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The managing editor and marketing manager of MICE in Asia had the opportunity to experience travelling by rail onboard the Eastern & Oriental Express from Singapore to Bangkok.The deluxe train travel through South East Asian countries of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

On the Pullman train, which is of a quarter of a mile in length, it can accommodate 132 passengers in 66 air-conditioned cabins. Service on board the E & O includes a personal butler and fine dining. Lunch and dinner are served at two of the train’s luxurious dinning cabins with food prepared by chef Yannis Martineau. For some relaxation, the lounge car offers drinks and snacks, and in the evening music by the resident pianist and a cultural Thai dance. Also on board is a reading room, and at either end of the train, is the observation deck where passengers can take in the sounds and sights of the tropical forests.

During the journey, the E& O luxury train stops in Penang for a short excursion of the island. Before its final destination, the Hualampong railway station in Bangkok, the train crossed the Bridge over River Kwai at Kanchanaburi. Here passengers alight for a tour of the River Kwai and a visit to the war cemetery and war memorial museum.

From the Left is Julia Douglas, managing editor of MICE in Asia, Datuk Mirza Taiyab, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad, Chairman of Sarawak Convention Bureau and Jill Henry, Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Convention Bureau.

Sarawak Convention Bureau unveiled its second meeting in Sarawak promotional video along with the second volume of its meeting and incentive planners guide at a cocktail reception in Kuala Lumpur.

The 128 page guide is full of useful information on Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia situated on the island of Borneo. It contains amongst other information, the Bureau’s services to meeting planners, Sarawak’s meeting credentials, top incentive ideas and features details on 213 potential convention venues and industry service providers.

A new video, entitled – Recharge in a New World II – Changing Perspectives’ continues the story of a climatic meeting between a jaded western business executive and his local host from the Sarawak Iban community. This sequel uses the same “tongue in cheek” humorous approach and retains many of the same characters from the original version, so that it can be used in tandem with the first video.

Left is Julia Douglas, managing editor of MICE in Asia with Irene Sperling, vice-president and associate publisher of Trade Show Executive magazine.

Bae Byung-Kwan, chief executive officer of COEX Korea a keynote speaker of the UFI Seminar in Asia 2009.

Dato Ahmad Fuad Ismail, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur (third from right) and senior executives of KLCC Holdings Sdn Bhd and ladies in traditional costumes of Malaysia.

To make Kuala Lumpur a picturesque city and for tourists to bring back fond memories of their visit, the City Hall has located six new photo spots at the KLCC Park. These spots provide a better photo opportunity of the Petronas Twin Towers.

“There is a lot of good scenery in our city. We have beautiful parks and gardens, and even creative architecture that will make good photographs. Tourists will take back these pictures and show their friends, and this will promote the city by word of mouth. Helping them to take good photos in this way will definitely benefit the promotion of Kuala Lumpur. I would encourage more efforts like this, it shows that we are proud of our city,” said Dato Ahmad Fuad, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur.

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation will host MITE 2010, a dedicated tourism exhibition that provides business-to-business opportunities on a global platform for industry players from India and their travel trade counterparts from around the world.

MITE 2010 is aimed at providing an integrated business platform for local and international participants thus allowing them to showcase their products and services while simultaneously creating an opportunity for them to meet the top decision makers in the industry. Indian and foreign travel agents will also be able to attain a deeper understanding of issues pertaining to the travel and tourism industry through a series of business forums and dialogue sessions that will unfold at MITE 2010.

The India Tourism pavilion, occupying some 360 square metres of net exhibit space, will feature primarily the various state tourism organisations bordering the Himalaya mountain region.

“We would like to promote summer vacations in the states along the Himalayas as they offer the best scenic beauty of our country during the summer months,” said Ms Meenakshi Mehta, Assistant Director General of the Ministry of Tourism in New Delhi. Apart from this, other state NTOs and individual companies and organisations in the Indian travel, hospitality and MICE sectors would also be taking up promotion space in the 10,000 square metre exhibition hall.

While India Tourism would take centre stage with the largest national pavilion, Singapore has been designated as the “Partner Country” with a pavilion of some 200 square metres, featuring the new Marina Bay Sands and the Resorts World at Sentosa among others.

“We are delighted to have Singapore as the Partner Country for MITE 2010 as it has the largest foreign national pavilion,” said Mr. Edward Liu, Managing Director of Conference & Exhibition Services Pte Ltd (CEMS), the organiser of the event.

“We are also happy that the Singapore Tourism Board will be supporting the event and coordinating the participation of several key players from the Singapore tourism and travel industry,” added Liu.

CEMS will be organising the CEO Forum where some 50 captains of industry would be invited to pow-wow on the current issues facing the global travel and tourism industry. In addition, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) India Chapter would be organising a forum for all hosted buyers from the Indian and foreign travel buyers who will be taking part in MITE 2010.

At the same time, members of the India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) and the Indian Exhibition Industries Association (IEIA) would be meeting with their counterparts from the Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Associations (AFECA), which comprises 19 national associations, and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) on the last day of the event.

