Joanne Chan is now executive assistant manager, sales and marketing at Carlton Hotel Singapore.
She was most recently with Carlton City Hotel Singapore, where she worked on sales and marketing initiatives within the Carlton Collection.
In her new role, she will oversee sales, marketing and communications, with a focus on revenue performance and brand positioning.
Marshall Chai has been appointed general manager at Palm Garden Hotel Putrajaya.
He was most recently hotel manager at Moxy Putrajaya, where he supported the hotel’s opening and early operations.
In his new role, he will oversee hotel operations, with a focus on guest experience and team performance.
Lodging specialist Ascott is working with real estate owners to develop properties across Vietnam that are equipped for meetings and events, as it sees escalating international corporate traffic into the country on the back of heightened global investments.
Kevin Goh, CEO of Ascott and lodging, Capitaland Investment, noted that the China Plus One strategy, which focuses on diversifying supply chains from China to enhance trade resilience, “has definitely helped to attract strong business travel traffic into Vietnam”.
“We get a lot of corporate guests from Japan, South Korea and the US who are with companies that are expanding their capabilities in Vietnam,” said Goh.
The most prominent element in Ascott’s strategy to sharpen its positioning in the business events market is the International Convention Centre at Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi. The centre packs in 13 meeting venues and what is said to be Hanoi’s largest pillarless ballroom that can accommodate more than 2,000 guests.
Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi, billed as Ascott’s largest integrated complex worldwide, boasts 389 hotel rooms, 776 serviced apartments, 10 F&B destinations – many of which will be led by Michelin-star chefs, and a mix of recreational facilities.
Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi will open in phases, according to Wong Kar Ling, chief strategy officer and managing director, South-east Asia, Ascott. Some 700 guestrooms will open by the end of 2026, while the rest will be ready by the first half of 2027.
For now, Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi will service meeting and event planners through its International Convention Centre. Overseas event attendees will be accommodated by Ascott’s properties close by – Oakwood Residence Hanoi, Somerset West Point Hanoi, Somerset Grand Hanoi, Somerset Hoa Binh Hanoi.
According to Wong, the centre’s first event was a Singapore National Day celebration in August 2025, and several social events and corporate functions soon followed.
Last week, the International Convention Centre hosted the Ascott Global Conference for almost 400 business partners and team members from all over the world. It also held A Night with the Blues, an exclusive event on April 18 organised by Ascott and Chelsea Football Club for more than 300 Ascott Star Rewards programme members and football fans.
Many of Ascott’s operating and pipeline properties in Vietnam are geared up for business events. Oakwood Ha Long, which opened in 2024, offers a ballroom with a spacious foyer for 250-pax banquets along with flexible dining venues, and a private section of the beach for creative outdoor functions. Citadines Marina Ha Long, which also opened in 2024, is armed with two stylish meeting rooms.
In addition, Lasong Hotel & Villas Sam Son by The Unlimited Collection will fully open this year and bring a ballroom to market. Pipeline openings, Harris Cam Ranh (2026), Citadines Selavia Phu Quoc (2027), and Somerset Nha Trang (2028) will each offer a selection of event venues.
David Cumming, regional general manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar, told TTGmice that Ascott’s developments in Vietnam will not only look at destinations popular for leisure travel, but also those with business events potential.
Cumming said: “Many big insurance companies out of Malaysia and Singapore are always in search of alternative destinations for their events. Vietnam is attractive in that sense, as it is continuously opening up new and additional flights into destinations like Hanoi, Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City and more, which positively impacts business arrivals.”
He added that the “rest of South-east Asia presents great potential to grow arrivals into Vietnam”, and it is important that the venue supply continues to expand to support demand.
Vietnam’s APEC 2027 chairmanship is also expected to lift the country’s business events fortunes, opined Cumming.
He shared that the owner of Citadines Selavia Phu Quoc is committed to opening the hotel on schedule in June 2027, as arrangements have been made to welcome an APEC delegation when the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week arrives in Phu Quoc.
Discussions at other properties are also underway to support meetings leading up to and during the APEC meetings.
Mett Singapore has entered a strategic partnership with UPGroup Asia and The MasterPlan to enhance its positioning in the business events landscape.
The agreement, signed on April 17 during the Mettup 2026 industry networking event, integrates the hotel’s luxury venue spaces with specialised AVL (audio, visual, and lighting) production and B2B programming expertise.
Under the arrangement, UPGroup Asia becomes the preferred AVL partner for the hotel. The firm will provide integrated AVL and livestream solutions while activating its Venue Management Programme to streamline on-site operations. Simultaneously, The MasterPlan takes on the role of preferred B2B event agency and programme partner, offering expertise in C-level meetings, product launches, and conference design.
