Travel Update Philippines

TRAVELUpdate PHILIPPINES The total industry read

“Life is like a big Wheel of Fortune that spins and lands on different trials or opportunities.”

DECEMBER 30, 2013 / VOLUME 17 INTEGRATED ISSUE 4

5 Cruise lines ranking released

ISSN 0118-4709

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2014–the Commercial Flight Centennial

Top 10 prediction for the event technology industry in 2014

Tycoons take on domestic tourism ion local t 56 mill ourists...

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t least six of the country’s Forbes 10 richest men have their eyes fixed on the volume potential of domestic tourism as growth in inbound traffic remains at 11 percent and the DOT bats for 56 million local tourists by 2016.

Leading the pack is self-made billionaire Henry Sy, Sr. and family who are expanding their reach in retail, hospitality, MICE, recreation, real estate, and, with the opening of City of Dreams Manila, casino.

SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) announced last year that 10 Park Inn by Radisson hotels will be built in five to eight years. It continues the strategic retail-conventions-hotel complex model done with Park Inn by Radisson Davao. The hotel expansion is complemented by SM’s investment in MICE – an SMX will be built in tandem with a Park Inn hotel – and recreation – the opening of Sky Ranch theme park has refreshed Tagaytay’s portfolio of attractions.

“Tycoons Take on Domestic Tourism” continued on page 3 >>

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COVER STORY >> “Tycoons Take on Domestic Tourism” continued from page 1

“The middle class, if you look at the demographics, is the sector in society that’s gearing up,” said Paul Rene Lee, senior vice president of SMHCC, explaining SM’s bullish outlook for Park Inn. Park Inn is a midscale property branded positioned for consumers in the millennial generation.

“It also goes alongside the government’s thrust to achieve [56] million travelers in 2016. I hope the next government carry on with that. These [56] million travelers will need a hotel to stay in. It only makes sense to get Park Inn. Our competition is doing the same thing, they’re coming up with midscale,” said Reynaldo Villar.

Betting on gaming The strategy of integrating demand generators such as malls and convention halls into a complex is being used by two other billionaires, Enrique Razon, Jr. and Andrew Tan, who, along with Sy, have stakes in Entertainment City. Razon opened the first integrated resort in Entertainment City and is further expanding Solaire Resort and Casino with additional rooms and a luxury mall. Meanwhile, Tan is beefing up Resorts World Manila with more hotel rooms while finishing Resorts World Bayshore in time for its 2016 opening.

Entertainment City, a 120-hectare reclaimed land in Pasay City, is anticipated to bolster Manila as the next casino destination of Asian high rollers. But the experience of Solaire also demonstrates that the local market, especially MICE accounts, will still be a primary revenue source.

Other tycoons have looked outside of gaming. Jaime Zobel de Ayala-led Ayala Corp. saw the tourism boom as an opportunity to develop its own upscale hotel brand, Seda, which will open its fourth hotel in the first quarter of 2014.

George Ty’s Federal Land, Inc. will open Grand Hyatt Manila and Residences in BGC

in 2015. John Gokongwei, Jr. has made significant progress in catering the budget tourist; his economy hotel group, Go Hotels, will further increase in number from the current six properties to 10.

Airline consolidations The tycoons are also heavily involved in air transport especially in domestic travel. While Philippine Airlines, managed

by Ramon Ang, is focused in building its long-haul network, Cebu Pacific Air’s recent acquisition of LCC competitor Tigerair Philippines had consumers fearing that the consolidation in the local airline industry will result to higher ticket prices.

The two airline’s consolidation is just part of a trend in the Philippine aviation after experts warned that the number of players in the industry had been making competition too stiff. Last year, AirAsia Philippines acquired 85-percent economic interests in Zest Airways and has since rebranded to AirAsia Zest.

Other tycoons Much of the optimism among local investors are focused on hotels and resorts, whether these be independent or chain brands. Andrew Gotianun of Filinvest will open its third Crimson (a homegrown brand) in Boracay in 2015; Jose Antonio of Century Properties has set up a team to create its own hospitality arm; Roberto Ongpin’s Alphaland Corporation launched an exclusive resort called Balesin Island Club and

The strategy of integrating demand generators such as malls and convention halls into a complex is being used by two other billionaires, Enrique Razon, Jr. and Andrew Tan, who, along with Sy, have stakes in Entertainment City. Razon opened the first integrated resort in Entertainment City and is further expanding Solaire Resort and Casino with additional rooms and a luxury mall. is currently developing Shangri-La at The Fort and a resort in Malay, Aklan called Boracay Gateway Country Club.

Even Manila Hotel is riding in the wave of renovation and hotel constructions.

