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Baltic State of Estonia for MICEBaltic State of Estonia for MICE

The Beatles StoryLiverpool

MICE in Melbourne

Rs. 100

A DDP Publication 60 Pages Volume II I Issue 4 April 2012

The Beatles StoryLiverpool

MICE in Melbourne

MICEtalk April 2012 5

Song and Dance Festival in full swing atTallinn Songs Festival Grounds

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Editorial Director

Editor

DELHI:

Associate Editor

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Design

Advertising

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Circulation Manager

MUMBAI:

Advertising

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Rupali Narasimhan

Deepa Sethi

Ipshita Sengupta Nag

Divya Goyal

Alpana Khare

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Neeraj Nath

Gunjan Sabikhi

Prem Sagar

Anil Kharbanda

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Harshal Ashar

Durga Das Publications Private Limited

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Meetings Incentives Conferences Events

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pg 18 pg 24

contentspg 37

8 Facts

16 Cover Story The Beatles Story, Liverpool

22 Destination Estonia

30 MICE City Melbourne, Australia

36 Booked for MICE Leonia Holistic Destination, Hyderabad

40 Domestic MICE Madhya Pradesh

44 Flying Business Stephen King, Virgin Atlantic

46 Green MICE Paris Transport

48 People on the Move

50 Yours Officially Lyn Lewis-Smith, Business Events Sydney

54 Let’s Talk Farooq Ahmad Shah Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre

56 Checklist

58 Events

pg 32

pg 47

pg 42

6 MICEtalk April 2012

Dear Reader,

In this issue of MICEtalk we once again travel across the globe to let you see the blossoming MICE industry through our eyes. MICE planners are getting more innovative in the events they are planning and we went to Liverpool to find out how they entertained and created a platform for networking for a diverse coterie of buyers who came to participate in VisitBritain’s trademark MICE event. The venue is The Beatles Story and kudos to Liverpool for recreating the Beatles Mania within a few walls and bringing back memories for a generation of hysterical fans. It is definitely an events

venue that will see more footfall in the near future. We went just a little further to visit the Baltic State of Estonia as it savours its ICCA recognition as one of the most promising meeting destinations in the world today. We definitely came away impressed! With more visitors comes more responsibility and we highlight here how Paris is committed to using more eco friendly modes of transport. An effort that should be imitated by more and more cities!

Even as Europe continues to be a charmer for the Indian tourists, they are also looking down under. This gave us the reason to hop on a flight to visit the Australian city of Melbourne and also have a small tete-a-tete with the Chief Executive Officer, Lyn Lewis-Smith, Business Events Sydney, to see how the country in general is looking at India as a market for its inbound visitors. Indians, as we know are big spenders when it comes to experiences and this is definitely something the world knows, as we discovered.

If boarding a flight is not your idea of a MICE offsite then catch up with the MICE offerings back home, in some of our pages. They are promising and could give their offshore counterparts a run for their money. Leonia Holistic Destination, Hyderabad, with its stand-alone convention centre LICEC, was awarded for its astuteness towards MICE recently and we decided to take a closer look to find out more. For domestic destination, we chose Madhya Pradesh this time. Referred to as the Heart of India, it has also captured the heart of the discerning MICE traveller with its venues and experiences.

Also look out for our usual tidbits like news on the MICE industry and note down the dates of the upcoming MICE events. And for all those out there who are still at sea with phone apps, a small list of all that you should be getting smart about….

Deepa SethiEditor

reader’s page


facts

Germany tops the charts among Indians for meetings & incentives 62 per cent of Indian companies choose Germany as their most preferred business travel destination, says a study by Synovate Business

Consulting on India Outbound MICE Market. The study was commissioned by the German National Tourist office, India.

According to the findings, mid-sized and large corporates who have organised MICE trips into Europe, between 2010-11, have

chosen Germany (73 per cent), followed by U.K, France and Switzerland, with 52 per cent, 51 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively.

The study also revealed the most popular German cities, with Frankfurt securing the maximum votes, followed by Berlin and then

Munich.

According to Romit Theophilus, Director, Sales & Marketing, GNTO, Germany offers unconventional meeting facilities; from huge

city vibes to the culturally infused charm of castles, which are now also modern conference centers.

Speaking about 2012, Theophilus added, “We believe 2012 will witness an increase in Indian outbound tourism to Germany. We

are upbeat that travel for Incentives will continue to grow as desirable choices for many corporate in the years to come. This year we

will continue with our affordable hospitality theme and also focus on promoting ‘the fairytale route’ in Germany which passes all the

enchanting castles, town and villages from where all the famous fairytale characters have originated.”

factsfacts


facts

AIME 2012 – A resounding success Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) 2012 saw better figures,

in terms of hosted buyers, exhibitors and visitors. This year AIME celebrated

its 20th anniversary, with 500 hosted buyers from 27 countries attending the

show – an increase of 16.5 per cent more than 2011. The show saw more

quality hosted buyers than in 2011. The pre-audited figures show that an impressive number of visitors, 3,384

over the two days, interact with the 779 exhibitors at the show.

Of these figures, 51 per cent of Hosted Buyers and 206 exhibitors were attending AIME for the first time.

According to Sally de Swart, Director, AIME, Reed Travel Exhibitions, the event was a resounding success creating

more business opportunities for the participants, through networking and formal business appointments.

De Swart added, “It was great to see over 2000 attendees at the Official Welcome Reception at the Melbourne

Pavilion in Flemington, hosted by the Melbourne Convention Visitors Bureau (MCVB), which certainly set the

tone for the whole show.”

AIME 2013 will return to Melbourne on March 19-20, 2013

Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau to ink a deal with the Hyderabad Convention and Visitors Bureau The Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB) is expecting to work out a partnership with the newly established Hyderabad

Convention and Visitors Bureau (HCVB) to get more access to more corporate planners from India.

The Hyderabad Convention and Visitors Bureau is a toddler as compared to the other Convention bureaus of the world, but its

establishment, some nine months ago is indicative of the city’s commitment to MICE and the Hyderabad International Convention

Centre is the metaphor of city’s meetings and conventions infrastructure.

Melbourne, will be hosting the Amway India Leadership Seminar in December this year and the MCVB is expecting it to be a

learning experience for them, with 4,400 people arriving on its shores in one go. There are bound to be logistics and security challenges.

But MCVB is confident that with hotel rooms and convention/banquet spaces of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

within a small radius, the event is sure to be a success. Melbourne had earlier hosted an Amway group from China, with 7500 people,

but the group had come in four phases. Sydney was Melbourne’s main competition while cinching major conventions and what worked

in the latter’s favour is its offer to host a gala at the Melbourne Cricket Ground; a bulls eye for a cricket crazy nation like India.

Tourism Victoria already has an office in India which is promoting the destination in the country and at the same time building

strong ties with MNCs and investment trading partners.


AIBTM Hosted Buyer Online Applications Go Live The Americas Meetings & Events Exhibitions (AIBTM ) recently

announced that Hosted Buyer applications are now being accepted for

this year’s show, which takes place from June 19-21, 2012, at the Baltimore

Convention Centre. The three day event includes two days of exhibition

and a full day of education. The organizers, Reed Travel Exhibitions, are

expecting this year’s show to be more engaging than its predecessor.

Qualified AIBTM Hosted Buyers will have the opportunity to

pre-schedule appointments with exhibitors of their choice, receive

complimentary travel and accommodation, attend exclusive Hosted

Buyer networking events, participate in pre-show and post-show city

tours and enjoy other VIP benefits. AIBTM Hosted Buyer applications

are reviewed and accepted based on the number and size of meetings,

events, incentives and annual conferences, individual purchasing

authority, annual budgets for meetings, events and incentives, amount

of business conducted and potential for future business in the meetings

and business travel industries.

LSO St Luke’s, London, ready for more events during Olympic GamesLSO St Luke’s, London, will make its space available for hire, for a variety

of events, including conferences and private receptions, during the

Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.

LSO St Luke’s, which is a Grade 1 listed Hawksmoor Church used

by the London Symphony Orchestra for rehearsals, concerts and music

workshops, has of late welcomed many big brand names for private

and corporate functions. The number of private events has increased

significantly in the last year.

An 18th century restored church, LSO St. Luke’s attracts clients primarily because of its ambience and also for the ample open

space it provides. The Jerwood Hall, for instance, can easily accommodate around 450 people. The venue is centrally located, easily

accessible by the city’s metro network, making it an ideal choice for events in the city.

The London Olympics is expected to see a large number of corporates making their way into the city to host their events, with

an aim to capture some of the magic of the event. London Hotels and event spaces are already heavily booked during the tenure of

the Olympics.

factsfacts

12 MICEtalk March 2012

Swiss Visa Application Centres to open in 10 Indian cities Switzerland and VFS Global have partnered to open branches of Swiss Visa Application Centres (VACs) in 10 cities across India,

in addition to the existing VACs in New Delhi and Mumbai. Residents of Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jalandhar, Cochin, Chennai,

Pondicherry, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad will soon be able to avail of the services of satellite Visa Application

Centres in their cities while applying for visa to travel to Switzerland. The partnership will be established as a pilot project and

is limited to two years.

The VACs will open in 3 phases. During the first and second phase, which will be completed in March 2012, Visa Application Centre

branches will be opened in Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jalandhar, Cochin, Chennai, Pondicherry and Bengaluru. VACs in Ahmedabad,

Pune and Hyderabad will be operational in the third phase which will be concluded by mid-2012.

Switzerland appointed VFS Global for outsourcing its visa application processing services in New Delhi in November 2007

and subsequently in August 2008 in Mumbai.

Some of the key features of the Swiss VACs are longer operating hours, dedicated website for easy access, professional and

responsive staff to handle visa queries, dedicated call centre unit, email support, facility for photocopy & photo booths, options

for mode of payment, etc.


