand, Destination Rotorua and the University of Otago. Professor Julian Eaton-Rye of University of Otago successfully presented the bid to officials in the

Netherlands earlier this month. Professor EatonRye will Chair the 2020 Congress alongside academics and event organisers from across New Zealand. The 18th International Congress on Photosynthesis Research will be held at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre, a Qualmark four-star plus multi-purpose complex on the shore of Lake Rotorua. The venue has capacity for up to 4,000 delegates, which was a big draw card for the International Society of Photosynthesis Research.

THAILAND Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau has unveiled four digital initiatives to promote the readiness of Thailand’s business events industry. 1.

“Biz Thailand” mobile application Available in Thai and English, the app serves as an information gateway for MICE travellers with easy access using smartphones. The application pools together useful information on attractions, restaurants, hotels, flight details, MICE venues in Bangkok and other major cities. The location-specific feature will also help update special promotions and activities in the area in real-time, and users can easily share this information through their social networks. “Spice Up Your Business Agenda” returns Following the success of previous campaigns, “Spice Up Your Business Agenda” returns for a third edition, this time with a focus on China, Cambodia, Laos,

Myanmar and Vietnam. MICE travellers from China – the top contributor to the Thai MICE sector in 2014-2015 – and visitors from CLMV will enjoy special privileges when they attend meetings in Thailand. These include cash coupons, hotel discounts, car rental discounts, airport transfers, and discounts off golf course green fees. 3.

Enhancements to the Thai MICE website The updated site provides comprehensive information on

MICE products and services, available in eight languages, and online marketing tools including a blog, digital brochure, photo and video content, infographics and digital sales kits. 4.

Digital magazine targeting MICE professionals The development of MICE marketing and industry knowledge hub will be achieved through the “MICE Moves” digital magazine, targeting domestic MICE professionals, students, and members of the public.

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Brought to you by

Korea MICE Bureau relaunches website The redesign provides an enhanced planning experience with updated accommodation database, meeting venues, business events calendar and free downloadable guides. Most notably, the RFP page allows submission of event specifications and enables progress tracking of the application.

Tech initiatives by Sheraton Grand Macao and The St. Regis Macao eVent Portfolio, a mobile tool that streamlines the event-planning process and helps event planners go green has been launched, in addition to Handy phone devices that will soon be featured across the 4,400 rooms of both hotels. These Handy phones will offer a new level of convenience and peace of mind while exploring Macao, with Google Maps and suggestions on offer through the dedicated Handy app. Unlimited voice and data access also ensures connectivity at all times.

Centred on being green, eVent Portfolio gives event planners, event managers and clients the means to collaborate via one centralised web-based tool. It integrates all documents and correspondence, which is also sorted by time and date, into one easy-to-use and intuitive user interface. Optimised for PC, Mac tablets and mobile devices, users can plan events anytime, anywhere, and connect with other parties in real-time. It also features a special sustainability tab that lets planners track how much paper, energy and waste they are reducing during their meetings.

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What you missed online on WWW.BIZEVENTSASIA.COM

Five arts and culture venues in Canberra you should know From impressive national art collections to intimate galleries where you can meet the makers, here are some exceptional arts and culture venues as Singapore Airlines launch direct flights to Canberra from Singapore on September 20, 2016.

How integrated marketing adds value to business events Mark Cooper, CEO of international business events association IACC, shares how an effective marketing platform and strategy can help venues aiming to expand locally and globally.

Meetin g facilities, reco g ni sed by t h e world . At the 5-star One World Hotel, you can expect ample space, luxuriously appointed with spectacular chandeliers and state-of-the-art facilities including simultaneous interpretation system, live feed facility and mood lighting with variable colour setting and free Wi-Fi. However, what makes corporate functions here extra special is the opportunity to put fun back into functions. Anythingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible in One World. To add some excitement to your next event, speak to our Conventions and Events team today at +603 7712 2289 or email cne@oneworldhotel.com.my

2016 Conference Packages Half Day Conference Package from USD60 per person per day

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first avenue, bandar utama city centre, 47800 petaling jaya, selangor, malaysia. toll free domestic: 1300 88 7888 toll free international: 1800 88 7888 tel: +603 7681 1111 fax: +603 7681 1188 email: enquiry@oneworldhotel.com.my website: www.oneworldhotel.com.my

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# The power of video content BridgeClimb Sydney and Akubra curated a media event that followed six Chinese visitors on an intensive one-day introduction to some of Sydney’s best loved experiences, including a climb up to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to catch the sunrise, a surf lesson at Bondi Beach and a fitting of the iconic Australian hat, Akubra, for them to keep. This 12-hour journey was filmed and the footage pitched to the media and key social media influencers via BridgeClimb’s Shanghai-based PR agency, which eventually garnered online media impressions of over 196 million and a print media circulation in excess of 7.2 million across China. Social media engagement was over 3,700, while the social media reach was over 1.8 million.

Colour your way to relaxation Westin Hotels & Resorts has partnered with renown illustrator and ink evangelist Johanna Basford in Asia Pacific as part of reinforcing the brand’s Feel Well pillar to promote mindfulness, calmness and relaxation for guests and business travellers. Basford’s colouring sheets will be available across close to 50 Westin hotels and resorts in the region until early 2017. Three colouring sheets will also be illustrated exclusively for Westin Hotels & Resorts in Asia Pacific, with more details to be revealed in the coming months. “Throwback” team building Team building organiser Village Singapura transports participants back to 1930s’ Singapore through its live role-playing games. An activity called “Village Drama Mama” sees participants form teams and put together skits based on Singapore’s history. These include competing in yesteryear activities such as identifying Indian spices; learning Chinese paper-cutting; mastering Chapteh (a game where participants have to keep a weighted shuttlecock in the air using only their feet); and balancing stones. Teams are then formed to use what they have learnt in a group skit, which will encounter a surprise situation that threatens to disrupt their storyline. Faced with this threat, teams will then have to stay in character and improvise to prevent the plot from being interrupted. Such activities are formed in the spirit of collaboration and learning, all while keeping it fresh and fun.

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#CoverStory

THE ESSENCE OF TIME THAILAND BELIEVES IT TAKES TWO HANDS – THE SELLERS’ AND THE BUYERS’ – TO CLAP IN BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE MEETINGS AND INCENTIVES INDUSTRY.

WORDS: EL KWANG

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“Our focus is to synergise meaningful relationships between international buyers and sellers from Thailand’s private sector.” NOOCH HOMROSSUKHON Director, Meetings and Incentives Department TCEB

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#CoverStory

Long floating “runway” on Koh Som

TIME Knowledge Exchange by Chinese buyers

From Left to Right: Ms Siriporn Tarnvudhikul, El Kwang, Mrs Piyawan Yamarat

their depth in destination knowledge. Through real experiences and our sincerity in establishing long-term relationships, these buyers will be more confident in recommending Thailand as the destination for their next event, knowing that they have our support in every possible way.”

TIMELY INAUGURATION Qualified buyers now have the luxury to select from a medley of exceptional and experiential familiarisation programmes. Destinations are getting more sophisticated at exceeding buyers’ expectations. In August 2016, TCEB’s M&I department introduced TIME, a brand new programme with a strong educational element for its private sector – the business event sellers and service providers. TIME is the acronym for Thailand Incentive and Meeting Exchange, which brought 40 leading buyers from China into Bangkok and Phuket. The programme kicked off in Bangkok with a full day of Knowledge Exchange, TIME’s first platform, where selected buyers conducted presentations and discussion panels for an audience of sellers and industry partners. These buyers shared useful information like trends in China and an insight to what Chinese buyers expect of destinations, event bureaux and sellers. The second platform, Business Exchange, was also held at Plaza Athenee Bangkok, a Royal Meridien Hotel on day two where 80 sellers spent oneon-one time with these buyers.

KEY INSIGHTS SHARED BY THE CHINA-BASED BUYERS AT TIME 2016 KEY DECIDING FACTORS WHEN SELECTING A DESTINATION: Safety and security The destination’s political relationship with China Visa costs and requirements Cultural and client’s corporate image match Connectivity Exclusive experiences Level of bureaux subvention support UNIQUE EXPERIENCES THAT WOWED INCENTIVE BUYERS: Exclusive dinner event hosted on Liberty Island in New York City Well thought-out meeting and incentive design that created meaningful storytelling of the client’s brand through an experience Re-creation of a local festival just for the incentive group even though the delegates were in that destination during a different time of the year KEY INDUSTRIES IN CHINA GENERATING BUSINESS EVENT ACTIVITIES: Direct selling Automobile Finance/IT Insurance

COMPLIANCE IS KEY IN SECURING MORE BUSINESS FROM CHINA: The Chinese government formed eight regulations against corruptions Corporate end users (the actual clients) will ask for direct billing, not through their agencies Increased transparency in rate comparison and event procurement processes Compliance spot checks during the tendering process Accuracy of billing

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Authentic street food dining experience

Max Jantasuwan

Pre-dinner Funfair activities

Max Jantasuwan, owner of DMC Events Travel Asia, personally led the third platform, Experience Exchange, co-designed by the project leader from TCEB, Ms Siriporn Tarnvudhikul. Amongst all activities, the stand out was an authentic street food dining experience popped up in front of the Thai Hua Museum in Phuket; an effort curated to commemorate the relationships and cross-culture legacies between China and Thailand. Biz Events Asia posted an impromptu and unedited video shot with an iPhone on its Facebook page capturing a glimpse of the experience that drew over 5,000 views on the same day. TCEB shared that TIME 2016 was focused on the China market whilst TIME 2017 will be on the India market and TIME 2018, on a global level.

A SHARP VISION Through implementing a series of source market-specific familiarisation programmes whilst supporting others organised by the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) and its members, TCEB gathered crucial findings, presented forwardlooking strategies to its international representatives, local government and association partners and Thailand’s private sector through an Industry Day forum on August 31, 2016. The M&I department aligns their mission with TCEB’s overarching vision of being “the driver of Thailand to become Asia’s top business events destination, bringing sustainable growth”. It also champions the bureau’s two of seven strategic themes, namely, boosting the business events industry demand and attracting more business events and business travellers. Homrossukhon who played a key role in winning the bid to host SITE’s global

Nooch Homrossukhon presented M&I strategies at Industry Day

TCEB launches:

conference in 2019, said that she and her team seek to achieve a target of increasing M&I visitors by five percent and an increase of 10 percent in M&I revenue in the new financial year starting October 1, 2016. The strategies towards meeting these targets include: Winning more quality events through segmented key markets: - Primary – Asia - Secondary – USA, Europe, Oceania - New – Eastern Europe and countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States Enhancing the sales and marketing platforms with capabilities to attract defined segments of corporate meetings, premium incentives and mega-size groups. Bridging relationship gaps for Thailand-based industry partners and the private sector by increasing focus on establishing stronger relationships with “overseas clients” such as corporate end users besides intermediaries and agencies, international trade associations, chambers of commerce and international media. Introduce a new “an afternoon with MI” initiative designed to increase quality engagement with industry partners and the private sector; listening and addressing their needs.

with over five key products to serve the needs of target markets: - Meet at delightful destinations – focused on fascinating history, culture and beach bliss - Meet at breath-taking venues – focused on lavish luxury - Meet the sustainable way – focused on incorporating CSR activities into M&I programmes - Meet with energy – focused on promoting exhilarating team building adventures - Meet around great flavours – focused on culinary experiences

events during the application periods October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 and travel period - October 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017:

Thailand Big Thanks - more than 2,000 delegates per group - a minimum of three nights’ stay - receive the financial support of up to THB2 million per group Meet Double Cities - more than 200 delegates per group - stay in Thailand for at least four nights in more than one Thai destination - receive the financial support of up to THB100,000 per group Meet sustainable - more than 200 delegates per group - a minimum of three nights’ stay - host a CSR activity anywhere or host an event in a TMVS certified venue - receive the financial support of up to THB100,000 per group

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#CoverStory

FABULOUS IDEAS BIZ EVENTS ASIA EXPERIENCED MOST PRACTICAL GIFT OF THE TRIP

KEY LEARNINGS FROM UK BUYERS HOSTED BY TICA, EVENTS TRAVEL ASIA AND BIZ EVENTS ASIA

PUMP UP THE ENERGY THROUGH COMPETITIVE SHARING

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FUNFAIR TO KICK START A DINNER HISTORIC MUSEUMS WITH A DIFFERENCE

Delegates may be tired of pre-dinner drinks especially after spending two evenings together. Re-ignite team bonding by creating a funfair of games and snack stalls. Use colours and lighting to enhance the mood of excitement! Let delegates win little souvenirs that can easily be packed into their luggage and bring that piece of memory home with them.

Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, located in Chiang Rai, houses the largest collection of Lanna Kingdom artefacts. Dress delegates in traditional Lanna costumes and let them experience some traditional Lanna cuisine and cultural performances like Fon Ngaen (Lanna Folk Dance) throughout the evening.

