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New Chiang Mai center clinches first booking
Chiang Mai’s new convention center has landed its first
major booking even though construction is not scheduled to start until
December.
A completion date for the project has been set for August
2006 so the center will be operational in time for the International
Horticultural Exposition scheduled for November 2006.
Tourism Authority of Thailand’s director of tourism
investment, Udom Metatamrongsiri, said the design phase has now been
finished and approval is being sought for an increased budget to cover
changes made in the proposed layout of the facility. “The addition of a
reception area and a larger parking area has facilitated the need for a
budget increase from 1.45 billion baht (US$36.25million) to 1.6 billion baht,”
he said.
No other design changes are foreseen for the facility,
which comprises two main buildings situated 10 minutes from Chiang Mai
International Airport.
The exhibition hall will provide 11,000m2 of exhibition
space, which can be divided into two smaller spaces measuring 8,000m2 and
3,000m2 respectively. The convention/meeting center will include 40 breakout
rooms and total seating capacity for up to 3,000 visitors. (TTG Asia)
Japan gears up MICE hunt
Untapped source markets in Asia will be the new focus of
the Yokoso (Welcome) Japan inbound campaign in 2005, and the Japan National
Tourism Organization (JNTO) will be putting special emphasis on the Asia
Pacific incentives and meetings segments.
The JNTO has set a goal of 10 million annual arrivals by
2010 and the volume of visitors brought in by MICE organizers will be a key
to achieving this goal. JNTO assistant manager marketing, Etsuko Kawasaki,
said the focus for the first year of the two-year-old campaign was on
Japan’s traditional markets of South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and
the US. “These source markets represented 67 percent of the 2003 total of
5.2 million overseas visitors and will continue to receive our attention,”
she said.
In 2004 the campaign increased its sweep to include
European markets and a goal of six million visitors is expected to be
reached by the end of the year. As Yokoso Japan is launched in more
Asia-Pacific countries in 2005, including Thailand, Singapore and Australia,
meetings and incentives will figure prominently in the mix.
While stringent visa requirements for many Asia Pacific
countries has been a major obstacle, the JNTO is helping to pave the way for
lowered restrictions for visitors from its target markets. (TTG Asia)
IATA asked to clarify new fare rules
xEurope has been losing market share of association
meetings to Asia over the last few years but European suppliers are divided
on whether they should worry.
Former ICCA (International Congress & Convention
Association) CEO and International Meeting Venues owner, Tom Hulton,
believes it is a cause for worry, and points to a further massive
infrastructure development in Asia, where China alone is building 80 new
venues, as one good reason.
But ICCA president and Vienna Convention Bureau director,
Christian Mutschlechner, said statistics were relative. Besides,
international meetings had been overshadowed by regional meetings since
9-11, SARS, the Iraq war and terrorism. Vienna, for instance, started
shifting focus on regional meetings in the last two years and saw “a
record year” in 2003, he added.
ICCA data shows Asia gaining two to three percent share
of the international meetings market on Europe each year in the last five to
six years, according to Hulton. Only last year did the share drop, by two
percent to 20 percent (16 percent Asia and four percent Australia/Pacific),
due to the SARS crisis.
Europe still has the chunk of the association meetings
market, at 62 percent last year. North America’s share is 10 percent,
Latin America six percent and Africa two percent. (TTG Asia)
Air New Zealand voted “Best Pacific Airline for 6th consecutive year
Air New Zealand has been voted ‘Best Pacific Airline’
for the sixth year in a row at the TTG Asia Travel Awards 2004. After a
year’s respite due to SARS, the TTG Annual Travel Awards made a comeback
this year, at the double-billed IT& CMA (Incentive Travel &
Conventions, Meetings Asia) and CTW (Corporate Travel World) Asia Pacific
held at Impact Convention Center in Bangkok, from 12-14 October 2004.
Air New Zealand’s manager, South East Asia, Ng Nai Shon
said, “The award is a further reflection of the airline’s commitment to
providing a uniquely Kiwi experience.”
