OMAN EXPLORES USA FOR CONVENTION OPPORTUNITIES

OMAN EXPLORES USA FOR CONVENTION OPPORTUNITIES
Oman’s standing as a new, emerging destination for international business events was explored at the recent IMEX America convention and meetings industry tradeshow.

An Omani delegation lead by the country’s government-mandated organisation, Omran, which oversees the development of significant tourism infrastructure projects attended the event to ensure the country’s readiness leading up to the completion of its cornerstone project, the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre in 2016.

Omran CEO, Mr. Wael Al Lawati, said the objective of the visit was to understand the globalisation strategies of international organisations based in North America, determine how Oman can be part of this and also meet with other countries to share their experiences.

Since its debut into the North American market last year, IMEX America has recorded a 30% growth in exhibitor participation from 140 countries and 2,400 hosted buyers in attendance in 2012.

“Our venue operator, AEG Ogden co-ordinated meetings with the executives of the peak convention industry bodies to learn and understand what are the essential elements and services required to win the confidence of the North American meeting planners to choose Oman and implement a strategy to support our capacity building.

“Whilst it is important to have all the infrastructure in place, it is also essential that the Omani community are fully prepared to offer the level of services that is required to host world-class events.

“It is no use building international-standard venues, resorts and hotels if we do not fully understand the exact needs of these key decision makers and have the ability to entice their participants to attend and stay a few extra days to explore Oman’s natural beauty and diversity. Omran is focused on developing environmentally sustainable projects, to ensure that every person leaves our shores with the desire to return again and again with their family and friends,” Mr Al Lawati said.

He said the visit was also significant, given the historical treaty of friendship and trade that was signed between the Sultanate of Oman and the United States in 1833.

“Here we are, almost 180 years later, introducing Oman to the US as a new, but significant business events destination,” he said.

Accompanying Mr Al Lawati were Ambassador Richard Baltimore, an advisor to the Board and former US Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman and Ms Rochelle Uechtritz, Group Manager, Convention Sales Development with AEG Ogden.

Ms Uechtritz said about 23 percent of international associations were headquartered in North America and given the already strong trade partnerships between the two nations, it was only fitting to expand on these relations by attracting international conventions.

“Omanis have been actively involved in international and regional associations for decades and have been asked to host many of the world’s most prestigious congresses, however that has not been possible until the development of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre,” she said.

While in the US, Ms Uechtritz also participated in the annual two-day Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Global Professional Conference aimed at creating stronger awareness and knowledge of Oman to more than 40 international meeting planners.

About the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre
Strategically positioned in the Sultanate’s capital city of Muscat, the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is located only four kilometres from Muscat International Airport and is scheduled for completion in 2016.

The design of the Centre will ensure a flow of the meetings space to suit the most discerning conference and exhibition organisers. It also incorporated expansive concourse areas to enable ease of large delegations with floor to ceiling windows overlooking landscaped gardens and water features.

The Centre will feature an elaborate tiered auditorium to seat 3,200 while the exhibition halls will feature 22,000 square metres of column-free exhibition space. Halls 1 and 2 will have a superior fit out, specialised acoustic treatment, advanced lighting and rigging requirements to act as a multi-purpose space for plenary sessions, concerts, performances, gala events on a larger scale of up to 10,000 seated, theatre-style.

The Centre will also include an additional 14 meeting rooms for 70-360 delegates, two well-appointed ballrooms to seat up to 2,360, VIP Pavilion, a spacious food-court and a multi-storey carpark with capacity for 4,000 vehicles.

The Precinct will provide the infrastructure necessary to host successful international, regional and local events and for the enjoyment of the community. These include a five star hotel linked to the convention centre, two four star, and a three star hotel and apartments with a combined total of 1,000 rooms. A business park and retail shopping mall surrounded by parklands overlooking a Wadi (valley) and elevated sea views are also part of this picturesque precinct. http://www.omanconvention.com

About AEG Ogden
AEG Ogden is a joint venture between Australian interests and AEG Facilities of the United States. AEG Ogden manages venues throughout the Asia Pacific region, including the Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur and Qatar convention centres and the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (under construction), Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, five live theatres including Perth’s His Majesty’s Theatre, the Perth Concert Hall and Subiaco Arts Centre, and a network of arenas including Sydney’s Allphones Arena, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, and the Perth Arena (currently under construction). http://www.aegogden.com

