destination report for taiwan sponsored by meet taiwantaipei international convention center (ticc)...

Sponsored by MEET TAIWAN

Destination Report for

Meeting, Incentive Travel, Convention, Event/Exhibition

Taiwan

Shanghai/1.5 hours

Hong Kong/1.5 hours

Bangkok/3.5 hours

Singapore/4.5 hours

Tokyo/3 hours

Seoul/2.5 hours

Jakarta/5 hours

Taiwan

Central hub Convenient air links with destinations across Asia

WWW.CEI.ASIA TAIWAN SPONSORED SUPPLEMENT 2014 CEI ASIA 3

Sponsored Supplement: Taiwan

As the flight connections on the opposite page show, Taiwan offers a convenient location for international meeting groups. Taiwan is at the heart of East Asia, as more conference and incentive travel organisers across the world are finding out. Thanks to a network of professional travel and meeting specialists combined with the services of the MEET TAIWAN office – a Bureau of Foreign Trade agency that supports the MICE industry – organisers can ensure their delegates can make time for leisure and recreation at the end of business meetings and conferences.

The Taiwan government’s commitment to meetings, incentives, conferences and events is seen in the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ 2013-2016 Taiwan’s MICE Industry Pilot Program (MEET TAIWAN). This is aimed at advancing the homegrown incentive travel industry and to assist more overseas planners considering an event in Taiwan with subsidy schemes. In 2013, a task force was established to run MEET TAIWAN to 2016 and design ways to highlight Taiwan’s MICE industry on the world stage.

Beyond the capital, Taipei, event planners will find an increasing number of options in cities such as Taichung in central Taiwan and Tainan and Kaohsiung in the south. The choices for post-conference tours, teambuilding activities and incentive programmes are also growing in Taiwan’s mountainous interior, where delegates can appreciate Taiwan’s natural wonders, indigenous cultures, and local cuisines.

Rich natural assets and vibrant cultures that preserve the best of ancient traditions while embracing modernisation are the hallmarks of Taiwan. A powerhouse economy that has fostered innovation and made the country a leading technology provider has led to sophisticated meeting facilities with more venues becoming available. All this is combined with a more recently emerging ecological outlook and the well-known friendliness of Taiwan’s people.

Service providers with international experience are introducing more groups to Taiwan and enabling them to explore more of what the country has to offer. An efficient High-Speed Rail Service has brought much of Taiwan closer to visitors from overseas. Now stunning alpine scenery and rolling plains are accessible within a couple of hours from downtown Taipei.

As the following pages show, now is the time to bring your next conference, meeting and incentive group to Taiwan, since meeting infrastructure and support, connectivity, and tour choices continue to advance.

CONTACTE-mail: [email protected]: +886 2 2392 0788Web: www.meettaiwan.com

MEETthe Place to Taiwan

WWW.CEI.ASIA4 CEI ASIA TAIWAN SPONSORED SUPPLEMENT 2014


Event highlights Taiwan

Global media, travel experts, designers and other authorities are increasingly heaping praise on Taiwan – and for good reason.

It’s not just Taiwan’s famed innovation and reputation as a powerhouse economy that have been making an impression. Included here – and in no strict order of preference – are some quirkier aspects that the world has been noticing. These provide even more reason for planning a beneficial and enjoyable meeting, event and incentive tour event in Taiwan.

1) Festivals Taiwan boasts a calendar of 42 events. Because they are held year-round, planners can time incentive and post-conference tours with at least one of these. The events bring out the best of Taiwan’s heritage of folk customs, art and sports. They also let visitors see picturesque rural Taiwan. The International Hot Air Balloon Festival on Luye Plateau in Taitung draws visitors to the southeast. National Geographic, meanwhile, suggests taking the High-Speed Rail to get to different locations for the annual lantern festivals, a winter highlight. Fodor’s chose the three-day Pingxi Lantern Festival as one of the 15 festivals to attend before one passes away! This celebration in New Taipei City sees more than 100,000 lanterns launched into the night sky.

