Press Room

International writers with representatives of Meet Taiwan.

Having not been back to visit Taiwan for 35 years, I expected change, but not this amount of change. In the seventies, I was a young marine Engineer Officer in the British Merchant Navy and had joined the Alfred Holt Line, better known in those days as The Blue Funnel Line. One of our ports of call was to be Kaoshiung in the Southern part of Taiwan, in those days commonly known as Formosa and this port of call, was to be a part of our long voyage to the northern Chinese ports of Singkiang (Xinjiang) and Tsingtao.

The surrounding dockland area in those days, held little attraction for a young man with limited resources and even less shore leave. You can imagine my surprise, when I returned after all these years, to find a vibrant bustling sea port with lots of new tall buildings, shops and hotels, and to discover the Taiwanese to be most the friendly of folks, and extremely helpful to visitors and travellers alike.

In the competent hands of the Meet Taiwan team which incidentally has been tasked with promoting Taiwan’s unique business industry. The programme comprises of four subsidiary projects which grouped together will ensure the highest quality of business event to be held in Taiwan.

We were driven from the airport – a traveling time of around 45 minutes to the Palais de Chine, a modern and luxurious hotel resting in the heart of Taipei, ready to serve both business and leisure travelers alike. The hotel is conveniently situated within the proximity of the Taipei Central Train Station and the MRT Taipei Main.

Day 1 of our Media familiarisation Programme was a visit to National Palace Museum, where a collection of cultural artifacts held by the museum is composed of an enormous treasure trove of objects inherited from the previous Sung, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. When it comes to paintings, calligraphy, rare books and documents, ceramics, bronzes, jades and curios, the National Palace Museum is the place to go. Development of the Museum has been very closely connected to the social changes of modern China. The museum is a very popular destination and was very busy, however we did get to see the famous cabbage ceramic, known affectionately by the guides as the Mona Lisa of the Palace Museum, which is both beautiful and a pinnacle of expertise in the art of Chinese ceramic making.

This was followed with an exciting coach ride into the mountains of Taiwan, which saw us visit sulphur vents and bubbling springs. Eventually we were brought to the Dharma Drum Mountain World Centre for Buddhist Education. A tranquil haven for all travellers, the centre is set into the hillside with a fine view of the coastline and Taipei City.

After which, we continued our trip to Yangmingshan National Park, which was on our way to the Landis resort. The park is famous for its beautiful scenery with traces of volcanic activities and abundant natural resources. It is also Taiwan’s third national park and the one closest to a major city.

The Landis resort further down the hillside, welcomed us for dinner and before the meal, we were invited to an experience of a lifetime. Sulphur bathing in alternate hot, cold and warm bathing pools. This activity is very popular at Landis Resort, a very cozy and popular venue for locals and visitors alike.

Day 2 saw us up early and ready to go. We embarked on a site visit to the W Hotel, which although is a work in progress just now, is in the final outfitting stages of construction and will be ready to receive guests by years end.

At the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, you can see where Taiwan’s past meets the future. Respectfully referred to as a hero and the people’s “King” this great man, changed the Island of Taiwan into a proud and beautiful country where art, learning, the appreciation of nature and quality of life are revered and respected. A wonderful spacious and majestic site occupied by finely proportioned buildings and entrance arches, which houses some of the great man and his wife’s personal belongings, paintings and gifts from foreign dignitaries.

As part of the programme, we attended the Taiwan MICE Award Ceremony. There was much excitement among the prize winners. We met them with each media member interviewing a winner of his project. A few congratulatory words and some advice on organising MICE events saw us leave the proceedings with much joy and happiness. Lunch saw us arrive at the Ding TaiFung restaurant for some fabulous food in the form of steamed dumpling with mouthwatering fillings.

Taipei International Flora Expo was to be our next destination. The Floral Expo we are informed is based on three major design concepts, the 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition will highlight many alternative possibilities in the area of gardening. The Flora Expo is also a great introduction to modern technology and innovation in the area of environmental protection and gardening science.
After leaving the Expo site, we were shuttled to the Hotel Shangri-La for check-in and to freshen- up before a site inspection of the property. Anyone who has stayed at Shangri-la Hotels will know the very high standard of this hotel brand.

The next morning we checked out of Shangri-La and headed for the EXCO 2010. It is the second year running for this event with 105 exhibitors and 236 booths promoting products from Taiwan. Lunch saw us repair to ‘Beijing Do It True restaurant’ with a manager who used to be a farmer. He was most genial and treated us to some of his specialties. We all left in high spirits and many photographs were taken with the manager.
A short shuttle bus ride saw us at the Taipei High speed railway station for a real fast journey to Kaoshiung taking around one and a half hours journey. Upon arrival we were taken to the Splendor hotel and checked in.
Following our visit to the Pier-2 Art Center and fine dinner at the harbour side Her Bian Restaurant Banana restaurant located in what used to be a dockland warehouse. We made our way back to the high Speed rail Terminal for our return journey to Taipei.

