Vietnam remains a destination to watch for event planners, taking out the CEI Asia Best Emerging Destination award for the second year running.
Better air connections and new international hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and along the central coast have given planners the confidence to start booking regional groups.
“Greater accessibility, simplified visas and infrastructure investment have helped make 500-person business events a regular occurrence in just 18 months,” says Volker Capito of local DMC TransViet.
“The new airport in HCMC and the new terminal in Hanoi are very efficient, and keep transit time to a minimum. Visas are granted on arrival and VIP delegates can be transferred to the hotel without having to wait. The new convention and exhibition centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have also started international promotions.”
Hanoi attracted international attention for its hosting of the 17th Asean Summit in October, but the private sector is the real driving force in Vietnam.
“Government events are an anomaly because we can rarely repeat what they do,” says Capito. “But successful private sector events generate more business, because companies see what we do and know they can save on costs.”
Off-site facilities have also improved. “Ha Long Bay has new boats and facilities to accommodate a 250-person event. Having newer, more modern coaches is also making a big difference,” he says.
Future growthRunner-up Macau had an interesting year, with the resumption of the 6,000-room Sands project on the Cotai Strip, and the opening of a new Mandarin Oriental and Wynn Encore. In addition, the House of Dancing Water opened at City of Dreams and the city experienced a boom in Indian and Korean MICE groups.
In third place, Hainan Island continues to attract strong MICE business from China. Infrastructure development is rampant and the new hotel strip along Haitang Bay will bring the island’s capacity to 20,000 rooms by the end of 2012.