Asia/Singapore Thursday, 9th April 2026
Page 177

Looking for a different activity? Time for team building at Topgolf Megacity

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Whether it is a company outing, team building, tournament, or meeting or workshop, Topgolf can help companies plan their events
Whether it is a company outing, team building, tournament, or meeting or workshop, Topgolf can help companies plan their events

Brought to you by Topgolf Megacity 

Corporate events are a vital part of business culture and Topgolf Megacity understands that to a tee. 

From organising the programme to providing food and beverage, Topgolf Megacity offers a one-stop event planning service. 

“Corporate events have been an important catalyst for introducing new players to Topgolf as it is a one-stop shop for team building days, corporate meetings, product launches, and year-end parties,” said Tim Boda, managing director, Topgolf Thailand.

The Bangkok-based sports and entertainment complex is located just 35 minutes from the Central Business District. It features 102 all-weather golf hitting bays, four double-sized VIP bays, and an 18-hole minigolf course, providing ample space for groups with or without golf knowledge.

Corporate events account for about one-third of the business, with many companies from the automotive, pharmaceutical, financial institutions and manufacturing sectors. In its first year, it hosted its single largest corporate group of 5,000 participants over four days.

One-stop event planning 

Topgolf’s dedicated events team can help companies plan their events according to different needs, whether for a company outing, team building, tournament, or meeting or workshop.

For Patrick Both, regional general manager, Luxury & Lifestyle at IHG hotels and resorts, choosing Topgolf Megacity for his team outing was an easy one. 

“Our primary goal was to foster teamwork and provide an opportunity for everyone to unwind and have a good laugh, especially given the high-pressure environment we work in daily,” he said. 

The interactive nature of the gameplay fostered friendly competition and collaboration, and created an exciting atmosphere for his team. Not only that, the “excellent food and drinks”, coupled with a “vibrant atmosphere” also helped the team to have fun and bond in a relaxed setting. 

“Holding our event at Topgolf Megacity allowed us to break away from our tense work environment and connect on a more personal level. The activities and the overall ambiance were instrumental in fostering teamwork and building stronger relationships within our team,” he added.

Another company that had a successful event at Topgolf Megacity was one of its partners, ThaiNamthip Corporation.

“Topgolf Megacity is more than just a golfing destination. It’s truly a “whole-in-one” – a destination where everyone can enjoy themselves with a wide variety of activities and fantastic food and drinks,” said Ignace Corthouts, chief executive officer, ThaiNamthip Corporation. 

It was a “fun and invigorating environment” for the team and the venue, staff and other guests there contributed to the fun atmosphere, he added. 

Customised to your needs

For a fun and engaging corporate experience, companies can take advantage of Topgolf Megacity’s versatile meeting spaces. These include private event areas perfect for team bonding activities, complete with high-speed wifi and audiovisual equipment for any necessary presentations.

Topgolf Megacity helps organisers customise their programme. From choosing gameplay options to selecting food menus and additional services — whether to request for a Topgolf coach or gifts for guests —  planners have the flexibility to tailor their event to suit their teams. 

“The venue can accommodate any size of B2B or B2C event, hosting from 12 to 2,000 guests. In addition to the game-playing areas, event groups can utilise any of the bars and restaurants and our well-equipped meeting rooms. In-house organisers, MCs, coaches, and entertainers are also available, making Topgolf Megacity the new event hotspot in town,” said Boda.

In addition to its gameplay offerings, Topgolf Megacity boasts a diverse range of food and entertainment options, including a sports bar, rooftop bar, lounge, and a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. 

Topgolf can help create a unique experience for corporate team bonding events. Find out more about Topgolf’s packages. To plan your next corporate event, call +66 (0)2 114 1289, or email onestopservice@topgolfthailand.com.

Sentosa, Constellar Exhibitions, and Dermatological Society of Singapore among winners at Singapore Tourism Awards 2024

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The prestigious Singapore Tourism Awards 2024, held on the evening of June 28, honoured seven recipients for the Top Awards category, as well as 20 top performers across the categories of Experience Excellence (Leisure/MICE), Enterprise Excellence, and Customer Service Excellence.

The awards, organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), aim to raise the sector’s competitiveness by motivating individuals and organisations to create compelling experiences and adopt best practices, so as to deliver exceptional experience and service to visitors.

