BLOG: Live from Perth – insights from the CAPA Perth Aviation & Corporate Travel Summit

4 July, 2018

Welcome to live coverage from The Blue Swan Daily of activities in Perth, Australia at the CAPA Perth Aviation & Corporate Travel Summit.

CAPA's roadshow of events throughout Australasia's capital cities offers a unique blend of high level aviation content and corporate travel management insights and best practices. It is the ONLY platform that delivers a true end to end knowledge and networking experience for the travel industry, attracting players from across the entire travel ecosystem - from airlines, airports and hoteliers through to intermediaries and travel managers. The Perth Aviation and Corporate Travel Summit will feature detailed insights on key inbound markets and the secrets for success in attracting inbound and short stay traffic.


AGENDA - View the full CAPA Perth Aviation & Corporate Travel Summit agenda.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION! Follow the Summit on Twitter and if you have any comments on the topics being explored then join the debate: #CAPAEvents.


5:00 pm - That's a wrap...and perfectly on time

And that's a wrap! Thank you to all those that attended and to our Airport Host @PerthAirport for hosting our closing networking reception.


4:45 pm - The Westin Perth: 2019 will be a great year

The Westin Perth GM Peter Brampton on 2019: "We're optimistic. Whilst there is a drop off on the occupancy, it's really not that bad. I think we are going to have reasonable MICE business in 2019 which is going to help greatly".

"The RFP piece will be tricky, with such a big focus on price, however it is pleasing to see the trajectory for mining and resources is trending up. Yes there is extra supply but there's also growth."


4:30 pm - The outlook for accommodation in Perth: oversupply, new entrants and softening demand

Hotels, consultants and TMCs...oh my! Interesting conversation about the outlook for accommodation in Perth. Rates seem to be dominating the conversation and a general consensus that the Perth market is improving in 2018 despite the typical doom and gloom previously thought of.

The Westin Perth GM Peter Brampton: "Rates are at the forefront of most discussions. I think the new product [such as The Westin Perth] has a responsibility to the industry not to have a race to the bottom but rather price according to product."

4th Dimension Business Consulting Manager, Accommodation Sourcing Dean Easton: "We are seeing an upswing in Perth numbers. There is an opportunity for the new products to leverage on this and tap into higher rates, as long as the product matches"

CTM Acting GM Birgit Patenall: "A lot of our clients are now understanding that dynamic pricing might be the way to go".


3:20 pm - Interactive workshop panel: What are the procurement challenges for corporate travel buyers today?

https://twitter.com/BlueSwanDaily/status/1014408471750545408


2:40 pm - Time for a quick break...join us at upcoming CAPA Events

Time for a quick break, in the meantime take a look at the exciting CAPA events coming in second half of 2018, visit centreforaviation.com/events

The next event is the CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation & Corporate Travel Summit.


2:00 pm - How to optimise your travel programme, while keeping your travellers engaged and safe

Interesting discussion occurring now on safety and security of corporate travellers. Great to have a group of travel managers discussing their programmes and best practise.

CBH Group discusses reviewing hotel programmes based on safety and security while Fortescue Metals Group suggests partnering with a third party organisation.

International SOS's Beth King says the issue is that "traditionally low risk areas like Europe are in fact becoming high risk." However, points out that "90% of calls to ISOS are medically related". Organisations should be preparing travellers about looking after their health not just security risks.


1:30 pm - Garuda Indonesia talks strategy for the challenging Perth market

Garuda Indonesia General Manager Western Australia Mochamad Firman:


1:00 pm - Blue Swan TV is here!!!

Blue Swan TV has been very active at today's event. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks for exclusive interviews with today's attendees. So far we have secured time with representatives from Perth Airport, Tourism WA and FCM Travel Solutions but there is plenty more to come.


12:10 pm - Flashback to Airport Insight: Perth Airport

Each day this year The Blue Swan Daily uses the extensive insights available to CAPA - Centre for Aviation members to deliver a data snapshot on the world's largest airlines and airports. Early this year, we featured Perth Airport (IATA: PER; ICAO: YPPH), the main gateway to the Perth metropolitan area and the state of Western Australia. To coincide with today's event in Perth, lets revisit this important hub.

Airport Insight: Perth Airport


12:00 pm - LCCs for corporate travellers

Areka Consulting Partner Mike Mannix on LCCs for corporates: "There's still a perception around safety and security. Most corporates we work with wont have LCCs in their programmes for this exact reason. Although this is starting to change slightly."


11:45 am - Time to focus on the corporate market

Up next - Aviation Panel: The development of aviation access in WA: Looking North, looking East, looking West and the implications for corporate travel markets. This panel is set to discuss:

  • Perth is experiencing an upswing in growth from key markets such as China, but what about elsewhere in Asia - or even west or east? What are the growth prospects for those markets?
  • What is the unique value proposition that Perth offers in order to compete with the east coast ports?
  • Creating aviation access to WA's regional centres - a critical enabler in capturing bleisure travellers when incremental growth in the leisure tourism market is limited

11:40 am - Airlines are showing increasing interest in the India-Australia market

CAPA India Team Leader - Consulting & Research Amit Thakran:

  • Air India recently increased weekly frequencies from 7 to 8, plan to increase to 10;
  • Jet Airways is evaluating BOM-SYD service;
  • Indian LCCs are keen to expand their international footprint;
  • Could test the Australia market with one-stop services, using re-engined NBs;
  • IndiGo and SpiceJet planning to induct WBs in 2019;
  • Qantas and Jetstar maintain a watching brief on services to India;
  • New sixth freedom options emerging, e.g. Garuda, Philippine Airlines;
  • Australia and India signed Open Skies Agreement last month.

