Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has opened its newly-relocated and expanded lounge at Langkawi International Airport, marking a significant upgrade to the island’s only airport hospitality suite.
Now situated in the landside area to serve both arriving and departing passengers, the facility has been redesigned with a 63-seat capacity and a dedicated private dining area.
Lounge seating at Plaza Premium Lounge Langkawi
The refreshed space also serves as a cultural hub, debuting the Proudly Local campaign which features island-inspired artworks from The People Art Gallery, and a signature Spicy Chicken Langkawi Luxe with Trio Sambal to provide travellers with an authentic taste of the region.
The relocation is part of a broader new chapter for PPG in Malaysia, where it already operates a network across Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru.
To mark the opening, Plaza Premium is offering a buy one lounge access and enjoy a complimentary companion access promotion valid through June 7, 2026. Standard access rates for the new facility start at RM118 (US$29.30) for a one-hour stay.
From left: Star Alliance’s Theo Panagiotoulias; and ITA Airways' Joerg Eberhart
ITA Airways has officially become the 26th member of Star Alliance, completing its integration into the world’s largest airline network.
The move, finalised during a ceremony last week at Rome Fiumicino Airport, marks a strategic expansion for the alliance and a significant growth milestone for the Italian flag carrier.
Beginning April 1, 2026, ITA Airways is fully connected to the alliance’s global network, linking its hubs at Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate to more than 1,150 destinations worldwide.
From left: Star Alliance’s Theo Panagiotoulias; and ITA Airways’ Joerg Eberhart
The integration introduces immediate benefits for travellers, including through check-in, coordinated baggage tracking, and reciprocal frequent flyer recognition for earning and redeeming miles. Furthermore, Star Alliance Gold members now have access to ITA Airways lounges in Rome, Milan, and Catania, while eligible ITA passengers gain entry to the alliance’s global network of over 1,000 lounges.
The induction was mentored by the Lufthansa Group following months of technical integration. ITA Airways, which serves over 16 million passengers annually, adds more than 350 daily flights to the alliance’s roster, boosting connectivity between southern Europe and international markets.
With the addition of ITA Airways, Star Alliance now comprises 26 member airlines, offering more than 17,500 daily flights across a global network spanning over 190 countries.
Connect Marketplace Hong Kong 2026 brought together more than 4,500 global MICE professionals from various regions
Connect Marketplace Hong Kong 2026 (CMHK) brought together more than 4,500 visitors over a two-day period from March 18 to 19, 2026.
Nearly half of visitors came from overseas from around 28 countries and cities including Australia, India, Japan, Macao SAR, Mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Held at the AsiaWorld-Expo, the event powered over 2,000 one-on-one business matchings with 90 per cent of participants being decision-makers.
Connect Marketplace Hong Kong 2026 brought together more than 4,500 global MICE professionals from various regions
Yoke Cheong, managing & account director, APAC of International Conference Services, highlighted how the meetings benefitted her: “I thought the meetings were very well matched. From those meetings, I was able to have in-depth conversations with some of the exhibitors. It gave me opportunities to source potential collaborations and found out more about innovative solutions.”
The show floor reached a new level of international diversity, featuring more than 150 exhibitors and brands from 13 countries and regions including Australia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, the UAE, and the USA, offering an inspiring showcase of solutions and fresh perspectives.
Across sectors, there was a wide variety from MICE, hospitality, travel and tourism to marketing, finance, property development and technology.
The flagship conference provided industry leaders the opportunity to share proven strategies, case studies and best practices, equipping attendees to navigate evolving trends, as audiences actively engaged in discussions and sharings.
Beyond the show floor, delegates joined familiarisation trips to Hong Kong and Shenzhen, plus a guided tour at the Hong Kong International Airport, exploring MICE venues, transport links and infrastructures which make the city a top MICE destination.
Meanwhile, evenings came alive with a gala dinner, happy hour and a horse racing night where participants mingled in a lively environment, savouring fine food and drinks while experiencing Hong Kong’s vibrant entertainment scene.
Sarawak will host the 3rd Southeast Asian Tourist Guides Conference from October 13 to 15, 2026, at the Kingwood Hotel in Sibu.
