Matthew Smith helms as Destination Asia’s new CEO
Matthew Smith has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Destination Asia.
He has been part of Destination Asia since his appointment in 2018, helping develop the key sectors of meetings and events, tailormade travel and cruise. His forward-thinking approach has helped strengthen Destination Asia’s footprint and been pivotal in driving innovation and growth within the company.
Teody Espallardo returns to Altabriza Resort Boracay as DOSM
Altabriza Resort Boracay welcomes Teody Espallardo back as director of sales and marketing, who had previously served in the same position at sister properties Altamare Dive and Leisure Resort Anilao in Batangas and Altaroca Mountain Resort in Antipolo.
Espallardo was also the director of sales at Sunlight Hotels and Resorts which has three properties in Coron, Culion and Puerto Princesa, all in Palawan.
Mondrian Singapore Duxton makes two key appointments
Guillaume Gallas has assumed the general manager role at Mondrian Singapore Duxton, and the hotel has also elevated Kenny Huang to the executive chef position.
Gallas has over 20 years of hospitality experience in destinations such as London, Tokyo, Dubai, Beijing, and Oman, as well as at Michelin-star restaurants and hotels.
Meanwhile, Huang brings two decades of experience to the table, and will oversee the hotel’s culinary offerings, including Bottega di Carna, Christina’s, Canyon Club, Jungle Ballroom, and in-room dining.
Huang began his career as a chef de partie at Fullerton Hotel Singapore, before working in Michelin-star establishments such as Iggy’s in Singapore, and La Credenza in San Maurizio Canavese, Italy. Before joining Mondrian Singapore Duxton, he was the executive chef at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.
Meliá Danang Beach Resort completes expansion project
Meliá Danang Beach Resort has completed a two-year renovation that added new business events venues, 262 rooms, an expanded restaurant offering, and a fresh look for the lobby and pool area.
The new business events facilities include two ballrooms and five new breakout rooms, each of which is named for the five traditional elements of metal, earth, wood, water, and fire. This brings the total number of event spaces on-site to five convention spaces, and seven breakout rooms.
The largest and newest ballroom, the 620m2 Vistar, is able to accommodate up to 600 guests. The modern Marble meeting space, at 558m2, has a capacity of up to 500 guests.
Meanwhile, the new rooms and suites feature open-plan modern interiors, where the decor is inspired by local beach culture. Two room categories were added including a Premium Partial Ocean View, where the 42m2 room features a rain shower and soaking tub, along with a desk space and sofa. The Deluxe Sea View room, at 38m2, can also accommodate a double or twin bed and features a similar bright and crisp interior design.
The Cape Nao Beach Club has expanded its outdoor terrace area, increasing the capacity for outdoor dining to 110 guests.
After refurbishment, Meliá Danang Beach Resort now offers 521 keys, in addition to existing Sasa Restaurant, YHI Spa, and seven different pools.
To celebrate the new business events facilities, Meliá Danang Beach Resort is offering a 15 per cent discount on full-day meeting packages booked from now until December 30, 2024. The package includes two tea breaks, one lunch, and meeting room rental with equipment set up. Rates start from VND 890,000 (US$35) per delegate.
Better safe than sorry
Recent travel disruptions, including the severe floods that forced Dubai International Airport to halt operations, and the disastrous impact of severe air turbulence on Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways, have highlighted the growing importance of business event (BE) liability insurance.
Frequent extreme weather due to climate change has been suggested as a possible reason for these occurrences. However, those seeking ways to mitigate risk find a significant gap in available solutions, and BE liability insurance remains a complex issue.
Michael Duck, executive vice president commercial development of Informa Markets and Informa Group explained that all insurance matters are handled directly from their head office in London. The group has a contract with Lloyds of London, which quotes for Informa’s global business every few years, and any claims are processed through the head office.
Duck shared that in the past, Informa made claims for the SARS outbreak (which occurred in Guangdong Province and spread to almost 30 countries, resulting in over 8,000 cases and nearly 1,000 fatalities in 2002) and the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks (which claimed the lives of more than 150 individuals and injured over 300). However, like many other event companies, Informa could not obtain coverage for the Covid-19 outbreak. Some smaller companies did get coverage, as they had not claimed for SARS.
Daniel Chua, CEO of experiential communications agency Aonia, called for “clear rules” on coverage required by suppliers, clients, and participants as part of a pre-event guide.
Chua, whose company specialises in branding and integrated marketing campaigns for meetings, incentives, and luxury product launches, opined that the mindset on BE liability insurance is “nice to have just in case.”
While shows like IBTM World in Barcelona feature BE liability insurance exhibitors, Chua commented: “There is no such thing as a chief risk officer in BE.”
