Category Archives: MICE

Mauritius exempts event planners from 15% VAT on accommodation costs

Mauritius has now become an even more attractive destination for event planners from India to host their business meetings, conferences or weddings! From October 1 onwards this year, Mauritius has exempted event planners from across the world from paying 15% VAT on their hotel room charges through their stay in the country for any of these events.

The Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 has introduced the MICE VAT Exemption Scheme, which replaces the MICE VAT Refund Scheme. Under the new scheme, an event organiser (local or foreign) may apply with the Economic Development Board (EDB) for exemption of VAT in respect of accommodation costs incurred during an event held in Mauritius subject to these terms and conditions:

• the event (business meeting, conference, or wedding) should be attended by 50 or more visitors from abroad; and
• visitors stay for a minimum of 3 nights in a hotel in Mauritius.

“With the implementation of this scheme, we hope Mauritius becomes the preferred destination for event planners across India to celebrate both their professional and personal milestones against the stunning Mauritian backdrop!” said Arvind Bundhun Director, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA).

Event organisers are required to register the specific event at least four weeks before the date of the event. Post registration, they should submit the application for VAT exemption to the Economic Development Board at least two weeks before the event date on the its website..

Alcoholic drinks are not included in hotel room charges. Any additional accommodation cost incurred by visitors extending their stay beyond the event date for personal reasons will not qualify for exemption.

To be eligible for the scheme, the event planner must ensure that each of his 50 or more visitors/guests hold a foreign passport and a valid ticket for travel by air or sea to a foreign airport or port.

 

MICE centre in Jodhpur likely to give tourism a boost in Rajasthan

The Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot has approved an initial amount of approximately INR 25 crore to set up a MICE (Meeting Incentive Conference and Exhibition) centre in Jodhpur, which is becoming popular for hosting national and international events. A tourism department official said the MICE centre would be built on 5,650 square metres on the premises of the Women Polytechnic College, for which the Jodhpur Development Authority has allotted 65,000 sq mt. During the first phase, facilities such as an exhibition hall, registration and information centre, administration block, VIP lounge, meeting space for trade and business, and a parking area will be constructed, the official added.

MICE tourism, rapidly expanding in Rajasthan, offers numerous opportunities in the tourism industry. In his 2023–24 Budget, Gehlot announced the development of MICE centres for international level conventions and exhibitions in the popular tourism hotspots of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Ajmer. Each of these centres will cost approximately INR 100 crore.

To boost tourism, the budget of the Tourism Development Fund was increased from around INR 1,000 crore to INR 1,500 crore this year. “Rajasthan is becoming one of the primary choices for MICE tourism operators,” the official said.

In April, the state hosted the 12th Great Indian Travel Bazaar, in which 283 tour operators from 56 different nations participated. A similar event, the Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart (RDTM), was held this month, with participation from 200 sellers and an equal number of buyers. These events indicate that Rajasthan is well-prepared to become a leader in the MICE tourism sector as well.

Rajasthan possesses all the ingredients for a flourishing tourism sector, such as well-known tourist attractions, historical sites, distinctive heritage villages and Shilpgrams, experiential tourism, desert tourism, adventure tourism, wildlife and eco-tourism, tribal tourism, cultural tourism, craft and cuisine tourism, weekend getaway tourism, religious tourism, wedding tourism, wellness tourism (medical tourism), rural tourism, and film tourism, among others. (Source The Business Standard)

FCM India’s Meetings & Events Revenue Registered More Than 50% Growth in the last six months

FCM Travel India has reported a more than 50 per cent growth in the last six months, demonstrating that events in person are back in focus. High demand is seen right across the industry, despite organisations facing changing attitudes to work-life boundaries and budgetary constraints.

As per the Global Quarterly Trend Report by FCM Consultancy, in-person meetings are the number one reason for corporate travel. This has resulted in a significant uptick in in-person catchups and events despite the increase in costs.

Prices of hotels in Asia have increased by an average of 26 per cent, with Bangalore being the most expensive at USD$190 a night, followed by Delhi at USD$150 a night. Economy fares from Mumbai to Delhi have increased by 15 per cent and business by 9 per cent. Economy fares from Mumbai to London have gone up by 26 per cent in economy (the highest increase in Asia) and 20 per cent in business.

Due to the pandemic, there was a pause in travel for many companies, resulting in a backlog of product launches and business conferences which is now being fulfilled in a bigger and improved way.

“While the 2023 travel uptick reflects the removal of country restrictions coupled with a deep desire to travel, we envisage that as capacity and pricing stabilises, 2024 will be a better indicator of the true demand,” says Manpreet Bindra, President of FCM India Meeting & Events.

“The rapid surge back to in-person events has been a challenge for venues, hotels, airlines, and event planners. Travel constraints, capacity issues, labour shortages, supply chain issues and travel disruptions are all easing, but they are factors that are not expected to fully stabilise until 2024 highlighting opportunities for further growth.”

“There is high optimism abounds the meetings and events industry this 2023. Adaptability will still be paramount as the industry navigates the continuing resurgence of business events, new ways of working, changing attitudes to travel and ongoing supply challenges,” added Bindra.

FCM Meetings & Events India recently published a trends report which showed 7 trends shaping India’s meetings and events industry in 2023.

SOTC Travel wins ‘MICE Travel Agency of the Year – International Travel’ award

SOTC Travel, a leading omnichannel Travel and Tourism Company, has been honoured with the award for ‘MICE Travel Agency of the Year – International Travel’ at The Economic Times MICE & Wedding Tourism Awards. The first edition of The Economic Times MICE & Wedding Tourism Awards brought together top leaders from corporates, industry experts, professionals, and enthusiasts from the dynamic sectors of MICE and wedding.