Korea declares 2012 as its ‘Convention Year’ Qualified conventions, meetings and incentives going to Korea between

2012 and 2015 will receive maximum government support and

incentives. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Korea and the Korea

Tourism Organization have come together with seven MICE Alliances

in the regional convention destinations to provide better services and

support to MICE participants and organisers.

As part of this supporting MICE campaign, Convention centres and

hotels will offer discounts on meetings venues for up to 30 per cent of the

published rates and hotels will slash rates by up to 40 per cent on rooms,

added to which will be complimentary room upgrades and welcome

amenities for designated guests. In addition to this, complimentary site

inspection trips can also be arranged for qualifying organisations and

convention organisers and participants will receive preferential rates

from national carriers, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.

On a national level, Korea Tourism Organization will increase financial subsidies to the organisers of MICE events. The

government is also looking at sponsoring incentives such as tickets to traditional performances, souvenirs or tour programmes

for qualified events.

There are more cookies in the jar as MICE planners in Korea have joined forces with the Korea MICE Alliance – a union

of regional convention bureaus, destination management companies and professional congress organizers – so that each city’s

unique incentive plans are maximised for participants going to any of the nine convention destinations in the country.

To qualify for the Korea Convention Year’s incentive programme, conventions need to meet Union of International Associations

(UIA) meeting standards while incentive tours and corporate meetings should have more than 100 participants and events with

more than 500 participants from the Asian region only or those with more than 1,000 international participants may qualify for

airline discounts. Korea is eyeing a spot among the top five convention destinations in the world, and expects the 2012 Korea

Convention Year to become the driving force behind this goal.

Brisbane plans a new MICE venue Brisbane Australia will soon have a new convention address in early 2013. The new convention centre is being built

by the RNA and was officially launched during AIME 2012. This world-class $59 million centre is part of stage

one of the exciting RNA Showgrounds $2.9 billion Regeneration Project, which will transform the 22 hectare site

into a vibrant year-round destination offering a unique lifestyle and cultural hub for generations to enjoy. Work on

transforming the showgrounds’ largest building – the Industrial Pavilion – into the convention centre started in

April last year and will be completed by this December. It will provide state-of-the-art facilities and ensure that the

RNA Showgrounds becomes a destination synonymous with events, lifestyle, culture, fashion and design, hosting

conferences, exhibitions and shows all year round. Situated in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia,

the new convention centre is ideally located just 1.6 kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD and 15 minutes from

international and domestic airports. The multi-level building will provide approximately 22,000 square metres of

versatile space easily catering for events on a year round basis

factsfacts


cover story

Meeting planners are getting more innovative with the kind of events they are organising for their clients. Thinking absolutely out of the box and matching service to experience, they are redefining the concept of events. Lots of new venues are opening their doors to welcome such events. These are unique in their own way and have an identity as more than just event venues. MICEtalk decided to stop by at one such venue, to see how they set the ambience for a very special event.

Cocktail Event with

The BeatlesIpshita Sengupta Nag


The venue in question is ‘The Beatles Story’

which is situated not too far away from the

Liverpool City Centre and the event they

hosted was ‘Discovery’ which is VisitBritain’s showcase

event for the meeting and conference industry. A

biennial event, ‘Discovery’ brings together buyers

from different markets and allows them to interact

with important buyers in Britain and also experience,

first hand, the very best that Britain has to offer.

Liverpool and Manchester won the joint bid to

host 80 of the world’s top business tourism buyers. The

idea was to encourage them to invest in the region. In

this context, a special cocktail event was organised

cover story

by Liverpool and the venue was ‘The Beatles Story’,

an exhibition dedicated to the most famous citizens

of Liverpool. The venue sees more than two million

visitors a year and gives visitors the opportunity the

experience the creative spirit of this band, through

exhibitions, interactive games, films and other

memorabilia associated with the band.

For the VisitBritain event, ‘The Beatles Story’

closed early that evening to general visitors to open up

for a special experience for its special guests.

The group of 80 arrived at the venue and they were

roughly divided into four groups to be taken around

the venue by a qualified Beatles guide. This was

‘The Beatles Story’ is easily accessible to people with special needs, with at least 50 per cent of the team members having participated in a Disability Equality training course. The venue overall is wheelchair friendly, with lifts and other amenities like easily accessible toilets. The staff is trained to ensure that people with special needs get priority at emergency exit.

Left: The famous

quartet meet you at

every corner of The

Beatles Story

Top: John Lennon

seems to greet a guest

as she takes a break

from a tour of The

Beatles Story


followed by a welcome drink, served by a member of

the staff in Segeant Pepper costume. The guided tour

was super success right from the word ‘Go’.

Reem Khokhar, Manager, International

Marketing, The Beatles Story, details, “Since this

was a showcase event for MICE buyers, the idea was

to see the entire venue and experience the sort of

things that could be done as part of an event. This

included a private viewing of the exhibition with a

specialised Beatles tour guide, performances by a

string quartet and a professional Beatles tribute

band. The performances were held in different areas

of the attraction to give the visitors an idea of how

the entire venue could be used as a space for events.

Cocktails were served by the staff in Sergeant Pepper

costumes and cocktail canapés were served in the

Cavern Club area. They could walk around with their

drinks while viewing the exhibition, take pictures

cover story

with the Sergeant Pepper costumed staff or in various

parts of the exhibition. They could even pose against

a backdrop of ecstatic, screaming fans to visualise the

hysteria a Beatles performance generated or indulge

in the multimedia experiences like playing a Beatles

tune on the giant piano.”

In the Cavern Club area, even as they took a break

from the tour for the next round of drinks and finger

food, they were entertained with a song by the Karl

Lornie Band, a professional Beatles tribute band. For

the comfort of the groups and to give them enough

Alder Hay Children’s National Health Society Trust – holding a gala dinner here The British Psychological Society – 180 delegates for a networking event

Virgin Trains operate direct services, on an hourly basis from London to Liverpool Lime Street, which is approximately a two hours’ journey. ‘The Beatles Story’ Albert Dock is a 15-minute walk from Liverpool Lime Street Station or a short taxi ride.

Reem Khokhar

Manager,

International Marketing,

The Beatles Story

Top: A guest poses with

one of the entertainers


For parties of ten or more, ‘The Beatles Story’ offers an exceptional group discount. Please note that advance booking is essential. To make your group booking please contact our Groups Officer, Charlotte Martin by phone on 0151 709 1963 (ext 220) or email at [email protected]

space to relax, two groups stopped by the Cavern Club

as the others continued on the tour. The latter entered

the club area only after the first two groups moved

on. It was organised in such a way that the visitors got

plenty of time enjoy the venue.

Khokhar adds, “Usually the team at ‘The Beatles

Story’ does the on-site arrangements, but outsource

catering to an external company. Depending on the

specific requirements of the groups, concerned event

management companies may be used for catering,

cover story

Top: A blow-up of the

cover of the album Sgt.

Peppers Lonely Hearts

Club Band

Left: Reliving the

hysteria generated by

The Beatles


organising performances, etc. For this particular

event, the catering was done by an event management

company.”

The next break was in the Sergeant Pepper room

and here the background music was provided by Karl

Lornie, even as the guests got the opportunity to

network and also look around the area. The highlight

of the area was of course a blow up of the iconic album

cover of ‘Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band’.

In the Going Solo area solo careers of each

member of the band is explored. The guests were in

for a surprise in the John Lennon area as they were

greeted with the performance of a professional

musician dressed up as Lennon.

The duration of the entire cocktail event was

approximately around two hours and a gift bag was

waiting for each guest as they finally picked up their

bags and coats from the orientation area and headed

for TATE Liverpool for a dinner event.

Picture courtesy: The Beatles Story

cover story

To continue with the Beatles experience, Beatles fans can stay at the Hard Days Night hotel, the world’s first Beatles-themed hotel. Each guest room features a specially produced piece of Beatles artwork.

Log on to www.visitliverpool.com,for information on both luxury and budget hotels in Liverpool. You might also come across some fantastic offers.

The John Lennon memorial


Baltic State of Estonia for MICEIpshita Sengupta Nag

There are several monickers to describe Estonia; a boutique destination and the European Capital of Culture to name a few. The country is one of Europe’s newest entrants in serious conference business and uniquely combines its centuries old charm with modern facilities, to provide an impressive MICE climate.

22 MICEtalk April 2012 22 MICEtalk April 2012

VisaEstonia is a part of the Schengen visa area. Indian citizens need a visa for entering Estonia. Visitors arriving in Estonia with visa must have national passports valid at least 3 months after their planned departure from Estonia.

It is probably not long before Estonia steals the

show from its more famous counterparts in the

MICE business and earns itself the tag of Europe’s

most unique MICE stopover. It already has ICCA’s

approval as the Top Baltic MICE destination on its list;

no mean achievement for a country that has only just

entered the race.

There are many things going for Estonia as a

destination for business travel, the first of which is the

country’s picturesque beauty. The clusters of historical

significance whether it is in the scenic ruins or well-

endowed museums and galleries, Estonia’s past is a

tranquil companion to a visit to this country, even as you

get busy breaking the most difficult business deadlocks

– a refreshing change from the high flying destinations,

which almost always never let you catch your breath

with all the frenzied activities they have to offer.

Left: Splended snow

covered view of the

St. Olav's Church and

Town Wall Towers

Top: Interior of the

Estonian National

Opera

destination


USP Tallinn: The Uniqueness of Tallinn as a destination lies in its compactness. All the main venues and hotels are situated at the city centre and within easy walking distance. The delegates do not even have to use the public transport system.

