MICE in metropolis
Delhi and the neighbouring National Capital Region showcase prominent scope for MICE activities. Eminent hoteliers of the region impart knowledge on the same
Harpreet Vohra
General Manager, Radisson Blu Faridabad
MICE offerings
The first five-star deluxe property of Radisson Blu Faridabad is an upscale business hotel in the city of Faridabad. The hotel boasts one of the largest banquet and convention venues in the city center, which covers an area of 10,000 sqft and has the capacity to host up to 1000 people. State-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, convention facilities, elegant banquet and free high-speed Internet enhance the productivity of corporate functions. The customised dining and catering packages add a touch of ease to any business meeting. The venue has hosted events and conferences in theatre style, accommodating up to 500 people and in cluster style accommodating up to 250 people.
Specialised services
Radisson Blu Faridabad is an ideal venue for organising management workshops, training sessions, conferences, cocktail dinners and other corporate functions. It offers a convenient location with five-star amenities that include an upscale gym, spa and swimming pool and a well-informed concierge service. We customise packages as per the requirements of the client. The hotel offers a special 'Brain Food' menu for MICE events and meetings.
Brain Food is a new concept developed for meetings and conferences to help maintain delegates' concentration levels during events. The special menu includes a variety of healthy food options like fish, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, drinks and desserts with natural sweetner. This concept is based on serving food that keeps blood sugar levels stable and supplies optimal nutrition for the brain.
MICE pipeline
MICE segment has contributed substantially to the revenue of the hotel. In 2017, 40 per cent of our revenue has been generated through MICE events. The convention centre has hosted conferences for many reputed organisations. Our client list includes corporates like CII, IOCL and Escorts. There are many conferences that are lined up in the coming months of the year like doctor conferences, kid carnival exhibitions and products launches.
The venue has hosted up to 500 people in theatre style
Impact of GST
MICE revenue has surely been impacted by GST but taking it positively we are associating with MICE agencies and planning to move ahead with GST as our taxes is 18 per cent on rooms and food and 18.9 per cent on liquor.
MICE in Faridabad
The city is one of the largest business and industrial hubs in the NCR and is home to an array of corporate sites. The location has an added advantage of its proximity to a direct connectivity to South Delhi via metro.
The total banqueting area at Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, Greater Noida is 51,160 sqft
SM Azmat
President Sales & Marketing Jaypee Hotels and Resorts
MICE offerings
The total banqueting area at Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, Greater Noida is 51,160 sqft and at Jaypee Palace Hotel & Convention Centre, Agra is 47,290 sqft.
Specialised services
We offer a varied range of services for meetings, incentives, conferences and events of all sizes – national or international. Our team helps in planning a customised event as per the requirement & budget of the client. From suggesting the apt venue to being flexible with the menu to planning some out of the box activities to surprise as well as help them unwind during long meeting hours, we provide it all. A distinctive factor that Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, Greater Noida offers is the presence of Six Senses Spa, a unit of the globally renowned Six Senses Spa (Thailand) in India. Spread over 90,000 sqft, it not only offers a mesmerising array of holistic therapies administered by professionals but it also adds a different aspect of wellness following their mantra of ‘Conferences with Difference'.
MICE pipeline
For Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, MICE is one of the major revenue generating streams and 2017 has been performing better than 2016 till date. We look forward towards generating incremental business by bringing in international conferences as well which has always helped in putting us on the global map for international convention centres.
Location in NCR
NCR has become a large hub of corporate and MICE travel. Today, corporates have started using the hotels in NCR, keeping in mind the close proximity to Delhi, banquet capacity, luxury and vast expanse offered by them. The hotels in Aerocity may be preferred by business travellers because of the proximity to the airport but presently they lack infrastructure facilities.
Sumit Gogia
Director of Events, Hyatt Regency Delhi
MICE offerings
We have more than 32,000 sqft of banqueting area, which is divided into two main venues, as well as a combination for break out rooms that allow us to host a plenary session and multiple breakout sessions simultaneously. All venues combined can easily host corporate events and MICE for 1000–1100 guests. Most of our social events can host up to 3000 guests on an average.
Specialised services
We offer a one-stop-shop for all our events. Our food & beverage offerings have always been of superior quality as we incorporate our restaurants in the banquet venues. We have also moved away from the standard buffet concept and have migrated to the ‘Theatre Kitchen' concept.
Impact of GST
GST has enabled all the hotels to pitch on the same platform pan India, giving Delhi hotels an opportunity to retain business.
Challenges
Delhi Government's policies related to licenses, poor upkeep of heritage monuments, and the chaotic traffic are a few factors that don't attract MICE to this part of the country.
MICE in Delhi
In terms of locations, hotels in the city centers are slightly more expensive than the hotels on the outskirts of Delhi, be it Aerocity or Gurugram hotels. Any major conference with a reasonable paying propensity will prefer Central Delhi instead of doing it in the outskirts.