Japan’s Hokuriku Shinkansen high-speed rail service, known for its sleek white and blue trains, will extend its line from Tokyo to Fukui Prefecture starting March 16.
Currently, the service ends at Kanazawa City, known for its well-preserved Edo-era districts, traditional tea houses, and landscaped gardens.
The extended Hokuriku Shinkansen line takes travellers deeper into Japan
Hokuriku Shinkansen will operate 14 round trips from Tokyo per day.
With this extension, travellers can get from Tokyo to Fukui City, the prefectural capital, in just two hours and 51 minutes.
Fukui City is a small castle town most known for the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, which is recognised as one of the greatest dinosaur museums in the world. The destination is also loved by cherry blossom hunters in springtime.
Other attractions in Fukui Prefecture include Maruoka Castle, one of twelve castles in Japan with a surviving historical keep from the feudal era; Tojinbo Cliffs, a Natural Monument and Place of Scenic Beauty; and Eiheiji Temple, founded in 1244.
The extension of the high-speed rail line allows Japan to increase connectivity to the outskirts, taking travellers deeper into the country.
Singapore-based Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has marked its return to Indonesia, following six years of absence, with a new opening and two more up its sleeves.
The hotel company opened the 180-unit Parkroyal Serviced Suites Jakarta last January.
Two more will follow – the 158-key Pan Pacific Jakarta in mid-2024 and the 178-key Parkroyal Jakarta in 4Q2024.
The 180-unit Parkroyal Serviced Suites Jakarta opened in January
All three properties will be housed in the 95-storey Luminary Tower in the Thamrin Nine mixed-use complex. The serviced suites, now in operation, occupy levels 73 to 82. Pan Pacific Jakarta will be on levels 83 to 89 while Parkroyal Jakarta will be on the lower levels.
PPHG’s reentry comes at a competitive time when Jakarta is seeing a boom in new upscale hotels and residences.
Ed Brea, complex general manager of the three properties, told TTG Asia that PPHG’s owner, UOL Group, is confident and committed to Indonesia.
“Unlike most international brands here, PPHG not only manages but also owns both Parkroyal Serviced Suites and Pan Pacific Jakarta. On top of that, we manage the hotel (Parkroyal Jakarta) belonging to the contractor,” he said.
Such confidence stems from the fact that Indonesia is one of the fastest growing economies in South-east Asia, which will entice international business, according to Brea, who added that the country’s sizeable young population and huge domestic market altogether make Jakarta an underrated business city.
Brea said: “(Being a new kid on the block), I guess it is our advantage to have three products that target three different market segments, in an area where no new hotels were built for years. All the major hotels here (along the Sudirman-Thamrin Streets) are matured properties.”
He said the opening of Parkroyal Serviced Suites was well positioned to capture a market that is not tapped into.
“We chose to open the serviced suites first because we felt there was a great need for such a property right now. We are running at 30 per cent occupancy within two months of opening,” he added.
Pan Pacific Jakarta will target high-end travellers while Parkroyal Jakarta will cater to those looking for mid-scale accommodation.
Brea expects the three properties to charm various market segments, beyond corporate business, thanks to the availability of meeting facilities and the support of a lifestyle mall and concert hall in the Thamrin Nine complex. An underground access way connecting the complex with the MRT train station will be built for guests’ convenience.
Commenting on the rate strategy in the competitive city, Brea said the three properties have clear distinctions. Parkroyal Serviced Suites presently runs with daily rates, but these will “go away” once the other two properties are open for business.
All three properties will function with one sales and marketing team, ensuring a complementary relationship instead of a competitive one.
UFI We hope that this resource – a first of its kind – will inspire many companies to launch and report projects under the United Nations framework scheme
India’s hospitality industry has taken what it calls a major step forward in its journey towards achieving net positive hospitality, as the Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) joins forces with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
The alliance, which represents over 50,000 hotels and seven million rooms globally, will collaborate with the FHRAI, acting as a champion for innovation and climate action in the industry. Both organisations plan to work on joint projects and share knowledge, leveraging each other’s tools and programmes to promote best practices within India’s hospitality sector.
Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Associations of India and Sustainable Hospitality Alliance will promote best practices within India’s hospitality sector
FHRAI provides a crucial link between the hospitality industry, political leadership, academics and international associations, creating a platform for dialogue and thought leadership within the industry.
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, is enthusiastic about the possibilities this partnership brings. “This is a milestone for the alliance, and will undoubtedly support India’s climate action and bring its vast hotel and restaurant sector towards net positive,” he remarked.
Pradeep Shetty, FHRAI president, said: “We are starting an exciting journey together to reshape the hospitality industry in India. This collaboration demonstrates our strong commitment to reducing our environmental impact while optimising our beneficial influence on the communities we serve”.
Western Australia is keen to attract more Indian business events groups
Tourism Western Australia recently wrapped up a roadshow to India, the first in-market roadshow since international borders reopened.
The roadshow, hosted by Tourism Western Australia and Business Events Perth (BE Perth) saw 16 Western Australia hotels, attractions and regional tourism organisations present their products to more than 300 Indian agents in New Delhi and Mumbai. The face-to-face event also provided a platform for local operators to better understand and formulate the required strategies and capabilities to better prepare and welcome guests from the Indian market.