ConnectivityAll major airlines, Lufthansa, Aeroflot Russian Air, KLM Dutch Airlines, Finnair, connect India to the Estonian capital Tallinn through their hubs in Germany, Moscow, Amsterdam and Helsinki, respectively. Carriers from India, like Air India and Jet Airways, also fly to destinations in Europe, which have direct connections to Tallinn

TALINN HOTELS WITH EVENT FACILITIES

Hotel Event Capacity Accommodation

Swissotel Tallinn***** 500 238 guestrooms and suites

Meriton Grand Conference and Spa Hotel**** 380157 executive rooms, 280 standard rooms, 12 family rooms, 13 junior suites, 2 suites with sauna and a presidential suite

Nordic Hotel Forum**** 200 267 guestrooms

Radisson Blu Hotel Olumpia**** 400 390 rooms

Radisson Blu Tallinn**** 350 280 rooms and suites

Tallink Spa and Conference Hotel**** 263 255 standard class, 16 double deluxe, 4 suites

Tallink City Hotel**** 186282 standard rooms, 34 double deluxe rooms, 7 junior suites, 6 suites, 3 royal suites

Strand Spa and Conference Hotel**** 500 159 double rooms, 28 suites

MICE cities Popular MICE cities in Estonia are its capital, Tallinn

and also Tartu and Pärnu. Tallinn has the most number

of options for different types of events as most of the

largest conference hotels and venues are situated in

Tallinn. Tartu is known to host a lot of medical and

scientific conferences. Pärnu is the country’s summer

capital and is more suitable for smaller groups or

incentive trips.

Capital City TallinnEstonia’s capital Tallinn is the centre of MICE activity

in the country. A compact city, no place in Tallinn is

too far away. Delegates, in fact, can cover the distances

from their hotel to the venue on foot, without the

need to avail a public transport or shuttle services.

The city’s infrastructure supports international MICE

activities with well-equipped convention venues and

Top Left: Medieval

Market in Tallinn

Top Middle: Bridget’s

Convent

Top Right: Convent of

St. Bridget

Above: Toompea Castle

& Tall Hermann’s

Tower

Right: KUMU Art

Gallery

destination



destination

accommodation capacity to host large groups. With

an 800-year old history, Tallinn is a patchwork of

historical areas, something that allows groups plenty

of opportunities for sightseeing. Tallinn Town Hall

incidentally is the only Gothic style town hall left in

Northern Europe.

Estonia is one of the most technologically-minded

countries in the world, a place where free wireless

internet coverage is available practically everywhere.

Convention BureauEstonian Convention Bureau (ECB) provides

assistance in organizing conferences, incentives

and events by helping choose the suitable venue

and accommodation. ECB also assists in choosing

local partners and acts as the first contact with

Estonian suppliers, provides promotional materials,

coordinates site inspections and assists organisers

with bid documents, if necessary.

For more information: [email protected] courtesy: VisitEstonia

USP Tartu: Tartu and its environs are home to 37 conference and seminar venues with a combined seating capacity of 7,172. The largest are the Dorpat Conference Centre (1,100), Vanemuine Concert Hall (959), Tartu University´s Assembly Hall (470) and the Athena Centre (270).

MICE venues at Estonia

VENUECAPACITY

(CONFERENCE)CAPACITY

(RECEPTION)FEATURES WEBSITE

Nokia Concert Hall at Solaris Centre

1829 -The design of the hall lays special emphasis on ‘Green conferencing’

www.kontserdimaja.ee

Kumu Art Museum 245 500The high-tech, sprawling venue is known to host official state receptions.

www.ekm.ee

Tallinn Teacher’s House

300 300Its historical interiors and modern technical support makes it a great venue.

www.opetajatemaja.ee

Tallinn Town Hall 120The only surviving Gothic style town hall in Northern Europe, it frequently hosts government receptions.

www.veeb.tallinn.ee

Estonia Concert Hall 900 800Built in 1913, the venue underwent major renovation in 2006 and today hosts conferences and gala events.

www.concert.ee/estonia_concert_hall

Kadriorg Palace 100 150This historic building houses the foreign art collection of the Estonian Art Museum. The great hall here is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in modern Europe.

www.ekm.ee

Tallinn Airport Old Terminal

200 200The layout of the conference hall can be altered to meet the specific requests of clients.

www.tallinn-airport.ee

House of the Estonian Academy of Sciences

120 100 Venue is ideal for small intimate conferences www.akadeemia.ee

The House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads

260 300The only preserved Renaissance building in Tallinn, it can be one of the most spectacular experiences of meetings/conferences.

www.mustpeademaja.ee

Assembly Hall of the University of Tartu

470 500 The venue is attractive for its simple style. www.ut.ee

Athena Conference and Culture Centre

Originally a cinema hall, this venue has event spaces in different sizes to accommodate small to medium sized groups.

www.athena.ee

Tartu University History Museum

80 100It is one of the most prestigious and stylish facilities for meetings, conferences and events in the country.

www.ajaloomuuseum.ut.ee

Previous Page: Sale

of souviners and

handicrafts at the

Town Hall square

Right: Estonian

National Opera

Bottom: Tallink Spa

Conference Hotel

Façade


Day 4 SOVIET HISTORY OF ESTONIA

Conference in morning

Afternoon: Soviet Tour guided by a militia and with an old

style Russian bus including a visit to KGB museum and Hard

Currency Bar, Prison break incentive together with a picnic

vodka tasting at Patarei sea fortress–a former prison that has

now turned into a museum.

Evening: Viru Cabaret Show and dinner. Viru Cabaret used to

be a popular place for evenings and the most famous restaurant

in Tallinn during the 80’s.

This is only a suggested itinerary which can be adjusted/customised around a conference and to the requirement of the client.

Day 1 MEDIEVAL HISTORY OF TALLINN

Arrive at the Tallinn airport and check into the hotel

Afternoon: Medieval Tallinn Tour – learning about the history

of Estonia and visiting the most important sights of the

UNESCO heritage listed Tallinn Old Town. During the tour,

historical figures come to live introducing the way of living

centuries ago and the legends of the past.

Evening: Dinner at medieval restaurant Olde Hansa where

medieval style food will be accompanied by medieval music,

performances and dinner ceremonies.

itinerary

Touring Tallinn

Day 2 ESTONIAN CULTURE

Morning devoted to Conferencing

Afternoon: Tour to Kadriorg Park area to visit modern KUMU

Art Museum, Kadriorg palace, Song Festival Grounds, Pirita

Monastery ruins and seaside promenade of Tallinn Bay, visiting

the newly renovated Tallinn TV tower with a coffee break at

the viewing platform to admire the panorama of Tallinn.

Evening: Tour to Rocca al Mare Open air museum and dinner

at Kolu Tavern. The museum is a collection of traditional

Estonian farmhouses and one can learn about the life in Estonia

in the old days, see the folk dance and singing performances,

try out making handicrafts and souveniers. In the tavern, enjoy

a dinner of estonian traditional dishes.

Day 3 ESTONIAN NATURE

Conferencing in the morning

Afternoon: Tour to Lahemaa nature reserve area 80 km from

Tallinn to visit the typical Estonian landscape – wetlands and

the seaside nature areas. Over the wetlands, there are wooden

pathways to follow and marked trails for birdwatching and

photo hunt. Also, a visit will be paid to Käsmu Captanis Village,

Altja Fishermens Village and manor houses of Palmse and

Sagadi that used to belong to former Baltic-German barons.

Evening: After a long afternoon in the nature, a stylish dinner

will be served at Vihula Manor House complex.


Day 5 SPECIAL INTEREST TOURS IN SMALLER GROUPS

Morning Conference

Afternoon: Possibilities for different activities in smaller

groups – yachting at Tallinn Bay, visiting Estonian Maritime

Museum Seaplane Harbour, Mysterious Bastions tour to

visit the underground medieval defence system under the

Tallinn Old Town, Visit to Saku Brewery and local beer

tasting, handicrafts workshop, painting or sculpture making

workshop in the numerous artist galleries of Tallinn or

visiting the Estonian Design House and meeting the local

designers, visit to IT Demo Center to learn about different

e-solutions developed by Estonians (Estonians were the

ones who developed Skype), relaxing in the numerous spas

available in Tallinn.

Evening: Enjoy modern Estonian Cuisine dinner at restaurant

Ö or Gloria or a tailored gala dinner in one of the historical

unique venues in Tallinn.

Day 6 Checkout and travel to the International Airport for Departure


Melbourne

More than BusinessWith more than 8,000 events being organised every year, the city of Melbourne is an apt destination for your next MICE event. Whether you are organising public events or a small corporate launch, Melbourne has a suitable location for all sorts of MICE activities.

MICE city

Divya Goyal


Business Visa Options

ETA (business entrant): ETA are of two different types i.e., Short Validity (subclass 977) and Long Validity (subclass 956). These are designed for business people who are based outside Australia and want to visit Australia for short-term business purposes, including:

conventions, conferences, or networking

Note: Short-term work is only permitted in strictly limited circumstances.

eVisitor (subclass 651): Available to passport holders from the European Union and a number of other European countries.

Business (Short Stay) (Subclass 456) visa: For business people who are not eligible to apply for an ETA or an eVisitor.

Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay) (subclass 459) visa: For business people who have an approved sponsor in Australia.

APEC Business Travel Card: It streamlines travel for business people from participating economies in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region.

For more information: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/business/business-visit-visa-options.htm

MICE city


Melbourne has a plethora of options to

choose for a MICE event. From function

rooms, seminar rooms, gallery space and

many beautiful parks and gardens, Melbourne has it

all. In addition, the city has spectacular convention

and exhibition centres for large-scale conferences.

In terms of infrastructure to support any kind of

MICE event, Melbourne has the potential to impress

one and all. The state-of-the-art MICE infrastructure at

Melbourne makes events planning easy, with meeting

spaces and accommodation rooms to cater to all needs.

Melbourne’s tourist region has around 26,200

accommodation rooms, with approximately 9,700

rooms located in the central business district and

17,000 within the city itself!

Melbourne is not just capable of conducting

successful business events but also has the potential to

charm the business travellers with its many pre- and

post-convention tour options. The city is immersed

with culture, history and heritage that only few can

match. Add to that the exceptional lifestyle and

wellness options and nature and outdoor activities.

The city is famous for its many and varied shopping

Transport and Access Thanks to the reliable transport network, intra-city travelling in the city of Melbourne is an experience in itself.