DOUBLE THE CAPACITY

Mega-size incentives may be delighted with the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) for almost doubling their capacities to 70,000 sq m worth of event spaces as of November 2016. The centre is due to host The Grand Metalex on November 23-26, 2016, a large metalworking industry event, taking up all 10 exhibition halls. Other highlights of the new development include: EH100, an event hall with a 25-metre ceiling height, perfect for entertainment events like concerts and live performances A dynamic retail and dining zone and a mixeduse office building called Bhiraj Tower at BITEC Direct access to BTS skytrain station - Bang Na

Located in the heart of Bangkok city (next to Central Mall) is the Nai Lert Park Heritage Home. Originally a family home to the Nai Lert family for three generations, it was converted into a museum in 2012. Street food stalls can be set up at the property driveway giving the visit a sense of true Thai legacy and culinary experience. Cocktail and banquet catering are serviced by the Swissotel Nai Lert Park located adjacent to the heritage home.

FAVOURITE EVENT CREW UNIFORM Just when delegates think Bangkok is filled with cosmopolitan buildings, surprise them with an outdoor event on the main lawns of the Siam Society located on Soi Asok, off Sukhumvit Road (the Kamthieng House Museum is featured on the magazine cover). Originally built in 1848 by the great-granddaughter of a Mueang Chae Prince, the Kamthieng House Museum was restored in 2001 with key elements of the traditional Lanna culture and lifestyle. This one definitely stands out in the crowd especially during emergency situations and these team members are so passionate about managing events!

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A GOOD MEETING AND INCENTIVE DESIGN CREATES A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN AN INEVITABLY CHANGING WORLD

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DESIGN OF THE MINDS HOW TO USE CLEVER MEETING AND INCENTIVE DESIGN TO GAIN MARKET SHARE AND STAY AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION. WORDS: EL KWANG | SELINA CHAVRY | MAX JANTASUWAN

Delegates are developing a phobia from attending a myriad of “just another meeting” type of meetings. Bad mass-market meetings are laden with sponsored keynotes and panels where the content mostly serve the sponsors and provide insufficient “meat” for the paying audience. Good annual meetings are challenged in exceeding set benchmarks while content creators face an increased pressure in curating crowd-pulling programmes that educate and motivate at the same time. The tightening of the budget purse has delegates questioning the value of meetings. Besides the financial outlay, what is costing delegates is their time out of the office, possibly also time away from their families, accumulating workload and attracting unsuitable business connections. Not a lot to gain from it, is there? For decades, meeting planners lived by the Benjamin Franklin motto of “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”. This decade, event professionals are more into design; that’s right, meeting design. The core principle of meeting design questions the decision makers why they want a meeting in the first place. Many Asia-based planners can already see the cultural hurdle and the career limiting move of “questioning the boss”. Nothing could be further from the truth; if we want to host successful meetings, we must design it for the right purpose and for the right audience. Unless it is a staff conference, the audience will care more about what is in it for them instead of what the “boss” thinks.

THE FATHERS OF MEETING DESIGN Eric de Groot and Mike van der Vijver are experts in the field of meeting design. Biz Events Asia first experienced their legendary work at the 2014 Meetings and Events Australia annual conference held in Kuala Lumpur. The delegates walked into the dimly lit plenary room where the chairs were stacked up like the barricade scene in

Le Miserables, with de Groot standing on top of it. Delegates put their belongings on the sides of the room whilst de Groot directed them into creating different room set up formations with fellow delegates they have not met. At the end of the session, de Groot said, “I managed to get all your full attention without you touching the phone”, which erupted hearty laughter of relief from the modern-day audience who seem to have our mobile phones glued to our hands. Fast forward to June 2016, Biz Events Asia attended a meeting design session in India conducted by van der Vijver and this time, we were eager to learn more about the importance of meeting design. Their book “Into the Heart of Meetings” (The Book) gave insights to the power of meetings as a means of communications. It explained that meetings that suffer from flatness are caused by the lack of courage or vision and the lack of knowledge. The book gave excellent insights and examples on how to use design to create a win-win situation for both the company organising the event and its delegates.

PARADIGM SHIFT OF THE MIND The key take away from the recent Singapore MICE Forum 2016 for Selina Chavry was the need to widen her company’s view as to what they are really selling and what their business want to achieve. With the constant shift in purchasing and value chain, her company has to be beyond experts at managing complex logistics and organising events to sourcing venues and activities. Her company is in the business of creating experiences. To be good at that, her company requires deeper understanding of the clients’ objectives and applying the art of meeting design to curate solutions. Businesses likes hers must be ready to morph according to the macro-economic impacts like Brexit and keep abreast of possessing the right skillset as a solution provider in order to remain relevant and competitive.

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Pacific World Stage Design

AUDIENCE-FOCUSED DESIGNS Having meeting design know-how and being creative in a collaborative approach has never been more relevant. Clients want to stand out by being different and expect meeting programmes to go beyond the traditional eight hours and unlocking the experience away from a fourwall environment. Clients want the meeting production to curate multisensory experiences with surprise elements planted along the way in an effort to keep delegates’ interests throughout the day. The layout of the plenary session sets the tone for the day. Key considerations to include are software (content development), hardware (AV equipment) and space planning (seating plan). Planners should use pre-event surveys to gain better knowledge of delegates’ behaviour patterns and combine that with the client’s key objectives in the design lay out. de Groot and van der Vijver gave an example in The Book of a new CEO of a company who sought to gain the employees’ trust and wanted to have an open dialog with them. It was better for them to divide a large audience in smaller groups and for him to be seated amongst them. What would not have worked is to have a large stage set up in front of a large auditorium as it would only further alienate the CEO, sending the audience a “me versus all of you” perception. Pacific World created an immersive environment for delegates where the speaker was positioned on a thin long runway stage in the middle of the room with the chairs and screens on both sides of the stage. Such set up sent the message that the presenter wanted the audience to be part of the experience or product they were launching. The Book also cautioned planners against having an extended meeting programme with heavy content that

#FreshIdea - reloaded

require delegates to sit for long periods of time. It quoted Mark Twain’s famous saying: “The mind can only absorb what the bottom can endure.” It is better to give delegates innovative breaks like using virtual reality to view videos of sunny beaches if the meeting room does not have much natural light and breakout sessions like the one we experienced in Kuala Lumpur. Some other useful application include allowing the audience to tweet questions and comments on the live feed anonymously to keep the conversations between the presenter and the audience “fluid” – allowing the latter to feel that the session was tailored to listening to them. In addition, programme fluidity is an upcoming trend that is especially popular with the younger generations.

Most people would have done some form of drawing in their lifetime. Re-ignite that passion by incorporating a drawing or colouring experience at a meeting break or during a breakout session. As part of the brand’s Feel Well pillar, Westin Hotels and Resorts partnered with Johanna Basford, who spearheaded the adult-coloring phenomenon with her renowned book, Secret Garden, to create three colouring sheets for its Asia Pacific hotels. Let the colouring exercise inspire meaningful conversations and the creation of new ideas amongst your delegates!

BIG SPEND, BIGGER EXPECTATIONS The incentive business may be lucrative but failure to deliver according to expectations will derail a brand from leading to dooming. Incentive programme designers and planners must have a strong mind, healthy stamina and possess the “eager to please anyone” service attitude. They must master the art of saying no with diplomacy that would make

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differences, American delegates may prefer an earlier start when they are visiting Asia as compared to their European counterparts who become livelier in the afternoon. According to The Book, engaging the physical body of the delegates are just as important as engaging their minds. The mind-body relationship is a total tangle. Experiential CSR activities touch the hearts of delegates whilst the new incentive trend of corporate brand storytelling through an experience may create a stronger sense of loyalty to the company. the requesters blush with guilt for even asking. Max Jantasuwan believes that planning an incentive programme is like planning a once-in-a-lifetime programme for someone you love and care about and you want them to be impressed. What sets superb incentive planners apart from competition is their eye for detail and the ability to translate the wildest imagination into reality. Often, expectations supersede allocated budgets. An incentive designer should use event legacies along with delegate information in curating experiences that look expensive or meaningful. For example, mega-size incentives from China may expect Thailand to re-create the Songkran festival in April when they visit in August. Due to time zone

Biz Events Asia once witnessed an incentive planner’s ability in using the same space with five different set-ups tailored for five different groups over five consecutive days. The money saved from the venue rental, event bump-in and bump-out were re-invested into AV, set design

and decoration hire. When asked if the client was concerned about using the same venue, her response was mindsetshifting: “Only I know that it is the same venue, the delegates don’t. To them, it is a brand new experience even if one of them were to attend all five nights.” Her pitch to the client was successfully accepted because of her choice of words “we are delivering five different events for your delegates, the location happens to be the same”. The key to designing a memorable incentive programme is not just about having many surprise elements but the know-how of building the suspense towards a few different ones. After all, having fireworks every evening may become an irritant instead of joy.

“The mind can only absorb what the bottom can endure” - MARK TWAIN

Creativity beach theme

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ALL IN THE DELIVERY – CLIENT’S EXPECTATIONS WORDS: EL KWANG

Asia Pacific has increased interest in attracting more incentive business. Larger international hotels and specialised venues like convention centres have extensive experience in managing the incentive business. Smaller venues and hotels, especially those in the second tier cities and newer destinations like Myanmar and Laos, are keen to have a share of that pie. However they are not as well-versed in delivering the experience incentive events expect. ASEAN’s preparation for the 2020 ASEAN Economic Community with train lines linking Singapore to China gives these newer MICE cities further motivation to be incentive-ready. The hunger to close the gap between the ability to convert sales and delivering on incentive programme outcomes has deepened. Biz Events Asia interviewed Caroline Gair, Jen Pole and Dee Kelly of cievents, who collectively shared some insights on managing incentives after their success in managing the Flight Centre Limited Global Ball.

WHEN IT COMES TO DELIVERING INCENTIVE PROGRAMMES, WHAT ARE EVENT PLANNERS’ EXPECTATIONS OF THE DESTINATIONS AND VENUES THAT SECURED THE BUSINESS? Incentives are generally a once-in-a-lifetime experience with budgets that match this expectation. We want our clients and their delegates to return home and talk about this

Onesie Party, Cotai Arena Macao

event for years to come. We hope and expect our suppliers to help us deliver this. With venues, it becomes a partnership to deliver an amazing experience. We don’t want to hear “no” and if we do, we need a reason why, and a possible alternative. We want to give delegates an experience they wouldn’t have if they travelled on their own - so what can we do? The destination locals know the area best - any suggestions on how we can enhance the experience with unique ideas are much appreciated. Professional service from all

suppliers (no matter how basic the activity) is an absolute must - we rely very heavily on the venue taking utmost care to ensure everything is delivered to expectations or beyond.

WHAT ARE SOME MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DELIVERING INCENTIVE EVENTS? A misconception is that a set group of offerings is suitable to all events, and that budgets are generous. What may have been suitable or important for one

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JEN POLE Executive Producer cievents

group is not so for the next. Incentives are events that are tailored to “wow” a particular group, and utmost flexibility and creativity are required to execute them. Budgets can be limited too, and very often we have to work hard to obtain the “wow” factor on limited funds. Venues should ask detailed questions to ensure they know what is important and how best to service each particular group.

CAROLINE GAIR Director of Supplier Relations cievents

DEE KELLY Senior Project Director cievents

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO CIEVENTS WHEN MANAGING INCENTIVES? At cievents, our main purpose it to create experiences that engage and inspire our customers and their event attendees. To continue exceeding their expectations, it is important that the venue, suppliers and our team are all singing from the same hymn sheet. Up until the time we arrive on-site, our communication has been via email and phone calls. A lot has been guaranteed so it is important that the promises that have been made are delivered. We must be given a key contact early who is not running another event the week before ours. This person must be onsite for the event. We also require an operational team that is experienced, professional, engaged, flexible and has initiative. Clear communication to all staff is important and so is empowering them to act when need be. It is difficult to be in a destination where the staff will not take initiative because they are only supposed to act when requested by a supervisor (especially when that supervisor is busy).

WHAT ARE SOME CRUCIAL VENUE OPERATION BEST PRACTICES WHEN IT COMES TO DELIVERING AND EXCEEDING CIEVENTS’ EXPECTATIONS? We must work together as a team (cievents and the supplier) and ensure that communication is paramount. We must also work collaboratively to decide

how best to service a client (standard operations are often not suitable). One of the most important parts is having a full pre-con (pre-event briefing meeting) with all heads of departments to run through the programme and ensure everyone is clear on their roles, responsibilities and all details of the event. Staff needs to be empowered and cross-trained - nothing is more frustrating than queues (at a bar, checkin, storage) because the venue can’t utilise staff from other departments to assist (idle waiters not being able to help at bars if need be, for example).

WHAT ARE SOME PITFALLS IN VENUE OPERATIONS CIEVENTS HAVE WITNESSED OVER THE YEARS?