11:30 am - Can Perth reclaim its status as the place where India meets Australia?

CAPA India Team Leader - Consulting & Research Amit Thakran believes Perth can reclaim its position as the place where India meets Australia and aviation is the solution.


10:50 am - Virgin Australia to launch Perth-Hobart direct service

https://twitter.com/BradleyBWoods/status/1014338872317132800


10:40 am - On the success of Qantas' nonstop Perth-London service

As part our executive panel on Perth's tourism, Qantas' nonstop Perth-London service must be discussed:

Tourism WA Executive Director - Strategy, Brand & Marketing Services Louise Scott, says:

  • "Qantas confirmed 15% of initial bookings were stopping in Perth as part of their journey to Australia's East Coast."
  • "We have been working on making passengers understand why they should stop in Perth and where else they can see in Western Australia including Broome and other regional destination."

Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown says: "We are hopeful Qantas will extend into other destinations in Europe cementing Perth as Australia's Western Hub".

https://twitter.com/BlueSwanDaily/status/1014339836575080448


10:30 am - Intra state tourism is impacting the accommodation piece says Australian Hotels Association WA CEO

https://twitter.com/BlueSwanDaily/status/1014337394823163904


10:20 am - Tourism WA: Just Another Day in WA is a success

As part our executive panel on Perth's tourism, marketing campaign "Just Another Day in WA" is heralded a success by Tourism WA Executive Director - Strategy, Brand & Marketing Services Louise Scott.

The core message of the campaign is - There are so many unique and extraordinary experiences waiting to be discovered in WA that although it may feel like an unforgettable moment, you'll see it's just another day in WA. The Just Another Day in WA concept is an evolution of the Experience Extraordinary message to showcase a broad range of experiences in WA through the use of film and photography.


10:00 am - Executive Panel: How to increase Perth's visibility and stimulate inbound and short-stay transit markets

https://twitter.com/BlueSwanDaily/status/1014328665193230341


9:55 am - Perth Airport: Importance of the 24/7 operations

Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown on why Western Australia needs an airport that can operate 24/7:

"We need late night flights to lure international carriers, we need early morning flights for FIFO services and for sustainability of corporate travel. A 24/7 service will also assist overnight freight services…36 tonnes of cargo goes in and out of Perth each night and the growth opportunity with this is limitless".


9:50 am - Perth Airport's international route aspirations - who will operate to Japan?

Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown talks route aspirations. It reminds us of a previous report the Blue Swan recently completed on this exact topic. Revisit this at Perth Airport's international route aspirations - who will operate to Japan?

Mr Brown says, "we are talking to international airlines to discuss their exact needs and how we can develop the airport to meet these needs".


9:40 am - Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown on WA's tourism

"Last year at CAPA's Perth event, I discussed my concern that we had let in a sense of negativity when discussing Western Australia. We need to start talking positive about our state, our city and our economy, as we are the ones who advertise our state to the world."

Great words from Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown. Western Australia has a lot to offer the world and importantly is growing as the Western Hub for Australia.


9:30 am - What is NDC and why is it important?

CAPA Executive Chairman Peter Harbison asks the question what is NDC and why is it important?

"NDC seeks to allow add richness to the old legacy systems that limit them in how they can sell:

  1. Allows more ancillary sales;
  2. Regains control of the selling process;
  3. Allows data collection.

9:20 am - Perth international airfares continue to rise

Peter Harbison talks airfares in Perth, quoting CAPA Report with CWT Solutions Group:

"Airfares on key international business routes from Perth are continuing to increase, despite highly publicised new routes including Qantas' non-stop Perth-London service. Fares between Perth and destinations such as Singapore and Houston were up more than 5% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2018."

Have a look at the full report at Perth international airfares continue to rise, coinciding with hotel occupancy and rates falling: CWT/CAPA Report


9:10 am - Big Picture Keynote: CAPA Aviation Outlook

Kicking off with CAPA Executive Chairman Peter Harbison's Aviation Outlook

Peter Harbison is Executive Chairman of CAPA-Centre for Aviation (formerly the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation), which is today the world's largest publisher of B2B commercial aviation information and analysis. Peter established CAPA in 1990. It now produces the leading range of executive analysis, numerous newsletters, data and information reports, covering the global airport, air navigation services and airline industries. CAPA's Knowledge Centre also presents major conferences on key aviation topics and provides education and training courses for the aviation and tourism industries.


8:30am - Need a coffee hit? Head to the Amex booth

Thank you to American Express for supplying the well needed coffee today. Looks like there might be a few other goodies floating around as well.


8:00am - Registrations are now open. Looking forward to a great day

Don't forget to join the conversation at @BlueSwanDaily

https://twitter.com/BlueSwanDaily/status/1014297769169903616

https://twitter.com/BlueSwanDaily/status/1014306813943173120


7:30am - What to expect from today's CAPA event in Perth?

Key topics include:

  • Big picture CAPA aviation outlook
  • Insights into the China, India, Japan and UK inbound markets
  • The transformation of Perth Airport into world class hub
  • The development of aviation access in WA: Looking North, looking East, looking West and the implications on corporate travel markets
  • How to stimulate the PER inbound and short-stay transit markets
  • CAPA's Perth aviation markets outlook for corporates
  • The impact of virtual payments on your accommodation spend
  • The outlook for accommodation in Perth: oversupply, new entrants and softening demand
  • How to optimise your travel programme, while keeping your travellers engaged and safe