Melbourne (pictured) will host significant global conferences on gender equality and women’s rights in 2026
Melbourne has been selected to host Women Deliver 2026, a global conference on gender equality and women’s rights.
Scheduled to take place from April 27-30, 2026, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will host over 6,500 delegates from 170 countries.
Melbourne (pictured) will host significant global conferences on gender equality and women’s rights in 2026
The triennial conference – held for the first time in the Oceania Pacific region – will serve as a crucial platform for advancing gender justice and reproductive health, facilitating critical dialogue, knowledge sharing, and networking among global leaders, advocates, and organisations.
This builds on the Australian city’s successful hosting of a smaller regional Women Deliver convening in 2023.
Women Deliver is dedicated to promoting the health and rights of women, girls, and gender-diverse people worldwide. The conference will address key issues such as reproductive health, the empowerment of marginalised communities, and building a more equitable world.
The successful bid was a collaborative effort involving the Melbourne Convention Bureau, the Victorian State Government, the Federal Government, Tourism Australia, and key stakeholders across the region.
Oakwood launches brand campaign All You Knead is Comfort, inviting guests to experience the comforts of home through food-inspired activations
Riding on a proven rise in bleisure travel and the pivotal role food plays in travel experiences, Oakwood is taking a strategic position to cater to the evolving needs of travellers seeking the perfect blend of business and pleasure.
In a press statement, Ascott’s Oakwood noted that bleisure travel is currently a global market valued at nearly US$600 billion, based on Forbes research, while American Express Travel’s 2023 Global Travel Trends Report had highlighted the influential power of food experiences in travel, with 46 per cent of respondents saying they would sign up for cooking classes to engage with the culture of the destination, while 34 per cent would shop for groceries while travelling.
Oakwood launches brand campaign All You Knead is Comfort, inviting guests to experience the comforts of home through food-inspired activations
In line with these findings, all new Oakwood properties will feature on-site dining options. Following last year’s brand refresh, more than half of Oakwood properties today offer the convenience of dining on-property, featuring a variety of culinary options that focus on comfort food.
Furthermore, the Oakwood brand’s All You Knead is Comfort brand campaign 2025 will tap into the universal power of comfort food to soothe the soul and satisfy the palate. The campaign invites guests to experience the comforts of home through food-inspired activations, including cooking classes, celebrity chef collaborations and limited-time offerings at on-property restaurants, available through March 31 this year.
As part of this campaign, Oakwood is also showcasing its culinary capabilities with the launch of its first digital cookbook, Comfort, Curated. Featuring recipes by Oakwood chefs from all 12 countries that the brand currently operates in, the cookbook presents a collection of dishes from various regions, and is available for free download on the brand campaign webpage. Through this initiative, Oakwood invites guests to recreate a taste of home no matter where they are, and when they return home, a taste of the destinations they have visited.
Alongside the digital cookbook, Oakwood properties have teamed up with local culinary experts to offer exclusive, limited-time menus and masterclasses for guests.
Tan Bee Leng, chief commercial officer, Ascott, said: “As bleisure travel continues to grow, our guests are increasingly seeking distinctive culinary experiences. This reflects a broader shift towards experiential travel, where food acts as a gateway to understanding and appreciating the culture and heritage of each destination. Oakwood is well-positioned to ride this trend and distinguish itself with its multi-faceted approach to culinary tourism.
“With Home on a Plate as one of our brand signatures, Oakwood apartments are equipped with kitchens, allowing guests to prepare local dishes using ingredients sourced from the region. This hands-on approach not only fosters a deeper cultural connection but also offers flexibility in dining choices.
“Additionally, our F&B programme, All You Knead is Comfort, goes beyond the physical dining spaces by offering guests interactive culinary events like cooking classes, food tastings and seasonal offerings. These activities enable guests to engage directly with local chefs and food traditions, enriching their stay and creating lasting memories.”
Japan’s Kyoto is working towards higher accommodation tax – up to 10,000 yen (US$64.20) per night for rooms priced from 100,000 yen and more – to fund city infrastructure developments and address overtourism issues. This is expected to be implemented from March 2026.
Kyoto’s current accommodation tax on overnight tourists, in place since 2018, has an upper limit of 1,000 yen per person per night.
Kyoto will raise accommodation taxes to fund city infrastructure development and address overtourism ills
With the revision, stays costing 6,000 yen a night will incur a 200 yen tax; room rates from 6,000 yen to 19,999 yen a night would be subjected to 400 yen in taxes; from 20,000 yen to 49,999 yen would have 1,000 yen in taxes; from 50,000 yen to 99,999 yen would have 4,000 yen in taxes; and rates exceeding 100,000 yen would have 10,000 yen in taxes.
Trips for educational purposes would be exempt from the taxation.
