Asia/Singapore Friday, 24th April 2026
Page 16

The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok

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Lily's

Rooms
My 24th floor Club Deluxe King Room was an exercise in thoughtful luxury, perched just above the Club Lounge with a magnificent bay window overlooking Lumphini Park. The 50m2 layout is remarkably intuitive, featuring a cosy double chaise lounge built into the window, and a clever mini walk-in closet at the entryway.

As someone prone to stubbing my toes, I deeply appreciated the rounded corners on the bed frame and chaise – a small but meaningful design choice that made the space feel truly curated.

The room is packed with high-end hardware, from the Dyson hairdryer with magnetic attachments and an Electrolux clothes steamer to the heated Kohler Japanese toilet. I especially loved the ability to adjust the air conditioning in precise 0.5-degree increments, which, paired with the automated blinds and the incredibly comfortable bed, made for a tailored sleep environment. The bathroom was anchored by a massive soaking tub and stocked with plush Monarch microfibre-lined robes, a natural loofah, and Diptyque Philosykos scented soap.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the room, there were a few minor hiccups: the television casting system would not connect, and the pillow menu was unfortunately out of body pillows.

MICE facilities
The property introduces major capabilities, headlined by the 1,355m2 Ritz-Carlton Grand Ballroom – the city’s largest – featuring a full-wall LED. While the indoor pre-function space is proportionally small for the room’s 2,000-guest capacity, planners can utilise two adjacent outdoor terraces overlooking Lumphini Park during cooler weather.

The dedicated events floor totals 1,638m2 across nine flexible rooms. Elevating exclusive events is the sprawling 439m2 Ritz-Carlton Suite, which opened in late June 2025. This three-bedroom penthouse offers two entrances, three balconies, and a light-filled living area and open kitchen perfect for private showcases and executive board meetings.

Other facilities
The Old Bangkok-themed Club Lounge serves six culinary presentations, including “Golden Hour” Sgroppino cocktails; a tribute to King Mongkut’s 1868 solar eclipse prediction. Along with complimentary meeting space and daily garment pressing, the lounge is a highly recommended workspace, particularly for afternoon tea in alcoves overlooking Wireless Road.

On the seventh floor, the saltwater pool deck serves as a sunset haven, thoughtfully stocked with five types of sunscreen and La Roche-Posay mist. The locker rooms are equally well-appointed with rubber slippers, grooming essentials, minty towels, and a wet swimwear spinner. Below lies a lush wellness sanctuary featuring a steam room, sauna, heated jacuzzi, Experience Shower, and Himalayan salt spa, alongside a Technogym and a spa featuring ESPA treatments.

Dining highlights include Caleō, offering park-view cocktails and a clever postcard-mailing service, alongside the fine-dining restaurant Duet, led by Michelin-star chef David Toutain.

Over at all-day dining restaurant Lily’s, the sustainable Chumphon applewood-smoked kingfish, Thai tea waffles, and excellent gluten-free options are standouts.

Finally, the hotel’s Elemental Ensemble programme grounds the experience in local culture through morning Tai Chi, twilight Khlong Yao drum ceremonies, and Art Loop tours of One Bangkok and the nearby Wireless House museum.

Service
The hospitality matches the high-end hardware with genuine grace, as poolside attendants ensured complete relaxation with thoughtful touches like mango juice welcomes.

Service at Lily’s was exceptional; restaurant manager Boom navigated my gluten intolerance expertly, offering rare dedicated gluten-free hash browns and a fresh mango plate at breakfast, while my compatriot enjoyed the signature Tom Yum butter (served with the establishment’s bread basket) on my behalf.

Overall, staff attentiveness remained warm and authentic throughout the stay, evoking a truly emotive connection.

Verdict
Balancing soulful service with contemporary design, this is not just another copy-and-paste luxury skyscraper; corporate travellers and delegates will be in very good hands here.

Number of rooms
260

Contact details
ritzcarlton.com/bangkok

Explore Singapore’s raw side with Hidden Heritage

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Industrial Relics and Wartime Secrets tour

As corporate Singapore looks to move beyond conventional teambonding activities like bowling and karaoke, local tour operator Hidden Heritage is making a name for itself by offering a grittier alternative: trekking through defunct oil plants, and descending into wartime air-raid shelters.

