Northstar

12 | www.travelweekly-asia.com COUNTRY: SINGAPORE ORGANISER: World Express Pte Ltd HIGHLIGHTS: Last year, we prepared a champagne toast during an exclusive Garden Rhapsody Show for a client who was celebrating the company's 100th. The guests enjoyed the spectacular Music and Light Show at the Supertree grove with a glass of champagne on hand. On another occasion, we changed the usual 45-seater coach to an open-top double- decker coach for a tour, just to give participants a better view of the surroundings. We also made the tour group size smaller, so that the guide can have a more intimate interaction with participants. COUNTRY: KOREA ORGANISER: Kim's Travel HIGHLIGHTS: On one occasion, we organised a K-Pop dance session for a group of 60 delegates from Malaysia. Everyone was awarded with a certificate for learning to dance and perform, K-Pop style at the end. On another occasion, we made a special arrangement for 1,000 delegates from Prudential Singapore to visit the military troops stationed near the DMZ. One of the activities was getting them to tie a ribbon on the fence of the border, signifying the wish for Korea to become one united nation. INCENTIVE ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS COVER STORY: INCENTIVE TRAVEL Hear it from the industry experts. FIVE TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL INCENTIVE 1. DOWN TO BASICS Before even getting down to programme details, it is crucial to figure out if the destination is right. Best way to do it: Seek consensus. "Travellers typically like to have a say in deciding where they're going to; this makes them more receptive to the programme itself," said Michael Chiay, senior director, Asia Pacific, of CWT Meetings & Events. Michael Chiay, senior director, Asia Pacific, CWT Meetings & Events. By Lee Xin Hui KOH EELING | director of MICE at World Express Pte Ltd. What is the current state of incentive travel in Asia? "We're seeing a slight reduction in the number of RFPs as compared to early 2016. Typical group size ranges from 20-60 persons and budgets range from SGD$1,000- $2,500 (US$737-$1,844) per person. Programme-wise, we are seeing more requests for unusual and gourmet-focused itineraries." MICHAEL CHIAY | senior director, Asia Pacific, CWT Meetings & Events What are the top destinations in Asia for incentive travel planners? "Bali, Dubai and Phuket are again themed gifts showcasing the expected destination and activities. For an Africa incentive trip, we proposed sending African savannah hats to the participants as a teaser. Companies have also been encouraging participants to share their experiences on social media using incentive trip hashtags. This further motivates other employees to work hard and try to qualify for future trips." HANNAH KIM | chief of MICE and Package Division at Kim's Travel How do you sell Korea as an incentive travel destination? "Korea is a place of unique history, natural beauty and outstanding Internet speed. In addition, there are many wonderful places for visitors to go to. In Seoul, you can get top-notch shopping, exciting night rising in popularity as they have developed considerably over the past few years, offering a greater variety of activities and experiences. Phuket, for example, recently saw the launch of a new boutique property on Nai Harn Beach, complete with seaside activities that would be perfect for incentive programmes. Dubai has also introduced revamped programmes for skydiving, desert buggy tours and more, which are adventure activities popular with incentive travel planners." What do you see as the next big incentive travel trend? "The use of technology for pre-event marketing and traveller engagement. For example, using motivational videos to spur qualifiers for the final stretch before the trip; technology and apps like 'Virtual Reality Goggles' and 'Giga Selfie' to market the programme to other employees; and teasers such as The demilitarised zone (DMZ) in Korea. 2. THEMATIC EXCELLENCE "Every incentive group has their own concept. At Kim's Travel, we try to focus on reflecting the theme and the wishes of the organisers as much as possible," said Hannah Kim, chief of MICE and Package at Kim's Travel. 3. CREATIVIT Y RULES "With incentive trips, participants want to engage in activities or visit places that they typically may not do or go to on their own trips," opined Chiay. He highlighted the example of booking out an entire theme park to hold a client's cocktail and dinner, giving guests a once- in-a-lifetime experience. 4. SURPRISE FACTOR Who can resist a surprise – especially when it comes in the form of a bubbly? Once during a bumboat ride along Singapore River, World Express Pte Ltd prepared champagne for all participants. Needless to say, everyone was pleased. life and international standard accommodations; for a taste of Korean culture, there is the DMZ, Nami Island and Korean Folk Village; For snow babies, Mountain Sorak, Jeonju, Pyeongchang and Jeongseon are perfect. And because of the newly established direct flights, Busan is an up-and- coming destination." VIEWPOINTS "Sometimes, it's the little thoughts you put into planning that leaves the greatest impression on your clients," said Koh Eeling, director of MICE at World Express Pte Ltd. 5. RED ALERT With increasingly frequent threats – terrorism and natural disasters – around the world, contingency planning is no longer a good-to-have but a must-have. At World Express, they have a crisis management plan in place for the operations team with frequently updated features. Credit: vanbeets/iStock Left: Toasting to 100 years of success at Gardens by the Bay Supertree grove; Above: Delegates learning K-pop dance moves.

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