2) CuisineBesides Taiwan’s famed beef noodles, and huge range of fruits and desserts, another favourite has been capturing foodie attention – xiaolongbao. These are the popular dumplings travellers to Taiwan crave, and it has led to one restaurant chain being singled out by CNN for high praise.

3) BookshopsTaiwan’s bookshops have been the talk of book lovers across Asia, and now they are coming to global attention. Cultural website

10 salutes from overseas

What the world has been saying about Taiwan

Speed and comfort One of Taiwan’sHigh-Speed Rail bullet trains at Taipei Station and (below) steamed xiaolongbao

Flavorwire praised ‘the simple old world grace’ of VVG Something in Taipei in its list of the ‘20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World’. This accolade was followed up when Taipei Public Library’s Beitou branch also won Top 20 praise from travel writers.

4) Travel technologyThe International Federation for IT and Travel & Tourism (IFITT 2014) named Taiwan as winner of its Innovative Destination Prize. The award recognises how Taiwan is offering increasingly more convenient ways to travel the country by combining technology with travel services.

5) National Park scenery Travel writers have been praising the high-speed rail from Taipei that brings

visitors closer to Taiwan’s western plains

and the foothills of the Central Mountain Range.

The southernmost stop (Zuoying) serves as the gateway to Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area, Kenting National Park and Maolin National Scenic Area, which is home to the Rukai, Paiwan, Bunun and Tsou indigenous peoples.

6) Quality of lifeThe Economist Intelligence Unit rated Taipei as the world’s 61st most liveable city in its Global Liveabilty Ranking for 2013.


7) InnovationOut of 200 countries and regions in the Bloomberg Global Tech Rankings for 2014, Taiwan is in the top 10 for innovation and leads the way for patent activity.

8) DesignTaipei was named World Design Capital for 2016 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) for its unique character and putting design at the heart of city governance and planning. Icsid is a society of designers working to advance excellence in industrial design.

9) Broadband economyHsinchu and New Taipei City were included in the Top 7 Intelligent Communities of 2014. The Intelligent Community Forum, a non-profit research organisation focusing on job creation and economic development through broadband delivery, rated these cities for best practices in creating competitive local economies in which broadband communications are integral. For instance, the forum highlighted how some 500 companies in Hsinchu Science Park employ 150,000 people and generate US$16.6 billion in revenue. All this and more comes in addition to speeds of up to 60 Mbps available to 94 per cent of the population in

Coastal gems More international visitors are finding out about areas of outstanding natural beauty such as Kenting National Park in southern Taiwan

New Taipei City alongwith 12,500 free WiFi hotspots in the city.

10) Good coffee Delegates in need of fresh coffee will find themselves well served. Taipei is rated by the Smarter Travel website as one of the world’s Top 10 cities for coffee alongside the likes of Seattle, Lisbon, Vienna, Havana and Melbourne. The care and attention that coffee shops place on service combined with a heritage of café culture and impressive beverages are widely praised.n

Taipei was also noted as one of the 10 cities to improve its scores in the ratings over five years.

Taiwan ranked high in the LivCom Awards, which is part of United Nations Environment Programme. Districts in Kaohsiung, Taichung and New Taipei City were among those singled out for praise.

Kaohsiung’s new convention and exhibition centre received a gold award, while the Tainan Astronomical project and Kaohsiung Harbor Railroad Historical Park gained runner-up places.


TAIWAN QUICK FACTSCapital: TaipeiPopulation: 22.3 million Major languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Min Nan Chinese (Taiwanese), HakkaEthnic groups: Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, indigenous 2%Climate: Tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon Terrain: Eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in westInternet country code: .twInternational dialling code: +886Monetary unit: New Taiwan dollarMain exports: Electronics, machinery, optical instruments, chemicals, iron and steel articles and information communications technology productsExport – partners: China 21.1%, Hong Kong 13.2%, US 10.3%, Japan 6.4%, Singapore 4.4% (2012 est)Imports – partners: Japan 17.6%, China 16.1%, US 9.5% (2012 est)

(SOURCE: CIA WORLD FACTBOOK,

BBC COUNTRY PROFILES)

