Executives representing TCEB, IPSF, FAPA, and AASP gather at the press conference at The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok, and TCEB’s Supawan Teerarat (middle); photo by TCEB
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has secured hosting rights for three international pharmaceutical conferences scheduled between 2026 and 2027.
These events are expected to attract more than 3,200 delegates and generate over 151 million baht (US$4.9 million) in revenue.
From July 29 to August 11, 2026, the 71st International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) World Congress 2026 will take place at Chulalongkorn University. The event is expected to attract approximately 600 participants, including 500 international delegates from over 100 countries, generating around 33 million baht in revenue. Thailand previously hosted this congress in 2011 in Hat Yai.
Executives representing TCEB, IPSF, FAPA, and AASP gather at the press conference at The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok, and TCEB’s Supawan Teerarat (middle); photo by TCEB
Following this, the 31st Congress of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA) will be held from November 3 to 7, 2026, at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani. This congress is expected to draw 2,000 attendees, including 1,500 foreign delegates, and generate approximately 99 million baht in revenue.
This event will focus on digital innovation and artificial intelligence for healthcare safety, while highlighting Thai herbal medicine. This marks the sixth time Thailand has hosted the FAPA Congress, the highest hosting record among member countries.
Finally, the biennial Asian Association of Schools of Pharmacy (AASP) Conference 2027 will bring 600 participants to the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre from July 1 to 2, 2027. This marks the event’s second time in Thailand, returning 22 years after its 2005 debut.
“The strong professionalism of three Thai pharmaceutical bodies – including the Pharmacy Students’ Federation of Thailand – in their collaboration with TCEB as a national bidding government agency resulted in these successful wins, covering the entire pharmaceutical industry value chain – including students, schools, and organisations – for the first time,” TCEB’s president, Supawan Teerarat, said.
More than 320,000 visitors attended IHK 2025 at Ilsan Lake Park
The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has formally approved International Horticulture Goyang Korea 2026 (IHK 2026), marking the third consecutive approval for the city’s flagship horticultural event.
The 17-day exhibition, organised by the Goyang International Flower Foundation, will run from April 24 to May 10, 2026, at Ilsan Lake Park.
More than 320,000 visitors attended IHK 2025 at Ilsan Lake Park
The event will utilise 280,000m2 for large-scale outdoor installations, paired with an expanded indoor environment consisting of the permanent Goyang Flower Exhibition Centre and two additional halls.
The exhibition aims to attract over 400,000 visitors, serving as a platform for industry professionals to showcase nursery stock, cut flowers, and foliage plants while facilitating trade exchange programmes.
The event will serve a global platform for high-level exchange and professional development; Tokyo pictured
Business Events Tokyo has revealed that the city will host the 72nd UIA Congress, the flagship annual gathering of the Union Internationale des Avocats (International Association of Lawyers).
The event is scheduled to take place from November 1 to 4, 2028, at the Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba.
The event will serve a global platform for high-level exchange and professional development; Tokyo pictured
The Congress is expected to draw approximately 1,500 legal professionals, including private practitioners, bar association representatives, judges, and academics from over 110 countries.
Selection committee members cited Tokyo’s robust convention infrastructure and its proven track record of managing large-scale international summits as primary factors for the win. The city’s position as a legal hub in Asia, supported by a highly active local academic and legal community, further solidified the bid.
The successful acquisition of the event was bolstered by a combination of financial and in-kind support from the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau.
While the core dates and venue are confirmed, the UIA Secretariat will release specific programme themes and registration details as the event draws closer.
The Hannah St Hotel has officially opened in Melbourne’s Southbank, positioned as a design-led cultural clubhouse aimed at blending professional functions with social connection.
Located within walking distance of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the property was designed by Flack Studio to serve as a neighbourhood hub for the city’s arts and corporate sectors.
The rooftop Terrace Lounge; photo by Anson Smart
The hotel features a variety of purpose-built environments, including the Bridge Rooms – two architecturally designed event spaces equipped with high-definition projectors, beam-steering microphones, and hybrid-event technology. These rooms offer flexible configurations ranging from intimate 28m2 workshops to larger presentation formats.
Beyond traditional meeting rooms, the property also offers a soundproof podcast studio; co-working zones; the Carriage Lounge, an intimate space for casual meetings or private events; and the rooftop Terrace Lounge capable of hosting up to 200 guests.