He continued: “Insuring an entire event is very complex, and there is no guarantee it will be covered. As an organiser of small events, there have been no issues so far, but there are glaring gaps in BE liability insurance.”
Kenny Goh, founder of MICE Neurol, told TTGmice he sees an opportunity to add BE liability insurance as a new service his company can offer.
“Unlike the data available in the motor vehicle insurance industry, the BE industry is not mature. Actuaries, who develop methods to measure risks and analyse trends, do not fully understand the risks faced by the BE industry,” he explained.
Goh added that this is also true for underwriters who use actuarial findings to determine risk and decide if clients qualify for insurance policies. For example, Lloyds of London applies actuarial findings to determine client qualifications, but a lot of data is required to create these insurance packages.
He continued: “Insurance companies do not know what to cover and what event organisers want to be insured for. They also lack domain knowledge of BEs, which we possess, and we understand the complexities.”
As a starting point, Goh emphasised the importance of understanding the highs and lows of operational risk assessment when structuring an event, as dimensions of risk vary.
“If the insurance company cannot define the terms, write the policy, and set limits, then it does not know how much to charge. And if there are not many takers, the risk cannot be spread, and the buying fee will be high,” he added.
Goh believes that every organiser will face greater risk due to extreme weather, cybersecurity threats, and technology breakdowns.
“If you cannot define it, you cannot insure against it,” he stated. “The urgency is increasing because the range of problems is expanding.”
He also mentioned that MICE Neurol could provide a BE liability insurance service using generative artificial intelligence, which is relatively low in cost.
He urged industry associations, CVBs, and events stakeholders to take action and get the ball rolling to help develop comprehensive business event insurance solutions.
Gold Coast takes bigger steps towards sustainable, nature-based tourism development
The City of Gold Coast has created a three-pronged Nature-Based Tourism Program to encourage the development of new products and experiences through support and incentives for operators.
The programme, announced in June 2024, will focus on three areas. It will encourage private investment in new or significantly enhanced low-impact, nature-based tourism experiences; provide grants to support the delivery of nature-based tourism products; and collaborate with the Gold Coast Council to establish additional low-impact nature-based projects.
A statement from the City of Gold Coast announcing the programme stated that products aligned with this programme and objectives include cultural tours led by First Nations people, or experiences like kayaking and eco camping.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate noted that the Gold Coast had been losing tourism market share steadily in recent years.
“Data shows we are increasingly losing that share to regions that have capitalised on the demand for nature-based activities – places like New Zealand, the Hunter Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Sunshine Coast,” said Tate in a statement.
“We know that more travellers want to connect with nature so it’s time we got serious about this sector. It’s time we showed the world what we have kept to ourselves for so long – that the green behind the gold is world-class.”
The Gold Coast boasts over 57km of beaches, hinterland ranges, world heritage-listed Gondwana rainforests, and vibrant waterways. The city acknowledges that its native wildlife and natural environment are critical to its environmental sustainability and social and economic future.
Experience Gold Coast director of business events Brooke Campbell told TTGmice that the programme would benefit the city’s business events industry, as interest in nature-based and responsible activities and experiences for corporate programming is on the rise.
“The committee is now at the research stage, and it will lay out guidelines for operators and suppliers looking to offer nature-based activities and experiences. Once these products are established, business events held in the Gold Coast can engage in them,” said Campbell.
For now, event buyers desiring responsible suppliers can consult the Experience Gold Coast Meeting Planners Guide, which identifies local suppliers possessing sustainability and accessibility accreditation.
“We do have planners who say to us that they only want to stay at a hotel with an accessibility accreditation or host their event at a convention centre with a sustainability accreditation,” said Campbell, adding that these are attributes that Gold Coast business events players must nurture to thrive in the coming years.
She pointed to Experience Gold Coast’s accessible tourism initiative, announced at This Is Gold Coast 2023, and said: “We are working towards our goal of being a welcoming and accessible city. Similarly, we also want the Gold Coast to be known as a sustainable city.”
Singapore Expo marks 25th anniversary, partners with NTUC LHUB for talent building
At its 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner yesterday graced by deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat, Singapore Expo (managed by Constellar) celebrated its 25-year heritage, as well as its refreshed brand identity, Playground of Possibilities.
The identity was inspired by the concept of a “magic canvas” that enables versatile, transformative and captivating experiences, and is a testament to the venue’s flexibility and scalability that have attracted some of the world’s most influential events to Singapore.