Lantern Festival in Pingxi and (top right) the award-winning Kaohsiung Exhibition Center


World class Taipei International Convention Center is primed for international conference organisers seeking a central location in one of Asia’s capitals




Venues meeting high expectations TAIPEI

Taipei International Convention CenterNo.1, Hsin-Yi Road, Sec.5, TaipeiTel: +886 (2) 2725-5200 ext.3517/3518www.ticc.com.tw

Taipei International Convention Center (TICC) was purpose-built for international conference organisers seeking high levels of service and state-of-the-art facilities. The venue showcases Taipei as an international business destination; together with Taipei World Trade Center, it forms a core part of Taipei’s Hsin-Yi business district. Neighbouring landmarks include Taipei City Hall, Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Taipei 101. The TICC has six floors of conference space that includes a Plenary Hall, Banquet Hall and video-conferencing room. There is also a negotiation room, with seating set in a circle, that can be used for high-level talks or seminars.

The TICC forms part of the ‘four-in-one complex’ of Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC), which is also easily accessed from the adjacent Grand Hyatt Taipei.

Total Area 59,998 sqm Meeting Rooms 26Theatre 3,100 seatsClassroom 800 seats

Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition HallNo.5, Hsin-Yi Road, Sec.5, TaipeiTel:+886 2 2725 5200 www.twtc.com.tw

The Exhibition Hall in Taipei World Trade CenThe Exhibition Hall in Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) presents an ideal venue for international business exhibitions. Among the more than 330 world trade centres in the world, only TWTC achieved a record win of eight ‘Best Practice’ certificates from the World Trade Center Association in 2012.

The venue consists of the main ground-level exhibition hall, conference rooms on

Dome is Taiwan’s largest column-free showground and can hold 18,000 people. It makes an impressive venue for international trade shows, concerts, direct-sales conferences, incentive travel events and year-end parties.

The ground-level exhibition hall has 22,680 sqm with a capacity for 1,161 standard booths. The column-free upper-level hall also boasts 22,680 sqm and provides an ideal venue for larger conventions.

The conference facilities on the fourth and fifth levels have eight rooms and two interpreter booths. There is also a 1,000 sqm outdoor exhibition area.

Total Area 45,360 sqmMeeting Rooms 8Theatre 504 seatsClassroom 224 seats

Colossal conventions TWTC Nangang is proving an ideal venue for large-scale events

the second level and 1,069 showrooms from levels 2 to 7 that form the International Trade Mart. The first-level Exhibition Hall is one of the largest showfloors in Taiwan. A total of 84 trade shows were held in 2013 with an occupancy rate of 70 per cent, well ahead of the world average of 40 per cent. That makes it one of the world’s busiest exhibition halls. Some of the manufacturing world’s most famous shows are held here, including Computex Taipei, the Taipei International Cycle Show and events for the auto parts and machine tool industries.

Total Area 23,450 sqm(1,300 standard booths) Conference Rooms 4Trade Mart Showrooms 1,069

Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition HallNo.1, Jingmao 2nd Rd, Nangang, TaipeiTel: +886 2 2725 5200 ext. 5521/5526 (Venue Inquiry)Tel: +886 2 2725 5200 ext. 5523 (Conference Room Inquiry)www.twtcnangang.com.tw

The TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall is a 15 minute drive from TWTC in Hsin-Yi along the Huangdong Expressway.

The venue’s twin-level show floors contain an impressive 45,360 sqm of show space. On the upper level of this green-certified building is the Sky Dome. The



Unique Venues

Songshan Cultural and Creative ParkNo.133, Guangfu South Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei CityTel: +886 2 2765 1388www.songshanculturalpark.org

This former tobacco factory was given a new lease of life when its rows of warehouses were transformed into off-site exhibition venues for the Taipei World Design Expo 2011. From 2012, it became the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, which nurtures multimedia startups. The two-storey buildings are near the Songshan Domestic Airport and the district’s popular night markets. A design museum, art gallery, restaurant and cafe are also among the attractions.

There is a garden in the facility’s courtyard that can make an ideal location for reception cocktails or welcoming banquets. The venue has already proved popular with leading fashion brands.