Western Australia is keen to attract more Indian business events groups
“Our focus sharpens on India as a key market, with the country’s proximity to Western Australia playing a pivotal part and providing us with a unique platform to showcase Western Australia’s business event offering, said BE Perth’s CEO Gareth Martin.
In 2018/19, Western Australia appointed an in-market representative in India, and more recently, appointed an in-marketing marketing agency, to make itself known to India’s vast market of over 1.4 billion people with a fast-growing middle-class segment looking to explore the world.
When asked what was the biggest challenge in attracting more Indian outbound travellers, a spokesperson from BE Perth shared that there is currently no direct flight from Western Australia to India. Currently, travellers heading to Western Australia from India connect via Singapore through Singapore Airlines, Scoot and Vistara, or via India and Kuala Lumpur through Malaysia Airlines.
As such, Western Australia’s deputy premier Rita Saffioti’s pointed out: “High on the agenda for this mission is securing a non-stop service between India and Western Australia – this is a huge aviation priority for our Government.”
Fortunately, Routes Asia 2025 jetting into Perth will provide a platform for Western Australia to showcase the state’s aviation opportunities to international carrier partners. Events such as Routes Asia 2025 also play an important role in opening the doors to India for overall tourism.
“MICE delegates who are satisfied with their experience will likely bring their own families back for leisure vacations and share their positive stories with their associates and friends, thereby further reinforcing the overall destination marketing messages being promoted about Western Australia,” stated the spokesperson.
In coming years, BE Perth aims to continuously court the Indian market through online and in-person interactions, such as fam trips for corporates, and participation in major tradeshows.
India was Western Australia’s seventh largest international market by visitor numbers in the year ending September 2023, with 27,000 visitors spending an estimated A$91 million (US$59.2 million) in the State.
Wilfred Wong is executive vice chairman of Sands China
The annual UFI Asia-Pacific Conference in Macau, held earlier this month from March 7-8, saw a turnout of around 300 delegates from 20 countries.
The conference took place at The Parisian Macao and was hosted by the Macau Fair & Trade Association. It was also co-located with the first-ever Event Directors Summit held in Asia. Launched in Europe in 2023, this invitation-only summit connects show and portfolio directors across borders to discuss common challenges.
Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China, delivered the keynote speech. Photo credit: UFI LinkedIn
“This was our first time bringing this event to Macau since 2008. Both Macau and its MICE industry have grown remarkably since then. This year’s conference was particularly successful in bringing together UFI members and industry leaders from around the region, including approximately 150 from Greater China. A key theme explored in Macau was the emerging importance of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and growth opportunities for our industry in this region,” commented Mark Cochrane, UFI Asia-Pacific regional director.
Over two days, speakers covered key issues such as the rise of artificial intelligence and its expected impact on exhibitions, the importance of implementing sustainable best practices, the evolution of event formats and the opportunities emerging in China’s GBA which includes cities such as Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
All sessions are available to UFI members and conference participants as on-demand videos.
Alongside the conference, UFI held numerous association meetings, including the Asia-Pacific chapter meeting and a session of the Associations Committee. UFI management also hosted a student delegation from Macau’s City University.
In 2025, the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference will take place in Melbourne from February 13-14, hosted by the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Mr. Azman Haji Tambi Chik, Chief Executive Officer of MyCEB alongside the MyCEB Board of Directors, Dato' Vincent Lim and Mr. Francis Teo gathers with a line-up of key representatives of the Malaysia Business Events Industry
The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) hosted its first networking session of the year earlier this week.
Held at Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, the event was attended by over 250 business events industry players comprising both MyCEB’s Industry Partner Programme (IPP) members and non-IPP members, including venue operators, PCOs, and PEOs.
MyCEB’s Azman Haji Tambi Chik (fourth from right) alongside MyCEB’s Board of Directors, Vincent Lim (fourth from left), and Francis Teo (third from left) posing with key MICE representatives
Key takeaways from the networking session underscored the importance of annual convergence to set the tone and establish common ground within the industry. It provided an opportunity for members to articulate their needs and perspectives, and gain deeper insights into the challenges and opportunities prevalent in the business events landscape.
The event also marked MyCEB’s newly-appointed CEO Azman Haji Tambi Chik’s first official gathering with local industry players.
As MyCEB gears up for the launch of the MICE/Business Events (BE) Community next year, the focus remains on strengthening regional ties, promoting economic growth, and enhancing the overall profile of the business events industry across South-east Asia.
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will host the International Dairy Federation’s (IDF) World Dairy Summit in 2026, anticipated to attract over 1,000 industry leaders and scientific experts to the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC).
The event is expected to deliver more than NZ$2 million to the region’s economy.
A rendering of the soon-to-open NZICC in Auckland
The summit is the flagship event for the 120-year-old Federation, which spans more than 40 member countries, representing more than 75 per cent of the world’s milk production. Over 2,000 people attended the event when it was last held in New Zealand in 2010.