Singapore Tourism Awards 2024 honoured 27 individuals and organisations for their contributions to the country’s travel and tourism industry

In congratulating all award recipients, STB chief executive Ms Melissa Ow said: “Their contributions and dedication to tourism are an inspiration to others. 2024 marks Singapore Tourism Board’s 60th anniversary, and their achievements exemplify the remarkable passion and commitment of our people who have shaped Singapore’s dynamic tourism sector over the past six decades. Their success inspires new benchmarks for excellence.”

The Top Awards winners are Pamelia Lee, a pioneering figure in Singapore’s tourism scene since 1978, who was conferred the Awards’ highest accolade, Lifetime Achievement for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism; Ron Tan, executive chairman & group CEO of Neon Group, who was awarded Outstanding Tourism Entrepreneur for his leadership in pioneering immersive experiences through successful partnerships with renowned international studios such as Disney, Marvel, and Warner Bros; and Lynette Tan, CEO and chairwoman of Space Faculty Asia, who was awarded the Best Business Event Champion for her advocacy of Asia’s deep-tech sector and active promotion of Singapore’s strengths internationally through her extensive network.

Additionally, four recipients were each honoured with the Special Recognition award for their outstanding creativity, innovative best practices, and significant contributions to the tourism sector. They are Kung Teong Wah, general manager of Parkroyal Collection Pickering, Singapore, who is a dedicated advocate for digital transformation within the hospitality industry; Damian D’Silva, chef and owner of Rempapa, a passionate advocate for Singapore’s food heritage, tradition, and culture; Changi Airport Group, which plays a pivotal role in facilitating the strong rebound in tourist arrival; and the Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group, including SIA, Scoot, Pelago and Kris+, which is instrumental in Singapore’s strong tourism recovery.

In the Experience Excellence (MICE) category, Sentosa Island took home the Outstanding Event Venue Experience award while Dermatological Society of Singapore’s 25th World Congress of Dermatology 2023 was recognised as the Outstanding Business Event.

Constellar Exhibitions was a double winner, taking the Outstanding Event Organiser as well as the Exceptional Achievement award for achieving the Outstanding Event Organiser three years in a row (2022, 2023 and 2024).

Limelight that evening was also shone on The Sundowner Nature Experience Centre’s flagship tour, the Rooftop Farm Experience, which was named Outstanding Tour Experience for its farm-to-table concept; Xiu Nature Connections, which took home the Outstanding Wellness Experience award for the second consecutive year, this time for its Morning Forest Bathing experience in Bird Paradise; Constellar Exhibitions, which received the Outstanding Event Organiser (MICE) award for its orchestration of the Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia and the Singapore FinTech Festival in 2023; Mandai Wildlife Group’s Take Off to Paradise campaign, which was recognised with Outstanding Marketing Idea, for showcasing excellence from conceptualisation to execution; and many more.

STB’s Ow urged Singapore’s travel and tourism industry players to tackle “increasing competition” by “working together to strengthen Singapore’s appeal, and give visitors compelling reasons to visit Singapore”.

“With growing sophistication among travellers, delivering on quality experiences will become a competitive edge for our businesses and put Singapore ahead as a destination. To achieve this, every effort counts, regardless of whether you interact directly with customers or work behind the scenes or manage or own businesses that serve visitors,” she said.

Ascott makes six key appointments

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Abu Dhabi expects vast benefits from hosting ICCA Congress later this year

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When the 63rd ICCA Congress 2024 heads to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this October, interactions and new knowledge from the high-profile gathering of meetings industry professionals and leaders will shape plans for the city’s business events industry advancement and raise the capability of association executives and meetings practitioners across the UAE.

Mubarak Al Shamsi, director, Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, told TTGmice that Abu Dhabi stands to benefit a lot from hosting the congress.

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is the site for the 63rd ICCA Congress 2024 from October 20 to 23

Recalling the motivation behind the city’s bid for the congress hosting rights, Mubarak said: “We understood (from the start) that we were not just bidding for the sake of it, for the sake of having an event in Abu Dhabi. We understood that ICCA represents the global associations and meetings industry, and we will take our learnings from the congress and use them to develop the blueprint for the advancement of Abu Dhabi’s MICE sector.”

