Jazeera Airways has appointed Barathan Pasupathi as its new chief executive officer. He takes over the role from Rohit Ramachandran, who will be stepping down after over seven years with the company.
He was formerly the chief financial officer of Jazeera Airways, and brings to his role over 30 years of experience in aviation, oil and gas, and supply chain management.
Before joining Jazeera Airways, Barathan was CEO of Jetstar Asia.
The Singapore Indoor Stadium, which has hosted many large-scale events since its opening on December 31, 1989, will soon be replaced with a new state-of-the-art indoor arena.
Plans for the new indoor stadium are still in the early stages, but Singapore’s minister for culture, community and youth, Edwin Tong, said in Parliament on March 7 that the venue will be constructed next to the current stadium, and boast a similar 12,000-seater capacity.
The current stadium will continue operating until the new arena is completed.
“Others around the region have refreshed their facilities, with new, modern indoor arenas that are state of the art. We believe that it is now an opportune time to develop a new indoor arena that will be among the best-in-class globally,” said Tong during his ministry’s Committee of Supply budget debate.
“We have gone around to study some of the best arenas in the world, to learn from them. We are considering an arena which can host more sophisticated events, can flexibly accommodate different types of events, have a faster turnaround time between different types of events, and offer greater value to spectators such as more varied hospitality suites, better seating and overall experience.”
The new indoor arena is the latest development in the government’s plan to transform the Kallang Alive precinct into one which is able to host world-class events.
Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) has formalised partnerships with six hotels in Kota Kinabalu and North Borneo University College, marking a significant step towards enhancing hospitality services and educational opportunities.
The signing ceremonies took place at SICC during the Business Events Forum – BE in Sabah on March 1, in the presence of Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, deputy minister of tourism, arts and culture Malaysia.
A Memorandum of Agreement was first signed with six hotels in Sabah. They are Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Kota Kinabalu, Sutera Harbour Resort, Hilton Kota Kinabalu, Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu, Citadines Waterfront Kota Kinabalu and Hotel Sixty3. These partnerships are poised to elevate the hospitality experience for visitors attending conventions, conferences, and events hosted at SICC.
Additionally, SICC has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with North Borneo University College, aiming to facilitate academic exchanges, research collaborations, and educational initiatives. This partnership underscores SICC’s dedication to promoting lifelong learning, professional development, and educational excellence, thereby contributing to the socio-economic advancement of Sabah.
By leveraging the collective expertise and resources of these esteemed establishments, SICC aims to provide attendees with unparalleled accommodation options and world-class amenities, thus ensuring memorable experiences for every guest.
The Taipei City Government is banking on the hosting of the World Masters Games next year to raise its business events profile.
Held every four years, the World Masters Games is open to sports people of all abilities who are over 30 years of age, and governed by the International Masters Games Association.
Vincent Lu, subsection chief with the tourism development division, Department of Information and Tourism Taipei, told TTGmice: “This is Taipei government’s biggest project (for now). We expect to welcome more than 20,000 participants who will take part in sports from basketball to archery – because unlike the Olympics, you do not have to qualify for this event.”
Moreover, happening on the sidelines of the World Masters Games will be smaller-scale business events activities.
He added that Taipei has a proven track record of successfully hosting major international events. Upcoming events this year include the 2024 IEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control Joint Symposium from September 22 to 26, which will see 2,000 participants, and Computex 2024 that will see 11,000 grace the floors at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from June 4 to 7.
“We have 6,600 available rooms in Taipei, (and we) offer financial support and a one-stop service to help with the bidding, promotions, and site inspections, to entice event planners to consider Taiwan,” Lu noted.
Taipei’s International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) city ranking for 2022 was third in Asia-Pacific with 55 meetings, and 25th globally.
He added: “Singapore is a benchmark for us, seeing that the country is very strong in business events (Singapore was first in Asia-Pacific with 101 meetings in 2022). It is a very competitive market, but we are working towards being the first in Asia-Pacific.”
S Hotels and Resorts has already seen substantial success in leisure tourism for its Crossroads Maldives integrated resort, but the company envisions growing the business events sector by another five per cent in 2024.