The collaboration is designed to provide a plug-and-play solution for corporate planners.
Operated by Sunset Hospitality Group, Mett Singapore features a 950m2 Grand Ballroom and a 360m2 Junior Ballroom within its 84-room boutique property.
The Malaysia Gold & Jewellery Trade Exhibition (MGJE) returns for its fourth edition from May 8 to 10, 2026, at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre.
Organised by the Province Wellesley Gold & Silver Ornament Merchants Association (PWGS) and co-organised by the Malaysia Gold Association, the event will host exhibitors and buyers from over 30 countries.
This year’s exhibition introduces the Gold Pavilion, a dedicated South-east Asia Gold Trading Platform that integrates manufacturers from Malaysia, China, and South-east Asia. Designed as a 365-day “always-on” marketplace, the Pavilion moves beyond the traditional three-day event format to facilitate year-round B2B and B2C transactions between South-east Asia and the Middle East.
Driving the industry’s digital transformation, MGJE 2026 will also debut an AI Jewellery Design Showcase. This initiative demonstrates how artificial intelligence can shorten product development cycles by up to 70 per cent, transitioning traditional craftsmanship into agile, smart manufacturing. By showcasing the full “concept-to-product” process, the exhibition aims to help designers reduce costs and react faster to global market trends.
The exhibition spans the entire supply chain, from raw materials and machinery to finished luxury goods. Attendees can expect a series of jewellery fashion shows highlighting new regional trends, alongside interactive sessions such as the “Spin the Lucky Wheel” promotion, where buyers can win gold plates and cash discounts.
W Singapore – Sentosa Cove has rolled out a package for meeting planners to celebrate its newly-transformed business events facilities.
For events booked by June 30, 2026, with a minimum spend of US$15,000, planners can access a comprehensive suite of rewards for events held through December 31, 2026.
These perks include 3× Marriott Bonvoy points; one complimentary guestroom and one full-day meeting package for every 20 contracted (up to five each); 20,000 bonus points for ResLink room bookings; 10 per cent off room rates plus five per cent off catering on the master account; and 15 per cent off AWAY Spa treatments for delegates.
The resort features 2,588m2 of single-level, pillarless event space, anchored by the 720m2 Great Room which boasts a 14-metre LED screen and marina views. Beyond traditional meeting rooms, the property offers 10 private berths for yacht-based networking and the “Afterglow Voyage” catamaran experience for up to 45 guests.
The refreshed destination also boasts 240 transformed guestrooms, sustainable event packages, and wellness-led teambuilding, such as water sound bath sessions, to provide a resort-style escape within Singapore.
While Jeju is already a powerhouse in South Korea’s domestic business events sector, the island is pivoting its strategy toward a more aggressive international outreach for 2026.
Cho Jinhun, general manager, MICE bureau, cruise & ITOP, Jeju Tourism Organization (JTO), explained to TTGmice: “We are focusing our marketing internationally because the local market already knows us. With Jeju being featured in several shows and media outlets recently, it is the perfect time to increase our global visibility.”
Jeju currently hosts approximately 400 international business events annually, ranging from intimate groups of 30 to large-scale gatherings of 4,000. These events are split somewhat evenly between incentive groups and international conferences. While China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong remain the primary source markets, JTO’s Cho identified Singapore and Malaysia as “high-potential regions”, and expressed a strong interest in expanding into Vietnam.
The road to securing more international events is a long-term play.
“We are active at major shows like IMEX America and the Korea MICE Expo. We also organise our own roadshows, and pitch directly to associations, though the lead time for these is significant, and we often don’t know if we’ve been selected until three or four years later,” JTO’s Cho said.
“We are doing a lot of promotions and roadshows. We participated in IMEX America, and Korea MICE Expo, in 2025, for example. We also attend association conferences, and sell our destination to them, but for these, there’s a lot of planning in advance and we never know whether we’ll be selected until three or four years later,” JTO’s Cho said.
When asked what was Jeju’s selling point, JTO’s Cho indicated that Jeju is the only place globally to hold all three major UNESCO natural science designations: Biosphere Reserve (2002), World Natural Heritage (2007), and Global Geopark (2010), plus two Ramsar Wetlands.
These natural assets offer opportunities, ranging from deep scientific exploration for academic delegates to immersive, nature-based experiences for incentive groups, he noted.
JTO’s Cho noted: “The three biggest MICE cities are Seoul, Busan, Jeju. I want our visitors to look at Jeju and think that it is unique, and that we can offer something different to other destinations in South Korea.”
