Macau's makeover

With its unique fusion of traditional Chinese culture and Portuguese colonial heritage, Macau has long been a distinctive regional destination for corporate conference and incentive (C&I) events. However, it has also had to contend with perceptions that it was very much the poor relation of its bigger, brasher Cantonese cousin Hong Kong in terms of facilities and international access. Yet, over the past few years, Macau has been actively transforming and modernising its C&I infrastructure. With the influx of substantial foreign investment and management expertise in new casino, hotel and conference facilities over the next few years, and the imminent opening of direct ferry routes from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), further exciting growth seems guaranteed. Added to this has been Macau's political and economic stability, standing in marked contrast to its Hong Kong neighbour. The fact it was virtually untouched by the SARS virus, which decimated corporate events business elsewhere, also cushioned the travel sector. Unsurprisingly then, the C&I industry in Macau displays a high level of confidence and self-assurance about the territory's future and potential for growth. International potential Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office, Mr João Manuel Costa Antunes says: "With the rapid development of business tourism in the global arena, Macau has the potential to become an international business travel destination. "Business travel, cultural and sports tourism, as well as intra-regional tourism will be the basis for our long-term tourism planning and development. "We will be seeking cooperation with neighbouring countries and regions to develop the business travel market and to attract the high-spending segment of business travellers," Mr Antunes says The latest factor to boost Macau as a C&I destination is the new ferry services connecting HKIA with Macau as well as two mainland cities, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The new link, operated by the Shun Tak group, allows passengers to transit into or out of Macau via HKIA without the need to pass through Hong Kong customs and immigration formalities and have their luggage delivered direct to the ferry terminal. The hope is that Macau will be benefit from HKIA's extensive regional and global connections and attract business from markets that are not directly served by the much more limited routes of Macau International Airport. Shun Tak Hospitality Services general manager Ms Daniela Grendene says: "The new link will allow corporate groups to land in Hong Kong but they can save around a couple of hours in transfer times, cutting out the journey into central Hong Kong completely if they wish. It is a hassle-free solution. She also points out that with the fairly limited flight options into Macau's own airport, the HKIA service opens up any number of international options. Also part of the Shun Tak group is Florinda Hotels International. Marketing services manager Ms Kay Chan believes that despite the obvious Portuguese imprint "in many ways, Macau has preserved traditional Chinese culture more effectively than Hong Kong." Speaking of Florinda's flagship property the Hotel Lisboa, Ms Chan points to the use of traditional Chinese ornamental decoration throughout the hotel and the strong traditional themes in the two prestige meeting rooms the Mandarin and the Canton rooms. Each provides an authentic Chinese setting for business meetings. The Hotel Lisboa is currently sprucing up its image and is renovating guest rooms with stylish bathroom interiors and flat-screen TVs which save on space and add a touch of cutting-edge technology. Also on Macau peninsula itself, located within walking distance of the ferry terminal, is the 435-room Mandarin Oriental, Macau. The Harmony, Chinnery, Bocage and Penha rooms provide space for up to 300 delegates theatre-style. The Mandarin Oriental's resort facilities include a spa, with a wide variety of health and beauty treatments available, as well as an outdoor swimming pool, gym and tennis and squash courts. While even central Macau seems to tick along at a relaxed pace, the tranquil surroundings of Coloane Island, which is home to the Westin Resort Macau, seem even more removed from the rushed hustle and bustle of corporate life. Westin Resort Macau's director of sales and marketing Ms Julie Jackson strikes an upbeat note. As with other Macau properties, The Westin managed to offset lost corporate business with individual and family leisure travellers during the SARS crisis ensuring occupancy levels remained relatively high in the circumstances.This was helped by a number of discounted promotions involving the Macau travel industry. However, corporate meetings business has mostly been postponed rather than cancelled completely. Ms Jackson noticed that already by June "corporate meetings were coming back on track". As the only five-star resort in Macau, Ms Jackson is is keen to promote the Westin's open environment, particularly for corporate groups that wish to combine a meeting or seminar with team-building exercises. The resort also provides access to Macau's only golf course. The greener, more open atmosphere of Macau is clearly attractive for incentive organisers. This fact is stressed too by Hyatt Regency Macau director of marketing Mr Andrew Wong. "Macau can deliver high-quality incentive programmes. Macau has substantial incentive and activity infrastructure and a much cleaner environment than Hong Kong," he says. Located on the island of Taipa, The Hyatt Regency offers 12 function rooms. The largest, the Macau Ballroom, can hold 288 for banquets, 450 theatre-style or 175 people classroom-style. Alternatively it can be divided into two smaller sections. There are also the Guia, Taipa and Coloane Rooms, a drawing room and a set of seven Estoril rooms. The 326-room Hyatt Regency's also offers a variety of team-building activities. However, for the really adventurous corporate incentive group the Macau Tower has added Skywalk X, part of the tower's joint venture with AJ Hackett Asia, the adventure sports specialist. AJ Hackett Asia can arrange for corporate groups to take part in a number of team-building activities ranging from activities just 11m off the ground to more daring open-air walks, such as Skywalk X, around the tower several hundred metres high. In all cases, world-class safety standards apply and equipment and training are provided. Macau Tower general manager Mr Anthony Williams says: "There really is nothing like this anywhere else in the region for group activities. It is ideal for team-building, emphasising trust and co-operation." The strong public-private sector alliance is clearly paying dividends in Macau and with further major improvements in infrastructure and additional facilities still to come over the next couple of years, the C&I sector's confidence seems to be well founded.