Asia/Singapore Saturday, 20th December 2025
Page 20

Amari Bangkok

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ChomSindh

Rooms
Stepping inside the marble-clad lobby, I found it an immediate contrast to the frenetic city, and was a welcome break from the sweltering Bangkok heat and traffic congestion.

My colleague and I were put up in a 40m2 Club Premier Room on the 17th floor, which had two queen beds and a work space. The beds were firm and comfortable, just how I like them, but I was not too fond of my soft pillows.

Although a pillow menu was offered, my requested neck support pillow was equally soft and did not live up to my expectations so I made do with two pillows.

The bathroom had two sinks, a toilet bowl with a bidet, and a shower space with a rainshower. It was an absolute blessing to have a marble seat located in the shower, where I could sit and shower; given that I sprained my knee prior to this work trip and was hobbling around on crutches. There was also a double-sized, backlit vanity mirror that was heated to reduce it fogging up; I thought that was brilliant.

The room I stayed in were recently renovated in 2021, where the hotel utilised the pandemic to update the hotel’s design and features reflecting contemporary Thai design inspired by the city’s canals.

MICE facilities
The 34-storey hotel’s primary events space is its 948m2 ballroom, which can be divided into three sections, providing flexible configuration options. There are also 12 additional function rooms, allowing the venue to comfortably accommodate events of up to 1,000 guests. For more scenic occasions, the hotel has outdoor garden and pool spaces, which are well-suited for events hosting up to 300 guests.

The property is currently renovating its third floor to improve service for large corporate groups. This dedicated space – named Amber and Sage – will be used to host such groups during meal-times, preventing them from congesting the main buffet lines and ensuring a smoother dining experience for all guests.

TTGmice understands Amber and Sage will also have its own kitchen, and will be ready by end-2025/early 2026.

Other facilities
The L-shaped gym on the eighth floor were equipped with numerous machines as well as free weights. My colleagues who used the gym were happy with the range of equipment provided. I also understand that guests can book a squash courts – there are two available – or any of the property’s boxing, aerobics and yoga classes.

Also located on the eight floor is the Breeze Spa, sauna and steam rooms, as well as a free-form, open-air swimming pool. I unfortunately did not manage to use any of these facilities due to my predicament.

Instead of working in the room, I opted to work from Club Siraa on the ninth floor instead. Benefits here include a snack bar, happy hour, all-day coffee, tea and soft drinks. We were also checked in at this level, which is definitely more private and personalised as compared to the bustling lobby.

As I needed my crutches to get around, I opted to have my breakfast at Club Siraa every morning. It was quiet and peaceful, and perfect to gather my thoughts and ready myself a busy work day. I could also order dishes a la minute, which were served to the table, as opposed to the buffet line at Amaya Food Gallery.

My favourites were the eggs Benedict, chicken soup with rice noodles, and ochazuke (steamed rice served with a pouring of green tea, and topped with salted salmon). I have no complaints about the delicious food, and enjoyed every bite.

I also had the opportunity to try the various hot canapes, salads, and cheeses, served at the Club Lounge during Happy Hour. According to my roommate, the cocktail she enjoyed was very well made. Should a club guest not wish to go out, they could easily eat to their fill here.

I later learnt out that the Club Siraa was moved from the 32nd floor down to the ninth floor during the renovation, as this would put it closer to the central kitchen to ensure that food served was hot.

Other F&B options within the building include the all-day diner Amaya Food Gallery, Italian restaurant Prego, and Nila (revamped in 2024), which serves Indian cuisine.

I was also fortunate to dine at ChomSindh (revamped in 2022), the property’s Thai cuisine-focused restaurant on one afternoon. I opted for the Thai Wagyu Picanha and Fried Duck Egg on rice, Green Curry with Shiitake Tofu, and of course, Mango Sticky Rice. All the dishes were delightful, whipped up expertly by the chefs who adhered to my ‘less spicy’ request.

Service
Thai hospitality at its finest. I was greeted, fussed over, and aided every step of the way. Staff also helped me in and out of vehicles, and pushed me up the ramp in a wheelchair when they saw I had trouble walking. Club staff lounge who saw me daily also asked about my leg daily and if it was getting better.

Verdict
Few large hotels can master personalised attention, the Amari Bangkok does just that.

Number of rooms
564

Contact details
amari.com/bangkok

Globus names head of marketing for Asia-Pacific

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Globus family of brands (GFOB) has appointed Johanna Raeder as head of marketing for its Asia-Pacific offices.

Raeder brings more than 15 years of experience in the travel industry, having led growth-focused marketing strategies across airlines, cruises, hotels, and destinations. She most recently served as marketing director at Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia and previously held senior roles at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and LATAM Airlines Group.