MELBOURNE AIRPORT

24 hours all year. It is a single terminal precinct linking the international and domestic terminals

business district and is said to be the gateway to southern Australia with over 28 million passengers passing through (in 2010-11), including 6.2 million international and 21.9 domestic passengers

more than 550 flights a day (approximately 92 international and 452 domestic flights

destinations from the Melbourne Airport

INTRA-CITY TRANSPORT

and well-integrated public transport system incorporating trains, trams and buses

facilities allow easy access to all major hotels, meeting venues and local attractions

features an airport-style transport interchange with the ability to handle over 30,000 passengers at peak hours

Tourist Shuttle Bus for travelling around the city

shopping malls and arcades, major attractions such as the Old Treasury Building, Parliament House and the Princess Theatre, as well as parks and gardens

Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Bike City, making it the second Bike City in the world after Copenhagen. Victoria offers visitors an array of cycling experiences including mountain biking, tracks and trails, road cycling and events

Top & Above:

Melbourne Convention

and Exhibition Centre


experiences including outdoor markets, international

boutiques and local designers in its historic laneways.

Melbourne is often considered as the culture capital of

Australia where arts, sports, shopping and festivals, all

are celebrated with equal fervour and pomp.

On your trip to Melbourne, treat yourself to the

ultimate escape and a few hours pampering or a

whole day of relaxation in one of the city’s well-known

spas. Experience the full range of health, wellbeing

and beauty treatments, including spa treatments,

massages, facials, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy,

manicures and pedicures.

When in Melbourne do not miss out on the

sumptuous savouries embellished with the mixed

cultures of the city. Melbourne offers myriad

restaurants, cafes, bistros and bars. Be it modern,

traditional, exotic or homespun flavours, Melbourne’s

eclectic dining scene offers a startling array of the

world’s great cuisines, from popular favourites to the

truly groundbreaking.

However, Melbourne has all that it takes to woo

the travellers, a trip around the city would not be

amiss. Melbourne is situated close to astounding

getaway sites suitable for corporates who wish to make

Venues

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is the largest and most flexible meeting facility in Melbourne that offers 52 meeting rooms of various sizes, a grand banquet room, a magnificent entry level foyer for 8,400 guests, cutting-edge 5,500+ seat plenary that can be divided into three, self-contained, acoustically separate theatres and 30,000 sqm of pillar-less exhibition space. MCEC is within a 5-minute walk of seven major convention hotels.

Encore has opened in St Kilda to join its sister venue, Republica, home to last year’s AIME Welcome Reception. Designed to make the most of its beachside location, the venue is a purpose-built space with flexibilities in design that allow it to hold a broad range of events, including small cocktail functions, meetings, product launches, dinners and breakfasts. Encore can cater to groups from 50-700 delegates, and a range of adjoining spaces available for hire allows for the flexibility to hold up to 2,500 guests.

Hamer Hall which is scheduled for completion in July 2012 plans to make the venue ‘greener’ and open up the Arts Centre Precinct to Southbank and the Yarra River. Improvements will include new and expanded foyers and public spaces, upgraded bars and new restaurants.

MICE city


MICE city

Season Average Maximum Average Minimum

Summer (December–February): warm to hot 25°C (77°F) 14°C (57°F)

Autumn (March–May): mild 20°C (68°F) 11°C (52°F)

Winter (June–August): cool to brisk 14°C (57°F) 7°C (45°F)

Spring (September–November): cool to mild 20°C (68°F) 10°C (50°F)

Seasonal temperatures

(Source: Bureau of Meteorology, Climate statistics for Australian Locations (Melbourne))You can check the latest weather conditions, forecasts and weather warnings at the Bureau of Meteorology.

Accommodation

Mint Rhapsody Melbourne, just minutes away from the central business district, offers 145 self-catering apartments. The hotel’s bold interiors and sustainable designs are a refreshing choice for the corporate traveller.

Parkroyal at Melbourne Airport is located on the doorstep of the domestic and international airport and linked directly to the terminal by the sky bridge. It has 276 rooms featuring city skyline, airport and mountain views. The hotel is also a popular business and conference destination with 16 state-of-the-art meeting and function rooms conveniently located on one level.

Space Hotel is first of its kind that offers everything from dormitory accommodation to sizeable family rooms.

Mercure Melbourne Treasury Gardens (previously Mercure Melbourne Spring Street), added the finishing touches to its $4 million refurbishment of 164 rooms in 2011. It offers cutting-edge amenities at the hotel.

The Langham Melbourne has added stylish Terrace Rooms that offer an expansive 50 sqm private terrace, complete with sun lounge, an outdoor dining setting and a private sanctuary where guests can enjoy the city panorama.

Grand Hyatt Melbourne after the refurbishment programme includes new carpets, furniture and bathroom fixtures.

Royce, designer 5-star boutique hotel has announced a multi-million dollar development to add 80 contemporary rooms and a luxurious spa centre. Also, the current ballroom will be extended to seat 250 people for sit-down events.

the most of their trip to Australia. Situated close to

Melbourne is Aboriginal Victoria. Journey through

this fantastic city for a contemporary interpretation

of 60,000 years of history. Experience penguins,

scenery, outdoor pursuits, motor sports and life by the

water at the Philip Island situated in proximity to this

wondrous MICE city.

Traverse in the bounteous High Country where

you can discover Victoria’s traditional cattlemen and

adventure sports haven, Mansfield. Get on your high

horse in Mansfield, before dismounting to indulge in fine

local wines. Explore the ‘Aussie’ village life. Savour the

effect of altitude on regional vineyards and explore the

King Valley for a memorable food and wine experience.

Melbourne has all the ingredients to be called a

perfect MICE city. Let the city of Melbourne play host

to your next corporate event!


Make your MICE a cakewalk with LeoniaAesthetically designed amidst the verdant Deccan plains of South India with lush greenery around, Leo Meridian Infrastructure Projects & Hotels Limited (LMIPHL) has developed a unique project – Leonia Holistic Destination – in the vicinity of the historic city, Hyderabad. In today’s fast moving, hi-tech ‘busyness’ world, your search for the perfect getaway for MICE and corporate training & team building activities ends here.

Megha Paul

booked for MICE


Identified as a mega-tourism project by the

Government of Andhra Pradesh, Leonia Holistic

Destination is an all-inclusive destination featuring

gracious accommodations, healthy gourmet’s delights,

outdoor activities, live events of culture and cinema,

venues for conventions and weddings, family leisure,

kids’ amusement, water activities and a generous

allowance for spa, sports and integrative wellness

services.

A part of the Leonia Holistic Destination, Leonia

International Centre for Exhibitions & Conventions

(LICEC) is facilitated with the state- of-art world’s best

Audio-Visual facility, Sound from Funktion One, UK

and Lighting from Martin, USA. The ever changing

needs of the corporate world, LICEC provides a gamut

of services on “You name it - we have it” basis.

Features Leonia has an indoor space of 15,386 sqm and an

outdoor space of 9,400 sqm. Leonia has the range of

MICE facilities to accommodate from 6 to 6,000+

people. So the choice is up to the client and there is no

set minimum booking requirements.

Based on the availability of rooms during the

Infrastructure

indoor hall suitable for any kind of indoor event

dramatic use of space

the galleries is approximately 5,838 sq. mtrs

(Gertlor from France), which can accommodate Two squash courts, Five badminton courts, One basketball court, One volleyball court and four-tennis courts

delegates in a theatre style seating

Meeting Venues The facilities include:

conferences

house expertise in event management

Event Venues

Water Galaxy: The 9” deep serene pool with unique embedded optic fiber lighting can emit 1.2 million colours inside the pool. It ideally suits for live performances and can accommodate up to 120 members.

The Geo Garden: 20000 square feet with 35 x 45 feet stage, attached with two green rooms, pre-function AV stage setup, restaurant and Kitchen attached allow you to enjoy your parties in the greener pastures.

Party Lawn of 350 members’ seating capacity.

Leo Theatres There are three cinema screens, with a seating capacity of 625 in the main theatre and the other two of 116 seats each.

Each air-conditioned theatre houses Digital Cinema technology with DTS 7.1 surround sound system to take your AV experience entirely to a new level

Leo Conclave The unique multi-purpose convention centre includes:

- Moon Valley of 1000 + seating capacity - Leo Convention Suite of 800 + seating

capacity - Grand Hall of 900 + seating capacity

requirements with ease

booked for MICE


What’s on offer

available around the clock to provide you with

seamless planning and support for your successful

event

and arrange catering and group activities

campus for Guests, having 10MB dedicated Internet

bandwidth with 100% redundancy

continuous updates about the resort, special offers

& promotions, weekend events & happening, order

F&B through interactive screens on the IP Phone

also allow you to check the outstanding bills, etc.

locker locks can be accessed using one simple card

Guest Room/membership card. This card can also be

charged with cash to make use of Leonia’s cashless

payments systems so you don’t have to worry about

carrying cash & credit. With this facility, you can

ensure the children can buy lunch without having to

chase you down.

Ladies Day Out

ladies

baby-sitting services and child care facilities

reservation time, even the entire inventory of rooms,

i.e., 458 rooms can be provided. Suppose the destination

does not have the inventory at a particular time, it

accommodates the guests at nearby star rated resorts.

There are provisions for both external and internal

sources as per the clients wish. Leonia accommodates

outside vendors. However, its in-house event and

technical teams are fully equipped to handle events

of any type or scale. Most clients do prefer the in-

house team due to less hassle, better costs and better

accountability.

Leonia is transparent and includes all the costing

at one go while submitting the quotation. Hence, there

would be no scope for hidden costs at Leonia.

