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Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central introduces its Sheraton Macao Hotel Event Concierge service Starwood Hotels & Resorts to add two properties into its Malaysian portfolio ISSN: 0219-399X | MCI (P) 166/07/2014 | Vol. 5 Issue 7 | July 2014 | www.travelweeklyweb.com | Published by Northstar Travel Media Singapore Pte Ltd Page 4 MICE Page 16 NEWS Abacus analyses travel disruption causes SINGAPORE – While travel disruption is typically associated with natural disasters, the real scourge of travel is man made according to Abacus. Collated from broadcasts of the Abacus TripAlert service, which advises travel management companies of incidents that threaten their travellers' schedules and safety, the findings reveal the ripple effects that are causing millions to alter their travel plans. Along with its partner AidCom, Abacus has analysed over 5,000 early warning alerts broadcast over the course of 2013. Natural phenomena surfaced as the single largest source of inconvenience, with 28% of all travel disruption stemming from either severe weather conditions or other naturally occurring events. On a regional front, both Oceania and Southeast Asia took a battering last year with 275 and 219 'nature' alerts, respectively. Globally, the Americans suffered most frequently overall, with almost 500 alerts. However, while man-made disruption was secondary, the repercussions were d e e m e d t o b e m u c h m o r e s e r i o u s , compared to forces of nature, as they often evolved into other alerts as they e s c a l a t e d . I n f a c t , o u t o f a t o t a l o f 28% of all travel disruption in 2013 was caused by either severe weather conditions or other naturally occurring events. 1,451 'security' alerts broadcast by AidCom last year, 25% were considered 'severe' and led to defensive measures that played havoc with travellers' plans. Road, airport and even border closures are a common outcome under such circumstances. All man-made political and security related events accounted for four in every ten alerts, often linked to each other. From the one- in-seven that warned of localised political activity came 136 riots with 64 curfews in 2013. Looting was a by-product mentioned in a separate 40 alerts. Overall, the Middle East was the focus of the most security alerts at 437 last year: Iraq producing 209 and Syria 115. Cairo was the subject of more alerts (of all types) than any other place on the planet. It was top of the list of cities for political alerts and third for those security-related, just behind Baghdad and Damascus. In Asia, both India and Bangladesh witnessed frequent clashes and varied protests. Pakistan's economic capital Karachi produced 25 security alerts during the year, just ahead of Bangkok's 22 political alerts and nine security.

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