Emilio Yap’s grandson, Enrique Yap, Jr., is spearheading a rebranding of the hotel to push it closer to the Filipino millennial generation. The renovation of the hotel that began in 2008 will extend to redesigning the function rooms and adding facilities and attractions.

The outlook on domestic tourism comes as investors feel that the Philippines’ foreign policy on China would not change anytime soon. Nevertheless, Edgar Sia of Mang Inasal fame will be bringing in Jin Jiang Inn brand, China’s largest hotel chain. It has been reported that Sia is looking at 15 cities to build the hotels under the name.

It isn’t only the Chinese question that is haunting the industry. Delays in improving infrastructure, specifically airports, still remain to be the problem, prompting the tycoons to be optimistic and cautious at the same time.

Architect’s perspective of Shangrila in The Fort

December 30, 2013

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SPEAK EASY PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Trials and opportunities

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“Life is like a big Wheel of Fortune that spins and lands on different trials or opportunities.”

I don’t remember where I saw this many years ago (the popular TV series was still around then) but it came to mind amid many disasters that befell tourism one after the other towards the end of the year and a new year just around the corner.

For those of you who do not know this game show or did not follow it, this is about a contestant spinning a big wheel that is divided into many sections- you may win earn points, free trips, airline tickets, even a car; on the other hand, you may lose all the points, lose your turn to spin, or other penalties, all the time trying to solve a puzzle by filling up the blanks of a puzzle that is either a slogan, a quotation, or an event; and to top it all, you play against other contestants.

Difficult as it is chancy, the prizes are top of the line, that’s why it can be compared to life itself. What the quotation expresses is life as it is- you try to solve its mystery by going through a path that has many forks in the road. When you win, you are again given a choice, you win again, then another choice. What if you lose everything? In the game as in life itself, we are offered a chance to start again. Sometimes, we lose again and again, making it difficult to even think that we can ever win; but then, an opportunity is there again to win, so we spin again. It is a matter of getting over the trials and waiting for another opportunity. There are those lucky and intelligent enough to fill in the blanks and guess the mystery quotation and move on to the final solo round. We know of these people, they who seem to have a Midas touch of turning anything into gold. Some stay on being successful because they know how to run their businesses and let others spin the wheel for them.

A lot more succumb to greed and other misdemeanors and lose everything. For many of us, we keep on spinning the wheel, hoping to reach the solo round for that major prize.

Here comes 2014- New Year, new wheel. Do we still give life a spin or do we quit? Remember, we only lose when we quit. Spin a win!

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TRAVELUpdate PHILIPPINES

GROUP EDITOR

graphic designer

MANAGING EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS

Buddy G. Recio Ruby Gonzalez ART DIRECTOR

Jerry Manalili

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Jimmy Hilario

Jet Revilla Paolo Abellanosa Genivi Factao

Some stay on being successful because they know how to run their businesses and let others spin the wheel for them. A lot more succumb to greed and other misdemeanors and lose everything. For many of us, we keep on spinning the wheel, hoping to reach the solo round for that major prize.

PUBLISHER

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TRAVEL UPDATE PHILIPPINES is published fortnightly (yearly total of 19 issues for travel trade and private sector subscribers, 16 issues for schools and university subscribers). For releases, advertising and subscription inquiries, please contact the address in the box. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. Copyright by Travel Update Philippines. All rights reserved.

Volume 17 Integrated Issue 4 / December 30, 2013 / ISSN 0118-4709

TRAVEL UPDATE PHILIPPINES

December 30, 2013

CRUISING

Cruise lines ranking released U.S. News & World Report, a nationally recognized publisher of consumer advice and rankings, expanded its Travel franchise with the release of its inaugural rankings of the Best Cruises.

U.S. News developed the Best Cruises rankings to help travelers – who might be wary of taking a cruise following highly publicized accidents and malfunctions – select a cruise line that consistently delivers a high-quality experience. Travelers can also search for ships and itineraries that suit their specific needs, so that ultimately they can find the cruise that is best for them.

The 2014 rankings evaluate 15 of the world’s most popular cruise lines in five categories: Best Luxury Cruise Lines, Best Cruise Lines for the Money, Best Cruise Lines for Romance, Best Cruise Lines for Families and Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean. The top three cruise lines in each category were awarded a “Best” designation by U.S. News.

“There are excellent cruise deals to take advantage of right now, but many would-be travelers don’t know where to start,” said Liz Weiss, travel editor for U.S. News. “Our goal is to solve that problem by identifying cruise lines and ships that consistently meet the highest expectations of passengers and critics. From there, we help travelers narrow down their choices to find the cruise that’s best for them, whether they are seeking a deal, a romantic getaway or a great family vacation.”