“Clear communication to all staff is important and so is empowering them to act when need be. It is difficult to be in a destination where the staff will not take initiative because they are only supposed to act when requested by a supervisor (especially when that supervisor is busy).”

Communication breakdown between venue staff on-site has been a major pitfall we have witnessed over the years. Hierarchy of staff can also be an issue where something is passed through five different people before a decision is made. Cultural differences can also be an issue, but we rely on our professionalism to assist here. The lack

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Flightfes at Gardens By the Bay, Singapore

“Without this point person, there won’t be anyone present who knows the staff and what we are exactly trying to achieve with the event, which leaves the whole thing open to issues. This point person is vital for communication, both internally and externally.”

beginning of its life cycle. It’s a great destination but more infrastructure is required beyond the main two cities of Hanoi and Saigon. Better lift out of Australia would also benefit this destination, but it’s an incredible place.

of empowerment and cross-training of staff has been another hurdle. This means that when something is not running smoothly during an event (which happens) the staff are not proactive with quick resolutions. Not understanding that their usual procedures may not suit a particular group and that these should be tailored to ensure better operations is something that must be understood during the pre-con.

WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE DESTINATIONS IN ASIA THAT IMPRESSED YOU?

HOW CAN VENUES CLOSE COMMUNICATION GAPS INTERNALLY (AMONGST VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS) AND EXTERNALLY (WITH THE CLIENT AND THEIR APPOINTED INCENTIVE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES) FOR A SUCCESSFUL EVENT? Emails can really help to communicate what you need, but a phone conversation can be even better. Depending how far out the event is, fortnightly and then weekly calls help. With technology, you can often video chat as well. It is also very important that one contact at the venue be across all details of the programme and that this person be present during the event. Without this point person, there won’t be anyone present who knows the staff and what we are exactly trying to achieve with the event, which leaves the whole thing open to issues. This point person is vital for communication, both internally and externally.

Waiting for keynote speaker, Marina Bay Sands Singapore

Japan is one of the best destinations purely based on its authenticity. It remains true to itself and offers clients a meaningful cultural experience. There are not many highprofile destinations left in the world that can truly offer this. Hong Kong is another city that continues to impress. The New York of Southeast Asia, it has fantastic hotels and venues, great restaurants, a vibrant social scene and crosssection of activities that suit every budget. Vietnam - this country, as far as MICE suitability goes, is still at the

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ALL IN THE DELIVERY – VENUE’S EXPERIENCE WORDS: EL KWANG ICC Sydney

With over 30 years of working with incentives like Amway China, NU SKIN, Century Marketing, Herbalife and Erina to handling events for IBM Australia and IBM Japan, Australian business events legend and Director of Event Services at the soon-to-be-opened International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), Malu Barrios shares her experience from the venue operations perspective.

WHAT ARE SOME MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DELIVERING INCENTIVE EVENTS? The three main ones that spring to mind are that incentive events have unlimited budgets, that all these clients come from China, and you can deliver a cookie-cutter solution to an incentive. This is simply not the case and in my experience I’ve worked with a number of incentives from every part of the world.

WHAT ARE SOME CRUCIAL VENUE OPERATION BEST PRACTICES WHEN IT COMES TO DELIVERING AND EXCEEDING CLIENTS’ EXPECTATIONS?

Malu Barrios

You need to appreciate that every client has different requirements, and constant communication is absolutely vital to ensuring you are both on the same page to deliver an exceptional experience. Teams must be customer-focused and be ready to work “shoulder to shoulder” with clients every step of the way to ensure we cater to their specific needs and create bespoke solutions where possible. Being conscious of time differences – what may seem like a small detail can make a world of difference.

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ADVERTORIAL

Business events the Borneo way

The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) in Sarawak, Malaysia, has the experience and expertise to host some of the most memorable business events.

sectors, BCCK has become a growing platform for knowledge-sharing, showcasing products and services, networking, and more. In Sarawak’s growing position as a captivating ecotourism destination, Kuching is known as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of typical city settings, allowing participants to convene without any disruptions.

Expanding opportunities

The completion of the third bridge to the Kuching Isthmus (where BCCK is situated), has made Kuching’s new business district more apparent as a strategic connection to the state’s hightech industrial parks, tertiary education district, Kuching port, government administration district and the old city centre.

s the first international purposebuilt convention centre in Sarawak, Malaysia, BCCK is a state initiative by the Sarawak Government to grow business tourism through the hosting of business events.

A new hotel adjacent to a hospitality university right across the BCCK is slated for soft opening by the end of this year, with additional two office tower blocks – grade A office spaces – nearly completed.

Launched in 2009, BCCK comes fully equipped with high-tech conference facilities to serve the business events industry from local to international levels. With the help of a robust support by both government and private

Responding to the increasing demands to house bigger conferences, exhibitions and events, BCCK has converted its level one carpark into a fully air-conditioned functional event space, and is currently conceptualising

an expansion plan to host larger events, which will begin once the green light has been obtained from the stakeholders.

Beckoning leading events

The number of events held in BCCK is increasing yearly. To date, BCCK has welcomed close to 1.3 million delegates and visitors from all corners of the world and hosted more than 1,000 events. The centre’s 2015 client satisfaction score at 98 percent bears unequivocal testimony to its ability to consistently deliver successful events. Come November 2016, Kuching will welcome approximately 1,000 International Convention and Congress Association (ICCA) members from all over the globe. ICCA is the crème de la crème of annual congresses in the business events industry where it attracts top and senior management level attendees to convene throughout the four-day event.

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WHAT ARE SOME POTENTIAL PITFALLS IN OPERATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO INCENTIVES? Not understanding the characteristics and culture of the attendees – this will vary according to the country of origin of the incentive group, and the specific business culture of that particular organisation. Food is a vital component of the whole incentive event experience and it is crucial to offer delicious cuisine that caters to the group’s preferred tastes. I learnt this the hard way – very early in my career, I left the catering to a Swedish chef to prepare a meal for a Japanese incentive group – disaster!

HOW CAN VENUES CLOSE COMMUNICATION GAPS INTERNALLY (AMONGST VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS) AND EXTERNALLY (WITH THE CLIENT AND THEIR APPOINTED INCENTIVE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES) FOR A SUCCESSFUL EVENT? Establish “Clarity of Vision” for every event. By this I mean confirming what needs to be achieved from both the client side and the venue. Once an incentive event is confirmed, it is important for the venue’s events department to give a briefing to all operational departments concerned to let them know of the event and make a plan on how to make it a successful experience. At this point, it is also important to advise the group on any challenges that can be faced in the

ICC Sydney-Ballroom

lead-up to the event – e.g. different requirements for insurance, dining, digital signage, and any out-of-thisworld theming. To do this make sure you establish communication protocols between the client and venue – these include who is authorised to negotiate on behalf of both teams, agreed timelines to meet all deliverables, checklists, strategy documents and all scheduled meetings. It’s also a good idea to host food tastings when possible and detailed imagery of what the event will look like to really help bring the event vision to life for your client.

HOW CAN EVENT PLANNERS MAKE SURE THEY DELIVER A “WOW” EXPERIENCE FOR INCENTIVE EVENTS AND SET THE INDUSTRY BENCHMARK? Always work to the philosophy “our client’s success is our success” – this is the ICC Sydney mantra. ICC Sydney-Exhibtion

You need to create a seamless experience from the moment your delegates arrive at the host city to the second they leave. To help facilitate this, it is important to work collaboratively with all government agencies (customs, immigration, convention bureau) and stakeholders (destination marketing companies, ground handlers, hotels, theming companies, and production companies) so everyone has the same understanding of who the client is and what needs to be achieved. Within the venue itself, you must try to create a temporary ecosystem that brings people together in an inspiring destination that helps them step away from their everyday environment and think openly and creatively. It should be cohesively branded, creating an entirely different world for attending delegates. Indeed, you need to deliver a fully immersive experience. If you’re able to do all of that then you can provide an environment that encourages creativity, networking and engagement – the key reasons people host events and something I’m proud to say we offer here at Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct. At the end of the day it comes down to this adage: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou.

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Katara Cultural Village, Doha

It takes a village.

Katara - our first and most ancient name. Where the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultures come together as one.

www.visitqatar.qa

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Brought to you by AccorHotels

DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL VALUE AccorHotels delivers more value to event planners through smarter innovations that aim to achieve better meeting designs. Event planners are paying more attention to designing events that centre on the delegate experience and desired meeting outcomes. Planners strive towards raising the bar in the quality of events they curate whilst keeping to unbending budgets. AccorHotels, a thought leader in the meetings and events industry, continues to bring value to their customers. With a service mentality of being flexible, creative and generous, AccorHotels has the best practice when it comes to delivering event objectives with confidence. With regards to clever designs for meetings and events, AccorHotels holds the keys to two important elements: exquisite food and beverage and hosting mindful meetings.

Outdoor set-up by Pullman Saigon

“We love working with AccorHotels as they are fast to respond to our queries and tailor to our unique requirements. Service is guaranteed at the properties and they never fail to make you feel at home,” said Jeanette Foo, Meeting Manager, Singapore, American Express Meetings & Events. “I love working with AccorHotels as they are fast, efficient and they understand what we need. Sometimes we need an unrealistically fast turn-around and they will do that for us. We need the hotel to develop the efficiency of the responding time to catch with the world today,” shared Max Jantasuwan, Group Managing Director – Asia, Events Travel Asia.

Food and Beverage Curation

Events bring like-minded people together. AccorHotels understands the cultural importance of delegates bonding over food, especially in the Asia Pacific region. Building on the food trends of aestheticism, indigenous ingredients and authenticity, they have created experiential culinary packages with the freshest produce to lure the most sophisticated of taste buds.

Outdoor set-up by Pullman Saigon

Vietnam’s mysticism, rich FrenchVietnamese cross-cultural influences and diverse cuisine have captivated international delegations and made it one of the most popular meetings and incentives destinations in 2016.

Outdoor set-up by Pullman Saigon

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“Though the workshop was pretty intense, the personal touches and attentiveness by the team at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa has given us a good balance for work, fun and enjoyment. Thank you Sofitel!” ADELINE KOH Senior Business Development Manager, Asia Pacific Reworld Media Group. Pullman hotels in Vietnam have further enhanced the value for meeting planners with new food and beverage experiences that facilitate their “meetings anywhere” and “breaks anywhere” concepts. Tapping onto the indigenous culture, the Pullman Saigon pays homage to the Vietnamese heritage by creating an outdoor set-up showcasing traditional Vietnamese coffee, sugar cane press and local street food items like Banh Xeo Cuon (savoury pancakes filled with fresh herbs, diced pork, bean sprouts and other fresh vegetables). Other themed breaks include PLANET 21 – AccorHotels’ 21 aligned commitments to sustainable development. These breaks are focused on healthy treats and locally sourced produce as well as The Signature Surprise, which explores presenting food in unexpected ways and keeping the energy upbeat and cheerful. Be so inspired by Sofitel’s signature InspiredMeetings concept. Sofitel hotels and resorts combine the latest conference technology with a passion for excellence, where meeting planners are assigned a dedicated hotel planner, concierge as well as a chef to ensure that every detail is tailor-made to perfection. End the afternoon on a sweet note with Chef Awang Selamat Yong Vin Cent, Assistant Pastry Chef of the newly renovated Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, by conducting a chocolate and dessert workshop for your delegates after an outdoor team building activity by Focus Adventure around the Sentosa Island.

PLANET 21

“The food we enjoyed at Sofitel Sentosa Resort and Spa was one of the highlights of our recent executive meeting in Singapore,” said Dennis Basham, General Manager Scoot Australia. “The dishes were delicious and really showcased local ingredients but were also presented so beautifully that we all spent a lot of time photographing the food before eating it.”

PLANET 21

Adeline Koh, Senior Business Development Manager, Asia Pacific, Reworld Media Group shared: “Our fullday workshop at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa was impeccably planned out for us. From a healthy dose of breakfast to kick-start the day to the unexpected surprise of cupcakes with our magazine’s logos and staff names during the tea break. Though the workshop was pretty intense, the personal touches and attentiveness by the team at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa has given us a good balance for work, fun and enjoyment. Thank you Sofitel!”

