MIM126

MIM Europe Magazine, the meetings and incentives magazine for European corporate planners, in exclusive partnership with EUMA, the European Association of Management Assistants, supported by ECM, European Cities Marketing and Site.

SPECIAL FEATURE

europe magazine #126

Corporate Social Responsibility and MICE

TRAVELING THE WORLD From Riga and Zagreb to Korea and Sri Lanka Interview

Marta Gomes

How ICCA plays an important role today Published 3 times a year: April, September, November Edition April 2014

Latin America has the future Air France and KLM are pleased to announce an expanded network and greater frequencies to South America for the summer 2014. We aim to offer the best of our tailor-made products and services to this fast growing continent.

Brazil, the place to be

Visit us

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AIR FRANCE KLM recently announced having entered into far-reaching strategic cooperation with its Brazilian partner GOL. Thanks to this exclusive partnership customers will benefit from even more destinations in Brazil.

With the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games in the pipeline for Brazil, South America is definitely the place to be.

More travel opportunities Latin America is posting a strong increase in capacity for the AIR FRANCE KLM summer season 2014. Air France will offer four weekly flights to Lima (Peru) by Boeing 777-300. Services to Montevideo (Uruguay) via Buenos Aires, launched last summer, will become daily and those to Panama City, successfully launched in winter 2013, will continue three times a week. Air France also offers daily flights to Santiago de Chile.

Additionally, the frequency of KLM’s service to Quito/Guayaquil (Ecuador) will be raised to a daily flight.

By combining the power of the two hubs in Paris, and Amsterdam, Air France and KLM together connect 6 joint destinations in South America: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo, Lima, Panama, Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile.

Thanks to Air France and KLM’s partnership customers can fly to all these South American destinations with one carrier and return to Belgium with another, giving them more travel options at attractive fares. www.airfranceklm.com

2 new destinations: Air France - Brasilia Starting in April 2014, Air France will operate three weekly services to the capital of Brazil out of Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

Flights will be operated by Boeing 777-200 equipped with 309 seats, including 35 in Business class, 24 in Premium Economy and 250 in Economy.

KLM - Santiago de Chile Since February 2, 2014, KLM has dispatched a Boeing 777-300 to Chile’s capital three times a week.

Santiago de Chile is KLM’s ninth destination in Central and South America which emphasises the importance of long-haul flights for this developing region.

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What are corporate planners looking for NOW?

Colophon MIM magazine is the european magazine for the meetings industry. It is published by meeting media company bvba/sarl, with a circulation of 5000 copies.

In exclusive partnership with

European Management Assistants Association.

In partnership with

European City Marketing

Site Europe

Editor in Chief Marcel A.M. Vissers T. +32 (0)3 226 88 81 marcel@mimmagazine.eu Managing Director Cécile Caiati-Koch T. +32 (0)2 761 70 52 cecile@mimmagazine.eu Account Manager – International Sales Kelvin Lu T. +32 (0)2 761 70 59 kelvin@mimmagazine.eu Managing Editor J. Samuel Doveri Vesterbye T. +32 (0)2 761 70 50 - +32 (2) 471 07 23 24 samuel@mimmagazine.eu Editors Rose Kelleher Katie Lau Address 59 rue René Declercq 1150 Brussels (Belgium) T. +32 (0)2 761 70 50 F. +32 (0)2 761 70 51 www.mimmagazine.eu press@mimmagazine.eu Publisher Meeting Media Company Marcel A.M. Vissers Mechelseplein 23, bus 1 B - 2000 Antwerpen (Belgium) www.MIMmagazine.eu Design & Print Press Point Poelstraat 167 - 9820 Merelbeke T. +32 (0)9 362 52 50 - www.presspoint.be

Say I’m a corporate planner. What needs would I want to communicate to a meetings industry supplier right NOW? I must admit that I need to think hard about this. This particular sector has changed so much in recent years and it’s difficult to get to grips Marcel A.M. VISSERS with the key players. What’s more, the meetings Editor in Chief industry and especially the convention bureaus have seriously neglected corporate meetings during the past five years. SITE probably made the most intensive efforts but they have also experienced that corporate planners are not joining. And this is even worse with MPI. However, the organisers of Exclusively Corporate@IMEX (19-20 May 2014) have grasped the urgency of the situation. Their corporate programme is targeted exclusively at corporate clients. In other words, it really is exclusive. It seems that the corporates who participate in these education and networking programmes are not keen on outsiders. Wouldn’t I like to be a fly on the wall during the presentation of the keynote speaker Michelle Mone, OBE, Ultimo Brand International.

This very attractive lady is extremely successful with women’s lingerie, an item that always pulls crowds. The participants will hopefully tell her what the needs of TODAY are. Exclusively Corporate puts it this way: the daunting task of balancing the need for constant innovation in meeting planning and execution with the requirement to play it safe and remain within the limiting structures of compliance, regulation and transparency. It often appears to be a Catch 22 situation – changing workplace demographics and rapidly evolving technologies cry out for new approaches to meetings and events while the regulation and compliance protocols seem to limit all scope for creativity. So the major themes will be ‘Innovation and Creativity’. But once the participants have the insights and tools, will they also find these on the exhibition floor of IMEX? I doubt it. This year Exclusively Corporate @IMEX examines these key themes and equips you with the insights, relationships and tools that you need to navigate your way through these turbulent waters. » More stories on www.MIMmagazine.eu

Contents Cécile Caiati-Koch

Kelvin Lu

J. Samuel Doveri Vesterbye

Rose Kelleher

GENERAL

DESTINATIONS

EUMA 4 ECM 6 SITE 13 Corporate IMEX 11

Wallonia 14 Val Morel with Club Med and Star Alliance 19 Riga 20 Zagreb 22 Disney 32 Sarawak 34 Malaysia 36 Korea 38 Sri Lanka 40

COVER INTERVIEW Interviewing Marta Gomes from VIPARIS 8

SPECIAL FEATURE MIM Europe Magazine sets great store by sustainable development and therefore chose responsible FSC certified paper which comes from a controlled source.

More info: www.fsc.org FSC, A.C. FSC-SECR-0045

Corporate Social Responsibility and MICE

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Developing Excelence for Management Assistants

NEW EUROPEAN CHAIRMAN FOR EUMA

Else-Britt Lundgren

As the new chairman, it will be essential to focus on: Else-Britt Lundgren from Sweden was elected in October 2013 as the European Chairman for European Management Assistants (EUMA).

Else-Britt has been a EUMA member since 1995 and has had several of national committee assignments and previously as National Chairman for EUMA Sweden. Else-Britt works as Executive Assistant Scandinavia and Office Manager Sweden at Eli Lilly Sweden AB, which is a pharmaceutical company, and have been with the company since 2000.

Else-Britt Lundgren: In my role I am, amongst others, responsible for Travel Management Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) and an important issue was to consolidate our meetings in 2009 and find one meeting and event vendor. EUMA also see that many management assistants

today have travel & meeting management as an area of responsibility.

I have participated in many international events, organized by EUMA and I am truly passionate about achieving EUMA’s goal – to be the recognized voice of the management assistants’ profession in Europe.

• Visibility – both for our profession and EUMA • If we are not visible – we don’t exist!

• Networking – remove barriers • To keep and recruit members • Cooperate and exchange experiences internationally • Open up for a mentor and mentee program cross-borders • Trends – monitor trends in our profession, as it will be increasingly important to see that we have the right competences for the future

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EUMA CELEBRATING 40 YEARS ANNIVERSARY IN PARIS This year EUMA is celebrating its 40 year anniversary in Paris on October 31st, 2014. It all started in Paris in 1974, when EUMA was founded

by Sonia Vanular as a professional network for management assistants.

The theme for the conference in Paris on October 31st is “The E-factor: maximizing your potential to reach professional Excellence” and will take place at the Novotel Tour Eiffel.

Paris is the capital and most populous city of France and is situated on the Seine River in the north of the country, at the heart of the Île-deFrance region. The city had 2,234,105 inhabitants in 2009 as its metropolitan area is one of the largest

population centres in Europe with more than 12 million inhabitants.

More information about the EUMA conference you will find at www.euma.org.

EUMA started last year to cooperate with Lyyti.com. Lyyti is a Finnish based company specialising in online event management and supporting over 30 000 events annually worldwide. Lyyti has simplified how EUMA administrate their European events and national activities. The tools from Lyyti are all web-based (www.lyyti. com) and covers all the event management related task from event calendars to save the dates, RSVP’s, reminder messages, SMS’s, mobile tickets, feedback forms and on-site check in tools in iPhone’s, Adroid’s and Windows Phone’s.