Cruise lines were ranked using a methodology that factors in expert evaluations of cruise ship quality, reputation among travelers (as expressed through reviews and ratings collected by Cruiseline.com) and results from health evaluations conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. News editors analyzed this data for every ship within the 15 cruise lines (148 ships in total) and used it to determine which cruise ships offer the best experience. U.S. News also integrated tools that allow travelers to narrow down their options to find the precise ships and itineraries that work best for them.

U.S. News 2014 Best Cruise Lines Best Cruise Lines for the Money #1 Royal Caribbean International #2 Disney Cruise Line #3 Celebrity Cruises #4 Carnival Cruise Lines #5 Norwegian Cruise Line #6 Holland America Line #7 MSC Cruises #8 Princess Cruises #9 Costa Cruises

#9 Royal Caribbean International #10 Princess Cruises #11 Norwegian Cruise Line #12 Carnival Cruise Lines #13 MSC Cruises #14 Costa Cruises

Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean #1 Disney Cruise Line #2 Royal Caribbean International #3 Silversea Cruises Best Cruise Lines for Families #4 Regent Seven Seas Cruises #1 Disney Cruise Line #5 Carnival Cruise Lines #2 Royal Caribbean #6 Crystal Cruises International #7 Celebrity Cruises #3 Celebrity Cruises #8 Norwegian Cruise Line #4 Carnival Cruise Lines #9 Oceania Cruises #5 Norwegian Cruise Line #10 Holland America Line #6 Princess Cruises #11 Princess Cruises #7 Holland America Line #12 Azamara Club Cruises #8 Costa Cruises #13 MSC Cruises #9 MSC Cruises #14 Cunard Line #15 Costa Cruises Best Cruise Lines for Romance #1 Crystal Cruises Best Luxury Cruise Lines #2 Cunard Line #1 Crystal Cruises #3 Azamara Club Cruises #2 Silversea Cruises #4 Regent Seven Seas Cruises #3 Regent Seven Seas Cruises #5 Oceania Cruises #4 Azamara Club Cruises #6 Disney Cruise Line #5 Oceania Cruises #7 Celebrity Cruises #6 Cunard Line #8 Holland America Line

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TRENDS this respect Russian travellers are expected to top the rankings. They are forecast to increase by ten per cent.

The Swiss, Britons, and Swedes also expressed their desire to travel. At three per cent, growth in the German market will remain stable, while expansion in the French, Dutch and Spanish markets will be moderate. The latter will finally return to growth. The Italian market’s decline is forecast to continue.

Inbound tourism figures extremely positive As regards arrivals in Europe the figures for the “Old World” varied according to region. Overall, they were positive. Thus, the ITB World Travel Trends Report recorded around 396 million international arrivals during the first eight months of 2013, around 5.4 per cent more than in 2012. The European Travel Commission (ETC) reported similar findings. Among Spanish steps in Rome. Image source: Creative Commons the European winners in this market were Iceland, Slovakia, Serbia and Latvia, which experienced double-digit growth.

Russia, Asia and the USA were among those countries which contributed particularly to the high number of travellers from abroad. Most countries reported a rise in visitors from source markets such as Russia, Germany, the UK, Norway, France and Switzerland, while the market most from an overall unabated lust for Despite various regions continuing to for travellers from the Netherlands, Spain travel and reported a nine and six per cent experience economic difficulties Europe’s and Italy painted a different picture. The increase in trips respectively. The North tourism industry remains buoyant. This is ETC forecasts an overall increase of around American market remained relatively one of the findings of the annual ITB World three per cent for travel to Europe in stable, whereas the Caribbean market Travel Trends Report, conducted by IPK 2014. However, it qualified this forecast as shrank by eight per cent. A look at the International and commissioned by the imprecise, due to the economic situation respective travel industry segments reveals remaining uncertain. world’s leading travel trade show, whose a three per cent increase in holiday trips, figures confirmed rising travel numbers to A look at the performance of individual while business travel decreased slightly. In countries reveals a number of winners and from Europe. The forecast for 2014 is the leisure travel market smaller segments, in southern Europe. In particular Malta, equally very positive. in particular winter breaks and trips to From January to August figures for Portugal and Croatia experienced growth rural destinations, were increasingly outbound tourism grew by 2.5 per cent, rates of between six and eight per cent. In popular, while major segments such as city 2013 visitors to Italy rose by 2.5 per cent. At compared to 2012. Overnights increased breaks and beach holidays maintained their around three per cent, the forecast for 2014 by two per cent. By contrast, the amount share of the market. As regards booking spent by tourists at holiday destinations is equally positive. Most central European channels, as anticipated online reservations countries reported solid growth and expect rose by only one per cent. Averaging 7.9, increased, growing by 12 per cent, whereas two to four per cent growth next year. the number of overnights per trip fell by traditional agency bookings made up only two per cent. Putting this decline into The figures for northern Europe three per cent. perspective, however, was the fact that in remained stable too. There was a decline in recent years Europeans have tended to take arrivals from Germany, but this was offset Positive forecasts for next year more short breaks, combined with fewer by visitor numbers from Russia and Asia. long holidays.