Based in the Sydney office, Raeder will oversee marketing strategy and the full trade and consumer marketing mix for GFOB across the Asia-Pacific region.

Raffles and Fairmont Makati appoints new hotel manager

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Raffles and Fairmont Makati has named Fergus Mac Devitt as its new hotel manager.

Mac Devitt brings over 20 years of luxury hospitality experience across Europe and Asia, including senior roles at Swissôtel and Fairmont properties in Germany, China, Japan, and Singapore. He previously served as hotel manager at Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland.

Having spent most of his career with Accor, the parent company of Fairmont and Raffles, Mac Devitt will now lead operations in Makati, focusing on delivering high-quality guest experiences.

QSNCC hits zero food waste goal

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QSNCC repurposed 100 per cent of food waste in 2024

Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) has reached a major milestone in its sustainability journey.

Through its Waste Not, Delight More programme, launched in 2023, the venue achieved zero food waste in 2024 by repurposing 100 per cent of surplus.

QSNCC repurposed 100 per cent of food waste in 2024

Of the total collected, 63.4 per cent was composted into organic matter for animal feed and fertiliser, cutting farmers’ costs and supporting income from produce such as eggs and vegetables. A further 19 per cent was sent to fish farms, 9.6 per cent to animal farms, and 8.1 per cent to biofuel production for aircraft. These measures eliminated landfill disposal and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 13,554kg of CO₂e – equivalent to planting 1,506 trees.

Additionally, through pre-ordering technology and carefully designed menus that maximise the use of local ingredients, QSNCC has significantly reduced surplus.

Surapol Utintu, CEO of QSNCC, said: “These global sustainability awards not only elevate QSNCC’s reputation worldwide, but also affirm our dedication and creativity in achieving zero food waste, while delivering sustainable, delightful F&B experiences. These recognitions inspire us to continue advancing toward our ultimate goal of Net Zero.”

The centre has also introduced broader measures, including energy efficiency upgrades, local sourcing, and systematic waste segregation.

In June 2025, QSNCC became the first Thai convention centre to debut a Real-Time Carbon Footprint Tracking Dashboard for business events, piloted at the Asia Sustainable Energy Week, and International Engineering Expo in July.

The venue’s commitment has attracted a steady pipeline of sustainability-focused events. In 2025 alone, QSNCC will host the Mae Fah Luang Foundation Sustainability Forum, Sustainability Expo, Thailand Smart City Expo, and International Conference on Biodiversity.

Jason Kruse joins Anantara Maldives Resorts as complex GM

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Minor Hotels has appointed Jason Kruse as complex general manager for Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli, and Naladhu Private Island Maldives.

He will oversee strategy and operations across the three distinct resorts, driving guest experience, brand alignment, and sustainable growth.

With over 20 years’ experience in luxury hospitality across Asia-Pacific, including leadership roles at Amilla, Kurumba, and JA Manafaru in the Maldives, Kruse brings deep market insight and operational expertise to his new role.

Thailand powers up with TCEB-TAT joint campaign

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Thailand is embarking on a new campaign to boost its business events market

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) have partnered to launch the Thailand Power Up campaign, offering new support and incentives for meeting and incentive travel organisers from October 2025 to July 2026.

To qualify for support, events must meet minimum attendance and duration requirements. Longhaul markets (Europe, Africa, North/South America, Oceania) require a minimum 100 participants and a stay of at least four nights. Meanwhile, short-haul markets (Asia) require a minimum 200 participants and a stay of at least four nights.

Thailand is embarking on a new campaign to boost its business events market1637

Support will be provided as financial assistance or non-financial aid, which includes MICE Premium Lane Service at the airport, local community souvenirs, coordination with government agencies, performances, and Thai-style hospitality.

In all, the collaboration is expected to generate approximately 4.3 billion baht (US$132.5 million) in revenue from an estimated 65,000 travellers.

As part of the joint strategy, TCEB and TAT will also co-host several international promotional events, which includes inVOYAGE Global 2026, a luxury incentive travel and events gathering from April 17 to 20, 2026, at The Peninsula Bangkok. The event is expected to attract 200 to 300 senior events professionals, with 80 per cent coming from the UK, Europe, and North America.

In 2026, the bureaus will also jointly host a series of business events roadshows in 2026 across strategic markets, including China, Taiwan, Korea, Germany, the UK, and Kazakhstan, to connect top international buyers with Thai business events operators.

The initiative follows a joint press conference where TCEB and TAT welcomed news of the upcoming Amway China Leadership Seminar, which will bring over 10,000 Chinese delegates to Bangkok in March and April 2026.

