Singapore’s chic riverside dining enclave, Robertson Quay, has just welcomed a new addition that will work perfectly for corporate gatherings bent on having a quality feast.
Helmed by award-winning chef Martin Boetz, formerly of Sydney’s Longrain restaurant, Soi 60 specialises in contemporary Thai cuisine. Dishes such as grilled prawns with caramelised coconut on betel leaves, Panaeng beef rib curry with peanuts and Thai basil, and BBQ grass-fed sirloin steak salad come highly recommended.
Soi 60’s relaxed urban atmosphere is complemented by upbeat lounge music at the bar where patrons can look forward to a Soi 60 Thai-inspired cocktail or two.
Event planners can book Soi 60 partially or entirely for private parties. For full venue hire in the evenings, a minimum spend of S$10,000 (US$8,021) applies.
The restaurant will also tailor a menu to suit the taste and needs of individual events.
The 853-room Grand Hyatt Taipei has completed phase one of its US$100 million makeover, with rooms in the West and East wings now sporting fresher, modern interiors.
Remaining works to the grand lobby, restaurants and exterior lighting are expected to finish by the start of 2015.
The makeover follows the hotel’s refurbishment of its Grand Ballroom in 2000 and Grand Residence meetings area in 2006, as well as other updates to various facilities throughout the years since its opening in September 1990.
Liling Chu, Grand Hyatt Taipei’s director of events, said the renovation has helped to generate increased business, especially from new clients who are attracted to new facilities in the hotel.
“Business has been thriving,” Chu said, adding that the Grand Ballroom enjoys an average occupancy rate of 70 to 80 per cent.
According to Chu, domestic bookings make up 55 to 60 per cent of the hotel’s event business, and these functions are usually weddings and social gatherings. Conference and meeting packages offered by the hotel are mostly consumed by international companies with offices in Taiwan.
Although the hotel is now armed with updated hardware, Chu gave no indication that room rates and venue rental fees would be adjusted upwards. – Karen Yue
Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa has added a new events space to its MICE inventory in a bid to win more regional business.
The 180m² Andaman Room, which can be divided in two, seats up to 130 people in theatre setting and includes an adjoining 66m2 sheltered outdoor area.
General manager David Prince said: “With the addition of the Andaman Room, the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa is one of the most comprehensive MICE venues in South-east Asia.”
Jens Frank-Mikkelsen, director of business development, told TTGmice the property was targeting a range of source markets including the US, Australia, Europe, China, Singapore and Hong Kong. Key sectors include banking and finance, healthcare, transportation, logistics, industry associations and international government agencies.
“The hotel is now a part of Hilton Worldwide’s Connect+ website, a service which provides industry-leading tools for meeting planners and allows customers to connect with Hilton event experts and sales representatives,” Frank-Mikkelsen said. “We also have a special meeting package that is valid from June 1 to December 30, 2014.” – Greg Lowe
Singapore-based SilkAir kicked off its first flights to Hangzhou in late-June, marking the beginning of services to the carrier’s eighth destination in China.
The four-times-weekly service operates every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday on Airbus A320 aircraft in a two-class configuration.
Flights depart Singapore at 10.00 to arrive at 15.20 in Hangzhou, while return flights take off from the capital of Zhejiang province at 16.20 to reach the Lion City at 21.25.
SilkAir chief executive, Leslie Thng, said: “SilkAir will be the only full-service carrier connecting Hangzhou directly to Singapore. We are confident that this service will see strong demand from the different market segments flying into and out of Hangzhou to our combined SilkAir and Singapore Airlines network.”
Leifeng Pagoda, Hangzhou Picture by shanin/123RF.com
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has opened its second Aloft property in Bengaluru, India. Siting within the city’s high-tech hub, the 191-key Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park shows off a stylish urban design and offers spacious loft inspired guestrooms, a selection of dining outlets such as Re:fuel by Aloft and Nook, an outdoor pool and a gym, among other facilities.
For business event planners, the hotel offers eight meeting venues including a 411m2 banquet hall and Backyard, an outdoor terrace perfect for creative business meetings or social gatherings.
“Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park is a significant addition to the brand’s portfolio in India and will energise the hotel market by meeting the pent-up demand for stylish, lifestyle hotel brands,” said Dilip Puri, managing director India and regional vice president South Asia of Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
“This new generation Aloft hotel underscores the strength of Starwood’s network and the power of the Aloft brand. We expect the new Aloft to become a local hotspot, attracting both savvy travellers and tech professionals in the area,” he added.