International arrivals in the UK and Ireland The forecasts for travel in 2014 are The figures for source markets varied rose by five and six per cent respectively, very positive. 38 per cent of those polled, widely. The Russian market boasted a with growth figures of one and four per cent two per cent more than in 2012, said the healthy increase of 12 per cent. Despite expected in 2014. economic situation affected their holiday economic difficulties, the market in France All the findings are based on plans. Despite this 28 per cent, the same grew by five per cent, followed by Sweden, information from papers held at the World figure as last year, said they intended to the UK, Belgium and Switzerland. The Travel Monitor® Forum in Pisa, which is travel abroad more. Around 42 per cent German market expanded by two per cent. sponsored by ITB Berlin. Every year the said they aimed to continue travelling as As expected, Spain and Italy were low consultancy IPK International invites more they did this year. Only nine per cent (2012: than 50 tourism experts and scientists down in the rankings, as was Ireland. Trips 11 per cent) said they would be travelling undertaken by Italians fell by up to five per from around the world to present the less abroad. Overall, the forecasts predict cent. latest statistics and trends in international three to four per cent growth in 2014. In South America and the Pacific benefited tourism.

ITB World Travel Trends Report forecasts rise in travel to and from Europe

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December 30, 2013

REPORT

UNWTO reports 5 percent increase in international tourism

Eiffel Tower. Image source: Creative Commons

In the first nine months of 2013, international tourism grew by 5% according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. The number of international tourist arrivals reported by destinations around the world increased by some 41 million between January and September, growing above UNWTO’s initial forecast and creating an important stimulus to the receiving economies.

International tourist arrivals grew by 5% in the first nine months of the year, to reach a record 845 million worldwide, an estimated 41 million more than in the same period of 2012. Growth was driven

by Europe and Asia and the Pacific, both seeing tourist numbers increase by 6%.

“International tourism continues to grow above expectations, supporting economic growth in both advanced and emerging economies and bringing much needed support to job creation, GDP and the balance of payments of many destinations” said UNWTO SecretaryGeneral, Taleb Rifai. “It is particularly encouraging to see the strong results in many European destinations, where the tourism sector is, undoubtedly, one of the engines of the economic recovery”.

Europe beats expectations In Europe, the world’s most visited region, international tourist arrivals grew by 6% led by above-average results in Central and Eastern Europe (+7%) and Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+6%). This growth exceeds the initial

December 30, 2013

forecast for 2013 and is double the average growth rate of international tourism in Europe since 2000 (+2.7% a year between 2000 and 2012).

Asia and the Pacific (+6%) continued to show robust results, bolstered by SouthEast Asia (+12%).

The Americas (+3%) reported comparatively weaker results, with better performance in North America (+4%) and Central America and (+3%).

In Africa (+5%) growth was fuelled by the recovery in North Africa (+6%), while the Middle East saw only a marginal increase (+0.3%).

Growth in tourism receipts confirms positive trend The positive trend registered in international tourist arrivals is reflected in international tourism receipts reported by destinations worldwide for the first six to ten months of the year.

Among the 25 largest international tourism earners, receipts saw double-digit growth in ten destinations - the United States (+11%), Macao (China) (+10%), the United Kingdom (+18%), Thailand (+28%), Hong Kong (China) (+21%), Turkey (+13%), India (+13%), Japan (+23%), Greece (+15%) and Taiwan (Pr. of China) (+12%).

Exponential growth in outbound expenditure by China and Russia Among the top ten source markets, the Russian Federation led growth, with

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expenditure on trips abroad up by 29% in the first nine months of the year. This follows the strong growth in recent years, as a result of which Russia has moved up from the 12th largest outbound market in 2000 to the 5th largest in 2012 (US$ 43 billion).

China, which became the number one source market in the world last year (US$ 102 billion), also continued to see rapid growth, posting a 22% increase in expenditure on outbound tourism through September 2013.

Outbound expenditure from other BRIC economies was also strong in Brazil (+15%).

The performance of advanced economy source markets was comparatively weaker: Canada (+3%), the United States (+2%), the United Kingdom (+2%) and France (+2%) grew moderately, while Germany reported zero growth and Japan, Australia and Italy saw declines in expenditure.