As Abu Dhabi presses on with its commitment to become the business events hub of the UAE and to leverage both business events and tourism for economic growth, Mubarak said “it is clear that the congress will be a key part of the destination’s continued evolution as a leading MICE destination”.

He emphasised Abu Dhabi’s readiness for the congress, pointing out that the city was ranked top destination for association meetings in the Middle East by ICCA in 2022.

“The international associations community recognises Abu Dhabi’s many strengths – iconic venues, great attractions, good connectivity where you can access two thirds of the world with only six-hour flights from Abu Dhabi, and the diverse investments our government has made into different industry sectors like innovation and life sciences,” he added.

He said the number of business events in Abu Dhabi had surged more than 44 per cent in recent years, bringing more than 960,000 delegates onto its land.

Positive impacts from the congress will spread beyond the city, opined Jasmine Lew, senior project head with Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, who believes that the congress in Abu Dhabi also presents a valuable opportunity for the international meetings community to engage with Middle East associations.

She said: “There are many associations in our region, but they are not yet functioning at an international level. They are not doing conferences at an international level; some are not even meeting at a regional level. Hence, the congress is a catalyst for capacity and capability building.”

Lew hopes to attract members from international associations to mentor local representatives.

Mubarak also sees benefits for ICCA. The congress will function as a vehicle for the association to “build its footprint in the region and expand its Middle Eastern network”.

With the congress taking place in four month’s time, Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau and the city’s meetings sector stakeholders are firming up destination experience programmes for attendees.

However, Mubarak said it was not time yet to “give away details”.

“Just know that Abu Dhabi is a very competitive destination and we recognise that a big part of the congress experience is the destination experience. We are thinking out of the box and will deliver something that has never been done before at an ICCA Congress,” he teased.

Lew simply said that delegates would be taken out and around Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi’s tourism offerings have expanded with new lures like Snow Abu Dhabi and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. The former promises snow activities all year round while the latter has a part to play in marine life rehabilitation. Coming up within the year is the interactive art presentation, teamLab Phenomena in the Saadiyat Cultural District.

In an earlier interview with sister title TTG Asia, Abdulla Yousuf, director of international operations with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, stated that the city’s existing attractions were still refreshing for many visitors, and visitor experience development efforts were focused not only on highlighting new draws but also finding new ways to enjoy current attractions and landmarks.

Business travel rethink needed as sustainability, costs, and expectations shift: Mastercard

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Companies and employees are bringing a new understanding of the value of face-to-face meetings and business travel

Predicted price increases, new traveller expectations, and a growing focus on sustainability are requiring organisations to rethink how they manage business travel, communicate policies and control costs.

This is according to Mastercard’s recently released whitepaper Overhauling travel & expense policies: New corporate priorities and traveler expectations on Travel and Expense (T&E) policies which offers crucial insights that can reshape how companies manage business travel.

Companies and employees are bringing a new understanding of the value of face-to-face meetings and business travel

Over 400 travel decision-makers and business travellers were surveyed to identify changing expectations around business travel.

Key themes covered in the report include sustainable travel, where younger generations are increasingly expect sustainable options, with 61% of companies promoting sustainable travel; and lodging policies, where 53% of companies now include vacation rental websites in their policies as a cost-saving measure.

Other themes include seating class policies, an analysis of cost/benefit for different seating classes (business, economy) with a focus on employee comfort; and integrated tools, tools that integrate booking, payment, and expense management.

This analysis, conducted with the BTN Group, includes perspectives from travel decision-makers at large companies and frequent business travellers, providing a holistic view of the current and future business travel landscape. They offer actionable insights for local companies to enhance their T&E policies, ensuring they stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

As business travel evolves, decision-makers can proactively manage policies to control spending, educate travellers, and deploy technologies like AI to audit expenses. Nearly half of the surveyed business travellers agree that business travel is critical for their organisation’s growth, and four in 10 see it as essential for their career advancement. Over 42% believe that their company’s travel policies need enhancement to support increased travel.

The full report can be found here.

Tour guiding industry to converge in Japan in 2026

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The Japan delegation

The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) will host its 21st international convention in Fukuoka, Japan, in 2026.

This will mark the first time the country will host this prestigious event.

The Japan delegation making their win announcement

In January this year, the final bid presentation was delivered at the WFTGA 2024 convention in Siracusa, Italy. Following the association’s final decision, it was officially announced that the international convention would be held in Fukuoka.

