Marriott International appoints Neeraj Govil as COO
Marriott International has named Neeraj Govil as chief operations officer for Asia-Pacific excluding China (APEC).
Based in Singapore, he will be responsible for driving the region’s performance and operations across all brands and markets.
Prior to his appointment, Govil served as senior vice president operations/CLS, APEC. He has amassed a wealth of experience built from more than 20 years of operational roles across Marriott International in APEC.
Win some, lose some in SE Asia’s competitive MICE arena
Both Thailand and Singapore will be hosting several large-scale business events in the coming months, and while two of Thailand’s wins are at the expense of Singapore, the latter has gone on to secure others in the competitive business events arena.
Herbalife Asia Pacific Extravaganza 2024 will draw 25,000 participants to IMPACT Arena, Bangkok from May 9-12. An industry source told TTGmice that Herbalife’s May 2023 event was “the last Extravaganza to be held in Singapore”.
“Herbalife recognises the strong partnership and well-developed resources in Thailand, including its products and services. Therefore, Thailand will be taken into consideration for their future events,” indicated Supanich Thiansing, director of meetings and incentives department, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).
However, TTGmice understands that Herbalife will revert to regional splits between North and South-east Asia in 2025. Regional editions – South-east Asia, China and North Asia – were held in Thailand in 2017 and 2018, before the pandemic, where group sizes ranged from 10,000 to 20,000 pax.
Another event that has made the move from Singapore to Thailand is Money 20/20. Last held in Singapore in 2019, this fintech event will instead be taking place at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) in Bangkok, and is expected to draw about 4,000 participants.
Also happening at QSNCC on May 17, 2024, is FIFA Congress 2024, and the 32nd Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis from June 22-26. The events are expected to welcome 1,300 and 7,000 attendees respectively.
Meanwhile in October, some 20,000 Unicity delegates – double the attendance in 2022 – will return to IMPACT Arena, Bangkok for the Global Leadership and Innovation Conference 2024.
Elsewhere in the country, China’s Infinitus, which has held its annual event in Thailand for over a decade, will gather 3,500 delegates in Noong Nooch, Pattaya from May 12-19.
Supanich said: “Thailand continues to be a trusted destination for large-scale M&I groups due to our enduring client relationships, calibre of service providers, allure of new attractions, and the support of the Thai government. These are not exclusive to Bangkok; they are also present in Pattaya, Phuket, and nearby cities.”
Still, Singapore is still drawing new conferences and exhibitions despite murmurs among organisers and attendees about high costs.
The World Congress of Anaesthesiologists which happened earlier from March 3-7 will be followed by the CeMAT Southeast Asia and Rotary International Convention (May 15-17), NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show Asia Pacific (June 11-13), and Global Sustainable Tourism Council Global Conference (November 13-16).
As Yap Chin Siang, Singapore Tourism Board’s deputy chief executive, put it: “We remain committed to investing in new MICE products and experiences, and we invite event organisers and planners to co-create business events with us that yield meaningful outcomes.”
The Singapore MICE Advantage Programme has also been strengthened with new partners, shopping vouchers, discounts and complimentary experiences, while the Singapore Incentives & Rewards (INSPIRE) programme will run until January 31, 2026.
Adelaide joins the Global Destination Sustainability Index
Adelaide has become the fourth Australian city to join the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index).
Currently, three Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) and a further eight in the Asia Pacific region are part of the GDS-Index. The GDS-Index is a performance improvement programme that assesses and accelerates the progress of a destination’s regenerative journey. It measures, benchmarks, and enhances the sustainability strategies, action plans, and initiatives of over 100 destination management organisations, municipal authorities, and their tourism and event supply chains.
Business Events Adelaide will coordinate Adelaide’s response to the assessment criteria, the Adelaide Convention Centre, its member venues and stakeholders within local and state government.
Business Events Adelaide’s CEO, Damien Kitto, said being assessed alongside other destinations will help build an understanding of Adelaide’s relative strengths and weaknesses.
“We are aware that sustainability issues are becoming an increasingly important consideration for business event organisers and delegates. Business event delegates visiting Adelaide often refer to our green, walkable city-in-a- park, so while we feel this is an advantage over other destinations, talking about it is no longer enough. We need to demonstrate practices that reduce the impact on our planet, especially in a country like Australia, with delegates conscious of the carbon footprint associated with their travel.”
Kitto added that working with a global authority like GDS-Movement – an international change agency that acts to catalyse socio-economic and environmental transformation in cities and regions across the world – will help Adelaide to develop action plans to build a solid sustainability profile.
The evaluation process for the 2024 GDS-Index has commenced, with the top 40 global destinations announced in October.
TIGC24 announces July dates, applications now open
Experience Gold Coast’s Business Events signature familiarisation This is Gold Coast 2024 (TIGC24) is returning for another year, from July 22-25, 2024.