UNWTO will announce full 2013 results during its traditional press conference to be held on 20 January 2014, the eve of the Spanish tourism fair FITUR.

International tourism continues to grow above expectations, supporting economic growth in both advanced and emerging economies and bringing much needed support to job creation, GDP and the balance of payments of many destinations.

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LEARNING CURVE

2014–the Commercial Flight Centennial

In January 2014, the airline industry will be celebrating its centennial- the 100th anniversary of the first commercial flight.

Many things have happened since then, from the first commercial flight carrying only one passenger paying USD400 (approximately USD9,318 this year according to the Inflation Calculator) to travel 34 kilometers (Manila to San Pedro Laguna is 31 kilometers) in 23 minutes, to an industry of approximately 297 airline companies (not counting small private airlines and those carrying cargo only), travelling as far as 13,184 kms. in 15 hours and 25 minutes(variable schedules).

Birth Pains One would think that 100 years is a long time, but for aviation, this only means that the industry is still young.

Issues and problems occur unexpectedly to add to persistent concerns and make it a business of revenue upswings and downturns.

Aviation fuel prices, natural disasters, political turmoil, strikes, and disease are just some of the factors that contribute to huge losses for the airlines. But these losses are not degenerative because profits can be ten-fold in another year.

When the losses were dictated by outside influences and overall yields started to decline in the 1970’s, the airlines began to adjust their sales and operations according to what started as a trend- selling cheap.

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LCCs and yield management When in the 50’s and 60’s, everybody in economy paid the same fare, today’s airlines have a price range that can be coded to as many as pairs of the English alphabet (sometimes more). You may have paid just 1,000 pesos to travel to Cebu, but your seatmate purchased his at 2,500.

Air travel has become so ordinary that it has become a commodity, worse, a commodity that passengers don’t give much respect for. That underlying contempt is now being thrown back to the passenger through yield management. This strategy enables the airlines to study things that made passengers comfortable before and develop strategies to make passengers pay for the comfort and contribute to its income. Strategies like paying for the fuel surcharge (or tax or fee, however it gets interpreted), or being first in the queue, or seats with more space, or even paying by credit card (sometimes this is called a “convenience” fee) are already standard in most airlines, especially the low-cost carriers (LCCs).

Strategic alliances With an expected USD12.9 billion profit in 2013, airline profit is even expected to increase to USD19.7billion in 2014. The forecasted increase will not be coming from just lower fuel prices (not guaranteed), or producing more fuel efficient planes as the airline companies would say, but more on creative revenue management, marketing, and strategic alliances to corner markets. The last quarter

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December 30, 2013

of 2013 have borne many of these alliances led by the proposed merger of US Airways and American Airlines, creating a company of 110,000 employees and more than 1,500 aircraft flying to 336 destinations in 56 countries. Those who, by virtue of jurisprudence or government decree that frowns on mergers, either do codesharing arrangements or join the major alliances like Oneworld, Sky, or Star Alliance.

Then there is what industry insiders call immunized joint ventures like what was pursued between Japan Airlines and American and another between All Nippon Airways and United.

More issues Lately, some governments have started to look at the way the airlines operate and do business. The United States was in the forefront in adopting many laws to protect passengers from unfair pricing strategies while the European Union has started to impose environment taxes to make sure that the air above them will not be polluted from the airlines’ carbon emissions, creating a howl of protest from all the airline companies. As taxes are now passed on to the tickets passengers buy, it would mean more expensive trips to Europe. If other countries follow suit, then travelers will feel the added burden. The question is- would this taxation really help the environment or it is just a way of governments dipping their hands into the profit jar of the airlines?

Joint ventures also face significant challenges like different computer systems for booking, billing, scheduling and financial operations, more than keeping their promises to regulators on increased revenue and service improvements.

The future What can travelers expect in the second millennium of commercial flights?

Well, besides the anticipated space travel being bannered by Virgin Atlantic, there is NASA talk that by 2025, airplanes would burn 50 percent less aviation fuel, emit 75 percent less harmful CO2 emissions, and shrink areas affected by airport noise to 83 percent.

Nobody has resurrected the Concorde way of flying at supersonic speeds (1971-2003) after a devastating accident and rising fuel costs. The future now is more on saving fuel cost by using alternative fuel that will not harm the environment, not speed, and more productive alliances untainted by political maneuverings.

December 30, 2013

The question asked by the travel trade and their customers when discussing the future is- will airline consolidations give birth to competition that will lower fares and improve service?