Accommodation Elegant 261 Leo Biz Hotel Rooms, two Suites, three Duplex Suites with Terrace Gardens aptly suit the business travellers’needs Aesthetically designed 18 Leo Lagoon Bay Suites allow you to step off your terrace into the 400 long lagoon swimming pool32 Leo Cascade Suites have private plunge pool and outdoor showers The 32 Leo Bay Window Suites have verdant garden and pool view, spacious suites with two queen size beds and dining table LlCEC Complex - 101 rooms to ease all the planning for residential conferences

booked for MICE


domestic MICE

Madhya Pradesh (MP) has been aptly labelled

‘Hindustan ka Dil’ (Heart of India), for it is

not only the centre of the country but also

encompasses all that India has to offer. Be it heritage

or wildlife, leisure or adventure, MPT ensures an

inimitable travel experience to all its travellers. Now,

with the support of the government, Madhya Pradesh

puts its best foot forward to match the requisite MICE

standards that complement the tourism potential of

the state.

“Madhya Pradesh is fast emerging as a MICE

destination. With our well-equipped conference halls

Explore the

Heart of IndiaAs the concept of MICE tourism is concretising in India, Madhya Pradesh Tourism (MPT) is swiftly gearing up to become one of India’s preferred MICE destinations. Madhya Pradesh is today one of the many Indian states that have recognised the potential of MICE tourism and is working towards creating the best of MICE infrastructure and facilities in the city, while taking care of overall tourism prospects.

and well-trained staff, we cater to the requirements of

our corporate clients. MPT gets a lot of bulk bookings

for conferences, conventions, etc., and offers 10-15

per cent discount for these. We are also coming up

with a convention hall in Bhopal. Our 3-star hotel in

Bhopal, Palash Residency, is undergoing an expansion

which will give a boost to our MICE business,” informs

Pankaj Rag, Managing Director, MP Tourism &

Secretary Tourism, Government of MP.

“MPT has its own transport fleet, bars and swimming

pool at many places. We offer excellent service as

expected in any branded business hotel,” adds Rag.

Pankaj Rag

Managing Director

MP Tourism & Secretary

Tourism

Government of MP

Divya Goyal


domestic MICE

MPT basically gets inbound MICE business and

through the travel marts on international platforms

like WTM, ITB, MUBA, etc., it is trying to attract the

international segment. However, their own state is the

first choice among the corporates in MP.

Rag shares that in the last 3-4 years, MPT has

carved a niche for itself for being the most MICE-

friendly brand. It has received a tremendous

response from the banking, insurance and multi-

national segments. “We offer a number of facilities,

Top : MICE destination

in Madhya Pradesh


domestic MICE

Hotel No. of Rooms Type of rooms Restaurant Bar Coffee shops

Swimming pool

GymConference

hall

BHOPALPalash Residency (MPT) 37 06 - AC Suites 1 1 1 0 0 2Ph: 0755-2553006, 2553066, 2553076 02 - AC Deluxe

29 - ACVarta Hall - 100 pax, Vichar Hall - 150 pax

Lake View Ashok 43 39 - AC 2 1 1 1 1 2Ph: 0755- 2660090-93 04 - AC Suites

Deliberation Hall - 170 pax, Conclave Hall - 50 paxNoor-Us-Sabah 57 AC 3 0 0 1 1 5Ph: 0755-4223333 Emperor - 500 pax, Diwan-e-khaas - 70 pax, Baithak - 340 pax, Board room - 20 paxAmer Green 32 AC 1 1 1 0 1 5Ph: 0755-3201232, 3021232, 3201233 Each Hall - 300 pax, Open Lawn - 2,000 paxJehan Numa Palace 100 AC 3 2 1 1 1 4Ph: 0755-2661100, 4235100 Board Room - 12 pax, Senate Hall - 25 pax, Convention Hall - 45 pax, Darbaar Hall - 300 pax

INDOREFortune Landmark 87 AC 3 1 1 0 1 5Ph: 0731-3968444, 4238444 Hall Zodiac - 350 pax, Surya- 130 pax, Devshri (I) - 25 pax, Devshri (II) - 100 pax, Shankh - 35 paxSayaji 213 AC 5 2 1 1 1 6

Ph: 0731-4006666Ruby Hall - 20 pax, Emerald Hall - 50 pax, Sapphire Hall - 120 pax, Jad & Topaz - 100 pax,

Mahal - 700 pax, Neel - 125 paxAmar Vilas 45 AC 3 1 1 0 0 4Ph: 0731-4281111, 4270444 Rani-E-Vilas - 300 pax, Raj-E-Vilas - 80 pax, Durbar-E-Vilas - 100 pax, Upwan - 500 paxHotel Pesident 56 AC 1 0 1 0 0 3Ph: 0731-2528866, 4040616 Exclusive Hall - 175 pax, Harmony Hall - 40 pax, Board Room - 14 paxInfinity 49 AC 3 2 1 0 1 4Ph: 0731-2559515 Hall Indigo Grand - 750 pax, Lush Hall - 150 pax, Board Room - 44 pax, Silver Spoon - 7 paxSarovar Portico 94 AC 2 1 0 1 1 4Ph: 0731-3072727 Conclave Hall - 60 pax, Senate 7 Hall - 60 pax, Senate 8 - 120 pax, Board Room - 20 pax

KHAJURAHOHotel Payal (MPT) 25 14 - AC 1 0 0 1 0 1Ph: 07686-274064, 274076 11 - Aircooled

Hall - 75 paxHotel Jhankar (MPT) 19 AC 1 1 0 0 0 1Ph: 07686-274063, 274194 1 Restaurant cum Conference Hall - 40 paxHotel Clarks 100 AC 1 1 0 1 0 2Ph: 07686-274038,274056,274421-25 Mandap Hall - 300 pax, Nandi Hall - 400 paxRamada 85 AC 1 1 0 1 0 1Ph:07686-272302/03,272843-45 Mira Bells Hall - 100 paxThe Lalit Temple View 47 AC 1 1 0 1 1 2Ph: 07686-272111/333 Ken Hall - 140 pax, RANEH Hall - 30 paxRaddison Jass 90 AC 1 1 1 1 1 2Ph: 07686-272777 Apsara 1 Hall - 250 pax, Apsara 2 Hall - 150 pax

so we are the preferred service providers. Indian Oil

Corporation, BHEL, Aircel, and the Indian Institute

of Forest Management are among our premium

clientele,” he explains.

With the belief that an ideal business convention

does not revolve around running headlong business

sessions but also about creating bonds, widening

network and inculcating team spirit, MPT suggests

itineraries (available on http://mptourism.com/web/pk/Tours_Itineraries.asp) which will enable

the travellers to encapsulate the best experiences

of Madhya Pradesh. “We try to mix pleasure with

business. We present folk dances, arrange for bonfire

nights and other activities on demand. In the wildlife

properties, morning and evening park rounds may be

offered,” he adds. So, do explore the ‘Heart of India’ for

your next MICE event!


Aboard Virgin FlightsIs London still a hot spot with Indian travellers? What do you think pulls them there these days?London is still one of the most popular holiday

destinations for Indians travellers. With the growing

middle class, more and more people are traveling

abroad and London remains a favourite destination

for Indians. On top of tourists, the city continues to

attract corporate travellers, people visiting family and

relatives and student traffic from metros as well as tier

2 and 3 cities.

London is a destination you can keep going back

to. Beyond the theatre, art galleries, music, museums,

sports and of course shopping, there are so many

hidden parks, restaurants and sights to discover in and

around the capital. The surrounding regions also have

a lot to see. Fantastic countryside or great beaches

are only an hour’s train journey from the centre. This

year, of course, is an exciting year for London with

the Olympics, Diamond Jubilee, and much more to

experience.

Is MICE and business travel seen as a potential from India today or does VS still depend on leisure and ethnic travel?We have had strong growth in MICE and it’s great

to see that companies continue to invest in incentive

travel. Our on-board product is perfect for group

travel and we’re keen to grow in this area.

Though the slowdown in Europe is impacting

In conversation with Stephen King, General Manager, India, Virgin Atlantic Airways

flying business


on confidence, we’re seeing business travel go from

strength to strength. Whether it’s SMEs expanding

in the UK or US or large MNCs. Corporate travellers

love our Premium Economy and Upper Class cabins

and we’ve seen more of them choose Virgin this year.

Does VS offer any special packages for MICE groups? Have you, for example, tied up with VisitBritain to promote MICE destinations in the UK?The great thing about Virgin is that we’re just the

right size to be able to offer extra support for groups

travelling through the airport as well as competitive

fares and award winning product.

What is your impression on the changed FDI ruling? Do you think VS would want to buy stake in a domestic carrier?We’re focused on growing our business out of Delhi

to London Heathrow and New York and as such we’re

not currently looking at investing in India’s domestic

carriers.

Are low cost carriers eating into Virgin business globally? Do you see it as a threat in this part of the world also?Being a full service carrier, only operating long-haul

flights, our USP has always been our unique product

and service and we remain focused on customer

service and innovation. This is across cabins from

Upper Class to Premium Economy to Economy class

passenger.

For example, knowing how important baggage

is for Indian travellers, we are the only airline on

Delhi-London route that offers two bags of 23 kg

each to London in Economy. For passengers flying

our unique cabin Premium Economy, we again have

a very generous baggage allowance of three bags of

23 kg each.

We recently announced a £100 million investment

to further enhance our Upper Class offering. From

July, we’ll be bringing our brand new A330s to Delhi

with amazing on-board entertainment and enhanced

seats. Our Business Class passengers will be some

of the first in the world to experience and enjoy our

fantastic new Upper Class suite.

Low cost carriers are not having an impact on our

business because we already deliver best value through

good fares and a great product; and in fact, there aren’t

any true low cost carriers competing against us on our

routes.

India is working hard on its security and destination selling... Do you see an upward trend in visitors coming into India from the UK?The country has so much to offer to the inbound

visitor, from tourists to business travellers. You can see

the growth and improving infrastructure everywhere

you go in India. Interestingly, we’re experiencing an

increase in travellers from the United States as well as

from the UK.

Does Virgin have any expansion plans to India or other parts of this region?We obviously fly from India’s National Capital and

operate from other major economic centres in

China, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia. In each of

these territories, we have strong relationships and

good market share. Being a point to point airline has

worked well for us, however, we continue to look for

opportunities to further strengthen our presence.

