Regent Bali Canggu has appointed Manish Puri as its new general manager, tasked with ensuring the brand’s return marks not just a homecoming but a significant advancement in luxury travel.
With over 28 years of global hospitality experience, Puri has led luxury hotel brands such as Oberoi, Kempinski, Jumeirah, Grand Hyatt, Six Senses, and Potato Head.
China’s inbound corporate travel market is experiencing a resurgence, fuelled by the nation’s visa optimisation policies, and a growing interest in diverse destinations by corporates.
“With simplified visa processes and expanded visa-free policies for more countries, it’s now easier for international business travellers to visit China,” said Carol Chung, vice president – commercial, Greater China, Hyatt.
When asked which countries were showing strong growth in inbound corporate travel to China for the company, Chung pointed to Japan, South Korea, and the US.
“Japan and South Korea remain key feeder markets for inbound travel to China. According to a Ctrip whitepaper, these two countries South Korea and Japan respectively ranked second and third for inbound tourism to Beijing, and in 1H2024, they accounted for the highest flight volumes to China,” Chung noted.
The US has also emerged as a major source market for inbound travel. According to data from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the US ranked first for inbound travel to Beijing in 1H2024, with a mix of business and independent travellers.
Additionally, China has seen significant inbound growth from South-east Asian countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, according to data from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.
There has also been a shift in the corporate travel landscape in China.
Chung elaborated: “Key economic hubs like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, remain primary business travel destinations. However, emerging cities such Chongqing, Chengdu, Jingdezhen, and Zhangjiajie are gaining traction, particularly among corporate travellers from South-east Asia and South Korea, who are seeking unique cultural and experiential offerings (as bleisure destinations).”
To further support corporate travellers, Hyatt offers exclusive corporate rates and enhanced loyalty benefits through the World of Hyatt programme, as well as the Elite Trial Tier offer, designed specifically for key corporate accounts in the market. This allows eligible travellers to experience the benefits of Explorist status for 90 days, with a fast-track opportunity to earn Explorist or Globalist status.
Business Events Adelaide has announced that Australian Hotels Association SA (AHA) CEO Anna Moeller has joined its Board as a specialist director.
Moeller brings with her a strong background in the visitor economy and in member-based organisations, not only with the AHA but also from her time with the Motor Trade Association. A trained lawyer, Moeller has also worked as a legal practitioner and is a former elected Councillor for the City of Charles Sturt.
Moeller commenced her tenure in February 2025, completing Business Events Adelaide’s eight-person volunteer Board.
New Zealand’s business events industry is celebrating a significant win, with the government announcing an additional NZ$3 million (US$1.7 million) in funding to attract international conferences and incentive business.
Tourism and hospitality minister, Louise Upston, unveiled the funding at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, stating the investment from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy aims to “supercharge the Conference Assistance Programme work that is already happening in Tourism New Zealand”. The goal is to secure events that will generate over NZ$30 million in incremental spending for the New Zealand economy.
The funding is available to various organisations, including universities, to bid for hosting international conferences in New Zealand, and will also support efforts to attract high-value incentive business.
Business Events Industry Aotearoa hailed the move as a crucial step towards bolstering the sector and driving economic growth.
The association’s chief executive, Lisa Hopkins, described the announcement as an “exceptional day” for the sector, highlighting the government’s recognition of business events as a key driver of growth.
“It signals that New Zealand is actively recognising the importance of business events, and this new funding helps level the playing field with our main competitor, Australia,” she said.
Hopkins emphasised the high-value nature of the industry, noting its global worth of US$1.6 trillion. She also highlighted the significant investment in world-class infrastructure, with new convention centres like Te Pae Christchurch, Tākina in Wellington, and the upcoming New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland.
These centres are projected to create 1,400 new jobs, generate over 300,000 room nights annually, and contribute over NZ$150 million in direct spending.
“Our industry association has been seeking support for the sector for two decades. We know that we have brilliant infrastructure and the downstream financial effects are proven,” Hopkins stated. She cited Infometrics analysis showing Te Pae Christchurch contributed NZ$77 million to New Zealand’s GDP and supported 693 full-time equivalent jobs in the year to November 2024.
Beyond economic benefits, Hopkins stressed the broader impact of business events, including positive societal outcomes, community engagement, and enhanced international recognition for New Zealand.
“Business events are much more than economic contributors, they also heavily influence positive outcomes for society, communities, and create long-term legacies, and they lift New Zealand on the world stage,” she said.
The initiative is part of the government’s Tourism Boost package, designed to foster immediate growth in visitor numbers, drive export activity, and stimulate economic growth. The funding is a collaborative effort between Tourism New Zealand, regional convention bureaux, professional conference organisers, venues, hotels, and a wide range of businesses across sectors such as hospitality, technology, and creative services.
The Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) has unveiled its Business Events Penang 2024 Annual Review, showcasing a record-breaking year for the state’s business events industry, with an estimated economic impact of around RM1.3 billion.
The announcement was made at a launch event held at the Iconic Marjorie Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, graced by the chief minister of Penang, Chow Kon Yeow; the Penang State Exco for Tourism & Creative Economy, Wong Hon Wai; and the CEO of PCEB, Ashwin Gunasekeran.
The 2024 Annual Review highlighted significant growth across key performance indicators. Penang successfully hosted 2,059 business events, a remarkable 240.9 per cent increase from the previous year. These events attracted 305,259 delegates, representing an 87.3 per cent rise, and generated 558,543 room nights, a 3.6 per cent increase. Most notably, the Estimated Economic Impact (EEI) surged to almost RM1.3 billion, marking a substantial 24.8 per cent increase compared to 2023.
Wong emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships and government support in achieving these results.
“These achievements reaffirm Penang’s reputation as a premier business events destination in Asia. As we look ahead, we will continue to strengthen our offerings, attract high-impact events, and expand our industry collaborations to further enhance Penang’s appeal,” he said.
Gunasekeran also outlined PCEB’s strategic vision for continued growth in 2025, focusing on deeper industry engagement, targeted promotional efforts, and enhanced incentives.
“Our goal is to sustain and accelerate this growth by leveraging our extensive industry network, embracing digital advancements, and continuously elevating the quality of events hosted in Penang. The rising number of business events has led to greater economic opportunities, increased employment, and a strengthened global presence for Penang,” he remarked.
Asian corporates with travel programmes focused in the region say their risk policies since the start of the year have not changed based on advice from their security and other related service providers.
They were responding to six areas addressed during the recent Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Asia-Pacific 2025 Global Risk Outlook webinar.
They are Geopolitical Risk; Civil Unrest and Political Violence; Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events; Cybersecurity and Al-driven Misinformation; Changes to Entry Visas and Potential Immigration Bans; and US Political Uncertainty.
A buyer in heavy equipment manufacturing noted changes to entry visas and potential immigration bans can pose a problem if “your workforce has a significant number of employees with passports requiring visas to visit other destinations”.
For this corporate, “international hostility happening around an area” is the main reason for restricted or no-go for certain destinations.
“We have imposed no travel to Russia and Belarus, and restricted travel to Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Ukraine, Iran, Libya, Israel, Syria and Yemen,” he shared.
A corporate travel manager in the pharmaceutical sector said the year started with no major disruptions or concerns, but air crashes, geopolitics in the Middle East and Europe and the Trump effect after the Lunar New Year have been grabbing attention.
He commented softness in travel demand is due to global economics rather than risk and safety concerns, and there have been no travel advisory changes.
“As long as visa, logistics and shipping requirements are not impacted all at the same time, there won’t be trouble and we won’t face the kind of impact caused by the pandemic.”
Similarly, a buyer in financial services said the risk outlook is not a major concern, but noted more countries are now introducing travel authorisation initiatives.
“For us, we look at the 3Cs, cost, care and conservation or travelling with more responsibility.”
He acknowledged the impact of climate change and extreme weather is affecting travel and getting travel insurance to certain countries and regions has become a challenge.
The areas outlined in the GBTA webinar will impact travellers at some point, he observed, so the company works with its service providers “to know what is happening and to guide us”.
“Meanwhile we are stepping up travel safety and awareness training for our employees with roadshows and more can attend online sessions with our service providers.”
The India International Convention Centre, better known as Yashobhoomi, located in Dwarka, New Delhi, is preparing to initiate the bidding process for the second and final phase of its development.
The first phase of Yashobhoomi was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2023. The upcoming second phase will add 180,000m2 of indoor exhibiting area, significantly enhancing the venue’s capacity.
“The government of India will officially announce the bidding process to develop the commercial land adjacent to the existing facility. After the completion of the second phase, the Yashobhoomi facility will reach around an area of 300,000m2,” Phil Chung, CEO of KINEXIN Convention Management – the South Korean company which is the venue operating partner of Yashobhoomi – told TTGmice on the sidelines of SATTE Conference 2025.
Since its opening less than two years ago, the venue has hosted more than 300 events including an international textile sourcing show, Intex South Asia; Amazon Global Selling Export Connect 2024; and India Warehousing show.
As venue operators, Chung shared that they are actively engaging with global event organisers from countries like the UK, US, South Korea, and China to bring renowned international exhibitions to India.
“We are aiming to get one of the world’s largest semiconductor tradeshows to Yashobhoomi, which is expected to take place later this year.”
Attracting more globally renowned tradeshows will “help position both Yashobhoomi and India as a preferred MICE destination”, Chung added.
