2012

Once again Hong Kong’s annual ITE & MICE event will be held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Exhibitors can expect B2B contacts with delegates from mainland China and around the world.

For next year’s show, the organiser expects over 12,000 visitors for the two trade days, with 20 percent from China (Guangdong), and some 70 percent from Hong Kong. Among them 5,700 will be travel agents, 3,200 MICE and corporations and around 200 hosted and registered buyers

The organiser has also plans to provide extra services to facilitate exhibitors in making B2B contacts. Exhibitors are able to utilise the organisers’ password-enabled online system for pre-appointments with buyers, weeks before the expo opens. This system is also available to buyers who however, are required to fulfill certain quotas.

For convenience, exhibitors are able to during show, rent rooms located inside the exhibition halls, to hold their own trade seminar while the organiser will promote the seminars through trade website which accepts online pre-registrations and this is for free.

From time to time, the organiser itself holds trade seminars on specific topics on cruise, wellness, honeymooning and overseas wedding and incentive schemes to outbound MICE. Speakers of these theme seminars are invited by the organiser.

For details on ITE & MICE Hong Kong, please visit www.itehk.com.

MICE in Asia is the media partner of ITE & MICE Hong Kong 2013.

From Left: Patricia Cheong (General Manager Sphere Conferences), Allen Loh (Senior Vice President, Circulation Singapore Press Holdings), Chua Wee Phong (Chairman, Sphere Conferences), U Yan Win (Chairman, Myanmar Tourism Federation), U Htay Win (Deputy Director General Directorate of Hotels and Tourism, Ministry of Hotels and Tourism), U Maung Maung Swe (Vice Chairman, Myanmar Tourism Federation), U Kyi Thein Ko (Head of Secretary, Myanmar Tourism Fedration).

The Myanmar Hospitality and Tourism Conference 2013 is positioned as the gateway for property developers, operators of hospitality and tourism properties, financiers and investors to explore, evaluate and expand the country’s potentional as a travel destination. Sphere Conferences and the Myanmar Tourism Federation (MTF) announced that they will jointly organise the country’s first hospitality and tourism investment conference to be held in Yangon from February 26 to 28 at the Traders Hotel.

At the conference, the Myanmar government will also be sharing its tourism masterplan, detailing a suite of proposals to boost the tourism sector and showcase the country’s potential projects and investment opportunities to position itself as a major tourist destination.

Sphere Conferences is a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings. MICE in Asia is a media partner of the Myanmar Hospitality and Tourism Conference.

This year marked the events 20th and 15th show. During the three-days, delegates had a power packed business appointments at the Bangkok Convention Centre with exhibitors representing several countries from the Asia Pacific region. Also introduced for the first time at the 2012 IT&CMA and CTW are exhibitions on luxury travel.

For the media briefings organisations such as Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Airports of Thailand (AOT), Asian Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau (AACVB), Penang Tourism Council, Pullman Jakarta, Egyptian Tourism Office and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) shared information on their upcoming MICE and corporate travel projects with Thai and international media.

Networking Highlights include luncheon hosted by Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK) and TTG Events. IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific Jubilee Dinner where delegates were treated to a Malaysian feast featuring authentic Penang cuisine courtesy of the evening’s hosts, Penang Global Tourism and TTG Events. Late Night Function was held at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit Bangkok.

The education component of the event continued full steam with seminars and conferences. The sessions as usual were scheduled in a way that allows delegates to attend them without interfering with their business appointments.

This most established travel event in Vietnam was staged from September 13 to 15 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC). The show attracted about 180 key global buyers from 33 major markets that include the ASEAN countries, Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, North America, Russia and United Arab Emirates. Exhibitors were from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and the Asia Pacific regions such as Australia, Singapore, Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Korea, Maldives, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and United Arab Emirates.

Considered to be the powerhouse event for The Greater Mekong Sub-REgion, this year, the show presented travel products and services of state tourism destinations of the “4-Countries-One-Destination” of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmmar and Vietnam.

The first official business day of IT&CM India began with the event’s keynote address by veteran industry speaker Martin Sirk, the chief executive officer of International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). He addressed a packed house, and spoke about competitiveness in the international MICE space, and about how a nascent market like India needs to up its game to compete effectively.

He urged destinations and companies to leverage the power of teams, develop their service touch points and technology, harness their intellectual talent and use creativity to truly compete on an international level.

This was followed by a joint official press conference by IT&CM India and CIC. Chander Mansharamani, the vice chairman of ICPB in his speech expressed positivity about the future of India MICE. “The Ministry of Tourism is aware of the opportunity in MICE tourism and has taken a number of initiatives to make India a preferred MICE destination.”