AEG, a subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, is the leading sports, entertainment and venue operator in the world. AEG Facilities, a stand-alone affiliate of AEG, owns, operates or consults with 100 of the industry’s pre-eminent venues worldwide, across five continents, and works in concert with affiliated AEG entities, including live event producer, AEG Live, AEG Global Partnerships and AEG Development to support the success of AEG venues across the globe. AEG owns, operates or provides services to venues including STAPLES Center (Los Angeles, Calif.), The Home Depot Center (Carson, Calif.), Nokia Theatre L.A. Live (Los Angeles, Calif.), Citizens Business Bank Arena (Ontario, Calif.), Valley View Casino Center, (San Diego, Calif); Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.), XL Center and Rentschler Field (Hartford, Conn) The Rose Garden (Portland, Ore.), KeyArena (Seattle, Wash.), KFC YUM! Center (Louisville, Ky.), American Airlines Arena (Miami, Fla.), AT&T Center (San Antonio, Tx.), Time Warner Cable Arena (Charlotte, N.C.), Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.), Target Center (Minneapolis, Minn.), Mercedes-Benz Arena (Shanghai, China), MastercardCenter (Beijing, China), The O2 Arena (London, England), O2 World (Berlin, Germany), O2 World Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany), Ahoy Arena (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Pernambuco Stadium (Recife, Brazil), Allphones Arena, (Sydney Aust), Globe Arenas (Stockholm, Sweden), Turk Telekom Arena (Istanbul, Turkey) and the Qatar National Convention Centre (Doha, Qatar). For more information, visit http://www.aegworldwide.com.

For more information contact:
Rochelle Uechtritz
AEG Ogden Group Manager, Convention Sales Development
E: ruechtritz@aegogden.com | M: +61 400253392 | +968 9221 3154

PCMA and HILTON HHONORS™ PARTNER TO SUPPORT MEETING PROFESSIONALS

PCMA and HILTON HHONORS™ PARTNER TO SUPPORT MEETING PROFESSIONALS
Hilton HHonors members can now redeem HHonors points for PCMA membership

Chicago, IL, October 2012 – The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and Hilton HHonors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton Worldwide’s 10 distinct hotel brands, has announced a new value-add option for meetings industry professionals to engage in PCMA membership. Hilton HHonors members will now have the option to redeem their HHonors Points for PCMA Professional or Supplier Memberships.

The process is simple and seamless; HHonorsmembers can visit the Global Shopping Mall at hhonors.com/shopping to take advantage of this opportunity.

Commenting on the agreement Ben Goedegebuure, International Board Director of PCMA and Director of Sales for the SECC, commented: “This agreement underlines the partnership nature of PCMA and how, as an association, we can bring wide reaching member benefits for senior meetings and events professionals.”

According to Deborah Sexton, PCMA President and CEO, “This partnership is designed to help foster professional development and peer-to-peer business networking amongst those in the meetings, conventions and business events industry. Through the Hilton HHonors program PCMA members will be able to renew their membership by using their HHonors points, while those who are not members, but interested in their professional development, can easily join PCMA by using their HHonorspoints.”

“Recognizing the challenges facing meeting professionals in the last few years, Hilton Worldwide is pleased to be able to support the world class educational platform and premier networking opportunities associated with a PCMA membership. This is a unique opportunity and is yet another way Hilton Worldwide is committed to a healthy and vibrant meetings community.” said Larry Luteran, Senior Vice President, Group Sales and Industry Relations, Hilton Worldwide.

For more information on this program, visit pcma.org/memberdiscounts
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For further information, contact:
Alistair Turner at Davies Tanner on +44 (0)1892 617 904 or +44(0)7801 710 238 or alistair.turner@daviestanner.co.uk

About PCMA
PCMA is the multi-channel professional resource and premier educator for leaders in the meetings, conventions, events and trade show industries. PCMA provides their 6,000+ members with a community of likeminded colleagues, innovative education and creative global solutions to enhance both their professional development and their organization’s face-to-face and virtual connections. Headquartered in Chicago, PCMA has 17chapters throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico with members in more than 35 countries. For additional information, please visit the PCMA Web site at pcma.org.

