Today we have advanced and devel- oped incentive travel markets. We’ve gone from beach Olympics to corporate paintball and tech-driven teambuild- ing. Where are we going to go with this? Which destinations will we look at next? What is the future of motivational travel?
By 2020, the industry is projecting that there will 8-10 million cruise passengers in Asia. Ships are huge, and they’re getting bigger and better. The potential for MICE on board is also growing: ship theatres often have a 900-1000 person capacity, which can be great for seminars and corporate meetings while teambuilding and leisure activities can follow, all in one place.
There are three reasons why cruises are catching the attention of planners
In China, cruise operators want to base ships up the coast, but in East Asia, there aren’t that many places to sail, and there’s reason to believe that groups will start saying, “Why leave the ship at all?”
Weather plays a part too. Cruises can’t operate from December to April in northern Chinese waters due to the risk of freezing temperatures, but others are beginning to take ships down to Southeast Asia to warmer islands. I predict this will be the future of cruising for the Chinese market.
On the horizon
The newest ship released is the Quantum of the Seas by Royal Caribbean, will be based in Shanghai from July 2015. It’s the first time a cruise line has launched a brand new ship in Asia, complete with skydiving simulator, observation capsules, bumper cars and transformative venues. It has redefined the way we look at cruises.
Other lines are introducing ships in the region, in particular Princess Cruises. Their Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess have just been updated with special Asian market features such as spas, japanese kitchens and both will be based in Asia in the coming winter season.
People are no longer thinking, “A cruise, oh, that’s for grandma” – this is very much a cruise for millennials. The Quantum of the Seas is a game changer for leisure and the MICE markets.
People are seeing the millennial generation in a different way. They’re much harder to reach, and harder to impress. So businesses are hoping to motivate this generation with innovative products and in land-based hotels, which provide unique experiences on a realistic budget.
Bob Guy is managing director of Cruise Asia by Destination Asia