With the tool from Lyyti EUMA is able to concentrate more on the content and work more efficient. The CEO of Lyyti Petri Hollmén describes the cooperation as a true win-win situation. Lyyti has been growing rapidly since the establishment in 2007 and has a strong international focus. With the EUMA partnership all EUMA members has a free access to Lyyti’s services and Lyyti gets great ambassadors in 23 countries speaking for modern event management.

Contact information: Else-Britt Lundgren European Chairman europeanchairman@euma.org +4687378802 www.euma.org

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From business to community enhancement

Better united forces and communications for the Meetings Industry !

Heike Mahmoud

ECM Vice-President for the Meetings Industry, Heike Mahmoud, attended the JMIC Conference on Industry Communications held in Barcelona last November 2013.

The purpose of the Conference was to explore the communications and advocacy messages used by various members of the industry to see how these could be put to better use in advancing industry awareness and prospects for the future.

MIM Europe: why was it important for you to participate to this conference ?

European Cities Marketing is a fellow member of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) which aims at representing the combined interests of 15 international Meetings Industry associations. It has provided a forum for information exchange amongst industry groups for over 50 years and has recently become more engaged in the process of articulating and delivering industry messages as well as the mechanisms for documenting the value of the industry.

Naturally, it was important for me to participate in order to exchange with other industry associations, show that ECM is also involved in this initiative and that all of us speak the same voice.

MIM Europe: what were the key messages you took home from the conference ?

Successfully, we could bring home some key messages through the different interactions we had all day combining political, professional and media perspectives with practical case studies on successful communications initiatives.

“We could bring home some key messages through the different interactions we had all day combining political, professional and media perspectives“ In addition, workshops were organized where, as industry leaders, we worked with advisors on the development of recommendations to guide future industry initiatives in this area.

• Economic role: it generates revenue for the economy, be it local or global. This revenue is mainly composed of the spending by delegates, exhibitors and organizers who make up event attendance. This spending is so diverse that it spreads into many areas of the economy, from transportation and accommodation to restaurants, retail and entertainment.

• Business development: meetings, conventions and exhibitions attract business audiences that would not necessarily visit a particular destination, and who are more likely to be investors and decision makers than other types of visitors. Events serve to expose your hosting city and its investment opportunities to a wide new audience. They also provide a vehicle to create a showcase for local products and services, all key elements in the economic development process.

• Community enhancement: meetings are the ones that most directly impact the largest number of people in a community. They create access to a wide range of professional development opportunities for local residents.

Major or even regional gatherings bring what is often world -class knowledge and expertise within the grasp of local businesses and professionals, improving overall knowledge in ways that would not otherwise be possible.

The benefits to the rest of the community can be very profound in terms of how they improve the overall quality of life.

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Communication and advocacy lies at the core of industry strategy

MIM Europe: Why is the Meetings Industry message more relevant than ever ?

Through most parts of the world, economic recovery is still weak and recession is still there. This is of course a top priority everywhere. This is the time where most stimulation is required. And there is not better way to create stimulation by engaging people in the process of product development, education, new, investments, exchange of ideas… what the Meetings Industry does! This is why it has and will keep on having a big role in getting the economy going again.

At the same time, globalization is a reality and broad networks who need to meet are more important than ever.

We are shifting to a knowledge-based economy and the jobs of today will not necessarily be the jobs of tomorrow.

Innovation and knowledge-transfer are key to economic developments, because they create the new product.

MIM Europe: how is ECM spreading the message of the importance of the Meetings Industry?

I am very proud to say that ECM is getting more and more active in this field.

Being a JMIC member enables ECM to develop ongoing relationships with other industry associations and have a consistent message.

“Globalization is a reality and broad networks who need to meet are more important than ever” Secondly, ECM is one of the Co-organisers of the IMEX Politicians Forum, and offers its full support by helping to shape the programme. The next edition of IMEX in Frankfurt will run May 20 th – 22th at Messe Frankfurt with the day-long Politicians Forum taking place on May 20 th.

ECM also reaffirmed its support for the Meetings Industry by handing over 20 political signatories for the IMEX Declaration of Support during the ECM CEO Meeting of Capital and major cities in Amsterdam last December.

At the members’ level, ECM also offers a platform where ECM Conventions members can exchange best practices and have open discussions twice a year on all the topics of interest to those working in European Convention Bureaux.

ECM keeps on proposing its efficient formula of Convention Bureaux meeting with agencies and facilitates business between them with a 24h workshop called Mercado.

The Meet Europe event is dedicated to organisers of European and International Conventions, event managers, meeting planners looking for new destinations in Europe. European Cities Marketing also offers the unique opportunity in cooperation with tmf for European Convention Bureaux to make the connection between the planners in India and European destinations!

Last but not least the ECM Summer School will take place this year in Genoa, Italy, from August 23-27. This is now an excellent product that contributes to the success of the Meetings Industry, producing around 60 graduates every year. Many of whom have now become leaders in the sector.

Contact information: Flavie Baudot Acting Head flavie@europeancitiesmarketing.com +33 380 56 02 00

Developing a communication message for meetings

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Marta Gomes on why ICCA counts in our industry!

Marta Gomes, Sales Director of VIPARIS congress department talks to MIM Magazine about how ICCA plays an important role in the meetings industry. By learning from ICCA, she tells us how the platform has allowed industry experts and stakeholders to share best practice and business trends.

INTERVIEW BY SAMUEL DOVERI VESTERBYE, MANAGING EDITOR

Can you talk a bit about your professional life. Have you always been working with VIPARIS? My first job was at the Portuguese Office of Tourism and Commerce at their Paris representation office. Coming from Portugal, and after university in the UK, my first idea for a career was to be a diplomat, so I needed to learn French. My experience taught me that I actually enjoyed the commerce side much more, and when I decided to stay in Paris I found a job as junior international sales manager at the convention centre.

The proof that I made the right choice is that I’m still here! I’m now sales director of Viparis congress department and we manage 10 major conference and exhibition centers in Paris.

Why have you become a member of ICCA, are you also member of other associations within our industry?

My company has been a member of ICCA for over 35 years. ICCA has always been a priority for us as a platform to succeed in the international market. I’ve used the database since my first day at work! I’ve learned so

much from ICCA, from having access to this great community where so much is shared: experience, best practices, business trends. In the last few years I’ve also enjoyed having a more active role as faculty at some events and also organising the France-Benelux events!

My company has been a member of ICCA for over 35 years Everyone remembers their first ICCA congress: I was nearly 8 months pregnant at my first congress, and my little boy has just turned 7! I also participate actively as a member of AIPC: it’s a smaller group, where we have high-level discussions about longterm vision and strategy specifically for the issues that venues are facing.

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Viparis is also a member of many other organizations like UFI (our CEO is currently president) but we share the roles so we can each be active within one or two. It’s not possible to have a real personal involvement in more than two!

As a chairperson of the ICCA France Benelux chapter, can you describe any developments within this region you have noticed during your last presidency?

Most of the convention bureaux, PCOs and convention centers in the region are long term Icca members, who play an active role in ICCA activities. Some examples: many cities have hosted ICCA events like workshops, many have been finalists of the ICCA best marketing award, many speak at the ICCA congress. Amsterdam has been chosen to be the home of the RSMP program.

Surprisingly, the chapter is still growing.

Every year we have 2-3 new members, which is pretty good for a European region where ICCA is already well known!

Community is one of the main objectives of ICCA, and this is done by building personal relationships.

Do you notice an overall improvement since this year?

Community is one of the main objectives of ICCA, and this is done by building personal relationships. This was also one of my main objectives for the Chapter, and I’ve been glad to see how great a team we are becoming. I tried to maximise networking opportunities by organising social events where we work in teams, and we always have a session in our annual Summit where

members can come and share a success story (we call it our Abstracts open session). It’s been a great way to share ideas and best practices – everyone remembers a good story!

We’ve also had strong growth at our annual summit: we doubled our participation in the Hague last year and we’re breaking a new record again this year in Monaco with more than 50 participants!

Can you explain more about the expansion that your centre will have in the near future?

It’s a really exciting time for us in Paris this year as we are preparing to build a new large scale convention center which is scheduled to open in 2018.

It’s part of a complete renovation project of one of our largest venues, Paris expo Porte de Versailles, which combines a large capacity with a city center location, making it really unique in Europe. We’ll have interesting features like a daylight plenary and views of the Eiffel Tower.

Are you planning to dive into the Paris waters again for the good cause? And if so, talk about it here as well ,as it is a good platform to get some followers!

In July 2012 we hosted the World Congress of Hemophilia, which opened on the same day of the famous Paris

Marta Gomes

Triathlon. This conference was special to me: I had worked on the bid with the French Hemophilia Patients society since 2006 and had got to know them very well. So I decided to get together a team with my colleagues to relay in the Triathlon and at the same time support the French Hemophilia Patients Society by fundraising for them.