According to local news reports, the collected money would be used to improve city infrastructure, including public transportation services and conservation of traditional buildings.
Kyra Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport pictured
Sompo Insurance (Thailand) has partnered with Collinson International, has introduced “Sompo Smart Delay”, which provides Sompo Insurance policyholders in Thailand instant access to over 1,600 airport lounges and travel experiences in the event of flight delays.
With the integration of Collinson International’s SmartDelay solution into Sompo’s platform, Sompo TravelJoy, single and annual trip policyholders will be able to redeem access to airport lounges and travel experiences as soon as a flight delay occurs. Eligible policyholders will automatically be sent a digital lounge access voucher, through which they can easily redeem their real-time travel benefit.
Kyra Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport pictured
“Our partnership with Collinson International is a strategic leap forward in redefining the future of travel insurance. As the first Sompo entity to pioneer the innovative Sompo Smart Delay feature, we’re proud to lead this initiative that will soon be expanded across other Sompo entities in the Asia Pacific region,” said Aditya Vardhan Tibrewala, CEO of Sompo Insurance (Thailand).
Recent flight delay statistics show that as of June 2024, 33 million travellers across Asia Pacific were impacted by more than an hour of flight delays. In turn, six in ten travellers surveyed through Priority Pass research revealed that preflight issues can initiate stress and a “Fear of Switching Off” for the rest of their trip.
The prayer room is located on the second level of HKCEC
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) has received the Gold Certification for MICE Venues by CrescentRating, a global authority in halal travel, making it the first business events venue in Hong Kong to achieve this.
The certification follows an independent assessment by CrescentRating, commissioned by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, which evaluated local hotels, attractions, and business events venues against international standards.
The prayer room is located on the second level of HKCEC
The HKCEC successfully met stringent requirements across various categories, ensuring a positive and inclusive experience for Muslim exhibitors and visitors.
To further enhance its Muslim-friendly offerings, the HKCEC has implemented several key initiatives such as dedicated prayer spaces for men and women on the second floor, complete with Qibla direction and prayer mats; improved restrooms with hand showers and ablution facilities; and concession stands now offer Halal-certified food during events.
Monica Lee-Müller, managing director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited, said that the number of Muslim exhibitors, buyers, and visitors attending events at the HKCEC has been steadily increasing, and this certification reflects the venue’s “commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all guests”.
CTM is the first TMC to introduce SAF scoring to its online booking tool, Lightning
Corporate Travel Management (CTM) has unveiled that its proprietary online booking tool (OBT), Lightning, now displays Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) scores during the flight booking process.
This industry-first innovation empowers organisations and business travellers to make more informed and sustainable travel choices.
CTM is the first TMC to introduce SAF scoring to its online booking tool, Lightning
Lightning users will now see SAF scores for over 250 airlines alongside key flight information such as price, in-policy status, seat availability, and carbon emissions. This comprehensive view allows travellers to prioritise sustainability alongside other critical factors.
SAF scores were initially piloted with select CTM customers in the UK and Europe earlier this year. Following successful trials, the feature is now available free of charge to all CTM customers in North America and Asia, with rollout to Australia and New Zealand markets planned throughout 2025.
CTM’s global head of sustainability, Lauren Hook, said: “… With corporate sustainability reporting mandates in play, businesses, governments and non-profit organisations are seeking ways to minimise the environmental impact of their corporate travel, and we are here to support those goals. Equipping our customers with the right information at the time of booking is key to achieving this.
“With the demand for SAF growing, the travel industry has a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change. By collaborating with airlines and advocating for increased use of SAF, we can play a part in incentivising investment in SAF to meet future demand.”
The addition of SAF scores further strengthens Lightning’s sustainability features, including carbon emissions for air, hotel and car and the ability to sort by the lowest emissions.
A wave of optimism is sweeping through Surabaya’s convention centres as 2025 bookings surge, indicating a strong recovery for the city’s events industry after several years of slow business.
Gito Sugiarto, general manager at Grand City Convention and ExhibitionGrand City Convention and Exhibition, forecasted a 30 per cent increase in bookings for 2025 compared to 2024.
Dyandra Convention Center Surabaya
In 2024, Grand City Convention and Exhibition recorded a 20 per cent year-on-year growth in event bookings, though activity remained at just 70 per cent of the levels seen in 2019. The venue remains positive for 2025, buoyed by a steady flow of confirmed bookings and the shifting trend toward last-minute bookings.
“This year looks even more exciting as there is a diverse range of new events lined up, bringing even greater variety to our calendar,” Gito said with optimism.
Dyandra Convention Center Surabaya is also seeing promising domestic growth, but Lusi Astuti, the venue’s general manager, shared that there is still a lack of large international conferences and exhibitions – once a significant revenue source.