Kingwood Hotel’s facade
Organised by the Sarawak Tourist Guides Association in collaboration with the Malaysian Tourist Guides Council and Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), the event aims to address industry challenges and foster collaboration among Southeast Asian tourism frontliners.
The conference is expected to attract 1,000 delegates from across the region. Participants will engage in an immersive outdoor learning experience, including a cultural exchange designed to provide firsthand insight into community-based tourism.
Sibu was specifically selected as the host city to promote inclusive tourism development, ensuring that the economic benefits of business events are shared across the region’s diverse communities.
Under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030, Sarawak is targeting a 7.5 per cent annual growth in visitor arrivals. While tourist guides are essential to achieving this sustainably, the profession faces modern hurdles such as the rise of AI-driven travel tools, rapidly evolving visitor expectations, and regional shortage of qualified guides.
Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur has launched The Connection Hub
The recently-opened Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, has unveiled The Connection Hub, a suite of five design-led meeting and event spaces on the hotel’s second floor.
Moving away from traditional corporate aesthetics, the Hub utilises bold colours and layouts inspired by Malaysia’s culinary heritage to foster creativity and professional collaboration.
Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur has launched The Connection Hub
Each of the five spaces is named after a local spice. The largest venue, Lime + Nutmeg, overlooks TRX City Park and accommodates up to 60 guests, while Ginger offers an invigorating setting for board meetings of the same capacity. For mid-sized gatherings, Tamarind and Lime each host up to 40 guests, with the former offering views of Merdeka 118. The collection is completed by Lemongrass, a specialised 11-guest boardroom featuring a private foyer for pre-meeting dialogue.
“The hotel’s key USP lies in its boutique-scale versatility – private, design-led spaces complemented by personalised Kimpton service,” Denise Mah, director of sales & marketing, told TTGmice.
Full-day meeting packages start from RM328.00+ (US$81.20++) per person with a 10-guest minimum. Full and partial buyout options are also available. Every booking includes creative concept consultations, modern audiovisual support, high-speed Wi-Fi, and access to the hotel’s signature catering.
“The Connection Hub is a refreshing alternative to traditional meeting venues,” said the hotel’s general manager Paul Cunningham. “Every detail is crafted to ensure events are seamless, personalised, and reflective of the Kimpton experience.”
Located within the Tun Razak Exchange district above The Exchange TRX shopping centre, the 26-storey property features 466 guestrooms. Additional facilities include an outdoor rooftop pool, fitness centre, yoga terrace, and four F&B outlets including a rooftop bar and a farm-to-table restaurant.
Inclusive, sustainable design is now part of the core event promise, particularly for global brands competing for delegates, sponsors and talent across Asia
Asia’s events industry is shifting toward a disciplined growth model, prioritising high-tech integration over rapid expansion, according to the Cvent Event Industry Report 2026 – Asia Edition.
While regional budgets and programmes continue to climb, planners are pivoting toward artificial intelligence (AI), rigorous security protocols, and sustainable, inclusive design.
Inclusive, sustainable design is now part of the core event promise, particularly for global brands competing for delegates, sponsors and talent across Asia
After a period of strong post-pandemic recovery, 71% of respondents expect increased event volume in 2026, with 54% planning to expand across in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats. However, this growth comes with greater scrutiny; while 93% see event expenditure as a priority, planners report a shift from “growth at all costs” to a controlled, ROI-focused approach that prioritises attendance and cost control.
As programmes become more data-rich, information security has emerged as the industry’s top management challenge, followed closely by technical reliability. For virtual and hybrid experiences, planners cite technical failures as the primary pain point, making stable, secure platforms a prerequisite for meaningful engagement.
Against this backdrop, AI has moved from experimental to essential. Eighty-two percent of organisations already utilise AI to personalise content and optimise logistics, with 89% planning to increase AI budgets in 2026. For those yet to adopt the technology, security concerns and perceived complexity remain the primary barriers – more so than cost. Consequently, planners are increasingly willing to pay a premium for technology partners that offer proven security, integrated analytics, and high-quality customer support.