The 234-key Courtyard by Marriott Boluo has opened in Huizhou, China, making it the first Courtyard by Marriott in South China and the 71st Marriott International property in the massive country.
It comes outfitted with seven meeting rooms, with the largest being the Kaisa Ballroom which has capacity for 600 guests. All function venues are equipped with modern audiovisual technology and high-speed Internet access.
Other facilities at the hotel include two restaurants, a well-equipped fitness centre, an indoor swimming pool with a dry steam room, and an outdoor pool.
In an email interview with TTGmice, Kevin Gong, general manager of Courtyard by Marriott Boluo, said the Pearl River Delta, which comprises primarily of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, will provide the hotel’s main source of business event bookings.
The hotel will pursue corporate clients such as Samsung, LG, Sony and Coca-Cola based in Huizhou, and Gong expects to “see interest from local government agencies”.
Since the hotel’s official opening on June 30, it has hosted a 500-pax local association gathering and a two-day corporate meeting for 90 guests. – Karen Yue
Much ink has been spilled over how airlines and hotels are adopting wearable technology into their operations, but TTGmice is excited how Google Glass – a voice-activated, head-mounted eyewear that allows users to take photos and videos as well as search the Internet – can be incorporated into meetings and events as well.
Peter Komornik, CEO of event technology firm Sli.do, believes that Glass can bring “more engaging and immersive experience” for event participants and speakers alike.
“Paired with an audience interaction app, Glass can serve as a private backchannel for event moderators to stay on top of the best questions from the audience (with a single tap of the headset),” he said.
Seeing “countless opportunities” in the utilisation of wearable computing devices in events, Komornik highlighted another potential use: “In a venue equipped with iBeacons (a mobile communication technology for indoor spaces), Glass can provide a real-time context for event participants to see push notifications about what is currently happening in which hall as they walk around the premises.”
Privacy concerns aside, another drawback that early adopters have pointed out, however, is the gadget’s limited battery life, which typically requires recharging after a few hours of usage.
Sli.do has rolled out a Google Glass app for event planners and speakers to interact with their audience.
MICE prospects are brighter now for New Delhi but several obstacles remain, threatening to stunt growth potential. By Rohit Kaul
Laxmi Narayan Temple is one of Delhi’s major temples and a key tourist attraction
There is a general air of positivity among New Delhi’s MICE players lately, with much of the optimism resulting from ongoing hardware developments in the Indian destination.
Three new hotels had emerged in New Delhi Aerocity in the second half of 2013 – JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity, Lemon Tree Premier, Delhi Airport and Red Fox Hotel, Delhi Airport – and all offer meeting facilities on-site.
On the exhibitions front, a major facelift is being planned for one of India’s top exhibition venues, Pragati Maidan. Some Rs8.2 billion (US$137.2 million) will be invested in the five-year revamp which will include the construction of new exhibition centres, convention halls, food plazas and a five-star hotel.
Ashok Jha, chairman of the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation which manages the venue, said: “The new facility will be among the best in the world. It will be on par with some of the facilities in Europe.”
These infrastructure improvements have inspired Chander Mansharamani, managing director of Alpcord Network Travel & Conferences, to believe that “the future is bright for the city”.
He also told TTGmice that business today is improving. “The MICE market in New Delhi has grown at a rate of 10 to 15 per cent this year so far. Being the capital of India and having good international (air) connections give New Delhi an edge over other Indian destinations,” he said.
Also optimistic is Prashant Narayan, senior vice president and head of leisure travel for inbound, Thomas Cook (India). “New Delhi is ideal for incentive groups as, apart from its own offerings, it has a lot of getaways in the vicinity. New convention facilities in New Delhi Aerocity and the Pragati Maidan facelift will further strengthen the city’s position as an incentive destination,” he said.
New Delhi has, for a while, been attracting international MICE groups from mainly Europe, the US and Australia. While demand from the domestic market far exceeds bookings from the international market, some business hotels with convention facilities are seeing a welcome change in the winds.
Balan Paravantavida, general manager of JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity, said: “MICE makes up around 40 per cent of our overall revenue. Currently, 20 per cent of our events are international ones while 80 per cent are domestic. However, we expect the share of international events to grow to 40 per cent in the near future.”
Despite the optimism, industry players are frustrated with their government’s lack of focus in marketing the city for business events, and have been demanding that the ministry come up with a clear strategy for the segment.
Anup Nair, managing director of Incentive Destinations, lamented: “New Delhi has a lot to offer as an incentive destination, but because of a weak marketing approach the city is not considered a priority destination for international groups.”
