MICE In Macau
When talking about Macau's MICE industry, one should consider the city's fusion of Chinese and western cultural elements. By comparison to MICE businesses in Hong Kong and other mainland cities, the scale in Macau is small but perfectly formed.
The city, which comprises a peninsula and two islands, has had "the Historic Center of Macau" inscribed on the World Heritage List. The historic center is well-known for a few heritage sites, such as China's oldest church, the most ancient western fortress in China and its Protestant Cematory. The center is also by far the most ancient historical site in China that combines the architectural styles of China and foreign countries, and this is the first impression that one gets about the city.
In recent years, the local government of Macau has been activly promoting the MICE sector, showcasing the city's glamour and potential for growth. The opening of Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel in 2007 and the newly-launched City of Dreams hotel have undoubtedly boosted the hardware in the city's MICE sector.
Macau's MICE sector has the advantage of tourism resources. Additionally, Macau's economy development gets a boost from the central government's Pearl River Delta Development Plan. The Zhuhai-Macau Cross Border Industrial Zone has helped transform and upgrade Macau's traditional manufacturing sector. In the meantime, Macau and Hong Kong have agreed to jointly develop Hengqin Island, which will strategically help the city solve problems such as lack of land, and shortages of labor and resources. Furthermore, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, which is currently under construction will create closer ties linking the three cities, providing a great development opportunity for Macau.
Business Stimulus Plan Wins Initial Success
In May 2009, the Macau SAR Government unveiled its "Proposed Plan to Support Macau Tourism Industry", as part of its efforts to promote the local hospitality industry. A series of stimulus measures were launched to boost the city's leisure travel, exhibition, and airline industries, while maintaining the city's growth momentum and its competitive edge as an international travel destination. According to the proposed plan to support business travel, Macau's tourism office has launched a plan, concerning meetings and summits, exhibitions, and incentive travel, to stimulate the local business travel sector. The has plan attracted numerous applications from interested parties.
Diversified Meeting Venues in Macau
The charges for a meeting venue in Macau are lower than those in neighboring cities. However, guests are still able to enjoy good services and well-organized arrangements and management, while helping to take their minds off their normal working environment. Macau has quite a few meeting venues, including major ones capable accommodating about 7,000 people and purpose-designed ones for smaller groups of people. Those multi-purposed meeting venues can be used for teaching, entertainment, and meetings, and can also be rapidly switched into ballrooms for cocktail parties and dinner parties.
Hotel Facilities
Macau has become a good place for business travel thanks to the convenient location of its new facilities. However, most hotels are still situated far away from meeting venues.
Grand Emperor Hotel Macau
Jimmy Tang, the general manager of Grand Emperor Hotel Macau, told China Hospitality News that, providing comprehensive services including accommodation, dining, entertainment, leisure and MICE, Grand Emperor Hotel is very conveniently-located — being sited in a prime location in Macau. It is quite near to large shopping malls and attractions. Themed on Britain's palaces, the hotel has a magnificent lobby and capacious rooms. The most impressive attraction of the hotel is the Golden Pathway in the lobby, which is composed of 78 bars of 999.9 fine pure gold, weighing a total of 78 kilograms.
According to Tang the MICE industry has been progressively developing over the past few years. Although there is no mega conference venue in Grand Emperor Hotel, the hotel is still an ideal venue for small- and middle-scale meetings and conventions. It is dedicated to meeting the guests' requirements aims to provide personalized services which mega venue providers may not be able to offer. With its professional staff who are experienced in managing meetings and conventions, plus the delicious Chinese and Western cuisine — especially Chao Yue cuisine and buffets with refined dishes from all over the world — the hotel has become a mecca for gourmets that attracts visitors to come again and again.
He said that there is no doubt that the booming MICE industry has had a positive impact on the hospitality industry, bringing numerous opportunities to hotels which are well prepared. Besides attending meetings and conventions, business guests also visit different restaurants and shops in their leisure time. This helps accelerate Macau's development pace by bringing new sources of guests and encouraging the industry to enhance the service quality. In addition, this provides promotion opportunities for the employees.
Where can guests go for recreation in their free time?
Tang says the hotel is conveniently located. Casinos, shopping malls as well as the historic attractions are all within a five-minute walk. There are many places worth visiting in Macau, such as the famous ruins of St. Paul's church, the Mount Fortress, the Loyal Senate, the Holy House of Mercy, A-Ma Temple, Guia Fortress, the Macau Museum, Lotus Square, and the Taipa Houses Museum. There are also some newly built attractions, such as Fisherman's Wharf, No. 1 Lakefront, and Shoppers Street. In addition, the Venetian, City of Dreams, and Sofitel at Ponte 16 are also good destinations for entertainment. And he strongly recommends hotel guests to try Macau's traditional food such as pork chop and Portuguese egg tarts. There are also several Catholic churches next to Grand Emperor Hotel which have long histories and interesting stories of the missionaries to the Far East. It would be a shame if the hotel guests missed any of these attractions.
Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16
The General manager of Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16, Michel Molliet, said that the Sofitel Macau's 408 luxury rooms and suites — including 19 VIP Villas — are all exceptionally well appointed and overlook the harbor and the historic city. All rooms are equipped with Sofitel's MyBed ensuring the best comfort for guests.
The magical complex and the refined elegance of the exquisite restaurants, bars, fitness center, swimming pools, Club Sofitel lounge, meeting and banquet venues with a capacity of 460 square meters accommodating up to 460 guests, plus the in-house entertainment including Ponte 16 casino and MJ Gallery ensure that Sofitel has created an exquisite world for true lovers of "art de vivre".
The hotel has an easy access to the major points of entry including Macau International Airport, Macau Ferry Terminal, the Barrier Gate, and the direct Ferry to Wanzai in Zhuhai.
Sofitel Macau is the only French hotel in town embodying the essence of refined excellence in French luxury service. Sofitel rituals and French touch are designed to welcome all guests.
Molliet says that the concept for meetings held at Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 is "Sofitel Inspired Meetings". Inspired to provide quality yet express, personalized, and creative services to those who plan their meetings and events, the hotel has a capacity of 670 square meters of meeting venues, ideal for small to medium groups.
The hotel has its Baccara multi-function room, its Promenade meeting room and The Boardroom, all having natural light and adjustable configurations. The 460-square-meter Baccara room, which can accommodate up to 400 guests, is a unique venue in Macau with direct access to an outdoor balcony and a poolside terrace facing the river, equipped with up-to-date technology — from WiFi to conference call facilities.
Molliet said that the MICE industry has been on a rise due to increasing demand and a growing economy in Macau. More than 100 meetings and exhibitions were held in Macau in 2009, attracting thousands of visitors and exhibitors. The Macau Government Tourism Board (MGTO) has also been putting in place initiatives on outreach activities, promoting Macau as a destination for MICE at various showcase occasions in the region, in South East Asia, and around the Asia Pacific Rim. The hotel industry will be the first to see a real boost in the growth of MICE resulting from the global economy recovery.
Strolling through the winding streets of the historic quarter, the city's charming past is revealed at the doorstep of the hotel, which is within walking distance of 25 UNESCO listed world heritage sites, including the bustling Leal Senado Square, the Ruins of St. Paul's, and the distinct architecture of Dom Pedro V Theatre, all with distinguished characters. Group tours to these sites can be arranged.
Magemiao, or A-Ma Temple, is to the south of the hotel. The retro-style Sir Robert Ho Tung Library and the Dom Pedro V Theatre are also located in this area. The hotel is deeply influenced by the historic city's cultural elements. For shopping, local food, and looking at local culture, Ruo da Felicidade and Kuan Chin Kai are right in the hotel's neighborhood and are perfect options that should never be missed. Additionally, Zhuhai Wanzai, which is about five-minutes walk away, is a good place for delicious food, especially sea food.
The Westin Resort, Macau
Humayoon Shaikhzadeh is the general manager of The Westin Resort, Macau. He told CHN that the hotel, which is the only resort on Macau's unique Hac Sa Beach, is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong and Asia's mainland. It offers quiet seclusion, with 150 lush green acres surrounded by the tranquil South China Sea. In addition, the hotel offers the Westin's signature Heavenly Bed, its rejuvenating Heavenly Shower, upgraded amenities, and many other comforts to meet guests' requirements. It also has indoor and outdoor meeting facilities for meeting groups with the flexibility of meeting set up, as well as team building facilities that can allow groups to understand the importance of working together and to have fun as a group.
Shaikhzadeh said that a true resort needs to consider guests requirements for leisure and business travel in terms of hardware and software support. Westin provides outdoor meeting facilities, natural daylight in meeting rooms, team building facilities, and an exclusive check-in and check-out counter. It also aims to help guests feel refreshed after a long day of meetings by offering Westin branded services. In addition, the hotel's-house WiFi service can allow its guest to have Internet access anywhere inside its hotel.
When more MICE groups come into existence in Macau, there will be more opportunities for hotels due to more demand for hotel rooms, green hotels and MICE hotels. Westin is one of these, enjoying more scope for growth.