That evening had us checking in, doing a site visit and having an introduction to the Grand Formosa Regent Hotel in Taipei City Center. Dinner found us at Robins Grill of the Grand Formosa for a delightful dinner with Mr Richard Ko who is the CEO of the Round Table.

At 9.30 a.m. on our last day we were whisked off by shuttle bus to the Taipei International Convention Centre or (TICC). This is an older centre, which as we observed has served Taipei very well, and has clearly undergone many refurbishments. Boasting a host of different size banquet rooms and meeting rooms, including a very impressive large theatre size auditorium, this is a real large and hospitable convention centre in every sense of the word.

Our next stop would be the Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall (TWTC Nangang), which is a purpose-built exhibition complex in Nangang, Taipei. Built in 2008, financed and built by the Ministry of Economic affairs (MOEA), it is managed and operated by (TAITRA) the Taiwan External Trade Development Council. Across the highway from the centre, is a High Tech park, a state-of-the art venue, with a combined exhibition spaces of around 3.5 football fields, a high rise column free upper level exhibition hall and excellent floor loading design complete with vehicle access.

Our final day lunch was hosted by the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) under the banner of the Ministry of Economic Affairs along with the MEET Taiwan team we were able to meet their Director, Grace H.F. Chiang from the trade development division. After pleasant exchanges discussion and photo shoots we repaired to the Wisteria Tea House for a small break to partake in a Chinese high tea of Ulong tea tasting, and a chance to talk to tea ceremony master Chow Yu who taught us some of the history of Taiwan’s journey throughout the 60’s 70’s and 80’s. After much tea and photographs following the Q&A session we moved on to our final dinner in Taiwan.

In the informal atmosphere of a local Taiwanese noodle restaurant, we were treated to 31 courses of traditional food and much joviality. A time to say our final thoughts on impressions of Taiwan – our heartfelt thanks to the Meet Taiwan team and reluctant goodbyes to our new friends in what was for us all, an experience of a lifetime.

This year marked the 18th staging of IT&CMA (Incentive Travel and Conventions, Meetings Asia) and 13th CTW (Corporate Travel World). Considered to be Asia’s only double bill event in MICE and corporate travel, both events returned to Bangkok, Thailand. The organisers have also confirmed that the country will continue to host future shows.

The event recorded 9,000 applications of registration for buyers, corporate travel managers and media. Out of these, 483 were selected qualified buyers consisting of corporate travel managers from 54 countries. In total, the show recorded 2,340 pre-registered delegates. Also present were buyers from new markets such as Egypt, Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Portulgal Slovenia, Sri Lanka and Ukraine.

Making a comback this year, was the popular sticky award winner interactive session ‘You Say, I Say’ inviting audiences to voice their opinions while engaging industry experts on some of the MICE community’s most pressing issues. During the two-day show, courses on Corporate Travel Expert Designation (CTE) and the Association of Professional Competencies Certification of PAE102 were conducted.

Members of the MICE media with Supawan Teerarat, Exhibitions Director of TCEB (third from left) on the ‘Extra Night Extra Smile’ campaign.

MICE in Asia and several other MICE publications were invited to a media briefing in Kuala Lumpur on Thailand’s ‘Extra Nigh Extra Smile’ campaign. It was conducted by Supawan Teerarat, Exhibitions Director of Thailand Convention Exhibition Bureau on September 30. She highlighted on the campaign variety of privileges. Orgainisers, exhibitors and visitors to Thailand can enjoy one night complimentary accommodation after two nights’ stay at participating hotels. They are also accorded special fast track immigration clearance which include airport transfer and a complimentary Bangkok city tour by tram car. While leading department stores and entertainment outlets offer special discounts for shopping and dining.

The media briefing was followed by a session on business networking with venue owners, event and destination management companies from Thailand. It was attended by buyers from Malaysia.

The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) held its annual Meet in Macau
promotion in Kuala Lumpur on July 20 with the theme “Open Doors For Success Today.” This is the fourth year MGTO has organised the event in Malaysia, with the objective of gathering together tourism industry representatives from Macau to meet, discuss and exchange ideas so as to further strengthen business ties with travel agents, tour operators and MICE planners in Malaysia.

