News

The business world is everchanging. To maximise the profit with limited resource, the techniques of Revenue Management is essential to any corporate. With this reason, IFT has co-organised a two-day Executive Development Programmes on “Revenue Management” on 17 & 18 March, jointly with Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management. The programme has attracted over 30 senior executives from various major hotels and tourism organisations. IFT has the honour of inviting Dr. Sheryl E. Kimes, professor of operations management at the School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University. Professor Kimes earned her doctorate in Operations Management in 1987 from the University of Texas at Austin. She previously served as the interim dean and the Director of Graduate Studies of the School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University. Dr. Kimes mainly teaches restaurant revenue management, yield management and food and beverage management. She has been named the school’s graduate teacher of the year three times. She has published over 50 articles in leading journals and her research interests include revenue management and forecasting in the restaurant, hotel and golf industries. She has served as a consultant to many hospitality enterprises around the globe. The focus of the programme is on professional knowledge in revenue management. Topics covered include: - Strategic Revenue Management
- Pricing and Distribution Channels
- Non-Traditional Revenue Management As the tourism industry is glowing swiftly in Macao, so will the demand for knowledgeable professionals. Through this programme, participants learned frontier knowledge and skills of revenue management, such as managing time and price, forecasting and demand control charts, distribution channels, etc. They were also updated with the concepts of non-traditional revenue management through case discussions and hands-on assignments, which help them to improve their strategies to effectively maximise the profit for their corporations. IFT always advance the research level as to contribute to the industry and the society. By organising various seminars and workshops, IFT is devoted to constantly share with the industry the most updated information and research findings, in order to foresee the future of Macao’s tourism industry and to enhance its development.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, has arrived in Beijing for tomorrow's closing ceremony of the 11th National People’s Congress. Mr Ho told reporters at Macao International Airport as he left this morning that he hoped he might have the chance to meet with State leaders during his visit. Asked about the recently announced string of measures to help the public tackle rising inflation, Mr Ho said the SAR Government would continue to introduce relief measures at the appropriate time. He stressed that the Government would closely monitor the economic development and inflation in Macao. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, is acting Chief Executive during Mr Ho’s absence.
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The Statistics and Census Service released the results of the Survey on Manpower Needs and Wages for the fourth quarter of 2007. The survey coverage includes Wholesale & retail trade; Transport, storage & communications; Security activities; and Public sewage & refuse disposal activities, but excludes the own-account workers engaging in these industries. The survey results were extrapolated from the data obtained from 990 statistical units successfully interviewed, given as follows: At the end of the fourth quarter of 2007, a total of 24,079 paid employees were working in Wholesale & retail trade, up by 13.2% over the same period of 2006, with 13,503 engaging in Retail trade. The average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) for full-time employees in December 2007 was MOP 8,045, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.5%. Sales representatives and Salespersons earned MOP 9,852 and MOP 6,965 respectively in average. Transport, storage & communications took on 7,346 paid employees, which rose by 3.4% compared with the fourth quarter of 2006. In December 2007, the average earnings for full-time employees in this sector increased by 8.3% year-on-year to MOP 14,186. The average earnings for Passenger vehicle/truck drivers in Land transport was MOP 13,126. Security activities had 3,704 paid employees, up by 5.6% year-on-year. The average earnings for full-time employees in December 2007 was MOP 6,362, up by 12.4% year-on-year, with Security guards earning MOP 5,966 in average. There were 620 paid employees working in Public sewage & refuse disposal activities, up by 8.4% compared with the fourth quarter of 2006; the average earnings for full-time employees in December 2007 increased by 4.7% year-on-year to MOP 10,975. At the end of December 2007, Wholesale & retail trade reported to have 4,078 vacancies, of which 2,333 were in Retail trade. Meanwhile, Transport, storage & communications and Security activities had 1,142 and 707 vacancies respectively. In terms of recruitment prerequisites, 55.3% of the vacancies in Wholesale & retail trade and 36.0% in Transport, storage & communications required working experience; 61.0% and 27.4% of the vacancies in the above-mentioned industries required junior secondary or lower in educational attainment, while 87.6% of those in Security activities required primary education only; moreover, 48.5% of the vacancies in Wholesale & retail trade required, besides Cantonese, knowledge of Mandarin.