The F&B programme for the property’s four outlets is managed by The Mulberry Group, the team behind noted Melbourne venues such as Higher Ground and Hazel.
In addition to its 188 guestrooms, the hotel provides a dedicated wellness floor on Level 9, which includes a 20-metre indoor pool, spa, sauna, and fitness studio.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has activated measures to manage disrupted passenger traffic amid the US and Israel war on Iran, which has led to airspace closures in the Middle East since February 28.
According to OAG’s 2025 Megahubs report, Dubai International Airport ranks 15th among the world’s Top 50 Global Airport Megahubs, operating more than 46,000 connections to 280 destinations worldwide. It is also the busiest airport in both the UAE and the Middle East.
Dubai International Airport is the busiest airport in the UAE, according to OAG’s 2025 Megahubs report, operating more than 46,000 connections worldwide
The GCAA has accelerated rescheduling processes, stepped up ground resources across passenger terminals to resolve congestions, and moved to provide affected passengers with welfare support.
News reports state that the GCAA is committed to shouldering the cost of assisting and accommodating affected travellers.
UAE carriers Emirates, Etihad and FlyDubai continue to maintain a flight suspension at press time, which impacts their services beyond the Middle East.
“Ongoing Middle East airport and airspace closures – particularly at Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi Airports, the region’s busiest hubs – are causing significant disruption to international travel,” said Mayur Patel, regional commercial and industry affairs leader, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, OAG Aviation.
“As a critical east-west transit gateway linking Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, any suspension of operations at these hubs leads to widespread cancellations, longer rerouted flight paths, aircraft and crew displacement, and missed onward connections. The impact extends beyond passengers to cargo flows and airline economics, with higher operating costs and network instability likely to persist even after airspace reopens, as carriers work through the backlog and reposition assets across their global schedules.”
News reports as of March 1 morning stated that airports across the Middle East, including Dubai International Airport, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait International Airport, have suffered collateral damage from Iranian retaliatory attacks against US military bases in regional countries.
Editor’s note: This news brief has been updated with OAG Aviation’s observations.
Singapore Airlines has put a pause on flights to the Middle East
Travellers across the Asia-Pacific region are facing disruptions as major airlines scramble to cancel or reroute flights to the Middle East, as the US and Israel launch a wake of strikes against targets in Iran.
Singapore’s national carrier, Singapore Airlines (SIA), and its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, have cancelled six flights to date, as reported by The Business Times. Affected routes include SQ494 and SQ495 between Singapore and Dubai, as well as Scoot flights TR596 and TR597 serving Jeddah.
Singapore Airlines has temporarily suspended flights to the Middle East
SIA has urged passengers to update their contact details to receive real-time notifications, noting that they will continue to monitor the situation and adjust flight paths accordingly.
Malaysia Airlines took immediate action as the strikes began, with two Middle East-bound flights forced to divert following urgent mid-air advisories regarding heightened airspace risks. MH160, bound for Doha, returned to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, while MH156, bound for Jeddah, was diverted to Chennai, India.
Elsewhere in Asia-Pacific, Air India has suspended all flights to Middle Eastern destinations until further notice, and Japan Airlines cancelled its Tokyo-Doha service.
Meanwhile, European carriers like Lufthansa and Wizz Air have suspended services to major hubs including Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
Disney Cruise Line appoints Tracy Wilson as senior vice president and general manager, Disney Cruise Line operations, succeeding Sharon Siskie.
Wilson brings more than 30 years of experience with The Walt Disney Company and most recently served as senior vice president, finance, Disney Signature Experiences, where she led strategic planning and negotiations supporting the expansion of the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
Her career spans leadership roles across Disney’s theme parks, consumer products, and studio operations, including involvement in the integration of Lucasfilm and Marvel.
Business Events Wellington has announced two key leadership appointments.
Loryn Blaikie has been appointed manager, Business Events Wellington, succeeding Irette Ferreira. Blaikie was previously part of the Business Events Wellington team, and brings significant international experience gained through her recent role representing New Zealand’s largest convention centre, the New Zealand International Convention Centre.
From left: Loryn Blaikie; and Louise Woodburn
She commences her role on April 7.
In addition, Louise Woodburn has been promoted to manager, business development. In this newly-created role, Woodburn will lead a dedicated business development unit within Business Events Wellington, with responsibility for international business development and the organisation’s advocate network. As part of this structure, business development managers Angela Leung, and Belinda Yeo, will report to Louise.