Founded by husband-and-wife duo Amanda Cheong and Stanley Cheah, Hidden Heritage has carved out a niche by specialising in what they call “hidden history”.

Industrial Relics and Wartime Secrets tour

Driven by a surge in interest from C-suite executives seeking high-engagement outings, these corporate tours move beyond traditional sightseeing to foster organic connection through shared discovery and physical adventure.

“Corporates (usually lean towards) our Industrial Relics and Secrets of the Streets trails. The Industrial Relics tour, in particular, is an experience in itself. You’re hiking through forests, scaling metal stairs in an old lubricant plant, and going underground into a WWII air-raid shelter via a ladder,” Cheong shared with TTGmice.

According to the founders, these physical challenges naturally facilitate team bonding. “That’s the part where you actually have to help your boss,” Cheah said with a laugh. “It gets people down and dirty in a way that breaks down workplace hierarchies.”

The tours are highly customisable, allowing the content to be focused on specific corporate objectives, such as sustainability observed through industrial evolution, or leadership and resilience tested through physical navigation.

To drive engagement, Hidden Heritage’s tours are often interjected with gamified elements like scavenger hunts and ‘floor-is-lava’ challenges, with the option to include hands-on workshops such as traditional tile painting or towel making.

“For larger organisations, we can also arrange full-day leadership outings that include point-to-point transportation and curated F&B segments,” Cheah said. Such F&B segments will be heavily punctuated by local flavours – from sampling heritage cakes at decades-old bakeries to trying street food popular within the migrant worker community.

Cheah emphasised that the goal for these corporate outings is to move beyond the city’s polished exterior, allowing teams to connect with the authentic livelihoods and traditions that define Singapore’s heritage.

While Hidden Heritage typically caters to groups of 15 to 20 pax, they can accommodate up to 60 people by splitting sessions to preserve the intimacy of the storytelling. Costs scale accordingly based on the duration and specific requirements of the tour.

Marriott Bonvoy Events rolls out new offer for corporates

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Marriott recognises the importance of shared experiences in forging lasting connections

Marriott Bonvoy Events has unveiled its 2026 APEC Group & Catering Offer – Where Connections Create Possibilities – across participating properties in Asia Pacific, excluding Greater China.

Designed for the 2026 rebound in regional business travel, the promotion provides Marriott Bonvoy members with double points and a five per cent discount on master-billed rooms for group stays. Organisers can further customise their value by choosing between complimentary room nights or welcome drinks for their attendees.

Marriott recognises the importance of shared experiences in forging lasting connections

To simplify logistics, the offer integrates ResLink, a digital tool that allows guests to book contracted rates directly through a customised event link. Moreover, organisers utilising ResLink for their entire group block can earn up to 20,000 bonus points. This commitment to value extends to catering-only events, which also qualify for double points, a five per cent discount, and complimentary welcome drinks for all guests.

Beyond standard incentives, the 2026 programme addresses modern bleisure and ESG trends. Participating hotels may offer discretionary rewards such as locally inspired experiences, exclusive leisure privileges, or complimentary carbon offset options.

Full details and specific rewards are subject to individual hotel terms and conditions.

Amari Bangkok names new GM

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Amari Bangkok has appointed Jose Luis Duran Sanles as its general manager.

He brings over 15 years of hospitality experience and most recently served as general manager of Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel.

His career includes leadership roles at Anantara Siam Bangkok, Shangri-La Bangkok, and Conrad Seoul.

oneworld welcomes new CEO

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oneworld has appointed Ole Orvér as its CEO, effective April 1, 2026.

Orvér brings more than 20 years of aviation experience and most recently served as chief commercial officer at Finnair.

Prior to this, he was senior vice president – network management at Qatar Airways and has held leadership roles at Air Berlin, LOT Polish Airlines, and SAS Scandinavian Airlines.

International boxing convention spotlights Vietnam’s growing status in the sport

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The Grand Ho Tram hosts bi-monthly muay thai, MMA, boxing and kickboxing events

Brought to you by The Grand Ho Tram

The Grand Ho Tram hosts bi-monthly muay thai, MMA, boxing and kickboxing events

Vietnam’s boxing scene has been growing steadily in recent years, making it a strong contender for the sport in the region. 