None of us were really sporty at all, but we did it! 1.5km swimming in the Seine, 40km cycling through Paris and a 10km run which finished at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Headquarters magazine forwarded my fundraising request to all their readership which helped us have a much larger impact and raise a lot of money for the society!

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Exclusively Corporate @IMEX

Corporate planners invited to achieve more innovation in face of rising regulation; British entrepreneur, Michelle Mone, confirmed as keynote The IMEX Group has announced the programme for its next Exclusively Corporate @IMEX event, which is fast becoming a flagship networking and education event for corporate meeting planners from all over the UK and continental Europe.

One of the top three female entrepreneurs in the UK, Michelle Mone OBE, who is best known as co-owner of Ultimo Brands International, will deliver the event’s keynote address.

Exclusively Corporate @ IMEX is designed to meet the specific professional development needs of corporate meeting planners. Recognising that corporate planners often feel isolated and work under huge time pressures, the event programme allows plenty of free time for them to keep in touch with the office and to build-up their own peer to peer networks.

from one of three tracks covering ‘Risk Management and Compliance’, ‘Innovation and Creativity’ or a high-level strategic planning track for senior corporate executives – the Executive Meeting Forum.

The programme starts with an informal networking supper on Sunday May 18, which is hosted by Fairmont, Raffles, Swissotel. After a networking breakfast the following morning (sponsored by the Dubai Convention & Events Bureau) participants have the morning free to do their own work or take part in a city tour of Frankfurt.

Says IMEX Group CEO, Carina Bauer: “We’re really excited about this year’s programme and we’re especially pleased to be welcoming Michelle Mone whose entrepreneurial spirit and pragmatic attitude will resonate strongly with this audience. In an age when regulation and compliance protocols seem to limit all scope for creativity, our programme illustrates the possibilities rather than the constraints and gives practical examples as inspiration. This is a hard-working but high value day for a special group of planners whose networking and education requirements are very specific. As a result this event is fast becoming one of our most prominent and valuable IMEX Vision Initiatives.”

The full programme gets underway in the afternoon with a networking lunch followed by Mone’s keynote address. The group of 70 or more planners then has a choice of sessions

Following Exclusively Corporate @IMEX, which is held at the Villa Kennedy, the group of planners will attend the IMEX in Frankfurt trade show to meet exhibitors on Tuesday May 20, with

Michelle Mone, Co-Owner of Ultimo Brands International

long-haul participants staying on at the show for a further three days.

Findings and discussion points from its sister event – the Executive Meeting Forum – which is held annually at IMEX America, are now available in a free online report.

Places are still available at Exclusively Corporate @IMEX in Frankfurt. Interested corporate meetings executives should email donna.fung@imexexhibitions.com.

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The Evolution of Corporate Social Responsibility in Meetings and Events Europe Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been a buzzword in the meetings and events community for many decades. What is exciting is the evolution that sustainability and social responsibility has taken in recent years. Donating to a local charity, planting a tree or painting a wall, while all noble contributions in their own right, certainly don’t instil the kind of self-fulfilment that a company is looking to get from donating their time, money and people to a sustainable cause. Here’s where using a local DMC can really come into play.

By Aoife Delaney, Site Vice-President & Global Director of Sales, Ovation Global DMC, Ireland

Many times a corporate social initiative is a standalone activity. A great partner in your local destination can help you design a more strategic approach to this element of your programme. This involves looking at how local communities can be more deeply integrated into the event planning process. For example, a local DMC can advise you on how to give preference to social enterprise suppliers over less socially aware suppliers. This social responsibility can be integrated into all aspects of the programme, from handmade delegate bags on arrival, local artisans and community groups selling their products onsite, to using sustainability conscious food suppliers.

Many times a corporate social initiative is a standalone activity Or how about taking your CSR activity to the next level in helping educate the local community? During company

training and educational days clients can be offered the opportunity to host a community event to coincide with their group training. The results can be transformational for those in attendance; by sharing management strategies from a high-growth global business, organisers are able to spark new thinking and energy, often in destinations suffering from the economic downturn. Think about how powerful this opportunity can be – the chance to transform cities and countries where you hold events by using the intellectual capital held by those in attendance? That is true corporate social responsibility.

Creating opportunities to help local communities is something that Site members are passionate about, as was demonstrated during the Site Executive Summit 2014 in the Dominican Republic.

One of the goals of the annual Summit, in addition to delivering education, is to showcase a region as a fabulous destination for incentive travel and motivational

events. Delegates participated in a day of community activities, including visiting a local family to see how they lived and drinking hot chocolate and coffee grown in their garden. This simple activity demonstrated support for the local community and was a great learning experience for Summit delegates.

The chance to transform cities and countries where you hold events by using the intellectual capital held by those in attendance As a member of Site you benefit from a network of the world’s best incentive travel and motivational events experts in 90 countries around the globe. So, when you are planning your next programme reach out to a Site member in the destination to help you create a memorable and motivational CSR experience that will leave a lasting impression on the community and your participants.

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© Lamia

Ideas for your meetings and incentives in Wallonia

As a meeting destination, Wallonia definitely measures up to the rest of the country. The province of Hainaut organises some of Belgium’s most renowned festivals and boasts multiple beautiful artistic cities, where a lot of former industrial sites have been transformed into first-class meeting venues. Namur, Wallonia’s capital, is famed for its beautiful citadel. It’s rocky, river valleys offer a wide choice of sporting and team building activities. Liège is bursting with historical architecture and former monasteries, and its sporting events are known the world over. Luxembourg is home to old castles, picturesque villages and fascinating wildlife. Finally, Walloon Brabant offers a quiet and rustic alternative to the hustle and bustle of neighbouring Brussels.

All these provinces have state-ofthe-art facilities that will ensure successful meetings. Exceptional events need exceptional venues, and in Wallonia this is never a problem.

From the most modern venues to ancient castles and cloisters, from dynamic cities to tiny villages that seem to have jumped right out of a painting, the choice is almost infinite.

Hippodrome, Hainaut

Hainaut – Mons 2015 and the Hippodrome Hippodrome of Wallonia In a lovely rural setting on the outskirts of Mons, Wallonia’s only hippodrome is now ranked in the top 14 on the continent. With modern, functional, and flexible facilities for your corporate events and a capacity to host from 15 to 150 people, it remains a top meeting contender in Europe. Based around the exhilarating atmosphere of a racecourse, clients can organise meals, receptions, seminars, conferences, as well as parties or other incentive activities.

The expansive areas of the site are also suitable for large temporary structures (tents and marquees) or for outdoor events. There are a number of additional activities available, including a guided tour of the facilities and behind the scenes of the races,

a detailed explanation of betting systems and a “double sulky” race.

Wallonia’s only hippodrome is now ranked in the top 14 on the continent Mons is also one of the province of Hainaut’s main attractions. Named as European capital of culture in 2015, the theme of this event is ‘Mons, where technology meets culture.’ A bridge between the heritage and cultural history of the city and new developments in art and digital technology.

Just like the transit station designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava, which connects the two sides of Mons, Mons 2015 connects the city’s heritage and its future development.

Valérie Rousselle www.hippodromedewallonie.be Tel: +32 475/84 87 61

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Luxembourg – Countryside charm Wildtrails is specialised in the organisation of seminars, teambuilding, incentives and all types of event across Belgium. Wildtrails offers 3 beautiful, charming and comfortable houses, all of them situated in the Ardennes countryside. During your stay, they take care of everything to ensure that your seminar is a success, including requested catering, meeting rooms, facilities, and leisure.

Groups can enjoy the area and house in all exclusivity, including: • De Pastorie (Presbytery) in Vecmont: 17 bedrooms - 16 bathrooms 45 beds - www.vecmont.be • Porte de Cielle in Cielle: 11 bedrooms - 10 bathrooms - 34 beds www.portedecielle.be • Opening in May: The Garde-Chasse in Jupille-sur-Ourthe. This house offers a perfect blend of stone and wooden beams with modern materials: 21 bedrooms - 21 bathrooms 65 beds - www.legardechasse.be

Wildtrails is renowned for taking care of its visitors and makes sure that your event or seminar is supervised from start to finish, offering activities from a wide range of proposals or “à la carte” for every budget.

Wildtrails Tel: 0032 (0) 84/36-85-50 www.wildtrails.be info@wildtrails/be

Namur – Experience robotics and medieval re-enactments Vigo Universal is a company with numerous assets. Based in Namur, the company has successfully specialised in the organisation of events, covering any request!

As an art & events agency, Vigo Universal covers everything from fire shows and medieval re-enactments to the development of fun and original activities that integrate robotics and new technologies.

Medieval Reenactment

Come and experience the piloting of drones, which can be raced around by different teams. Try the stilts on electric skateboards or perhaps indulge in an afternoon of medieval fencing! Maybe a giant cotton swab competition or robotics that has the capacity to interact with the audience.