Around 70 event professionals from Australia and New Zealand are expected to attend TIGC24 for up to four days of networking, meetings and exploring the city’s accommodation options, conference facilities, offsite venues, and local experiences.
Experience Gold Coast head of business events Brooke Campbell said the annual event is a cornerstone of the business events sector.
“The Gold Coast is continuing to invest in business events infrastructure, we are growing a reputation as one of the most accessible and inclusive cities in Australia and we are working towards greater sustainability within the events industry,” Campbell added.
Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn pointed out the business events sector is a vital part of the Gold Coast’s Monday to Friday visitor economy, which generated A$570 million (US$366 million) in economic benefit pre- pandemic.
“Last year, this event generated more than A$59 million in business event leads, which is a testament to our team, our tourism partners and our city’s business event offerings,” he added.
Applications are now open for conference and event organisers.
Gevme unleashes new AI tool to transform conference insights
Singapore-headquartered event management company Gevme has launched Snapsight, a new AI-powered tool which distils insights, and generates summaries and key takeaways from live conference sessions.
Gevme introduced Snapsight for the first time in Singapore at the PCMA The Business of Events conference earlier this week, following its initial deployment at the Business Events Industry Week in Chicago, US, earlier in April. It will be officially launched at IMEX Frankfurt next month.
On the development of Snapsight, Veemal Gungadin, CEO, Gevme, told TTGmice on the sidelines of PCMA The Business of Events conference: “We’ve been saying content is king for the longest time, but we’ve not been able to leverage on that. Making sense of it, repurposing the content, all of this takes time and resources. Now with the help of AI, we can generate insights in real-time.”
Snapsight offers three different forms of takeaways: Key Takeaways, which are in point form; Idea Cloud, which looks like a mind map; and a cohesive Summary. Snapsight’s inclusivity shines through its support for eight languages, enabling instant translation with just a tap. More languages will be added in the future.
Gungadin elaborated: “As PCMA has other concurrent breakout sessions, Snapsight will also allow me to read the takeaways of other sessions I am interested in, but physically unable to attend. I can also share the learning points with colleagues who are not at the event.”
In addition to providing takeaways from individual sessions, Snapsight was also deployed to generate a summary of the two-day PCMA The Business of Events conference.
Snapsight is not the only AI-powered tool that Gevme has developed. Last year, Gevme produced Spark, a tool which simplifies numerous tasks associated with business event planning and content creation, such as writing speaker profiles, and fleshing out an event agenda.
When asked if the development of event technology has taken a backseat with face-to-face meetings back in full force, Gungadin opined: “I think that technology has to be invisible, like Wi-Fi. Instead of providing friction – such as putting on a headset and being transported into another world which can be done at home – technology should take on a supporting role at the event I have taken time to travel to.”
Collinson’s introduces LoungeKey Pass Storefront
Collinson, a provider of airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement solutions, and owner and operator of Priority Pass, has launched LoungeKey Pass Storefront, a new channel that enables businesses to increase ancillary revenue.
LoungeKey Pass Storefront is a B2B tool hat extends from LoungeKey Pass, a digital voucher that enables users to visit an airport lounge without the need for registration, physical cards or membership. Businesses can now offer direct purchase of LoungeKey Pass to their customers by linking to the co-branded user interface via their existing booking channels or customer journeys; in turn providing their business with immediate ancillary revenue.
Besides boosting ancillary revenue, LoungeKey Pass Storefront offers businesses cost-effective brand differentiation through the ability to personalise the user interface with their logo and accessibility to the Storefront via their own ecosystem. Brands can further enhance their customer engagement proposition by incorporating LoungeKey Pass Storefront as part of their spend-based rewards or point redemption programmes.
Japan Airlines is the first brand globally to partner with Collinson to offer LoungeKey Pass to its customers, where JAL’s customers are now able to purchase LoungeKey Pass directly via JAL’s website.
Customers with a LoungeKey Pass can access over 1,500 airport lounges and travel experiences – dining not included – in over 700 airports in 145 countries.
According to Collinson’s The New Rules of Engagement: Customer Expectations Revealed research report, while most consumers in Asia Pacific (60 per cent) cite rational rewards, such as points or cashback, as preferred ways to engage with them, experiential benefits continue to increase in significance. Consumers, particularly millennials and Gen Zs, seek non-financial, experiential-driven rewards, such as airport lounge access, sleeping pods and gaming lounges; with these generational cohorts revealing that having access to airport lounges makes them feel valued and rewarded.
Todd Handcock, global chief commercial officer and Asia Pacific President, Collinson said: “Customer engagement and loyalty programmes that have travel-related benefits are highly popular among consumers of today. Almost half of the Asia Pacific-based respondents to our recent research survey said that brands who offer such rewards are highly effective in influencing their spending behaviour.