The inaugural Business Aviation Asia Forum and Expo (BAAFEx), held at Changi Exhibition Centre from March 4-6 has exceeded expectations, said organiser Experia Events, based on feedback from sponsors, exhibitors and trade visitors.
It drew more than 2,000 attendees from 56 countries and regions, with 53 per cent foreign attendance.
“Despite the immense size of Asia-Pacific’s business aviation market, the region had no truly international business aviation show where companies could showcase their latest products and services to people from around the region,” said Leck Chet Lam, managing director of Experia Events.
“We saw a gap in the market for such a show.”
Asia Pacific is growing faster than the rest of the world and is the third largest market for business aviation. The maintenance, repair and overhaul sector is also expected to spurt ahead.
But in the face of intensifying regional competition for business aviation, Singapore acknowledges that its higher costs are a factor for operators.
However, Leck emphasised during the press conference that the city-state’s unparalleled efficiency provides a crucial counterbalance. Operators must weigh the cost against the significant operational advantages Singapore offers, particularly when compared to regional alternatives.
BAAFEx comprised an exhibition, a conference with keynote speakers and expert panels, a static display of three aircraft and networking opportunities.
The show floor, though small, was buzzing especially on the opening day. Exhibitors included well-known brands and small players, and there was a strong Chinese presence.
“Exhibitors were impressed by the number of quality business meetings they had, resulting in sales opportunities,” said Leck.
Most sessions of the conference, held at the back of the exhibition hall, were packed.
Addressing concerns that having a dedicated event promoting business aviation and adding to the industry’s carbon footprint, Experia Events said it was committed to fostering discussions on sustainability within the sector that could help tackle these pressing issues.
For instance, there was a sustainability panel discussion. The organisers also included sustainability measures in the event, such as using QR codes and digital platforms, recycled carpets and implementing proper waste management procedures.
BAAFEx will be held again in 2027, alternating with the Singapore Airshow.
Radisson Hotel Group has partnered with the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) to introduce “Extra Mile Incentive Travel by Radisson Hotels”, a new incentive travel programme to provide curated experiences that inspire and reward teams and clients.
“Extra Mile Incentive Travel” grants access to nearly 200 properties across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific, each selected for its unique appeal, design, and prime location. These hotels have expert local teams who curate, among others, off-menu dining experiences that are original and authentic, with group dining being named the most appreciated activity in an incentive travel programme (51 per cent) in the 2024 Incentive Travel Index survey.
The 2024 Incentive Travel Index survey further reveals that 55 per cent of senior leaders view incentive travel as a crucial strategic differentiator, while 68 per cent believe travel is becoming more valued as a reward. Furthermore, 58 per cent of respondents see a more distinct role for incentive travel in motivation and culture building.
“Incentive travel plays a critical role in driving organisational success by recognising and rewarding excellence,” said Angela Graun, vice president sales operations & meetings & events global at Radisson Hotel Group. “Extra Mile Incentive Travel by Radisson Hotels combines the Group’s extensive expertise in hospitality with SITE’s industry-leading standards to offer bespoke experiences that not only motivate and inspire but also create lasting memories that strengthen relationships and elevate business outcomes.”
To further enrich the program, Radisson Hotel Group and SITE will produce nine digital eBooks, released every two months. The inaugural eBook will focus on Adventure & Wellness, showcasing destinations and properties that offer adventure, wellness, and nature-based experiences.
All participating hotels adhere to rigorous training standards developed in partnership with SITE and comply with the Hotel Sustainability Basics, a global initiative launched by the World Travel and Tourism Council to promote responsible travel.
As part of the programme, Radisson Hotel Group is also set to produce nine individual eBooks (one published every two months) in collaboration with SITE. The first eBook to be published is dedicated to Adventure & Wellness where the hotel company will showcase destinations and properties with adventure, wellness, and nature-based experiences.
Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong is shaking up the city’s event scene with its array of versatile and vibrant spaces.
The ninth floor’s “The Library and Plug-In Area” provides a 34m2 creative zone, equipped with full wiring, making it ideal for everything from productive corporate meetings to intimate celebrations.
For those seeking a more social atmosphere, the Moxy Bar & Restaurant offers a laid-back setting, complete with curated bites and beverages, perfect for casual mingling. The outdoor terrace, boasting stunning city views, provides an alfresco option for gatherings, allowing guests to enjoy the Bangkok skyline.
Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong is also preparing to launch a rooftop event space. This new venue promises to become a premier destination for exclusive private parties, and elevated celebrations, offering panoramic views of the city.
The hotel has also introduced “Meeting & Event Packages” designed to inject energy and engagement into corporate events. These packages seamlessly blend productivity with playful vibes, ensuring attendees remain stimulated throughout the day.
Full-day meeting packages start from 1,500 baht (US$44.40) per person, and this package includes two coffee breaks and lunch, available from 08.00 to 17.00, with a minimum of 10 attendees.