Fire shows and medieval re-enactments to the development of fun and original activities that integrate robotics and new technologies Founded in 2011, this creative company with a branch specialising in events, offers a different world and atmosphere for business groups and incentive travellers. Other options include a 3D printer scanner and team-building with drones and robots.

To discover the extraordinary world of Vigo Universal, please contact Christophe Hermanns +32 81/54 91 78 christophe@vigo-universal.be

Vigo Universal

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The Heidberg Monastery is an ideal place to hold a successful meeting. Meetings and trade events are renowned for non-stressful yet professional work with a unique atmosphere.

The Heidberg Monastery is unique in the German-speaking community, because it’s the first center that offers training and meetings, as well as accommodation for its visitors and clients. A historical venue, it nonetheless offers up-to-date technical equipment and everything needed to host a successful event or business meeting.

Guests and groups can dine at the lake restaurant or in the city, as the monastery works with the best caterers and attaches great importance to the

use of local and regional foods. After a long day of meetings it is therefore appealing to groups that the monastery offers in-house catering, where local staff organises everything. The special atmosphere with a view over the Eupen Weser dam reservoir is unique in this region and visitors are known for coming back to this gem.

The Heidberg Monastery is unique in the Germanspeaking community Added attractions are the old chapel and choir stalls, which are listed as heritage monuments from the XVIII century. Only minutes from Eupen station, visiting groups often take the time to see the old chapel and choir stalls,

as both are spectacular examples of architecture and regional history.

In terms of accommodation the Heidberg Monastery has 23 twin rooms and 15 double rooms. For business events it caters for small and medium sized visits with its four meeting rooms of 30m², 60m², 70m² and 100m² respectively. It is largely regarded as a historical treasure in the meeting community, due to its historical relevance and modern facilities. And of course, a first in terms of chapels organising performances, chamber concerts, seminars and receptions.

Kloster Heidberg Tel: 0032 491/64 84 43 www.klosterheidberg.be info@klosterheidberg.be

© Sud-Presse-A.Trimboli

Liège – Monastery Heidberg

Wildtrails, Ardennes countryside

Liège gare

Monastery Heidberg

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Wildtrails, Ardennes countryside

Convention Bureau: Free and Professional Meetings Advice Convention Bureau Wallonie-Bruxelles Wallonie-Bruxelles Tourisme Department (WBT): Promoting Wallonia-Brussels as a destination to national and international markets, including the international business affairs markets (Meetings&Events).

We offer the following to clients: • Advice on events and meetings in the region, • Location scouting and finding the ideal event for your group or business, • Liaising with professional DMCs and organisations in the region, • Documentation in four languages, • Organisation and logistical help on location.

Contact us: +32 (0)2 504 02 34 meetings.incentives@ walloniebruxellestourisme.be www.meetinbelgium.com

Monastery Heidberg, Liège

Provinces of Wallonia: From the Ardennes to Namur Province du Luxembourg: Ardenne Meetings & Incentives The greenest province of Belgium for business tourism, located in a hub of business at the center of Europe, where services and goods are exchanged and people meet!

Contact: T. : +32 (0)84 22 09 40 • info@ardenne-meetings.be • www.ardenne-meetings.be

Province du Hainaut: Hainaut Tourisme Bureau de Congrès Discover the large network of infrastructure and quality services. With a large selection of incentives and beautiful locations, visitors can choose between a prestigious chateaux, high tech congress center and charming hotels. And don’t forget the ample selection of incentives ranging from family activities to team building and business exercises.

Contact: T. : +32 (0)65 36 04 64 • federation.tourisme@hainaut.be • www.hainauttourisme.be

Province de Liège: Liège Meetings Located next to the Ardennes, Liège has a reputation for being warm and hospitable. An important motorway and train line connection reinforces its importance for the international meeting industry, while being only 30km from the Netherlands and 45km from Germany. Liège is also ideally situated on the London-Brussels-Berlin TGV route.

Contact : T. : +32 (0)4 237 95 85 • candice.michot@provincedeliege.be • www.provincedeliege.be

Province de Namur: Namur Congrès The capital of Wallonia, Namur is located only 50km from Brussels and Belgian international airports. Connecting motorways, including E411 and E42, allow visitors to reach Aachen, Luxembourg, Bonn and Köln within less than one hour and a half.

Contact : T. : +32 (0)81 77 67 58 • info@namurcongres.be • www.namurcongres.be

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Star Alliance and Club Med Business: A cooperation with serious MICE benefits!

ClubMed Reception Area, Valmorel

The cooperation between Star Alliance Benelux and Club Med Business provides new advantages for the MICE and Corporate Industry. Thanks to the global airline network, Star Alliance has a far-reaching impact on meetings and congress organizers worldwide. Offering discounted fares while rendering traveling and connections easier; the MICE industry is seeing more advantages than ever before from new cooperation between hotels and airline companies.

Star Alliance Meetings Plus makes corporate meeting travel cost effective and easy. The solution is valid for a minimum of 50 participants travelling from at least three different countries.

In terms of simplicity for meetings and conventions, this solution helps travellers in terms of increasing connections, reducing fares and making sure that one agreement covers up to 26 member airlines. On top of that, one single point of contact will be in charge of the necessary bookings – a pattern that will continue all the way to your final hotel or meeting destination.

Star Alliance Meetings Plus makes corporate meeting travel cost effective and easy An excellent example of this is the simplicity with which MICE travellers can use Star Alliance to reach the Club Med Val Morel resort in France. The luxurious four trident resort provides

a range of services tailored to the MICE industry. With a specific focus on skiing and winter sports, Club Med Val Morel offers travellers a range of winter activities like snow quadding and long-range rifle shooting. The partner company Evolution 2 has specialised in providing Club Med resorts with the best facilities for winter and summer incentives like rock climbing, skydiving and Winter Olympics simulations.

The luxurious four trident resort provides a range of services tailored to the MICE industry Club Med Val Morel provides the full package with incentives and a selection of meeting rooms and conference areas. In terms of accommodation it also caters to a variety of choice, including 5 Trident chalets for executives and a 6000 square feet Club Med Spa area.

And after a long day of skiing, incentives and meetings: what better than two excellent restaurants with world cuisine and dozens of well trained chefs! Or maybe indulge in the hundreds of square meters of bar areas and evening entertainment, which includes dynamic teams of worldrenowned Club Med dancers and hosts!

If that wasn’t enough: The beautiful lake city of Annecy is just around the corner from Val Morel. The historical city resembles Venice with its traditional canal structures and is renowned for its winter markets and stunning surroundings. An eye-opener for incentive travellers wishing to discover the French Savoie region!

On behalf of Star Alliance MICE business, please contact Ms Anju Bye Hurree, Key Account Manager at Brussels Airlines

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TIME to MEET in RIGA!

Latvian National Opera

What do meeting organisers and planners look for in a destination? At times where budgets are being tightened and everyone keeps looking for the next best thing, it’s important to look beyond the traditional top-10 destinations. Looking for new and more affordable destinations has become one of the highest priorities in the meeting industry, where organisers are scoping out new areas to plan their next event! And what better place than Riga! Affordable and safe, while being in close proximity of European airports and travel hubs. With an excellent service track record and a strong tradition of hosting meetings, it might be time to MEET in RIGA! In terms of location, the capital of Latvia is ideally located between fellow Baltic and Scandinavian neighbours. And with over 800 years of history, Riga offers an enriching historical cultural heritage with endless incentives. In terms of meeting and event venues, the city prides itself of a blend of historic meeting halls and modern conference venues.

With over 80 hotels and a total of 12.500 beds available, Riga is fully capable of hosting large conventions and delegations. And contrary to other destinations, Riga is in full development. Over the next two years

over 1.500 hotel rooms will added to an already respectable accommodation figure, including dozens of conference rooms and professional multipurpose meeting venues.

Combination of Nordic attitudes mixed with historical beauty and affordable living City of Development and Access Between 2014 and 2015 Riga will open its doors to a wide selection of newly built luxury hotels. Only to name a few: Kempinski Riga Hotel, Mercure

Riga Center Hotel, Metropole Riga Hotel, Wellton Valnu Hotel, Pulman Old Town Riga Hotel and many others. It’s important to mention that all hotels and venues in Riga offer Free WIFI Internet, a requirement for all hotels in the capital.

Reachability is another important factor when considering Riga as a meeting destination. The capital of Latvia is allocated within short flying distance from all main European airports.

The Northern European Hub is well connected to more than 80 destinations with over 300 weekly flights.

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Affordable and service-oriented Whether traveling in a small group or large delegation, the cost-benefit nexus plays an important role. Riga undercuts its competitors in this case by providing very high value-for-money, while outperforming traditional destinations in terms of customer service and personnel.