“In addition, consumers, particularly millennials and Gen Z-ers, are more likely to join a new customer engagement programme if it offers travel-related rewards and benefits. By leveraging LoungeKey Pass Storefront, businesses can deepen their engagement with their consumers through making highly-valued experiences more easily accessible, while driving better commercial returns.”
Sustainable menus, cultural flair, feature in PPHG’s new meeting experiences
Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has rolled out Thoughtful Hospitality: Bespoke Meeting Experiences from now until December 31, 2024, for events held until February 28, 2025.
The Thoughtful Hospitality: Bespoke Meeting Experiences packages include curated touchpoints for each brand.
Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts orchestrates unforgettable event experiences, by indulging attendees with curated lunch menus designed by the hotel’s signature restaurants including Cantonese restaurant Hai Tien Lo and modern Australian restaurant, Dock 37 Bar and Kitchen. Bespoke cocktail receptions and delectable canapes by the hotel’s bars, such as Plume, further elevate the event.
A dedicated event concierge will also be on hand to oversee every detail. Participating hotels include Pan Pacific Singapore, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur, Pan Pacific Melbourne, and Pan Pacific Yangon.
Next, Parkroyal Collection Hotels and Resorts curates event experiences that prioritise sustainability and well-being, allowing attendees to savour fresh, local flavours from Singapore and Malaysia with farm-to-table coffee break offerings, farm-to-bar welcome cocktail reception, and a conscious dining set lunch menu.
The package also provides wellness-centric teambuilding activities to foster collaboration, and inspiring sustainability tours that spotlight each hotel’s commitment to environmental responsibility. Participating hotels include Parkroyal Collection Pickering, Singapore, Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay Singapore, and Parkroyal Collection Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Parkroyal Hotels and Resorts invites attendees to delve into the richness of every local culture. From the streets of Yangon to the shores of Langkawi and Penang, attendees can venture into a world of cultural discovery with the package’s tours and workshops, and savour traditional flavours with coffee breaks and lunches infused with regional specialties.
Welcome cocktail receptions will feature locally-inspired drinks crafted by bartenders from dining experiences like Lancava, featuring Mediterranean flavours, and Enoteca Bar and Lounge’s South-east Asian flair. Participating hotels include Parkroyal Yangon, Parkroyal Langkawi Resort, Parkroyal Penang Resort, Parkroyal Darling Harbour, Sydney, Parkroyal Parramatta, Parkroyal Monash Melbourne.
Vibe Hotel Melbourne opens new rooftop event area
Vibe Hotel Melbourne has transformed its Level 22 suites into Fleet, a rooftop bar and terrace, following the success of a pop-up bar last year.
The tallest rooftop bar on Melbourne’s Flinders Street can take up to 90 pax seated with existing furniture, or 80 pax in cocktail-style.
Fleet’s bar is stocked with more than 70 different rums from around the world. Award-winning mixologist, Grant Collins, has consulted and created a drinks list where local distillers JimmyRum, Boatrocker Distillery and Queensland’s Beenleigh Distiller sit alongside international rum producers from Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Cuba. A vintage and rare bottle collection, dating back to the 1930s, completes the rum offering.
Beyond rum, guests can also voyage through 50 different gins from international and local producers such as Four Pillars, Bass & Flinders, and Patient Wolf distilleries; whisky from around the world; local craft beers; and a selection of wines from the Yarra Valley, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, and surrounds.
Meanwhile, chef Asish Kumar’s bar-snack menu includes shell seared scallops drizzled in lemon chili and butter topped with Yarra Valley caviar; grilled corn tostada; braised pork cheek croquettes; and grilled lamb tenderloin served with olive salsa, pickled fennel, and black garlic jus.
Menus can be customised according to a planner’s wishes.
Venue buyouts are available daily from Monday to Thursday evenings for a minimum spend of A$15,000 (US$9,610). Venue buyouts from midday are available each Monday to Thursday for a A$10,000 minimum spend. Both buyouts are for a four-hour block which includes canapes, food and drinks.
Attractions professionals to meet in Bangkok next month
IAAPA, the global association for amusement facilities and attractions, will gather its members for its annual IAAPA Expo Asia in Bangkok, Thailand from May 27-30, 2024, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
The event will carry the theme, Shape Your Evolution at IAAPA Expo Asia: Evolve your business into a leading market player, and feature education sessions across five main categories including Professional Development and Industry Insights, Operational Excellence and Maintenance; Guest Experience and Services; Revenue Diversification and Business Strategies; and Technology and Innovation.
In addition to the education sessions, IAAPA Expo Asia 2024 will also feature exclusive EDUTours – an opportunity for attendees to go behind the scenes of Thailand’s amusement and water parks for a firsthand look at successful operations in action. There will also be plentiful networking opportunities.
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Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR) has named Barun Jolly as senior vice president and business unit general manager. He will replace Arthur Gindap who retired late last year.
Jolly has over 25 years of experience in the hotel industry, including his role as general manager of RHR’s Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria and Holiday Inn Manila.