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Q: What is the one outstanding issue facing the MICE industry at the present time?
A: A big problem at the moment is acquiring long-haul seats at reasonable rates to get delegates to our destinations. Airlines are full with FIT leisure clients. Despite growing demand from Europe, we have currently less capacity on European direct flights to Bangkok than a couple of years ago.
Q: How are you looking at 2007? Will it be a year where the MICE industry grows and gets stronger? Why?
A: In 2006 MICE requests to our destinations (Asian Trails work in all south east Asia markets) have increased a great deal. The trend is very positive, after several years of caution to travel to Asia after SARS, avian flu, the Phuket tsunami, etcetera, and our destinations are in high demand again. Demand for Thailand in 2007 is very strong. I believe the recent APEC conference has helped Vietnam further to push that destination as well. At the EIBTM [in 2006], I received lots of enquiries about Vietnam, very often in combination with a visit of two days to Siem Reap.
 Q: What is the one outstanding issue facing the MICE industry at the present time?
A: As the markets in North Asia, in particular China, continue to grow the challenge will be to have enough air uplift to get some of these mass movements into a destination within a limited time frame. Take Dubai for example, as the destination gains in popularity within the MICE sector it also continues to grow in the corporate and leisure segments making space both on the ground and in the air difficult. While there are a number of good MICE organisers in Asia the client still leaves securing space on the ground and in the air sometimes too late in their planning process. Asia generally needs to get used to planning these movements two years in advance.
Q: How are you looking at 2007? Will it be a year where the MICE industry grows and gets stronger? Why?
A: 2007 will be a watershed year for north Asia as most economies are predicting strong growth through next year even with some tightening of fiscal policies by governments to cool this off. The star of 2007 and for a few years to come of course again is China. MICE in the traditional sense has not truly taken hold yet in China but reward travel for robust performances of companies are becoming the norm. Heaven help the world when the true MICE movements take hold in China. All I can say is get ready if you are a supplier. Take great measures to understand this market, it will pay off.
 Q: What is the one outstanding issue facing the MICE industry at the present time?
A: The main issue facing the MICE business is the influx of new hotels throughout the region. [This means] there will be much more regional competition for business. All of these new hotels will be built with fantastic meeting space and state- of-the-art technology, and will of course put pressure on existing hotels to upgrade and stay competitive, but the question will be if there is enough business to go around? This is the ideal situation for the meeting planner who will have a very wide range of choice. Although there will be many new facilities available for the planners, decisions to actually book a hotel ultimately comes down to where the planner has the confidence that the service will meet the expectations of the delegates, and this is where hotel companies with strong brands that represent quality, and consistent excellence in service will continue to be able to stay competitive in this market.
Q: How are you looking at 2007? Will it be a year where the MICE industry grows and gets stronger? Why?
A: We see 2007 being a strong year for the MICE market due to the general economy being strong in Asia and around the world. With a buoyant economy, companies are able to have that meeting or extra incentive programme and the funds are not being cut. As long as stock markets continue to do well and increased profitability of our client companies continues to grow, the budgets for meetings will not be affected.
Q: What is the one outstanding issue facing the MICE industry at the present time?
A: To put it most succinctly - travel advisories. While incentives and groups continue to go to Bali, the island is stymied by negative warnings issued by key players such as the US, Australia and the UK. The local view is that these “advisories” have more to do with politics than any objective analysis of security threats. While Bali has suffered terrorist attacks in the past, it has an enviable record of bringing those responsible to justice. Meanwhile, the UK, which has suffered more recent attacks and admits it has a serious endemic terrorist threat, manage to escapes the kind of negative warnings issued for Indonesia and Bali. In any case, major meetings and international corporate gatherings are put off by the legal implications of planning a meeting in a country the subject of a negative travel advisory.
Q: How are you looking at 2007? Will it be a year where the MICE industry grows and gets stronger? Why?
A: We are seeing substantial new interest in domestic MICE business, new markets such as India, and out of the European incentive market which appears to be on the rebound. Why? Despite past problems Bali has tremendous “brand equity” continuing to win international awards as the world’s most popular holiday destination and we have a range of accommodation and venues of truly international standards available at very attractive prices. With new air services from Australia and the rescinding of Garuda’s plans to close Bali as an international hub, I’m optimistic that 2007 will see Australian numbers start to climb.