Not only is Riga famous for its rich history and culture, but also when it comes to hospitality, efficiency and service sector. Riga’s well-trained employees are infamous for being delicate and discreet, as well as friendly and welcoming.

DELFI Boat Race

What makes Riga unique? It’s a true combination of Nordic attitudes mixed with historical beauty and affordable living.

For more information: Aigars Smiltans / Marketing Director www.MeetRiga.com meet@liveriga.lv +371 2232 0416 Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija DVine conference room

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Zagreb

A smart place to meet

Promenade Concert in a city park

As everyone knows, Croatia is one of Europe’s most beautiful and trendy Mediterranean destinations at the moment. And it’s historical capital Zagreb is no exception to this! Well renowned for being an old and rich city of culture, Zagreb is also the 28th capital of the European Union as of July 2013. Known for its Gothic churches, Baroque palaces and Art Deco styles, this city attracts visitors to its relaxed and beautiful citadels filled with outdoor cafes and historical architecture.

Due to its warm climate the city is filled with events and exhibitions, which take place outdoors almost half of the year. For visitors with a taste for nature, the option of hosting events in the surroundings of Zagreb is also a possibility with dozens of locations like beautiful vineyards, castles, and private manors available to host larger events for incentive groups and business delegations.

Known for its Gothic churches, Baroque palaces and Art Deco styles The city offers space and locations for small intimate tours, while also catering for large-scale conventions and congresses. In terms of figures, Zagreb is home to 48 hotels with over 3,000 rooms ranging from 5-star hotels to 2-star accommodation. These include the Westin Zagreb Hotel and the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel; two beautifully situated 5-star facilities located in the centre of the city. The Esplanade proudly hosts its visitors in the Emerald

Ballroom, which exemplifies a unique neo-baroque experience catered to organising banquets, executive meetings and cocktail dinners.

For a more classic approach, businesses often chose to host their events in one of Europe’s oldest congress halls: the Zagreb Fair and Congress Centre from 1909. This beautiful location is an attraction in its own right and is fully equipped and ready to host up to 2,000 visitors.

Other historical venues include the Concert and Congress Hall Vatroslav Lisinski, which was opened in 1973 and renovated in 1999. In terms of large scale conventions, the best option remains the Hypo EXPO XXI, which can host 1,400 guests in the main hall of the conference and event centre,

Esplanade Hotel - Emerald Ballroom

Mimara Museum Atrium

while also providing ideal infrastructure for small exhibitions, conferences and events for up to 500 guests.

For more information: www.zagreb-convention.hr info@zagreb-convention.hr

It’s easy: organise your event in Zagreb Zagreb Convention Bureau is always available to help clients organise their perfect meeting or business convention in Croatia’s capital. Members include all Zagreb travel and meetings industry actors ranging from hotels, PCOs, DMCs, to unusual and historical venues, incentive facilities and many others.

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Special feature

CSR in Africa

CSR and MICE

Can CSR help fight the backlash against luxury travel?

The last couple of years have been hard on everyone in the MICE industry. The entire sector seems to have been caught up in the backlash against the major corporations whose questionable business practices helped cause the economic crisis. So how does the industry fight the backlash? Corporate social responsibility offers the opportunity.

The humanising effect of CSR The image of meetings and incentive trips in the media often been one of excess, irresponsibility and greed.

Those in the industry know this isn’t a fair assessment, and many professionals already incorporate a CSR component in the events they plan. It just needs to be publicised

at every possible turn. One way is to “humanise” meetings and incentives by making them less about money and excess and more about people and service. Corporate Social Responsibility offers that opportunity.

One way that companies can give back is to incorporate charitable

CONTENTS Can CSR help fight the backlash against luxury travel? .................. 24 The rise of the ethical buyer........ 26 Who drives CSR............................. 28 ALL TEXTS WRITTEN BY ROSE KELLEHER

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activities into their meetings or incentives. Once it’s seen that people who go incentives are all about giving back rather than just enjoying the “spoils” of their awards or achievements, a whole new perception can be created for the industry.

The most common obstacle is a lack of understanding how to effectively create and manage a meaningful CSR event. The key objections are time and cost. One obstacle is certainly time, especially as we start to see fiveday programs become four days, and more programs that maybe had more leisure time built in are now more business-oriented. With meeting budgets tight, the time to do anything for a few hours or a half-day is hard to fit in.

One way is to “humanise” meetings and incentives by making them less about money A well-done CSR component helps in terms of both external and internal perceptions about an event. A CSR component can also help to develop goodwill within the team. Research shows that having an active CSR piece to your business in general does that.

There are a number of surveys that support the inclusion of CSR in corporate meetings and incentive travel programs, and including a CSR event within an agenda can certainly “soften” shareholders’ and the media’s perceptions when it comes to corporate spending on meetings and incentive travel programs. This used to be a very difficult task for meeting planners, but there are lots of socially conscious corporate team building companies that do an amazing job of bringing these activities to your location or finding something that fits within the program schedule.

Incentives: Easy tips for CSR activities Every meeting includes down time and attendees –­ especially incentive qualifiers – expect some kind of fun. Eliminate these activities entirely, and companies miss out on the chance to motivate employees and recharge their staff’s batteries. The trend toward “purposeful” recreation started about five years ago and has picked up momentum in the past few months.

Companies are more and more driven by outcomes, and every component of the meeting is being measured against these corporate objectives.

1. Find an activity that fits nicely with the corporate culture. It could be literacy for children, or it could be building items out of recycled material.

What works best is something that matches the causes a company is already committed to.

2. Make it really easy and simple for program participants to make a difference, perhaps by having everyone bring a few books or toys in their suitcase for needy children of a local charity in the area or clothes for a local shelter. It takes almost no effort, and even the busiest executives can participate.

3. Try to choose CSR components that will foster strong ties to the community where the event is taking place, or programs strong ties to a corporate charity that employees already support.

4. Be genuine -- a one off PR stunt will not work if you are exploiting the local community or your customers the rest of the time. Make CSR intrinsic in the way that you work and allow it to become a way to make you stand out positively from other businesses.

5. Don’t ever try to push the CSR idea to clients. Let them know that there are options for CSR programmes. Either it’s part of their culture, or not.

Look at your history – what is the philanthropic cause your company champions?

6. Hire a qualified expert (...ask for help!)

7. Talk about your efforts at every turn. Harness the power of social media now to get your message out about the good things you are already doing.

8. It used to be normal to give gifts. Now it’s more and more common to give gifts in participants’ names instead.

9. Give all participants a thank-you letter from the beneficiary. The letter confirms the impact the contribution had on the community.

10. The media in most communities are often looking for a positive human interest story. You could invite the local press is invited to observe and write a story on the CSR element of your event.

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The rise of the ethical buyer Brand value Brand value is complex, but it’s also the most potentially valuable asset that a company can have. Buyers can add value to their own brand by carefully selecting their choice of supplier, effectively reengineering supply chains to make them more socially responsible. A buyer’s choice of supplier can really bring added value to their own brand.

Socially aware values and attitudes are helping to reengineer MICE supply chains to make them more socially responsible, thus defining the future of the meeting industry.

There’s a certain level of disagreement as to when CSR first appeared on our corporate radar. It’s generally accepted that it was sometime around the 1950s, though there are some who contend that it’s been around for much longer. Either way, most scholars agree that it arose organically as a way for corporations to demonstrate their right to operate in a democratic society by doing business in an ethical way.

In other words, corporations wanted to not only follow the law of the land, they also wanted to (voluntarily) show that they fulfilled certain responsibilities to their communities, perhaps by paying a decent wage to their employees, ensuring that workers rights were upheld, or

making charitable donations to foundations, schools and cultural organisations in their direct communities.

A way for corporations to demonstrate their right to operate in a democratic society These days, CSR is less about demonstrating your democratic credentials and more about building identifications between a product or service and the customer. It has evolved as a tool for corporations to develop a persona and a brand identity and in turn enjoy significant market growth.

By going forward with corporate social responsibility messages, those issues become part of a range of brand elements Looking beyond price and quality to include environmental or social issues in the brand positioning helps companies further differentiate their products from competitors. Not only will CSR change what meetings and hospitality organisations offer, it will also influence the way in which competitors position their services and products. By going forward with corporate social responsibility messages, those issues become part of a range of brand elements.

MICE buyers and suppliers need to find a way to capitalise on major changes in consumer behaviour in order to keep growing.

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Because these days, shoppers are not just concerned about features, benefits and prices. They are asking questions about everything from environmental sustainability to human rights, animal testing and genetic engineering.

According to Forbes, more than 88% of consumers think companies should try to achieve their business goals while improving society and the environment and 83% of consumers think companies should support charities and nonprofits with financial donations.