Kuala Lumpur’s business events industry has entered 2026 with strong momentum, fuelled by the nationwide visibility of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Convention centre heads interviewed believe the year is shaping up to be the strongest post-lockdown, supported by government-backed marketing efforts, and continued investment in business events infrastructure.
The iconic Petronas Twin Towers dominate Kuala Lumpur’s skyline
World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur’s (WTCKL) group managing director, Irmohizam Ibrahim, shared that confirmed bookings for 1H2026 have surpassed bookings in 1H2025.
“We can see a global resurgence in business events, and the high visibility created by Visit Malaysia Year 2026, coupled with Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, will keep Kuala Lumpur at the forefront of regional and international attention,” he said.
Major events secured for WTCKL include Malaysia International Furniture Fair in March, Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair in late May/early June, and Malaysia – China Trade Expo in September. Altogether, these events are expected to draw close to two million delegates and visitors to WTCKL.
WTCKL is also leveraging the Visit Malaysia campaign as a catalyst to attract more international and regional business events.
Irmohizam shared: “We’re working closely with Tourism Malaysia, state tourism bureaus, and local inbound operators to create more value for organisers who choose Kuala Lumpur.”
“When an event is hosted at WTCKL, we don’t stop at providing a venue. We also help connect organisers with tourism partners in other states so they can build enriching pre- and post-event itineraries. This allows delegates to discover Malaysia’s islands, national parks, and cultural attractions beyond the capital, while ensuring that business events generate wider benefits for local communities nationwide,” he added.
Furthermore, WTCKL is undertaking major facility upgrades that are anticipated to be completed by 1H2026. Its conference halls and ballrooms are being upgraded into hybrid-ready spaces, complete with advanced audiovisual systems and LED displays. The venue will also feature high-speed 5G connectivity to support real-time streaming and virtual conferencing.
“These upgrades will ensure that WTCKL remains technologically advanced and capable of hosting hybrid and international events at the highest standards,” Irmohizam said.
Across the city, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) also reported a similarly upbeat outlook, with more than 100 confirmed events representing a balanced mix of international conventions, trade exhibitions, and corporate meetings.
KLCC’s general manager, John Burke shared: “The number of secured events reflects strong market confidence and the growing demand for the KLCC precinct as a leading destination for meetings and events.”
The Centre will continue its enhancement programme this year, focusing on upgrades to its conference halls, ballrooms, and Plenary Hall, including VIP suites. The improvements build on earlier refurbishments that introduced flexible meeting spaces and hybrid-ready AV systems.
“These upgrades have significantly improved the overall event experience, offering organisers greater sophistication and flexibility,” Burke said.
Meanwhile, the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) is another venue that has aligned its international positioning with Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
MITEC’s CEO, Mala Dorasamy, said: “We aim to showcase Malaysia as a leading global hub for business events by attracting a diverse portfolio of large-scale international conventions and exhibitions, while strengthening partnerships with global associations and destination stakeholders.”
Mala shared that 1Q2026 is projected to outperform 1Q2025, driven by a combination of new international bookings, larger delegate numbers, and a diversified portfolio of events.
Upcoming events at MITEC includes USANA Live 2026 Regional Convention from January 29 to 31; Defence Services Asia and National Security Asia 2026 from April 20 to 23; and International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition Malaysia 2026 from July 29 to August 1. These three events combined will attract more than 100,000 delegates and visitors.
Infrastructure enhancements at MITEC this year include the expansion of its Level 1 exhibition hall, creation of additional breakout spaces, digitalisation upgrades, new F&B outlets, and the installation of solar panels to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint.
Mala added that new developments around the KL Metropolis precinct – such as the newly-opened Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown – will “transform MITEC into more than just a venue, but a vibrant, self-contained destination where delegates can combine work, networking, and leisure.”
Varel Singapore, a Tribute Portfolio hotel, has named Andy Tan as general manager ahead of its April 2026 opening.
He brings more than three decades of hospitality and travel experience and most recently held a senior leadership role at Millennium Hotels & Resorts, supporting commercial performance and operational alignment across its global portfolio.
In his role, Tan will lead the hotel’s pre-opening strategy, team development and commercial positioning as the South-east Asia flagship of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand.
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
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Her career spans leadership roles across Disney’s theme parks, consumer products, and studio operations, including involvement in the integration of Lucasfilm and Marvel.
In his role, Tan will lead the hotel’s pre-opening strategy, team development and commercial positioning as the South-east Asia flagship of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand.