Addressing the hot topic of the Indian visa application process, he said, “The government has taken many proactive steps to make it easier for many countries to obtain visas on arrival. These changes will be put into effect very soon.”

Over 5,000 business appointments took place from August 20 to 23. The event was held at the India Expo Centre & Mart situated in Delhi’s National Capital Region of Greater Noida, India.

Tourism development and culture office of Penang organised a travel mart from July 4 to 6 to showcase travel products from the island to international buyers. It was an engaging platform of business-to-business exchange and an occasion to network and discover the local travel and MICE trade. Managed together with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, approximately 170 buyers who were fully hosted attended the event negotiating with 85 sellers from the various areas of the travel industry ranging from hotels, airlines, food and beverage outlets, culture and heritage centres.

This show will eventually be noted in the calendar as an annual event to be held on the island which can open the opportunity for Penang to promote business and investment in its tourism sector.

Media and hosted buyers greeted by a lion dance at dinner held in a heritage nyonya and baba house converted into a restaurant.

Business-to-business meeting.A fam tour of Penang with a break at the island’s esplanade.

Intensive buyer acquisition efforts for IT&CMA and CTW 2012 has attracted close to 800 applications from MICE buyers and corporate travel managers across the world, including new markets such as Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Israel, Lebanon, Mexico and Tanzania. The event also has a reported a 50 percent surge in registrations from Australian buyers.

Noteworthy among the interested buyers this year are American Express, HelmsBriscoe, HPN Global, MCI Group, MMCO World and Thomas Cook Business Incentives.

The 2012 event aims for a 55 percent of Asia-based buyers and 45 percent of international buyers. This aggregate 10 percent shift in focus from last year’s 50/50 split is due to the volatility of the business environment in the United Kingdom and United States. The hosting committee expects a possible reduction in the purchasing power of buyers from these countries, and predicts that Asian buyers will be able to utilise IT&CMA’s three business days to realise business with shorter lead times.

This year, the Corporate Travel World (CTW) conference programme plans to woo influential travel managers with its quality content and networking opportunities. Said Mr. Darren Ng – Managing Director of TTG Asia Media: “We have introduced a number of initiatives to capitalise on the increased interest in CTW 2012. With the support of our partners, we have introduced a specially tailored conference package which will include air fare, accommodation and conference registration fees for the delegates.”

CTW’s increasing popularity and market value is evident through an emerging trend of large multinationals nominating more than one of their travel professionals to attend. Leading organisations like Accenture (Japan, Malaysia, Australia, India and Singapore) Shneider (Indonesia and Singapore), General Electric (Singapore, Malaysia and Italy), Bosch (Asia), MSD Merck (Indonesia and Singapore), are examples of this trend.

Initiatives to engage a fresh pool of corporate travel managers have been stepped up through extensive acquisition of databases from partners, associations, confirmed exhibitors, and strong referrals from sources such as media affiliates and focus groups comprising leading travel managers and decision makers in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Also the event will focus on drawing corporate participation from new markets that have high potential to procure corporate events in Asia. Participation from these countries including China, Hong Kong, Philippines and Australia, will allow participants the opportunity for balanced exposure and knowledge sharing.

Mr. Thongchai Sridama, member of the Board of Directors and Acting President of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) said, “Thailand is a destination teeming with choices, and we are geared up for all delegates to experience Thailand’s MICE potential and unique products. International buyers, corporate travel managers and media can join our post-show tours for experiential interaction with our brand new destination offerings that can be tailored to suit every requirement. Delegates can now plan their itineraries according to the newly released post-show programmes.”

TCEB has revealed this year’s post-show tour destinations to be Chiang Rai, Krabi and Pattaya. From October 5 to 7, MICE buyers and corporate travel managers will have a chance to visit these popular destinations. The pre-show city tours, which have also been announced, display some of the experience-based highlights that TCEB has planned this year, such as the opportunity to take a Thai cooking class. This novel approach, coupled with the chance to see famous landmarks in and around Bangkok, is expected to drive interest in the tours.

This year marked the 18th Inter-Hash run and about 4,800 participants descended on the city of Magelang for the twice yearly meet. Magelang is one of six cities in Central Java and is home to two world famous ancient sites – the Buddhist ninth century temple Borobudur and Prambanan, a Hindu temple of the tenth century.

On the first night, Harriers and Harriets from Hash Houses of about 45 countries, gathered at the campound of the Prambanan temple for the opening ceremony of the Inter-Hash. Festivities began with traditional dance performance and speeches by the Governor of Central Java and Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy. The evening also coincided with the launching of ‘Visit Central Java 2013’.