As there is no other faster and convenient way to travel from country to country , or even just within national boundaries, people would just have fly. No matter how much complaints the aviation industry get, airplanes are being developed to fly bigger, wider, faster, safer, more fuel efficient, and more environmentfriendly. They are being developed and sold faster than many countries could build enough airports to contain them.

Economists dictate that there’s only so much revenue to go around in any given market. Analysts conclude, that when there will be too much competition going around, the opposite will happen.

Airlines will likely raise fares, or add ancillary fees and create other revenue streams.

With an expected USD12.9 billion profit in 2013, airline profit is even expected to increase to USD19.7billion in 2014. The forecasted increase will not be coming from just lower fuel prices (not guaranteed), or producing more fuel efficient planes as the airline companies would say, but more on creative revenue management, marketing, and strategic alliances to corner markets.

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MICE

Top 10 prediction for the event technology industry in 2014

As part of their ongoing commitment to drive participation and deliver valuable insight for event suppliers and attendees, GenieConnect, the event participation solutions provider for the events industry, has released their top 10 predictions for the event technology industry in 2014.

Michael Douglas, Business Development Director, GenieConnect comments:

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Organizers will seek integrated solutions - As technology becomes more prominent within the event industry, customers will have higher expectations of the services that their suppliers provide, and seek integrated solutions for registration, online mapping, mobile apps and audience response.

Windows Phone will be the heir to BlackBerry - While many consumers are using iPhone and Android devices, corporate IT departments have been much slower to progress. This is partly because of the high security risk they attribute to iOS and Android platforms, and will see Windows Phone as a way to retain control of corporate networks, in a user-friendly manner.

Gartner reports a market share increase of 2.3% to 6.3% from 2012 to 2013. Thus, there will be a higher requirement to cater for Windows Phone with native event apps for the best user experience.

Event Wi-Fi will turn a corner - Venues will begin to see fit-forpurpose Wi-Fi as a competitive edge, and those that can guarantee it for large events will see a great increase in business. Exhibition organizers will begin to see that exhibitors will only attend shows that can cater for their needs,

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forcing them to employ companies such as MaxWifi and SmartCities to provide temporary networks Analytics and ROI will outweigh the ‘WOW’ Factor - New and exciting technology and ideas will always have a role at certain meetings, but for the mainstream, organizers will be now be looking for solid results and returns from the recent wave of technology, before investing money in the next innovations.

Organizers will utilize their data better - As organizers become more aware of how to use attendee participation data, more of a focus will be placed upon building registration, web and mobile solutions in an integrated way so that businesses can obtain insight into events and attendee behavior. Data will drive future improvements and facilitate personalization across the event cycle.

Sponsorship sales will adapt to meet the opportunities technology provides - There are many targeted and innovative ways in which to monetize event technology, aside traditional sponsorship activity. However, technology is often decided upon late in the event cycle, and so a ‘Mobile App Sponsor’ may end up being the extent of what is sold. As organizers begin to understand their potential, sponsorship packages can be optimized and sales teams incentivized earlier on in the process.

Organizers will track attendees movement around an event Indoor positioning systems could lead the way at events, allowing organizers to personalize push messages and notifications for every attendee. New

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sensor technology developments are starting to allow tracking within an indoor location, sending notifications about sessions nearby, and other useful information, improving attendee experience and return on investment.

Contactless transactions at events will increase - Near Field Communication (NFC) is set to be commonplace at UK events in 2014.

It is a growing technology that allows smartphones, tablets and similar gadgets to connect via a radio connection.GSMA are already using NFC to provide un-manned check-in points for registration, access to maps, exhibitor details, feedback services and much more. NFC is becoming a growing trend in contactless payments, and as Apple are yet to join list of manufacturers who have implemented the functionality – we predict that in the next coming years they will join this contactless movement.

There will be more consolidation in the event technology industry The event technology industry will continue to consolidate through acquisition and strategic partnerships.

Increasingly established players have moved slowly and found that there are holes in their solutions, this will open up interest in buying niche players as new technologies come to the market.

An increase in wearable technology - Wearable technology, such as Google Glass, Samsung Smart Watch and Apple iWatch, is likely to grow; both in terms of the number of devices available and the adoption the technology. For event organizers, this is a considerable development, as it will result in an increase in smart devices to contact their attendees with via push messages and collect more intelligent.

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NEWS

New Zealand takes 3 Avatar sequels James Cameron will be returning to New Zealand to film three sequels to “Avatar,” his enormously popular movie about the blue inhabitants of Pandora, according to Associated Press and Nick Perry.

The director made the announcement Monday in the capital Wellington with producer Jon Landau and Prime Minister John Key. The films will be made by Lightstorm Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox. “Avatar,” released in 2009 and shot in New Zealand, won three Academy Awards and is the highestgrossing film in history, with an international box office take of nearly $2.8 billion.

