The Bali Aftermath

"The incentive industry is negative!" That’s how I.B. Lolec, managing director of Pacific World Nusantara, a Bali, Indonesia–based destination management company, sums up her business since the terrorist bombing in mid October that killed more than 180 people in a Bali nightclub, mostly foreign tourists. Lolec says her incoming U.S. incentive travel programs had dropped by 90 percent following the attacks of 9/11/01, but then "the U.S. market had just about begun to kick in again." Now, however, "after the blast, we are facing a total loss—100 percent." With the U.S. Department of State’s strongly worded Indonesian travel warning—"All American citizens in Indonesia should evaluate their security posture and consider departing the country."—and lesser but similarly unnerving "public announcements" regarding travel in other Southeast Asian countries, U.S. meeting and incentives planners are predicted to pick less precarious destinations, at least for their near-term events. Hotels in the region, nevertheless, are doing their utmost to upgrade their security systems and reassure meeting clients. For example Singapore’s Raffles City Convention Centre has intensified its security since the Bali bombing. "During an event, we are able to seal off all entrances and exits completely, allowing only authorized personnel and delegates to access the Convention Centre. In addition, we have increased the frequency of security patrols at public areas," says Markland Blaiklock, managing director of Raffles The Plaza and Swissotel The Stamford. "Following the Bali incident, an awareness program was put in place to constantly remind employees to be on the lookout for suspicious parcels and characters." At Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center the security push came after 9/11, with an increase in the number of security cameras and other controls. As a result of the recent attack, Sueanne Mocktar Ng, assistant director of marketing communications with Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center, anticipates a slow down in the number of delegates from the U.S., Australia, and Britain, but right now she says it’s a "wait and see" situation.