Currently, leisure tourism makes up 95 per cent of Crossroads’ businesses, which provides a lot of room for growth, acknowledged Ludovic Gallerne, vice president global commerce, S Hotels and Resorts.
Gallerne told TTGmice: “The Maldives is still conventionally seen as a romantic destination for honeymooners and leisure tourists, and we are trying to change that perception. I was in Singapore recently to promote our properties, and I had people telling me they didn’t know Maldives was for MICE.
“We have so much to offer MICE guests. (Crossroads Maldives) boasts over 15 restaurants, conference facilities, a sustainability centre, and a cultural centre which offers guests insights into the country’s history.”
Hence for 2024, Gallerne shared that the company will be making its presence more known to the trade and “get out there” by participating in major tradeshows like IMEX Frankfurt, as well as hold its own roadshows in India, Thailand and Singapore, or in partnership with Hard Rock or Hilton properties. Crossroads Maldives is home to SAii Lagoon Maldives, which is under the Curio Collection by Hilton; and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives.
However, he understands that it will take another 12 to 18 months for S Hotels and Resorts to see the fruit of its marketing labour. Currently, S Hotels and Resorts works with local agencies that bring the business events in.
Last year, S Hotels and Resorts also opened an office in China, which has been a boon for business events. “In 2023, around 2,000 to 3,000 room nights during the season were filled by MICE groups from China. We aim to double our MICE numbers out of China this year,” he shred.
Gallerne added that SAii Laguna Phuket “did well in business events last year”, and as of March 2024, it has already exceeded expectations in the business events sector.
“As a whole, Thailand is doing well for business events. That is why we are looking to open a property in Bangkok, another key business events destination,” he stated.
A full recovery in business travel spend is anticipated this year, with the market returning to levels last seen in 2019. Much has changed over the past five years: business travellers today are increasingly discerning when they travel, as they seek to derive the maximum value from each trip. New technologies, such as Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), can deliver an enhanced experience for those choosing to embark on a trip.
This Globetrender report, produced in association with Cytric Easy by Amadeus, reveals seven trends that will shape and define business travel in the coming 12 months. These trends are:
Jenny Southan, CEO and founder of Globetrender, stated: “When looking at the future of business travel in 2024, it’s clear that two macro shifts are happening in parallel: technology is making the planning and execution of trips ever-more seamless; but there is also a desire to ‘go back to basics’, which is manifesting in nature-based corporate retreats and the revival of ‘power lunches’.
“This highlights the enduring value of human connection in building good business relationships. Ultimately, every journey needs to be optimised to justify the return on investment, and the subsequent carbon impact of flying.
“If there is one word to sum up business travel in 2024, that will be ‘discernment’. Employees no longer want to sacrifice areas of their personal lives to be constantly on the road, and companies need to balance the fulfilment of financial and ESG targets, which will mean all parties need to be more selective about what trips they commit to.”
Deborah Mahoney, head of sales, and business development – Americas, Amadeus Cytric Solutions, said: “Face-to-face meetings have many benefits, from increasing social capital to fostering ideas and engaging in more complex thinking together. In-person contact provides a competitive advantage when it comes to meeting clients and customers, as real conversations can generate more effective, efficient, and trust-building interactions.”
Mahoney added that value is key when it comes to business travel, where a trip must fufil multiple objectives, be increasingly sustainable, simple to book, and have a positive impact on both the employee and organisation for it to be worth the time and money investment.
The full report can be found here.
In a joint effort to enhance Malaysia’s appeal as a leading destination for business events, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and Business Events Sarawak (BE Sarawak) held a MyCEB – BE Sarawak Engagement with BE Sarawak Industry Partners 2024.
Held at the Sheraton Kuching, the event saw the participation of around 100 event management companies, DMCs, PCOs, PEOs, associations, and relevant government agencies.
The focal point of the event was MyCEB’s incentive campaign, MyTripleE, launched in August 2023. MyTripleE aims to showcase Malaysia’s offerings in convention, exhibition, and corporate meetings and incentives, with a specific focus on Sarawak. The collaboration seeks to involve partners such as travel agents, hotels, and product owners in promoting and leveraging the MyTripleE campaign.