Led by Licenio da Cunha, Head of Macau Business Tourism Centre (MBTC), a delegation of 14 Macau travel industry partners representing hotels, convention and exhibition venues, travel agencies, event and destination management companies, had a one-to-one business meeting with Malaysian MICE and travel trade buyers. The MGTO also hosted a business luncheon for corporate guests, associations and the media

Guests at the Meet in Macau presentation of “Open Doors to Success Today” in Kuala Lumpur.

Representatives of Macau Government Tourist Office led by Licenio L.M. da Cunha (second from Left) at a networking corporate luncheon for tourism and MICE buyers from Malaysia and the media.

To encourage more international companies to host events in Macau, MGTO has extended its “Strategic MICE Market Stimulation Programme” to December 31 which is aimed at maintaining Macau’s competitiveness as a MICE destination. The programme was first launched in May 2009. Depending on the category, organisers can enjoy support related to accommodation, food and beverage, site inspections and bidding costs. To qualify, the organisers need to bring in a minimum of 50 participants, and stay two consecutive nights in Macau.

In terms of business tourism, about 397 events were held in Macau in the first quarter of 2010, up by 4% year-on-year, drawing 92,737 participants. (In 2009, there were 1,485 events held in Macau, drawing 660,880 participants). These numbers comprise of association meetings, corporate meetings, incentive travel, exhibitions and expos.

This year, from January to June, Macau welcomed 12.2 million of tourist arrivals –
Malaysia contributed 170,388 visitors. This actually makes Malaysia the 5th largest visitor generating market for Macau. For 2010, the Malaysian MICE market to Macau is forecasted to grow at 50% higher than 2009.

The Club at The Saujana of Kuala Lumpur recently invited Anton Mosimann, OBE to introduce his new style of cooking Cuisine Naturelle which is a healthy and honest cuisine, nutritionally balanced, very wholesome and without fats and alcohol.

For four glorious cuisine filled days at The Restaurant of The Club at The Saujana, Chef Mosimann prepared exclusive lunches and dinners for those with a discerning taste. Among the delights he prepared were his signature dishes – the highly acclaimed Risotto al Funghi, Chicken Liver Parfait with Pistachio Brioche, Roasted Saddle of Welsh Lamb, with herb crust which he then rounded off with Anton’s Bread and Butter Pudding – a traditional British dessert served with a new twist to an old favorite which is found only at at his private dining club, Mosimann’s of London’s Belgravia.

Chef Mosimann is known for his revolutionised cooking style which he created and started in 1985 – a new philosophy that advocates natural cooking, which brought him to the international stage of the culinary world and attracted the attention of the media. A Swiss by birth, he has worked throughout Europe, Canada and Japan before he came to London, and created his new style of cooking. There he made two cookery series on prime time British television, as well as countless television appearances world wide. His tenth cookery book Mosimann’s Fresh was published in November 2006.

He received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from H.M. Queen Elizabeth 1 in January 2004 for his dedication and commitment to the food and tourism industries. Six months later he received the Catey Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Catering Industry and, in November 2004, an honorary professorship from Thames Valley University. In 2006, he was appointed Officer, National Ordre du Merite Agricole (France) and in that same year was made President of the Royal Warrant Holder’s Association.

Among those for whom the chef has had the privilege to cook for are, four Presidents of the United States of America, all of the British Royal Family, four British prime ministers and most of Europe’s heads of state.

One for the album.

Guests enjoying lunch prepared by Chef Anton Mosimann at The Restaurant of The Cub Saujana.

The Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail officiated the opening of the 9th Council of Promotion for Tourism in Asia (CPTA) at the auditorium of the Kuala Lumpur Library. The meeting was chaired by Nobuhiro Maeda, director general of Industrial and Labour Affair Bureau, Tokyo Metropolitan government, who is also the CPTA chairperson.

Issues discussed during the two-day meeting were of reports on conditions surrounding the implementation of joint projects and proposals for new joint projects, matters relating to the promotion of the “Welcome to Asia Campaign”, as well as opportunities for inter-city collaboration in fostering the regional tourism industry

Established in 2002, the CPTA has nine member cities, Tokyo, New Delhi, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur. It is one of the projects under the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC21). Since its establishment, the CPTA has conducted a series of initiatives that included the promotion of Welcome to Asia campaign, development of promotional materials, stury tours between cities, tourism and cultural exhibitions, exchanges of ideas for the expansion of the regional tourism industry and sharing of best practices.

MICE in Asia representatives were at the press conference held by the Mayor on the outcome of the CPTA two-day meeting.

Nobuhiro Maeda, Director General, Bureau of Industrial and Labour Affairs briefing the media on issues discussed during the 9th Council of Promotion for Tourism in Asia held at the auditorium of the Kuala Lumpur Library.