For the foreseeable future, it seems that corporations are going to have to adapt to embody these ethical considerations.

Conscientious consumer: key changes • Consumers are increasingly “connected” – often online, interacting with companies and other consumers to research and purchase products, share advice, and praise or criticize a business. Businesses use the Internet to research or purchase products or services more than they did three years ago. Consumers are also increasingly using social media as a tool in the purchasing process.

• Consumers are increasingly “demanding” – seeking products and services customised to meet their specific needs.

• Consumers are increasingly “conscientious” – seeking sustainable goods and services, they are focused on where and how their products are made and on doing business with companies that make a positive social and/or environmental impact. Half of consumers surveyed said they consider the environmental impact of the product or manufacturer before purchasing a product more often than they did three years ago.

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Who drives CSR?

Compelling the MICE industry to implement better social practice Pressure from customers is very important in driving a company’s CSR agenda. In a recent Forbes report, more than 88% of customers think companies should try to achieve their business goals while improving society and the environment. And with the rise of social media, customers find it easier than ever to keep tabs on companies activities.

CLIENTS Clients are big drivers of CSR. The foundation of business survival and growth is to respond to the needs of clients/buyers. From a supply chain perspective, they are looking to add value to their business practices and seeking that added value from suppliers. Clients want to align themselves with ethical values and demonstrate positive relationships with their stakeholders.

ASSOCIATIONS Associations have an integral role to play in moving CSR into responsible management. In a global and fragmented industry, associations are key drivers for CSR implementation because they provide a collective voice of an industry.

Associations have an integral role to play in moving CSR into responsible management From a collective stance, associations provide strong advocacy for CSR guidance such as ISO standards, green meetings and events. These likeminded coalitions are able to develop “bottom-up” codes that are owned by industry and influence national and international policymakers.

COMPETITORS Studies suggests that CSR improves companies’ competitiveness through the more efficient use of materials and energy, higher employee motivation and

access to new market segments – such as “green” consumers. In other words, companies can “do well by doing good.”

In that spirit, competition fosters CSR because companies are eager to leverage the “triple bottom line” in order to remain competitive and outperform their competitors. CSR may allow companies to credibly signal product quality to their customers, cementing CSR as a competitive strategy.

GOVERNMENTS Given the management focus and widely accepted voluntary character of CSR, why would governments care about the concept at all? Governments are interested in CSR because it can help business meet policy objectives on a voluntary basis. CSR redistributes corporate resources to public causes, and governance and CSR have become two complementary concepts. This means that the steering

of societies is no longer a sole matter of governments, but rather one of all domains working together, and many European governments have assumed an increasingly active role in shaping and promoting CSR in recent years.

SHAREHOLDERS Despite persistence of the image of shareholders as narrow-minded profiteers, they have actually become some of the most important allies of the corporate social responsibility movement. Since the 1960s, the demands of shareholders have expanded to include non-financial expectations of corporate conduct. Shareholders who are concerned with social as well as financial aspects of their investments have expressed these concerns mainly in two ways. The first is shareholder activism, which is a more active form of shareholder influence; the second is socially responsible investing.

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Take the stress out of travel arrangements

MICE travel solutions from Lufthansa – for companies and event organisers Lufthansa complements its status as one of the world’s largest and most prestigious airline, with a firm commitment to the MICE market, placing a strong focus on offering the best possible deals for travel around the world.

Whether you are looking to secure individual travel to a corporate event at short notice, or to block-book space for an association event a year in advance, the Lufthansa Meetings & Events product offers numerous advantages not only for the organizer, but also for the participants to an event, congress, trade fair, sport event, cultural event, company conferences..

We are able to offer the flexibility and fare product to ensure a smooth outcome and to reduce travel costs.

Initiators or Organisers As an organizer or initiator, you will have the benefit of receiving an offer that meets your needs. Depending on the type of event, this could include discounted transportation or special conditions for travelers. Lufthansa

MICE product enables you to provide cost-saving opportunities for either the host of the event, or to the travelers themselves.

With access to a dedicated, eventbranded Internet booking engine that is exclusively accessible by the hosting company, the organizer or participants to your event, you can make use of the worldwide Lufthansa Group network that connects more than 286 destinations in around 102 countries.

Flights can also be booked conveniently via a travel agency of your choice.

Advantages for the Participants As a participant to an event booked via our MICE product, you will receive discounted fares from Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, SWISS and Austrian Airlines.

Bookings can be done online, quickly and easily via special access code.

Enjoy excellent service with high standards and the best possible connections, allowing you flexibility in your choice of travel times.

Whatever type of event you are planning, no matter where in the world, for a few dozen participants or a few thousand.

For Lufthansa MICE Belux Yves Vanhaack Key Account Manager Yves.vanhaack@dlh.de 0032 474 28 12 07 You will find more information about the MICE services from Lufthansa Group, along with a practical enquiry form, online at LH.com/MICE_en

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Switzerland: Mountain-Peak Meetings

With transportation systems that enable visitors to swiftly reach the top of the most beautiful mountains in the area, a growing number of companies and delegations are hosting their conventions and executive meetings on mountain peaks ranging from Matterhorn in Zermatt to Schilthorn in Interlaken and to Pilatus in Lucerne.

Mountain rides take visitors into the sky, where the air is clear, the views are inspiring and the experiences moving Mountain rides are truly spectacular and remain one of Switzerland’s attractions. They take visitors into the sky, where the air is clear, the views are inspiring and the experiences moving.

The difference between Switzerland and other destinations is that nature and work don’t have to be separate entities. On the contrary, Switzerland successfully blends strict time schedules and efficiency with relaxing natural surroundings and panoramic views!

Interlaken: the Skyline Walk conferences 007-style The new platform at Birg station is known as SKYLINE WALK for a good reason: it adds a whole new dimension to the concept of mountain-peak meetings! The gangway literally hangs over a vertical wall with breathtaking views of the surrounding Eiger, Mönch

and Jungfrau areas. Expected to open by the end of June 2014 the SKYLINE WALK can be combined by meeting organizers with a conference at the top of the Piz Gloria at 2970 m.

Meeting on the top of the Pilatus

Zermatt Bergbahnen

Over the years, Switzerland has continuously profiled itself as the destination for enjoying the Alps as the most authentic nature experience. Known as a compact country where distances are short, Switzerland delivers when it comes to services and efficiency. Whether on an individual or corporate level, tourists and businessmen know exactly what to expect when attending a meeting in Switzerland.

The Pilatus Business Centre has the right venue to suit all business occasions, ranging from the Gipfelsaal to the Dragon Forum and Mythen Foyer. Because the spaces are flexible the venue can accommodate up to 300 attendees. Moreover the rooms can be tailored to individual requirements.

The Gipfelsaal offers spectacular views over the Bernese Alps and can be subdivided into four smaller spaces, tailored to the individual needs of meeting and events organizers.

Zermatt – Matterhorn paradise highest conference room in Switzerland Without doubt the highest meeting you have attended or will ever attend: The Matterhorn glacier paradise lodge!

The Matterhorn glacier paradise lodge offers a unique conference and seminar room at an altitude of 3,883 m. Its modern technical equipment (beamer, projection screen, music, loudspeaker) helps its guests deliver a comprehensive presentation for seminar members.

Another example of how high-tech and wild nature are interchangeable in Switzerland.

Contact information: Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau Myriam Winnepenninckx Phone +32 2 345 83 57 E-mail myriam.winnepenninckx@switzerland.com www.MySwitzerland.com/meetings

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Business Solutions: the team dedicated to your event at Disneyland® Paris With 20 years in the business and over one thousand events annually, Disneyland® Paris is the largest all-inclusive venue on offer today.

A dedicated team of experts offer unique and tailor made business solutions for incentive groups, ranging from medium-sized meetings to large-scale conferences and conventions. Located only 35 minutes from Paris, Disneyland® offers what ultimately matters most to MICE organisers: quality, meeting experience and convenience.

What makes Business Solutions special?

Disneyland® Paris is specialised in insuring client satisfaction and the smooth running of multiple types of MICE events, including product launches, exhibitions, incentive programs, seminars and conventions.

Due to scale and experience Disneyland® Paris outnumbers competitors in terms of features and capabilities on offer for groups and delegations. Where else can visitors enjoy such a wide and personalized variety of workspaces combined with relaxation and entertainment? Just to mention a few, work and incentive groups are offered two major convention centres and fully equipped professional meeting rooms. Added to this are two event venues measuring from 2.300 to 6.500 square meters and an auditorium that accommodates up to 570 people. On top of that, Disneyland® Paris offers guest a choice of 8.200 rooms, from 2 to 5 stars, spread over 14 hotels.