About Hilton HHonors
Hilton HHonors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton Worldwide’s 10 distinct hotel brands, offers its 30 million members more ways to earn and redeem points than any other guest-loyalty program, enabling them to create experiences worth sharing at more than 3,800 hotels in 91 countries. HHonors members can now redeem points for any room, anywhere, anytime, including the most luxurious suites, using any of four room rewards: Premium Room Rewards, Room Upgrade Rewards, Points & Money Rewards and StandardRoom Rewards. In addition, HHonors members can use points to purchase unique experience rewards, merchandise and vacation packages, make charitable contributions and more. HHonors is also the only guest-loyalty program to offer ‘No Blackout Dates’ and ‘Points & Miles’ for the same stay at its properties worldwide, including participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels& Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. Membership in HHonors is free, and travelers may enroll online by visiting http://www.HiltonHHonors.com or connect with Hilton HHonors at news.hiltonhhonors.com.

About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitalityc ompany, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels andresorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, HiltonWorldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,800 hotels and timeshare properties, with 630,000 rooms in 91 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. Visit http://www.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at http://www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, http://www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, http://www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, http://www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and http://www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.

SECC PROMOTE WARDEN TO HEAD OF ASSOCIATION SALES

SECC PROMOTE WARDEN TO HEAD OF ASSOCIATION SALES

October 12, Glasgow: Kathleen Warden has been promoted to Head of Association Sales at the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC). The move follows the departure of Robin Miller from conference sales and comes as part of a restructure of the sales department as the venue continues to deliver the very best service for new and returning customers.

Warden had several years’ experience working in destination sales, both in the UK and overseas, before joining the SECC in 2000. Her previous roles at thevenue include sales manager in both the UK and international association conference market. Here she has been involved in the SECC’s establishment as one of Europe’s foremost association venues.

“Kathleen was heavily involved in the role out of The Glasgow Model to the sector and has the right strengths of market knowledge and experience,” comments Ben Goedegebuure, Sales Director of the SECC. “As a venue we need to continue to show innovation and we’ve moved the sales team around to make sure we continue to provide exceptional expertise in all the sectors we operate in.’

“Association sales is about working in partnership with customers, and I believe the SECC’s investment in its long term relationships has been key to our success,” comments Warden. “This is an area I’m keen to develop so we can continue to bring in major events to Glasgow.”

ITB Berlin mit umfangreichem Seminarprogramm auf der ABAV

ITB Berlin mit umfangreichem Seminarprogramm auf der ABAV
Weltweit führende Messe der internationalen Reiseindustrie bietet Vorträge und Workshops auf der größten lateinamerikanischen Reisemesse ABAV in Rio de Janeiro an – Aktuelle Themen aus den Bereichen CSR, Business Travel, MICE sowie Gay & Lesbian Travel – Eintritt für ABAV-Besucher kostenlos