The Indian travel and tourism industry is currently experiencing a surge in its outbound and inbound markets as well as a robust expansion in domestic tourism. The Indian outbound tourist flow is expected to increase at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.30% per cent over the five-year period (2008 to 2012). This presents a significant strategic and business advantage for global travel and tourism players in this emerging market of India.

MICE in Asia is a media partner of MITE 2010 which will held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, India from January 7 to 9, 2010.

To encourage and facilitate business and investment into Malaysia, Gleanreagh Sdn Bhd, a local event management company has created a business forum to act as a platform for enhancing global business cooperation between Malaysia and other partner countries. From November 8 to 11, at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, a delegation led by the government of Bosnia Herzegovina will meet and discuss business potentials with the Malaysian business community.

In a press conference, His Excellency, the ambassador of Bosnia Herzegovina, Mr Ensar Eminovic, said the time is right for the country to establish business partnerships to help rebuild the country. Bosnia is looking at strategic alliances with Malaysia and other Asian countries in the areas of technical support, energy, investment, education and tourism.

The city of Kuching in Sarawak was selected as the venue for the forum due to the city’s current robust economic development. Sarawak is also going to be the largest energy producer in Southeast Asia when the Bakum dam project is completed.

MICE in Asia is the media partner of the Global Business Forum.

Kuala Lumpur City Skyscape (photograph by KL Photography Contest – Kuala Lumpur City Hall).

‘Visit KL’ tourism website www.visitkl.gov.my is designed to be a guide to Kuala Lumpur and provide useful and insightful information about the city. It was launched by the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Dato Ahmad Fuad Bin Ismail at a press conference on October 7 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Among the main areas of information that are available on the site are essential details on getting into and around the city, where to stay, places to go, attractions to see, shops to visit, where to find different types of food and the latest happenings in the city. There is also a listing of the city’s meetings and convention venues, sports and healthcare facilities and educational institutions.

The Mayor explained that this website is one of the many fresh new ideas and initiatives that Kuala Lumpur City Hall will implement in an effort to promote Kuala Lumpur as a holiday and business destination to increase tourist arrivals.

He also announced that City Hall will also provide a special incentive package to organisers of international events. The incentive package is in line with the government’s recognition of the importance of MICE and its contributions to tourism and to the inflow of foreign exchange.
MICE in Asia team was at the press conference to launch the website.

Passengers on the sun deck enjoying the cruise along the Rajang River.

Mice in Asia’s writer cum marketing director, Keith Douglas enthusiastically joined the RV Orient Pandaw on August 10 at the Port of Sibu, located at the lower reaches of the majestic Rajang River for its 5th cruise into the heart of Borneo. The itinerary had been designed specifically for passengers and travellers keen on getting to know what Borneo is really all about. After settling in to our very nicely appointed air conditioned cabins and being made very welcome by Chief Purser Saw Kaw Thoo and his assistant Roger, we had a safety briefing which assured us all that we were in the hands of a very concientious and competent crew.

Despite a recent dry spell and low water levels and after a pleasant shore excursion for last minute shopping, we cast off at dusk and headed up river. Our destinations being Kanowit, Kapit, Baleh River and Pelagus rapids. After Kapit we headed for Muau, Song, Tanjung Kunyit, Sarikei, Kampung Seberang, Rajang village, the Rajang delta, and finally returning to Sibu on August 18 having covered a distance of 720 km. At all stops we were invited to partake in shore excursions under the care and guidance of one of the most knowledgeable of gentlemen who was our guide for the cruise. With intimate and in-depth knowledge Louis Jap brought us to longhouses, Songkit weaving establishments, local schools, pepper farms, and rubber farms. We witnessed palm wine tapping and got to taste this unique brew. The local people were charming and friendly and made a small place in all our hearts forever.

The Captain, first mate and pilot all handled the ship with great skill, dexterity and competence. The seamen and stewards were a happy and efficient body of men. Food was great with a nice balance between east and west. With such a ship’s complement it makes Pandaw Cruises one of the finest ways to explore East Malaysia and get to know the true heart of Borneo.

Sunset at the upper deck.

Keith Douglas with the Assistant Purser, Roger.

The Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), is one of the country’s most established industry-trade associations. It represents Singapore’s leading convention and exhibition organisers and suppliers of facilities and services. Marking its 30 years in existence, a gala dinner was held at Conrad Centennial Singapore with guest-of-honour, Mr. S. Iswaran, the Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education. The highlight of the evening was the recognition given to past Presidents of SACEOS for their achievements.

Currently the President of SACEOS is Edward Liu. SACEOS is a non-profit organisation offering members educational opportunities, industry standards and a global network of business contacts.

Edward Liu, President of SACEOS with Elizabeth Chin, Executive Director of SACEOS pinning a corsage on S. Iswaran, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education Singapore.

Julia Douglas presenting the latest issue of MICE in Asia to the contingent from Thailand with Dr Wong Lai Sum (fourth from left), deputy chief executive officer (promotion) of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).