This bursary is a powerful way to support mid-career researchers at a critical stage in their careers
The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) has unveiled a new three-year bursary with Life Sciences Queensland (LSQ).
Launched as a legacy project for the Centre’s 30th anniversary, the initiative will provide critical funding to mid-career researchers in the health, biomedical, and agritech sectors.
This bursary is a powerful way to support mid-career researchers at a critical stage in their careers
The bursary was developed through the BCEC Convention Advocates Partnership, a network of international leaders who have secured 163 conferences and generated A$358 million (US$253.3 million) in economic impact for Brisbane since 2010.
“For three decades, BCEC has partnered with science leaders to showcase Queensland’s innovation to the world. This initiative honours that legacy by investing in future talent and strengthening the connections that drive global impact,” said Kym Guesdon, general manager of BCEC.
As the state’s peak body for medical and agricultural science, LSQ represents over 100 industry members. The life sciences sector is a significant driver for the local economy, contributing A$2.1 billion in gross value-added and employing more than 12,000 people.
Incoming LSQ chair Frank Gannon added that the bursary is a reflection of Queensland’s “maturity in cross-disciplinary collaboration”, aimed at securing long-term advancements in regional health and food supply.
“We’re proud to collaborate with the Centre on an initiative that not only supports individual researchers but strengthens the entire ecosystem for bio innovation in Queensland,” he added.
Application details and programme guidelines for the new bursary are expected to be released in the coming months via the LSQ website.
Aloft Surabaya Pakuwon City has launched Meet, Mingle & Sizzle, a new interactive meeting package designed to transform traditional corporate gatherings into experience-driven events.
Moving away from static business agendas, the hotel now offers a complimentary live cooking station for all bookings of 50 or more participants, allowing guests to interact directly with chefs as they prepare fresh Asian, Indonesian, and Western dishes. This culinary-focused approach replaces the standard buffet with high-energy noodle and pasta stations, providing a more personalised and visual dining experience.
Aloft Surabaya Pakuwon City’s foyer area
The property offers seven modern “Tactic” meeting rooms totalling 489m2, capable of hosting up to 430 participants. These spaces feature high ceilings, vibrant colour palettes, and unconventional networking tools like a foyer claw machine.
Strategically located in East Surabaya near the Suramadu Bridge and major industrial hubs, the hotel is the only Marriott brand property in the area, offering organisers added value through Marriott Bonvoy Event Points redeemable for future stays or upgrades.
Reservations for the new interactive experience are now being accepted through the hotel’s official website.
Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef has launched a refreshed digital platform and a major funding initiative at the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) 2026 to attract more corporate gatherings to Tropical North Queensland.
The new website is designed to inspire meeting planners through the destination’s “Connect Great and Leave Greater” promise, highlighting teambuilding, CSR experiences, off-site events, and post-event adventures that integrate the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s oldest rainforest with the region’s First Nations cultural values.
A screenshot from the refreshed website
Moreover, a new funding programme now offers grants of A$10,000 (US$7,082) or more for eligible national and international events taking place before June 30, 2029. To qualify for the financial support, events must host a minimum of 150 delegates for at least three nights. This incentive is supported by a suite of complimentary bureau services, including delegate boosting, marketing support, and assistance with site inspections to connect planners with local venues and accommodation providers.
Supported by Tourism and Events Queensland and Cairns Regional Council, the initiative marks a unified effort to secure high-impact business events for the region over the next four years.
Railbookers Group has appointed Nick Lim as vice president – Asia, strengthening its leadership presence in the region.
Lim brings more than 25 years of travel industry experience and most recently served as CEO, Asia at The Travel Corporation, where he spent over two decades.
He has also held the role of general manager, Asia at Norwegian Cruise Line, and has extensive experience building and expanding travel brands across the Asian market.
TTGmice’s e-news will be taking a break from February 16 to 18, 2026, for the Lunar New Year holidays. News will resume on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
From all of us at TTG Asia Media, we wish all of our readers good health, and a happy and prosperous Year of the Horse!
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei performing a traditional welcome
The official opening of the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) has ushered in a long-awaited milestone for New Zealand’s business events industry, finally delivering the scale required to compete for larger international congresses and corporate meetings.
