Marwood More Good Than Bad

IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacfic TTG Asia Luxury • TTGmice TTGassociations TTG Asia TTG Asia TRAvel Journalism Journalism excellence trade media Mobile APP Business Article Print & online of the year 2015 of the year 2015 2016 • 2014, 2013, 2011 & 2009 2016 (Merit) PATA Gold Awards Anak Sarawak Award MPAS Awards MPAS Awards Marwood more good than bad By Dannon Har they give us special corporate Starwood merger’s expected to negotiate with us over rates Cook Medical, the location and The completion of Marriott packages. Now with Starwood additional negotiating power as even before the merger. We es- standard of hotel properties are International’s US$13 billion properties combined with Mar- the value provided by a hotel is tablish annual agreements with bigger priorities, especially as acquisition of Starwood Hotels riott, this gives us much more her topmost consideration. them so I am not so worried budgets remain strong in the & Resorts Worldwide last Friday options.” “Four-star hotels are just now. When the time medical profession. is greeted by corporate travel Britannia spends an es- about right (for business travel- is up, we will request As well, given her managers with more enthusiasm timated Rs300-500 million lers). The best are those that for bids as usual and company’s longstand- than apprehension. (US$4.5-7.5 million) a year provide the value of a five-star see how it goes.” ing relationship with Corporate end-users inter- sending between 400 and 500 property at four-star prices For Kang, who Starwood, Knevitt is viewed said they now gain employees on business and – that will make me a repeat sends her staff all excited about the extra access to Marriott/ MICE trips. Bhatia said customer,” she said. over the world, value in the form of Starwood’s massive he saves “at least 10 Seet also liaises with hotels including third-world redeemable points inventory by dealing per cent” by dealing directly to negotiate the best cities, traveller safety Kang: see how it and roomnights that with just one supplier, directly with hotels, a corporate rates, resulting in and dependability of goes are now usable across even if the company’s sum made even more about five to 10 per cent sav- the hotel are primary concerns. Marwood’s 30 brands. greater scope and size significant as travel ings for the company. Furthermore, she is ac- While loyalty programmes may give the chain budgets get tighter. Claire Kang, purchasing & countable to donor govern- help Britannia’s Bhatia in the the upperhand in rate Admin manager travel manager at International ments and charity organi- selection of hotels for repeat negotiations. Bhatia: more options Philomena Seet, who Vaccine Institute, said dealing sations such as the Bill & visits, he opined that no single The consolidation with merger manages travel for directly with hotels has been Melinda Gates Foundation. hotel company can meet all his results in the world’s Singapore-based Kseven Indus- the modus operandi for the Hotels that are too expensive company’s travel needs. largest hotel company with tries’ top executives, told the Seoul-based, UN-backed non- will price themselves out of For that reason, he still 5,700 properties and 1.1 million Daily that Starwood properties profit. The corporate negotiated the budget, she added. works with TMCs like Thomas rooms across 110 countries. are frequently used and the rates she gets gives her savings Some corporate segments Cook to get a better gauge Said Nandan Bhatia, head- merger will boost her portfolio of up to 25-30 per cent. however, have different con- of prices and perform due administration & facilities at selection as her company is When asked if she is anxious siderations. While corporate diligence with multiple RFPs, Indian food conglomerate now automatically a client of about Marriott’s greater bar- negotiated rates do offer sav- and attends tradeshows like Britannia: “Direct tie-ups with Marriott. gaining power over rates, she ings for Lisa Knevitt, travel and IT&CMA to meet other hotel- hotels are always preferred as Seet is unfazed by Marriott/ said: “They have always tried events manager-Asia/Pacific at iers. Gulf carriers spur longhaul MICE with new links, cheaper fares By Paige Lee Pei Qi days’ principal Violeta Rous- Emirates. Longhaul MICE buyers are seva said the airfares into Asia Monika Valleton, managing witnessing a surge in demand have especially become more director of ATJ Lingwista in for Asia as air travel into the affordable since the entry of Poland, added that the lure of region becomes cheaper and the Gulf carriers. history and culture in coun- more accessible thanks to the Pointing to Thailand and tries like Thailand and Cam- ambitious expansion of Mid- Indonesia as his top-selling bodia makes Asia a “dream dle Eastern airlines across the destinations in Asia, he said: destination” for her clients. world. “It becomes easier to Apart from the Magdy Ibrahim, managing sell these countries Middle Eastern