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At downtown Taipei on March 23, Mayor Ko Wen-je sounded the starter pistol, and cyclists from 32 nations began their race for the championship, with a total of 23 cycling teams taking part. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Tour de Taiwan which has been classed as a 2.1 category race.

The Mayor mentioned in his address that, bicycles play an important role in Taipei’s green transportation scheme. Not only are bicycles tools for leisure and exercise he said, they are also transportation vehicles. He also stated that in order for Taipei to become a green city, the expansion of bicycle lanes will be a key factor. In addition to existing lanes, the city has devised plans to build new bike lanes on roads with width over 40 meters.

Tour de Taiwan is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in the country since 1978, as part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race is organised in conjunction with the annual Taipei Cycle Show.

It is an annual event targeted at the global bicycle industry and the expanding Asian bicycle market. The exhibition features complete bicycles, bicycle parts, accessories and light electric vehicles. This year the show was held from March 18 to 21 at the TWC Nangang Exhibition Hall in Taipei organised by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) together with Taiwan Bicycle Exporters Association, Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Transportation Association and Taiwan Rubber Industries Association.

Top names in the bicycle industry from around the world showcased their products, as well as component bicycle makers from established and emerging markets. Buyers who attended the show had the opportunity to view the latest trends and innovations in bicycles.

Taiwan was once better known for making semi conductors, has made its mark in the manufacturing of bicycles and bicycle parts as early as 1970s; and now light electric vehicles. The country’s exports of these products have over the years, steadily increased. Today throughout Taipei, you can find bicycle lanes, bike sharing stations and helmet-clad commuters. The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) invited media from China, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan to visit Taipei in conjunction with the island’s annual cycle show and the first race of the Tour de Taipei.

Members of the media had the opportunity to meet professional exhibition organisers from some of Taiwan’s top companies such as Bosstar International Co, ChanChao International Co, K & A International Co, Top Link International and Supperline International Entreprise Co. This as well as witness the signing of memorandum of understanding between Makuhari Messe and TAITRA. A meeting was also organised at the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan with Mr David Hsu, the Director General of the Bureau of Foreign Trade.

At the same time, a trip to Kaohsiung to visit the city’s biggest exhibition venue, the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center which opened mid last year; and the more established International Convention Center Kaohsiung where a briefing was held by Mr Jason Cheng, Deputy Director General of Kaohsiung City Government’s Economic Development Bureau.

Official Opening of the Taipei Cycle 2015

Meeting with Professional Exhibition Organisers

Signing of MOU between Makuhari Messe and TAITRA

Briefing at the Minsitry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan by the Deputy Director General of the Bureau of Foreign Trade Mr David Hsu

Visit to International Convention Center Kaohsiung and Kaohsiung Exhibition Center

The New Kaohsiung Library

Night Cruise on the Love River in Kaohsiung

The publisher and editorial board of MICE in Asia, would like to thank TAITRA for the familiarisation tour of Taipei and Kaohsiung.

The second annual Asia Meeting and Incentive Travel Exchange (AMITE) will be held on July 1 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore in conjunction with the Fifth Annual Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) organised by SACEOS.  Buyers of AMITE 2015 are invited to attend the opening of the event.

AMITE is the Asian edition of the Global Meetings & Incentive Travel Exchange (GMITE)  portfolio which is one the world’s leading MICE exchange programmes that has served the industry for the past 10 years.  It is produced by Questex Hospitality + Travel in partnership with the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS).

In addition to guaranteed and scheduled one-to-one meetings between buyers and reputable suppliers, AMITE 2015 will offer participants networking opportunities including a welcome cocktail reception and gala dinner.

Participation at AMITE 2015 is limited to buyers and suppliers.  For more information, please visit questexevents.net/AMITE.

MICE in Asia is a media partner of AMITE 2015.

One of Malaysia’s longest established trade associations formed in 1837 has been a staunch supporter of the best ethical standards in business. At the same time, MCCI has also developed, and promoted its own Code of Business Conduct for adoption by its members, who may not already have their own established code. “The award is the first of such undertaken by the private sector for ethical business to recognise companies, who stand out as the best models of governance and anti corruption excellence,” said the president of MICCI, Simon Whitelaw at a press conference to launch the award.

Working together with the global organisation, Ethical Alliance as the knowledge partner, the award recognises businesses which exemplify a strong commitment to business excellence and to the highest standards of civic and social responsibilities, integrity, compliance and ethical conduct in Malaysia. According to a statement by MICCI, introducing this national corporate ethics award is a move by Chamber of Commerce, to be more proactive in the engagement of corporate ethics development in the country.

