Song Saa Private Island, off the coast of Cambodia, has expanded its offerings from luxurious leisure to curated corporate retreats and small meetings, with a strong focus on wellness.
To coincide with the launch of Saraan Sanctuaries – a series of nature-centric wellness spaces dotted around the private island – Song Saa has compiled a diverse range of activities tailored for groups.
Song Saa Private Island
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These include visiting bat caves, kayaking through mangroves and jungle treks, cooking classes, botanist workshops, foraging and essential oil making. There’s also the option to receive a monk’s blessing, indulge in spa treatments and visit local communities Song Saa works with.
Song Saa can also organise a digital detox day for corporates seeking to switch off during their retreat.
The new 65m2 Wellbeing Centre with a sweeping ocean view can also host 22 pax. Mana Kannoi, the resort’s associate director of wellbeing and spiritual care, noted that introducing wellness elements into meetings is a growing trend.
“Corporate groups can start the day with a yoga or meditation session, enjoy their meeting, and then relax at the end of the day with a soothing sound bath. It’s a good combination,” he said.
Amora Hotels and Resorts appoints Tamer Habib as chief operating officer. In this role, he will lead the group’s commercial strategy and overall vision.
With more than three decades of hospitality experience, Habib most recently served as vice president of operations at Amora Hotels and Resorts.
His career includes senior roles with Marriott, Hyatt, InterContinental, and Stamford, bringing deep operational and commercial expertise to the group’s continued growth across Australia and Asia.
Etienne Dalançon has been named general manager of the upcoming Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur, set to open in late 2026.
He brings over 20 years of luxury hospitality experience and most recently served as general manager of Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi. His career spans senior leadership roles across Asia and Europe, with a strong focus on service excellence and operational leadership.
The 10th edition of the Singapore Airshow concluded on February 6, shattering previous records with 65,000 trade attendees, a clear signal of the robust momentum currently driving the global aerospace and defence sectors.
The four-day event, held at the Changi Exhibition Centre, brought together over 1,100 participating companies from 130 countries and facilitated approximately 1,300 delegate meetings, underscoring the show’s role as the primary engine for deal-making in the Asia-Pacific region.
Singapore Airshow 2026 (pictured) showfloor
“Achieving record trade attendance at our 10th edition reflects the strength and resilience of the aerospace and defence sector,” said Leck Chet Lam, managing director of Experia Events. He noted that the high turnout highlights the sector’s vitality, with nearly 95 per cent of exhibitors already indicating their intent to return for the 2028 edition.
The 2026 show transitioned from a platform for innovation to a site of significant capital investment. Leading the announcements was GE Aerospace, which committed US$300 million to expand engine repair capabilities in Singapore through 2029.
Singapore’s Economic Development Board also secured multiple memoranda of understanding with global leaders to expand Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities and establish new R&D technology centres. Local company ST Engineering made waves by unveiling advanced unmanned systems and ground vehicles, backed by new strategic alliances with Shield AI and Airbus Defence and Space.
Beyond the tarmac, the AeroForum sessions drew nearly 1,000 delegates to discuss the industry’s most pressing challenges. Over 50 speakers addressed critical shifts in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and sustainable aviation, aiming to set the industry’s priorities for the next decade. The event also looked toward the next generation of aerospace professionals; the “AeroCampus” initiative reached its largest scale to date, engaging 2,500 students and featuring international aviation training institutions for the first time.
Supawan announcing TCEB’s 2026 target of 371 billion baht in revenue; photo by TCEB
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has set a target of 371.3 billion baht (US$11.7 billion) in business events expenditure for 2026, aiming to elevate the sector’s GDP contribution to around 1.8 per cent following a robust performance in 2025.
Speaking at the TCEB Strategic Direction 2026 announcement last week, TCEB president Supawan Teerarat revealed that the industry had successfully entrenched itself as a critical economic engine over the past fiscal year.
Supawan announcing TCEB’s 2026 target of 371 billion baht in revenue; photo by TCEB
According to bureau data, business events expenditure in 2025 hit 338.2 billion baht, generating a GDP contribution of 310.8 billion baht, and creating 300,000 jobs.
