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30 May MTF Insights Paul
MTF Insights: Paul Burnett @ Sanakeo Boutique Hotel Paul is the general manager of the new Sanakeo Boutique Hotel, which is hosting the Mekong Tourism Sector Strategy Open Forum and the Blogger Match-Up. This will be Paul’s first MTF, having heard about event from Sanakeo’s owners. He first learned of the MTCO from local officials followed by a visit from MTCO Executive Director Jens Thraenhart and his team. What opportunities do you see for your business, and Luang Prabang, in hosting the multi-venue MTF? Hosting part of the MTF is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our hotel. We are relatively new on the scene, and therefore not widely known. My experience is that whenever stakeholders or guests visit or stay with us, they are very pleasantly surprised with what we offer. On a wider scale, Luang Prabang is Laos’ biggest tourist town. However, many people don’t know about the wonderful experiences they can enjoy here. In fact, many people don’t even know where Laos is! By having a multi-venue format, visitors will experience far more of what Luang Prabang can offer. What challenges is your business and Luang Prabang facing in being one part of a multi-venue event? One of the biggest challenges that we face with this forum is who we are actually working with regarding the planning. Our hotel has been visited by a number of local officials, who all work in the same organisation. We have been given contradictory information by these people. For example, we are preparing to host a group of 50 dignitaries and others on the evening of 4 June with a buffet reception. However, we’ve had three different versions of what we are supposed to be preparing. The folk on the last visit weren’t aware that their colleagues have already had significant discussions with our catering team, and that a menu has already been agreed upon. MTF replies: Communication is the cornerstone of any organisation to successfully execute projects. We aim to minimize any potential issues as much as we can. Being based in Bangkok (MTCO), we can only be in Luang Prabang for short periods of time. This is the challenge for and Mekong Tourism Forum, as the event rotates around the region every year. However, we have been spending more time in Luang Prabang than in any other MTF host destination previously, predominantly due to the unique and more complex concept this year. As it relates to Sanakeo Boutique Hotel, the host venue of the Tourism Working Group meeting as well as the Blogger Matchup session, we stayed for several days at the hotel (as paying guests), and communicated with staff including the new general manager, who has been very eager and helpful to get this hotel ready and prepared for the event. We are confident that in the end, the hotel will do an amazing job in being an exemplary MTF 2017 venue. Bottom line: I am sure there are communication issues on both sides, but if we all work together with respect and without finger-pointing, but with a spirit to stage the best Mekong Tourism Forum ever as a group, we will be successful together.
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22 May MTF Insights John
MTF Insights: John Morris Williams @ Luang Prabang View Hotel John in the General Manager of Luang Prabang View hotel, which is hosting the MIST (Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism) finalists’ presentations. This will be John’s first Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF). He read about the Luang Prabang event in social media and the “Vientiane Times”, before the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), which he follows in the media and by word of mouth, approached him for rooms and venues. What challenges does Luang Prabang face in hosting a multi-venue event? “Luang Prabang does not face many problems from our side. I believe the venues chosen are all seasoned hotels who handle various groups all year round. I see the major challenge for the MTF is coordinating all this with the rooms, venues, etc. Then again, we can all learn from doing something new. It’s a great opportunity for all attending to experience the city of Luang Prabang and sites outside of the main tourism centre. MTF replies: True. Having a conference in one conference centre or big hotel is a lot easier. But besides the point that Luang Prabang does not have a big conference centre or large meeting facilities in a hotel (Pullman Luang Prabang is not open yet), we wanted to allow delegates to experience the beauty of the destination. For MTF2017, we decided to be as inclusive as possible and include as many small businesses in being a host for the Mekong Tourism Forum, in order to make the destination the venue, and to make the conference as experiential as possible. That way, also the hosting is shared, and people are not constrained to being only in one conference venue of the period of the event. This approach could become model for other smaller towns without big conference facilities to host events by businesses partnering and forming a consortia. But one thing is for sure – it is a lot more work! What opportunities do you see for your business in hosting the multi-venue MTF? “The Luang Prabang View is lucky to be able to host a good number of rooms, which adds revenue for our ‘Green Season’. We offered to host two breakout events at our Som View Restaurant, which overlooks the city. What is your business, and Luang Prabang, doing to meet any challenges in hosting the MTF? Our business is hospitality, with a 74-room hotel that caters to international travellers, groups, and incentives, so we are ready for the MTF. There are some last minute changes that we need to accept and work around, but part of the hospitality industry. Further, the Luang Prabang tourism sector works together, and we all work together and support each other when facing challenges. We Are Lao asked several Luang Prabang businesses and organizations about the opportunities & challenges they face in hosting the multi-venue MTF, with MTCO Executive Director Jens Thraenhart responding. This is the 4th instalment in this series.
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30 May MTF Insights Gary
MTF Insights: Gary Tyson @ Azerai Hotel Luang Prabang Gary is the general manager of the new Azerai Hotel Luang Prabang, which is an Official MTF Hotel. This will be Gary’s first MTF, having heard about event from colleagues shortly before its public announcement. He first learned of the MTCO through the monthly Lanith Hospitality Managers’ Rendezvous. What challenges does Luang Prabang face in hosting a multi-venue event? The co-ordination between all the venues in a professional way is vital, and making sure we have the proper transportation systems in place to the various events. The organisers need to provide clear information to the attendees for the precise times, and ensure all the venues are clearly marked. As numbers for the various events are limited and the fines are quite high if you do not attend, the above is of great importance. MTF replies: Fully agreed. Communication is key to avoid confusion. We have a website as well as a mobile app, and we will have a program guide, which will explain all the details. We will also send emails to all registered delegates before June. Being registered is key though, which can be done for free at www.MekongTourismForum.org. This is standard for any conference, from delegates, media, speakers, hosts, facilitators, organizers, etc. http://www.mekongtourismforum.org/index.php/tickets/ Due to the capacity limitations of the session venues, which we cannot exceed by law, it is important for everybody to register and select their tracks of interest in order not to get left out. What opportunities do you see for Luang Prabang in hosting the multi-venue MTF? I think this is a great opportunity to showcase and promote Luang Prabang and all the wonderful attractions the destination has to offer, as participants have the opportunity to move around the town and experience all the different facets of Luang Prabang. What is your business, and Luang Prabang tourism, doing to meet any challenges you face? We are all working together to better promote the destination and our respective businesses. We want to ensure we present a professional image with a constant focus on training our staff to meet international standards without losing the integrity of the Lao people. The destination has many challenges such as environmental preservation, proper waste recycling and disposal, and cultural education for tourists, especially from China and Korea. This is a delicate and fragile town that is moving towards the edge of becoming another destination in Asia that has been overrun by large-scale tourism if left unchecked. We need to constantly be vigilant to work on keeping the balance between prosperity and sustainability within the town and outer areas and working closely with the local and national governments as well as the foreign government support agencies such as GIZ and JICA. Together we need to promote the destination to more niche markets if we are to compete with the surrounding larger countries and not undervalue the destination. We also need to educate tourists and promote the importance of only buying locally produced products that keep the traditional crafts of Laos alive and thriving, with the money going to support the greater community. We Are Lao asked several Luang Prabang businesses and organizations about the opportunities & challenges they face in hosting the multi-venue MTF, with MTCO Executive Director Jens Thraenhart, responding.