As well as passengers flying with us to London,

many also connect on our services to New York and

the rest of the US.

Does VS take any green steps towards environment safety? Tell us about them.Virgin Atlantic was the first airline to test a bio-fuel

flight back in 2008. The intention was to provoke

the industry to change, prove that there is a greener

alternative to jet fuel and not just ignore the problem.

Following our ground breaking initiative many other

airlines have tested bio-fuels.

Continuing our leadership in this field, we

announced last October a breakthrough in aviation fuel

technology through our partnership with LanzaTech.

This will see waste gases from industrial steel

production being captured, fermented and chemically

converted for use as a jet fuel. The revolutionary fuel

production process recycles waste gases that would

otherwise be burnt into the atmosphere as Carbon

dioxide. We are hopeful of having a facility ready by

early 2014 and within three years our flights to London

from Delhi should be running on the new fuel.

The steel industry, alone, is able to deliver over

15 billion gallon of jet fuel annually, the potential is

very exciting.

This new technology is sustainable and can be

commercially produced at a cost comparable to

conventional jet fuel and overcomes the complex land

use issues associated with some earlier generation

bio-fuels. Detailed analysis suggest that the fuel will

produce around a 50 per cent saving in lifecycle

carbon emissions. So, we are very excited about this

development and looking forward to it.

flying business


Clean and Green PARIS

Tourism is generally recognised as one of the

biggest industries in the world. An industry that

also depends on the quality of the environment.

But, if tourism is not managed in the right way, it could

damage the resources that are essential to its success

and future. The city of Paris has become involved in

initiatives for sustainability in numerous domains,

including tourism, with initiatives that outline the

sustainable image of the world’s leading tourist

destination.

Every year, Paris attracts 28 million tourists.

Around 45 per cent of visitors come for professional

reasons and this generates some 5 billion Euro of

economic spin-offs. With its excellent geographical

situation, exceptional cultural heritage and European

and global competitive clusters, the French capital has

much to offer business travellers.

In this rubric, the Paris Convention and Visitors

Bureau seeks to promote the ‘green’ advantages of

Paris, to enhance the value of Parisian establishments

in the tourism sector with an eco-label and to

encourage all initiatives aimed at bringing visitors

and Parisians closer together. The Paris Convention

and Visitors Bureau gives assistance to tourism

Improving the eco-responsible content of events:

and long-term effects of all involved in the event.

green MICE

Neha Oberoi

As the world’s leading city for tourism, Paris is conscious of its high profile and takes advantage of this to assert its values in the area of sustainable development, values which it has made commitments to through Agenda 21 and a Climate Plan.


professionals, notably those involved in the meetings

industry, in order to develop their eco-responsible

practices.

Using the various standards and labels available

in the events sector, clients and service providers are

invited to work together to create new eco-responsible

ways to welcome and dazzle guests attending

future eco-designed events in Paris, with eco-

responsible standards in accommodation, eating out,

entertainment, getting around and communicating.

The major elements of this endeavour are

fighting against climate change, developing social

cohesion, developing a sustainable local economy

and awareness raising.

Getting around ‘Responsibly’The 21st century traveller gets around Paris by mass

transit, by Vélib’ and by Autolib’, eating organic food

in specialist restaurants and enjoying walks in one of

the city’s 400 green spaces. In doing so, he expands

the scope of his discovery as a tourist to the lesser-

known districts of Paris and seeks out encounters

with people who live in the city. Very soon, the reality

of being a ‘responsible tourist’ - in the same way as

being a ‘responsible citizen’ - will be matched by that

of professionals, major players in sustainable tourism.

Figures showing the behaviour of tourists coming

to the capital speak for themselves! As tourists travel

around the capital, they respect the environment, and

there are statistics to prove it: 89 per cent of tourists

use the metro to get around, 23 per cent take the bus,

16 per cent take taxis and 3 per cent travel by bike

(source: www.paris.fr).

Connecting Europe

With its geographically centralised location in Europe,

Paris already has all it takes to be a sustainable tourist

destination. It is well-connected with major European

cities through a high speed train network—one of the

cleanest means of transport.

Vélib exceeds the borders of Paris

It’s a fact that’s impossible to ignore: the bicycle has

taken over in Paris.

Metros for longer routes

The Métro operates 16 lines serving 380 stops

throughout the capital: an environmentally-friendly

means of transport.

The tramway on a green roll

Since 2006, the old boulevards of the Maréchaux sud

have been the route of tramway line n° 3 – electric,

quiet, non-polluting, regular, fast and reliable.

The Seine en vogue

Since 2008, the Seine has been offering an alternative

means of transport to the metro and bus with Voguéo,

the first public transport shuttle boat.

Clean cars

Rather than disappearing, the car is undergoing a

transformation. Paris already boasts initiatives which

indicate this transition into a new era: taxis running

on biofuel, electric cars and two-wheeled vehicles, etc.

Nothing is lost, everything is transformed: it’s an adage

that’s now well understood when it comes to cars.

Paris already boasts initiatives which predate

this transition into a new era: in terms of taxis, some

companies have converted to agrofuel or offer a fleet

of hybrid vehicles, especially Taxis Bleus, turned into

Taxis Green; Taxis G7 with the Green Cab fleet; and

NEOCAB, luxury taxis offering various ways for

travellers to respect the environment.

Even ‘4 roues sous un parapluie’, the agency

offering tours of Paris in the mythical French ‘2CV’

car, is updating to go green: In 2010, the first electric

prototype was presented. Along the same lines, My

Magic Tour has created the electric City Car; this

sharp-looking black-and-yellow vehicle will make you

feel like you’re discovering Paris in a New York taxi!

Recharging points are available throughout Paris for

vehicles of this type, both cars and two-wheelers.

Paris is equipping itself with tools and coming up

with answers to make the most of the natural, cultural

and social resources it already possesses, for the long-

term, without forgetting participatory and fair cultural

tourism that it seeks to promote.

green MICE

Facing Page: Alternate

transport for green

Paris

Top: The bicycle has

taken over in Paris

Above: Trams – Paris

region’s best kept

transportation secret.


Outrigger Laguna Phuket Appoints New General Manager Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Asia Pacific has recently appointed Apichart Asa as theGeneral Manager of the

Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas.

Asa has enjoyed an extensive hospitality career in Thailand that began as a receptionist. He has progressed

through the ranks of rooms division to the position of General Manager, working at a number of popular resort

destinations in Krabi, Koh Samui and Phuket in southern Thailand. Prior to joining Outrigger in 2011, Apichart

was the General Manager at the Metadee Resort in Phuket.

Community responsibilities have been a recurring theme of his hotel career. Apichart has been a committee member and registrar for

the Patong Hotel Association and served on the sub-committee of the Phuket Tourist Association. He has also served on the executive

committee of the Thai Hotels Association, Southern Thailand Chapter and as a community committee member of the Chalong Police

Station in Phuket.

He also enjoys networking with B2B peers at Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) events and has regularly attended the Asean

Tourism Forum in Southeast Asia and the World Travel Market in London.

IHG Appoints New Business Development Director NSW/ACTIHG appoints Tasha Wade to the position of New Business Development Director for NSW/ACT

based at Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach.

Wade joins IHG from the Langham Group where she was employed as the Global Sales Manager

for nearly 3 years. Prior to this, she was also the Global Sales Manager with Starwood and Business

Development Manager with Mirvac.

Wade has a highly developed drive for results. She is a successful sales professional with an extensive

experience working across multiple properties.

Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa announces its new General ManagerPark Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa has announced the appointment of Thomas Abraham as the General Manager.

In his role, Abraham will play a key role in maintaining the property as a leading luxury destination in the

area. Abraham brings more than 19 years of expertise in the hospitality industry and a keen understanding

of the legacy and values of Hyatt International to his new assignment. Prior to joining the Park Hyatt Goa

Resort and Spa, he was the Resident Manager at Grand Hyatt Mumbai.

Abraham joined the Goa Marriott Resort in January 1999 as the Director of F&B. Fortified by his

achievements, he moved to Hyatt Regency Delhi in January 2001 as the Director of F&B. One of his principal

achievements was being named the best ‘Food & Beverage Professional’ in the country by renowned food

critic Vir Sanghvi in 2006. An alumnus of Les Roches, Switzerland, Abraham completed his Diploma in

Hotel Management in 1992 and joined Oberoi Hotels.He has also completed a series of professional courses with Cornell University

School of Hotel Management in the areas of Marketing Management and Cost and Profitability Management.

New appointments at CRN annual general meetingAt the 2012 AGM of Congress Rental Network (CRN), Martin Wong from AV Image Systems (right) was nominated

and elected as a Council Member, while Panagiotis Podimatas, from P.C. PODIMATAS AUDIOVISUAL S.A in

Greece (below), was re-elected as the Chairman for the following year having already successfully served two

years in the role.

A graduate from the Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore, Wong joined the then Rediffusion (Malaysia) as a Sales

and Systems Design Engineer in the Special Projects Department where he was responsible for handling the

sales and design. In 1990, Martin Wong left Rediffusion to set up his own company AV Image Systems to provide

full AV rental services with professional support and total solutions.

AV Image Systems was recommended to join the CRN in 2006 and at the 2012 AGM of GRC, Wong was elected as a Council Member.

In 1984, Podimatas founded P.C. PODIMATAS AUDIOVISUAL S.A, which is constituted by expert departments

of audio-visual equipment and services. The company counts numerous achievements, among them the Olympic

Games in Athens in 2004, the Summit of the European Union of 2003 in Halkidiki, of 1994 in Corfu, of 1989 in

Rhodes, the opening ceremony of the Acropolis Museum, the conference of OSCE and many others.