Over 2,500 leaders and professionals from over 60 countries and regions in the tour guiding industry will gather at this convention to share their knowledge and experiences. Pre- and post-convention activities will offer delegates the opportunity to explore Fukuoka and other parts of Japan.

The host organisation for this event is the Kyushu Association of Interpreters, Translators, and Guide-Interpreters, a proud member of WFTGA. The Executive Committee received tremendous support and promotion from the Fukuoka Convention Center and the Fukuoka Convention and Visitors Bureau, along with additional backing from various Japanese government agencies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Japan Tourism Agency, and Japan National Tourism Organization.

Vocational education key to a resilient business events industry

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Harrington: Ringa Hora brings the voice of industry to the vocational education system

Ringa Hora, Services Workforce Development Council, and Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) are coming together to develop vocational education and learning for the business events sector.

Ringa Hora will be adding its voice to the Workforce Steering Group, one of the key focus areas industry highlighted as part of Pīata Mai – the strategic direction for New Zealand’s business events industry to 2035.

Harrington: Ringa Hora brings the voice of industry to the vocational education system

BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins said that the Workforce Steering Group was established to provide a collaborative forum for cross-sector industry representatives who are part of BEIA’s membership and subject-matter experts in areas of shared interest.

“Collaboration is at the heart of the development of the steering group that will include broad expertise from the industry representing small and large businesses and those in a leadership or management roles,” she noted.

Ringa Hora is focused on responding to industry needs by developing fit for purpose qualifications and standards. Initial feedback from industry is a desire to explore micro-credentials in the workplace that blends experiential learning and practical application based on business needs.

“This ties back to Pīata Mai’s vision of creating a resilient sector, attracting and retaining talent,” Hopkins said.

“Talent attraction firstly relies on people knowing the sector exists. Traditionally, the sector has attracted people from hospitality, tourism and PR, but there is additional breadth of variety and challenge which only business events offer. There is something so satisfying about delivering an incredible event which leaves a lasting impression on its audience, and having the opportunity to rub shoulders with truly fascinating people.

“We hope that people from these sectors will see it as a next step in their career, and the vocational training supports this.”

Ringa Hora will have four representatives on the Workforce Steering Group including a cross-section of senior and operational kaimahi (staff) with expertise ranging from relationship management, qualifications, product development and moderation in the vocational education area.

Mel Harrington, general manager, partnership & engagement for Ringa Hora told industry leaders at MEETINGS 2024: “This supports the broader vocational education and training priorities outlined in the business events industry’s strategic direction to 2035 (Pīata Mai) and our own strategic vision.”

Ringa Hora will assist with insights from industry into upcoming qualification reviews for the industry, informing and critiquing existing or new product developments relating to skills and qualifications needed by industry.

“Our role is advocating on behalf of industry to contribute strategically to design qualifications and skills aligned with the strategic direction and national priorities.

“Importantly, in working with industry we want to showcase and celebrate role-models in businesses to recognise best practices and encourage future employees to be part of an exciting, fun and rewarding career in the business events sector,” Harrington said.

Unexpected twists

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Event brief
A Polish incentive house contacted Kuala Lumpur-based DMC, Within Earth Holidays, to organise a memorable seven-day programme in Malaysia for their client, a food manufacturer, who wished to incentivise their top distributors.

Event highlights
As this was the first visit to Malaysia for all 55 delegates, the programme was designed to showcase Malaysia’s natural attractions, history, architecture, beach and city experiences.

The delegates arrived in Singapore on February 17 and travelled by coach to Malacca. They enjoyed a guided tour of the historical city, visiting sites such as Bukit China, Porta de Santiago, Church of St. Paul, and the Stadthuys Building. That evening, Within Earth Holidays took them on a river cruise.

On the second day, the group travelled by coach from Malacca to Putrajaya, where they went on a half-day tour. They then continued onwards to Kuala Lumpur for another half-day tour. Highlights in Kuala Lumpur included photo stops at the King’s Palace, the National Monument, and the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.

The third day brought the group to Cameron Highlands, where they enjoyed the cool mountain air and visited a tea plantation, Butterfly Park, and strawberry farm.

On the fourth day, the group went on a guided jungle trek in Taman Negara National Park during the day, as well as a night walk in the tropical rainforest, where they spotted several nocturnal animals.

