GREAT expectations

Gradually, the effects of economic recovery are being felt in the MICE sector, and hotels are able once again to give freer rein to creative thinking for groups - but the bottom line is still the perception of value for money, particularly in terms of the food and beverage offerings.

'Organisers have a higher level of expectation nowadays, especially because they have to justify the return on investment of hosting an event overseas,' says Ilona Yim, director of communications at the Island Shangri-La.

Yim says that the hotel hosted a MICE group, which stayed in 140 premium-priced Horizon Club guestrooms over three nights, one of which was extra, just to ensure that delegates could make a prompt start in the morning.

Attention to details like that can make a big difference in establishing comfort zones for guests, according to Edith Lee, director of sales at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.

'MICE clients are willing to pay for excellence as long as we are able to exceed their expectations. The Grupo Catalana Occidente - a Spanish incentive group - is a good example. We mobilised a team of Spanish speakers to ensure a language-friendly environment,' she explains. Adding a sense of occasion to a MICE function can involve going outside the property, says Vivien Fok, director of events at the Hyatt Regency in Tsim Sha Tsui.

'Last October, we hosted a cocktail reception for a MICE group of 500 guests. The conference hall [was] 10 minutes away.