The Signature Surprise

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“Pullman Saigon is so lucky to have a young, dynamic, full energy & service spirit team like this and you will have a big YES from us for the question: “Will you choose Pullman Saigon for your next event?” PFIZER VIETNAM

Meeting of the Minds

The importance of health, well-being and sustainability ranks high for AccorHotels’ clients. According to Charlotte Gutte, Director of Sales – Meetings and Events based in Australia, “Delegates want to connect more meaningfully with their destination and event planners are exploring different ideas to retain delegates’ attention and energy levels,” she said. “We have to be more creative and link with the local culture to truly give delegates a new experience.” Renowned for its carbon neutral meetings movement, Mercure Hotels introduces the Mindful Meetings programme in Australia to help planners to create better meeting designs. The Mindful Meetings concept focuses on mindfulness as a strategic pillar in achieving event objectives. It encourages the use of traditional and non-traditional meeting spaces within and around the hotels to make the most of natural light and fresh air. The mindfulness impact culminates by fuelling delegates’ minds through healthy breaks designed with clean and whole food ingredients by renowned nutritionist, health writer and founder of A Healthy View, Michele Chevalley Hedge. Pullman Junction, Pullman Bangkok King Power

Mindful Meetings by Mercure Hotels

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Sofitel Singapore City Centre

Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20

“We are excited to roll out the Mindful Meetings Mercure Hotels programme in Asia in 2017 as a way to show our loyal clients how much we care about the success of their events. We will then reward them through the Le Club AccorHotels Meeting Planner, an uncapped loyalty programme specially designed for professional event planners with no minimum point spending and no maximum points earning restrictions,” said Kerry Healy, Vice President Sales Asia Pacific of AccorHotels. “We are also delighted to introduce the Mercure Singapore Bugis into the strong global network of 732 Mercure Hotels.”

Keep Evolving

AccorHotels listens to its clientele and delivers newer hotels to maintain its leadership in the meetings and events market. The newly opened Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 expresses the latest style of Novotel hotels where versatility of space is the new norm with modern

event planners. The “Gourmet Bar” and “Food Exchange” located in the core of hotel spaces are Novotel’s latest dining concepts that serve superb local and international cuisine in a lively and sociable space. In December 2016, Pullman Bangkok King Power will reveal brand new accommodation rooms and event spaces which include a 520-sq m Infinity Ballroom and a “Pullman Junction” lobby area featuring novel rotating food and beverage themes and spaces, based on the Pullman concept of “Our World Is Your Playground”. Slated to open in Quarter 1 of 2017 is the brand new 220-room Sofitel Singapore City Centre. Guests will experience the optimum luxury accommodation with stunning city views. Located in the heart of Singapore’s CBD – Tanjong Pagar. Access to a 620-sq m ballroom, eight meeting rooms and a plethora of restaurants and bars means organising your event has never been easier.

About Le Club AccorHotels Meeting Planner: · Free to join programme created for professional event planners · Earn 1 meeting planner point for every EUR 2 spent · Points can be used to redeem hotel stays and airline miles · Points will not expire if the member stays or holds an event every 12 months · Double dipping for the contract signatory and member delegates · Uncapped programme – no minimum points spending requirement and no maximum points earning restrictions Join now via www.accorhotels.com/meetingplanner. AUG-SEPT 2016

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ICE M ING G R ME S THE ACT E AN LINE TTR S A A R ISE UNDE GN TO R â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON AI ETS. A P Y I SAN TINAT E CAM MARK V DES RESSI ONAL I AGG RNAT E INT

Overview of Mandarin Oriental, Sanya

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SANYA’S RISING STAR THE INAUGURAL MICE FORUM ATTENDED BY CLOSE TO 200 DELEGATES HINTS AT PLANS TO PROPEL THE TROPICAL HOLIDAY DESTINATION TO A WORLD-CLASS HUB FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND HIGH-END INCENTIVES. WORDS: ONG WENLI The debut of the 2016 International Island Sanya Forum drew industry professionals from around China to the tropical city, in a key step towards positioning Sanya as the next big MICE destination. Sanya received 7.8 million overnight tourists in the first half of 2016, recording a 13.6 percent year-on-year increase in the number of overseas tourists. The leisure tourism sector is clearly thriving but what will it take for Sanya to penetrate the international MICE business?

GAINING MOMENTUM Held at the Beauty Crown Grand-Tree Hotel, the forum kicked off with a keynote speech by Noor Ahmad Hamid, Asia Pacific Regional Director of ICCA who announced Sanya Tourism Development Commission (STDC) as its newest member. The city made the ICCA 2015 ranking for the first time with five events held last year that has helped to raise the profile of the city on the international stage. Hamid noted that Sanya has a robust incentive and leisure tourism sector but stressed the need to diversify for sustainable growth. He cited Melbourne and Singapore as smart cities that have built on their existing infrastructure, creating meeting facilities and worldclass leisure activities that put them on the map as major convention cities. Establishing a convention bureau would be the next step to market the destination globally, he added.

As a pledge to signal their commitment towards developing Sanya as a premier events destination, the forum also saw the incorporation of the Sanya MICE Tourism Advisory Board, comprising eight key figures from leading MICE companies within China including the China Smart MICE Group, Grand China MICE Holdings Co., Ltd and CTS Mice Service Co., Ltd, among others.

GROWING INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE STDC aims to position Sanya as a premium coastal and international city. By joining ICCA, Sanya seeks to learn from other successful MICE destinations and raise its profile to attract more corporate and association meetings. Zhang Feifei, Deputy Director of STDC said, “We have had our sights on the MICE market for many years now recognising the potential in the market. Until now, we have mainly been attending more established shows in Shanghai and Beijing. With the support of our industry peers, we felt that this was the right year to bring all the players – buyers and sellers – together for the launch of this inaugural MICE Forum.” Chen Guojiang, General Manager of HIMICE Sanya - the official DMC for the forum – has high hopes for the city, saying, “Sanya has the potential to be a leading MICE capital within China and Asia Pacific on the back of improving

on its tourism hardware and software, to deliver multi-faceted meetings that incorporate entertainment, themed events, bespoke experiences and leisure activities.” The panellists at the forum conceded that Sanya still had challenges to overcome, in particular with the recurring topic of limited international flight routes and capacity limitations at the airport. While upgrading plans at the Sanya Phoenix International Airport continue, international flight carriers choose to wait to gauge the demand in the market. Zhang added, “We are in the midst of expanding the international airport in stages through land reclamation projects and we expect to see major enhancements within the next three to five years. The new airport will relieve the issues with congestion and propel Sanya to become an aviation hub for the region.”

LANDMARK EVENT Day two of the event was focused on the Sanya International MICE Procurement Conference that matched over 100 attendees including buyers from around Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with local service providers and hoteliers. Hosted at the Wanda Vista Resort Sanya on Haitang Bay, the ballroom was decorated with palm trees and poolside decorations, as a reminder of the natural beauty of Sanya while attendees were exchange ideas and struck deals.

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ICCA Ceremony

Stephan Stoss, Hainan South Cluster General Manager, Hilton Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spa felt that the conference was a landmark event for Sanya. He said, “We hope to see more forums focusing on building bridges for buyers and sellers and at the same time help hotels to better understand and capture the buyer’s market demand and further improve our own competitiveness.”

POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH It is easy to see why the domestic travellers who have visited Sanya keep returning to this tropical haven. The southernmost city of South China, Sanya is easily the nation’s most popular coastal destination, in the warm summer break or as a respite from the wintery cold. Soft, white sand and trendy waterfront bars line the long coasts that are dotted with sprawling resorts. There are around 60 luxury hotels and resorts from international brands within Sanya. Many of these properties are concentrated along the coasts of Yalong Bay, Sanya Bay and Haitang Bay, most with their own sizeable MICE facilities.

Sanya Tourism Morning marketAdvisors

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ith the support of our industry peers, we felt that this was the right year to bring all the players – buyers and sellers – together for the launch of this inaugural MICE Forum.

ZHANG FEIFEI Deputy Director of STDC.

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Western banquet lawn set-up at Shangri-La’s Sanya Resort & Spa

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Sofitel Sanya Leeman Resort lobby

The established Yalong Bay offers some of the biggest names in luxury accommodation, including the Ritz Carlton, Park Hyatt, St Regis, Hilton, Pullman and Sheraton. But the spot to watch is Haitang Bay, north of Yalong Bay, which is mainly populated along the 42 kilometre coastline. The 500-room Sanya EDITION by Marriott opens this year while the 1,300-room Atlantis, 290-room Rosewood and the first One&Only Resort in China will launch in 2017. The massive 153-acre Atlantis complex will also feature a water park, marine life and close to 20 restaurants and bars. As room inventories increase on Haitang Bay, it will ease the pressure on existing hotels that run on full capacity during the peak seasons. Competition will create new opportunities while new developments will attract a fresh pool of talent. Meanwhile, the state is embarking on a progressive campaign to ensure that the tourism boost will be sustainable. Zhang said, “Sanya has become a test-bed for the government-led campaign that aims to beautify the city by converting unused land to green zones and unifying its cosmetic appearance.” Under the surface, the city’s irrigation is being enhanced and ecological preservation is reinforced to ensure that the growth of the city is sustainable, much like the advanced convention cities that Sanya is building towards.

Sofitel Sanya Leeman Resort

Where to stay and meet At the Sofitel Sanya Leeman Resort on Haitang Bay, the attention to detail helps the resort to shine. A good proportion of the guest rooms are twin-sharing catering to the market for MICE delegates. Guest rooms are designed with a spacious changing area within the wardrobe and are stocked with toothbrushes of different colours to make room sharing among colleagues interesting and convenient. The 1,100 sq m pillar-less ballroom and nine meeting rooms offer plenty of choices for events while the Central Lawn can easily host 2,500 guests in a cocktail setting. Located on its private coastline along Dadong Sea, the Mandarin Oriental, Sanya offers a sense of calmness away from the more touristy bays. Apart from relaxing at the luxurious spa set in private villas, guests can also book a consultation with the resort’s in-house Zen Master. Trained in Shaolin Kung Fu, Master Hu has been with the property since its opening and leads various classes that he promises will improve one’s balance, mind and body. The 12-hectare resort offers over 6,000 sq m of event venues, including numerous outdoor venues with beautiful poolside and garden backdrops. The newly-launched Funventure at Shangri-La’s Sanya Resort and Spa is a 3,000 sq m outdoor team building complex. Set amid the resort’s lush greenery, there are over 10 stations along the course which can accommodate up to 200 participants. The resort also offers 8,000 sq m of sports and recreational activities including an archery range, volleyball court and mountain bike trails. A new wing under construction is set to increase the inventory to 550 guest rooms by the end of the 2016.

Meeting room at Sofitel Sanya Leeman Resort

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ALL-TIME HIGH AT IBTM CHINA 2016 IBTM CHINA ENDS ON A HIGH NOTE WITH BROADER TRACTION AND RENEWED INSPIRATION. WORDS: GINA SIN

Packed knowledge sessions, over 7,000 appointments and a dedicated zone for innovation and technology were among the highlights at the 11th ibtm china trade show that took place from September 7-8, 2016. Some 400 buyers from over 49 international destinations (double last year’s 21) attended the two-day show held at the China National Convention Centre (CNCC), which saw 360 exhibitors from 26 countries filling the show floor with a flurry of interest. This represents an increase in international exhibitors and the launch of the Innovation Zone, which made its debut at ibtm china. Each tech exhibitor was given a dedicated and customised space to meet and do business. Known as a “meeting pod”, each space came with a LCD screen and an all-inclusive package that

allowed the supplier to simply turn up and get started with appointments. All they had to do was provide their own branding. Pacific World was re-appointed as the official DMC partner facilitating all onsite logistics at the show including hospitality staff at each hotel, airport transfers, ground transfers, pre-show tours for hosted buyers and media as well as entertainment during the ibtm china Welcome Reception.

CONTENT IS KING Knowledge programmes were curated based on surveys done before the exhibition. Around 80 percent of corporate buyers planned to purchase hotel products and services, which led to the “Special Lecture on Hotels and Destinations” session; approximately 50 percent of professional buyers expected

Garden Pavilion - China World Hotel

to purchase liner products, which led to the special forum on cruise liners titled “Convergence of New Trends at Sea”. Cindy Zhang, CEO at Faces of China – Shanghai, identified critical planning phases within the incentive travel programme management and reviewed the proven solutions that prevent common risks from occurring; Noor Hamid, Regional Director Asia Pacific of International Congress and Convention Association reported the latest rankings of places that have made the “best destination” list for meetings and congresses; Roger Simons, Regional

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Sustainability Director (APAC) at MCI Group shared on how to drive event sustainability with the growing pressure from the government, corporations, and growing consumer interest on environmental protection.

PREVALENCE OF TRADE SHOWS

Trade shows provide the platform for businesses to make meaningful connections, do business and learn about the latest trends and best practices surrounding the industry – a worthwhile investment for all business events buyers and suppliers that will only grow in years to come.

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the past 11 years starting from 2005, ibtm china has become the only state-level MICE international exhibition in China and is a large and successful MICE-dedicated international exhibition in Asia

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CAO PENGCHENG Deputy Director Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development (BMCTD).