Opening celebrations were led by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in a traditional welcome for about 650 invited guests, grounding the occasion in Auckland’s cultural heritage. Performances by the Auckland Youth Choir and chart-topping band Six60 followed, with Six60 also becoming the first act to perform at NZICC’s new Te Paepae Theatre the next day.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei performing a traditional welcome; photo by Adelaine Ng
Guests were also treated to an immersive culinary showcase, with live theatre-style food stations spotlighting premium New Zealand produce and reinforcing the venue’s focus on regional provenance.
Tourism and hospitality minister, Louise Upston, described the centre as transformational for the sector. “This opening today is a game changer for us as a country,” she said, noting its role in attracting high-spending international delegates and elevating New Zealand’s global standing.
Industry confidence is already evident. NZICC has secured 120 events to date, representing an estimated 33,000 additional international visitors. A preview of an upcoming report showed that multi-day business conferences generated NZ$925 million in economic and productivity benefits in 2025, before the centre had even opened. “So imagine what we’re going to do after that,” said Upston.
More than a decade in development, and following setbacks including a 2019 construction fire and pandemic delays, the opening of NZICC completes a trio of next-generation convention centres across New Zealand’s three largest cities.
Kutchan, a town in Western Hokkaido just two hours by car from Sapporo, is boosting its business event hosting capabilities with the opening of new accommodations and launch of new products and services.
Home to the main resorts of the Niseko area, Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Hanazono, Kutchan has long been renowned for snow sports, but business events stakeholders are intensifying efforts to enhance its appeal as a year-round destination, particularly to meetings and incentives.
Aerial view of the bridge over the Shiribetsu River with Mount Yotei in the background
Leading efforts is MICE Niseko, a DMO launched in 2020 to provide a one-stop service for business events, and Kutchan Tourism Association. Together, they aim to increase demand using a new framework that supports everything from facilities, activities and catering to entertainment, sustainability and guest speaker programmes.
“We are targeting incentive groups of 20 to 100 people and expect to see growth first from Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, North America and Hawaii,” said James Suzuki, director general of Kutchan Tourism Association, adding that Australia is a longer-term market, both for incentives, conferences, and conventions.
The association is also aiming for corporate management and shareholder meetings, as Kutchan offers high-end, yet competitively priced, accommodation as well as meeting rooms with impressive views of nature, explained Suzuki.
Luxury villa and chalet management provider Elite Havens hopes to welcome more business visitors to its six to eight person chalets in Hirafu and Niseko Village, which are clustered together.
“This setup offers an ideal balance for corporate groups – providing private spaces for relaxation and breakout sessions, while keeping the team connected and fostering collaboration,” said a spokesperson.
Hotel options, meanwhile, include the 87-key Chalet Ivy Weiss and the ski-in, ski-out Nikko Style Niseko Hanazono, which features a 122-seater all-day dining restaurant and a 136m2 banquet room that can accommodate 50 pax in banquet-style and 120 pax in theatre style.
Other new developments are also transforming Niseko Grand Hirafu as both a winter and summer destination.
Following the addition of a 10-seater gondola in the 2024/25 season, a six-seater chairlift is scheduled to be in operation by February 2026. Sanshoku, a restaurant and bar with 240 seats, opened in July 2025 for exclusive use by groups following a renovation, and two more F&B facilities, the 380-seat Nest813 and 270-seat Ace Center, were unveiled in December 2025.
At nearby Niseko Hanazono, two art installations by internationally renowned artist Bruce Munro have been added to the immersive outdoor artwork of 180,000 points of light, Mountain Lights, which is open from July to October.
Chalet Ivy Weiss offers a deep connection to Hokkaido’s untouched alpine wilderness
Other new activities in the resort during Green Season range from high-octane ziplining and tree trekking to tranquil experiences such as afternoon tea by luxury pastry brand Pierre Hermé Paris, served in a boat on a lake.
Elsewhere, a performance called Fire Goddess introduces Ainu culture, which is native to Hokkaido, through dance, music and fireworks.
Suzuki hopes the activities, experiences and entertainment will appeal to groups seeking teambuilding and engagement with Japanese culture, while the year-round guest speaker programme comprising diverse speakers from 70 countries, is “ideal for education and insight” for corporate groups.
The private sector, too, is striving to increase arrivals during the warmer months.
“Collaboration is key to our Green Season strategy,” said the Elite Havens spokesperson. “We’re working closely with local partners, including tour operators and activity providers, to create compelling packages and seamless experiences for our guests throughout the warmer months.”