Singapore EXPO, the nation’s largest purpose-built business events venue, has also refreshed its offerings. These include a plug-and-play concert hall Arena @ Expo (Hall 7) designed to meet demand for mid-sized concerts or business events of around 3,000 to 6,000 guests; a refurbished 800-seater food park MarketPlace @ EXPO that features unique ‘hawkerpreneurs’ alongside live music performances; as well as a Music Lounge at TAG Restaurant & Bar, where delegates can socialise and unwind in private rooms.
“As we commemorate 25 years of exceptional event experiences at Singapore Expo, we also commit to driving even more future-forward, high-quality and sustainable MICE events,” said Chua Wee Phong, Group CEO of Constellar. “Our spaces can be transformed to suit events of any proportions or types, which gives us a unique opportunity to convene global communities and host world-class summits, festivals and exhibitions. We are excited to continue being a platform for sustainable business growth, empowering the industry to create events with meaningful impact.”
To nurture and develop emerging capabilities in the business events industry, Singapore Expo also signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB). The ceremony was witnessed by senior minister of state and deputy secretary-general of NTUC, Desmond Tan.
This collaboration with NTUC LHUB will see Singapore Expo act as the pilot partner from the business events sector, focusing on expanding and enhancing the skills of industry professionals in emerging capabilities. It will include implementation-led courses, programmes and workshops, as well as training in service experience and delivery excellence through the Service Experience Excellence Academy.
The partnership complements Singapore Expo’s ongoing efforts to develop the next generation of industry talent, through its existing partnerships and internship programmes with various Institutes of Higher Learning. The initiative also builds on the Singapore Tourism Board’s efforts with NTUC LHUB to future-proof the tourism workforce.
Jeremy Ong, CEO of NTUC LearningHub, said: “The new courses will give learners an avenue to develop new competencies that they can apply to their roles, so they can pursue fulfilling and fruitful careers in the long run, while at the same time developing Singapore as the destination of choice for MICE and Events.”
BESydney inducts eight new global ambassadors
Business Events Sydney recently held its 12th Global Ambassador dinner with the premier of New South Wales (NSW), Chris Minns, in attendance, as well as inducted eight new global ambassadors.
They are Larissa Behrendt, a laureate fellow at the Jumbunna Institute at the University of Technology Sydney; Kylie Hargreaves, chair of Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity; Jason Kovacic, director and CEO of Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute; Sarah Liu, founder & managing director of TDC Global (The Dream Collective); Mani Thiru, co-founder and chief commercial officer, Andromeda Robotics; Toby Walsh, professor of Artificial Intelligence, Department of Computer Science and Engineering with the University of NSW Sydney; Jennifer Westacott, chancellor of Western Sydney University; and Jon Whittle, director of Australia’s national scientific research agency, CSIRO’s Data61.
Chair of the BESydney Board, Mary O’Kane, said: “Our ambassadors are key to us securing major business events and top scientific conferences. As such, they play a pivotal role in powering the State’s knowledge economy”.
John Graham, NSW’s minister for jobs and tourism, added: “Business events are a critical part of the visitor economy and Sydney is the capital of business events in Australia. The scale of the forward pipeline out to 2030 illustrates this perfectly: 115 business events delivering more than A$562 million in direct expenditure and attracting 140,000 global delegates to Sydney and NSW.
“The BESydney Ambassadors announced tonight bring the network that will build on this pipeline and generate more economic activity. Business events will be an important focus in the Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 Review to be published later this year”.
This year’s theme was Change Starts Here, a nod to BESydney’s Agenda for purposeful business events and its economic and social impact efforts for which the organisation has been globally awarded. Around 380 members of the BESydney community were in attendance at the dinner held at the ICC Sydney.
Wellington constructs global platform for building science
New Zealand’s capital city Wellington will play host the International Building Physics Conference (IBPC) in August 2027, the first time the conference will be held in the Southern Hemisphere.
Hosted at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre by the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ), with support from Tourism New Zealand and Business Events Wellington, the event is expect to welcome building science experts from more than 40 countries.
The IBPC is the triennial forum for the International Association of Building Physics. The conference is expected to bring hundreds of delegates to New Zealand to connect and advance new ideas to solve issues in building, and helping to develop more affordable, sustainable, resilient and healthy housing around the world.
Chris Litten, general manager of research at BRANZ, shared that conference attendees can expect a mix of presentations, interactive sessions and workshops, and engaging site visits, including to BRANZ’s research and testing facilities.
“New Zealand has some unique characteristics, such as our climate and earthquake-prone geography, and many of these have influenced our building methods and materials. We have a lot of building science knowledge to share with the world,” he added.
Tourism New Zealand general manager NZ & business events, Bjoern Spreitzer, noted: “Hosting the International Building Physics Conference not only brings hundreds of visitors to explore New Zealand during spring, one of our off-peak seasons; it will enhance our building sector and communities through the ideas exchanged at the event.”
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