carri- THREE GENERATIONS, ONE MICE INDUSTRY director of Smart Solutions, and furthermore it is ers’ connections, she Dubai, said: “We are increas- not expensive to host had also chartered a Yesterday’s opening and keynote address saw three generations of MICE professionals discussing the past, present and future. From left, Gaining Edge ing our focus on Asia as it is luxury dinners and plane for a company Australia’s Gary Grimmer, Qatar Tourism Authority’s Adeline Larroque Desages, getting so much more acces- incentives in these to Phuket earlier this Pacific Leisure Group’s Alwin Zecha, TTG Asia Media’s Darren Ng andKongress sible and cheaper.” destinations so the year. Magazine’s Rob Cotter. Photo by Eugene Tang While 40 per cent of his whole package (flight, Valleton said: corporate groups are already hotel and activities) Valleton: dream “There is a general destination in Asia heading to Asia this year, with becomes really attrac- growth in interest { Who’s new at IT&CMA } the remaining opting for Eu- tive.” and excitement from rope, Ibrahim predicts Asia’s Katarzyna Mazur, junior our clients into this part of New Exhibiting Corporates: Airbnb (Thailand), Royal Caribbean Inter- national (USA), Samui Palm Beach share to grow to 50 per cent project manager of Nu Hori- the world (Asia). It is very (Singapore), ATPI (Singapore), Bal- tic Travel Group (Latvia), Blacklane Resort (Thailand), Sukosol Hotels next year. zons Poland, views Asia as positive.” GmBH (Singapore), Carlson Rezidor (Thailand), Swissotel Le Concorde “The new Middle Eastern a fresh destination. “We see Smart Solutions’ Ibrahim Group (Singapore), Celebrity Cruise Bangkok (Thailand), Swissotel growing demand from clients commented that the ease of flights into Asia help to en- Lines (USA), Compass Tours incom- Resort Phuket Kamala Beach (Thai- courage healthy competition to host incentives and meet- visa regulations in countries ing (Germany), Holiday Inn Bangkok land), Vietnam Airlines (Vietnam), between the carriers, which ings in places like the Philip- like Indonesia has also boosted Silom (Thailand), JW Marriott Worldwide Cruise Associates (USA) is great news for us as Asia pines and Malaysia.” the interest. He said: “One of Phuket Resort & Spa (Thailand), becomes cheaper with all the According to her, the cost of Asia’s added advantage is the Maritim Hotels (China), Mida Hotels New Exhibiting National airline promotions,” Ibrahim flying from Poland to Bang- (people’s) warm hospitality & Resorts (Thailand), Norwegian Pavilion/CVBs: Chiang Mai MICE added. kok today is some 30 per cent which makes it very welcom- Cruise Line (Singapore), Novotel City (90sqm), Monaco Government Sharing similar sentiments, lesser than four years ago with ing for our delegates’ overall Bangkok Bangna (Thailand), Pull- Tourist Bureau (24sqm), Pattaya Bulgaria-based Hermes Holi- the presence of carriers like experience.” man Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit MICE City (60sqm) Talk of the trade IMPACT pumps Europe’s gloom, Asia’s light in US$29 million By Chadamas Chinmaneevong their spending on meetings and incen- the MICE business in Malaysia suffered Thailand’s IMPACT Exhibition and Asian destinations and industry stakes- tives amid the current uncertain global a slowdown following the disappear- Convention Center has pumped over holders should grab opportunities in the economic climate, she observed. ance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. one billion baht (US$28.9 million) into a MICE sector as a confluence of negative The Bangkok-based DMC sees the The decline was especially noticeable number of new projects to expand tour- factors takes the bite out of demand for greatest opportunities for Bangkok, for a huge market like China, which ism offerings at the MICE complex. Europe as a MICE destination. Kuala Lumpur and Seoul, a trio whose went to Thailand, she said. The latest project, Cocoon Entertain- Europe’s lingering refugee and terror- attractive prices are their strongest While MICE facilities in Thailand ment Center, is a four-storey build- ism problems have weighed on organis- drawcard. Bangkok, in particular, has were not remarkable, Hing remarked ing housing a cinema, factory outlet, ers’ confidence in the MICE sector there, an advantage in terms of its diversity of that strong support from the Tourism restaurants and a three-level garage. It Business Travel Club Poland president attractions and extensive flight connec- Authority of Thailand and the Thailand is expected to break ground next year, Slawomir Bloch told the Daily. tions, added Pornthip. Convention and Exhibition Bureau had followed by Marina – a new theme park. The company is now seeking safer Joelle Hing, international MICE desti- been vital in positioning the country as Both venues will be located by the lake destinations and luxury products for its nation manager of Mayflower, Malaysia, a MICE destination. Besides, Thailand beside the convention centre.

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