Cameron said he plans to complete principal shooting on the three movies at one time, perhaps over a period of about nine months and beginning in 2015.

He said the aim is to release the first sequel in time for Christmas 2016 and the following sequels in late 2017 and late 2018.

“It’s quite a thrill to be officially saying that we’re bringing the Avatar films to New Zealand,” he told a news conference. “We had such a wonderful experience here making the first film.”

New Zealand’s government has agreed to a 25 percent rebate for the films, meaning it will pick up onequarter of the tab. The agreement states that Lightstorm and Twentieth Century Fox will spend at least $413 million in New Zealand on the movies.

As is typical with blockbusters, Cameron declined to disclose a budget. But he did say he expects that economies of scale will help the three movies together cost less than $1 billion.

He said that he intends to make the movies in 3D and to shoot at least some sequences at 48 frames per second.

Films are typically shot in 24 frames per second.

New Zealand director Peter Jackson shot his trilogy of “The Hobbit” at double that speed in an attempt to make the movies look more realistic and impressive.

But the results of the technology have attracted mixed reviews from critics.

Key said the announcement comes with excitement and relief for the New Zealand film industry. The industry had been facing a lull as work winds down on Jackson’s trilogy.

“It’s a day of great celebration,” Key said. “It’s a great Christmas present for those involved in making world-class movies.”

Genre Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller Release Date December 18, 2009 MPAA Rating PG-13 Studio The 20th Century Fox Official Site www.avatarmovie.com Director James Cameron Producer James Cameron, Jon Landau Screenwriter James Cameron Starring Sam Worthington as Jake Sully Zoe Saldana as Neytiri Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine Michelle Rodriguez as Trudy Chacon Giovanni Ribisi as Parker Selfridge

Health concerns top list for travelers this holiday in 2013 InsureMyTrip, the leading top travel insurance comparison site, announced the results of holiday travel survey of more than 400 respondents.

Reasons for buying travel insurance for the holidays Respondents were asked to check off all the reasons why they would choose to purchase travel insurance during the holidays. Seventy-three percent give health concerns as their top reason while noting other concerns in descending order of importance:

73%

unexpected illness or injury

45%

needing medical evacuation

26%

weather or natural disasters

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56%

flight delays or cancellations

40%

worried about health of loved one

11%

terrorism or safety threats

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Our very own adobo makes it to one of Lonely Planet’s traveler foodie. Johanna Ashby with her personal choices are: Hotdog, Chicago, USA Throw out any misgivings you might have about the plebeian hot dog – Chicago’s version of this all-American classic is an all-beef affair, spiced with mustard, pickle relish and celery salt, topped with fresh diced tomatoes and onions, a pickle spear and hot sport peppers. This truly indigenous food is said to be the invention of the Windy City’s enterprising residents and their multicultural heritage of European, Jewish and Mediterranean roots. No ordinary hot dog, a tasty frankfurter and salad encased in a soft poppy-seed bun makes this one elegant snack.

Vincisgrassi, Le Marche, Italy The Marchigianis’ take on lasagne is not for the faint of heart, turbo-charged with no less than 12 layers of slippery soft pasta sheets enriched with vino cotto, interspersed with a rich veal ragout spiked with chicken livers, lamb sweetbreads, truffles and wild mushrooms, all blanketed with a velvety béchamel sauce and grated parmesan cheese. The name is said to come from Austrian General Windisch Graetz, whose army helped liberate the regional capital, Ancona, from the French in the 18th century.

Unsurprisingly, this baked dish of epic proportions is largely reserved for special occasions and the height of truffle season.

Simpler versions of the original can be enjoyed in the city of Macerata’s many charming osterie.

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Adobo, the Philippines It’s hard to believe a dish with only four ingredients could taste so good and unify a nation. The Philippines’ 7000-plus islands are agreed in their love for the national dish of adobo – a satisfyingly savoury meat stew seasoned only with garlic, soy sauce and vinegar. Served with plain boiled rice, the humble adobo is a lunch or dinner staple and a standard offering at office canteens and carinderia (street stalls) across the country.

Each household, city and province will have their own chicken or pork variations with additional ingredients such as chicken livers, peppercorns or bay leaves but a classic chicken adobo is the country’s firm favourite.

Lobster, Cuba Cuba might be economically poor but its embarrassment of cultural riches, intriguing political history and impressive health and education systems continue to attract curious tourists to the enigmatic island. Better-known for its music, cigars and rum, food is largely a secondary consideration for the majority of Cubans so food lovers are often in for a surprise when they discover an abundance of lobster, still largely a delicacy in the West. Typically grilled in the half-shell and smothered in lemon and butter, the local lobster is fleshy yet sweet and best of all, comes supersized and super-cheap in the country’s state-run restaurants.

