Tourism bureaus are offering incentives for business groups Regional tourism bureaus see the lucrative potential of the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) market, with some setting up convention and visitor bureaus which solely cater for this traffic. Others are luring planners by offering incentives and support. Hong Kong is a well-established trade-fair capital and MICE destination. The Hong Kong Tourism Board has been creating various incentives to tap more traffic. Depending on the size and nature of the MICE activities, the board will co-ordinate with the travel trade and tailor specially devised offers and events for participants, ranging from marching band welcomes to complimentary sightseeing tours. The 'Hong Kong Value Plus-Plus' provides conventions and exhibitions, held before March 31, 2009, a host of offers and privileges. These include specially designed souvenirs (for convention delegates only), complimentary copies of the Hong Kong Street Map and visitor information, shopping/dining bonus package (in e-coupon and printed formats) and free admission to the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. The larger the number of participants, the more special privileges they are entitled to. Corporate events is another stream the board is looking into. The Hong Kong Rewards Privilege Programme offers special privileges to groups of 20 or more staying a minimum of two consecutive nights in Hong Kong. Standard offers include welcome souvenirs, complimentary copies of the Hong Kong Street Map and visitor's information booklet, VIP Offers leaflet at Quality Tourism Services-accredited shops and restaurants, coupons with museum offer, buy-one-get-one free drink offer at Knutsford Terrace and Lan Kwai Fong, and Chinese cake and tea offers. Again, the longer the corporate group stays, the more the benefits. All groups staying four nights or more are given a one-day Island Hopping Pass.
