BUSINESSEVENTS


Opening of Jakarta convention centre unlikely to be champagne occasion


By Louis Allen.While Indonesia’s government is building an exhibition and convention centre to help put the country on the world MICE map, it is also considering an alcoholic beverage ban that could put a damper on business events. In the heart of the city, Jakarta


International Exhibition & Convention Centre is scheduled to open in October next year. It was designed by Larry Oltmanns, who was also responsible for Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre and Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. When its second phase is completed in 2017, it will be one of the largest venues in Asia. Meanwhile, there is fuss in Bali about


a proposed drink ban, which is expected to destroy the island’s night life. Bali Hotel & Restaurant Association


secretary Perry Markus brands the move “very odd and very bad”, while there has been a call for the government to keep Bali competitive with competing MICE destinations by changing the laws about the importation of wine and spirits. Indonesia Congress & Convention


Association Bali chapter chairman Ida Bagus Surakusuma has told Bisnis Bali that the high taxes imposed on liquor and wines are counter-productive to the government’s stated aim of expanding the MICE sector of the national economy. Listed on Indonesia’s parliamentary


legislative agenda for next year, the Bill for a Ban on Alcoholic Drinks was drafted by the Islamic-based United Develop- ment Party, a member of Susilo Bambang


Yudhoyono’s governing coalition. It proposes penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and $1 million in fines for the producers of alcoholic drinks, plus fines and prison for distributors, and even two years’ jail for drinkers. Business events journalist Tiara


Maharani in Jakarta tells Executive PA Magazine Asia that the bill will probably take at least two years to become law. “The idea of banning alcohol has been


whispered for centuries,” she says. “I believe it will never happen … Tourists are hard enough to come by already.” However, Maharani does not see the


proposal having much impact on the business events industry, which contributes less than 10 per cent to Indonesia’s tourism profits. Meanwhile, the government makes


significant revenue from alcohol imports, taxing them between 100 and 300 per cent (in 2010, alcohol netted the govern- ment $155 million in import duties). Mahari recalls attending the ASEAN


Tourism Forum in Manado where delegates (90 per cent international) grumbled when no beer or wine was served. “Ironically, an official told me they chose Manado for the event as it has the same open-minded culture as Bali – they love to party and let people drink alcohol.” However, while Australian groups


always look for wine or beer, Europeans are more understanding and can adjust, while Asians do not grumble when there is no alcohol.


Japan eyes island for meetings


Working with Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau to boost business events, the Japan Association of Travel Agents sees potential for the resort island of Koh Samui as a meeting destination similar to Hawaii or Hong Kong. “Samui’s hotels, natural attractions


and activities are excellent, and the island can claim it is the Hawaii of Asia,” JATA official Tadashi Yamaguchi has told the


44 AUGUST/OCTOBER 2013 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.ASIA


Bangkok Post. He suggests that Thailand business


events companies offer CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities such as teambuilding. TCEB acting-president Thongchai


Sridama describes Samui as a luxury meeting and incentive destination. The bureau offers special packages for companies, including subsidies.


What’s new and what’s happening in the world of corporate events.


IN BRIEF


1 A China MICE Cities Alliance has been established, involving Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Kunming, Shanghai, Sanya, Tianjin and Xi’an. It is a strategic measure to promote the development of China’s business events industry.


1 Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau has appointed Travel Link Marketing as its representative in China, with offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.


1 Tourists and business executives from Taiwan will be allowed to travel to the US without a visa for as long as 90 days starting from November 1. Taiwan joins 36 countries already participating in the visa waiver program.


1 Abusiness events consultant committee has been set up in Shanghai. The Shanghai MICE Consultant Committee includes representatives from 35 companies in the city’s meetings sector. The chairman is Shanghai China Travel International general manager Zheng Bei, with Across China Communication Group chairman Cao Zufeng as vice-chairman.


1 Asian hospitality group Dusit International has aligned with China UnionPay credit card to accommodate guests from China. Extra services tailored for Chinese guests at its hotels and resorts include Chinese-speaking hotel staff, Chinese- language television channels, curated meals, teas, newspapers and shopping outlets. The group has also opened a regional sales office in Tokyo.


1 Meriton Serviced Apartments in Australia has partnered with China UnionPay to cater for Chinese corporate and incentive groups. UnionPay cards will be accepted at all 11 Meriton Serviced Apartment hotels throughout Australia.


1 Marina Bay Sands has introduced a mobile app. for business events. The Marina Bay Sands Meetings Concierge can be customised by meeting planners and helps them go paperless as they do not have to develop and print event guides and other materials. Event schedules can be updated in real time.


1 In Busan, Korea, Bexco convention and exhibition centre has added a 4000-seat auditorium and exhibition hall. Nearby will be a theme park based on computer games as well as a five-star hotel with 220 guest rooms and a business hotel with 470 rooms.


1 Event management company MCI has signed a merger with Malaysian conference company Console Communications, which specialises in medical congresses.


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