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has organized another series of seminar for professionals interested in convention and exhibitions organization. The speakers were MGTO’s consultants on business tourism development, Gary Grimmer and Mike Williams. Certificates would be awarded to the seminar participants. The seminars were divided into two main topics, “Meetings Business: Getting Your Share” and “Building Your Business: Developing the Convention and Incentive Market for Macau”, each involving a several day training program. “Meetings Business: Getting Your Share” was a three day training series held on January 15, March 4 and 11. The seminars targeted sales and marketing executives that have an involvement or interest in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry. The “Building Your Business: Developing the Convention and Incentive Market for Macau” training series, held on January 17 and March 6, were tailored for industry leaders to the MICE industry. The training series aim to help participants understand the MICE market, how it is changing, how customers think, how to be more successful in their sales and customer service, the sales opportunities that are being created and how to get involved. MGTO has been giving its full support to the development of the business tourism industry in Macau, actively contributing to the implementation of the government policies for this area. In this regard, MGTO organized again these training programs on business tourism which were held successfully held last October and December to enhance performance of the Macau convention and exhibitions industry. Two distinguished experts with rich experience in the conventions industry were invited to conduct the seminars to provide fresh information and ideas. Gary Grimmer is the CEO of the international consultant company on business tourism Gary Grimmer & Company. Prior to starting is own company, he was CEO of the Convention Bureau in Melbourne, Australia, and bureaux of Portland and Albuquerque, in the US. He also serves as chairman of ConventionWorks, a global convention industry consulting network. Born in the US, he lives in Australia. Mike Williams joined Gary Grimmer & Company as senior consultant in February, 2007. Prior to that he served as general manager sales of the Melbourne Convention Bureau where he led the community’s bid teams to secure major international and national business events to the city. He also oversaw strategic planning and marketing programs within the Bureau.
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The Government today announced a 814 million patacas package to help the public tackle rising inflation, ranging from a 1,800 pacatas electricity subsidy for all households to cash payment for the financially-challenged. A spokesman said it is hoped that these measures would help those whose buying power have been diminished by rising inflation and help enhance their living standard. All 180,000 households in Macao will see a 150 patacas payment into their electricity bill account for 12 months, effective April. Households who use less than 150 patacas electricity a month will see their balance carried forward. This subsidy will cost the Government 324 million patacas. Another payout, which is not means-tested, will be a 1,800 patacas one-off payment to recipients of the Old-Age Allowance. This will cost the Government 72.5 million. Other measures, with certain criteria to prevent abuse, are: - ensuring that low-paid Macao workers aged 40 and above get at least 4,000 pacatas per month, with the Government paying the difference if their salaries fall short of 4,000. The Executive Council will study the plan and unveil its details by a by-law shortly. This is expected to benefit 16,000 workers and will cost the Government 350 million patacas. Other measures include: - giving financially-challenged households that are on welfare, a one-off payment equivalent to three monthly payments, in April. In addition, three types of families that are especially in difficulties will get another three monthly payments, as well as extra subsidies in May and August. These measures will cost the Government 67.5 million patacas. Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, said at a press conference as the Government could not control the prices of commodities in a free society, it is hoped that these measures would help the people alleviate some of their hardship. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Chui Sai On, said on another occasion, that the Government would continue to monitor the effects of inflation and study other possible solutions to help the public. He added that in view of these new measures, the Social Services Committee would further discuss a possible adjustment to the Old-Age Allowance.
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To ensure that visitors to Macau enjoy their experience to the fullest, Macau Government Tourist Office has published a pamphlet with useful information about traveling to Macau. The pamphlet is available to the public at major entry checkpoints as well as MGTO’s information counters. Visitors can also download the pamphlet from MGTO’s website. With the support of Public Security Police, Port Authority and ADA - Administration of Airports Ltd, the pamphlets listed with travel tips reminding visitors to consider details of their itineraries, travel insurance, accommodation, sightseeing, meals and shopping arrangement are distributed at immigration counters at the Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal, Border Gate Checkpoint Building, Macau International Airport and COTAI Checkpoint as well as MGTO’s Information Counters around the city. In addition, Association of Macau Tourist Agents, Macau Travel Agency Association, Travel Industry Council of Macau, Macau Tourist Guide Association and Macau Consumer Council also help to deliver the pamphlets to their members for distribution. 350,000 copies of the pamphlets in traditional and simplified Chinese are ready for distribution, while English and Portuguese versions will be available later. Pamphlets in simplified Chinese can also be downloaded from MGTO’s website http://www.macautourism.gov.mo