In 2004, Podimatas was elected Vice-president of the council of the Hellenic Association of Professional Congress

Organizers (HAPCO). In January 2010, he was elected as the Chairman of CRN and was the first Greek in the

history of CRN to be elected as a chairman of the organisation.

people on the move


Sydney Lures MICE Travellers

What makes Sydney an ideal city for business events?Sydney is Australia’s number one destination for both

business and leisure travellers. Our reputation as a

host city for leading business events is hard to beat –

the city’s unique natural beauty and fabulous climate

combined with world-class venues and hotels, a variety

of fantastic team-building activities, an innovative

business environment, and dynamic communities

make it unlike any city in the world.

There are also many exciting developments on

the drawing board, underway, or recently completed

that will ensure Sydney’s offering remains world-

class and competitive. This includes the new

Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and

Entertainment Precinct, the Barangaroo waterfront

development, the spectacular refurbishment of The

Star (formerly Star City) and other great projects.

We are particularly looking forward to the

development of the Sydney International Convention,

Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct. When complete,

we will have a 12-hectare, cutting-edge multi-function

facility in the heart of the city and within walking distance

of many of the city’s main attractions and hotels.

Can you share with us the number of meetings/conventions facilities in the city?Sydney boasts an array of venues that can cater to all

event sizes, budgets or themes. Large venues include

the award-winning Sydney Convention and Exhibition

Centre and of course the world-renowned Sydney

Olympic Park, which played host to the 2000 Olympic

Games. Sydney Olympic Park is an all encompassing

yours officially

Lyn Lewis-Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Business Events Sydney for MICE India, reveals how Sydney is an apt destination for MICE.


offering.

Late last year, the popular Sheraton on the Park

was named ‘Australasia’s Leading Hotel’ at the World

Travel Awards 2011 and the Shangri-la Sydney

hotel guestrooms recently received a $200 million

refurbishment. The iconic Park Hyatt Sydney has

also undergone the largest renovation in the hotel’s

20-year history to include three luxury rooftop suites;

a complete redesign of the hotel’s guests rooms;

and a revitalisation of all its dining and recreational

facilities.

Other hotel developments going on around

the city include a spate of new contemporary hotel

refurbishments at properties such as the PARKROYAL

Darling Harbour, Novotel Rockford Darling Harbour

and Sydney Harbour Marriot.

Is Business Events Sydney looking at India as a market for its inbound MICE visitors? BESydney has a dedicated South Asia team that

oversees event opportunities in the Indian market.

This resource will be boosted in the coming months

with the appointment of a Destination NSW team

member in Mumbai. In addition to their role for

Destination NSW, this new recruit’s role also includes

business event opportunities. There are obvious

synergies and it makes sense for Destination NSW

and Business Events Sydney to work together to

maximise the opportunities in the Indian market

present for the state.

We have seen the benefits of having an in-market

presence through our Shanghai and Hong Kong offices

– in fact we were the first Australian bureau to open an

Asia office. So we understand the value of in-market

presence in a relationship-driven market such as India

and eagerly anticipate our newest international team

member working with us.

We have been monitoring and analysing the

growth and trends in business travel for Indian

visitors for a number of years. We certainly see

business precinct with 10 venues, including

22,000 sqm exhibition space and over 100 different

function spaces. Smaller venues also abound and can

cater for difference experiences. The city also offers

a vast portfolio of high quality venues within hotels

and as stand-alone facilities that all have outstanding

technological capabilities and atmosphere to meet

diverse client needs.

To give your meeting a creative edge, Sydney also

delivers meeting and venue options that can inspire

new ideas and innovative thinking. Why not think

about a private dinner in the Australian Museum,

get hearts started on an America’s Cup yacht on the

harbour, welcome guests to your own private harbour

island, or feel the sand between your toes for a creative

brainstorm on the iconic Bondi Beach.

Business Events Sydney acts as a one-stop-shop for

anyone in search of assistance planning, or considering

holding a conference, convention, incentive trip or

corporate meeting in the harbour city. For clients in

India, you will have the full support of our dedicated

Asia team throughout the event life cycle – from

initial enquiry, presentation development, supplier

connections and marketing collateral. The team acts

as the central connection between clients and a broad

network of suppliers, so they are the people to ask

about making the ‘impossible’ possible when it comes

to venues!

Are the venues supported by hotels in the vicinity? Are there enough rooms available for groups of 100-150 people? Sydney’s hotels are diverse and offer varied locations

and room rates. Greater Sydney is home to over

32,500 rooms, which are found in many large, as well

as boutique, quality hotel options. Over 5,000 of these

rooms are within walking distance of the popular

CBD and Darling Harbour conference facilities and

attractions. Sydney also prides itself on the on-going

rejuvenation, renovation and excellence in its hotel

yours officially


opportunity here for business between our markets.

We see India’s exceptional growth and development

as a key contributor to a rise in Indian professionals

attending international and Asia-Pacific events hosted

in Australia, as well as an increased number of Sydney

incentive programs led by Indian companies.

Has BESydney assisted a group from India for MICE? Can you recollect doing anything special for them? To date the majority of events that we welcome to

our city from India are corporate incentive programs,

particularly in the manufacturing, direct-selling and

pharmaceutical industries. Recent examples of Indian

incentive groups who have travelled, or are set to

travel here in coming months include Orient Fans

India Incentive 2011, Logitech India Incentive 2012

and the Nokia India Incentive 2012.

Beyond incentive travel programmes, we also see

numerous opportunities for Indian delegates to attend

professional and association events that will help to fuel

collaboration, innovation, and trade and investment.

We are increasingly seeing Asia-Pacific offshoots

of international association events taking place in

Sydney and the proximity, networking opportunities

and regional focus have great allure for the talented

professionals and industry leaders from India. As a full

service convention bureau, BESydney actively assists

event organisers to provide the best service.

What percentage of MICE visitors to Sydney would be from India? This is a hard number to discern, but what I can

provide is the number of business travellers that visited

Australia last year from India: 29,124 business travellers

from India visited our shores year ended 31 December

2011. Of these, 6,597 arrivals were here for conferences

and conventions. Current statistics indicate that just

under half of these business arrivals travel to New South

Wales, so I’d feel confident in saying that a large portion

of these business event arrivals visited Australia’s global

city, Sydney. We hope to substantially grow more

opportunities from the Indian market.

Is the organisation currently working towards facilitating any association from India?BESydney has an equal focus on securing association

events and corporate meetings and incentive programs

for Sydney and NSW.

We do indeed have a number of leads for Indian

association meetings that we are working on (for

business reasons I’ll keep these confidential!), and

we would welcome the opportunity to talk to anyone

interested in hosting an event in Sydney.

Can groups coming into Sydney avail of special privileges, like a common ticket for transport to see the city’s various attractions?BESydney works with a wide range of stakeholders to

provide special experiences for groups. And we are

continually exploring innovative options to add to the

city’s suite of business events offerings.

Sydney has a sophisticated public transport system

and the NSW Government is working to introduce

coordinated ticketing and other options to improve

this already great service.

Destination NSW also has a number of tools that

delegates can use to make their planning easier – there

is of course the ‘Official Sydney Guide’ that includes

comprehensive information about the city, maps and

special deals for a raft of attractions, restaurants and

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events. The guide is also available as a smartphone and

tablet app.

What are the various post event activities possible in Sydney, apart from sightseeing?There are so many things to do in Sydney and New

South Wales! Being Australia’s iconic face to the world,

sightseeing is a clear favourite, with Sydney Harbour,

the Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach and Luna

Park. No trip to Sydney would be complete without

at least visiting these spots and experiencing the awe-

inspiring climb to the peak of the Harbour Bridge with

BridgeClimb Sydney.

Sightseeing aside, visitors to Sydney will never be

short on options. Whether you’re a bargain hunter, a

luxury loyalist or a local designer guru, Sydney has

impressive shopping credentials to cater for all tastes

and budgets. Recent additions such as Westfield Sydney

and the stores at Sydney’s new entertainment property,

The Star (formerly Star City), have given Sydney

some impressive premium shopping destinations,

while the Queen Victoria Building and precincts

through Paddington and Surry Hills are hotspots for

fashionistas and homeware lovers. Birkenhead Point,

Paddy’s Markets and DFO Homebush are ideal for

bargains and souvenir shopping.

The vibrant food scene in Sydney also attracts

international travellers, with its brilliant fresh

produce and infamous seafood, array of multicultural

options and serious fine dining credentials. Sydney’s

harbourside location also means that you can easily

satisfy your tastebuds and eyes in one sitting!

Sydney is also sport-mad, much like a lot of the

Indian nationals I have met. Our city plays host to some

of the world’s best tennis, golf, rugby, and of course our

beloved cricket matches. The atmosphere is electric.

Speaking of passions that Indian travellers often

remark about, we have recently witnessed a number of

Bollywood films being shot in our city. Late last year,

we had Bidita Bag here filming From Sydney…. with

Love – so you may even be able to catch a Bollywood

star on the steps of the Opera House or on Bondi

Beach!

Sydney’s proximity to over 300 regional

destinations dotted throughout the state of New South

Wales also dramatically adds to the city’s allure. With

wine country, pristine beaches, the Blue Mountains

and country NSW all accessible in just two hours from

the CBD, visitors can spend a few days pre or post

event bushwalking, wine-tasting, whale-watching,

learning to surf or having a ‘true-blue’ Aussie farm stay

– the options are endless.

What are special initiatives being taken by Business Events Sydney to attract more MICE groups into the country?BESydney provides assistance throughout the event

lifecycle ensuring a dedicated manager assists planners

with everything from initial enquiry, bid documentation

and strategy, supplier and government connection, site

inspections and event marketing. We have more than 40

years’ experience and our global team is expert when it

comes to maximising your event’s success in Sydney.

We don’t have a ‘one-size-fits-all’ way of doing

business. We treat each event individually and tailor

strategies to ensure that Sydney is the most attractive

destination for your event. This approach often sees

our team assisting with a comprehensive range of

marketing collateral to excite delegates about their

upcoming trip to Sydney.