Total Area 23,760 sqm Function Rooms 7Theatre 970 seats

Huashan 1914 Creative ParkNo.1, Sec. 1, Bade Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City Tel: +886 2 2358 1914Tel: +886 2 2358 1166 (for site inspection)www.huashan1914.com

Set in the heart of Taipei in a park featuring historic and architectural sights of interest, Huashan 1914 Creative Park gives planners plenty of scope to use the venue for creative events.

The buildings, considered of unique architectural interest, originate from 1914 when they were part of the largest wine distillery in Taiwan.

Today the former workshops and storehouses are used for performing arts and multimedia production, making the facility Taipei’s premier creative arts

Eventful location Organisers seeking unique venues can let their creativity flow with the spaces at Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Central landmarkThe International Convention Center Kaohsiung is located in the centre of the city and was renovated in 2013

centre. It is also home to events such as the Simple Life music festival and the BiBo student design expo.

Brand events for the likes of computer maker ASUS and for Sony products have also been held here.

Total Area 3,298 sqmFunction Rooms 7 Theatre 1,570 seats

KAOHSIUNG

Kaohsiung Exhibition Center39, Chenggong 2nd Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung CityTel: +886 7 213 1188www.kecc.com.tw

When Kaohsiung Exhibition Centre opened earlier this year, it made history in more ways than one.

Not only is the KEC Taiwan’s only waterfront multifunctional exhibition and convention centre, the venue forms part of the Kaohsiung maritime district’s redevelopment. This includes nurturing the area’s growing yacht building and repair industries. A pivotal part of this was an international luxury boat show held at the KEC in May 2014.

The venue’s bold wave-like architecture is becoming a focal point of a revitalising maritime quarter with abundant parkland. Its exhibition and banquet hall look


Maritime marvel A luxury boat show was one of the first major international events held at Kaohsiung Exhibition Center Main picture courtesy of Horizon Yacht


with a Green Building award and a gold award from the International Awards for Livable Communities.

Site area 45,000 sqmExhibition halls, South 9,100 sqm, North 8,800 sqmMeeting rooms 15 Total capacity 26,000 persons

International Convention Center Kaohsiung274, Zhongzheng 4th Road, Yancheng District, Kaohsiung City 80347Tel: +886 7 561 8666www.icck.com.tw

Conveniently located in downtown Kaohsiung, the ICCK can host meetings for between 20 and 1,500 people and accommodate 380 exhibition booths.

The centre, which underwent a refurbishment in 2013, has made a commitment to green MICE practices with the use of energy-saving fixtures and high-tech meeting devices. An outdoor area suitable for cocktails overlooks the city’s Ai River, which is known to locals and visitors alike as ‘Love River’. The venue also provides a cosy dining environment where guests can enjoy various in-house catering services and choose from customised menus. n

Total Area 34,325 sqm Meeting Rooms 25Theatre 1,800 seats

out over a new marina. Operated by Uniplan Taiwan, a German-Taiwan joint venture,

KEC is equipped with indoor and outdoor exhibition areas. One hall features a column-free design, and its second-level conference rooms can accommodate events ranging from 20 to 2,000 people, with a total capacity of up to 4,000 persons at any one time.

An outdoor seafront area has space for about 400 booths. The venue’s credentials have also been burnished



Beyondthe conference hall: group tour options

Organisers will find plenty options for post-conference and incentive tours,which can be combined with teambuilding, CSR or recreation programmes. Delegates can also

experience Taiwan’s culture, LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) and traditional food.

TRADITIONAL CUISINE

Making xiaolongbaoGroups can participate in a teambuilding event based on the art of making xiaolongbao or steamed dumplings. The ingredients are mixed by chefs who later steam the dumplings in wooden baskets before they are enjoyed by participants with a vinegar and ginger dip. A tourist facility and restaurant with branches in Taoyuan and Taipei can host groups of about 20 at a time. The secret to the perfect dumpling is to fold each one 19 times to create a delicacy that pleases the eye and the tastebuds. Groups of Roteract members from Taiwan and Japan were among the recent teambuilding participants to bond by perfecting the art of folding dumplings.

