Singapore, 17 May 2018 – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) is an important component of the hospitality and tourism industry, and drives economic development in many destinations. Generating millions in revenue annually, this dynamic sector is evolving at a tremendous pace. Here are some of the observed trends in 2018, provided by WorldHotels.
1. Virtual assistants and event apps are on the rise, amongst others
Gone are the days where venues are only expected to be equipped with high speed internet connection and an overhead projector. Technologies, such as virtual assistants and artificial intelligence, positively impact guest experiences. The provision of virtual and augmented reality, web casting, live streaming and video conferencing is becoming increasingly important for venues to stay at the top of the game. Availability of mobile applications is also seen as a key feature, easing event registrations and offering a mode of communication, both before and after the events. “It is essential to ensure that our guests’ journey is easy and efficient,” shared Ganessan Suppiah, WorldHotels’ Regional Vice President of Sales, Asia Pacific. “Technology helps to personalize experiences; it does not replace human interaction, but enhances it.”
Ganessan also sees an increase in virtual event attendance. Venues need to provide opportunities, for online attendance and intervention, to allow participation from within and beyond the event space. 360-degree images and virtual reality on YouTube, Facebook and Periscope are becoming increasingly important for event promotions.
In addition, while the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is coming into force this month, will present some challenges, there will also be opportunities to improve data quality and transparency.
2. Organizers’ preferences towards business meetings that offer authentic experiences
A lot of organizers now look for venues that provide tranquil settings, giving rise to a demand of business meetings at locations that lie closer to nature. “Go local” is another growing trend – guests desire to be immersed in local culture; authentic travel experiences are highly sought-after.
Events are required to be more experiential as organizers yearn for unique, tailor-made experiences instead of a cookier-cutter approach; having flexible meeting spaces is near the top of every participant’s wish list. “Meetings should not be dull. Spa treatments, team building exercises, cocktail courses... Venues that provide fun activities, alongside the serious business focus, will help to attract clients.” said Anke Ebinger, Director of Sales Central Europe, WorldHotels.
3. Engaging with a younger audience: interactivity and relevance
There is a growing need for organizers to create more interaction and involvement from the audience. Younger generations may not fancy traditional speakers; people prefer engagement to instruction. Interactive elements, greater collaboration among people and information exchange sessions are now more critical.
Anke also noticed that the younger generations (Gen Y and Z) are more conscious of their well-being and health. People are opting for fresh and healthy food, instead of sweet pastries, with a strong emphasis on “brain food”. Catering is no longer solely a venue facility, but is being regarded as a platform to impress guests. Organizers are expecting creative food showcases with novel concepts, especially when they are content-worthy for social media feeds.
About the spokespersons:
Ganessan Suppiah, Regional Vice President of Sales, Asia Pacific
A veteran of the hospitality industry for over 30 years, Ganessan Suppiah has served WorldHotels for over 11 years and was recently promoted to Regional Vice President of Sales – Asia Pacific. Suppiah has been a driving force of the Sales department when he first started off as the Director of Sales for Australia and New Zealand in 2007, before moving to the United Kingdom for his new role as Regional Director of Sales for the UK, Ireland, Nordic and Russia in 2016. In his current role, Suppiah leads all sales strategies and initiatives in the region, out of his base in Sydney, Australia.
Anke Ebinger joined WorldHotels in 2000 as Key Account Manager Central Europe. In her current role as Regional Director of Sales Central Europe, she is leading the Worldhotels Sales Force for Germany, Austria & Switzerland. By building long-lasting relationships and networking with corporate clients, Consortia partners and MICE buyers and implementing marketing strategies, organizing custom-tailored activities, analyzing trends and results they ensure driving revenue to 350 Worldhotels members worldwide.
About Associated Luxury Hotels:
Associated Luxury Hotels™ is the industry’s most trusted global resource dedicated to empowering the independence of over 600 of the world’s most iconic hotels, resorts, and hospitality groups across 50 countries. Ensuring success in an increasingly competitive marketplace, Associate Luxury Hotels is focused on providing solutions to increase revenue generation for independent hotels through its two collections, ALHI Global Luxury Sales and the WorldHotels Collection.
About WorldHotels Collection
Newly relaunched, the WorldHotels™ Collection delivers proven soft brand solutions for a curated global offering of over 350 of the finest independent hotels and resorts. Founded by hoteliers dedicated to the art of hospitality, only WorldHotels curates the best independent properties around the globe, each reflective of the locale by offering intuitive service, and a refined sense of character. WorldHotels’ proprietary ‘Start With Why’ philosophy helps each hotel identify their unique set of assets that distinguish and elevate their guest experience and revenue generation performance from the competition. Geared to both business and leisure travelers, the WorldHotels Collection is classified into three tiers allowing guests to select the offering that meets their needs: WorldHotels Luxury, WorldHotels Elite and WorldHotels Distinctive.
For reservations or information, visit WorldHotels.com. Images are available from [email protected]
Issued on behalf of WorldHotels by GHC Asia.
For further information or hi-res images, please contact:
GHC Asia (Singapore) WorldHotels
Ms. Wendy Wang Ms. Sheryl Tay
Tel: 65 6723 8161 Tel: 65 6227 5535
E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
A veteran of the hospitality industry for over 30 years, Ganessan Suppiah has served WorldHotels for over 11 years and was recently promoted to Regional Vice President of Sales – Asia Pacific. Suppiah has been a driving force of the Sales department when he first started off as the Director of Sales for Australia and New Zealand in 2007, before moving to the United Kingdom for his new role as Regional Director of Sales for the UK, Ireland, Nordic and Russia in 2016. In his current role, Suppiah leads all sales strategies and initiatives in the region, out of his base in Sydney, Australia.
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