“Surabaya has fallen off the map for international association events, and is struggling to regain its place in the global MICE scene. Meanwhile, the local government has shifted its focus towards supporting festivals, leaving the (business events) industry without the backing it needs,” said Lusi.
To address this, Dyandra Convention Center Surabaya is planning to partner with local associations to bid for major events. Additionally, the venue is organising a sales mission to Jakarta, with a focus on associations beyond the traditional medical, insurance, and education sectors.
To stay ahead in a competitive market in the meantime, Dyandra Convention Center Surabaya will add a 200-pax meeting room to its offerings, set for completion in 1Q2025. This upgrade is part of a larger refurbishment plan to enhance the venue’s facilities and better cater to the growing demand for diverse events.
Travel tradeshows will see strong 2025 attendance from China outbound agents; IT&CM China 2024 pictured
The third Dragon Trail International (DTI) survey on China’s outbound travel trade shows a preference for doing business at shows organised on the mainland or in Hong Kong, and attendance in 2025 is expected to rise between two and 12 per cent compared to the previous year.
According to Sienna Parulis-Cook, director of marketing and communications, this is the largest outbound travel trade survey to date with 465 respondents, where 29 per cent of respondents offer business travel services.
Travel tradeshows will see strong 2025 attendance from China outbound agents; IT&CM China 2024 pictured
The B2B engagement question on planned trade show attendance in 2025 shows the 20th MICE Travel Expo co-locating with the 39th ITE Hong Kong will see a 12 per cent increase, ITB China three per cent, and IT&CM China two per cent.
Parulis-Cook pointed out Arabian Travel Market, the most popular international trade with five per cent attendance last year will increase three per cent in 2025, IBTM World at four per cent attendance will increase three per cent, and ITB Asia also at four per cent will increase two per cent.
As for 2024 B2B engagement and roadshows, DTI’s data visualisation chart shows Thailand, New Zealand, Dubai, New York City ranking high, followed by Fiji, Japan, Malaysia, Portugal, Singapore, Scandinavia and South Africa.
Among the 136 who responded on how roadshows help, 67 per cent said it was to learn about a destination’s resources and products, 61 per cent to better understand a destination’s brand message and marketing strategies, 60 per cent to learn about market trends and insights, 40 per cent to establish cooperative relationships, and 38 per cent to help with travel product design.
On areas where respondents would like more B2B “desired resources”, respondents named hotels (45 per cent), attractions (44 per cent), local transportation services (43 per cent), visa services (41 per cent) and shopping and retailers (38 per cent) as the top five.
On cooperation and support, respondents listed timely information on products, safety and culture; cooperation in developing travel products; seasonal travel products and information; preferential rates, offers and exclusive products; products for small and private groups; products tailored to age groups; Chinese-language services and Chinese food; and an easy payment experience.
Ayana Bali, a 90-hectare resort in Indonesia, is in the final planning stages of constructing a dedicated convention centre on its property.
Demolition of several villas to accommodate this new venue is scheduled to commence in June 2025 and is expected to be completed within approximately 15 months. Aside from a main event space, an additional three meeting rooms will be created within the venue.
An aerial view of Ayana Bali
Several other function spaces near the proposed site, such as the 846m2 Ayana Ballroom, will also receive several soft upgrades, such as new carpeting.
When asked how the decision to build a standalone convention centre come about, Giordano Faggioli, general manager of Ayana Bali, told TTGmice: “By investing in this project, Ayana aims to enhance its ability to host larger international conferences, corporate events, and exhibitions, contributing to Bali’s reputation as a leading global MICE destination.”
Faggioli shared there has been an “increasing demand for professional event spaces”, where in 2024, the resort hosted 235 corporate groups and activities. Of this, 78 events made use of both the accommodations and event spaces, “reflecting the versatility” of Ayana Bali’s offerings, and its ability to “maximise budgets by bundling” corporate needs into cost-effective solutions, he added.
Currently, approximately 70 per cent of events are domestic, with the balance being international corporate groups. Key inbound markets for the property include India, Hong Kong, and neighbouring markets like Singapore.
“There is also growing demand for meeting packages that incorporate food options sourced from local ingredients. This reflects a broader commitment to sustainability, supporting local communities, and offering attendees a taste of Bali’s culinary heritage,” Faggioli stated.
And the resort is well-positioned to cater to this, thanks to its on-site farm. Aside from providing a farm-to-table experience, Ayana Farm also offers corporate activities such as a traditional jamu-making workshop, where participants can learn about and create Indonesia’s herbal beverages using freshly-harvested ingredients.
“Rock Bar’s Sustainable Cocktails further showcase our commitment to eco-conscious practices, using locally-sourced and repurposed ingredients to craft innovative beverages that align with our sustainability values,” he said.
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