The Chamber of Commerce has close to 1,000 corporate members that represent not only Malaysia, but over 30 countries. It is also widely recognised in the country, as one of the most active advocates for the business community.

In a survey conducted on trade and public visitors of the event, showed 22 percent which is over 2,700 of the trade visitors; and 30 percent about 22,590 of the public visitors registered interest in sports tourism. Officially launched last year, the travel theme of the sports tourism are dedicated to sports enthusiasts, families and those who would like to incorporate sports elements in their holidays.

ITE & MICE exhibitors which comprises of tourism boards, attractions, hotels, resorts, agents and airlines, will now feature more on sports tourism through their products, displays and seminars. This can include cycling in Taiwan, hiking in Switzerland, skiing in Japan, diving and water sports in island paradises.

ITE & MICE 2015, which co-locates the 29th ITE (leisure) and the 10th ITE MICE, will be held from June 11 to 14, 2015 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The event has the support of China National Tourism Administration, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, Macau Government Tourists Office, associations of travel trade and MICE industries in Hong Kong and neighbouring areas.

For more details please visit www.itehk.com.

The ninth Installment of the international MICE event will be held from April 14 to 15 at Shanghai Exhibition & Convention Center of International Sourcing. This year, the event expects an attendance of 3,000 MICE professionals from sectors including DMCs, PCOs, corporate travel and associations, some 400 hosted delegates, over 10,000 business appointments as well as over 60 businesses, education and networking sessions.

Once again organised by TTG Events, together with CITS International M.I.C.E , a wholly owned subsidiary of CITS (China International Travel Service) and MP International. The event has also the support of the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration (SMTA), Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Industries Association (SCEIA), Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) and Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE), International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Society of Incentive Travel Executives (Site) China chapter.

More information is available at www.itcmchina.com.

Japan’s most established property management firm, the Mori Building Company, is in the midst of transforming the city of Tokyo. This is through its plan of creating a compact city with super high-rise buildings – a unique concept of vertical land development that makes use of ultra high-rise structures and underground space. Media representatives from Hong Kong (China), Malaysia, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan were invited for a four-day tour covering the Roppongi area and Toranomon Hills of Tokyo.

On the first night of the trip, media representatives stayed at Grand Hyatt Tokyo Ropponggi and were welcomed with a cocktail and buffet dinner by the hotel. This was followed by on the second day, a tour of the Toranomon Hills, a skyscraper complex project built by Mori Building in Minato, Tokyo, which included a visit to the nearby Ark Mori Building.

Also an opportunity to view downtown Tokyo from the air in a helicopter operated by the Mori Building City Air Services. While the remaining two nights, were hosted by Andaz Tokyo located on Toranomon hills which is the first of such brand hotel in Japan.

Later attended the International Meeting Expo (IME) an annual MICE event held at the Tokyo International Forum exhibition hall. Exhibitors at the expo consists of convention bureaus, hotels and resorts from various parts of Japan offering participants and delegates the opportunity to network for MICE business. The expo also featured academic forums and seminars.

On the last morning of the trip, some media representatives experienced the art of Zazen at the Seisyo-Ji Temple, which requires one to sit on a cushion on the floor, and remain motionless for at least an hour – originates from Zen Buddhism and practiced for deep concentration.

Not to be missed is a bit of retail therapy at the world famous luxurious shopping district of Ginza with its upscale boutiques, numerous department stores, restaurants and coffeehouses.

Media Representatives from Hong Kong (China), Malaysia, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan.

Mori Building at Raponggi and Toranomon Hills.

Kabuki Performance for MICE events in Japan.

Helicopter ride (operated by Mori Building City Air Services) over Tokyo for an aerial view of the city’s downtown.

The publisher and editorial board of MICE in Asia, would like to thank the Mori Building Company and MICE Japan for organising the media familiarisation trip. Our special thanks to Junji Sato San of MICE Japan for all his help.

It is not always that one gets to lunch at the Chef’ table and it is a delight to do so. A small group of media representatives had the opportunity to taste a new food concept created by the Centre’s Executive Chef Richmond Lim, prepared and served by him and his culinary team. An array of seafood bites and an assortment of sweet memories were offered with the highlight on the sharing platter of homemade beef and lamb satay, braised chicken roulade, oriental soy goose, red curry duck stew and venison with bell peppers accompanied with a choice of nasi biryani, nasi kerabu and fried rice.

Each course was expertly paired with a selection of cocktails and mocktails. The theme of the lunch being ‘Looking back, moving forward’, where you get to sample of what’s to come in the latest banquet menu of the Centre.