In 2023, MyCEB recorded support for 20 international events in Sarawak, bringing together 19,173 delegates with an estimated total economic impact of RM155.9 million (US$32.9 million).
In the aftermath of the global pandemic, the events industry has transformed, placing technology at its core. This shift extends beyond live-streaming, embracing micro-interactions for enhanced personalisation, offering attendees bespoke experiences.
Micro-interactions are now integral to this technological shift, meeting guests’ expectations for personalised experiences tailored to their preferences. Event technology facilitates these micro-interactions, allowing attendees to personalise event journeys and engage with content and peers both before and after events.
Previously confined to conferences, event mobile applications have expanded to various events like staff parties and product launches. Affordable event dashboards, accessible via web browsers, enable attendees to manage their programme, interact with others, schedule one-on-one meetings, and engage with event tools and digital content.
While familiar to conference organisers, tradeshows and open houses featuring dashboards offer additional features such as floor plans, promotions, personalised surveys, and calls to action. Gala dinners, incentive trips, and staff parties integrate dashboards for digital programme and menu viewing, announcements, multiplayer games, and interactive activities like lucky draws and voting.
In response to the increased use of online tools due to Covid-19, event organisers have adopted polls, surveys, and games through platforms like Kahoot, Slido, and Google Forms. Insights from these tools, coupled with frameworks like Pico’s ExQ, provide valuable data for informed decisions on attendee experience and future event runs.
Despite tool familiarity, engagement is not guaranteed. Gamification has emerged as a trend, using incentives to boost interaction. For instance, at CWT’s MarketME event, lead scanning became a gamified experience with QR codes at booths leading to questions and prizes, addressing the challenge of Asian shyness at tradeshows.
In addition, Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration is transforming the events landscape, promising increased personalisation and efficiency. AI-driven solutions, such as business matching algorithms, analyse attendee profiles for meaningful connections, recommending personalised programmes. This ensures efficient networking and a satisfying event experience.
A 2023 poll from 180 partner event agencies in Asia revealed over 80 per cent experiencing a 50 per cent increase in demand for digital solutions. This resurgence signals a shift towards innovative, blended in-person and digital experiences, with technology enhancing engagement and personalisation.
Despite high interest in event technology, hurdles include budget constraints and unfamiliarity with solutions. A recommended approach is to involve a reliable event technology partner early in the process, seeking their guidance, cost estimates, and examples of past work.
The future of events will witness significant integration of cutting-edge tech solutions, offering memorable and tailored experiences. As event technology and organisers align, exciting possibilities emerge for the future of the events industry.
Lance Li Sheng is the CEO of Searix, a creative technology agency for event and campaign organisers.
Staybridge Suites, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, has expanded its Asia-Pacific presence with Staybridge Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit, the brand’s second hotel in the region.
Staybridge Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit features 411 suites sized between 28m2 and 70m2, some of which come with a separate living area.
As with all Staybridge Suites properties, the hotel features an onsite shop called The Pantry, stocking a variety of food options and everyday essentials for purchase. Alongside daily housekeeping and complimentary breakfast, all properties host ‘The Socials’ three nights a week, giving guests a chance to relax with an hour of complimentary beer, wine, snacks and an opportunity to meet other guests and residents.
Communal areas, such as The Den and lobby have also been designed to encourage residents to meet and relax. For those looking to hold meetings, complimentary meeting rooms are available upon prior reservations.
Other facilities include onsen and sauna facilities, an outdoor pool, a golf simulator, and a fitness centre.
Hilton has appointed Nong Xia as president of development for Greater China & Mongolia and Maria Ariizumi as vice president of development for South East Asia.
Nong will lead Hilton’s development strategy in Greater China, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his tenure with H World Group, Starwood, Hyatt, and Groupe Pierre Vacances et Center Parcs. A Chinese native, he will leverage his deep industry and market expertise to drive Hilton’s expansion in Greater China.
Ariizumi will spearhead Hilton’s growth in South-east Asia with the knowledge gained from her time with Swire Hotels, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Marriott International, and Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting.