Supawan opined that “these numbers still have the potential to increase”, which is why TCEB’s 2026 roadmap projects significant growth across all key metrics.
Beyond the expenditure target, the bureau forecasts tax payments to the state rising to 27.5 billion baht, up from 25.1 billion in 2025, while job creation is expected to swell to 334,817 positions.
Supawan also outlined a vision positioning prioritising deep expertise and data over generic destination marketing, stating that the bureau has identified a fundamental structural change from traditional B2B models to B2C dynamics, where individual participants now drive market demand.
This shift introduces non-traditional competitors from the creator economy. Media entities and influencers owning community data are now effectively functioning as organisers, challenging established players who lack specific expertise or follower bases.
“MICE is no longer just about thinking in terms of organisation to organisation. We must design experiences that cater to participants directly,” Supawan stated.
To counter digital saturation and what TCEB’s MICE Intelligence centre terms the “AI-Trust Paradox”, TCEB’s positioning of Thailand as “Global Asia’s Trusted Gateway” prioritises face-to-face interaction as a verification tool.
As AI-generated content creates scepticism regarding what is real, physical events offer authenticity that digital platforms cannot replicate.
“The more digital the world becomes, the more we need MICE to meet in person. We can touch the ‘six senses’ within that MICE space. MICE itself must build trust, which is the most important factor above all because the trust economy is a new currency,” Supawan said.
Looking further ahead, the bureau is actively bidding for mega-events between 2027 and 2030, including a potential Formula One race in Bangkok for 2028, Korat Expo 2029, and WorldPride 2030.
What are ICPB’s plans this year? This year looks promising for India’s inbound MICE growth as we expect the Ministry of Tourism to address several key bottlenecks.
Last year, we organised an interactive session with 20 industry representatives and our new chairman, Harikishore S. (joint secretary at the Ministry of Tourism), to deliberate on the sector’s future. During these discussions, we emphasised the urgent need for a centralised marketing agency to effectively promote India in international markets.
While India’s infrastructure is now capable of hosting world-class events, the lack of a centralised marketing agency limits our ability to attract large-scale global conventions. We have proposed a stronger presence at major tradeshows like IMEX and multi-city roadshows in markets like Europe to the Ministry of Tourism, receiving a positive response.
Beyond physical venues, India needs a more competitive ecosystem. This includes offering organisers incentives – such as hosted dinners or non-cash benefits – and ensuring venue pricing remains globally competitive.
For instance, we recently lost an international congress to Abu Dhabi because they offered GST rebates via venue rental discounts; addressing these gaps is essential to winning high-stakes global bids.
The Ministry of Tourism has advised states to establish state-level bureaus to drive growth in the business events sector. How important is it for Indian states to recognise the benefits of attracting business events? The Ministry of Tourism strongly believes state governments must lead the charge in marketing their destinations for MICE. It is vital for states to recognise that this sector is a significant economic driver with a direct impact on employment, knowledge exchange, and trade.
We have already engaged with several states –including Rajasthan, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu – regarding the establishment of dedicated MICE bureaus, and we expect a few to be operational by the end of this year.
Is ICPB moving towards a restructuring? Yes. At present, ICPB functions as a typical membership-driven organisation. However, to build a more effective structure with dedicated marketing professionals, a CEO, and essential resources, we require assured funding.
We are therefore exploring a restructure that would see ICPB operate more like a national MICE board. This framework would allow the Ministry of Tourism to allocate funds specifically for marketing initiatives. In this new role, ICPB would also serve as a central advisory body to state-level MICE bureaus across the country.
What about bidding support? The Ministry of Tourism has agreed to support states bidding for international business events by sharing a portion of the costs. States must clearly outline their financial commitment, after which the Ministry will contribute a defined share of the overall expenses.
We must also observe how competitors like Thailand, Singapore, and South Korea attract international events and learn from their practices to remain globally competitive.