That is why a key part of Jeju Tourism Organization’s outreach strategy is highlighting its Unique Venues project, which provides business events delegates with distinctive experiences by utilising spaces that showcase Jeju’s unique nature and culture.
“In 2025, we selected 16 Unique Venues that met our criteria from the 25 applications. We are focusing on these selected venues and promoting them,” said JTO’s Cho. Spirited Garden, Snoopy Village, 9.81 Park, Bonte Museum, as well as the Jeju Folk Village, are some of the venues on offer.
To encourage the use of Unique Venues, Jeju Tourism Organization offers an incentive programme that provides financial support of 20,000 KRW (US$20) per participant, up to a maximum of 10,000,000 KRW for business events held at any of the listed venues.
“The MICE team within Jeju CVB, which manages and promotes Jeju’s Unique Venues, actively promotes the banquet halls and auxiliary facilities of Grand Hyatt Jeju, when responding to inquiries for government-level events,” said Angus Cho, event planning manager at Grand Hyatt Jeju.
“Overall, the Unique Venues programme helps to highlight parks, gardens, cultural sites, and luxury hotels, all of which help to shape Jeju into an all-round MICE destination. Jeju’s MICE future is promising,” he added.
Grand Hyatt Jeju hosts over 250 events annually, 60 per cent of which are domestic, while the balance are international. Similar to Jeju Tourism Organization’s targets, Grand Hyatt Jeju also targets the China market, although more Japanese visitors have been noticed of late.
Meanwhile, Harry Foo, event director at Singapore-based Evo Communications, opined: “Most of my clients have already seen Busan and Seoul, and Jeju offers very good event facilities. It is also easy to deal with the frontline staff, from DMCs to hotel managers, as they can all speak English.
“Overall, Korea has a lot to offer MICE groups, from K-pop to K-culture, and the various convention bureaus offer very good subventions.”
When asked about 2026’s prospects, JTO’s Cho shared: “We have been very busy for the past few years, but I think it will slow down in 2026. The ICC Jeju (International Convention Center Jeju) was fully booked these two years, but I think it’s going back to normal, like before the pandemic.”
For 2026, a number of large-scale events are already on the cards for International Convention Center Jeju (ICC Jeju).
This includes the 4th Global Conference of Innovation Materials & MRS-K Spring Meeting (May 31 to June 4), 18th ICMDA (International Christian Medical and Dental Association) World Congress (June 30 to July 5), Association for Computing Machinery Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining 2026 (August 9-13).
Bindiya Yadav has been appointed director of rooms at JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa.
She was most recently executive housekeeper at Fairmont Palace, Udaipur, where she oversaw housekeeping operations and service delivery.
In her new role, she will lead the rooms division, including housekeeping, front office and guest services.
Nelson Quek has been named general manager of Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore.
He was most recently executive assistant manager, sales and marketing at Carlton Hotel Singapore, where he focused on revenue growth and market positioning.
In his new role, he will oversee operations and strategy, with a focus on guest experience and commercial performance.
Changi Airport Group (CAG) and Plaza Premium Group (PPG) have begun redevelopment of the former Commercially Important Persons terminal site, with plans to create a combined travel and lifestyle space at the southern end of Terminal 2.
The project will include a new private terminal and an expanded Hub & Spoke amenities area, with completion expected in mid-2027. The development is intended to update premium travel facilities while adding new dining and leisure options.
The private terminal will replace the existing CIP facility and be operated jointly by CAG and PPG, offering lounge areas, private suites, dining spaces and facilities for small groups and private events, alongside transfer services to departure gates, as part of a more tailored experience for passengers seeking additional services before departure.
The adjacent Hub & Spoke area will be expanded to include dining outlets, wellness and pet-friendly facilities, serving both travellers and visitors. Plans also include a covered amphitheatre and outdoor plaza designed for small to mid-sized events.
The development is located near Terminal 2 and the upcoming Hotel Indigo, forming part of a broader plan to add mixed-use facilities at the airport.
“Some of today’s travellers seek more than just a comfortable place to spend time before their flight – they are after a personalised premium experience. CAG is meeting this demand with an upgraded private terminal that delivers an exceptional experience,” said Ang Siew Min, senior vice president, airport operations development and airport operations services at Changi Airport Group.
“By bringing together our global expertise in airport hospitality with Changi’s renowned operational excellence, we will offer a new benchmark in personalised, seamless and bespoke services for our discerning guests,” added Mei Mei Song, chief transformation officer at Plaza Premium Group.