Thailand’s MICE industry champions hyper-local, health-focused food experiences

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From left: Bio Buddy, Tastebud Lab & Future Food Network’s Santi Abakaz (moderator); Stream Events Asia’s Kris Srisatin; and Bhirajburi Group’s Itthi Nitayaporn speaking on the panel

Food is no longer just a line item in event planning, and has evolved into a hyper-curated design tool that not only feeds delegates but also shapes experiences, supports health, and tells a sustainability story.

This shift was spotlighted at the Beyond Nutrition: Future Food, Personal Wellness & Sustainable Hospitality Ecosystems session hosted by Tastebud Lab during IT&CM Asia and CTW APAC 2025 last month.

From left: Bio Buddy, Tastebud Lab & Future Food Network’s Santi Abakaz (moderator); Stream Events Asia’s Kris Srisatin; and Bhirajburi Group’s Itthi Nitayaporn speaking on the panel

For Kris Srisatin, founder and managing director of Stream Events Asia, designing food experiences begins with matching menus to activities.

“As an event organiser, I design the food according to the activities. If you have morning yoga on a rice barge cruising down the Chao Phraya River, the menu has to be healthy, light, and local,” she explained.

Delegates, she added, are more health-conscious than ever: “They don’t want heavy carbs or oily food. What we serve has to be designed not only for the experience, but also to impact their health.”

Increasingly, this means tapping into Thailand’s villages and provinces.

“These days, we are seeing increasing requests to the local communities because the key source of ingredients is local. It’s green, clean, organic – and that impacts health and wellness. It’s not just for the body, but also the mind,” she highlighted.

Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park’s executive chef, Itthi Nitayaporn, shared similar observations: “Guests now want to know more – where the fish came from, how it was grown, and whether it has sustainable certification.”

His team is responding to clients’ wellness and sustainability requests around food with greater flexibility, offering plant-based menus, alternative proteins and lighter portions while maintaining authentic Thai flavours.

“It’s about being flexible, not strictly vegetarian,” he noted.

The hotel has also pioneered sustainability practices, from being one of the first hotels in Thailand to work with Scholars of Sustainability on food waste reduction to achieving zero landfill waste through creative repurposing initiatives like transforming leftover oyster shells into fire-proof paint for local schools.

Yet challenges remain.

“One of the biggest issues is waste. Guests expect buffets, which creates heavy surplus. At the same time, when we buy directly from fishermen or farmers, supply can be inconsistent. We need to plan menus around the season, stay flexible, and keep educating partners so they can grow with us,” Itthi explained.

Both speakers acknowledged that corporates remain cautious about hygiene when sourcing directly from communities. Convincing them requires proof of quality and consistency, alongside stories of social impact.

Stream Events Asia partners with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association, and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration to run training programmes. The goal of these programmes is to raise community standards in preparation, presentation, and hygiene to an international level.

Kris shared how her team worked on coffee breaks in Hua Hin using local desserts and fruits, while simultaneously training villagers in hygiene and presentation.

Despite the hurdles, both panellists believe Thailand has a chance to lead in this space.

“Our goal is to be more local as a hotel – to use more products directly from the community and share that story with clients so they know what they’re eating and who they are supporting,” said Itthi.

Kris agreed: “When clients understand that their spending supports children’s education and local livelihoods, it becomes part of the wellness journey.”

Looking ahead, she sees regenerative food ecosystems as Thailand’s competitive edge.

“Innovation in food design must also deliver exclusivity and meaning. It has to be something memorable – something people take home and remember as part of their journey into Thailand,” she concluded.

Hong Kong pushes district tourism with experiential focus

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Hong Kong transforms districts with experiential tours

The Hong Kong government’s Tourism is Everywhere policy is driving the use of district resources to create unique tourism products, aiming for in-depth pre- and post-conference tour experiences across the city.

Travel operators are adapting to the shift toward experiential travel for both inbound visitors.

Hong Kong transforms districts with experiential tours

Kam Wai Travel’s managing director, Frankie Lam, says the policy is spurring new in-depth tours. He notes that local districts, once resistant to tourism, are now “more active” post-pandemic19. Kam Wai is collaborating with local organisations to offer workshops for corporate visitors, such as Wing Chun martial arts classes.

Over in Lei Yue Mun, Ambition Travel is packaging experiences beyond the traditional seafood meal. For instance, Lei Yue Mun partner with restaurants for fresh seafood picking secrets, and a local bakery for Chinese cookie workshops.

The company’s inbound/outbound manager Kenji Tsang said “traditional sightseeing” is outdated, prompting them to create experiential workshops that offer a peek into local culture.