By working closely with our vast network of

over 250 suppliers, BESydney ensures that the event

experience is exemplary. We have adopted an ‘educate,

collaborate, innovate’ approach to assist stakeholders

in catering for the Asia market, particularly the

discerning Indian traveller. Sinead Yeo, our Director of

Business Development in Asia, attends International

Market Briefings and assists our local hotels, venues,

attraction operators and event suppliers learn about

the market expectations and the way business is done.

They, in turn, modify their offering or processes to

enhance business event opportunities.

We also actively support Business Event Australia’s

familiarisation programs, which most recently saw a

group of Indian buyers visit our harbour city in early

February.

Is it true that the Sydney Convention Centre is about to go in for major renovation? What are the new additions being planned? Since the venue supports most of the MICE traffic coming into the city, what alternatives will business travellers have during this ‘renovation’ period? A new state-of-the-art 12-hectare Sydney International

Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct

has been confirmed for Sydney and is due to open

late 2016. The precinct will combine world-class

entertainment, convention and exhibition facilities

in a development that will further enhance Darling

Harbour as a central entertainment and meeting place.

The project will deliver improved, unified convention,

exhibition and entertainment space at Darling Harbour

that befits Australia’s global city.

To date, the Government has undertaken industry

consultation and shortlisted two consortia to build

and operate the facilities. A Request for Proposals is

expected to be issued in the coming weeks, with the

preferred tenderer selected by the end of 2012.

Sydney has been consistently voted the world’s

best festival and events city and this has been

undoubtedly contributed to the fact that we have a

diversity of venue options that can stand-alone or be

used as part of a combined solution for large events.

When you look back to events such as the Annual

Lions International Convention 2010, World Youth

Day in 2008 or the 2000 Sydney Olympics, you’ll see

it was not just one or two venues in the harbour city

that made these events spectacular, but a number of

venues and a ‘whole city approach’ that always ensures

the Sydney event experience is like no other. We are

a multi-faceted and flexible city and event planners

are always surprised by the variety of options for all

tastes, budgets and event sizes.

yours officially

MICE ValleyKashmir has long held its reputation as a destination for holiday-makers and honeymooners. Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) has, in the recent years, given it a new identity as a hotspot for business travellers. MICEtalk got into conversation with Farooq Ahmad Shah, Director, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism/SKICC, to find out why it is as big a name in the MICE business as its counterpart (read Hyderabad International Convention Centre) down south…

What are your plans for SKICC in this New Year?We are participating in a number of international

marts to create awareness about the venue. We are

talking to those involved in MICE tourism to promote

SKICC with them.

What makes Srinagar a great destination for business travellers?There is plenty to do in the city. There are lots of

opportunities for sightseeing and also shopping,

something that most travellers like to do.

Furthermore, SKICC as a venue offers its facilities

at affordable rates for those choosing to come here

for their meetings and conferences. We create tailor-

made packages for our guests to make their events a

memorable one.

What would be the best time to come to SKICC for an event?Kashmir is a year round destination, letting people

enjoy a lot of activities. People usually prefer to come

here between the months of April and October. For the

winters, the venue is equipped with central heating,

which makes our guests comfortable. SKICC remains

open on all 365 days of the year.

What is the next big event that is being organized by SKICC?Several events are being planned at the venue in

the near future. From April 1, 2012, the state will be

organizing Kashmir Haat, which is a big event of local

handicrafts by the local artisans. Guests at the SKICC

will be able to experience the beauty of Kashmir at

that time. We will guide them on where they can find

the best products. In general, we have a professional

team that assists the groups during their shopping

expeditions.

From which part of the country does SKICC get most of its MICE guests?Generally, guests come from all across the country

but mainly from– Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, West

Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, MP and Rajasthan. We are

working to ensure that people come to SKICC from

other states also.

let’s talk

started operating in 1984 and is recognised as one of the largest (amongst the top 10) conference centres in Asia.

transport providers in the state. Being a Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir undertaking, delegates at SKICC have easy access to the best of services and all the tourist attractions across the state.

and SKICC has a tie up with Lalit Broadway and other prominent hotels in the vicinity.

office located in most of the cities in India.

Farooq Ahmad Shah

Director,

Jammu and Kashmir

Tourism/SKICC


INDIANjourneyan where one lifetime of discovery falls short

An inbound publication with a circulation of 53,000 copies, this magazine is distributed in India and throughout the world.

For subscription, please contact: [email protected]

AN EXCITING NEW INDIA

With a glorious and magnificent past, rich cultural heritage and a long history dating back to ancientcivilisations, India is on the verge of forging an equally brilliant future. Aimed at International Tour Operators,

we at An Indian Journey present to our readers a holistic view of India.

Did you try these apps? Today technology has brought many essentials of

travelling to your fingertips. Mobile applications for one, have proved to be very useful for a traveller. Right from booking until reaching your destination and then getting about town, the latest mobile applications have changed the face of a travel experience.

56 MICEtalk April 2012 56 MICEtalk April 2012

iPhoneApplication Description Price Download link

AT&T Virtual Receptionist

This app gives you a free second line - attached to your main line - for business phone calls and a business voicemail.

FREE

TripDocThis app puts all those notes you’d normally scribble into a guidebook or on a map in one place. Business travellers can map out all their clients in as many cities as they need – along with nearby places to eat.

$4.99 http://www.apple.com/itunes/affiliates/download/?id=384864770

FoldersWith Folders you can privately store files from your PC or Mac and view them on your iPhone or iPod. You can also store and view PDF, Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents. Folders now support creating and editing text files too!


JetSet Expenses

It is an expense reporting application that features 15 separate expense categories and more than 100 subcategories, allowing you to correctly submit your business expenses. You can report expenses for meals, mileage, entertainment and anything else you may encounter in your business travel.


YammerYammer is like Twitter for business. You can set up your private Yammer network to keep team members in the loop. The question isn’t “What are you doing?” it’s “What are you working on?”

FREEhttp://www.apple.com/itunes/affiliates/download/?id=289559439

KeypointKeypoint is a great tool for those who frequently make presentations. You can create and control your keynote presentation from your phone, and your slide notes will appear on your phone as a handy reminder.


BlackBerryApplication Description Price Download link

Kindle for BlackBerry

You no longer need a kindle to carry your books on long-haul flights as you can download this app for an excellent reading experience.

FREEhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=klm_lnd_inst?docId=1000468551

Exgis Expense and Mileage Tracker

This app makes business trip expensing simple. It tracks your expenses, locations, clients, and much more, as well as calculating total mileage for you based on beginning and ending readings. Once you have added all your information, the app will also export the data into a spreadsheet.

$7.99 http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/2423/

Navita

Translator

It is capable of "speaking" over 50 languages, and it can translate words and

phrases from emails, SMS, or direct text inputs. FREE

http://appworld.blackberry.com/

webstore/content/522/

World Mate

This app is the ultimate business travel organizer. It sets up and keeps track of your

itinerary. All you have to do is send your trip details (such as your flight and hotel

confirmations) to a specific WorldMate email address, and the app imports your

information without any manual input.

FREEhttp://appworld.blackberry.com/

webstore/content/836/

AndroidApplication Description Price Download link

Trip Journal

Trip Journal is designed to document your travels. It keeps a log of where you go and you can create waypoints along the way. This also lets you add place marks and notes to your route, and gathers statistics on the distance you covered. Trip Journal also lets you archive your trips for further reference.

$2.90 http://www.trip-journal.com/buy-trip-journal-for-android/

Documents To Go

Documents To Go does exactly what its name suggests: It lets you view and edit Microsoft Office documents (including 2007-version files) in an intuitive interface. In addition to working with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint items, you can also view PDF files. If you just want to view e-mail document attachments, you can opt for the free version rather than paying for the quite pricey premium app.

$30 http://www.dataviz.com/DTG_android.html

FlightStats

Flightstats provides the best global flight, airport and airline information data and helps you to view itineraries, track flights and stay up-to-date on airport delays and much more. Besides this, you can add your hotel reservations or rental-car info; the app even works in offline mode, once synced.

$4.99 http://www.flightstats.com/go/Mobile/android.do

Expensify

Expensify makes expense report process easier to manage by importing your receipts directly from your credit card and turning them into easy-to-send PDF reports. The Android application makes it dead-simple to add cash expenses, log mileage and upload images of your receipts while you are on the go.

FREEhttps://www.expensify.com/mobile#features_android

FlightTeack

This app manages every aspect of your domestic and international flights with real-time updates and beautiful, zoomable maps. And you can do it offline! You can even get updates on gates, delays and cancellations so you can book an alternate flight. This app covers more than 5000 airports and 1400 airlines.

FREEhttp://www.mobiata.com/apps/flighttrack-android

checklist

MICEtalk does not accept any liability or responsibility for the information or any errors or omissions set out in this listing. This is designed to act as a guide for general reference only.


eventsevents

500,000to overReaches out

Corporate Clients & Travel Specialists

For Advertising Contact: [email protected] +91 9650399905 (Delhi) [email protected] +91 9619499167 (Mumbai)

For Subscription Contact: [email protected] [email protected]

Event Venue City Date

GITB – Great India Travel Bazaar BM Birla Convention Centre Jaipur, Rajasthan Apr 15-17, 2012

Arabian Travel MartDubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre

Dubai, UAE Apr 30-May 3, 2012

Middle East Event ShowDubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre

Dubai, UAE May 1-3, 2012

INDABA ICC Durban Durban, Africa May 12-15, 2012

IMEX 2012 Messe Frankfurt Frankfurt, Germany May 22-24, 2012

ILTM Asia – Global Luxury Travel Products and Services

Shanghai Exhibition Centre Shanghai, China June 4-7, 2012

Business Travel Market ExCeL London, UK June 13 & 14, 2012

ITE MICE 2012Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre

Hong Kong June 14-17, 2012

AIBTM Baltimore Convention Centre Baltimore, US June 19-21, 2012

Available at T3 Airport lounge

Postal Registration No.:DL(ND)/6150/2011-12-13WPP No.:U(C)-305/2011-13

for Posting on 29th-30th of Advance Month at New Delhi P.S.O.