Berlin, Oktober 2012 – Wissensaustausch zwischen Deutschland und Brasilien: Die ITB Berlin kooperiert dieses Jahr als Knowledge-Partner mit der brasilianischen Reisemesse ABAV – Feira de Turismo das Américas – und bietet Teilnehmern in zahlreichen Seminaren die Möglichkeit, ihr Wissen rund um CSR, Business Travel, MICE, Hotel Management sowie Gay & Lesbian Travel auf den neuesten Stand zu bringen. Renommierte Speaker informieren Teilnehmer über nachhaltigen Tourismus in Brasilien oder klären die Frage, wie Destinationen mit Mega-Events langfristigen Erfolg erzielen können.
Vom 24. bis 26. Oktober 2012 ist die ITB Berlin mit einem eigenen Stand in Halle 4, Stand H 01 und einem umfassenden Kongressprogramm auf der Reisemesse in Rio de Janeiro vertreten. Die ITB Academy vermittelt Teilnehmern wertvolles Know-how aus unterschiedlichen touristischen Bereichen. Der Eintritt zu den Veranstaltungen ist für ABAV-Besucher kostenlos. Mit der Kooperation verstärkt die ITB Berlin, die weltweit führende Messe der internationalen Reiseindustrie, ihre langjährige Zusammenarbeit mit der ABAV, die vom brasilianischen Reisebüroverband Associação Brasileira de Agências de Viagens (ABAV) ausgerichtet wird.
Für Dr. Martin Buck, Direktor Kompetenz Center Travel & Logistics Messe Berlin, dienen die Seminare nicht nur dem Wissenstransfer und der Fortbildung: „Die Themen der Veranstaltung sind Spiegel der internationalen und nationalen Gesellschaft. Insofern stoßen wir mit den Vorträgen und Diskussionen wichtige Impulse an, um den Tourismus und den Austausch zwischen Deutschland und Brasilien weiter voranzutreiben.“
Business Travel und MICE stehen am Mittwoch, 24. Oktober 2012, auf dem Programm. In einem Workshop geht Gustavo Elbaum, Global Sales Director, Brazil and Latin America, CWT, der Frage nach, wie die Effizienz bei Hotelbuchungen gesteigert werden kann und sich Unternehmen das Business Travel Management zu Nutze machen können. Margaret Anne Grantham, Centro de Turismo Alemão, Brazil, informiert Interessierte über die MICE-Infrastruktur in Deutschland und wie Travel Manager und Event-Organisatoren davon profitieren können.
Nachhaltiges Reisen sowie das wachsende Segment Gay & Lesbian Travel stehen am Donnerstag, 25. Oktober 2012, im Fokus des Seminarprogramms auf der ABAV. Mit Blick auf Brasilien wird diskutiert, wie sich verantwortungsbewusster Tourismus in Zeiten von globalen Großevents umsetzen lässt. Anschließend informiert Rika Jean-François, Produktmanagerin ITB Berlin, über die Bedeutung von Gay & Lesbian Travel. Thomas Bömkes, Diversity Tourism UG, beleuchtet den globalen Markt anhand von strategischen Analysen. Tom Roth, Community Marketing Inc., San Francisco, liefert wertvolle Zahlen und Fakten über den internationalen Gay & Lesbian Reisemarkt, während Marco Lomanto, Embratur, Brasilien als aufstrebende Destination in diesem Wachstumssegment vorstellt. Best Practice Beispiele von Steven Eidelberg, Accor Hotels, New York, zeigen, welche Voraussetzungen Touristikverantwortliche schaffen müssen, um in diesem Segment erfolgreich zu sein.
Am Freitag, 26. Oktober 2012, widmet sich das Programm der ITB Academy dann dem Hospitality Management. Gérard R. Jean Bourgeaiseau, Public Affairs Director of Windsor Hotels, spricht über die Herausforderungen für die Hotelindustrie bei Großveranstaltungen. Den Abschluss der hochkarätigen Veranstaltungsreihe macht ein Seminar zum Thema Nachhaltiges Reisen unter Beteiligung von renommierten Speakern.
Medienpartner der ITB Academy Seminare auf der Messe ABAV ist die Fachzeitschrift Mercado e Eventos.

UK Hosted Buyers boosted by 25th EIBTM

UK Hosted Buyers boosted by 25th EIBTM

New initiatives including flexible flights and more departure points have driven an increase in requests for Hosted Buyer places at this year’s 25th EIBTM, with over 700 UK meetings industry professionals expected to attend.

Hosted Buyers will be able to focus on tailored streams of education dedicated to their professional status, including the Association, Agency, Business Travel and Corporate sessions. More than 60 educational streams are available over the 3 days of the show, and with complimentary flights, 4/5* accommodation and transfers, plus networking events, this year’s UK Hosted Buyer participation is expected to be the biggest to date. All details regarding the programme are available on http://www.eibtm.com or through the Hosted Buyer team on eibtm-hosted@reedexpo.co.uk.

Graeme Barnett, Reed Travel Exhibitions, EIBTM Event Director commented, “Our aim this year is to make EIBTM a great business and skills opportunity and our Hosted Buyer programme focuses on achieving these objectives. Barcelona is only a two hour flight away and attendance will provide up to three days of business, networking and education which is dedicated to helping business grow in the UK. We are looking forward to welcoming those who join us.”

Industry Calls on Government to Recognise Event Impact

– Olympic role in economic growth spurs call for more major UK events –

The £36bn UK events industry has called upon government to increase its support for organisations looking to bring new sporting, cultural and business events to the UK. The announcement follows news today that demonstrates the positive contribution the Olympic and Paralympic Games played in bringing the UK economy back to growth.

