Asia/Singapore Wednesday, 8th April 2026
Page 164

Lampung welcomes first Marriott resort

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Marriott Hotel has opened the 154-key Lampung Marriott Resort & Spa, marking the brand’s debut in the Indonesian province along the southern coast of Sumatra.

Event facilities on-site include the 1,200m2 Sthana Ballroom which can accommodate up to 1,200 guests. For the Javanese, the ballroom’s ceiling design is inspired by the intricate-layered Javanese Tumpang Sari, which symbolises the sacred mountains. The ballroom is complemented by a spacious outdoor garden area.

 

In addition, five meeting rooms provide flexible setups that can accommodate up to 200 attendees each, from banquets to theatre arrangements. Delegates can also enjoy direct access to the garden – which overlooks the ocean – directly from the meeting rooms.

Aside from its 154 rooms and suites, the property has eight one- and two-bedroom villas.

Corporate guests can maintain their workout routines at the hotel’s 24-hour fitness centre, or choose from the extensive relaxation menu available at the Quan Spa. There is also a Kids Club for those travelling with their little ones.

Lastly, F&B options include all-day dining restaurant Hara at The Hurun serving local and international cuisines; Way Manrom, a lunch and dinner spot offering a modern twist to Indonesian classics; and the Anonna cafe for grab-and-go items or pastries.

Jason Nuell to lead as area VP (ANZP) at Marriott International

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Marriott International has appointed Jason Nuell as area vice president – Australia, New Zealand and Pacific (ANZP), where he will lead the growth and performance of the brand’s footprint in the region.

Nuell joined Marriott in 2003 as the director of Food and Beverage at the Surfer’s Paradise Marriott Resort (now JW Marriott Resort & Spa Gold Coast). His career with Marriott International has included a range of senior leadership roles across South-east Asia, China, India, the US, and Europe.

Hong Kong’s MICE sector makes a strong comeback

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https://www.ttgmice.com/2024/05/17/hong-kong-to-host-the-30th-edition-of-routes-world/

Hong Kong is experiencing a resurgence in its business events industry, with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) reporting a significant rebound in 1H2024.

The city welcomed approximately 21 million visitors during this period, with half opting for overnight stays. Business events travellers accounted for 700,000 of these overnight visitors, marking a recovery of around 80 per cent compared to the same period in 2018, making this the fastest-growing visitor segment in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong (pictured) aims to solidify its status as a world-leading MICE destination

Each business events visitor spends an average of HK$8,000 (US$1,028), which is 20 to 30 per cent higher than the overall average spending per visitor. Additionally, they tend to stay longer, with an average of 3.7 nights compared to 3.2 nights for other visitors.

To sustain this momentum, the HKTB has been actively securing major international business events. Over 60 large-scale events, including world congresses, tradeshows, and mega meetings, have been confirmed for Hong Kong between 2024 and 2026. These events – many of which are inaugural – are expected to attract more than 180,000 visitors.

The city is diversifying its business events offerings beyond its traditional strengths in innovation and technology, medical sciences, and finance, as new sectors like aviation, architecture, and education, emerge. Notable events include the return of ACM SIGGRAPH Asia in 2025, the inaugural SmartCon 2024 and Consensus Hong Kong 2025, and the aviation-focused Super Terminal Expo 2024, Routes World 2025, and Airspace Asia Pacific 2025 and 2027.

The HKTB has outlined a five-point strategy to further boost business events tourism. This includes bidding for more international events; offering various funding schemes; tailoring specific programmes for the business events industry such as the Hong Kong Incentive Playbook, and Hong Kong Convention Ambassadors; enhancing tourist experiences ranging from sightseeing tours to complimentary museum tickets; and leveraging Hong Kong’s position as a “super-connector” between international businesses and mainland China.

Clark International Airport, a new runway for events

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MICECON 2024, dinner venue set-up

Event organisers on the lookout for fresh and novel venues can consider Clark International Airport (CRK), located within the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, Philippines.

The award-winning CRK recently transformed its domestic pre-boarding area into a venue for the MICECON 2024 welcome gala dinner, where over 1,000 guests enjoyed a mix of standing cocktails and a sit-down dinner.

MICECON 2024, dinner venue set-up

According to Teri Flores, head of corporate communications for Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp., CRK is open to partnering with business event organisers on events that align with the airport’s goals. For instance, the airport has hosted airline launches, and other high-profile tourism events.

Depending on the event’s effect on regular passenger flow, Flores said the departure hall, international pre-boarding area and commercial area may also be used as event venues. With an expansive outdoor space, CRK can also host outdoor events such as concerts, fairs, and motoring events.

CRK is also exploring potential spaces that the facility can convert for smaller meetings and seminars, where boarding or airport announcements will not disrupt ongoing meetings.

