Singapore-based travel specialist, Discover Holidays (Asia), has reported a strong start to 2014, with 15 events confirmed to-date for the year.
Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly in an interview, managing director, Rodney Yew, said “all contracts are signed” and “some have also paid in full”.
“1H2014 looks set to be better than the same time last year,” he said, adding that several more projects are still in the bidding process.
When asked what had spurred such a performance, Yew credited “hard work from the team in courting clients” last year.
These events will be held in Asia-Pacific and attended by delegates from within the region. They include a 200-pax oil and gas conference, a 150-pax F&B conference, a 120-pax cosmetics conference and a 200-pax IT conference – all planned for Singapore – as well as a 470-pax pharmaceutical meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
“Regional destinations are still most favoured by my clients,” said Yew, whose company specialises in group tours and corporate events from Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
“Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coasts are getting increasing attention from my clients, which I believe is due to clients’ clear awareness and understanding of that these destinations can offer.”
Yew observed that clients are more likely to pick destinations they are familiar with, even though there are exciting options available elsewhere.
“For example, while I know that Perth has evolved a lot over recent years and has many fresh experiences to offer, not many of my clients know that and are reluctant to consider it. Destinations must invest in brand building not only in the MICE market, but also in the consumer market because clients are consumers themselves,” he added.