Next day, the Inter-Hash began with a start-walk of 3.42 kilometres which was headed by the President of Indonesia, Bapak Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and he was accompanied by the First Lady of Indonesia, Ibu Ani Yudhoyono followed by other Hashers.

The overall run of the event, covered 17 routes of natural terrain of villages in Magelang which was rather challenging. It included a walk along the narrow stream of a river, climb a mountain which is said to resemble a reclining Buddha and passing through rice fields which has a breathtaking backdrop of the Borobudur Temple.

Located in the central island of Java, Jogjakarta is the cradle of civilisation of Indonesia, and is renowned for its classical Javanese culture and fine art such as batik, dance, drama, music, poetry and puppetry. This city produced the magnificent temples of Borobudur and Prambanan of the 9th century. It was also the seat of power of the Mataram Kingdom during the 16th and 17th century when it flourished as a city of the Javanese people.

Some 10 journalists from local and international media were invited by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative of Indonesia to visit Jogjakarta and the nearby town of Magelang, which recently hosted the Inter-Hash 2012. Places of interests that were covered during the trip of Jogja (as the city is fondly know), were the Borobudur and Prambanan temples, the Sultan’s palace at Keraton, the Taming Sari water castle of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta, the ruins of Kraton Ratu Boko and shopping at the popular Malioboro road. We also had the opportunity to watch the dance-drama of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana and Sita which was performed in the Javanese version at Purawisata out-door theatre.

A thriving city of 500,000 people which consists of a majority, who are of Javanese origin, is also a melting pot of different Indonesian cultures. Jogjakarta is a major tourism destination in Indonesia, largely due to its historical sites of temples. The city is a centre of art and education, offers some good shopping and has a wide range of tourist facilities. Over the years, Jogja has continued to produce philosophers, thinkers, master painters and craftsmen.

MICE in Asia would like to thank, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia for the familiarisation tour of Jogjakarta, and invitation to attend the Inter-Hash 2012 at Borobudur in Mageleng. Special thanks to Ibu Budihardjanti, Bapak Vicky, Bapak Sukamto and Bapak Koko. Also to journalists Ida Gani, Diajeng Galuh Shyta, Didik Budiarto, Tri Wibowo and Uematsu Ryosuke for the friendship we have established with one another.

The magnificent Buddhist temple, Borobudur of the nineth century.

A visit to the  Sultanate of Yogyakarta’s Keraton Palace located in the city centre. Sultan Hamengkubuwono  I ruled Yogyakarta since 1749.

The musical pavilion of the Palace with daily dance performance.

Front entrance of the Keraton Palace called alun-alun utara. The Palace is now a living museum.

Taming Sari Water Castle of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta and bathing complex.

Ruins of Kraton Ratu Boko located on a plateau is the palace of King Boko which was mentioned in the folklore of Loro Jonggrang an area outside of Jojjakarta.

The organiser has appointed five leading hotels in the National Capital Region of Delhi as official hospitality partners for the MICE and luxury travel event’s inaugural year. The hotels will provide more than 400 rooms as accommodation for international hosted buyers and media attending the event. These hotels are Hilton Hotel New Delhi, Doubletree by Hilton New Delhi, Fraser Suites New Delhi, Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort Greater Noida and Radisson Blu Hotel Greater Noida.

IT&CM India is an international MICE business, education and networking event that advance the opportunities of “Promoting India to the World and the World to India”. It is the first in the IT&CM series of events that also offers international and leading India exhibitors and buyers in the industry a dedicated avenue to showcase and procure luxury travel. In addition to the proven IT&CM programme formula comprising of structured business appointments, exhibition showcase, seminar sessions, official networking functions and tours, delegates to the three-day event will also receive access to India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB)’s Conventions India Conclave (CIC) and other partnering events that promise to enhance their investment at IT&CM India.

To date the event, has already attracted registration from some 330 international and Indian buyers, and close to 90 international and Indian media. The interest in the event is attributed to the growing focus on India as a MICE destination, as well as the line-up of exhibitors that has signed on to be part of the event’s maiden showcase. The exhibitors include Abercrombie and Kent, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Creative Travel, Egypt Tourism Office, Grand Mirage Resort, Hotel Properties Limited, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong, Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) and Tourism of Cambodia.

At the same time, IT&CM India plans to deliver high on the education front. It will be held in conjunction with India Convention Promotion Bureau’s (ICPB) 7th Conventions India Conclave. Reputed international certification courses to will be offered to participants, such as the Fundamentals of Business Travel Management CourseTM by Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and the Professional Association Executive (PAE) Course, a competency course for association of professionals which features course contents by the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) and the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE).

www.itcmindia.com