Although CRK is a unique venue, Flores admitted that it was “a bit of a challenge” in organising events, as the airport is “first and foremost an airport”, and its number one priority is to ensure that passengers are not affected by any ongoing events.

Security is also a paramount concern. As a security-controlled area, the airport maintains strict protocols for events. All parties involved, including suppliers, caterers, event organisers, and guests, must adhere to these security procedures, Flores added.

Sibu Business Events Committee selects new leader

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Renco Yong, executive director of Gimhwak Group of Companies, has been appointed the new chairman of the Sibu Business Events Committee (SBEC), succeeding Clarence Ting.

His term with SBEC will run from 2024 to 2026.

Yong is a prominent industry advocate with high-ranking positions in seven regional, national, and local maritime and related associations. These include the Association of Maritime Industries of Malaysia, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, Sarawak Association of Maritime Industries, and the Sarawak and Sabah Shipowners Association. Additionally, he serves as a council member of the Malaysia Ministry of Transport National Shipping and Port Council, and is a board member of the Malaysia Ministry of Transport Domestic Shipping License.

By capitalising on the city’s unique cultural offerings, strategic location within Sarawak, and capacity to host diverse events, Yong envisions transforming Sibu into a leading business events destination in the region

To achieve this,SBEC will collaborate closely with local stakeholders to develop tailored strategies. Another key focus will be investing in the local workforce through training and development programmes in partnership with Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak). Additionally, SBEC plans to forge strategic alliances with local businesses, government agencies, and industry associations to attract both domestic and international events to Sibu.

The Sibu Business Events Committee, formed in 2019 as the Business Events Consortium of Sibu and rebranded in 2022, is part of Business BESarawak.

To date, Sibu has hosted 46 business events, generating approximately RM150.4 million (US$32.4 million) in total economic impact, making it the second most active host city in Sarawak after Kuching.

This year, eight business events are scheduled to be held Sibu, bringing about an expected total economic impact of RM33.7 million, primarily from homegrown conferences attracting national and international delegates.

Accor forms council to shape future of business travel

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Accor hosted a GBTA Board dinner at Raffles Singapore in May this year

Accor has unveiled the Accor Global Leadership Council (GLC), an initiative aimed at reshaping the future of corporate travel and meetings.

The council brings together top-tier executives from 17 leading international corporations – which have a combined employee base of over 2.7 million travellers – to collaborate with Accor leadership on innovative solutions for the evolving business travel landscape.

Accor hosted a GBTA Board dinner at Raffles Singapore in May this year

Comprising representatives from diverse industries including finance, engineering, manufacturing, and technology, the GLC delves into critical issues such as traveller well-being, cost optimisation, and sustainability. The council’s insights will shape Accor’s strategies and product offerings to better serve the needs of corporate clients.

The GLC has since discussed shifting corporate and traveller expectations; the importance of recognition, personalisation and B2B-focused loyalty; the evolving importance of sustainability; emerging traveller trends; the role and impact of distribution and pricing; and a deep-dive on areas of Accor’s business and brands.

Council members have also unanimously agreed the top three priorities for business travel are traveller experience and well-being – including corporate employee engagement, wellness, traveller security and digital efficiencies; cost management and optimisation – including programme compliance, pricing, cost-reduction and cost avoidance; and sustainability including sustainable action, carbon budgets and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion).

The dynamics of corporate travel are rapidly changing, demanding new approaches and solutions, said Antony Meguerdijian, senior vice president sales, Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific at Accor.

He added: “The new GLC, and the programme of client and commercial partner events we host across the region, are critical forums for sharing insights and collaborating on solutions that meet the changing needs of travellers and delegates. Travel and tourism is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by an increased focus on flexibility, sustainability, cost and personalisation…”

Accor’s commitment to industry leadership is evident through its active participation in key industry events and initiatives. The hospitality company recently hosted a private dinner at the new Banyan Tree in Dubai during the Arabian Travel Market, bringing together 50 industry leaders from top travel firms around the world.

Additionally, Accor also hosted the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) conference at Swissôtel Singapore from May 13-15, 2024, which attracted over 800 top travel buyers from leading companies worldwide. The GBTA board was also hosted for dinner at the Raffles Singapore, where a customer advisory meeting was held to capture key business travel insights.

Searix expands suite of AI activations

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Arya in action

With the demand for memorable, interactive experiences on the rise, Singapore-headquartered event and activations company Searix has harnessed the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to bring about maximum experiential experiences for event attendees.

Lance Ng, group CEO, Searix, told TTGmice on the sidelines of the Singapore MICE Forum: “Everyone in our industry keeps asking about new ideas, more engaging solutions, and AI activations. That is why we came up with a framework to develop our creative technology experiences called Experiential Lead Generation & Engagement.”

Arya in action

One of the projects is an AI juice bar that was developed two months ago with a partner agency. Attendees first engage by taking a photo on the spot, which will be analysed by the software based on their appearance, and propose a drink for them. To set this up, only a touchscreen TV and a webcam are required. For events with larger budgets, planners can even consider having an automated cocktail mixer to put together the recommended drink.