Fideuà, Catalonia, Spain Fideuà is the Catalonian version of one of Spain’s best-known culinary exports,

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paella. In place of rice, short, thin, vermicellilike noodles called fideus are steeped in a saffron- and tomato-infused fish broth and topped with fresh seafood, including prawns, squid and shellfish, and a dollop of rich aioli. Fideuà is a feast for the senses with its eye-popping golden hue and heady smells of garlic and the sea.

Catalans love nothing more than sharing the dish among family and friends and washing it down with generous jugs of cava or white wine in a convivial atmosphere.

Khachapuri, Sochi, Russia Those hotfooting it to Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics are in for a cheesy treat with a local specialty, khachapuri. A cross between pide and pizza, this traditional Georgian yeast bread is a labour of love, hand-kneaded twice and baked in a very hot clay oven. Filled and topped with a rather salty local cheese called sulguni, an authentic khachapuri is blistered, puffy and flaky, with a chewy texture and the lip-smacking savoury goodness of a melted cheese sandwich. Khachapuri are typically enjoyed on their own or with a tarragon and walnut salad, or as a hearty side dish.

Cafe Natasha in Sochi city serves a dietbusting supersize version oozing with butter and melted cheese and an egg on top.

Oden, Japan

Everyone knows about ramen, udon and soba but it is oden that the Japanese turn to when in need of hot and soothing comfort food. This winter staple comprises a soup in which ingredients are

December 30, 2013

slowly simmered, including tofu, fish cakes, eggs, vegetables and meat. The soy base lends the dish its characteristic but unflattering shade of brown, but don’t let that put you off – good oden has a delicate yet complex-flavoured broth and a spread of foods with a variety of tastes and textures, which can be found in Japan’s many atmospheric oden restaurants.

Incir Dolmasi, Turkey Cheekily referred to by locals as ‘Turkish Viagra’, the sticky sweet walnut-stuffed figs are a favourite dessert and snack found in street food stalls all over the country. Soft dried figs are studded with cloves, stuffed with a whole walnut, then gently poached in a cinnamon-flavoured sugar syrup.

Like the savoury dolma (vegetables filled with rice or meat), incir dolması are a hallmark of the stuffed foods of Turkey’s much-lauded Ottoman cuisine. Whether the figs live up to their nickname is a moot point, but one thing is for sure: they go down a treat with Turkish coffee.

Nem, New Caledonia Dubbed Tropical France, the tiny island of New Caledonia enjoys a reputation as a gourmet destination with its French, Melanesian and Pacific influences creating an original and fascinating fusion cuisine. The capital city, Noumea, is a hotbed of international restaurants but locals in need of a quick snack devour nem, New Caledonia’s take on the humble spring roll. Wonton wrappers or sheets of rice paper are filled with broken rice or noodles, mince and vegetables, shaped into finger-sized rolls and deep-fried, resulting in incredibly moreish, satisfying savoury bites.

Nem are best eaten hot, straight from the deep fryer, and can be bought from street vendors throughout the city.

Food Faves of Hollywood celebrities Hollywood celebrities are worshipped by their fans from all over the world; but, their favorite foods researched by Travel Update, are also everyday food for us (well, except Angelina’s) and just proves that, outside their profession, they are also one of us. Here’s the list:

Scarlett Johannsen Buffalo wings

Kate Bosworth Spaghetti Bolognaise

Selena Gomez pickles

Jennifer Lopez hotdogs

Taylor Lautner steak Nicole Scherzinger Hawaiian food (dried tuna dipped dipped in soy sauce, Banana pancakes with coconut syrup, chocolate covered Macadamia nuts

Miranda Kerr fried chicken

Angelica Jolie crickets

Kirsten Stewart tortilla soup

Taylor Swift Pop Tarts

Chicken Parmigiana, Melbourne, Australia Despite its Italian origins, Melburnians have adopted this chicken, cheese and ham classic with such gusto that it has become the standard by which locals judge a good pub. The perfect ‘chicken parma’ is a crisply crumbed, tender chicken fillet, offset by melted cheese and salty ham, and served with an unctuous homemade tomato sauce. True parma devotees engage in pub and parma crawls, and debating the merits (or otherwise) of what makes good parma over a ‘pot’ of beer is the best way to get in on the local action.

December 30, 2013

Janet Jackson Cheetos

Jennifer Aniston Mexican food

Britney Spears caramel-filled chocolates

Cameron Diaz

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French fries

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