The event will showcase the work the IDF is doing to enhance all aspects of dairy – from cows to consumers, including the vital role the Federation plays in helping to shape food policies and standards. Attendees will also hear from senior industry executives from across the globe and eminent technical experts about the sector’s opportunities and challenges.
This will be followed by technical tours of manufacturing plants, research institutes, farms, and the dairy industry, showcasing New Zealand’s wider agriculture sector. A programme of social tours will also enable visitors to explore Auckland and New Zealand.
Convenor Andy Williams indicated that this win reflects New Zealand’s standing in the global industry as the source of 40 per cent of the world’s traded dairy products.
“Hosting this summit will be great for New Zealand, it’s recognising our dairy expertise and leadership. We’ll be able to showcase what New Zealand is doing to stay at the forefront of this important global industry and how we’re adapting to emerging challenges. Dairy has an important role in the sustainability, safety and security of the global nutrient supply, and New Zealand must be at the table when the sector discusses how we will respond to these important issues.”
New Zealand was awarded this event following a bid by the New Zealand International Dairy Federation with support from the Auckland Convention Bureau, a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, and Tourism New Zealand.
Japanese multi-brand hotel operator Hotel Management Japan’s (HMJ’s) plan for 2024 is to increase its banquet and events revenue, as well as focus marketing efforts on the Indian outbound market.
“Although our room revenue for 2024 has already exceeded 2019, our F&B, events, and banquet revenues are still lagging behind. This is what the MICE manager has been tasked to handle, to push these revenues back to 2019 levels,” Oriental Hotels & Resorts’ senior director, business development, Tsuyoshi Maeda, told TTGmice at ITB Berlin last week.
Maeda shared that the hotel group recently signed on the 11-villa Hakone Retreat Fore (another seven villas will be ready in August 2024), which will join HMJ’s portfolio next month. Located 1.5 hours from Tokyo, this hideaway is “suitable for luxury incentives or C-suite meetings”.
This year also marks the first time that the company is participating in ITB Berlin to deepen its brand awareness. Another show that Oriental Hotels & Resorts will most likely attend is ITB India.
When asked why India in particular, Maeda explained: “Taking into account the rising middle class, the Indian outbound market holds huge potential for us. It is not often that you hear a Japanese company actively court the Indian market, but if we (make inroads) early enough, this will bode well for us in the future.”
He referenced Suzuki as an illustration of how the automotive and motorcycle manufacturer successfully entered the Indian market ahead of its competitors, contributing to its substantial market share today.
Given the stark difference in culture and travelling styles, Maeda acknowledged that there will be challenges in dealing with the Indian market, such as the provision of vegetarian cuisine, and the approach to hospitality.
However, Maeda strongly believes that the rising Indian outbound market will play a large part in doubling the company’s portfolio in the next five years.
The Ascott Limited has opened the 255-key Sydney Central Hotel Managed by The Ascott Limited (Sydney Central).
The accommodation mix includes standard, superior and executive rooms. On-site amenities include a rooftop pool, gym, and the Thomas St Kitchen + Bar which provides a breakfast buffet with barista-made coffee and in-room dining.
Sydney Central Hotel
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Sydney Central, equipped with on-site catering services, also features 12 versatile spaces, including a spacious ballroom. These venues can accommodate events ranging from 10 to 300 people.
At this point, Sydney Central will be undergoing staged renovations, and an additional 72 rooms across eight floors will be added; the refurbishment will include accessible and family suites. A new café is also in the plans. Once everything is complete, the property will be rebranded as Citadines Sydney Central.
The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) has appointed Samantha Glass, director of corporate affairs, communication and sustainability, ICC Sydney to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
She takes over the convention centre appointed position on the Board from Janet Hamilton, general manager, Cairns Convention Centre, who has stepped down to concentrate on fostering opportunities for her extended and refurbished centre.
Glass is known for her role as founding member of ICC Sydney’s leadership team and as an ASM Global ambassador, spearheading pioneering initiatives in sustainability and corporate social responsibility, including ICC Sydney’s Legacy Program and Corporate Social Responsibility Plan.
In adherence to the ABEA Constitution, the appointment maintains the presence of a convention centre leader and advocate, ensuring continuity in expertise, while simultaneously maintaining the 50/50 gender balance.
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
India’s hospitality industry has taken what it calls a major step forward in its journey towards achieving net positive hospitality, as the Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) joins forces with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
The alliance, which represents over 50,000 hotels and seven million rooms globally, will collaborate with the FHRAI, acting as a champion for innovation and climate action in the industry. Both organisations plan to work on joint projects and share knowledge, leveraging each other’s tools and programmes to promote best practices within India’s hospitality sector.
FHRAI provides a crucial link between the hospitality industry, political leadership, academics and international associations, creating a platform for dialogue and thought leadership within the industry.
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, is enthusiastic about the possibilities this partnership brings. “This is a milestone for the alliance, and will undoubtedly support India’s climate action and bring its vast hotel and restaurant sector towards net positive,” he remarked.
Pradeep Shetty, FHRAI president, said: “We are starting an exciting journey together to reshape the hospitality industry in India. This collaboration demonstrates our strong commitment to reducing our environmental impact while optimising our beneficial influence on the communities we serve”.