Efforts are already paying off, as Kutchan will welcome several international events in 2026 including Swatch Nines Snow, an action-packed snow sports event that will debut in Asia at Niskeo Grand Hirafu over April 6 to 11, and the UCI Gran Fondo World Series Championships, which will welcome amateur cyclists from around the world to Niseko in August.
Hyatt has expanded its Asia Pacific Meetings & Events Alliance to nine properties with the addition of Grand Hyatt Seoul.
The programme streamlines regional business events planning by offering corporate organisers a centralised, collaborative approach to multi-city and multi-year events. Planners accessing the Alliance benefit from a single point of contact, simplified contracting, and coordinated service delivery across key business hubs.
Grand Hyatt Seoul’s ballroom
Under the “Together by Hyatt” philosophy, the Alliance focuses on operational consistency and tailored incentives for multi-destination programmes. The participating network now comprises Grand Hyatt properties in Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, Bali, Hong Kong, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila, alongside Hyatt Regency Sydney.
PACEOS' president Patrick Lawrence giving a speech at the launch event
The Philippines has launched a specialised MICE Guidebook covering seven key destinations to showcase the country’s readiness for high-stakes business events.
A collaboration between PACEOS (Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers) and the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP), the Philippine MICE Guidebook: A Comprehensive Guide for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions streamlines the planning process by detailing venues, accommodations, and service providers across seven key hubs: Manila, Clark, Boracay, Iloilo, Cebu, Bohol, and Davao.
PACEOS’ president Patrick Lawrence giving a speech at the launch event
Beyond directories, the resource features regional event calendars, local expertise, and unique destination offerings to assist global organisers.
Supported by the Department of Tourism and its marketing arm, Tourism Promotions Board, the Philippine MICE Guidebook was launched at the Philippine Travel Agencies Association’s Travel Trade Expo last week.
TCP’s president James Montenegro stated that the guidebook’s documentation of unique local offerings and best practices serves as an invaluable resource to boost the country’s visibility and appeal in international markets.
Meanwhile, Marisa Nallana, board member of PACEOS, told TTGmice that the guide provides the global market with a clear overview of the Philippines’ business events facilities, with the potential for expanded content in future editions.
“As the MICE industry continues to evolve, it is essential that we prioritise responsible tourism that benefits both local communities and the environment. By promoting eco-friendly and socially responsible practices, the Guidebook will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the industry,” Montenegro said.
TCEB’s Suratsa Thongmee speaking at the event; photo by TCEB
Thailand is shifting the focus from tourism revenue to investing in long-term urban development for its business events sector.
At the recent TCEB Strategic Direction 2026 briefing, Suratsa Thongmee, senior vice president of domestic marketing at the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), unveiled a new vision where events serve as a “stamp of trust” for investors.
TCEB’s Suratsa Thongmee speaking at the event; photo by TCEB
She indicated that successfully hosting mega-events proves a city’s management capability and infrastructure readiness, signalling that the destination can support long-term industrial investment.
“MICE is not about organising events or tourism; it is a critical investment mechanism that builds trust and confidence in a destination’s ability to support industry and economic growth,” Suratsa stated.
That is because business events are able to validate a city’s capacity to handle complex logistics and large population flows.
“If a mega-event MICE project is held in a certain area, it shows the city has the management to create change,” Suratsa explained.
This capability, she noted, creates a belief among investors that if a city can support mass gatherings, it can also support new businesses and industries.
To execute this vision, TCEB is employing a comprehensive MICE 4D strategy designed to shift the industry’s focus from quantity to quality.
A key component of this strategic direction involves “Strategic Area Profiling”, which maps specific “Future Focus” industries to Thailand’s diverse regions.
For instance, the north will focus on creative cultural industries, the north-east on medical wellness, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) on advanced manufacturing and mobility, the central region on food security and biotechnology, and the south on premium wellness markets.
This regional specificity allows cities to develop International Property (IP) based on local identities, moving beyond generic tourism to specialised business hubs.
“Beyond immediate revenue, MICE creates jobs and fosters a sense of ownership among residents, ultimately encouraging the new generation to remain in their home cities rather than migrating,” she emphasised.
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.
He has also held the role of general manager, Asia at Norwegian Cruise Line, and has extensive experience building and expanding travel brands across the Asian market.