Rajeev Kohli, joint managing director of Creative Travel, agrees: “The government needs to understand that the needs of the MICE segment are different from others.”
Another obstacle for the industry is the city’s lack of integrated convention and exhibition venues of global standards, which puts New Delhi at a disadvantage when competing with other MICE cities for business events.
Ritu Saigal, director of Travel With Us, added that infrastructure that can support mega events are lacking too.
Local conference organisers are also lamenting the number of permissions required from government agencies in order to run an event.
“(The system) results in a lot of hassle. A single-window clearance is needed,” urged Mansharamani.
The India Convention Promotion Bureau has heeded the calls of trade players and is trying to implement a streamlined system. Updates on its efforts are expected to be announced during its annual convention this month.
Ideas
Two nights in and around Delhi
Qutab Minar in New Delhi
Day 1
Your first day in Delhi will be spent getting to know the city’s rich history and culture. A full-day tour is in order, with visits to key landmarks such as Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, India Gate and Raj Ghat.Z
Come evening, enjoy a feast worthy of the ancient royals. Delhi 6 – Royal Cuisine of the Walled City specialises in Mughlai cuisine and features both royal recipes of Mughals and homemade delicacies of Muslim families.
If energy is still running high at night, head to Pangaea and party with the elite of Delhi. The night club, located at the Ashok Hotel, can accommodate up to 400 guests and offers 20 VIP tables. Private functions are possible.
Day 2
Say goodbye to Delhi for now, as you head to Agra, home of the majestic Taj Mahal.
But before that, pay a visit to Sikandra Fort along the way. It is the final resting place of the great Mughal emperor Akbar.
Also, take the afternoon to explore Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Tomb of I’timad-ud-Daulah.
Taj Mahal will make the grand finale on the itinerary today, as it is most beautiful at dusk.
Check into your hotel in Agra and rest for the night.
Day 3
Jaipur is on the menu today. Upon reaching the Pink City in the afternoon, you will call at the City Palace where many antiques and artefacts belonging to the ruling family are kept here, including a valuable collection of weaponry.
Next stop, Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), the open-air Jantar Mantar Observatory and the sprawling Albert Hall Museum.
Later, stroll through one of Jaipur’s many colourful bazaars before returning to your hotel.
Pangaea
Day 4
Today you will make your way back to Delhi. But first, a visit to Amber Fort just outside of Jaipur. Completed in the early 18th century, the fort took more than a century to build and offers a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of the ruling families.
Need to know
Recharge at Rishikesh Recognised as the yoga capital of the
Recognised as the yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh, about 250km from New Delhi, is home to Sanskriti Vedic Retreat which offers yoga and meditation workshops. Business warriors can choose to stay at the retreat after their meetings in the Indian capital and unwind through some of the best of Indian traditions of ayurveda and yoga.
Grilled delights
The Indian Grill Room in Gurgaon’s Suncity Business Tower, specialises in cuisine prepared with various Indian grilling techniques like the tawa, charcoal grill, pathar and tandoor. The establishment has indoor and outdoor sections, with the former featuring a large open kitchen with interactive grill stations, and the latter gazebos and a performance area. Guests pay a fixed price for a set menu that includes 12 varieties of Indian grills.
Vibrant Park Inn opens in Gurgaon
The new Park Inn by Radisson Gurgaon Bilaspur, about an hour’s drive from New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, offers 98 rooms and suites, more than 200m² of flexible meeting rooms that are supported by a team of events management specialists, a business centre, an all-day-dining restaurant and a fitness centre, among other facilities.
Spurred by Expo 2020, the UAE is now wooing global association congresses and meetings to sharpen its event destination status, writes Shekhar Niyogi
Offices and residential apartments reach lofty heights in Dubai Marina, a new district built around a yacht marina
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are seeing strong inbound MICE business growth, driven by rapid development in meeting infrastructure and hotel room inventory ahead of the Expo 2020.
Meetings and incentives have been identified as a pivotal segment for Dubai, which is projecting 20 million annual visitors by 2020. The number of international trade visitors to the emirate is projected to reach 1.9 million by 2020, up from 900,000 in 2012.
Dubai Trade Centre-Jebel Ali, the 438ha site comprising a dedicated 150ha Expo area and a surrounding residential, hospitality and logistics zone, will play host to the 25 million visitors expected during the six-month Expo 2020. All major construction are targeted to complete by October 2019.