Pineapple CakeThe rest of Asia seems to envy Taiwan’s prowess at pastries and baking. Taiwanese are justifiably proud of this heritage, and the island even has a Museum of Cake and Pastry, which offers group classes and activities such as the ‘DIY Creative Experience.’ One of these, the ‘Nostalgic Pineapple Shortcake DIY

Natural scenery and rich cultural heritage offer plenty of choices for incentives and teambuilding

Snack time Team bonding through dumpling making at Dian Shui Lou Restaurant (above) and creating pineapple cakes (right) at Kuo Yuan Ye Museum of Cake and Pastry


Experience,’ focuses on one of Taiwan’s best-loved snacks.The museum can arrange for groups of at least 20 delegates to experience pineapple-cake making.

Each participant can make nine pieces of the treat, starting with the mixing of fresh ingredients and creating the pastry.

Tea Experience in ChiayiTea culture is at the heart of rural communities high in the hills of Chiayi County and elsewhere in Taiwan.

Groups can experience the hands-on methods of choosing the best of the tea crop and preparing the leaves for drying and, eventually, making tea.

Small tea-making shops can be found in the mountain villages of Alishan, just over an hour’s drive from the Chiayi High-Speed Rail station.

It is here where locals boast that the best tea in Taiwan is grown, and they are willing to share some of the secrets of picking, kneading the leaves and pouring a fine beverage.

The craft of tea is a subject that is taught in local schools where certified tea professionals share the art of brewing and pouring, as well as the finer points of horticulture for growing the best leaves.

The skill and knowledge behind tea are handed down through the generations.

Once prepared, the leaves need to be ‘awakened’ with hot water.

This is the stage where teambuilding participants can sharpen their senses

to learn how various teas differ in taste and aroma. In addition to picking, kneading and brewing,

teambuilding participants will be able to experience the different fermenting techniques required to create black or oolong tea.

Nature also helps perfect the teas that are harvested in Chiayi. The best tea crops are found within some 50km of the Tropic of Cancer, and that includes the farms of Alishan at an altitude of 1,000 metres to 1,500 metres.

This makes for ample cloud cover and wide differences in temperature between

day and night for the ideal tea-growing environment. The art of tea is not only a tonic for teambuilding.

Locals hail their product for its anti-oxidant properties, improving the immune system and metabolism and even preventing toothache.

To finish off the process of picking, kneading, brewing and pouring, there are a range of traditional tea-based dishes to enjoy, including fish and meat marinated in the beverage to leaves cooked in a sweet batterTourism Bureau of Chiayi CountyTel: +886 5 3703550

CULTURE

Painting Oil-Paper UmbrellasMeinong is a Hakka village in Kaohsiung City and home to Taiwan’s only family still making their living by creating traditional oil-paper umbrellas.

Groups can observe the frame construction, the cutting of the material and oiling of the umbrellas. They can then paint smaller versions so that each umbrella is individualised to tell a story or celebrate an event.

The making of oil-paper umbrellas is a unique Hakka skill, and there are very few craftspeople left in the world who create these accessories by hand.

This traditional craft is still kept alive at the Kuan family workshop in rural Meinong. The umbrellas are cherished by the Hakka people as a symbol of good fortune.

Each umbrella is considered unique and tells the story not only of the craftsmanship that went into it, but also of events such as weddings—and incentive trips! This is where the illustration skills of teambuilding participants will be put to the test.

At one time, Meinong had about 20 umbrella factories that produced more than 20,000 umbrellas per year. The umbrella business fell into a decline when mass-produced Western-style umbrellas appeared.

Today, visitors may still find some factories left in town that are open for them to see the process of making oil-paper umbrellas. It’s a great chance to take home a prized symbol of Hakka culture.