Beyond logistics and hosting capacity, the spirit of innovation that drives the team is also key to the success of the events they hold. In this way,

Business Solutions offers a new ‘InfoDécor’ package to help companies to increase their return on objective by creating a unique communication style for their event. The objective is simple: to craft compelling messages and keep things going at a lively pace.

From designing 2D and 3D visuals on one or more screens, to running everything on the day of the event, Business Solutions teams will do all they can to keep audience engaged.

Always interested to hear the views of its clients, Business Solutions will also soon be continuing the renovation of its convention centers and hotel rooms. In short, the service culture of Business Solutions-Disneyland® Paris is much more than a trademark, it is a pledge of customer satisfaction.

You’re not the first to chose Disneyland® Paris Amway, Carrefour Banque and Allianz recently chose Disneyland® Paris to host their events. In December 2013 Allianz group and their 15.000 guests were hosted by Disneyland® Paris.

They privately hired both Disney®

Carrefour Banque Event

Best WiFi Technologies Since last November, Business Solutions has been providing its clients with the best WiFi technologies available, in all of the meeting rooms, hotels and convention centres. In response to the growing number of connected events, they aim to deliver a top-notch service to their clients and make sure that their experience is unique. Besides being able to connect over 10,000 participants at the same time, making it easy for them to communicate with each other, they have set up a connection platform that is the only one of its kind in France.

It can be customized with corporate’s colors to effectively target their event.

Parks for an evening, allowing guests to discover the new Christmas season in a unique manner, while enjoying the area in exclusivity. Various events and entertainment activities were organised across both parks, including a troupe of stilt walkers, country and western musicians, a trio of Burlesque performers, fire eaters, an orchestra of clowns, and face painting and balloon modeling for the children.

For more information: www.disneylandparis-business.com dlp.business@disney.com +33 (0)1.60.45.75.00

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Borneo’s Gem: Sarawak

Where Business and Adventure Meet Sarawak is the last frontier for old-fashioned adventure.

This is the land of history and culture; unsullied by modern trappings yet able to marry the best of technology with its wild soul. Here, Old World Charm is complemented by modern technology and corporate culture.

Tribal Wisdom – Inspiration for the next generation

Home to the second oldest rainforest in the world, it is a Malaysian state that is set to be one of the prominent business events destinations in the region.

With at least 5 international hotels in Kuching offering over 4,000 hotel rooms in the greater Kuching area, with more planned in the immediate future; Sarawak is constantly seeing significant upgrades in infrastructures, creating opportunities for improving professional development and attracting investors from around the globe.

Old World Charm is complemented by modern technology and corporate culture In preserving the gifts of nature and the legacy of our elders, Sarawak offers unique Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes creating creative and cohesive initiatives for the community as well as wildlife conservation; hence promoting a warmer image of one’s organisation and its true commitment to a cause. The benefits are

remarkable where you could build your brand and prominence in social media, effective public relations, ease in government relations and support and boosting positivity in the workplace.

Among the bureau’s specially tailored CSR programme is the ‘Habitat for Humanity’ which is an international aid to provide homes to the local community, ‘The Swiftlet Conservation’ programme to learn more about birds nest trading with sustainable swiftlet management, or to spend time in the conservation efforts of the gentle giants of Borneo with the ‘Heart to Heart with Orangutans’ programme.

Sarawak is capable of being your most memorable business event experience SCB is excited to promote one of its CSR series at the upcoming Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meeting and Events (IMEX) Frankfurt 2014 with a special opportunity for visitors to ‘win’ a piece of Sarawak through

the ‘Orangutan Adoption Programme’.

It gives others a chance to help and support the Orangutan’s rehabilitation programme and instantaneously create a priceless connection between the participant and Sarawak, despite being miles apart.

Sarawak is capable of being your most memorable business event experience, with a flare of adventure in the midst of orangutans and the rainforest – and having SCB be the driver and connector for making this happen. Truly, nowhere else on earth offers such extraordinary business capabilities coupled with the natural reality of orang-utans and rainforests.

For more information: Chew Chang Guan General Manager, Sarawak Convention Bureau chewcg@sarawakcb.com Lot 31, Jalan Masjid, 93400 Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia Tel: +6 082 242516 Fax: +6 082 242 519

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COMBINE BUSINESS CONVENTION WITH A TROPICAL PARADISE EXPERIENCE Whisk delegates away to a convention venue that combines business and adventure Malaysia’s diverse and easily accessible attractions have made it a popular choice for delegates (and their accompanying persons) to enjoy a quality time at conducting business with adventure. From the idyllic tropical islands, to ancient rainforest teeming with flora and fauna, to world heritage sites, conference planners will be enthralled to learn that there is no shortage of venues to choose from.

The country is also a preferred destination for business events. Malaysia is the 5th Most Price Competitive Country in the Asia Pacific for Travel 2012 (Travel & Tourism Competitive Index, World Economic Forum). This translates into very affordable prices for corporate groups in terms of accommodation, travel and food. Malaysia was also recently ranked among the top 10 tourism destinations in the world for 2014 by Lonely Planet. With 2014 being the Visit Malaysia Year, there has never been a better time to make Malaysia the destination for meetings and conventions, giving delegates a memorable experience.

Malaysia Borneo The states of Sabah and Sarawak, located on the island of Borneo offer a mix of historic, cultural and natural attractions and they provide a perfect combination for business and adventure!

You may want to take your business events to a further meaningful step and leave a profound impact by incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Experience the Great Ape Encounter by opting to spend a day with the caretakers of Orang Utans.

Here groups can also help reduce their carbon footprint by partaking in tree planting activities in both Sabah and Sarawak. Coral enrichment and reef cleaning programmes are also available in the coastal areas of Sabah.

Sabah as a business destination Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah is the second largest state in Malaysia and is located on the northern tip of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu or KK as it is fondly known is no stranger to hosting events having played host to several major ones. It also home to several five-star resorts such as; Sutera Harbour Resort, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, and

Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, all of which are capable and experienced in handling events and conventions of any magnitude.

There are plenty of accommodation choices in Sabah to suit any budget, from five-star beach resorts to fullyequipped serviced apartments in the city. There are more than 15,000 rooms available with 3,000 of them in five-star facilities throughout the city, coastal areas as well as the heart of the Bornean rainforest.

A trip to Sabah is not complete without a visit to Mari-mari Cultural Village, situated in a remote forest setting in Kionsom, Inanam, which is a mere 25Â minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu.

Mari-mari Cultural Village gives a taste of architecture, lifestyle and culinary of the different ethnic communities in Sabah such as the Kadazan-dusun, Bajau, Murut, Rungus and Dusun tribes.

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Experience Cultural Sarawak Sarawak, Malaysia’s largest state also known as the Land of the Hornbills, offers visitors a potpourri of experiences from underwater marine life, attractive virgin rainforests, majestic mountains to modern cityscapes. Sarawak is also home to diverse ethnic communities.

In addition to the three main races (i.e.

Malay, Chinese and Indians) Sarawak also boasts 28 indigenous groups, each with their own distinct language, culture, lifestyle and cuisines.

A visit to Sarawak entails a wonderful journey of discovery into its culture, heritage and history. From the peaceful sights of Kuching city to the awe of its historical museums, there are plenty of things to see and do.

Accessibility Kota Kinabalu is easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur by a two hour and 50 minutes flight. The airport is the central gateway into Sabah.

Meanwhile, Kuching International Airport, is the third busiest airport in Malaysia and the main gateway into Sarawak, it is only 105 minutes away by flight from Kuala Lumpur.

Attractive Incentive Offering MyCEB’s popular Malaysia Twin Deal Programme launched in China in 2012 is further enhanced with MTD++ which formed part of the VMY 2014 campaign by showcasing a range of cultural activities, ensuring visitors will experience what makes Malaysia a truly rewarding destination.

A number of value added benefits of MTD ++ include discounts and complimentary rooms at partner hotels located in some of Malaysia’s famous destinations such as Langkawi, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak, proving that there is so much more to Malaysia outside the bustling hub of Kuala Lumpur.

Participating hotels in Sabah and Sarawak include Hilton Kuching Hotel, Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, Sutera Harbour Resort, and Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan.

As well as its value added benefits, The MTD ++ offers excellent value for money as Deal 1 gives the options for cultural showcases to be chosen as part of the free incentives, meaning visitors can be immersed in the authentic spirit and character of the country by watching and even partaking in local traditional dancing and musical performances. Under Deal 2 (500 participants and above) planners are rewarded with incentives such as a holiday for two in Malaysia, or an iPad mini.

For more information on MTD ++, please visit www.myceb.com.my or email sales@myceb.com.my MTD++ is applicable to international groups. All confirmed booking must be made by 30 June 2014 for group arrival in 2014.

