In This Issue

In The Air

Focus: HKTB intensifies MICE pursuit

The Meetings & Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK) office of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has been working very closely with MICE and related industries to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a premier MICE destination, said HKTB executive director, Anthony Lau.

In 2010, the MEHK Office of the HKTB will continue to implement strategies such as branding Hong Kong as a premier MICE destination and enhancing the city’s international profile, fostering a win‑win partnership with the MICE trade to fuel the sector’s growth and secure high profile events. It will also continue to provide one‑stop solutions customised according to the needs of different MICE organisers in the areas of business building, advisory services and marketing support.

In view of the distinct nature of each MICE segment, Lau said that MEHK has also adopted a customized approach to drive the business forward, with specific strategies and programmes for individual MICE segments.

For meetings and incentives, the MEHK will target key accounts and multi‑national corporations, which are incentive‑based such as Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

MEHK will keep on investing in priority markets and segments such as the Mainland and selected short‑haul markets, like India, Korea and Japan, for meetings and incentives travel.

MEHK will work proactively with its partners in the MICE sector in bidding for business, and strengthen their knowledge of Hong Kong through a mix of education programmes, travel missions, familiarization tours, seminars and workshops.

www.discoverhongkong.com/mice/eng/

CHINA: The Venetian Macao includes entertainment in all meetings packages

The Venetian Macao recently released its new Entertainment and Meeting Packages for groups of 20 or more, which incorporates world‑class entertainment, travel offers and rewards for planners and delegates alike.
Bookings made for half‑ or full‑day packages by September 30 get complimentary Cirque Du Soleil tickets for the entire group or a 30‑minute performance from Streetmosphere, an in‑house entertainment troupe.
Packages include the option of buy one‑get‑one‑free ferry tickets between Hong Kong and Macau.
Meeting planners will receive gift certificates for a minimum spend on packages and suites that are redeemable within The Venetian.
The Venetian’s facilities include 100,000 sqm/1,076,390 sqft of meeting and exhibition space, 108 meeting rooms, the largest ballroom in Asia, which accommodates up to 10,000 people, 15,000‑seat capacity indoor arena, and 18,000‑seat Cirque Du Soleil ZAIA Theatre.

www.venetianmacao.com

CHINA: Garden Hotel Guangzhou renovates

Floors 5 to 10 of the garden five‑star Garden Hotel Guangzhou will undergo a two‑month renovation beginning July.
Facilities upgrade is a fixture in the hotel since 2007, when it received its Platinum Five‑Star Hotel award from the China National Tourism Administration. This is the highest hospitality award in China. Awards are issued on a yearly basis.
The Garden Hotel is one of the only three Platinum Five‑Star Hotels in China. The other two are China Hotel in Beijing and Ritz Carlton in Shanghai.
It has 828 suites and guestrooms. The grand convention hall has 10 function rooms featuring state‑of‑the‑art facilities.
www.gardenhotelguangzhou.com

CHINA: Renaissance Shanghai Putuo Hotel opens

The Renaissance Shanghai Putuo Hotel is now open for business. The upscale 330‑room property offers guests a unique experience featuring exquisite restaurants, state‑of‑the‑art meeting spaces and deluxe accommodation.
It has five meeting rooms and over 1,020 sqm/11,000 sqft of event space. The grand ballroom covers 610 sqm/5,600 sqft and seats up to 520 people theatre‑style. Management said that the high‑tech equipment along with certified planners guarantee well‑planned and successful events.
This is the fifth Renaissance property in Shanghai.

www.marriott.com

THAILAND: Golden Tulip comes to Phuket

CONVENTIONS: STB has launches new MICE brand

The Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau (SECB), a group of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), has launched a new brand to represent Singapore as an ideal destination for the business travel, and MICE market.
The brand is a subset of the recently launched YourSingapore destination brand and in conjunction with this brand launch, the YourSingapore website will include new features to address the needs of business travellers and event organisers.
The new brand underscores Singapore’s commitment to partner with event organizers to leverage its dynamic environment of vibrant knowledge and wide networks to create innovative solutions for business success and customize fun and rewarding experiences.
www.yoursingapore.com

CONVENTIONS: Sarawak gets a “convention incubator”

Global Research and Intelligence Network (GRAIN) recently launched in Sarawak ICID (International Centre for Industry Development) Malaysia and aims “to revolutionize the MICE landscape in Sarawak.”
GRAIN is an international market development firm located in 16 countries around the world.
ICID is the latest brainchild of GRAIN and its purpose is to be an association incubator. It acts as a local host to international associations based around the world and, through GRAIN’s strategically placed international network in 16 countries across the globe, it is able to secure prestigious world‑class conferences that will provide industry and economic development for the State of Sarawak.
GRAIN, with strong support from the Sarawak Convention Bureau for The ICID Project, will bring and host 15 international conferences in Sarawak over the next five years.

www.researchandintelligence.com · www.sarawakcb.com

IDEAS: Don’t forget the plating

Visual impact is part of making any event memorable. Futian Shangri‑La, Shenzhen’s recent grand opening was studded with superlatives. Ceremony, entertainment, nine‑course menu, and plating, too.
Appetiser came in a plate of what looked like a botanical painting. The plate was cleared and then came the next course and the next, which were beautifully plated. Before dessert came, the guests thought they had seen it all. After all, dessert was simply described as “seasonal fresh fruit platter.”
Wrong. It turned out to be the pièce de resistance. Chunky strips of fresh fruits were served inside a large hollow tear‑drop‑shaped ice frame. It was so irresistible that guests not only relished each bite but couldn’t keep their hands from touvhing the smooth contours of the icy receptacle, truly memorable.

In The Air

Tourism Australia – China Southern Airlines partnership

Tourism Australia (TA) and Guangzhou based China Southern Airlines have announced a new partnership agreement to help realise the potential of travel between China and Australia.
TA Managing Director, Andrew McEvoy, said Tourism Australia's partnership with China Southern Airlines is essential in securing future growth in the China market, particularly as TA expands its marketing focus beyond the primary cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
"China Southern's hub approach and development will open up a wide range of source markets throughout China who will then travel through Guangzhou, which is the closet point from mainland China to Australia," McEvoy said.

Triple Delta miles on new non‑stop HK‑Detroit flights

SkyMiles members flying the airline’s new non‑stop flights between Hong Kong and Detroit can earn up to triple bonus miles for their travel. The new flights, which began on June 4, operate five times weekly.
Delta customers who are SkyMiles members can enrol in the promotion by registering at delta.com/triple by September 30, 2010, and by flying the Hong Kong‑Detroit route anytime between June 4 and September 30.
Delta’s expansion at Hong Kong is part of the first fully consolidated summer schedule published following Delta’s merger with Northwest Airlines, allowing the airline to reallocate existing capacity to new routes.

www.delta.com

IATA brings transparency to baggage rules

The International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s latest Simplifying the Business programme is now focusing on the Automated Carrier Baggage Rules (ACBR). It will provide a central database for interline baggage rules, enabling airlines, travel agents, and passengers to know what baggage rules will apply for any given itinerary.
Airlines will benefit from easier, faster and more accurate handling of baggage charges at check‑in. This will reduce costly and time‑consuming disputes between carriers over whose baggage allowances and charges apply for any given journey.
IATA is partnering with the Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO), who will host the central database. IATA will populate the database by mobilizing airlines to submit their baggage rules to ATPCO by September 2010 for implementation in early 2011.