What needs to be done to promote India as a preferred destination for international business events? The Ministry of Tourism has been promoting India through international media and outdoor platforms, such as bus advertising in London. However, this broad approach is ineffective for the business events industry, which requires targeted strategies.
Consequently, we have proposed that at least 25 per cent of the overall advertising budget be earmarked exclusively for MICE-focused promotion.
What else is in the pipeline? We are planning to organise a MICE-focused event in India tentatively scheduled for August or September. The idea is to invite senior representatives from international associations along with foreign media with the objective of showcasing and positioning India as a competitive global convention destination.
GBTA files formal comments urging US Customs and Border Protection to mitigate travel disruptions; immigration area at Newark Liberty International Airport pictured
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has issued a stark warning to US Customs and Border Protection, arguing that proposed changes to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) could derail international commerce and weaken American competitiveness.
In formal comments filed last week, GBTA urged the federal government to adopt a balanced and practical approach. The association contends that overly aggressive data collection and restrictive application processes will discourage high-value international travellers and create significant legal friction with global privacy laws.
GBTA files formal comments urging US Customs and Border Protection to mitigate travel disruptions; immigration area at Newark Liberty International Airport pictured
“Security and efficient business travel are not mutually exclusive. While GBTA strongly supports efforts to protect US borders and enhance traveler security, the proposed changes pose significant risks and could undermine the benefits that business travel brings to organisations who send their employees on international trips to the US and the American destinations who welcome them,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA.
“A balanced approach will strengthen national security while ensuring that the US remains an accessible, desired and competitive meeting and conference destination for global business.”
The GBTA outlined several unintended consequences that could ripple through the travel ecosystem, including a greater administrative burden due to requirements for multi-year social media histories, phone numbers, and expanded family details. There is also a significant risk of compliance conflicts with international data protection laws, such as the European Union’s strict mandates on personal data collection. Furthermore, a mobile-only application system could create technical barriers that conflict with corporate security protocols, while longer processing windows may reduce confidence in predictable travel timelines.
New data released by the GBTA revealed a widespread sense of alarm, with a January 2026 poll of 571 travel professionals across 40 countries showing that 78 per cent are concerned about the proposed shifts. The impact is particularly sharp among European professionals, 67 per cent of whom say employees would prefer not to travel to the US if required to disclose extensive personal information.
This effect is already influencing corporate strategy; 43 per cent of companies reported they are now more likely to hold meetings outside the US, and nearly 20 per cent plan to revise travel policies to limit US trips.
The economic stakes are substantial, as business travel previously generated a US$484 billion impact in the US and supported six million American jobs.
The GBTA warns that if these requirements divert meetings, events, and investments to other markets, the US stands to lose its position as a premier global destination. The association is calling on the CBP to refine these measures to protect national security without sacrificing the vital economic contributions of international business travel.
Assistant minister Joniston Bangkuai addressing the crowd
Sabah is strengthening its position as a regional hub by leveraging business events to drive economic growth, investor confidence, and cross-border collaboration.
In a speech delivered by assistant minister Joniston Bangkuai at the 3rd International Business Events Forum (BE in Sabah) 2026, chief minister Hajiji Noor affirmed that the state remains focused on aligning the sector with its broader development agenda.
Assistant minister Joniston Bangkuai addressing the crowd
Hajiji noted that these gatherings are critical for facilitating high-level investment dialogues and connecting global expertise with local capabilities, directly benefiting SMEs, professionals, and emerging talent.
“Investor confidence is built on consistency, clarity and reliable execution,” Hajiji added, stressing that credible platforms such as BE in Sabah serve as a bridge between policy intent and on-the-ground delivery.
Sabah’s strategic location within South-east Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region offers strong potential for regional cooperation, with shared economic interests and complementary strengths providing opportunities for strategic partnerships and long-term investment, he added.
The forum, held at the Sabah International Convention Centre, demonstrated the state’s readiness to host complex, large-scale international business engagements.
He also highlighted the role of the Sabah Convention Bureau, operating under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, in creating a reliable interface for international business events by working closely with industry stakeholders.
