CWT Vision - Carlson Wagonlit Travel

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14 Inter-region infrastructure is strong. The meetings business in Asia Pacifi c is still predominately led by domestic and regional meetings: Asia accounts for 16% of total meetings worldwide. Meeting within Asia Pacifi c is easily accessible, diversely attractive, and provides value for the money being spent. A recent report by Pacifi c Asia Travel Association (PATA) documents that must-have credentials to be an attractive destination for meetings and events include easy access by air, road or rail; at least one good quality Convention or Congress Center; a suffi cient supply of three- to fi ve-star hotels; an attractive destination and surroundings; value for money; adequate marketing muscle; and a good range of local professional conference organizers. Volatile global economic climate is limiting M&E budgets. Therein lies the potential for growth, particularly in Asia, of international meeting volumes, given that planners can get more for less money in Asia as compared to more developed worldwide destinations. That said, planners should be mindful to book meeting space well in advance, as occupancy and rate value may be compromised due to demand. Copyright © 2011 CWT REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Asia Pacifi c Tips for holding meetings in Asia Pacifi c: APAC’s highest occupancy markets will pose challenges for M&E and corporate travel alike 85.8% Kuala Lumpur Source: Smith Travel Research, July 2011 data 1. Research passport and visa requirements well in advance, as many countries have strict guidelines and policies regarding entry clearances, particularly for business visas. 2. Look into tourism or government incentives for group travel to a particular country. Some Asia Pacifi c countries, such as Thailand and Singapore, provide lucrative tax rebates or value-added off ers for a wide variety of groups. 3. Site inspections are a must. If meeting planners have not been to the region before, they should set up an in-person visit prior to booking any meeting or event, as product and service standards may vary in Asia Pacifi c, even among globally recognized suppliers. 4. Leverage local relationships. Business in Asia Pacifi c is very relationship oriented; knowing someone on the ground can be very benefi cial when doing business in that location. 5. Plan well in advance – capacities are very limited in specifi c Asia Pacifi c markets like Seoul and Brisbane, where occupancy levels are at about 85%, according to Smith Travel Research. Jakarta 82% Hong Kong 85.5% Seoul 83.9% Brisbane 86.8%
REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Europe, the Middle East, and Africa Plan now for program complexity from London Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London are less than a year away, and buyers who have not yet begun to plan ahead for the impact to their travel program should begin doing so right away. Availability of supply for fl ights, hotels, ground transportation, dining options, and other services will be signifi cantly limited while the Games take place July 27 – August 12, 2012, as well as in the weeks immediately before and after. While the best strategy for most organizations may be to avoid London during this time, following are some recommendations for those organizations that must continue to visit London during the Olympic Games for business or meetings: Determine the approach. Based on the needs of the business, a travel buyer may choose to ban travel to London during the Olympic Games, restrict it to some degree, or continue operating “business as usual.” When determining the approach, it may be helpful to examine historical travel levels to London during the July-August timeframe, using reporting available from the travel management company. Manage traveler expectations. Based on the approach chosen, travelers will need clear communication explaining the added complexity of traveling to London during the Games, including anticipated congestion for transportation and at restaurants and local attractions, premium prices for most products and services, additional penalties for cancellations, etc. Understand Olympic hotel contracting. Many London hotels have already contracted the majority of their hotel rooms to the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to be sold to sponsors, media, participants, and other individuals directly involved with the Games. In April 2012, 60% of any unsold rooms contracted to LOCOG will be released and available to the public, then in May 2012, 30% of any remaining unsold rooms will be released. While this schedule will apply to many of London’s larger hotels, some small chains and independent hotels have made no commitments to LOCOG and will be selling rooms on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis, as always. Leverage existing partnerships. Hotels and airlines must balance the short-term surge in demand generated by the Olympics with the long-term business that corporate clients provide. While keeping expectations realistic, buyers should leverage their total London travel volume when speaking with their partners about what they need during this time period. Give suppliers the opportunity to be part of the solution by asking what they can do to help mitigate the disruptions the Olympics will cause to the travel program. Read the fi ne print. During and surrounding the dates of the Games, buyers should expect an increase in restrictions and other terms and conditions not typical in their corporate agreements, especially with hoteliers. These could include increased blackout dates, pre-pay/deposit requirements, extended cancellation windows and/or penalties, minimum night stay thresholds, etc. Be prepared to discuss these with suppliers and advocate for as few changes to the corporate agreement as possible. The London Olympics by the numbers: 7 number of cities where Olympic activities will take place 26 number of sports being played 200 number of countries participating 17,000 number of athletes competing 20,000 number of journalists covering the Games 63,000 number of staff involved in staging 500,000 number of spectators 15 9,000,000 number of tickets expected to be sold
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