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IFT Educational Restaurant is newly renovated and is proud to present the tropical Sri Lankan Food Promotion on 10-14 March. Two young chefs, Chef Dhanuska Kumara and Chef Romuald Machado from Sri Lanka are invited to be guest chefs during the week. Sri Lanka is south of India and has been a colony of Portugal, the Netherlands and UK. Its cuisine was highly affected by these countries, yet, it carries a unique taste of the Indian Ocean. The chefs will bring us a variety of traditional Sri Lankan delights, including Karawila Salad, Devilled Seafood, Yellow Rice with Sultanas, Chicken Coriander Curry and much more. A wide selection of Sri Lankan teas and mocktails will also be offered during lunch. In addition, a Sri Lankan tea demonstration will be held on 13 March, featuring new crowned Asia Pacific Tea Sommelier Champion, Ms. Jiwanthi Adhikari. She will demonstrate her award winning tea cocktails and mocktails, as well as traditional teas using the famous Sri Lankan Dilmah Tea. This is a great chance to taste the best of Sri Lankan tea which tea lovers must not miss. Business Hours:
Buffet Lunch: 1230 – 1500 (MOP140/person, half price for aged under 12)
Buffet Dinner: 1900 – 2230 (MOP160/person, half price for aged under 12) Enquiries & reservations:
IFT Educational Restaurant (Tel.: 85983 123 / 077 / 168) IFT has always been dedicating to organise gourmet promotions of different ethnic cuisines for the public. At the same time, it arouses the interests of food services industry in Macao as to explore more ideas in cooking. Along with the Sri Lankan Food Promotion, Chefs Kumara and Machado will host a Culinary Workshop on 12 & 13 March at IFT, which local chefs and IFT students will have valuable opportunity to experience the Sri Lankan cuisine. It aims to inspire the participants to create innovative gourmets, which contribute to the development of tourism in Macao.
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A tour group of 200 Australians arrived in Macau on Qantas chartered solely by “Caption’s Choice”, a leading tour operator in Australia specialized in luxury travel. This is the first Qantas flight landed at the Macau International Airport and the first privately chartered flight for Australian tour to visit Macau. The high-end visitors from Australia will spend 4 days in Macau, staying at the Mega Resort on the Cotai Strip. During their stay in Macau, they will also be visiting the World Heritage sites and tour around the city. Macau Government Tourist Office supports and provides tourist information through the Australia representation office and hope that the visitors will have memorable experience in Macau. MGTO has spared no effort to diversify its source markets and attract high-end visitors to Macau. Australia is one of the priority markets for Macau, and the representation of MGTO in Australia does a remarkable job to promote Macau tourism. Visitor arrivals from Australia have been on rising track, Macau welcomed over 110,000 visitors from Australia last year, a significant growth of 62% over 2006 and for the month of January 2008, arrivals from Australia increased by 82.85% over the same period of 2007. Currently, VIVA Macau flies to Sydney three times a week. “Captain’s Choice” is a luxury tour operator in Australia that organizes large-scale charter flight tour every year to some emerging and exotic destinations round the world. This year, the 19 days luxury tour covers many destinations in Asia and Africa and is the first time that Macau is include in the itinerary.
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Macau Government Tourist Office is promoting the city as a “must see” destination in the world’s leading travel trade show, ITB Berlin 2008, inaugurated today at the German capital. In this year’s edition of ITB, Macau is occupying a significantly larger stand compared to previous participations. The 90 square meters Macau exhibit, exclusively designed for this year's ITB 2008, displays the unique diversity of the city, highlighting the new projects and product facilities as well as Macau’s World Heritage. MGTO deputy director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes heads the Macau delegation to the exhibition. The delegation includes a good participation from the local tourism industry. This year six local companies are joining the MGTO booth: Galaxy Entertainment Group, Macau Tower, Turbojet, Mandarin Oriental, Venetian and MGM Grand Macau. The highlights of the MGTO booth include a morning Macau Welcome Hours reception for key media and trade partners to be held on Thursday, 6 March. The five days of the exhibition will also include interviews with the media and appointments with tourism managers. About 11,000 exhibitors coming from an impressive number of 180 countries and territories participate in the 42nd edition of ITB. Exhibitors from around the globe present their destinations, products and services on a gigantic display area of 160,000 square meters. More than 180,000 visitors are expected to attend the exhibition.
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Macao is in complete agreement with the call by Guangdong for more enhanced co-operation between the province, Hong Kong Macao. This was stated by the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, who was in Beijing to attend meetings of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and other activities. Asked by reporters on Guangdong’s aspirations to strengthen partnership among the three sides, Mr Tam said Macao would give its full support to step up co-operation. He stressed that promoting regional co-operation had all along been Macao’s strategy to develop the economy. Yesterday, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, met the Secretary of the Guangdong CPC Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Yang, when they exchanged ideas on how to promote co-operation between Guangdong and Macao. Mr Wang is also a member of the Politburo of the 17th CPC Central Committee.
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