Meanwhile, in her welcoming remarks, Rosmawati Haji Lasuki, the organising chairperson of BE in Sabah 2026 highlighted the forum’s evolution from an initial local initiative into a returning regional platform shaped by continuity, learning and trust.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the business events landscape. However, its competitive advantage depends on human judgement, quality data, ethical frameworks and the ability to earn and keep trust.
This is according to panellists on the Synergy unlock: Claiming the AI advantage in the new era of business events session, at the 3rd International Business Events Forum – BE in Sabah 2026 held at Sabah International Convention Centre last week.
GainingEdge’s Mike Williams (moderator); UNITEN’s Halimah Badioze Zaman; Jwc GmbH’s Kai Hattendorf; PCMA’s Florence Chua; and Evenesis’ Yusno Yunos
Halimah Badioze Zaman, emeritus professor at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) in Kuala Lumpur, said: “AI is tremendous when you need data at scale. But at the end of the day, the decision is made by humans,” she said.
She warned that AI reliability depends entirely on data quality; fragmented or unstructured datasets inevitably lead to misleading results. Despite supportive policies, Halimah identified data governance as a persistent challenge, especially where inter-organisational sharing remains limited.
Ultimately, AI cannot deliver full value without comprehensive data, requiring event organisers to invest as much in cleaning and structuring their data assets as they do in the tools themselves.
Florence Chua, managing director, APAC at Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), identified governance and policy gaps as one of the most significant obstacles to meaningful AI adoption in the business events industry.
While many use generative AI daily, most activity remains informal and outside organisational frameworks. This lack of clear guidelines exposes organisations to risks regarding privacy, intellectual property, and compliance.
As event professionals use AI for tasks like agenda generation and delegate analysis, questions persist over data ownership and storage. Chua pointed out that these unresolved issues could undermine confidence among industry clients, partners, and participants.
Kai Hattendorf, managing director, jwc GmbH and former CEO of The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), cautioned that the sheer speed at which artificial intelligence is evolving presents one of the biggest challenges for the business events industry.
While enthusiasm for AI adoption is high, he argued that the technology is still in a formative and unstable phase.
“AI evolves very, very fast. We are at the stage like we were with internet browsers, Netscape versus Internet Explorer versus Safari, with new releases every few weeks. It is not yet a stable system to really rely on and work with,” he said.
For event organisers and technology providers, this volatility creates both operational and strategic risk. Heavy investment in customised AI solutions may deliver short-term gains, but can also result in wasted resources if underlying models change direction.
Yusno Yunos, CEO, Evenesis, also dismissed the notion that AI will lead to widespread job losses in the business events industry, arguing instead that it will fundamentally reshape how people work.
From his perspective as an event management software provider, AI is best deployed as a productivity amplifier which takes over repetitive, time-consuming tasks so humans can focus on higher-value work.
“Use AI as a copilot, not autopilot. You are the pilot,” he said, underscoring that responsibility, judgement and creativity must remain firmly in human hands.
BCD has launched a brand refresh under the tagline “Open by design”, transitioning its identity from a traditional travel agency to a tech-led partner focused on flexibility and transparency.
The move completes a transition that began last year when the company removed the word “travel” from its logo to reflect a broader service portfolio, including BCD Meetings & Events and its consultancy arm, Advito.
A screenshot from the refreshed BCD website
The new identity highlights BCD’s commitment to an open technology ecosystem, specifically through its TripSource platform and a marketplace of third-party partners.
Visually, the refresh introduces a clean, pathway-inspired motif with a prominent orange colour palette that pays homage to the firm’s Dutch heritage. Beyond corporate travel, the rebranding underscores BCD’s dominance in specialised sectors such as life sciences, energy, and media.
With US$22.9 billion in sales in 2024 and a presence in 170 countries, the firm aims to leverage this new identity to simplify the growing complexity of global workforce mobility.
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.
His career includes senior roles with Marriott, Hyatt, InterContinental, and Stamford, bringing deep operational and commercial expertise to the group’s continued growth across Australia and Asia.