From June next year, Air New Zealand is introducing
new-look interiors on its routes to the United States and Europe that will
feature a uniquely New Zealand theme and a new food and beverage service
showcasing the best products the country has to offer through to informative
in-flight programs on local destinations and attractions. This new in-flight
product will be rolled out in Asia from early 2006 with its new B777-200ER
aircraft.
IATA asked to clarify new fare rules
IATA’s new fare construction and ticketing rules lack
the clarity and specifics to ensure that any advantages that accrue to
airline-issued transactions also accrue to travel agency-issued tickets.
Genesis Travel Distribution System and USTAR president
and CEO, Bruce Bishins, said this in a letter to IATA director of interline
tariffs, Patrick Murphy.
Bishins asked for a wide range of clarifications to
ensure travel agencies reporting to the Airline Reporting Corporation in the
US or Billing and Settlement Plans in Canada and other countries were not
constrained by existing ticketing and reporting conventions when IATA
eliminates sales and ticketing location designators next year.
Bishins said, “If the airlines wish to make these
changes to facilitate their own Internet and airline sales, any advantage
which the airlines benefit from should be equally available to travel
agencies which issue tickets on the airlines’ behalf. Some of the new
policies are not entirely clear.”
The changes to be implemented on January 15 are the
result of IATA’s intent to simplify fare construction and pricing policy
to better accommodate the distribution of international airline tickets via
the Internet. (TTG Asia)
IIPT announces 3rd global summit at PATA Travel Mart
PATA Travel Mart served as a platform for the
International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) to announce the 3rd
Global Summit on Peace through Tourism. The Summit will be held at the award
winning Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Pattaya on October 2-5, 2005. In making
the announcement, IIPT founder and President, Louis D’Amore said, “We
are honored to have the 3rd Global Summit in Thailand, the ‘Tourism
Capital of Asia’. The warm and compassionate hospitality of the Thai
people, together with their reputation for high quality service, ensures
that delegates to the Summit will have a rewarding and memorable experience.
I would particularly like to express our appreciation for the support and
collaboration of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).”
The 3rd Global Summit will feature world leaders and
statesmen in the travel and tourism industry as keynote speakers, as well as
leaders from the areas of culture, environment, sport, poverty reduction and
sustainable development.
A series of concurrent sessions will provide leading edge
case studies of “Success Stories” and Models of Best Practice
demonstrating travel and tourism initiatives that are serving to promote
international understanding, an improved quality of environment, poverty
reduction and sustainable development. The Summit will also address the
growing contribution of sport to international understanding and development
– and what more can be done in each of these areas through collaborative
initiatives.
An Educators Forum, with leading educators from around
the world, a Youth Leadership Forum, and a Young Professionals Forum will
also be featured as IIPT continues to place emphasis on future leaders of
the industry since its first Global Conference in Vancouver, Canada, 1988.
To further stimulate thinking among students of tourism
and hospitality in advance of the Summit, IIPT will award US $1,000 to the
University student writing the best paper on “Building a Culture of Peace
through Tourism.”
As with the 2nd Global Summit in Geneva, 2003, leaders of
the Youth and Student Travel industry will come together for a mini-summit
within the Summit, as IIPT continues to develop strategic alliances with the
major organizations involved with youth and student travel such as the
International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF), the Federation of Youth Travel
Organizations (FIYTO), and International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC).
Pre-Summit events will include meetings of IIPT’s
Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism, IIPT Networks and
Chapters, and IIPT’s International Advisory Board.
Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH), said, “We are
proud to have this prestigious event at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort as it
will create increased awareness within Thailand, Asia and the world – that
travel and tourism is more than simply an industry with economic benefits
– it is a powerful social and cultural phenomenon that helps bring the
world together in realization that we are truly living in a global village
– where we are all neighbors with one another.”