E & MICE is known for its international profile of exhibitors. This year, the total number of exhibitors of the exhibition increased 2.5% to 625. They came from 46 countries and regions, with 16 of them from Asia, 13 from Europe, 5 from the Middle East, and the rest from Africa, Americas, Oceania, and the Pacific.

Amid uncertainties in the world economy, the 24th edition of ITE and the 5th edition of ITE MICE were held successfully. There were more exhibitors, more trade and public visitors, and a recorded number of newly participating countries and regions. Also new were a Geo-park theme pavilion on eco-tourism, and several new official participations and pavilions by tourism authorities mostly from Europe and the Middle East.

The number of trade and corporate buyers and visitors including those from local, mainland China and abroad rose by 2% to 11,464, pre-registrations for all corporate travel seminars 35% to around 1,200, while training seminar by the Asia cruise association was 50% over-subscribed. Public visitors this year increased by 7% to 68,900. Findings of previous surveys indicate some 70% of all public visitors preferred traveling in FIT.

MICE writers and editors with representatives of Thailand Convention Exhibition Bureau during a
visit to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

A group of MICE writers and editors from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Vietnam were invited by Thailand Convention Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) to witness first hand the return of the exhibitions industry in Bangkok. Members of the media were brought to view and walk through two major exhibitions – ProPak Asia 2010 held at BITEC and Asian Paper 2010 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Situation in Bangkok has now returned to normal and the Royal Thai government is working hard with other authorities to reinforce Thailand’s reputation as a globally preferred destination for MICE activities, as well as bolstering the country’s MICE industry.

Supawan Teerarat, TCEB’s exhibition director has this to say, “The long term economic impact of the protests on the country as a whole is expected to be limited, with latest forecast anticipating 4.5 percent GDP growth this year, an increase from its 3.5 percent forecast last December. This reflects the strong confidence that Thailand remains the globally preferred exhibition destinations, and as the top destination in ASEAN.” This was demonstrated by Bangkok playing host to three major exhibitions in June. According to TCEB, the recent protests have not had a significant impact on the exhibitions industry.

IT&CMA 2010 sees returning exhibitors pledging substantial increase in their participation. National Convention and Exhibition Bureaus such as Thailand, Brunei Indonesia, Seoul and Korea have committed to larger floor spaces of 20% to 50%.

“The increased participation affirms Asia-Pacific’s desire to further expand the MICE industry in Asia. Choosing IT&CMA is testimony of their confidence that the event can deliver superior business prospects,” acknowledges Darren Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media, the organiser of IT&CMA and CTW 2010. With some five months to the event in October 5 to 7, IT&CMA 2010 has sold more than 90% of its exhibition space.

Confidence in the show remains buoyant despite the recent challenges in Bangkok. “The safety and welfare of our delegates are our utmost priority. As normalcy returns to Thailand we are confident that the event will be staged with minimal disruption,” assures Darren Ng. Long-standing partner Thailand Convention and Exhibitions Bureau (TCEP) have also re-affirmed their support and commitment to making IT&CMA and CTW 2010 a success.

The team remains positive that industry demand will spur IT&CMA and CTW 2010 to out perform last year’s sales and delegate numbers. In addition to exhibitor bookings, the organisers have received more than 500 applications from interested buyers, corporate travel managers and media to date. These numbers are set to increase as marketing efforts heighten in the run-up to the event. Registrations for IT&CMA and CTW 2010 can be made at www.itcma.com www.corporatetravelworld.com respectively.

Grand Prix Formula 1 “fever” is on in Kuala Lumpur. The Pavilion, Malaysia’s premier shopping destination held a press conference to announce what is in store in celebration of the Grand Prix (GP).

Pavilion Pit stop promises three days of excitment which includes dining specials, racing themed entertainment, fashion show and Champagne party. For shoppers, there are shopping discounts from several of the retail outlets and an opporunity to meet the Grand Prix drivers. At the main entrance of shopping venue are on display a Formula 1 racing car. Fashion enthisiasts can look forward to the Pavilion night of fashion and glamour on the red carpet.

The Kuala Lumpur Pavilion is located in the heart of the city along the thriving Bukit Bintang shopping district. It houses the best of the international retail brands, as well as food and beverage offering a lifestyle experience.

Malaysia’s most popular singer, Shiela Majid sitting on a Formula 1 car.

A Fashion show at the Kuala Lumpur Pavilion shopping centre.

Julia Douglas with Nikola Hassan, Public Relations Manager of Kuala Lumpur Pavilion.