Sustainability and accessibility have also become key competitive differentiators. Sixty percent of respondents consider sustainability a priority for the events they attend, and 88% have established organisational sustainability targets for the year. Measures such as carbon footprint tracking, local sourcing, and the removal of single-use plastics are now standard. Similarly, 76% of organisations have set accessibility targets for 2026, implementing features ranging from sensory-friendly spaces to AI-driven captions for hybrid participants.
The survey was conducted by independent market research consultancy Censuswide between October 20 and November 4, 2025. The findings are based on insights from 206 senior event planners and decision-makers across ten key markets, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Philippines.
TCEB unifies the country’s business events ecosystem for the inaugural Thailand MICE Week
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is elevating its annual MICE Day into the inaugural Thailand MICE Week 2026, scheduled for April 28 to 30 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC).
TCEB unifies the country’s business events ecosystem for the inaugural Thailand MICE Week
The expansion from a one-day event to a three-day summit aims to unify Thailand’s business events ecosystem by consolidating previously separate programmes – including MICE Standards Day, MICE Academy Day, and the MICE City Summit – under a single umbrella.
The event is expected to welcome approximately 2,000 delegates, including C-suite executives, policymakers, and innovators from across the aviation, hospitality, and venue sectors.
A highlight of the event is the co-location of the Thai Exhibition Association’s (TEA) flagship event, Thailand MICE X-Change 2026. This partnership is designed to bridge TCEB’s policy-driven insights with TEA’s business-driven development, facilitating direct trade-matching and negotiations alongside national strategy discussions.
TCEB has also set an ambitious goal for the Thailand MICE Week to become the country’s first Net Zero Carbon Event. Operating under the theme “MICE in Motion: Driving Thailand Towards the Future”, the week will feature 12 dedicated activity zones covering event innovation, sustainability, and human capital development. Participants are also being encouraged to calculate and offset their emissions, with “Net Zero MICE Champion” certificates to be awarded during the event to reinforce sustainability as a core competitive advantage.
The global events industry is entering a high-growth phase with the arrival of several new convention centres in Asia-Pacific designed for a new era of connectivity.
From the New Zealand International Convention Centre to the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre, these landmarks aim to set new benchmarks in spatial versatility, technological infrastructure, and ESG-led design. We profile seven latest openings poised to reshape the international exhibition market.
A rendering of the soon-to-open Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre
Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre
Located on Geelong’s revitalised waterfront, Nyaal Banyul Geelong is a new generation convention centre set to open mid-2026, designed to place regional Australia on the international business events map.
Its First Nations name, meaning open your eyes to the hills, reflects the deep co-design process with Traditional Owners that shapes its architecture, interiors and public spaces. Venue access is straightforward, with Geelong just over an hour from Melbourne by road and within easy reach of both Melbourne Airport and Avalon Airport.
The centre offers 3,700m² of flexible event space, anchored by a 1,000-seat theatre and a 2,000m² event space capable of hosting conferences, exhibitions and gala dinners for more than 2,000 delegates. Up to seven adaptable meeting rooms support smaller sessions and breakouts, while an adjoining 200-room Crowne Plaza hotel delivers convenient onsite accommodation.
Gheringhap Plaza serves as the venue’s signature outdoor space, purpose-built for activations, welcome events and community gatherings, and features a 77-metre LED screen overlooking the waterfront.
Technology is embedded throughout, with cinema-scale screens, concert-quality audio, professional theatre lighting, hybrid broadcast capability and more than 75 digital wayfinding and branding screens. An in-house technical team provides full production and broadcast support.
Sustainability is and will be a defining feature. “We are setting a new benchmark in sustainable design,” said its general manager Rick Aylett, pointing to the fully electric venue, solar generation and extensive recycling systems.
Led by head chef Andreas Gober, the venue’s debut menu also celebrates local growers through seasonal, low-waste designs featuring native fruits, coastal honey, and refined gala dishes sourced from carbon-neutral suppliers.
Bookings are already “very strong”, Aylett added, with more than 10,000 delegates confirmed and a further 154 enquiries representing over 70,000 potential delegates. – Adelaine Ng
Nusantara International Convention Exhibition’s facade
Nusantara International Convention Exhibition
Nusantara International Convention Exhibition (NICE) is Indonesia’s newest and largest venue for exhibitions, conventions, and large-scale events which started operations in August 2025.
