MADRID Fusion Manila will return to the Philippine capital city in 2016 after a successful run in April, with organisers keen on bringing the prestigious culinary event to other Asian destinations too.

The inaugural Madrid Fusion Manila in April “went beyond our expectations when it came to attendees, participation of chefs and media coverage both in the Philippines and abroad,” explained Domingo Ramon Enerio III, COO of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB).

TTGmice e-Weekly understands that the Philippine Department of Tourism has the exclusive right to the trade name Madrid Fusion Manila for five years, but there are plans to bring the event to other Asian countries in the coming years.

“We can do Singapore or Malaysia,” said Inigo Canedo, managing director of one of the event’s organisers, Madrid-based Arum Estrategias Internacionalizacion SL.

Canedo, who is pleased with the “very good organisation” of Madrid Fusion Manila, said the organisers want to make the event “the most important trade fair in the Philippines” while being open to expanding it to other parts of Asia.
The next Madrid Fusion Manila, scheduled on April 7-9, 2016, is being planned to be even bigger with fewer Spanish chefs and more Asian ones.

Chefs who have confirmed their participation next year include Joan Roca of three-Michelin star El Celler de Can Roca, S. Pellegrino’s world’s best restaurant for 2015; Eneko Atxa of two-Michelin star Azurmendi Restaurant in Basque; and Yoshihiro Narisawa whose three-Michelin star Les Creations de Narisawa in Tokyo was recently ranked as Asia’s 8th best restaurant.

THE NEW Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC) has secured 10 regional conferences in its first year of operations as well as played host to high profile events such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting in March and the ASEAN Leaders Summit in April, since its opening on March 1.

LICC features pillarless function rooms that are equipped with high-end audiovisual facilities such as Bose sound systems, and offers plenty of natural daylight at its foyer areas. The grand ballroom has a capacity for 1,000 people in a banquet setting and can be partitioned into three smaller spaces. Seven meeting rooms ranging from 21m² to 1660m²in size make LICC ideal for international conferences, product launches and fashion shows.

Events with overseas participants are well supported by a variety of accommodation options close by. LICC sits adjacent to The Westin Langkawi and is also managed by the hotel. Hotels located a short drive away include St Regis Langkawi which is slated to open in November, Bayview Hotel Langkawi, Adya Hotel Langkawi and Dayang Bay Serviced Apartment & Resort Langkawi.

Ganneesh Ramaa, manager of Luxury Tours Malaysia, said: “Meeting delegates will have plenty of accommodation options. LICC will also complement Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre and put Langkawi on the map as a MICE destination.”

Saini Vermeulen, executive director of Within Earth Holidays, believes that LICC’s record of hosting high profile events will “make it easier for us to market Langkawi” to corporate clients and conference organisers.

“The fact that the new LICC, with its state-of-the-art facilities, has handled high profile events will give confidence to meeting planners and MICE organisers that Langkawi is (capable). Planners interested in holding an event in Malaysia now has another option,” Vermeulen commented.

He added: “Also, Langkawi has the required tourism infrastructure such as attractions and restaurants to support the leisure components of a convention programme.”

THE February opening of G Hotel Kelawai has placed holding company, G Hotel Penang, in a stronger position to attract larger-scale events.

The new hotel in Penang is just a two-minute walk from its sister property, G Hotel Gurney. Both hotels have a combined inventory of 520 guestrooms, 15 function rooms including a a grand ballroom at G Hotel Gurney, and nine F &B outlets. Cross usage and signing facilities are available for guests.

Kevin Cheah, executive assistant manager – sales & marketing, G Hotel Penang, said: “With the opening of the 208-key G Hotel Kelawai, we are aiming for meetings, conferences and others events with up to 500 people. Prior to this, we could not accommodate meeting groups of more than 300 delegates.”

G Hotel Penang intends to court MICE business from Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong through participation in travel tradeshows such as IT&CM Asia in Bangkok and ITB Asia in Singapore.

Cheah explained that these markets are attractive as they have direct air connectivity with Penang and are within three hours of air travel.

“Being centrally located next to two upscale shopping malls, Gurney Plaza and Gurney Paragon Mall, and near Penang’s famous hawker centre, Gurney Drive, George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site and beaches makes the hotel an ideal place to stay and have meetings,” Cheah remarked.

Meanwhile, G Hotel Gurney’s grand ballroom was unveiled in June with a new look. A refurbishment project gave the venue new carpets and wallpaper, a permanent LED screen, Bose speaker system, mood lightings, Herman Miller designer chairs and a more robust Internet capability with speeds up from 100MBps to 150MBps. It can accommodate up to 700 people in theatre style.

IN CELEBRATION of its 20^th anniversary, Harbour Grand Kowloon has rolled out a series of promotions including a meeting offer.

Priced from HK$480 (US$62) per person, the Anniversary’s Special Meeting Package allows planners to add on a perk for only HK$20. Options include themed refreshments per break, soft drinks and chilled orange juice served throughout lunch, a Chinese/Japanese/executive western set lunch, or an hour-long cocktail reception for up to 200 pax with free-flow beverages before dinner.

Offer ends July 31, 2015.

Terms and conditions apply.

DUE to popular demand, JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong is extending its Save & Earn Marriott Rewards Points offer until February 29, 2016.

The offer requires a minimum booking of 10 guestrooms, and includes a 10 per cent rebate on the final master bill and free Triple Marriott Rewards Points.

All prices are subject to 10 per cent service charge.

Terms and conditions apply.