Mutiara Hotels & Resorts head off to EIBTM 2003

Malaysia's Mutiara Hotels & Resorts has targeted the Meetings, Incentives and Exhibitions (MICE) market as a significant growth area for the hotel group this year. The Group is optimistic about increasing arrivals from this sector to its hotels through its attendance at one of Europe's most significant travel marts, the European Incentive Business Travel Meeting Exhibition (EIBTM 2003) to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from May 20 to 22 2003.

Mr. Halim Merican, General Manager, Yield and Revenue Management with PERNAS Hotel Management (PHM), the managers of Malaysia's Mutiara Hotels & Resorts, thinks the Group will be able to increase arrivals from this sector of the tourism industry this year despite the current uncertainty in the market. 

He said on the eve of his departure: 'While there is some uncertainty in the region, we consider that we can still attract more foreign-based meetings groups to the country later this year.'

He added: 'EIBTM 2003 is an important market for the Mutiara Hotels & Resorts as many key industry buyers will be in Geneva and it is important for us to be represented to keep the market informed of the new developments that are occurring within the Group. We recognise that travellers throughout the world have been affected by certain events. However, tourism is a resilient industry and we will come out of this and when we do, we need to be prepared,' he commented.

'We shall be reinforcing with the industry attending EIBTM 2003 that Malaysia as a conference, meetings and incentives venue, is an excellent travel destination, that it is welcoming and friendly, that it offers state-of-the-art facilities for meetings, and that there are superb value-for-money hotels and resorts like those operated by Mutiara,' he said.

Mr. Halim mentioned that it was important for Mutiara Hotels & Resorts to continue to raise the awareness of the Mutiara brand name within the travel industry, as it is still relatively new to many people. He also mentioned that Malaysia has to work hard to reinforce the country's image overseas especially when there maybe some doubts in the market at the present moment.

'Mutiara has set out to develop a collection of uniquely Malaysian owned and managed hotels and resorts and we feel this is important for those who attend meetings here. We want them to learn a little about our rich culture and heritage so that they will return to Malaysia again and again either for meetings or vacations. There will be industry representatives at Geneva who will want to know of all the new developments within the Group and we think that the investments we have made in our properties over the past few years will be enough to send business our way,' he added.

'One of the purposes of exhibitions like EIBTM is not only to reinforce our brand with the market buyers but to update them of all the changes and improvements that we have made to our properties.'

Mr. Halim continued: 'We believe that attending EIBTM will be good for our business. We have been building upon our strengths over the past few years and now it is time to capitalise on our investments. Mutiara Hotels & Resorts has some excellent properties and Malaysia remains a superb destination for foreign corporations that want to combine meetings, business and leisure activities.'

He concluded that: 'Foreign travel marts are always important for the Malaysian hospitality industry and our presence at EIBTM reinforces the strong working relationship we have with the industry buyers in Europe. The more meetings, conventions and incentives that we can attract to our hotels and resorts will only benefit the Malaysian hospitality industry as many Malaysians now depend upon the travel industry for their livelihood.'