Skill sets The ritual of scalding leaves and pouring tea (left) Guang Jin Sheng Oil Paper Umbrella (centre)



Aboriginal ExperienceMore groups are choosing to get back to nature by visiting Taiwan’s rural interior and eastern coast. Guided tours can introduce groups to some of the 14 aboriginal tribes on the island. Each tribe has its own culture and traditions, and many keep their own languages alive. Indigenous folklore, culture, dance and festivities can be experienced on these tours. For more adventurous delegates, ‘sport exploration’ can highlight the ecological concerns of indigenous peoples as well as provide fun. Delegates are shown preserved areas where hunting and gathering is still part of aboriginal daily life. Groups can take part in gathering materials for bonfire cooking and enjoying the meal with traditional rice wine. Participants can also hunt with a bamboo bow and arrow. Other skills can be learned too, such as pit trapping and sling making. Some eco-tours introduce visitors to tribes such as the Da-lai. Hands-on experiences in the ‘Land of the Mountain Raptors’ include archery lessons and traditional toy-making. Such activities make for memorable teambuilding experiences. Bright colours and totems are widely used in aboriginal crafts, and groups can observe as native artists weave and knit to create souvenirs and colourful headdresses.

Agricultural ExperiencesTaiwan’s great outdoors also offers farming experiences for groups as a way of building an appreciation for local culture. Activities range from strawberry and bamboo-shoot picking to rice harvesting and, of course, the tea experience.

In the rural villages of Dahu Township, Miaoli County, strawberries are ripe to pick from winter to spring. Many locations offer strawberry-based cuisine and wines to be enjoyed.

In Shuiwaku, Pingtung County, groups can experience fishing and marine life, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Long-shui village, also in Pingtung, offers an organic rice farm experience in an area noted for its seawater birds and other wildlife.www.facebook.com/comforestry

Pottery When holding a finely made ceramic object or other work of pottery, people appreciate the skill and effort required to create it.

Pottery classes are one way of cultivating this appreciation and building a sense of group spirit as each participant is encouraged to accomplish the tasks that pottery demands: moulding clay, glazing, getting

Life cycles Sky lanterns with a message at Pingxi’s annual festival (top) rise to the sky and cycling along Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan


Uplifting experience Balloonists from all over the world come to Luye Plateau for the Hot Air Balloon



Team fun Delegates can teambuild with indigenous tribes such as the Milling’an (above) and through pottery (top left) at Hsin-Wang Hsu Ceramics Museum

the right amount of water on their work as the potter’s wheel revolves, and so on.

Yingge Ceramics Museum is one of the venues that offers experiences for groups. Qualified teachers guide participants through each step of the pottery process – moulding clay, using the wheel to throw pottery, glazing, painting and using the kiln.

LOHAS

Taiwan International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, TaitungOne of Taiwan’s foremost international events is held each year on Luye Plateau in the southeast between June and August. Besides ballooning, there are also more down-to-earth activities during the festival such as concerts, sports activities, and seminars on ballooning.

The Taiwan International Balloon Festival was first held in 2011, and Luye Township has become a hotspot for ballooning ever since. Visiting groups can arrange for short ascents in which the balloon basket is tethered to a fixed point on the ground. The thrill comes in the experience of inflating and operating the balloon to get

it airborne and then down again.

Groups eager to see Taitung’s landscape from above can arrange for a tranquil ride over the East River Valley, crossing mountains, rivers, fields and lakes. Then there is the spectacle of hot-air balloon performances, when groups can watch balloonists from all over the world take to the sky over Luye Plateau.

Cycling Visitors are finding that cycling is a great way to see parts of Taiwan up close and to meet the locals.

As with other progressive international destinations, cycle paths are becoming integral to many parts of Taiwan as people seek to get healthier and cities find ways of reducing carbon emissions from engines.

One of the most popular routes is the riverbank bicycle trail from Bitan to Tanshui in Greater Taipei. Another route going to Yanmingshan takes in mountain scenery, which looks splendid at all times of the year. The hot springs in Beitou or Jinshan can be found further along the route and, near Taipei Zoo, the Maokong Gondola can be found.

Sun Moon Lake in mountainous central Taiwan also provides breathtaking scenery. CNN has ranked this route in its Top 10 most beautiful bicycle trails in the world; along the way one can enjoy Shuili Snake Kiln Ceramics Cultural Park, meals featuring taro in Tachia, and the flowers and water bamboo shoots of Puli.