“The Olympic Games, the Queens Diamond Jubilee, and other related cultural activities, around Britain underline the awesome power of events in delivering both economic growth and social pride to communities; locally and nationally,” commented Michael Hirst, OBE, from the Britain for Events campaign and Chair of the Business Visits & Events Partnership, the umbrella body for the UK events industry. “Everyday the UK bids to bring major events to the UK, be they sporting competitions, cultural and live events, or business exhibitions orconferences. Each one of these brings in tourists, businesses, and spend to the economy; but we need help to win them.”

The UK events industry is already predicted to grow by some £500 million as a direct result of the Games, and will pick up the task of filling the £11bn extended infrastructure built as a result of the event. However the Britain for Events campaign is keen to extend the impact of the Olympic legacy.

“The summer saw the benefit of the Games in bringing people into the UK who invested in our hotels, restaurants, and transport. However, the added benefits of increased commercial spend and activity underline the power of events in stimulating business,’ continues Hirst. “We also demonstrated that the UK is creative, innovative and drives business; both locally and nationally.”

PCMA JOINS BUSINESS VISITS & EVENTS PARTNERSHIP

PCMA JOINS BUSINESS VISITS & EVENTS PARTNERSHIP

29th October 2012, Chicago: The ProfessionalConvention Management Association (PCMA) has been approved to join the umbrella body for the UK events industry following last week’s partnership meeting in Glasgow.

The association will become the twentieth member of the Business Visits & Events Partnership, the body that represents the full spectrum of the UK events industry. PCMA has gained worldwide accolade for the quality of its educational and there has been a marked increase in interest from UK meeting and events professionals since the inaugural PCMA Global Corporate Summit was held in Scotland this summer.

Ben Goedegebuure, Sales Director of the SECC and International Board Member for the PCMA commented, “As an association we believe in working in partnerships so joining the BVEP was a natural step to align ourselves with the UK industry. Europe remains a key market and the success of ‘The Glasgow Summit’ only underlined the genuine appetite there is out there for the association.”

The BVEP held its October meeting in Glasgow at the SECC, hosted by both the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and Menzies Hotels.

“PCMA has earned a solid reputation for the quality of their education and brings to the table differing international perspective to where the UK industry is right now,” commented Michael Hirst, Chair of the Business Visits & Events Partnership. “It was fitting to have confirmed the association’s membership in Glasgow, where they took their first step into the market.”

The news comes following the PCMA’s partnership agreement to supply education at International Confex next year.

TTG ASIA DIGITAL

Dear Readers,

TTG-ITB Asia 2012 Official Daily is now available as an interactive online version. Uploaded daily you’ll find live news coverage from the mart by the TTG Asia editorial team, snapshots of delegates in action, and special reports and guides for reading on the go.

Get all 3 issues of the publication by revisiting this link over the next two days.
http://www.ttgasia.com/showdaily/ITB_Asia/17102012/index.html

The A LIST Guide goes live at AIME

The A LIST Guide goes live at AIME

October 2012: The organisers of the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME), held annually in Melbourne, Australia, have signed a partnership with event industry bible, the A LIST Guide, to bring a new exhibition concept to next year’s show.

The comprehensive events Guide will launch the A LIST Open House at AIME 2013; a dedicated area where visitors can meet with new event suppliers and venues to gain inspiration for special events and functions.

Sally de Swart, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) Director for AIME said, “Now in its 21st year, AIME continues to bring new initiatives and partnerships to the well-established show. Open House will be a valuable addition to the show floor and give visitors a face-to-face contact for special event services which are featured in the popular A LIST Guide.”

“Each year we listen to what our buyers, exhibitors and visitors want, actively taking their feedback on board and creating new and innovative initiatives and, based on this feedback, we have created A LIST Open House to provide our buyers with networking opportunities with niche suppliers.”

Co-owner and General Manager at A LIST Guide, James McGregor said, “A LIST Guide is a comprehensive online and printed directory to the best venues, suppliers and activities in Australia. We thought it would be great to bring the directory to life and create a face-to-face business area within AIME where event planners can meet the people behind the brands who make up the A LIST Guide; essentially bringing the brands into a live environment.”

AIME will take place on 26 and 27 February, 2013 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). For more information visit http://www.aime.com.au or to exhibit within the A LIST Open House contact Sales Manager, Stephanie Rowen on 02 9422 2470

BeMyGuest.travel Goes Online, Puts Travel Dollars into Local People’s Hands

BeMyGuest.travel Goes Online, Puts Travel Dollars into Local People’s Hands
A new Singapore-based website, BeMyGuest.travel, empowers local travel suppliers and intermediaries such as homestays, travel agencies and local tour providers by giving them free distribution of their travel products on BeMyGuest’s online and offline channels.