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Great Korean food trip turns into great MICE experience Dinner in Bukchondaek

‘The food was great’ is often what you hear after an event, whatever its format - food is clearly one of the key elements that makes the success (or the failure for that matter!) of a meeting. If the food is original and of good quality, people will talk about it. The opposite is equally true, and of course you want to avoid that!

Report Cécile Caiati-Koch

The taste of Korea - Refresh your senses Nowadays food is getting more and more important, not only in one’s personal life but also in the MICE industry. What can food do to your body and what is its impact on people’s mind? Slow food is just one of the recent examples proving the perception of eating is gradually changing. And guess what? In South Korea they’ve known, for centuries, that ‘food and medicine are grown from the same root’ and therefore ‘there is no better medicine than food’! Korean food is a great source of energy - not only for the body but also for the soul. So plenty of reasons to find out more about Korean cuisine, or “HANSIK” as it is called.

The Korea Food Foundation organised an Experience tour for the international press last year, which we gladly

accepted. The concept was very smart: enjoy the many tastes of HANSIK straight from traditional Korean dwellings and households and combine the trip with some beautiful Korean ‘local flavours’ and scenic nature.

But let stick to food, the reason for our invitation: we came to find out all about the ‘beef of the field’, which is also called the brain food: the soybean! In the first farm we visited they produce a rich soy paste and sauce with delicate

South Korea is definitely working hard to develop the MICE offering and highlight the different aspects of its unique, refined culture, including art and gastronomy Eve and apple trees The trip started off in the southeastern part of Korea, in the region of Pohang city, in the valley of of Jookjangyeon. We discovered a remote village in the mountains where the hills and valleys undulate like folding screens. A valley also full of wonderful apple trees - Eve would have tempted Adam many times around there!

care and attention. The process of the making with spring water includes boiling, pasting, fermenting and seasoning (ageing) in big clay ‘ongi’ pots disposed in such a way that they benefit from the sun and the winds going through the valley equally. And the end result is pure delicacy.

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Jookjangyeon

The Ongi pots, Jookjangyeon

A group of MICE visitors can take part in the process, like shaping the boiled beans into little bread-shaped blocks ready to ferment on straw. In the near future a special incentive workshop place will be built close to the farm in order to give participants the possibility to enjoy the great food once it’s ready!

Seoil and Ongi Further on was another farm, Seoil, where the lady-owner received us first with a kingly posture for a refined tea drinking ceremony. Here you find also hundreds of Ongi arranged in rows, standing silently like little soldiers in the sun - it is like you hear the fermentation inside the round bellies of the jars. A rare and beautiful sight! The Seoil farm also offers the possibility to have a meal in their restaurant while afterwards a walk in the garden is highly recommended.

As you are in a remote area of the peninsula, an overnight has to be arranged. What is better than offering the group a night in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Hahoe Village, in the authentic traditional Bukchondaek House, the ‘hanok’? Sleeping on the floor, with old underground heating systems, in rooms reminiscent of the

traditional upper class is quite an experience - it brings you back in time, a long long time ago, as if you are part of that refined Korean way of life!

And if you want to refresh the senses to the brim, you can also dine with a group in a close-by traditional restaurant Pungjeon in Andong, where it seems it is a never-ending meal (but in a good way!), with an array of sensations for your taste buds. As special guests we were served 9 side dishes…

Back in the capital Seoul the restaurant Jung Sik Dang with its contemporary Korean cuisine brings you back into the modern world. In fact, you could expect the famous Psy to walk in and have dinner as well. A trendy restaurant - it also has one establishment in New York with two Michelin stars!

Jookjangyeon

Sleeping in Bukchondaek

South Korea is definitely working hard to develop the MICE offering and highlight the different aspects of its unique, refined culture, including art and gastronomy. Great food, great stories come from Korea!

More information www.koreanfood.net www.hansik.org

Pungjeon

41

Sri Lanka is blossoming Visitors to Colombo immediately notice that the capital is getting ready for major projects. The city is clean. If you travel further south, you’ll see major, new developments: a new airport, a new highway, new hotels and a new congress centre.

Text: Marcel AM Vissers

Interior view of the Main Auditorium, MRICC

Colombo is not picture perfect

Spiritual Development

In fact, most Asian-Pacific capitals are not the prettiest in the world. However, a city that has preserved some of its past and continues to appreciate its colonial heritage, can generally count on the visitor’s sympathy. Over the years, I have noticed that Colombo has really made serious efforts to improve its image. The city is cleaner and roads have improved. New, bigname hotels are being built and some of the old, colonial hotels are being renovated – in some cases, too drastically for my taste. The oldest colonial hotel, called The Galle Face Hotel (1864), is just one good example.

Several striking attractions have also been added for the meetings planner.

The Bandaranaike Conference Centre (BMICH), the first full purpose built convention centre in Asia (1970-1973), has been given a new facelift. It’s been transformed into an attractive and exotic congress centre where I would like to attend a conference myself. There’s also the new Nelum Pokuna M.R. Theatre (The National Performing Arts Theatre) which opened in 2011. This building is shaped like a stylish eight-petalled lotus flower

Sri Lanka is an exclusive island for incentives with a unique spiritual offering. The famous Barberyn Ayurveda hotels are ideal for individual incentive travellers (management level programmes) and provide spiritual freedom for busy bodies (www.barberynresorts.com/)

and has an auditorium with 1288 seats. In Colombo, I’m still fascinated by the buildings of Sri Lanka’s most famous architect, Geoffrey Bawa.

For example, I strongly recommend a delegate lunch or dinner at The Gallery Café, which is ranked in the list of the World’s Best Bars with the following description: ‘a unique fusion of gourmet, art and culture’.

The restored Old Colombo Dutch Hospital is ideal for a social function in the city. It is now a heritage building and shopping and dining precinct. So Colombo continues to redefine itself on the international map of congresses.

The new south of Sri Lanka Since peace returned to this country, new regions of the island are being

rediscovered. The south of Sri Lanka is an excellent example of this. The superb A2 highway now connects Colombo with Hambantota, via Galle and Matara. The new Hambantotota International Airport opened in March 2013. It is also the first greenfield airport in the country. And that’s just for starters. The new Magam Ruhunupura International Convention (MRICC- opened in November 2013) is referred to as ‘a beacon on the hills’. The main building includes the auditorium (1500 people), ballroom, committee rooms, a restaurant and a coffee bar. The centre is a joint project by Sri Lanka and South Korea.

Top priority: accessibility An island in full development – and also new to the Meetings Industry – must be connected to the rest of the world. Sri Lankan Airlines operates from 4 different gateways in Europe: Paris CDG T1, London Heathrow T4, Frankfurt and Rome (Fiucimino).

Regular domestic flights are also available from Colombo to Hambantota in the south. Sri Lankan Airlines is a partner of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau that’s at the service of meeting planners (www.visitsrilanka.net).

Latin America has the future Air France and KLM are pleased to announce an expanded network and greater frequencies to South America for the summer 2014. We aim to offer the best of our tailor-made products and services to this fast growing continent.

Brazil, the place to be

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AIR FRANCE KLM recently announced having entered into far-reaching strategic cooperation with its Brazilian partner GOL. Thanks to this exclusive partnership customers will benefit from even more destinations in Brazil.

With the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games in the pipeline for Brazil, South America is definitely the place to be.

More travel opportunities Latin America is posting a strong increase in capacity for the AIR FRANCE KLM summer season 2014. Air France will offer four weekly flights to Lima (Peru) by Boeing 777-300. Services to Montevideo (Uruguay) via Buenos Aires, launched last summer, will become daily and those to Panama City, successfully launched in winter 2013, will continue three times a week. Air France also offers daily flights to Santiago de Chile.

Additionally, the frequency of KLM’s service to Quito/Guayaquil (Ecuador) will be raised to a daily flight.

By combining the power of the two hubs in Paris, and Amsterdam, Air France and KLM together connect 6 joint destinations in South America: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo, Lima, Panama, Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile.

Thanks to Air France and KLM’s partnership customers can fly to all these South American destinations with one carrier and return to Belgium with another, giving them more travel options at attractive fares. www.airfranceklm.com

2 new destinations: Air France - Brasilia Starting in April 2014, Air France will operate three weekly services to the capital of Brazil out of Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

Flights will be operated by Boeing 777-200 equipped with 309 seats, including 35 in Business class, 24 in Premium Economy and 250 in Economy.

KLM - Santiago de Chile Since February 2, 2014, KLM has dispatched a Boeing 777-300 to Chile’s capital three times a week.

Santiago de Chile is KLM’s ninth destination in Central and South America which emphasises the importance of long-haul flights for this developing region.

MIM Europe Magazine, the meetings and incentives magazine for European corporate planners, in exclusive partnership with EUMA, the European Association of Management Assistants, supported by ECM, European Cities Marketing and Site.

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