Asia/Singapore Monday, 22nd December 2025
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Marina Bay Sands launches second phase of hotel transformation

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Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands (MBS) has invested an additional US$750 million for the next phase of its reinvestment programme in its efforts to ensure the integrated resort (IR) continues to elevate unique experiences for local and international visitors.

The second phase of transformation will focus on Tower 3, the Hotel Lobby and Sands SkyPark, and will include a reimagined VIP arrival experience, new premium dining and retail offerings, a lobby transformation as well as a renewed focus on wellness experiences for guests. More than 550 redesigned rooms, including around 380 suites, will be introduced in this phase.

The next phase of Marina Bay Sands’ transformation will focus on Tower 3, the Hotel Lobby and Sands SkyPark

Works are expected to be completed in phases through 2025.

This announcement comes as MBS enters the final stage of its US$1 billion first-phase reinvestment, announced in February 2022, and focused on the complete refurbishment of Hotel Towers 1 and 2, in addition to new dining offerings and luxury lifestyle amenities for high-value travellers.

“Marina Bay Sands has made significant progress in delivering new world-leading luxury travel experiences over the past two years. This second phase of reinvestment will be critical as it propels the property to new heights and places us in a strong position to capture future growth opportunities,” said Paul Town, chief operating officer, MBS.

The first phase of transformation saw the extensive upgrading of a total of around 1,280 rooms across Towers 1 and 2, of which about 390 are new suites. These rooms are housed under two main categories – The Paiza Collection and The Sands Collection.

In February, the Paiza Sky Club will also open its doors on the 55th floor of Tower 2. The new multi-concept executive club lounge will feature a tea vault, bespoke whisky bar, private liquor locker, garden conservatory and buffet spreads served from open kitchens helmed by top chefs.

Once the transformation of all three hotel towers is completed, there will be 1,850 refurbished rooms, including nearly 770 suites.

MBS will also launch several wellness activities at SkyPark Observation Deck and Infinity Pool next month, offering both hotel and non-hotel guests Muay Thai boxing, spin classes, sound bath meditation and more.

Beyond the redevelopment of the three hotel towers, MBS is also investing in staff training to elevate the property’s strong culture of service excellence, as well as issuing new staff uniforms to complement the luxury positioning of the property.

Qantas introduces Darwin-Singapore service

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Qantas will launch a second international route from Darwin, with direct flights from the Northern Territory to Singapore, this December.

The airline last operated direct flights between Darwin and Singapore in 2006.

Qantas will fly direct from Darwin to Singapore from December this year

From December 9, flights will initially operate five days per week, increasing to daily from March 2025.

The new service will add more than 60,000 seats on the route each year. It will provide those from the Northern Territory with a direct Qantas option to Singapore as well as a seamless connection to London and other destinations across Europe or Asia with partner airlines.

The Travel Corporation welcomes new marketing communications director

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The Travel Corporation (TTC) has appointed Koo Sok Hoon as the marketing communications director for TTC Asia.

She will lead the development and execution of TTC Asia’s marketing and communications strategy, planning and implementation of new marketing initiatives, alongside exploring and activating new partnerships.

Bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to TTC Asia, she has previously headed various marketing roles in luxury brands from automobile, hospitality, timepieces to fashion.

Mitsuko Tottori takes on the role of president of Japan Airlines

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Japan Airlines (JAL) has named its first female president, Mitsuko Tottori. She first joined in 1985 as a flight attendant and rose through the ranks to senior management over the years.

She will take over from current president Yuji Akasaka starting April 1.

Building the future of business events

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In 2024, KLCC will seek customer feedback by converting an existing meeting space into a concept room where clients can test out its future meeting space refurbishment
In 2024, KLCC will seek customer feedback by converting an existing meeting space into a concept room where clients can test out its future meeting space refurbishment

Brought to you by Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

The business of meetings is all about connecting people. With personalisation and digital transformation high on people’s agenda, leveraging technology to facilitate better engagement is paramount, whether that is seamlessly connecting those halfway across the world from each other or those within the same space.

That is exactly what the award-winning Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) endeavours to offer its clients and guests. Matching the needs of the business events industry, Malaysia’s premier purpose-built venue has been developing new products, services, and room setups to ensure that events remain exciting, providing the right environment for learning, business or pleasure.

“More than 1,500 meetings take place at our venue annually and the format of these meetings have changed over the years. They have become more collaborative and interactive, giving an opportunity for all in a room to participate. Delegates today are tech-savvy and expect the same from a venue when attending events. We want to meet these expectations, not by offering the latest in gadgets, but by offering the right solution for each event so that our clients and guests fully benefit from their time here,” said John Burke, general manager, KLCC.

To accommodate the demands and expectations of clients and delegates, the centre has already begun to roll out a comprehensive refurbishment programme.

In 2023, KLCC completed the fitting out of some of the shared areas, Ten-on-Call function area, as well as upgraded much of the furniture and technology, IT infrastructure, and the food court. Some of the in-room meeting technology have also been enhanced to support collaborative meetings. Clients can look forward to utilising this new feature from 2024.

Besides, KLCC will also be seeking out customer feedback as part of its refurbishment programme to ensure the effectiveness of its new products and solutions. An existing meeting space is currently being converted into a concept room where clients can test out the vision of the future meeting space refurbishment.

Burke elaborated: “Our aim, going into the future, is to offer products and solutions that our clients want, and this concept meeting room will help us determine their needs to refine designs. The concept room, once finalised with this input, will be used as a template for all the other meeting rooms and functions halls.”

The upgrades are timely to meet growing demands for meeting spaces. Commencing 2024 in an extremely strong position with 65 per cent of its business target secured, KLCC’s packed calendar includes 47 exhibitions and 32 conventions (26 of which are international) over the next 12 months and expects to add more over the course of the year.