Singapore, October 2012 – BeMyGuest.travel goes online today to provide a new comprehensive way for discerning travelers to contribute the majority of their travel dollars directly to local businesses. Booking and payment is conducted with the primary objective to champion uniquely local, often small-scale, accommodation, events and activity providers, especially in emerging destinations in Asia and around the world.

The idea is to empower people running local businesses such as guest houses, homestays, sightseeing tours, cooking classes, participatory activities and events. BeMyGuest.travel caters to the rising demand for authentic and immersive travel experiences based on collaboration with local people.
Clement Wong, founder of BeMyGuest.travel, was inspired to make a difference after a trip to a Maasai tribesman’s village in Kenya in 2010. “I wanted to visit a local Maasai village. My driver told me it would cost $20, which I thought would go to helping the village. The friendly tribesman introduced me to his family and tribal elders and did a great job showing me around. However, they were still living a subsistence lifestyle. When I asked him why, as they were getting many tourists visiting them, he replied that he only gets $2 of the $20. The driver-guide takes the other $18. It’s a universal problem that de-motivates people who should be benefitting the most. BeMyGuest has therefore been created to bring just rewards to real tourism providers and benefit smaller, more local travel businesses,” said Wong.

The website has already been shortlisted for the semifinals of the Web in Travel Travel Start-Up Pitch Competition 2012, which awards innovative travel start ups online.

“BeMyGuest addresses an emerging need,” said Anna Pollock, a globally acclaimed tourism strategist, trend analyst and founder of Conscious Travel. “Today’s travelers want to touch and feel what is real, be transformed, and then come home with a different perspective. They want to know that the money they spend at their destination is a force for good, benefitting local hosts directly.”

In just four weeks, BeMyGuest.travel has secured 5,000 unique rural and urban travel offerings, mostly local accommodation, events and activities around the world, focusing particularly on Asia and emerging destinations.

Learn yoga with a guru
Wong is seeking to add more local accommodation suppliers, tour operators and travel agents who have access to a wide range of local travel products that mainstream travel agents don’t usually sell.

Samples of travel experiences currently on BeMyGuest.travel, which has the tagline, “Stay Local, Play Local,” include booking igloos, reserving the entire Sound of Music village in Switzerland for weddings, riding in a fighter jet to the edge of space, and enjoying secret dining events, from popular destinations such as Thailand, to off-the-beaten-track places such as Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia.
“Small businesses without websites and businesses with websites who have limited experience of internet marketing and search engine optimization will benefit most from BeMyGuest.travel,” said Wong.

He added: “We help market and distribute people’s unique travel products across our online and offline channels for free. We only get a small commission if the travel product gets booked. We want local communities to benefit from tourism.”
Wong has advised leading travel companies around the world while working with Travelport, PhoCusWright and Euromonitor International.

Fly in a fighter jet
To ensure quality control, payment will only be made to the service provider after the guest has checked in or used the service. Guests are able to use BeMyGuest.travel to review the accommodation, activities and events afterwards. The site aims to simplify the search and book process. Through the use of bespoke technologies, Wong hopes to inspire travelers seeking unique experiences and convert them away from mass tourism packages, especially in emerging markets.

BeMyGuest has been structured to appeal to the entire spectrum of travelers, from backpackers to high-enders committed to authentic local tourism experiences.

“Whether people want to spend $5 or $500 a night, the accommodation or activity provider gets a larger share of tourism revenues,” said Wong. “We use technology to empower traveler choice and help local businesses benefit more from tourism.”

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About BeMyGuest.travel – Stay Local, Play Local
We aim to bring the benefits of tourism to local communities. We are a travel intermediary that helps local suppliers and intermediaries to distribute unique local accommodation AND local activities AND local events, both online and offline, to travelers, through the use of data analytics and bespoke search algorithms. It is free for individuals, local travel suppliers and agencies to list their travel products on BeMyGuest.travel. We will then market their travel products across all our distribution channels, online and offline for free. Guests can book unique travel experiences on BeMyGuest.travel while helping local communities at the same time.