Bali's hotels have played a key role in making the island a top MICE destination
Top-notch properties boost island's MICE reputation, writesKeith Chan
While Bali is known as a top beach resort destination in the Asia-Pacific, it has also become a popular meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) location, as evidenced by the increasing number of international and regional events held over the past few years.
Bali is standing firm as one of the most preferred MICE destinations in the region, thanks to its complete facilities, accessibility, and government support, in addition to direct flights from most major cities in the region, according to Bipan Kapur, managing director of The Westin Resort Nusa Dua.
"Convention centres in Bali offer a combined capacity for up to 20,000 people. There are up to 200,000 hotel rooms in various categories, state-of-the-art audio-visual facilities, fibre-optic support and toll-free highways that can drastically reduce the travel time from the airport to the main MICE centre of Nusa Dua," Kapur says.
The hotel also manages the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC), which can seat up to 2,500 people for meetings. "The Westin Resort Nusa Dua and BICC are a purpose-built convention resort in Bali where guests can walk from their guestrooms to the meeting facilities, all under cover," Kapur says.
Bali's culture and activities make the island the ideal location for those who want to combine business with pleasure, says Dario Orsini, general manager of Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort. "From beaches to nature and from traditional culture to the hustle and bustle of Kuta and Seminyak, there's something suitable for all occasions," he adds.
Orsini believes MICE business in Bali will remain stable and improve slowly. "The key to win business is trust, hence we always focus on building trust with our partners. Secondly, being proactive in reaching out to both loyal and returning clients as well as [potential] new clients is of utmost importance in this competitive environment. Lastly, we highlight flexibility - not necessarily in terms of pricing, but in terms of making arrangements and thinking along with our clients."
Sylvain Pasdeloup, general manager of Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua, says the successful hosting of various important international conferences such as the Asean summit and the Apec summit is a testament to the island's safe, pleasing and welcoming environment for all visitors. "In addition, MICE guests from most countries worldwide also enjoy visiting Bali visa-free. There are currently 90 countries that enjoy the 30-day visa exemption. The Indonesian government also plans to add another 84 countries to the list," he says.
Pasdeloup says that since Apec 2013 - the last major international summit held in Bali - almost all major infrastructure has been updated, which brings improved convenience and accessibility in organising themed breaks to must-see places.
As for competition among resorts on the island, Pasdeloup says he doesn't see any reason to be worried, as each property has their own distinct features to suit a wide range of preferences and tastes.
With the successful hosting of several international and local events in recent years, Bali has played a dominant role in the MICE industry, but the market will also become more competitive, says Puspa Rianti, director of sales and marketing for Southeast Asia and Pacific for Karma Resorts, which operates several properties in Bali.
Rianti says for hotels in Bali, the key challenge will be keeping up with trends and what's happening in the MICE industry globally. She believes the island has great opportunities to attract more MICE visitors with its culture, natural beauty, and variety of accommodation and meeting facilities.
"We will focus more on the MICE market and plan to attract more visitors to experience the hotels' facilities, food and culture. The goal is not only to increase the number of MICE visitors, but also to invite them to experience the tourism and make them stay longer," she says.