The 3rd Global Summit on Peace through Tourism builds on
the foundations of three global conferences: Vancouver, 1988; Montreal,
1999; and Glasgow, 1999; two African Conferences: Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
Province, South Africa, 2001; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2003; two previous
Global Summits: Amman 2000; and Geneva, 2003 – and a series of smaller
conferences and symposia in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Pakistan, Israel,
Caribbean, United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
Amari Watergate Hotel hosts Opening ceremony for “My View” art exhibition
Pimuk Simaroj, Member of Parliament and deputy spokesman
of Thai Rak Thai Party recently presided over the opening ceremony of an art
exhibition titled “My View” by Atthasit Pokpong at the exhibition area,
3rd floor of Amari Watergate Hotel. Part of proceeds will be donated to the
Lighthouse Special Learning Center; the Foundation for the Welfare of the
Mentally Retarded of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the Queen.
The exhibition displays from until October 30.
MP
Pimuk (center) cuts the ribbon to mark the opening ceremony as guests of
honor look on. (Front row from left) Pierre Andre Pelletier, general manager
of Amari Watergate Hotel; Saline Panyarachun; Nichaya Cahivisuth, director
of public relations for the hotel; Atthasit Pokpong, artist; Penwadee
Wirojwong; Pavinee Simaroj, the foundation’s fund raising president; and
Kanchana Pattrapornnunt, director of the foundation. (Back row from left)
Surachat Kwanmuang; Laurence Civil and Dr. Rachid Bouzennoun.
Easier tax refunds for Singapore visitors
Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore), NETS, and
Global Refund Singapore has streamlined the refund of the Goods and Services
Tax (GST). Participating retailers can now process and print the refund form
at the time shoppers make their purchases using NETS terminals. Tourists
then need to present their NETS-generated refund slips and purchases to get
their refund at the airport.
Previously, tourists had to fill out a claims form at the
retail outlet before obtaining their refund at the airport. However,
tourists still need to spend at least S$300 (US$178) before they can claim
the refund. (TTG Asia)
Asia in line for more international meetings
The long term future of international association
meetings is expected to enjoy steady growth with many destinations reporting
strong performances this year and anticipating record business in 2005.
ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association)
chief executive officer, Martin Sirk, said growth in international meetings
in Asia would be higher than the world average. One of the reasons is the
region’s economic growth is expected to be higher than the world average
economic growth.
Other reasons Sirk cited included higher-than-world
average global trade components of economic growth, more assertive political
forces and more willingness to take an active role in international
relations than ever before.
Sirk forecast greater emphasis on the importance of
business education as another contributing factor. According to ICCA
statistics for international association business in 2003, the top
Asia-Pacific countries for international association conventions were
Australia followed by Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. (TTG Asia)
Travel show moves from Bangkok to Pattaya
Reinhard Hohler,
Chiang Mai
Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Asia Media welcomed 30
journalists from around the world to inform them about the 12th Incentive
Travel and Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT and CMA) and the 7th Corporate
Travel World (CTW) Asia Pacific 2004 at IMPACT Convention Center in Bangkok
October 12-14
262 buyers plus 111 travel managers from 37 countries and
a total of 300 exhibitors from 29 countries attended the show, which was
supported by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Tourism
Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA)
and Thai Airways International.
With the Thai government’s full support behind it, TCEB
was established early in 2004 to elevate the scope and standard of the MICE
market in Thailand. Peerapong Oeusunthornwattana, director-general of TCEB,
noted that its role is to facilitate the industry’s capability in
organizing world-class events in the country by providing marketing,
financial, and technical support. With the successful start of TCEB,
Thailand will vigorously promote and present Thailand as a new Asian
business hub to the world, competing with Japan, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia,
Singapore, Indonesia, and India.
The highlight of the show was the 15th TTG Travel Awards
Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the Sofitel Central Plaza Hotel, where H.E.
Sontaya Khunplome, minister of tourism and sports, was the guest of honor
with H.E. Veng Sereyvuth, senior minister to the Cambodian Government.
Another event was held in the Siam City Hotel, where
group general manager Hans Spoerri entertained SRS-World Hotels and TTG Asia
to give their invited guests a world of fantastic performances, excellent
food and marvelous hospitality. Later that night, TTG Asia introduced the
brand new look of the TTG Mice magazine during a disco party at ZaZa in the
Shangri-La Hotel.
Nevertheless, the next events in October 2005 and 2006
will definitely move to the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH)
at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, an emerging MICE destination in Thailand.
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