Sky Lantern FestivalMore ‘winter tourists’ are descending on the town of Pingxi in New Taipei City each year to marvel at the launch of sky lanterns.

The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is becoming one of Taiwan’s most popular events. Visitors can see the launch of huge lanterns that are customised to mark a special occasion or release a more traditional form on their own.

Launches take place in February and are organised into different sessions in which hundreds or even thousands rise to the night sky at a time, often with a giant lantern leading the way (during the 2014 launch, a glowing giant panda rose to the sky). n


Festival and visiting groups also have an opportunity to experience



Local expertise and global trust Case studies from GIS Congress, South East Travel, Enjoy PCO, Lion Travel

Ashore Ocean scientists and engineers at the Oceans 2014 MTS/IEEE Conference

Celebrate Physical therapy delgates take to the stage at WCPT-AWP & ACPT Congress

FactfileEvent WCPT-AWP & ACPT Congress 2013 Delegates 1,000Organisers Asia-Western Pacific

Region of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy; The Asian

Confederation for Physical Therapy, and Taiwan Physical Therapy Association

Agency We Plan Well PCO Venue Nan Shan Education & Training

Center (ETC), TaichungDate September 5-9, 2013

The briefThe Oceans series of conferences in Asia bring marine scientists and engineers together to advance ocean science and technology.

The theme of the Oceans 2014 MTS/IEEE Conference was Ocean Regeneration.

After winning the bid in 2013, GIS Congress had eight months to organise the main event, which would also bring 350 overseas delegates, including 100 from the United States, to Taipei International Convention Centre.

ChallengesThis would also be the first time many of the delegates had visited Taiwan, so they wanted to experience Taiwan culture beyond marine-science topics.

The main challenge for the GIS Congress team, however, emerged two months before the start of the conference, when

difficulties were encountered linking the registration system to the US.

The team discovered that the problem arose as a result of a recent merger of telecom companies, which rendered part of the software code ineffective. By cooperating with IT engineers in the US, the team was able to solve the problem in time for payments to be made well in advance of the conference opening

ExecutionPre-conference visits were organised to the National Museum of Marine Science & Technology north of Taipei on the coast by Keelung. Delegates also visited Yehliu Geopark.

The conference opening ceremony and a gala dinner to welcome delegates were held the next day at the historic Grand Hotel. The event created a Taiwan-Chinese cultural atmosphere through the

impressive décor of the banquet hall.

The evening featured performances, a dragon dance and ‘cultural booths’ to let delegate experience traditional skills such as calligraphy.

CommentThe organising committee praised the smooth operation of the whole conference including the tours. The Grand Hotel was also singled out for praise as a memorable gala venue.

The briefThe combined meeting of the 6th WCPT-AWP and the 12th ACPT Congress was the largest professional meeting for physical therapists in the Asia Pacific region in recent years. Approximately 1,000 attendees gathered in the central city of Taichung. The organising committee had to provide a solid, wide-ranging programme that included six pre-conference workshops, seven symposiums, an education forum and two hospital visits.

ChallengesThe main congress venue was located in a suburb of Taichung, so shuttle buses were required to take delegates from the city centre for the duration of the conference. The organiser prepared more than 70 buses using different routes at

different times to meet the requirements of as many delegates as possible. Two additional activities – workshops and a board meeting – were held in separate venues. This meant that clear and accurate meeting and transport information for every participant was a priority.

ExecutionMore than 200 faculty members, reviewers, clinicians and students were recruited to help organise programmes and activities. The main programme saw the congress venue packed with delegates throughout, thanks to the rich and substantive programme.

Since many overseas attendees were in Taiwan for the first time, traditional snacks, special performances and a free tour to Sun Moon Lake, a noted scenic spot, formed part of the welcome.

CommentsThe organising committee was impressed and said the event provided a wonderful experience for each attendee.