Located in the heart of the Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) Central Business District, NICE stands as a landmark project in one of Jakarta’s most dynamic and rapidly growing areas.
Ryan Adrian, managing director of Industri Pameran Nusantara, NICE management company, said: “Designed to global standards, NICE provides versatile spaces within an integrated ecosystem that merges business, culture, and entertainment.”
An Agung Sedayu and Salim Group partnership, the 40-hectare NICE began phased operations in August 2025. Its 130,000m² first phase features 11 exhibition halls, a hybrid convention hall, 15 meeting rooms, and a mini ballroom.
NICE is equipped with technical specifications designed to support seamless event execution. For example, the venue’s steel ceiling heights range between 16 and 20 metres, and come with heavy-duty rigging points which facilitate the installation of hoists, lighting, and sound systems.
The venue also boasts advanced audiovisual infrastructure, including pre-installed LEDs throughout the venue, such as 360° LED Videotron at Concierge Desks (Atrium Gate A & C), LED Videotrons at every Ticket Box, and LED Videotrons as well as 200 Mbps high-speed network infrastructure, ready to support live streaming, and hybrid events.
In addition, the Floor Loading Capacity is engineered to support heavy loads such as exhibition vehicles, industrial machinery, and large-scale booth constructions.
Since its opening, NICE has secured a high-profile roster of events. The 2026 calendar features the International Indonesia Seafood & Meat and Indonesia Cold Chain Expo in May, alongside the Global Printing & Packaging Expo. This will be followed by the massive Indo Agrotech Expo & Forum in June. – Mimi Hudoyo
New Zealand International Convention Centre’s retractable seating system
New Zealand International Convention Centre
Purpose-built to elevate New Zealand’s position in the global business events market, the New Zealand International Convention Centre delivers scale, flexibility and technology previously unavailable in the country, said Prue Daly, general manager of NZICC.
Located within Auckland’s SkyCity precinct, the venue is surrounded by more than 8,000 hotel rooms, dining and entertainment, with 938 hotel rooms directly connected via airbridge.
The centre spans 32,500m2 and features 33 configurable meeting rooms, and a landmark plenary theatre for up to 2,852 delegates. With the ability to host conferences and events of up to 4,500 attendees, spaces are designed to adapt seamlessly across formats, supported by generous pre-function areas and inclusive features such as dedicated quiet spaces.
A 45-minute drive from the airport, it also boasts Te Waha, an architecturally striking top-level event space with panoramic views across Auckland’s ocean harbour and surrounding ranges, allowing the city to become the backdrop for events.
NZICC has been engineered with advanced infrastructure, including integrated rigging, premium audiovisual systems and the country’s largest single Crestron NVX network, enabling video content to be distributed anywhere in the building. Three VIP video conferencing suites further support hybrid and international meetings.
Food and beverage is led by Michelin-star-trained executive chef Rob Cullen, with menus focused on locally-sourced, sustainable produce. Sustainability underpins the entire operation, with LEED certification and a strong commitment to people, place and legacy.
More than 120 events are already confirmed for its opening year and beyond, including The Pogues’ first New Zealand performance since 1990, and celebrity author Mel Robbins making her New Zealand debut with The Let Them Tour in March 2026. – Adelaine Ng
Ibrahim Canliel has taken on the role of CEO at Air Astana Group. He steps up from chief financial officer, a position he has held since 2017.
Canliel has been part of the airline’s leadership team for more than 14 years, supporting its strategic and financial development, including its public listing in 2024.
Dusit International has named Marc Handl managing director of Dusit Thani Bangkok. He will lead the hotel and oversee Dusit Residences and Dusit Parkside at Dusit Central Park.
Handl joins from Abu Dhabi National Hotels, where he was responsible for a portfolio of 15 properties, and brings more than 30 years of experience with brands including Park Hyatt, The Ritz-Carlton, Aman and Rosewood.
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
Canliel has been part of the airline’s leadership team for more than 14 years, supporting its strategic and financial development, including its public listing in 2024.
Handl joins from Abu Dhabi National Hotels, where he was responsible for a portfolio of 15 properties, and brings more than 30 years of experience with brands including Park Hyatt, The Ritz-Carlton, Aman and Rosewood.