Amidst the country’s rise in the sport and growing popularity as a tourism destination, the 41st Annual Convention of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) will be held in Vietnam, and in South-east Asia, for the first time. 

Scheduled from May 24 to May 28, 2026, the convention will take place at The Grand Ho Tram, following a competitive RFP bidding process held in July 2025. The IBF Annual Convention is a key event that brings together world champions, managers, promoters, and boxing officials from around the globe to discuss regulations, rankings, and the future of professional boxing.

For The Grand Ho Tram, being selected as the official venue sponsor reflects its growing reputation as a venue capable of supporting specialist sporting conventions that require both operational reliability and an international-standard setting.

“Being selected by the IBF affirms the international standards of our facilities and services. We are proud to see Vietnam emerging as a choice destination – not only for tourism, but also as a host for top-tier professional sporting events,” said Walt Power, CEO of The Grand Ho Tram.

Official press conference announcing the appointment of The Grand Ho Tram as the official venue sponsor for the 41st IBF Annual Convention; The Grand Ho Tram CEO Walt Power pictured third from left

Located approximately two hours from Ho Chi Minh City, The Grand Ho Tram is an integrated resort comprising InterContinental Grand Ho Tram, Holiday Inn Resort Ho Tram Beach, and Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion, offering more than 1,250 keys. This scale allows organisers to accommodate delegates, meetings and official functions within a single destination, streamlining logistics for international events.

As the official venue sponsor, The Grand Ho Tram will be hosting the Opening Welcome cocktail, Meet the Champions Event, and Gala dinner. 

The resort’s experience in hosting sporting events also factored into the IBF’s decision. It currently stages bi-monthly muay thai, mixed martial arts and kickboxing events,

“Having supported such sporting events in the past, the hotel teams are familiar with the requirements and set up for such events.The ballrooms, outdoor venues and our international hotels (Intercontinental and Holiday Inn) were key consideration factors for the IBF,” said Timothy Tan, vice president of Sales & Marketing, The Grand Ho Tram.

He added that the resort is working with IBF to ensure the participants experience the vibrant culture of Vietnam through the property’s culinary offerings and entertainment options.

With around 300 international delegates expected, the IBF Convention is also expected to benefit Vietnam’s sports and tourism industries. 

Lim Song, the organiser’s representative instrumental in bringing the event to Vietnam, added: “The IBF Convention is not just about boxing; it’s a cultural and economic bridge. Our goal is to leverage this event to boost Vietnam’s sports and tourism industries, placing the country at the centre of the world boxing map.”

For more information about what The Grand Ho Tram offers, visit thegrandhotram.com.

Design Hotels appoints Asia Pacific senior director

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Design Hotels has named Aik Wee Ong as senior director Asia Pacific, strengthening its leadership team in the region.

He most recently served as deputy managing director at a Singapore-based design-and-build studio, where he led a multidisciplinary team and supported business growth.

Ong previously spent over a decade with Design Hotels, playing a key role in developing the brand’s commercial presence across Asia-Pacific and building relationships with member hotels and regional partners.

Affordability, direct flights secure Colombo for IASP 2027

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Red Brick Cargills Building in Colombo

Sri Lanka has been selected as the host for the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)’s 34th World Congress in Colombo in June 2027.

“We had 13 proposals from across the world to host this conference. However, the IASP board made it clear they wanted a host from a lower- and middle-income country. Six of the 13 bids met that criteria. We then looked for a country with a strong record in suicide prevention and a host city accessible to our diverse delegates.

Red Brick Cargills Building in Colombo

“Sri Lanka proved to be an amazing central location for everyone,” said Wendy Cliff, IASP’s head of membership and events, during a visit to Colombo earlier in February.

During her visit, Cliff inspected venues in the Sri Lankan capital and met with stakeholders for the 2027 conference, which is expected to attract 700 to 900 high-level international delegates.

Cliff noted that hosting the congress in Colombo would significantly lower registration fees and other participant costs. Other deciding factors included Sri Lanka’s accessibility, with direct flights connecting Colombo to Australia and most European cities. The 2027 event follows IASP’s 2025 congress, which was held in Vienna.