Another popular product developed last year, Ng shared, is a face swap photo booth called Arya, named after Arya Stark in the Game of Thrones television series. The setup is simple, comprising several iPads, and a display screen. Guests select from a set of portrait templates that are in line with the event’s theme, snap a selfie, and let AI generate a memorable image.

Event planners can lease the Arya software for S$1,500 (US$1,116; prices are valid until end 2024), and Searix offers add-ons such as the generation of eight images to perform face swaps on, iPads and TV rental, as well as the printing of generated photos for three hours.

“In general, most projects start from S$5,000, take anywhere from three days to three weeks to complete, and can be customised according to a client’s requirements.”

“We’ve deployed these at various events and found that up to 90 per cent of meetings with experiential lead generation and engagement have meaningful conversations and follow up conversations. Also, up to 95 per cent of these engaged participants have positive brand recall and remember key messages of brand campaigns,” Ng pointed out.

As of this year, Searix’s portfolio comprises a suite of 42 systems that have been deployed at 5,000 events and campaigns in 15 countries.

ITE HCMC 2024 gathers industry leaders for a greener Vietnam

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ITE HCMC 2024 aims to grow Vietnam's international visitor market and boost tourism revenue; Ho Chi Minh City pcictured

Vietnam is set to take a significant step towards establishing itself as a global leader in sustainable tourism with the upcoming International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) 2024.

Themed Sustainable Travel – Creating the Future, the event will bring together industry experts, government officials, and businesses to explore innovative solutions for responsible tourism.

ITE HCMC 2024 aims to grow Vietnam’s international visitor market and boost tourism revenue; Ho Chi Minh City pictured

The expo will feature a series of workshops, conferences, and high-level forums focused on eco-friendly accommodations, responsible transportation, and community-based tourism initiatives.

Over 500 exhibitors from Vietnam and abroad, and around 200 international buyers from 45 countries and territories are expected. ITE HCMC’s Hosted Buyer Program is also the only expo in Vietnam with an international hosted buyer programme.

This event will facilitate over 10,000 business meetings, offering opportunities for direct B2B interactions between international and Vietnamese tourism businesses.

Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, highlighted the event’s crucial role in driving Vietnam’s sustainable tourism agenda, recognising the need to align the country’s practices with international standards.

“By uniting the industry, we can accelerate Vietnam’s transformation into a world-class sustainable tourism destination,” said Hoa.

Auckland to host World Green Infrastructure Congress next month

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Botanic Gardens. Photo credit: Zoë Avery

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will play a role in shaping a sustainable urban future as host of the World Green Infrastructure Congress (WGIC) 2024.

The congress will take place September 3-5, 2024 at the University of Auckland, and is expected to deliver an estimated economic impact of NZ$1 million (US$592,545) to the city.

Botanic Gardens. Photo credit: Zoë Avery

WGIC will cover urban nature-based solutions, green buildings, climate adaptation, green infrastructure, policies, and strategies. It will attract some 600 leaders from industry, academia and government to foster cross-disciplinary dialogues and shape a sustainable urban future.

The first two days of the congress will incorporate keynote and education sessions with up to 100 speakers, plus worldwide green infrastructure and green building awards. On the third day, delegates will embark on a Green Infrastructure Excursion Trip around Auckland showcasing some of the city’s sustainable infrastructure initiatives.

Zoë Avery, associate director of design at Auckland University School of Architecture and Planning, said: “Nature is a vital component of the sustainability and health of the city and should be considered as critical infrastructure.

“By incorporating green roofs, living facades, sustainable urban drainage and urban trees in our urban fabric we can help mitigate the effects of storm events, cool our cities, build more biodiversity and provide improved aesthetics for the health of people and nature in our cities.”

She added that New Zealand has a number of “low-tech nature-based solutions” that it can share with the world, such as the use of natural substrate and fibre; bringing mussels into the harbour to filter sediment out of the ocean; and the co-governance partnership with Ngāti Whātua Orakei, who grew the plants for the Auckland Library living roof at their Pourewa Revegetation Nursery.

The bid to host the event was led by the University of Auckland in association with Design for Nature. It was supported by Auckland Convention Bureau, a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, and Tourism New Zealand Business Events.

Tourism Australia appoints senior business events manager for South, South-east Asia

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Edward Kwek has been named as senior business events manager for South and South-east Asia for Tourism Australia.

Taking up the role in Singapore, he will support the implementation of business events distribution strategies and partnerships in South and South-east Asia’s MICE segment, as well as engage with key customers and stakeholders through joint event activities in the region.

With 17 years of experience, he was most recently trade manager business events for Tourism New Zealand, where he oversaw the development and implementation of business events strategy for South-east Asia.

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