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Left : M. Manimaran, area director of sales & marketing Malaysia, Paul Poh, managing director, GuocoLand Malaysia, Dean Rossilli, general manager, Thistle Port Dickson Resort, Julia Douglas, managing editor of MICE in Asia and Philip Skitch, general manager, Thistle Johor Bahru.

The Thistle Hotels will make its presence in Asia through two hotel properties in Malaysia – Thistle Johor Bahru and Thistle Port Dickson Resort. MICE in Asia magazine was at a press conference announcing the hotels’ investment of RM 50 million in refurbishing of both properties. The two hotels will also be Thistle’s first outside of United Kingdom.

A bit of retail therapy at Kuching’s craft bazaar and had lunch at the newly opened restaurant on the waterfront.

This trip was planned for the group to experience what Sarawak can offer to MICE. It was also an opportunity to discover new meetings and conventions facilities, services and venues for events.

In an official ceremony on November 13, HKTB announced the establishment of its Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK) office. It was held at the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre witnessed by government officials, trade partners and close to 100 local and international media including MICE in Asia attended the event.

In conjunction with opening of the new MEHK office, members of the media were brought to a familiarization tour of Hong Kong’s new MICE venues such as: the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC), which was originally a printing factory; dinner at The Pawn, a colonial building in Wanchai which has been converted into a restaurant; morning Tai Chi exercise at The Peak; team building in Disneyland Hong Kong; and participated in a Cantonese Opera workshop at the Tai Pa floating restaurant. The tour ended with a cocktail and dinner on board a junk in the middle of Hong Kong harbour.

The MEHK office will consist of three teams to offer dedicated services for the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions segments. In supporting MICE organisers, the MEHK office will mobilise the collaboration of different sectors of the community to devise customised solutions and value-added hospitality offers. The office will also work closely with members of the Alliance Group, including Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices to maximise synergy.

The Philippine Association of Convention and Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS) hosted on August 27 and 28 a forum on MICE at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City, Philippines. The event was held to gather experts and professionals in the industry to learn the latest trends, challenges and directions of MICE locally, regionally and the global market. Among the key-note speaker was Julia Douglas, managing editor of MICE in Asia who spoke on MICE trends in Asia and its challenges.

It was also supported by the Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC) and the Hotel, Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) of the Philippines.

Julia Douglas, the editor of MICE in Asia recently visited the Philippines to establish a working relationship with professionals in the MICE industry. During the three days in Manila, she was taken on a familiarisation tour of the Philippine Convention & Visitors Center, SMX Convention Center complex and the Manila World Trade Center. She also had a meeting with Daniel Corpuz, executive director of Philippine Convention & Visitors Corporation to discuss on the development of MICE in the country.

The managing editor then visited Cebu Island at the invitation of Marissa Nallana, chairman of Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers who briefed her on the facilities and activities held at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC). Later, the managing editor introduced MICE in Asia to Dawnie Roa, regional director of the Philippines department of tourism. She had lunch at the Chinese restaurant of the Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort & Spa as guest of the director of communications, Mildred Amon. Douglas’ one night stay in Cebu was hosted by the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

The quarterly magazine, ‘MICE in Asia’, is the latest publication to join the growing World Exhibitions Club (WEC).

The specialised magazine targets convention and meeting venues, hoteliers, resorts, incentive travel agents, tour operators, event managers, meeting planners, conference and exhibitions organisers and MICE professionals. It is distributed to major cities in Asia, Australasia, Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, South America, and the USA.

Each edition covers news and trends, destination features, personnel movements, events, conferences and tip on managing events in Asia.

As the newest Media Associate of WEC, ‘MICE in Asia’ hopes to expand its readership across the world and build on its status as a leading publication in the Asia region and globally for the industry.

WEC Membership Director, Caroline Laspas said ‘We are delighted to welcome ‘MICE in Asia’ to World Exhibitions Club. Media Associates are a key part to the success of the club, as well as WEC greatly assisting in the development of the publications readership and circulation through the many networking opportunities available through the club’. She continued ‘WEC were attracted by the stylish and easy to read format of the publication, as well as the in-depth content of the magazine. As a global club, simplicity it vital for everyone to understand the message you want to export and ‘MICE in Asia’ is one such publication that succeeds in doing this.

For more information on WEC and/or ‘MICE in Asia’ please visit: www.wecexhibitions.com

Notes:

Established in 2006, World Exhibitions Club (WEC) was founded by a dedicated team in the field of travel, tourism and exhibitions, with over 12 years of hands-on experience organising and selling some of the most famous international exhibitions in the travel, tourism and mice industry.

Combined with a solid background and training in marketing and promotion, led the team to recognise a need in the market for selective international travel and tourism and mice events to be presented on an independent global platform, hence the creation of World Exhibitions Club.

To create further excitement, there were cultural dance performances from countries such as China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Peru. Exhibitors, buyers and visitors had a chance to win lovely prices from on-site lucky draw.

Travel themes highlighted this year included cruise, hot springs, destination weddings and Hong Kong travel street agents. As before, the first two days were opened for travel trade and corporate clients, while the last two days were for the public.

The Sarawak Tourism Board organised a dinner to honour media and destination management agencies for promoting the state of Sarawak for the past one year. At the Appreciation Nite on May 22 in Kuala Lumpur, MICE in Asia was given an award for the reports and write-up on events and happenings in Sarawak throughout 2007.

During the dinner, Dato’ Wong Soong Koh, Minister of Finance (II) and Minister of Urban Development and Tourism of Sarawak highlighted to all guests present the progress Sarawak Tourism Board has made in promoting the state worldwide, as well as the potential of Sarawak being an incentive destination.

The 3rd MICE, Business & Incentive Travel Expo (ITE) will be held from June 12-14 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. It will feature nearly 700 exhibitors from Asia, Europe, Americas, Middle East and Africa covering all MICE sectors and new travel themes.

It is supported by the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association, Macau Convention & Exhibition Association, Chamber of Commerce in Guangdong and Shenzhen and the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association.

MICE in Asia will be exhibiting at booth no. 2M006 and look forward to meeting you there.