FactfileEvent Oceans 2014 MTS/IEEE

Conference (Taipei Chapter)Organiser IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (OES), Marine Technology Society,

National Applied Research Laboratories Event agency GIS CongressAttendees 600 delegates, exhibitors

and VIPsMain venue Taipei International

Convention CentreDate April 7-10, 2014



Luxury Grace Hill in Taipei was the venue for the Bentley dealers’ gala evening

The briefWith only three weeks lead time, the events team of South East Travel Service (SET) was tasked with organising a conference, meetings, gala dinner, activities for senior Bentley executives and incentive experiences for dealers from across China.

Six senior executives were also flying in from Europe to meet general managers and announce details of a new model of the luxury car.

ChallengesBesides having to make arrangements within a relatively short timeframe, the 200 dealership general managers had to be offered something different to make their trip to Taiwan memorable. Many would have visited the island before, so were already familiar with visitor attractions, culture and cuisine. Special arrangements also had to be made to collect the executives from Britain and Germany, who

also included cookery lessons with a famous Taiwan chef. Excursions were also arranged to Jiufen, a small mountain town north of Taipei famous for its night markets. They also saw sky lanterns being released in Pingxi, which all added to the incentive experience.

For the VIPs, a tea ceremony was held at Songshan Creative Cultural Park. They also enjoyed an intimate Japanese-style dinner at Beitou Museum, on the outskirts of Taipei City.

CommentThe overall feedback from the dealership delegates was that the event stood out from other trips – and this had been SET’s aim. Delegates also expressed appreciation at the way the event combined cuisine, art and Taiwan actors who are well known in China.

included the Europe division CEO, from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport. One of the most important factors to remember, however, was the brand of cars to be used. The executives did not expect Bentleys to be provided, but neither were they to be made to ride in a car made by a rival company. Volkswagens or Audis were permissible, but the rule did not apply to buses

ExecutionThe opening session was held at Taipei’s Kelti Center, which has a banqueting floor on its upper levels. Delegates stayed at the Westin Taipei and Grand Hyatt Taipei where breakout rooms were used for sales strategy meetings.

Grace Hill, which is accustomed to hosting weddings, was chosen as the gala dinner venue with a Bentley positioned outside a chapel and the brand name represented in floral arrangements.

Since Taiwanese TV shows are popular in China, SET arranged meet-and-greets with local celebrities. Social events

FactfileEvent Bentley China convention and

dealership meetings Delegates 200 from China, plus VIPs

from EuropeAgency SETVenue Kelti Center and other venuesDate January 13-17, 2014

FactfileEvent Bank customer reward

programme for VIP credit card holdersGroup size 300Agency Lion TravelMain venue Taipei 101 Date Dec 31, 2012 – Jan 1, 2013

The briefA major Chinese retail bank wanted to give its VIP clients an experience of Taiwan in thanks for their loyalty as holders of its premium credit card. Rather than an all-encompassing luxury incentive programme, which most of the bank’s premium clients would already be familiar with, Lion Travel was tasked with introducing the participants to unique Taiwan experiences that would be memorable.

Challenges The trip was also timed to take place during the New Year celebrations, the highlight of which is the firework display from the Taipei 101 tower. As a bonus, the client wanted the group to enjoy the fireworks experience, but in comfort.

Sammy Yen, general manager for Lion Travel’s meeting and convention business, said this was a formidable request as the Taipei 101 tower was likely to be surrounded by 200,000 people that evening. The size of the group, 300 persons, presented another challenge. Luxury incentives are usually smaller and more intimate operations that makeit easier to attend to individual requests.

ExecutionLion Travel had to think of ways to make the whole group feel special. They came up with ‘scalable’ ideas that had worked with small groups. Instead of viewing the fireworks from outside the tower, the group would be able to see them from inside. So an upmarket restaurant on the 87th level of the tower was booked. Food

stalls were arranged in such a way that participants could move around as they would at one of Taiwan’s night markets. Guides were also stationed at stalls to tell the story behind each delicacy.

CommentThe client feedback was ‘over and above what they expected’. “We tried to persuade them not to compete on luxury parties that you might find in China, but instead have a celebration with traditional Taiwan foods that VIP clients can enjoy. And we succeeded.” n

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