“In the past 11 years starting from 2005, ibtm china has become the only state-level MICE international exhibition in China and is a large and successful MICE-dedicated international exhibition in Asia. ibtm china 2016 plays a significant role in building Beijing into an international MICE tourist destination,” said Cao Pengcheng, Deputy Director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development (BMCTD) at the official ibtm china press conference. Despite a noticeable absence from exhibitors like the Singapore Tourism Board and Tourism Australia, international exhibitors like London & Partners, MEET TAIWAN returned for the first time in years, while exhibitors like Business Events Canada, Peninsula Hotels and Aeroflot Russian Airlines participated for the first time. Peninsula Hotel Beijing welcomed hosted buyers with an ice-breaker networking function the day prior to the opening of ibtm china 2016. The hotel also took the chance to showcase its recent refurbishment, revealing its palatial interiors and art pieces by some of China’s most eminent artists. China World Summit Wing, Beijing, and China World Hotel, Beijing, were among the two properties delegates were put up in. China World Summit Wing, which hosted the Welcome Reception, were especially commendable for the quick turnaround after the original outdoor party was disrupted by a storm. The drinks never stopped flowing in the foyer while buffet stations were set up promptly.

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Modern city of a bygone era

Travel back in time to Xi’an and discover the cultural activities, natural landscapes and historical relics that offer a unique peek into the fascinating history of ancient China.

mong the four great ancient civilisation capitals of the world and the glorious capital for rulers of 13 different dynasties, Xi’an is a capsule that holds its culture and place in history. The influential metropolis thousands of years ago is once again emerging as an inimitable destination with its ancient charm and modern infrastructure.

Sights steeped in history

Ascend the 12-metre high Xi’an City Wall to take in the views of the city, both historical and modern. It spans almost 14 kilometres encircling the time-weathered city and remains one of the largest military defensive systems in the world. Rent a bicycle or have a relaxing Tai Chi session against the backdrop of the most ancient metropolis in China. No visit to Xi’an would be complete without witnessing the stunning archaeological sites of the Terracotta Warriors. The Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, a UNESCO Heritage Site, houses thousands of

Yongning Gate in Xi’an - VIP greeting ceremony

life-sized soldiers, horses and chariots, bearing a testament to the military prowess of the Qin Empire. Built within the city centre during the Tang Dynasty for studying of Buddhist scriptures, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda has since been carefully restored. A short drive away, the Shaanxi History Museum was built to replicate Tang-styled architecture and showcases an expansive collection of relics and murals from past dynasties of China.

Colourful cultural activities

The massive Xi’an Tang Paradise measuring over 650,000 sq m is a throwback to the glories of the Tang Dynasty. The prosperous and enduring

empire gave birth to a colourful period of arts, religion and culture. Entirely recreated to celebrate Tang architecture and landscape, the theme park features gardens, pavilions and murals while the theatre offers a spectacular show of traditional operas and dances. Located along the easternmost point of the Silk Road, the city’s excellent location brought an influx of foreign traders and their cultures and religions to Xi’an. The Great Mosque of Xi’an was built to honour Arabian traders who introduced Islam to China and presents a unique combination of traditional Chinese architecture and Islamic art.

Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum

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Xi’an City Wall Local craftsman

Shaanxi History Museum

For an experience that truly is off the beaten path, hire a local driver for a vintage sidecar tour through plateaus to Banpo Village. Take in the sights en route to the small villages to meet the local craftsmen and view inhabited cave dwellings.

Distinct and diverse food culture

Cuisine in Xi’an is primarily based on Shaanxi cooking – hearty and rich in flavours – with influences from foreign traders passing through. Dumpling feasts are a Xi’an specialty, with some diners offering up to 100 varieties prepared in every way possible. Also

not to be missed are the street food stalls at Muslim Street that create a unique buzz. Open day and night the stalls offer authentic local dishes such as skewers, stews and breads within the close-knit Muslim community.

Breathtaking backdrop for events

Qujiang International Conference & Exhibition Centre sits within the Xi’an Qijiang New District, and economic district designed to foster growth in tourism and other industries. The venue takes up a total of 230,000 sq m including indoor exhibition halls and outdoor space that is divided into the East and West Square.

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EYE ON THE HORIZON BIZ EVENTS ASIA TAKES A LOOK AT THE READINESS OF CHINA’S DEVELOPING BUSINESS EVENTS LANDSCAPE. WORDS: GINA SIN As a unique destination China remains a top focus for global companies due to the size of its economy and the prevalence of manufacturing. As a result, locations within in the region are emerging as appealing destinations for a wide range of meeting types. Second-tier cities are some of the most prominent exhibitors at ibtm china, arousing interest and buzz on the show floor. They include Kunming, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Ningbo. How ready are they to handle the international market? Raymond Qian, Director at C&R Solution Co., Ltd, a local destination and event management company based in Shanghai, shares his thoughts on the readiness of these cities, commenting: “From my perspective, the second-tier cities are mainly Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Shenzhen, and Xi’an. Regarding the facilities for incentives, meetings and events, I think these five cities are almost ready, especially Hangzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen. However, when it comes to conceptualising and the overall understanding of MICE, these destinations may not be as ready. While they all have very big venues for meetings and events, numerous international hotel chains and have very significant local culture (except

Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Shenzhen), there are not enough DMCs or other similar agencies who can provide real DMC services for overseas clients. For most of the inbound businesses, around 90 percent still goes to travel agencies, which are experienced only in travel or tour groups, and therefore might not meet clients’ requirements or expectations. Local service providers still need time to develop an understanding of what destination management is, and how it is different from the regular tour arrangement.”

LUXURY AMPLIFIED No expenses are spared in the luxury scene in well-developed cities such as Beijing and Hangzhou.

Three pieces of advice for someone outside of China looking to hold an event or incentive in lesser established business event cities, by Raymond Qian: Look for a real DMC who can provide consultation on the destination, not just on logistics Find a person who understands how to operate business events, such as finding an ideal venue, possess some knowledge on venue set-up, basic AV equipment, and special programme management It is vital to have a partner who understands the culture differences and can coordinate between overseas client and local other partners

Hangzhou

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Mark Wong, Vice President, Asia Pacific at Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) adequately sums up Hangzhou’s business events capabilities: “The fact that Hangzhou is listed as the third best conference and exhibition city after Beijing and Shanghai by the International Congress and Convention Association, shows that the city is growing in significance as a business events destination. An oasis of peace and natural beauty for those wanting to escape the stress of the urban lifestyle, Hangzhou is fondly known as the ‘back garden’ of Shanghai by domestic travellers. Being only 40 minutes away by train from Shanghai, it has always been popular as a post-MICE destination for delegates. With the formation of Hangzhou M.I.C.E. Association in 2011, the city has gradually developed into a legitimate business destination of its own with the creation of new tourism routes and theme packages based on Hangzhou’s unique qualities such as Longjing tea culture and the West Lake, a UNESCO

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World Heritage Site, together with more than 100 historic tourist sites. Furthermore, good connectivity within China’s domestic and international transportation network is also one of Hangzhou’s key advantages. In the past five years, 30 Fortune 500 companies have invested 58 projects in Hangzhou, and Hangzhou itself has 55 domestic companies among Fortune 500 companies in China. In 2015, the city’s per capita GNP reached a high of USD18,025. As a result, this budding city in the Zhejiang Province is quickly developing into a business events destination. A testimony of Hangzhou’s growing importance is that the city will be hosting the 2016 G20 summit this September and SLH’s Hangzhou Rose Garden Resort has been selected as one of the host hotels for the summit’s VIPs. We foresee that Hangzhou will attract more business events after holding the G20 summit with its newly built infrastructure.”

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Hotel Eclat Beijing

Hangzhou Rose Garden’s concept is an urban luxury resort with the Wuyun Mountain as a magnificent natural backdrop, in contrast to Hotel Eclat Beijing’s modern glasshouse design and artistic concept. It is equally popular for domestic corporate meetings and retreats due to Hangzhou’s reputation for its natural tranquil scenery. The hotel has an expansive water garden with secret arbours in the midst of the trees that allows their guests to appreciate the lush greenery for inspiring brainstorming sessions or private rendezvous. It is also close to popular tourist spots including Mei Jia Wu, Song Cheng, and Yun Xi Zu Jing (bamboo track). Hotel Eclat Beijing, located in Beijing’s most fashionable Fangcaodi (Parkview Green) area, is home to the largest private Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Zeng Fangzhi art collection in China. Its 100 luxury suites, many with private terraces and some with private pools, are a natural draw for high-end business travellers and C-Suite executives to throw private events and parties.

Additionally, the hotel has a uniquely designed conference room called The Cocoon, which is very different from the traditional indoor ballroom or function room. With natural light filling the glass structure during the day, the room on the 21st floor is surrounded by a tropical garden offering their guests a lush garden-feel overlooking Beijing’s CBD cityscape. Hotel Eclat Beijing (HEB) has positioned itself with its “Tailor your meetings” concept which offers intuitively personalised services, detailing on the aspects of every MICE requirements. A proactive intention in mind drives on an extra mile in managing the MICE opportunities. Its ballroom accommodates up to 250 guests – Cocoon is located on the pinnacle of the hotel landmark with its individually themed pool suites and thus making HEB and ideal MICE venue for a wide range of events and activities, from press conferences to art installations and high-profile meetings.

Hotel Eclat Beijing

THE WINNING TOUCHPOINT With the ubiquitous use of WeChat in China these days, marketers need to hone their social media skills to get the right crowd with the right branding message. Mark Materson, Executive Creative Director, China, whose experience include over 20 years of leading global brand experiences across the U.S., Europe and China, identified China’s speed of change as people adapt earlier and brands come and go in a blink of an eye. “Connecting with people in meaningful ways and as the digital world has connected everyone, real, tactile and personal experiences have become a scarcity.” He added, “When we create experiences, it is about people. It is about connecting brands with people and doing it in REAL ways. Our digital selves are the reality of our journey and part of what we create, but we must continue to touch and feel real things as life unfolds, not forgetting that it is the ‘everythingness’ that we strive for.”

Hangzhou Rose Garden’s water garden

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EL V A TR ND D N RS A O Y BE MBE YOND D I AN RD NU NS BE L A D B RECO NATIO R I TH AKS ESTI E H RE TO D T L. B A R N I N FA VES I NTIO E DEL CONV THE

Ijen Crater

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GOING BIG BEYOND BALI STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT BODIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTORS LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY HAVE PROVEN TO BE VITAL IN ACCELERATING A COUNTRYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TOURISM DEVELOPMENT. WORDS: GINA SIN Held at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre (BNDCC) from June 22-26, Bali and Beyond Travel Fair 2016 (BBTF 2016) was officially opened by Arief Yahya, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, accompanied by Ketut Ardana, Chairman of Bali & Beyond Travel Fair. BBTF 2016 gathered 168 registered sellers and 222 buyers from 30 countries in a successful bid to introduce destinations with tourism potential beyond Bali, resulting in a transaction value reaching IDR 6.8 trillion (approximately USD508 million). Exhibiting participants this year included the different regencies from within Bali as well as West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Raja Ampat, Wakatobi and the Ministry of the ASEAN Region, among others.

BURGEONING COLLABORATION Held in conjunction with host province Tana Toraja, the travel expo has helped introduce Indonesiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural diversity, exotic natural beauty and remote regions to the outside world. The emergence of many new tourist destinations in

Indonesia means that there are now even more unique places to explore and embrace, making BBTF 2016 an essential platform to present all that Indonesia has to offer. To bring in potential and quality buyers, BBTF 2016 collaborated with Indonesian embassies in several key countries. It also worked with Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines, a PCO from Jakarta, CBI, ASITA Bali members, VITO and hoteliers. Alfons van Duijvenbode, a strategic marketing expert from CBI, a Centre for the Promotion of Imports, spoke about the role of CBI in introducing new destinations and market strategies for Indonesian tourism in Europe. He explained that tourism destinations beyond Bali could be combined with a trip to Bali so that visitors get a combination of unique experiences. The approach taken in marketing tourism products in Indonesia starts with formulating a product development strategy followed by developing travel packages and itineraries in accordance to the European market. Online marketing and trade shows great promise for such activities.

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In another strategic partnership, a MOU between ASITA Bali Chapter and JEJU Tourism Association was signed by Kim Yeong-Jin, Chairman of Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Tourism Association and Ketut Ardana, Head of ASITA Bali, heralding a mutually beneficial relationship that would foster cross-promotional activities in both islands.

FAR-REACHING POSSIBILITIES A tourism seminar titled “Treasures of the Archipelago: Exploring 10 New Destinations Beyond Bali” revealed the government’s hopes to welcome more than 40 million arrivals by 2019, with these numbers distributed to other regions in Indonesia in order to help businesses and environmental sustainability in Bali. The 10 destinations the government is urging international markets to explore include Lake Toba, Tanjung Kelayang, Mandalika, Wakatobi, Morotai Island, Tanjung Lesung, Pulau Seribu and Kota Tua Jakarta, Borobudur, BromoTengger-Semeru, and Labuan Bajo. While these destinations have only just begun their life cycle of becoming ideal corporate incentive and business events destinations, numerous efforts are seen

to develop the tourism offerings and increase visitor numbers. The Indonesian Tourism Development Corporations (ITDC) at BBTF introduced the grand vision of Mandalika Resort Lombok, a USD3 billion development project that began in October 2011. Situated on a 1,175 hectare area in Kuta, Central Lombok, the Mandalika Resort will be built as a Special Economic Zone (KEK) to drive economic growth and developed into one of the national tourism icons. When completed, the luxury Mandalika Resorts development will feature several five-star hotels, upscale housing developments, a large marina, a golf course, a luxury villa development project and many other amenities. The development of Mandalika would be environmentally sustainable with infrastructure that protects the ecosystem such as Sea Water Desalination System and Solar Power Electricity.