 Q: What is the one outstanding issue facing the MICE industry at the present time?
A: There is opportunity for more cross-region, cross-industry and inter-governmental collaboration in order to explore the full potential of the MICE business in Asia and bring this industry to the next level. There is a need for industry players and governments to look at the big picture, agree on how to address issues such as disparities in security measures, standards and technologies to name a few. It is going beyond just filling convention space and driving revenue to venues - it is about marketing the region and its destinations so that we can all benefit as one industry.
Q: How are you looking at 2007? Will it be a year where the MICE industry grows and gets stronger? Why?
A: Globally, the meetings industry is growing in double percentages, with events becoming larger by the year. This can be attributed to a brighter economic outlook across the board. As economies improve across the region, MICE industry players are anticipating significant growth in the number of meetings and events taking place across Asia in 2007. The size of MICE buyers’ annual budgets is also expected to increase considerably, although there will be increased priority placed on return on investments.
 Q: What is the one outstanding issue facing the MICE industry at the present time?
A: The key issue in Indonesia is marketing. The government under Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has undertaken an enormous amount of effort in ensuring that Indonesia becomes a safe destination once again from a security perspective. Furthermore, contrary to places like Hong Kong and Singapore, Jakarta still has very competitive hotel rates and enough availability for large conferences. However, because of the lack of budget allocated to marketing Indonesia to the MICE industry so far, Indonesia has a hard time attracting major conferences and events. A proposed increase in that budget proposed for 2008, should actually already be allocated in 2007.
Q: How are you looking at 2007? Will it be a year where the MICE industry grows and gets stronger? Why?
A: In general the MICE industry will grow tremendously, all APEC countries are recording healthy growth, and both for incentives as well as conferences, companies are budgeting again.
Q: What is the one outstanding issue facing the MICE industry at the present time?
A: The one outstanding issue (or should I say challenge) facing the MICE industry in Asia in the present time is the lack of expertise/professionalism, especially in the incentive segment where it requires creative, experienced and specialised incentive planners to help the client to achieve the business objectives that the client desires and have come to expect.
Q: How are you looking at 2007? Will it be a year where the MICE industry grows and gets stronger? Why?
A: In my opinion 2007 is looking very promising for the MICE industry for the following reasons: Asia in general has been enjoying positive media exposure, most Asian destinations are perceived to be safe and costs are still relatively inexpensive (ie very affordable) for MICE groups.
 Q: What is the one outstanding issue facing the MICE industry at the present time?
A: Almost everywhere in Asia, especially in the main cities, there are new facilities, venue upgrades and new initiatives. Three of the world’s top 10 convention centres are in Asia - Singapore, Hong Kong and Seoul. Clearly, the MICE industry in Asia is booming. One outstanding issue facing the MICE industry in the Philippines is still the lack of a strong image as a MICE destination. Experts have recommended the Philippines invest heavily in marketing focusing on unique and appealing brand attributes, and invest in development of infrastructure and facilities.
Q: How are you looking at 2007? Will it be a year where the MICE industry grows and gets stronger? Why?
A: 2007 should be strong for Asian MICE business all round. Despite the challenges faced by MICE organisers, MICE business for Cebu also looks promising. 2007 looks very promising. There has been a great deal of interest and increasing confirmed business from regional events. It also helps that international event companies are presently looking for new destinations after their clients have gone the route of the more popular destinations. Cebu has to seize this opportunity.
 Q: What is the one outstanding issue facing the MICE industry at the present time?
A: Looking at the global forces – the economic and political changes taking place in some Asian destinations/countries and the manner MICE businesses are being conducted, one outstanding issue, in my opinion, facing the industry at the present time is the demand for “value for money”. MICE players are essentially looking for better prices, better flight connectivity, affordable air fares, quality destinations, location safety and good infrastructure to complement MICE experiences.
Q: How are you looking at 2007? Will it be a year where the MICE industry grows and gets stronger? Why?
A: As long as oil prices do not escalate and there are no internal security/safety issues in Asian countries then MICE business to these destinations should be good. MICE players and partners should continue to support each other and help boost the industry. I believe the MICE industry in Asia is a growing business. There are potentially new destinations emerging within, offering different experiences, interesting possibilities and government support to some larger extent.
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