SOTC’s MICE Team was recognized for innovative product development that reassured and inspired corporates to travel once again. The company built & leveraged strong partnerships & alliances to deliver distinctive experiences to its MICE corporates.

SOTC has successfully managed multiple large MICE groups ranging from 500 to over 1300 each to Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Phuket in 2022.

Commenting on this S D Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel said, “We are truly honoured to be selected as the MICE Travel Agency of the Year – International Travel at The Economic Times MICE & Wedding Tourism Awards. At SOTC Travel, we aim to deliver superior experiences to our corporate MICE customers and this prestigious award acknowledges our leadership in the sector and recognizes our efforts towards revival and growth post the challenges of the pandemic.”

Qatar Tourism hosts the Maruti Suzuki Dealer Conference 2023

Qatar Tourism hosted the Maruti Suzuki Dealer Conference 2023 in Doha, a three-day spectacle that celebrated the success and accomplishments of automobile dealers from around India. The event saw 1200 dealers, alongside their families, celebrate at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), located in the heart of Doha’s business district, from May 3 – 6, 2023.

Qatar Tourism provided financial and cultural subvention support while Qatar Airways, the national carrier, offered QMICE program assistance. Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, graced the conference with a welcome speech, extending the country’s warm hospitality to all the guests.

The Maruti Suzuki India Limited team highlighted the strategic significance of choosing Qatar, emphasising its value to visitors. This decision was based on several key factors, including the convenient proximity to India, with an average flying time of four hours, streamlined visa process, the abundance of captivating attractions and experiences offered by Qatar, and the state-of-the-art facilities available at the renowned DECC.

Commenting on this, Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, Berthold Trenkel, said, “The Indian market plays a vital role in the realisation of Qatar Tourism’s ambitious objective to attract millions of foreign visitors annually, as outlined in the 2030 Tourism Strategy. Qatar is well-equipped to match the MICE sector’s growing demand and is ready to welcome large groups for meetings, exhibitions, and other significant gatherings. The country is a suitable and accessible base for MICE activities given its geographical location and level of preparedness.”

Philip Dickinson, VP International Markets, Qatar Tourism, said, “An outstanding selection of hotels, convention centres, excursions, and activities make Qatar a premium MICE destination. The compact nature of the Peninsula allows visitors to mix work with leisure and explore the country on business trips. We are delighted to have hosted the Maruti Suzuki Dealer Conference for their milestone celebration this year. We value the trust and confidence that corporates such as Maruti Suzuki place in the destination.”

Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, “After carefully considering all of our options, we were confident that Qatar would be the best fit for all of our requirements. The event was flawlessly executed. The Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), a cutting-edge venue with state-of-the-art amenities and stunning architectural aesthetics, was an excellent choice. We received outstanding reviews from all of our dealer partners, and that is what matters most to us. We thank Qatar Tourism for all of their support to MSIL throughout the event journey and are confident that Qatar will see more such spectacular events and conferences from India.”

P. Gopichand, the chief national coach of the Indian badminton team, and Saina Nehwal, a professional badminton player from India, both gave motivating speeches during the three-day event. The seminar featured Dr. Manish Gupta, Director of Google Research India as a guest speaker and Sunidhi Chauhan who performed some of her most popular Bollywood songs at the gala dinner which brought the event to a memorable close. The dealers and their families also explored the enchanting city of Doha and experienced some of the most incredible sites and landmarks such as the Museum of Islamic Arts, the iconic National Museum of Qatar, the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Katara Cultural Village, Souq Waqif, and more.

SOTC Travel Pvt Limited and Gravity India Pvt Ltd were the official hospitality and event partners, respectively, for the dealer conference.

Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau Opens New Representative Office in South Korea

The Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has opened its first dedicated representative office in South Korea as part of its continuous drive to raise Abu Dhabi’s MICE tourism profile in new and potential source markets. Abu Dhabi has welcomed 30,408 visitors from South Korea between January and August 2022, indicating a strong appetite for travel to the UAE capital.

ADCEB will educate corporates, associations, event organisers, MICE agencies, and other industry stakeholders in South Korea about Abu Dhabi’s strong MICE proposition, highlighting it as a dynamic global destination for business events.

Commenting on this, Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau at DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “We are excited to open our first representative office in South Korea to further establish Abu Dhabi as a premier destination for meetings, incentive travel, conferences, and exhibitions. As we remain focused on progressing the emirate, growing our network of international offices will help us expand Abu Dhabi’s reach in newer markets. With the recent easing of travel restrictions in South Korea, we anticipate great demand for outbound MICE travel, making it the best time for us to establish our presence in this market.”

In recent years, ADCEB has accelerated its financial and non-financial support towards strategic business events, which includes the launch of Advantage Abu Dhabi 2.0, an enhanced subvention programme that offers event organisers an array of support throughout the event planning cycle, comprising financial assistance and destination-driven value-adds.

ADCEB continues to build strategic partnerships that ensures event objectives are met with world-class experiences for both planners and attendees. Earlier this year, ADCEB formed a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, to further bolster support for MICE travel groups travelling to Abu Dhabi.

Through this collaboration, ADCEB can offer eligible Advantage Abu Dhabi applicants additional flight benefits and perks such as group booking discounts, complimentary flights for large MICE travel group bookings on direct flights, and special flight rates for site/destination inspection trips to Abu Dhabi for clients who host their business events and incentive groups in the UAE capital.

In addition, ADCEB occasionally leads or supports the bidding process for suitable conventions and influences event organisers’ decision in launching their first-ever event or geo-clone their flagship events in Abu Dhabi too.

Fostering deeper collaborations with associations, ADCEB also renewed its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Emirates Medical Association to attract more B2B medical sector conferences to Abu Dhabi.