“We are very excited to introduce all these new plans to our clients and to continue to work closely with them to ensure the success of their events,” Burke added.

Jill Goh helms as GM of Mandarin Oriental, Singapore

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Mandarin Oriental, Singapore has appointed Jill Goh as general manager, making her the property’s first female to hold this position.

A veteran hotelier with over three decades of experience in the global luxury hospitality industry, she brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge in hotel operations and management to her new role.

Having previously been the resident manager at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, she rejoins the Singapore property from The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong where she also served as general manager.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises names chief sales officer

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Steve Odell has been appointed chief sales officer of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

With over 35 years of experience, Odell rejoins Regent and brings with him a wealth of experience in the luxury travel industry having most recently tenured for Regent as senior vice president and managing director of the Asia-Pacific region for seven years.

He will be responsible for the sales organisation including maximising opportunities across all booking distribution channels and deepening valued travel partner relationships.

Sarah Goldfinch joins Adelaide Convention Centre

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Adelaide Venue Management has appointed Sarah Goldfinch as general manager of the Adelaide Convention Centre.

She will commence her new role in February 2024.

Prior to joining the Centre, Goldfinch operated her own business consultancy, Goldfinch Hospitality, offering executive level strategic and operational direction to clients in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

She joins the Centre following an illustrious career spanning more than 25 years which includes senior leadership roles within IHG Hotels & Resorts along with Accor Hotels.

Before moving into consulting, she led the opening of the new Crowne Plaza Adelaide hotel, consulted for the luxury Oval Hotel at Adelaide Oval, and guided the pre-opening team on everything from operations through to sales and marketing strategy. She also enjoyed a seven-year tenure as general manager at Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, with a focus on business events.

Sarah has also served on numerous boards supporting regional development, events and tourism, including Business Events Adelaide and as chair of Artisans of Barossa.

China’s inbound DMCs eye business growth in 2024

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Corporate events and meetings are looking up for China this year

China’s leading inbound DMCs, buoyed by the government’s more visa-friendly stand and companies wanting to resume trade, are planning to target more business delegations and corporate meetings in 2024.

Linda Wang, founder and owner, Asia Concierge, told TTGmice her longhaul international clients with letters of invitation were granted visa approval in three days, while applications for a Fortune 500 delegation from the Philippines were granted in five.

Both inbound and outbound corporate events and meetings are looking up for China this year

But Asia Concierge prefers to be “conservative” this year and not expand too aggressively because of the complicated geopolitical situation, she shared.

China Star, founder and CEO, Liu Ping, observed DMCs and PCOs “have to be ready for overnight government changes”.

Strong in the Polish market and Germany – where production has slowed – Liu is creating new incentive programmes to showcase south-west China, and is working on a proposal for government sponsorship for a fam trip for 10 hosted buyers and media.

In the case of Realm, which targets corporate and association meetings, managing director Violet Wang is open to new source market segments in English-, French- and German-speaking countries in Europe, South America, the US, and Asia Pacific.

Violet Wang opined that “governments and corporates are driving hard to reconnect”, and as such, expects a good growth outcome of up to 20 per cent this year and sees opportunities in the US market.

Kin Qin, deputy general manager Century Holiday Travel Group said China’s “attitude change” in offering visa-free entry to France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia would help address recovery challenges such as high air fares faced last year.

Century Holiday Travel Group, which focuses on tailor-made programmes and corporate trips from South-east Asia – in particular, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore – will continue to mount sales trips and attend tradeshows in South-east Asia.

Qin also identified IMEX Frankfurt and IBTM World in Barcelona to “grab opportunities” this year.

“We will start looking at the Middle East and potential from Dubai and invest in developing talent to personalise service and meet the needs of high-end clients,” she added.

Cathay brings on three new partners in SAF push

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Cathay is working to decarbonise aviation with the help of SAF partnerships

To achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and decarbonise the aviation industry, Cathay has brought on three more partners to its Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Programme.

First launched in 2022, the three new partners are Dimerco Express Group, Yusen Logistics, and NGO partner Business Environment Council.

Cathay is working to decarbonise aviation with the help of SAF partnerships

These new partners join the programme’s launch customers – AIA, Airport Authority Hong Kong, Kintetsu World Express, PwC China, Standard Chartered, and Swire Pacific.

Cathay’s Corporate SAF Programme partners are committed to reducing the climate impact from their business travel and airfreight activities through scaling up the use of SAF, considered to be the most important lever for decarbonising airline operations over the next few decades, before alternatively powered aircraft can be widely deployed in commercial operations.

Cathay Group’s CEO, Ronald Lam, said: “Cathay is undertaking a multi-pronged approach to contribute to the aviation industry’s transition towards a greener future. SAF is an important facet of this approach, and we have received strong support from our corporate and cargo customers since the launch of our Corporate SAF Programme. We have also established new SAF supply partnerships in the broader Asia region to convey a clear message to the SAF supply chain that there is firm demand from this part of the world.”

Cathay was among the first airlines in the world to announce a target of 10 per cent SAF for its total fuel use by 2030. Since then, it uplifted SAF at Hong Kong International Airport for the first time in 2022, and successfully conducted its first overseas SAF uplifts on commercial flights at Singapore Changi Airport and Los Angeles International Airport last year.

The SAF Cathay used over the past year was made from used cooking oil and animal fat waste, and was made available by its fuel suppliers, ExxonMobil and Shell.

Last year, Cathay and State Power Investment Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to drive the further development of the SAF supply chain in China.

In addition to increasing the use of SAF, Cathay’s carbon reduction roadmap includes fleet modernisation, operational efficiency improvements, leveraging on emerging technology breakthroughs to decarbonise aviation, and high-quality carbon offset projects.

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