“The Centre’s newest banqueting offering is about providing choice, but not having to queue up at the buffet station; enjoying a selection of small bites, but not in the traditional stand-up cocktail fashion; recognising the Malaysian heritage of sharing food, but offering it in an elegant manner; exciting palates with taste and texture and, last but not least; transforming banqueting at the Centre into culinary art,” said Executive Chef Richmond Lim.

“Essentially, we are re-inventing the art of eating and creating a new dynamic around the dining table,” shared Lim.

Media representatives were also introduced to the Centre’s state-of-the-art kitchens including the Centre’s 32 COMBI ovens. At the same time participated in an interactive food session on how to prepare house-smoked salmon with pipe creme fraiche and the art of filling vol-au-vents, as well as a crash course in teaspoon chocolate quenelle.

Next year marked the 10th anniversary of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, and the venue celebrates the occasion with a year-long offering of special promotional meeting packages and other activities to be shared with their clients.

An interactive food session with chefs of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre at the venue’s state-at-the-art kitchen.

The Chef’s Table Lunch.

Media representatives with the food they prepared.

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2005.

MICE in Asia would like to thank the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for inviting the managing editor and photographer to lunch at the Chef’s Table. Our special thanks go to Executive Chef, Richmond Lim and his culinary team, and the gracious hospitality of Simon K Lomas, Deputy General Manager, Angeline Lue, Director of Sales & Marketing and Kuzaimah Idris, Communications Manager.

Images are courtesy of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

According to the 2013 country and city ranking statistics report by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Seoul is ranked 9th place – moving up eight places from the previous year. The city of Seoul (Seoul Metropolitan Government), Seoul Tourism Organization and Seoul Convention Bureau invited media representatives from Australia, China, Czech Republic, Japan, Malaysia and United States for a four-day media tour of Seoul, a city not only known for its preservation of cultural and historical heritage, but fast becoming a preferred destination for meetings and conventions.

First on the agenda of the tour was a press conference with Greta Kohler, senior vice president for Global Development of ASAE (The Centre for Association of Leadership) and Nancy Carfrae, vice president of UIA, in counjunction with the UIA Round Table Asia 2014, hosted by the city of Seoul.

Attended by industry partners from around the world with presentations from invited speakers, the UIA Round Table is aimed at promoting and facilitating the work of international associations through learning and networking opportunities. What the UIA does for the meetings industry is to offer collaboration and partnership with entities in the meetings industry through associate membership, with the main focus in promoting and networking between association and industry bodies.

This was followed by a cultural experience at the Korea House which is designed to showcase traditional local culture to visitors, managed by the government affiliated Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation – a venue offering guests to enjoy traditional Korean royal cuisine, arts and performances.

Next, was a visit to COEX Convention & Exhibition Centre located in the heart of Gangnam, a business district of Seoul. After which a tour of Korea’s first artificially created island, the Some Sevit on the shores of the Hangang River in Southern Seoul, which is actually, a unique venue comprising of three islands that are linked and, has a convention hall, restaurants, shops as well as a floating stage called the Media Art Gallery.

An interview session with Seoul MICE Alliance Members was held at JW Marriott. The SMA members consist of professional conference organisers specialising in the planning and management of international association conferences and conventions, travel and destination managers, professional exhibition organisers, and IT solution providers.

The tour also included a site inspection of Korea’s state-of-the-art convention venue the DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) of a futuristic design that is eco-friendly which opened its doors on March 21. It is a multi-purpose cultural facility with a total floor area of 84,368 square metres, designed by the renowned architect Dame Zaha Hadid of United Kingdom.

Media Representatives from America, Australia, China, Europe, Japan and Malaysia

UIA Associations Round Table Asia 2014 Hosted by the City of Seoul

Presentation on MICE Plans for Lotte Hotels & Resorts

Enjoying Korean Cuisine

Learning to Cook Korean Dishes

Interview Session with Seoul MICE Alliance Members at the JW Marriott Seoul

Site Inspection of MICE venues in – Some Sevit, Dongdaemun Design Plaza and COEX Convention & Exhibition Center

Shopping Experience in the Bustling City Centre

Street Scenes in Seoul

Farewell Dinner organised by Seoul Tourism Organization and Seoul Convention Bureau

MICE in Asia would like thank the hosts: Seoul Metropolitan Government; Seoul Tourism Organization; and Seoul Convention Bureau for inviting the managing editor to be among the international media representatives to tour the city of Seoul. We would also like to extend our appreciation to Lotte Hotel Seoul for their kind hospitality and exceptional service.