TTGmice February/March 2019 • 15
exhibitions and incentive groups have been
confirmed for the venue in 2019, including the
35 th ASEAN Summit. For the new year, TCEB is
expecting a five per cent increase in overseas
MICE arrivals and a similar five per cent
increase in revenue. – Karen Yue
Vietnam
Desaru Coast in Johor, Malaysia
to incorporate Hallyu elements into business
event programmes by way of sponsorship of
K-pop concerts, souvenirs, and more.
Kim added: “We recently signed an MOU
with global hotel chains to conduct partner
marketing and create new demand.”
Source markets that will get KTO’s attention
in 2019 are Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia,
as well as Russia and Western Europe farther
afield. – Karen Yue
Thailand
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition
Bureau (TCEB) recorded 1,255,985 overseas
MICE arrivals in 2018, which for Nichapa
Yoswee, senior vice president – business, is a
“remarkable increase” of 19.9 per cent. These
travellers generated revenue of around 95.6
billion baht (US$2.9 billion) – an 8.1 per cent
rise over 2017’s performance.
TCEB secured 14 conference bids, 10 mega
meeting and incentive groups (each with
2,000 to 20,000 pax), and eight new trade-
shows in 2018.
Clearly, the corporate incentive sector
continues to be Thailand’s strongest performer,
growing by 35.9 per cent in 2018, with China
being the prime source market.
Nichapa attributed the robust corporate in-
centive performance to Thailand’s introduction
of fast-entry online visa system for travellers
from 20 countries, including China, as well
as a slew of new tourism products. In late-
2018, Bangkok debuted the ultra-glamorous
shopping complex ICONSIAM along the Chao
Phraya River, and King Power Mahanakhon
tower which houses Thailand’s highest obser-
vation deck at 314m above ground.
In Pattaya, Nongnooch International Con-
vention and Exhibition Center was launched in
2017 and showed off its capability in 2018 by
hosting a 10,000-pax Chinese incentive group,
and the Miss Universe 2018 national costume
competition.
Further boosting Thailand’s appeal for
business events is TCEB’s Thailand: REDEFINE
Your Business Events campaign, launched
in 3Q2018 to strengthen collaboration with
global event strategists to make their events in
Thailand exceptional, noted Nichapa.
Also turning in a good performance report
is IMPACT Exhibition Management, the
company behind Bangkok’s massive IMPACT
Muang Thong Thani convention and exhibi-
tion venue. Loy Joon How, IMPACT general
manager, said the venue hosted over 100 in-
ternational business and entertainment events
in 2018, including the widely-covered Miss
Universe 2018 finals.
Loy is optimistic about 2019’s performance,
encouraged by Thailand’s relative affordability
compared to other destinations, easy access,
availability of first-class venues and strong gov-
ernment support. Several international trade
ASIAN APPETITES
China
Domestic business events demand to and from
Shanghai in 2019 is expected to be stronger
compared to Beijing and developments in
southern China – such as the opening of the
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and the
US$3.9 billion mega Shenzhen International
Convention and Exhibition Center – are
expected to spur business and growth op-
portunities.
Kin Qin, deputy general manager, Century
Holiday International Travel Group, said Shang-
hai continues to add new international air links,
and there are plentiful domestic and overseas
access choices to and from the city.
Julien Delerue, founder and CEO of
1000meetings, said domestic MICE demand
for Shanghai is very strong and hotels rates
are getting higher, which is a positive sign the
market is doing well.
The technology sector and companies such
as Alibaba, Huawei and Tencent, continue to
drive demand, according to Sam Braybon,
Shanghai ambassador, The Bespoke Travel
Company, and the company is looking to ex-
tend its product range to Shenzhen to support
business in the sector.
Meanwhile, 10-year-old 1000meetings, an
RFP technology platform, recently set up a
team to address the overseas outbound mar-
ket, Delerue commented.
“The company has signed a partner-
ship deal with Shangri-La worldwide, other
international brands and independent hotels to
raise their visibility in China,” he added, with
increasing outbound MICE groups as the target
for its second phase. – Caroline Boey
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism,
Nguyen Ngoc Thien, said developing the
country’s business events industry is a main
priority for 2019 as investments into improved
infrastructure and new products start to pay
off. The ministry will focus on further develop-
ing business events capability mainly in Ho Chi
Minh City, Hanoi, Danang and Nha Trang.
The incentive and conference sectors are
expected to be the strongest performing in
2019, with meetings and exhibitions now
booked directly through hotels.
Sandor Leinwand recte Rein, general
manager of EXO Travel Vietnam, said incen-
tive travel makes up about 70 per cent of the
agency’s business events bookings, with the
remainder being group meetings.
Linh Le, ASIA DMC group director, added:
“MICE is no longer limited to meetings and
conferences. Several corporates are now
requesting DMCs plan meetings in locations
where guests can extend to enjoy a well-
earned holiday with their spouse or family.”
While regional markets continue to domi-
nate, Le said there is potential for growth from
India, Australia, Turkey, Russia and China.
Brexit is expected to impact business from the
UK, while the Spanish market is projected to
be sluggish due to increased competition from
Europe and Africa.
Sheraton Danang Resort general manager
Frank Bochmann noted a rise in regional de-
mand, such as from Thailand, Singapore and
Hong Kong. He said: “People are now looking
for somewhere new and Vietnam is an attrac-
tive alternative. They are tired of Phuket and
Koh Samui.” – Marissa Carruthers
Hong Kong
Business event players in Hong Kong are brac-
ing for weakened demand in 2019, resulting
from a global economic downturn and the
US-China trade war.
Karen Cheng, director of BCD Meetings &
Events Hong Kong, has estimated a downward
trend in business for 2019 over 2018.
Rosanna Leung, head of MICE & busi-
ness development, Towa Tours, echoed the
expectation, saying that the Hong Kong market
will likely respond with budget cuts. Further
challenges will come in the form of increased
presence of global business event players who
compete with Hong Kong-based outbound
events agencies.
When asked for predictions of top perform-
ing market segments, Cheng pointed to
insurance companies which will maintain a
hearty appetite for Japan, South Korea and
Bangkok – destinations close to Hong Kong
that also charm with good food as well as