The fifth day included a brief stop at the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, where delegates learned about the conservation efforts for wild elephants by the Department of Wildlife and National Park. After lunch, the group returned to Kuala Lumpur and flew to Langkawi, where they spent the night.

The sixth day was spent enjoying the beach and taking a cable car ride up Mount Machinchang. The final day saw the delegates return to Kuala Lumpur to fly home.

Challenges
Saini Vermeulen, Within Earth Holidays’ executive director, recounted a last-minute scramble. Their pre-booked hotel in Taman Negara, secured six months in advance, had no record of the reservation.

Saini said: “There weren’t any other comparable four-star hotels available. This forced us to adjust the itinerary, impacting the planned route.”

“We opted to take the group to Cameron Highlands first, followed by Taman Negara the next day. They then returned to Kuala Lumpur by land before flying to Langkawi. Our initial plan involved a more cost-efficient overland route from Cameron Highlands directly to Langkawi. However, the hotel, acknowledging their error, generously covered half the return airfare as a gesture of goodwill. We absorbed the remaining cost.”

Just a week before the group’s arrival, a senior staff member managing the account was hospitalized with heart and lung complications. This unfortunate event coincided with the busy Chinese New Year period, when Within Earth Holidays was already stretched thin, handling over 30 leisure groups simultaneously. This unexpected situation resulted in a temporary staff shortage.

Because of this Saini had to multi-task and oversee details prior to the group’s arrival.

He added: “Adding to the challenges, the incentive house from Poland requested a live band for the very first night’s dinner in Kuala Lumpur at the 11th hour. Finding a band during the festive season is no easy feat. Fortunately, we managed to secure a talented group of buskers to perform for the evening.”

Event Incentive Trip 2023
Organiser Within Earth Holidays
Venue Malaysia
Dates February 17-23, 2024
Attendees 55

Embark on a restorative journey with Wai Ariki Hot Springs

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Standing on the shores of Lake Rotorua, New Zealand, is the brand-new, Māori owned-and-operated Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa.

The purpose-built spa and bathing facility is built on the legacy of Ngāti Whakaue (local Māori tribe) culture, healing practices and manaakitanga – the centuries-old and internationally renowned Ngāti Whakaue concept of welcoming manuhiri (visitors). Wai Ariki means chiefly waters in Māori.

At this cultural wellness destination, groups can relax their body, mind, and soul by paying a visit to the Sanctuary, which offers a range of facials and massages; or indulge in a two-hour-long Restorative Journey through Rotorua’s geothermal waters.

The two-hour-long Restorative Journey begins with a series of waterfall showers, before proceeding into three saunas of differing heat levels, interspersed with wades in an ice-cold pool, and capping off with an ice cold bucket dunk. These fire and ice caves gives visitors a series of hot and cold, wet and dry experiences to invigorate the body and soul to provide transformative well-being.

Guests are then invited to soak up the healing properties of the spa’s geothermal waters in five pools ranging from an ice plunge pool at 12°C to the hottest pool that caps out at 41°C, all of which open out to a panoramic view of Lake Rotorua.

After which, visitors are then invited to slather themselves in mud and lay on lounges to rejuvenate and nourish the skin, and connect with the land as the Ngāti Whakaue have done for hundreds of years.

The final leg of the journey is the steam cave, where guests should allow the mud to soften while lying on a heated platform, before cleansing themselves with a shower.

Aside from its wellness offerings, Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa is open to host private corporate buyouts. The Sanctuary portion alone is good for up to 40 pax, while the Restorative Journey concourse is good for 150 pax. Both can be combined to accommodate around 200 pax.

Fairmont Singapore & Swissôtel The Stamford welcome new director of culinary operations

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Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford has appointed local industry veteran chef Vijay Shanmugam as director of culinary operations.

In this role, Vijay oversees strategic planning and operational execution across the complex’s 12 restaurants and bars such as two-Michelin-star JAAN by Kirk Westaway, and Prego. Catering for events at the Raffles City Convention Centre is also under his purview.

Over almost 30 years, Vijay has scaled the ranks of the regional luxury hotel landscape, both home and away, across multiple prestigious hospitality brands including Hilton, Conrad, Parkroyal, Intercontinental, Shangri-La, and Raffles.

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