Five new hotels breaking ground in Lombok within the next six to 12 months: The new hotels will deliver over 1,500 rooms in the next two to three years. end of 2016

rooms in total

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F R E E W I F I - M E E T I N G RO O M S - S W I M M I N G P O O L - S PA F I T N E S S - K I D S C LU B - R E S TA U R A N T & B A R - B E A C H C LU B

NOVOTEL BALI NUSA DUA HOTEL & RESIDENCES

Jalan Pantai Mengiat ITDC Complex Nusa Dua Bali 80363 Indonesia, Phone : +62 (0) 361 - 848 0555, Fax : +62 (0) 361 - 848 0556 Email : info@novotelnusaduabali.com, www.novotelnusaduabali.com

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Eliminating an important barrier standing between groups and the wonderful offers of Indonesia, the government has extended a visa-free facility of up to 30 days to 169 countries and territories. The policy to grant visa-free facility to a larger number of countries and territories was made as part of the government’s efforts to boost the country’s economy and visitor numbers through tourism. The aim: 20 million visitors by 2019.

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gainst the backdrop of Mount Batukaru, the pleasant hike was punctuated with various fruit trees that our knowledgeable guide helpfully pointed out.

Visitors from the enlisted 169 countries and territories, which include Australia and the United States, are required to have a minimum passport validity of six months and a return ticket upon entry. Nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Guinea, Isreal, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan and Somalia, still need a visa approval from the immigration office in Indonesia prior to travel.

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Visa-free facility

The full list, along with designated points of 124 immigration checkpoints is available on the Directorate General of Immigration’s website.

BALI TO BANYUWANGI AND BACK IN FOUR DAYS To showcase the natural beauty and hospitality attributes beyond Bali, hosted buyers and members of international media went on to partake in a postshow tour across destinations like Lombok, Banyuwangi, Komodo and Toraja. I had the pleasure to join the trip to Banyuwangi with four hosted buyers from India and another two from Malaysia and Ukraine.

DAY ONE En route to Banyuwangi, the group first headed to Pupuan, an area known for its stunning rice terraces and located in the western part of Bali just 1.5 hours’ drive away from Ngurah Rai International Airport. Lunch at the 25-suite Cempaka Belimbing Villas proved to be a

much-needed energy booster for the short hike that followed. Against the backdrop of Mount Batukaru, the pleasant hike was punctuated with various fruit trees that our knowledgeable guide helpfully pointed out. They include mangosteen, clove, nutmeg, salak, durian, cacao and many other tropical fruit trees.

DAY TWO Having rested the night before at Puri Bagus Lovina Resort, it was an early rise in the morning as the group hopped on an outrigger boat to catch glimpses of dolphins jumping in the middle of the sea at dawn amid a spectacular sunrise. After breakfast, the group headed to Plataran Menjangan Resort & Spa for a true environmental

Rice terraces of Pupuan

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experience. Being part of the West Bali National Park, Plataran Menjangan highly values the importance of conserving the environment, which is reflected by its choices in architecture, interior and business operations. Exclusively located within its own individual compound, all villas are made up of a traditional Joglo house, a plunge pool, and a garden. A wooden teak gazebo suitable for intimate events facing Menjangan Island offers fantastic views overlooking Java’s mountains. For the best viewing points at Plataran Menjangan, Octagon Ocean Club offers three levels of dining and event spaces. An approximately three-hour ferry transfer after lunch landed us in Banyuwangi, a regency located at the easternmost end of Java Island serving as a port between Java and Bali.

DAY THREE A few hours of rest after checking in to Ketapang Indah Hotel later, the group got their adventurous spirits on and headed for a hike up the famous Ijen Crater. Ijen Crater, also known as Kawah Ijen, is known for its mesmerising electric blue fire streaming down the mountain during the night. At the peak during sunrise, one will be hypnotised by the the view of Ijen’s turquoise and tranquil but highly toxic lake below. This activity is not for everyone, but definitely worth the effort.

The Ijen volcano Dolphin chasing in Lovina

For a less risky activity, head to the Red Island Beach located at the foot of Mount Tumpang Pitu, known for its red soil, surfing activities and tranquil beaches.

DAY FOUR After two days of raw and tropical serenity, the group headed back to Bali for some seafood and time to rest and rejuvenate from all the travelling at Alaya Kuta Hotel before flying back to wherever home is.

F “

or a less risky activity, head to the Red Island Beach located at the foot of Mount Tumpang Pitu, known for its red soil, surfing activities and tranquil beaches.

“

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YOUR KNOWLEDGE PLATFORM STARTS HERE OCT 2016

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E e R D # O P A G N I S to n I lve

NAL

TIO N E NV ION. O C UN GINAT S AD IMA E L 16 LD 0 O 2 B F SM OUGH THR

IN INK

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RE-IMAGINING SINGAPORE’S FUTURE THE SIXTH SINGAPORE MICE FORUM (SMF 2016) SAW A PARADIGM SHIFT IN MINDSETS WITH AN IMPRESSIVE LINEUP OF INNOVATIVE AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING SPEAKERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. WORDS: GINA SIN Organised by the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), SMF 2016 challenged the status quo and introduced the norm of a new world that urges business to embrace change and remain relevant. This year’s theme: <RE: Imagine> MICE, spurred event professionals to shift their mindsets and imagine anew the traditional ways events are being designed and delivered, and embracing a more radical strategy to empower talents and results-driven organisations.

possibilities through suitable deployment and adoption of technology that delivers real value, and how we retool the people that in turn capitalise on new opportunities and develop solutions for the customers. Encouraging the industry’s stakeholders to develop new business models, she said, “To remain competitive, we need to go beyond simple commoditisation or replacement of manpower. Reducing manpower reliance does not have to mean compromising on quality of customer experience.”

“To imagine and reimagine is something that is so apt for this year’s session. All of you who are at the helm and leadership will be able to do something small or big to improve your businesses,” said Janet Tan-Collis, President of SACEOS in her welcome keynote.

“While there is still growth for the industry as a whole, the ones who are able to innovate, adapt and run with it are taking more market share and growing a lot faster. New business models would require people who are better equipped and skilled to respond nimbly and knowledgeably to customer needs,” said Ow.

UPSCALE TOOLS AND PEOPLE

ATTENDEE EXPERIENCE IS FIRST

Held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on July 28-29, 2016, Melissa Ow, Deputy Chief Executive at the Singapore Tourism Board, kicked off the forum by urging the industry to deploy new technology and reinventing the way we innovate to remain competitive. Ow highlighted how behaviour, technology and demographic shifts in a rapidly changing and turbulent time that we live in present three challenges in the city: how we redefine grace to deliver service excellence for our customers, how we can reinvent new

Deborah Sexton, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Convention Management Associaton (PCMA) presented five key trends that business events industry associations are using to engage the audience: Sensory analytics - With cheaper, smaller sensors and easy installation, it is easier to monitor the mood of an event. Planners can always know what delegates are feeling and make intuitive minute to minute changes. Tribalisation - The assembly of groups of people who are interested in the same things. Planners have to adapt to changes throughout

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#DelveInto

CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT During his closing address at SMF 2016, Oscar Cerezales, COO at MCI Group, highlighted the importance of being innovative with products and services in order to meet change and adapt to the new norm. “Fast moving trends get most of the attention while slow moving trends get all the

Deborah Sexton, President and Chief Executive Officer, PCMA

F “

Oscar Cerezales, COO, MCI Group

ast moving trends get most of the attention while slow moving trends get all the power.

“

entire event on the fly. Attendees want to connect before, during and after the conference. Planners have to react by supporting pop-up facilities to meet those needs. Content safaris - What are attendees interested in and what do they want? Deliver a sense of ownership to attendees who want to curate their experiences within your event. Living 360 - Move beyond promoting wellness to wholeness. This could be done by breaking the routine for example creating daylight within indoor exhibitions where delegates are trapped for long periods, improving air quality and quiet spaces and determine how that affects productivity. Wholeness will soon become a metric for planners. Immersive telepresence - With the rapid advancement of virtual reality capabilities it is now easy to host meetings anywhere with anyone. The challenge for planners is how to create venues in multiple locations while achieving consistency in event experience.

power,” said Cerezales. “As the dynamics of doing business evolve, the companies that survive are the ones great at handling inconsistency.”

TALENT DEVELOPMENT

Biz Events Asia was the official media sponsor for the second edition of the Singapore MICE Challenge. Tertiary students majoring in business events, business management as well as hospitality and tourism-related fields came together to compete and showcase their knowledge and understanding of the MICE industry for a fully sponsored trip to attend Convening Leaders 2017 this coming January in Austin, Texas. Organised by SACEOS in partnership with PCMA, the winning students will get to interact and learn from more than 4,000 industry thought leaders from PCMA. This has allowed students to work with leaders and professionals from the industry to develop their creativity, present fresh and unique ideas for the industry and gain real-life experiences of conceptualising, business-testing and organising a MICE event, which really is what the whole SMF aims for – inspire, engage and educate.

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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 Centara Hotels & Resorts, we have professional-standard meeting and event venues of all sizes, set amidst vibrant cities, exotic hideaways and tropical beachfronts. Visit our new dedicated Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) website to find out more about how we can turn your event into an experience that matches the best performances of your team. VISIT US AT centarahotelsresorts.com/mice FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT US ON eventsalesgroup@chr.co.th +66 (0) 2101 1234

THAILAND

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#Knowledge

CALCULATING THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI) – BASIC PRINCIPLES AND CASE STUDY. SALES AND MARKETING EXPERT, JAKKI TEMPLE GOVAN, SHARES INSIGHTS AND EXAMPLES ON HOW TO BEST QUANTIFY YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

Biz Events Asia’s #Knowledge section is brought to you by the Singapore Institute of Technology.

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SO WHAT IS IT?

“Often our employers will ask us for an explanation on why we are spending money or time on a certain activity. They will ask us what is the ROI or return on investment.

AND HOW DO YOU CALCULATE IT?

To calculate ROI, the benefit (or return) of an investment is divided by the cost of the investment and the result is expressed as a percentage or a ratio. The return on investment formula:

WORDS: JAKKI TEMPLE GOVAN Clockwise Consulting

Benefit of an investment x 100 = ROI % Cost of the investment

WHAT ARE THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE?

There is no specific rule for calculating ROI in the business events industry, but there are many methodologies that will ensure your team members are commercially minded and take into consideration resources utilised and outcomes achieved. ROI calculations for marketing campaigns can be complex — you may have many variables on both the profit side and the investment (cost) side. But understanding the formula is essential if you need to produce the best possible results with your marketing investments. For marketing ROI, the tricky part is determining what constitutes your “return” and your true investment. For example, different marketers might consider the following for return: Total revenue generated for a campaign (which is simply the top line sales generated from the campaign). Gross profit, or a gross profit estimate, which is revenue minus the cost of goods to produce/deliver a product or service. Many marketers simply use the company’s COG percentage (say 30 percent) and deduct it from the total revenue. Net profit, which is gross profit minus expenses.

On the investment side, it is easy for marketers to input the media costs as the investment. But what other costs should you include? To execute your campaign, you might have: Creative costs Printing costs Technical costs (such as email platforms, website coding, etc) Management time Cost of sales (e.g. if you are providing further discounts to win business)

LET US CONSIDER A CASE STUDY

In this case study the objective for a MICE venue is to increase event revenue within a three-month period (recognised as a particularly soft time). First you require your benchmark, let’s say an average over the last three years of the same period. The owners of the property are looking for 25 percent growth in revenue and are prepared to lower percentage profit in food and beverage (F&B) plus invest 10 percent of overall revenue growth to achieve it. Therefore to achieve $50,000 growth you have $5,000 to play with, on top of the usual spend of $20,000 marketing spend on previous periods. Let’s look at this in a table which indicates the last three years’ overall demand and actual business as well as averages to provide the benchmark.

Year

No. of inquiries

Overall revenue demand

Confirmed no.

Confirmed revenue

Converted events

% of converted revenue

100

$1 million

185,000

25%

19%

$800,000

195,000

33%

24%

$600,000

220,000

23%

37%

Average

92.7

$800,000

200,000

27%

25%

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Therefore, to achieve $250,000 in confirmed events over the period, there are a number of ways to go about it: 1. Increase inquiries 2. ncrease conversions An integrated strategy is therefore required along with measurement of that integrated strategy. All of which would need to be set up in advance to measure the success, and everyone involved would need to understand the methodology. To increase inquiries, a promotion was created whereby the culinary offerings over the period of the promotion would be upgraded and the campaign was called Eat like a King.

