EVEN as the world endured heightened economic uncertainty and increased terrorism threats, business travel in the Asia-Pacific region proved the most resilient, having attained the biggest share of corporate travel spend ahead of North America and Western Europe.
According to the Hotel Price Radar Q2 2016 report released by end-to-end hotel solutions provider HRS, the cities of Tokyo, Sydney and Singapore still lead in terms of average room rates per night, standing at US$280, US$244 and US$254 respectively.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru saw the largest spike in room rates over the past year, with a rate development increase of 22.9 per cent.
The HRS research also points to positive movements in the MICE industry over the past quarter, with Kuala Lumpur exhibiting exceptionally strong interest in partnerships with both local and international players.
This is particularly evident with the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre strengthening its ties with the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau (KLTB), InvestKL and the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS).
Hotels and tour operators have also taken interest in packaging products and services complementary to MICE development efforts, according to HRS.
Jakarta too is experiencing a per-night room rate increase over Q1 numbers. Business travel to the city is likely to improve, predicts HRS, as the Indonesia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Inaceb) established in late March begins to strengthen Indonesia’s MICE facilities.
“The top business travel destinations in the region have remained broadly consistent for the past few quarters now,” said Kimi Jiang, vice president Asia-Pacific at HRS.
“An intensely competitive MICE climate will dictate further growth in the business travel sector, with countries like Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta developing aggressive strategies to grow their MICE industry.”