While Najeh Boughzala, MICE project manager at Alpha Tours, has not observed any impact from the Expo in winning events, he is confident that Dubai “will be in a better position to leverage the Expo” once new infrastructure, develop projects and hotels come on stream from 2016.
“Events are a key pillar of our Tourism Vision for 2020, with the objective of transforming Dubai from a regional events hub to a global destination for events,” said Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general at Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
Steen Jakobsen, director, Dubai Convention Bureau, said: “A recent ICCA survey showed that the number of associations, conferences and meetings in the Middle East has tripled over the past 10 years. In the rest of the world, it has doubled.”
The Dubai Association Centre (DAC) was launched earlier this year to attract association meetings and congresses to set up offices in the city. With a DAC license, international associations can leverage such benefits as the use and facilities at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), residency visas for employees, and offering services and products to the UAE and other GCC markets.
Ahmed Alkhaja, senior vice president – venues, DWTC said: “Dubai’s position as a premier international business tourism destination has grown steadily in recent years, buoyed by our core focus on developing our credentials as a global hub for key industries to hold meetings, conferences and exhibitions.”
DWTC is seeing “a robust 2014 calendar”, said Alkhaja, with its 11 global congresses expected to be attended by 12,000 international delegates and generate a combined revenue of US$32 millon.
Major events for Dubai this year include the 19th Conference of the International Association of Prosecutors, Annual Congress of the International Association of Law and Forensic Sciences, Asia Pacific Dental Congress and International Cotton Association Congress. Dubai has also outshone Copenhagen, Paris and Rome to win the bid for the 34th International Congress of the Society of Blood Transfusion in 2016.
Similarly, Abu Dhabi has also established its own Convention Bureau and is eyeing to be listed among ICCA’s top 50 association meetings destinations by 2018.
According to the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the MICE sector currently generates 2.4 billion dirhams (US$653 million) per annum for Abu Dhabi, with the figure expected to grow seven per cent to 5.1 billion dirhams by 2020.
“We are targeting 14 major wins in 2014 and 10 more in 2015” said Jasem Al Darmaki, deputy director general, TCA Abu Dhabi.
Major congresses taking place in Abu Dhabi in 2015 include the 20th Asia Pacific Society of Cardiology Congress, the 16th World Congress on Tobacco or Health and the 70th Annual Conference of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Need to know
Enchanting Arabic dining at Al Hadheerah
Located at the luxurious Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa, Al Hadheerah incorporates live cooking stations, wood-fired ovens and spit roasts in its eclectic menu. A falconry display, camel caravan, horse show, Arabic singers and Tamoura dancers create an unforgettable ambience at the fort-like venue. Delicacies with distinct Middle Eastern flavour include kebbeh, traditional fired meat and crushed wheat balls filled with minced meat and spices; and cheese sambousek, a light pastry filled with Arabic cheese and parsley. The restaurant is open from sunset to 23.30.
More information available at www.meydanhotels.com/babalshams.
Dubai sings out to new opera house
Envisioned to rival the Sydney Opera House, the 2,000-seat Dubai Opera House is being built as part of The Opera District in downtown Dubai. Designed in the shape of a traditional sailing vessel, the 60,000m² multi-use venue is expected to complete in 2015. The venue can be converted into a banqueting hall or exhibition space, as 900 of the 2,000 seats can be removed with the use of hydraulic technology and stored beneath the theatre.
Jockeying for position at Meydan Racecourse
Accommodating 60,000 spectators in a 1.6km-long grandstand, the Meydan Racecourse is home to the world’s most luxurious horse racing facility. When not used for races, it also serves as a conference and business facility, with the Meydan hotel offering 284 rooms and dining facilities for incentive groups and meeting delegates.
Email info@meydan.ae or call (971-4) 327-0000
Dive into the emirate’s pearling traditions
Visitors can experience the thrill of pearling, once a source of wealth in the emirates before the discovery of oil. Clad in traditional shirts and baggy trousers and equipped with a nose clip, delegates can board a dhow (traditional boat) off the shores of Jebel Ali and set out to collect oysters under the supervision of highly trained crew and instructors, who will teach the ancient pearl-diving techniques. Pearling is also popular as a teambuilding activity.
Contact Pavilion Dive Centre at divecentre@jumeirah.com or call (971-4) 406-8828.
Wildlife calling at new safari
Scheduled to complete in 2015, the Dubai Safari Park will house over 1,000 animals across four distinct sections – an open safari, plus Arabian, Asian and African villages. In addition to a butterfly park, a botanical garden, a resort and a golf course, the 120ha eco-friendly park will also boast educational, conservation and veterinary facilities. It is being heralded as a dynamic site for incentive groups and teambuilding exercises.