Post an instagram photo of yourself with your favourite meal looking like royalty and tag #eatlikeaking #nameofvenue and automatically get your meeting upgraded at “name of venue”, which includes: 1. Barista-made coffee at every break 2. Extra hour of canapés at the welcome cocktail party 3. Complimentary breakfast for all delegates 4. Dessert buffet at gala dinner Plus, the contributor of the winning photo would appear in Biz Events Asia. This type of activity required advertising in traditional MICE media (Biz Events Asia), creatives for Instagram and Facebook as well as an EDM to all past meeting planners. This cost was $11,305 but, with a contingency factor, the budget was put in as $15,000. The goal was to increase inquiries for the period to a minimum of 120. Activity

Cost

Unit

Total

Create offer

5 hours

$20 per hour

$100

Creative

3 hours

$35 per hour

$105

Print media

1 page

$10,000

Press release

3 hours

$300

Instagram

$100

$400

Facebook

$100

$400 $11,305

To increase conversions the team of five sales persons were then going to be incentivised as follows:

Conversion Levels

Prizing

Possible spend

35%

$500

$2,500

40%

$1,000

$5,000

50%

$1,500

$7,500

Now for the results: Year

No. of inquiries

Overall revenue demand

Confirmed no.

Confirmed revenue

Conversion

% of converted revenue

145

$1.2 million

$380,000

34%

32%

For the sales personnel, their conversions were 22 percent, 25 percent, 35 percent, 41 percent and 50 percent, which meant the cost of payout was $3,000 for three of the staff. But, because the venue was so happy with the overall result, they provided an additional $500 to each staff member for the team result, which was a total of $5,500 (still less than what the budget might have been). Some extra spend went on social media to boost the posts: ROI

F&B

Rooms

Gross revenue

$380,000

$126,654

$253,346

Less COGS

30%

$84,440.22

$168,905.78

Less lost profit on F&B

10%

$12,665.40

Gross profit

$29,548.38

$84,440.22

$113,988.60

Marketing total to increase inquiries

$15,000

Marketing costs to increase conversion

5,500

20,500

Nett profit

$93,488.60

Benefit over cost ROI

So, for a marketer of a venue, success looks like the following: 1. You measure and track the ROI of all of your marketing investments 2. Your campaigns deliver the highest possible return and you are able to improve them over time 3. Your organisation understands and agrees with the choices you make because there’s solid data to support your investments

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER

1. The lifelong value of introducing a new meeting planner into your business 2. The time taken to put together all elements of this promotion 3. Whether the additional inquiries are attributed to the increased exposure the campaign created 4. What number of inquiries actually came in as a direct result of the campaign 5. What social media reach and engagement you received and did it directly relate to bookings

CONCLUSION

As with all methods of marketing, data is king. The more we know about our customers; why they choose to inquire with us in the first instance, why they decide to confirm or to choose another and whether they will come back or recommend, are also very valuable pieces of qualitative information that a marketer needs. With proper training and a good CRM, all of these can be at your marketer’s fingertips. Additionally, the real bonus is when finance and marketing agree that the money is well spent, as the return is quantified.

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#Associations

ASSOCIATIONS FORUM NATIONAL CONGRESS SHAKES UP TRADITIONAL THINKING THE ASSOCIATIONS FORUM IS THE MOST ACTIVE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WORKING IN THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT SECTOR IN AUSTRALIA. SO IT IS WITH HIGH ANTICIPATION THAT DELEGATES SIGN UP TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE TO MEET UP AND SHARE. WORDS: JENNIFER SALSBURY Through the year there has been a busy series of events in every state plus online opportunities at www.associations.net.au to check into the action and hear from others on experiences covering all aspects of management affecting Australia’s associations, charities and the not-for-profit sector. This year, the 11th Associations Forum National Conference (AFNC) held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) on July 4-5 kicked off with ice breaker sessions, including the “First Timers and Solo Attendees” session and welcome drinks on July 3. Remaining relevant in busy global industries can be a challenge for the industry association, whether in medical science, research, finance, mining, trucking or school principals. More often than not, the theory can cross from sector to sector.

“Increasingly, it is about member engagement and marketing matters,” states the ebullient Associations Forum General Manager, John Peacock, who led some critical sessions during the two-day programme in Melbourne. One example of the practical level and nature of the programming was the session “Practical Strategic Planning in One Day”. Making it seem simple and logical, John steered the 90-minute session to create a template for Planning Day. With the below tips, practical training and words of advice could well be applied to association management within the Asian context. Don’t close off productive discussions and force decisions early Set reasonable expectations and outperform Capture words live via the laptop and data projector – everyone will see the words develop and own them

It is no surprise to learn of Peacock’s keen interest to network with the Asia-based association world. He runs sessions at ASAE’s Great Ideas Forum (GIF) in Hong Kong and is actively exchanging ideas with Philippine-based Bobby Peralta of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE) as the regional scene grows with the formation of the Asia Pacific Federation of Association Organisations (APFAO), the regional network of national membership organisations of associations sharing activities and experiences towards the betterment of the sector and professionals working in these associations. With this focus on real practicalities, it was with great interest that delegates joined the session “Events: the Profitable Lifeblood of an Association”. Two longstanding members – Eve Propper, Events and Sponsorship Manager of the Royal

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together to develop this aspect. By listening together to delegate, sponsor and speaker feedback, they have found some excellent solutions that increased interest in their events. The Association Forum’s own conference app was well used and within the exhibition of over 50 exhibitors, there was the regular support from the handson “Learning Labs” informal sessions powered by Aptify.

PRACTICAL STRATEGIC PLANNING IN ONE DAY – typical agenda for Planning Day Session 1: Reconfirm mission and goals – the environment scan, the big picture view Session 2: Set goals in order to achieve the mission – satisfy the strategic imperatives and improve the “business-as-usual” scenario Session 3: Review strategic imperatives and agree on the broad priorities Session 4: Consider practicalities, resources, structures, culture and next steps

College of Pathologists of Australasia and Nicolette Hughes, Director of Conference and International Events of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia went through the nitty-gritty of fine tuning some major changes they have been experimenting with and applying to their events that run in some pretty “establishment-oriented” professions. The session covered: The role of events in satisfying members and making a surplus How to deliver events: staff, volunteers or outsourcing? Tips regarding destinations, venues, marketing and technology

“It’s all about the content,” said Propper, citing a series of tips such as getting away from big expensive gala dinners that no one attends because they want to network in small groups; rocking a pre-conception of Asian conferencing. Hughes also highlighted an Asia Pacific Pensions Forum with 150 people from 10 countries in Asia where the only organised social function was the Trivia Night! In addition to covering changing trends in F&B at conferences, the speakers shared blunt comments regarding AV and technical service providers. This item is really the biggest growing section of the budget and both speakers emphasised the need for trust with established providers and working

Such is the desire to gather with the attendees of Associations Forum that the conference dinner is always well-attended and so was this year’s, held at Melbourne’s ZINC restaurant in the heart of the City’s Federation Square. Following the theme of leading ladies, Christine Nixon, former Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police and the first woman to become a police commissioner in Australia, was the lively speaker. Hot on the heels of Australia’s closely fought federal election, the 2016 conference included a session with former association executives, who are now political leaders, giving their take on how politicians view associations. This session covered the following tips: What will and will not appeal to a politician Ensuring your association has a position and suggested solution Long-term thinking and genuine passion to get results As a highly topical closing session, The Australian’s key political journalist, Troy Bramston, facilitated a political panel discussion with Labor’s Andrew Giles MP and Liberal Senator James Paterson on the outcome of the election and what it means for associations. With this, the conference drew to a close having attracted over 400 participants to Melbourne, demonstrating what a strong draw this major events city has proved to be for the associations world. Next year, the 12th AFNC will be held at the new ICC in Sydney on July 17-18, 2017.

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#Associations

STRONG ASSOCIATIONS LEAD TO MORE CONFERENCES

WORDS: JOHN PEACOCK General Manager Associations Forum

Asia Pacific has strong potential to run more conferences generated from within the region. Whilst it is appropriate that international congresses circulate to Asia Pacific as well as Europe, Africa and the Americas, Asian nations should be developing their own internal potential to run events.

MORE THAN MEETINGS Associations must be at the heart of strategies for the meetings industry. Industry or professional associations bring people and businesses together for collegiality and learning. Whilst there are valuable advances in online education, face-to-face meetings and conferences will continue to be the main part of education and training for associations. Fortunately for the meetings industry, humans like to meet each other! Australia and New Zealand have established association sectors that come together every year at the Associations Forum National Conference. This two-day event with around 400 participants and 50 exhibitors results in more educated and motivated associations. Interestingly, the focus is and needs to be on overall association development, which is more than just running meetings.

THE ASIAN ASSOCIATION LEADERS Malaysia, the Philippines and Korea are leading the way in Asia in terms of association development. These nations are helping the development of associations by a combination of keen association managers and a supportive government convention bureau.

The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) have been facilitating association conferences, workshops and clinics in recent years, with the active involvement of Association Forum in content planning on delivery. This is leading to the establishment of an association for the sector. The Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE) has similarly showed leadership by running events for associations. From November 23 to 24, 2016, Associations Summit IV will be held at Philippine International Convention Centre in Manila, with the active support of the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines and the Associations Forum. Korea has established the Korean Society of Association Executives and will host the third ASAE Great Ideas conference in Seoul on March 23-24, 2017. Associations Forum has spoken at and advised the two previous Great Ideas events that were held in Hong Kong.

THE IMMEDIATE IMPERATIVE It is clear that Asian associations and federations of Asian associations will gradually run more business meetings. However, in the next 10-15 years, the meetings industry and convention bureaux need to play an active role in developing associations. The reality is that many associations do not have the funds to invest in association management education. Asian associations also lack the culture of having Boards realise that investment in education and training regarding association management is necessary. The extensive experience Associations Forum has in association management events in Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore leads us to clarity in our belief that this is the time for governments and the meetings sector to nurture and support the association sector. Professional, industry and special cause bodies may become the best customers for destinations, convention centres and suppliers in the future â&#x20AC;&#x201C; hence the meetings sector must invest in training associations on management, governance and member services.

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We HAVE to be at IMEX America.

HURRY, IT’S YOUR LAST CHANCE Don’t miss your amazing opportunity to be at IMEX America. With business, networking, education, innovation and ROI on the agenda, this is one event that can change your year and career. Come meet us in Las Vegas—register now! THE

pulse

OF THE MEETINGS INDUSTRY.

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#WiredUp

THE VOICE WITHIN FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE LAST TWO YEARS, BIZ EVENTS ASIA CREATED ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE EVENT FOR THE PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION PROFESSIONALS. THIS TIME WITH A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO DELIVER. WORDS: GINA SIN

Over 70 public relations and communication professionals gathered at the newly refurbished office of Biz Events Asia in Singapore to be a part of a new digital editorial strategy. Known as The Voice Community, the initiative will become a key feature on Biz Events Asia’s brand new website soft-launched in October 2016. The Voice Community aims to build a community of professionals in the business events industry who are keen to speak up and identify challenges, thought leadership opinions, best practices or to basically be a part of this storytelling journey to allow the industry to learn and grow as a whole. “It is really important to have a voice in the events industry, especially for people who are not familiar with what we do. The events industry is really growing and developing, so it will be great for more people to learn about it,” said Mei Xueying, Manager, B2B Programs & Communications, Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Felix Rimbach

Guest speakers who graced the event included Selina Chavry, Global Managing Director of Pacific World, who shared about the importance of identifying the tools and language to best communicate with a business’s target audience, and to stay relevant in these changing times by questioning the actual type of business one is in (e.g. are we in the events business or the experiences business?). Felix Rimbach, Director of event technology company Globibo, revealed digital marketing trends and strategies as well as some of the latest technology surrounding the event and hospitality fields. Damion Breust of Barclays spoke about the type of messages that would get the attention of busy professionals with restricted access to online content, while Chris Lim, Group Account Director – Asia at Revolution360, an experiential event company, talked about some of the pain points as an intermediary and get the attention of event organisers on the go. ”Having a voice for yourself on behalf of your work or the industry, I think it is something that you can represent, being something, by speaking up,” said Erica Hegarty, Head of Sales, Asia Pacific at Pacific World. To Punnee Hall, Manager, Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, “The Voice

Chris Lim

is not just about what we are saying but also taking what others are talking about and see how we can move forward in the industry.”

Biz Events Asia’s The Voice event experience was further elevated with MEGU Catering Concepts’ professional services and halalcertified food and beverage offerings. To find out more about The Voice Community, email Gina Sin at gina@bizeventsasia.com.