In an official statement, the IASP also noted that Sri Lanka’s successful bid reflects the country’s journey in suicide prevention. After recording the world’s highest suicide rate in the mid-1990s, the nation has since achieved some of the most dramatic reductions ever documented.

Upcoming events in Sri Lanka include the International Conference on Industrial & Medical Gases, and the 2nd International Conference on Tropical Dermatology, both scheduled for March. These will be followed by the Sri Lanka-German Business Forum in April, and the 19th Asia Pacific Congress of Paediatrics in July.

After recording a milestone of almost 2.4 million tourist arrivals in 2025, the country has set an ambitious target of three million visitors for 2026.

Utsunomiya leverages Tokyo proximity to drive 2026 MICE ambitions

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Light Cube Utsunomiya

Utsunomiya, near Tokyo, hopes to welcome more international conventions in 2026 by capitalising on its location, a partnership with nearby cultural destination Nikko, and ongoing development to support business events.

The Tochigi prefectural capital has been increasingly attracting the attention of event organisers due to its proximity to Tokyo – 50 minutes’ away by Shinkansen – and the launch of several new venues.

Light Cube Utsunomiya

For example, the 2022 opening of Light Cube Utsunomiya has resulted in a “significant increase” in the number of hosted events, including international conferences, according to the Utsunomiya Convention & Visitors Bureau (UCVB). The space, which is connected directly to the station, comprises a hall for 2,000 pax, conference rooms, meeting rooms and three outdoor spaces.

The opening of unique venues such as Oya History Museum, located in a former underground stone quarry; Wakayama Farm, known for its vast bamboo forests; and Utsunomiya Futa-arayama Shrine, whose history dates back 1,600 years, has further stimulated interest.

In 2024, the economic impact of Utsunomiya-hosted business events reached 2.1 billion yen (US$13.7 million).

As such, UCVB aims to increase Utsunomiya’s global presence through greater representation at major tradeshows, and hosted fam trips for overseas industry associations. Staff are also working closely with Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, whose shrines and temples are UNESCO World Heritage-listed, to offer cultural programmes and excursions for business events attendees based in Utsunomiya.

“Our goal is to boost the local economy and create a vibrant, attractive city that continues to foster international exchange and growth for years to come,” Etsuyo Komaba of the UCVB told TTGmice.

ABEA calls for Bid Fund boost and establishment of a National Business Events Data Hub

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ABEA urges federal funding boost and national data hub to secure business events sector

The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) has called on the Federal Government to urgently increase investment in the sector, warning that Australia is losing its competitive edge to international rivals.

In two formal submissions to the minister for trade and tourism, Don Farrell, the ABEA has proposed an expansion of the Business Events Bid Fund Program (BFP) and the creation of a first-of-its-kind National Business Events Data Hub.

ABEA urges federal funding boost and national data hub to secure business events sector

ABEA CEO Melissa Brown has requested an increase in BFP funding to A$9 million (US$6.4 million) per year, extending the programme’s horizon to 2032. Since its inception in 2018, the fund has returned a staggering 53:1 on investment, generating almost A$1.4 billion in economic value from 205 successful bids.

Despite this success, latest data indicates a downturn. In the year to September 2025, expenditure from business events fell by seven per cent, and visitor numbers dropped by five per cent compared to the previous year.

Australia is losing ground as competitor destinations significantly increase their support, Brown noted. For example, Canada recently expanded its programme to CA$60 million (US$43.9 million) and New Zealand secured an additional NZ$6 million (US$3.6 million).

“With certainty of funding beyond 2029, Australia could grasp the opportunity to win the next generation of high-impact international conferences,” Brown said.

The second submission seeks an initial A$250,000 investment to develop a National Business Events Data Hub and Dashboard in 2026.

The industry currently relies on outdated 2019 data to measure its total economic impact – estimated then at A$35.7 billion. While current visitor metrics are tracked, they often fail to capture the sector’s broader contributions to trade, research collaboration, and talent attraction.

“Policy and investment decisions demand timely, credible data,” Brown said. “A modern data foundation will allow the government to see the full value of business events, not just as tourism, but as a driver of productivity and national capability, as well as providing real time data to inform business decisions by operators.”

The proposed hub would integrate datasets from venues, bureaus, and organisers into a secure digital platform, allowing for real-time performance tracking and industry benchmarking.

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