How I did a 16,500-pax incentive
Nu Skin China’s mega party on Yas Island
When 16,500 sales reps from Nu Skin China visited the UAE for their incentive trip, they made up the largest-ever incentive delegation for the company and the host destination alike.
Yas Island Destination Management was engaged to provide full logistic support for the mega corporate getaway event, with the itinerary encompassing Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
For the Abu Dhabi leg, the Chinese visitors filled 16 hotels and enjoyed a tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a city tour and the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi experience, over two days in April. The packed itinerary centred around the Yas Marina Circuit, including workshops, tours and a large group dinner.
More than 2,500 staff were involved and 14,000 man hours spent to deliver the event, which featured festival celebrations each day and F1-style display races. All in all, 13,500kg of F&B provisions, 64 performers, 200 buses, 200 flights and 40,000 roomnights were utilised, and close to a million photographs were taken of the event.
Al Tareq Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit, said: “This was an extremely complex, multi-faceted event which took months of planning and a lot of hard work to execute.”
Notwithstanding the huge variables likely for such mega events, Yas Island Destination Management director, Clive Dwyer, stressed that the destination offers myriad opportunities. “Anything is possible,” he added.
Five star, 389 rooms and 19 villas
Jalan Raya Nusa Dua Selatan, Bali 80363
Tel: (62-361) 773-377
Website: www.nikkobali.com
Many good things can be expected at Grand Nikko Bali. It is, after all, the first upper-scale Grand Nikko branded property by JAL Hotels. Following its rebranding exercise last year, from Nikko Bali Resort & Spa, the hotel gained hardware upgrades which included the addition of a second function hall, boardrooms and luxury villas.
Furthermore, its location in the South Nusa Dua area, atop a 40m cliff, affords it stunning views of the Indian Ocean. It is also one of the few hotels in Bali that still retain a rich Balinese architecture.
Meeting facilities The MPF (Multi-Purpose Function) is the newest meeting facility in the hotel. The 1,008m² pillar-less ballroom boasts its own entrance and is fitted with large glass walls to let in maximum daylight. MPF can be divided into three smaller spaces that can each accommodate 332 people, theatre-style.
MPF also comes with a 140-seat boardroom that can be split in three.
Grand Nikko also offers Graha Sawangan ballroom, which is good for 600 pax, theatre-style. This space can be transformed into five smaller meeting rooms.
These spaces come with free broadband Internet access, air-conditioning, sound systems with multiple microphones and telephone points.
Rooms I stayed at the new one-bedroom Pool Villa, a stunning 300m² property that resembles a Balinese house with a main gate that opens into a small, neat garden, which in turn leads into the villa.
What glorious views the bedroom has! Glass windows for walls and sliding doors bring the outdoors in. I was able to enjoy a full view of my villa’s gazebo, terrace, private swimming pool and flower plantations. A daybed set under a huge window in the bedroom makes a pleasant area for reading.
The villa offers a walk-in closet, a powder room and a spacious bathroom that comes with his and her sinks, a vanity counter, separate shower and toilet booths and a bathtub. I love how the bathroom opens to a garden where an outdoor shower stands.
Quality entertainment amenities, such as an LCD TV with international channels, BOSE sound system and iPod dock, are provided, along with a mini bar with one-time complimentary selected drinks, butler service and free Internet access.
It is great that the air-conditioning system is automated and shuts down when doors are opened.
F&B As a villa guest, I could have breakfast at any of the hotel’s F&B outlets or in the comfort of my villa. The Villa Lounge and Grand Nikko Club Lounge offer excellent à la carte breakfast options. While the Brasserie’s breakfast buffet featured a great variety of Indonesian and international dishes, I found their taste and quality pale in comparison with what was served at the lounges.
My dinner at Benkay Japanese Restaurant was splendid.
Other facilities The hotel has a departure and arrival lounge for business travellers and MICE groups, and a business centre. Tp unwind, guests can utilise the spa, gym, four pools, three tennis courts and equipment for water and beach sports. Meeting delegates who wish to extend their trip in Bali with their children will appreciate the hotel’s Children’s Jungle Camp (a kid’s club) and lagoon and pool for children.
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.
Much ink has been spilled over how airlines and hotels are adopting wearable technology into their operations, but TTGmice is excited how Google Glass – a voice-activated, head-mounted eyewear that allows users to take photos and videos as well as search the Internet – can be incorporated into meetings and events as well.
