22 MIX AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 http://www.mixmeetings.com
OFFSITE TRENDS
RIVIERA Events co-founder and director Stephane
de Montgros has witnessed explosive growth in
the eastern seaboard region of China during the
past decade. He says a visit to the region gives a
snapshot of just how far China has come.
De Montgros points to “a rich mix of
state-of-the-art, recently opened luxury hotels”
and a wide range of government-owned venues
such as museums and former warehouses that
are available for private events.
“Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou also offer
several cultural backdrops, as well as outdoor
nature-focused options,” he says.
“We feel that MICE planners are looking for
aggressive pricing more and more, while not
allowing any compromise on the quality of
delivery. In that regard, I believe China offers a
very solid solution for companies in need of
value-for-money projects.
“We have also noticed Shanghai and the wider
region has been particularly welcoming of visitors
by willingly granting visas.
“Another trend that we have noticed is that more
planners prefer to host their events in off-site
locations, to avoid the standard hotel ballroom
format and offer, where possible, unique views and
scenery of the city.”C
ulturally rich cities surrounding the glitzy commercial powerhouse
of Shanghai have offered novelty day-trip options for conference
and incentive planners. But there is a growing debate as to
whether they could really be an alternative to Shanghai for
full-scale international business events.
Getting to the cities of Suzhou, Hangzhou and Nanjing was also far from
straightforward, so the option was generally offered to delegates who wanted a
deeper immersion into Chinese culture and history.
Options for planners, however, have grown in recent years, with satellite cities
beefing up their MICE credentials and – thanks to high-speed rail links, modern
freeways and more frequent flights – becoming far more accessible, ready and
willing to stage events, the most high-profile example being the G20 summit in
Hangzhou attended by President Xi Jinping, who once worked in the city.
But all roads ultimately lead back to Shanghai, a city with an extraordinary range
of hotels and a cosmopolitan sheen that is alluring.
One of the recently opened properties is the Sukhothai Shanghai. Its 300
sqm ballroom has a ceiling at 5.3 metres and can accommodate 230 guests
for banquets. Helene Fong, sales and marketing director, says an annexe to the
hotel, The Cha House, a red-brick mansion constructed in the 1920s is proving
just as popular for events.
“MICE planners are constantly seeking new and interesting venues with unique
ambience – and exclusivity,” she says. The idea that luxury has taken on a new
interpretation also applies to the MICE industry. People attending conferences
demand accommodation in an independent exquisite hotel, bespoke dining