OCT 2016

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# THE TABLE CONCEPT SHANGRI-LA HOTELS & RESORTS’ LATEST GLOBAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE LOYALTY PROGRAMME, THE TABLE, IS A NEW CULINARY CONCEPT AIMED AT CAPTURING DINERS’ EMOTIONS. WORDS: GINA SIN The launch of The Table by Golden Circle is a reflection of the growing trend in experiential dining and unique dining options. Business travellers and event organisers alike can leverage on Golden Circle’s new initiative to get rewarded while having meetings over a curated meal or just drinks at more than 98 Shangri-La properties worldwide. Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts on September 1, 2016 introduced this dining programme as the latest initiative in the ongoing transformation of Golden Circle, which has rolled out member benefits, new partnerships, exclusive offers and the Golden Circle Event Planner Rewards during its nine-month “Loyalty Is” anniversary campaign. “Incredible dining and drink experiences at our hotels play a large part in creating memorable

moments for guests,” said ShangriLa Vice President for Partner and Loyalty Marketing Wee Kee Ng. “By elevating Golden Circle benefits and introducing moments of surprises via one platform, The Table brings instant guest recognition and rewards to life.” The Table is fully integrated with Shangri-La’s Golden Circle loyalty programme and recognises members through achievable redemptions and access to signature food experiences, exclusive events, unique surprises and special offers. It also differentiates itself from other dining loyalty programmes: Golden Circle Award Points can now be earned at more than 500 restaurants and bars found in Shangri-La, Hotel Jen, Kerry and Traders properties globally even when they are non-staying guests Instant Dining Rewards allows members to earn and redeem Golden Circle Award Points on the spot – no pre-planning or vouchers required Jade and Diamond level members receive bonus earnings and more value on redemptions for dining transactions Members receive Golden Circle Award Points on all qualifying transactions, including discounts

The Table also has an innovative mobilefriendly digital platform (www.goldencircle.com/thetable) that showcases the dynamic range of culinary experiences available at Shangri-La properties. Guests searching for restaurants and bars will find options categorised under five moods – elegant, intimate, upbeat, chill and adventurous – or by curated experiences, local offers and member benefits. The site gives members access to special offers and features immersive stories and videos which spotlight the artisans behind the food and drink that ends up on guest tables. The platform also highlights signature dish recipes and seasonal menus as well as The Table’s Instagram account, @TheTable, which visually captures the essence of Shangri-La culinary journeys.

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#Engage

CULINARY SPECTACULAR AT WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS The latest Wine Down Wednesdays in Singapore hosted by PARKROYAL on Beach Road on July 27, 2016, gathered over 100 professionals from the hospitality and business events sectors to meet, network and experience the latest venue and F&B offerings in the city. Held at The Grand Ballroom of PARKROYAL on Beach Road, guests were welcomed into the pillar-less venue with floor-to-ceiling windows and drinks served promptly before being treated to a spectacular sight Champagne Nitrogen Meringues prepared on the spot. Presented in a market-style concept that featured a mix of simple appetisers and gourmet delicacies, highlights included the Grass-fed Beef Strip Loin and the Spanish-style Chicken Chorizo Sausage. Wine Down Wednesdays is a networking event organised by ACI HR Solutions and Biz Events Asia.

OCT 2016

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#Deals visit www.bizeventsasia.com/deals for more deals online

PARKROYAL Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA

For an intimate meeting of just 15 delegates and 10 guest rooms or more, PARKROYAL Kuala Lumpur gives you attractive benefits ranging from complimentary rooms or room upgrades, to a complimentary cocktail hour or savings on your master bill. Book by November 30, 2016 to enjoy this offer for a residential meeting to be held by June 30, 2017. Email: exceptionalmeetings@pphg.com Website: parkroyalhotels.com

The Westin Nusa Dua Bali INDONESIA

Book now with The Westin Nusa Dua Bali and enjoy a special rate of USD150++ for a minimum of 10 rooms booked per day and other additional benefits. These include free small breakout meeting rooms of up to three meeting rooms, 10 percent discount on F&B for individual consumption in existing restaurants and more. Offer is valid until December 20, 2016. Tel: +62 361 771 906

Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre SINGAPORE

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin THAILAND

Plan a seminar at one of the 11 function rooms at Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre and get parking passes for up to 30 percent of the confirmed attendance. Furthermore, earn IHG Rewards Club points, which can be redeemed for stays at any of the 5,000 IHG hotels and resorts worldwide and more. Half-day meeting package starts from SGD35 (USD25.6) ++ per person. Offer is valid for events held from September 1 to December 30, 2016.

The recently refurbished Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin is offering meeting packages for 35 or more delegates. Packages start from USD50 per person for a halfday meeting or USD55 per pax for a full-day meeting. Benefits include upgraded themed coffee break, one hour cocktail reception and one complimentary room night for every 20 paid room nights. Booking ends October 31, 2016.

Tel: +65 6730 0138 Email: banquets.hisinorchard@ihg.com

Tel: +66 2 769 1234 Email: eventsaleschbr@chr.co.th

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时间之美

WORDS: EL KWANG

泰国相信买家和卖家的一拍即合造就了可持续发展的会展和奖励旅游行业如果商务活动买家给出的忠告是“先尝后买”的话个月间

那么泰国会议展览局在过去几针对本国的目标受众正采取的是

这种做法对于买家而言效的方法

熟悉之旅是体验目的地最有

实际上

亚太地区的领先活动

部门是以举办具有特色的活动而著称

这

些活动项目不仅可以产生重要的经济性业务需求

还可以在买家与有兴趣的卖家间

建立联系泰国会议展览局会议和奖励旅游部总监 Nooch Homrossukhon女士邀请旅会议杂志

Biz Events Asia

部门打造的两个项目

亚洲商来体验该

这令我们对该部门的

主要策略有了更深一层的理解在2016年7月的Connections Plus项目中

Homrossukhon女士在接受

会议杂志

亚洲商旅

几年间

的独家采访时表示

“在过去的

泰国很幸运地得到全球会展和奖励

旅游买家的关注

泰国会议展览局旨在让买

在岛上

还安排了一系列室内外活动

适的时光添彩球

户外冒险包括潜水

享受阳光之美

家对我们如何实现成功的经验产生更深的理解

梅岛还有诸多阿玛瑞这类酒店

买家和卖家间的有益关系

读书

外餐饮服务

”

沙滩排

喜欢阴凉的朋友们则可

以去做按摩

“我们也注重增强泰国私营企业的国际

为闲

或是在酒吧休闲

让代表们更能

分别来自中国

香港

国

印度

马来西亚

和澳大利亚

新加坡

台湾

日本美国

韩欧洲

他们体验了曼谷的城市繁华和

苏梅岛的奢华魅力

除了在两个目的地安排

也与泰国会议展览局的项目负责人在邻近

私营企业的强化教育元素

希望卖家能提供我们如今在苏梅岛体验

到的这种独特产品到“预算”这类字样

我知道我们经常会提 TIME项目是泰国奖励旅游和会务交换项目的

这会令人产生误解但是如果价位合

我们的客户愿意为独特的体验买单

”

从海岸到船只间铺设的悠长水

它吸引了从中国前往曼谷和普吉

岛的40家主要买家

该项目在曼谷启动

括全天的信息交换活动

体验颇有感触

个平台

做出上述表示

Homrossukhon女士补充道

“熟悉之旅活

我们打造的可靠活动安排不仅可以展示

自己提供成功活动体验的成熟能力

我们还

其中重点买家会为卖家和业界合作

会分享有用的信息怎样的期待

在曼谷艾瑟尼广场酒店举行

摄影师在通道尽头静候

销活动和对目的地理解深度之间可能存在的

艾美酒店

差异有所减小

行一对一的交流环节

下

为每位代表留影

政府部门和卖家有

第二个平台是进行业务交换

可以利用买家的宝贵时间

通过切身体验和我们建立长

这些买家

诸如中国的发展趋势

以及中国买家对目的地

上“通道”给人一种高级用户驾到的气势在碧海蓝天的映衬

使得现有成功营

包

这是TIME项目的首

伙伴安排演说介绍和讨论会环节动

一到岛上

缩写形式

有位买家为Connections Plus提供的活动

苏梅岛的私人小岛Koh Som上举办活动为办35位买家打造了独特的奖励旅游体验

超过

泰国会议展览局

家

适

Piyawan Yamarat女士密切合作

目的地更是煞费苦心 2016年8月

其中包括了针对商务活动卖家和服务提供商

外

称DA

买家进行选择

“奖励旅游客户了解自己是目的地的重点买

觉得我们都非常在意价格

简

及时亮相

的会议和奖励旅游部门推出全新的TIME项目,

了官方的一对一买卖双方商务沟通会议之亚洲首屈一指的目的地管理集团

到我们在方方面面所能提供的支持

买家的预期

今年的Connections Plus会展迎来35位买家

因为他们了解

大量异彩纷呈的体验式熟悉之旅可供合格的

与创意性生产公司一起合作

彼此紧密联系

专属性是关键

这些买家会对推荐泰国成为

下一个活动目的地更有信心

在苏

可以提供场

设计出令人难忘的活动安排

期合作的诚意

这是一家皇家

在第二天会有80个卖家与买家进

OCT 2016

#封面故事

“我们注重增强泰国私营企业的国际买家和卖家间的有益关系

”

Nooch Homrossukhon 泰国会议展览局会议和奖励旅游部总监

DMC目的地管理集团亚洲商旅活动的所有

这些目标的战略要做到

者Max Jantasuwan先生亲自负责第三平台

•

体验交换的安排

这是与泰国会议展览局的

•

建立联系

活动

国际贸易协会

项目负责人Siriporn Tarnvudikul女士共同设

一级市场—亚洲

计的环节

二级市场—美国

新兴市场—东欧和独联体国家

在所有活动中

设在普吉岛泰华

博物馆门前的正宗街边小吃体验脱颖而出这一安排是为了纪念中泰两国跨文化交流的渊源

亚洲商旅会议杂志

在iPhone苹

果手机的脸书页面上发布了一条未经编辑的即兴视频

来记录这一体验

系的同时欧洲和大洋洲

通过加大销售营销平台的力度业会议

在保持和中间商

重点关注与“海外客户”

建立更强的联系 •

代理

商会和国际媒体的关如企业终端用户

推出新的“与MI共度午后时光”倡

吸引企

议

高端奖励旅游和大规模团地的

旨在提升与业界伙伴和私有企业

的密切度

倾听并关注他们的需求

具体细分市场

结果当天就吸

泰国会议展览局发起了:

引了5000多人点击据泰国会议展览局的消息项目主要关注中国市场目则是印度市场

•

在基于泰国的行业伙伴和私营公司间

通过细分主要市场赢得更多高质量的

2016年度TIME 2017年度TIME项

而2018年度TIME项目是

•“感受时尚感受泰国”活动用五种主要产品服务目标市场之所需 - 感受愉悦的目的地—关注曼妙的历史

文化和怡人海滩

- 感受精彩的场所—关注奢华享受

全球市场

- 感受可持续的方式—关注将企业社会责任活动和会议和奖励旅游部项目相

犀利的愿景

- 感受活力—关注振奋人心的团队建设活动

通过实施一系列精准源市场熟悉之旅活动

- 感受风味美食—关注美食体验

结合

同时还对由泰国奖励旅游与会议协会及其成员组织的其他活动提供支持局获得了一些重要发现地方政府

泰国会议展览

为其国际代表

• 支持产品套餐在应用期 2016年10月1日-2017年9月30日和旅游期 2016年10月1日-2017年12月31日

吸引更多商务活动

协会合作方和泰国私有企业在

2016年8月31日举行的业界日论坛上介绍前

o 泰国致谢 - 每个团超过2000名代表

瞻性策略

- 至少3晚住宿 M&I部将自己的使命和泰国会议展览局的宏观愿景相结合

即努力“引领泰国成为亚洲

顶级商务活动目的地

实现可持续发展”

在整个机构的7项战略主题中负责

有两项由它

具体就是推动商务活动行业需求和吸

Homrossukhon女士在赢得2019年国际经贸事务研习会的全球会议主办权竞标中发挥了她表示自己和团队希望在2016

年10月1日开始的新财年中

努力实现将会

议和奖励旅游部游客的数量提高5%和会议和奖励旅游部收入增加10%的目标

OCT 2016

o 感受两座城 - 每个团超过200名代表 - 在泰国至少住宿4晚

前往一处以上的泰国目的地

- 每个团收到高至10万泰铢的财政支持

引更多商务活动和商务旅行者

关键性作用

- 每个团收到高至2百万泰铢的财政支持

为实现

o 感受可持续 - 每个团超过200名代表 - 至少3晚住宿 - 在任何地方举办企业社会责任活动

或在趋势科技漏洞扫描程序认证的场

所举办活动 - 每个团收到高至10万泰铢的财政支持

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