While supporting the policy’s expansion of product scope, Momentous Asia Travel & Events general manager, Doris Lam, called for more government support in the form of better coordination and tour guide training.

Last month, the Travel Industry Council demonstrated a potential itinerary: a half-day trip to the eastern waters of Victoria Harbour. The route included a double-decker bus ride from Central, a visit to the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence, a ferry to Lei Yue Mun for a seafood meal, and a tour of villages and heritage sites. The trip also showcased the government’s newly-completed waterfront enhancement project in Lei Yue Mun, which adds street art, new viewing platforms, and a pier.

Osaka sees boom in MICE ahead of Expo’s close

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Expo 2025 in Osaka

Japan’s Kansai region is seeing a surge in demand for business events, fuelled by its hosting of Expo 2025, a six-month event in Osaka due to conclude on October 13.

The World Exposition has driven investment in the construction and renovation of new facilities and infrastructure while also raising the global profile of the region as a destination for business events.

Expo 2025 in Osaka

Ahead of the event’s opening, on April 13, key players in the business events industry in Osaka formed Team Osaka MICE, an initiative described by Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau (OCTB) as “a unified effort to bring more meetings and events to Osaka leading up to and during Expo 2025”.

The city has also been “working to improve its global standing leading up to Expo 2025, showcasing the flexibility to hold a variety of events, including adapting to new global standards in sustainability”, added the OCTB.

Those efforts are bearing fruit, with a range of events held in the region in recent months, such as the Asia Beauty Expo, which brought 20,000 pax and 150 companies to Osaka in June, and the Global Startup Expo in mid-September. In October, Higashiosaka will host The Corporate Games, an international multi-sport festival held in 37 countries.

Business events arrivals to Kansai are enjoying new regional improvements including the launch of international flights into Kobe in April and the March opening of Grand Green Osaka’s south wing, which comprises the Waldorf Astoria Osaka, Hotel Hankyu Gran Respire Osaka, business events spaces, 55 shops and restaurants and wellness facilities.

Onyx targets growth through MICE

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Yuthachai: Onyx Hospitality Group commands strong recognition in Thailand

A combination of vigorous sales efforts, new campaign aimed at business event planners, hardware rejuvenation and expanding property portfolio is expected to put Onyx Hospitality Group on the fast track to a stronger performance in the  business events segment.

The Thailand-based company launched in July its first chain-wide business events-focused campaign, Onyx Onward – Unlock Double Benefits That Matter Most.

Yuthachai: Onyx Hospitality Group commands strong recognition in Thailand

At a time when event planners and event owners are closely watching their budgets while being spoilt by choice across hotel, venue and destination options, Yuthachai Charanachitta, CEO of Onyx Hospitality Group, believes that a perk-led campaign helps his customers to make the right choice quickly.

“There is also the benefit of a double reward since event planners and event owners can gain points towards the Onyx Rewards loyalty programme,” he added.

Sunny Kim, vice president, global sales at Onyx Hospitality Group, shared that the campaign has drawn interest from across various geographical markets.

“We will review the outcomes of this campaign when it ends on October 31, and update the list of benefits, if necessary, for the next edition. We will also see what else we can do (to grow business events bookings) with our strategic partners,” added Kim.

Furthermore, the campaign opens the eyes of event planners and owners to the group’s selection of event-ready hotels. Flagship properies such as Amari Bangkok, Amari Phuket, Oriental Residence Bangkok and Ozo North Pattaya in Thailand; Amari SPICE Penang in Malaysia; and Amari Vang Vieng and Amari Vientiane in Laos; and Amari Colombo in Sri Lanka are prime options.

Amari Bangkok, which emerged recently from major renovations, stands out in the portfolio for business events, as it occupies a central city location and offers more than 564 keys and 18 function rooms, including 15 breakout rooms.

Amari Phuket boasts large outdoor spaces overlooking the Andaman Sea – something that creative events value, remarked Yuthachai. Events with 120 guests can be arranged at the private jetty while the outdoor area of Rim Talay Restaurant can take 120 pax.

Meanwhile, the dual-branded Amari Pattaya and Ozo North Pattaya complex offers event groups a variety of rooms to suit different delegate profiles. There are also 11 indoor and outdoor spaces to choose from.

Amari Bangkok is not the only property to benefit from a modern update. Onyx Hospitality Group is putting Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok, Amari Buriram and Amari Phuket through an asset enhancement initiative that will result in transformed guestrooms, dining venues and other facilities.

Yuthachai also shared plans to construct a third hotel tower at the Amari Pattaya complex, allowing the addition of the Shama serviced apartment product to be brought into the mix. The Shama tower will offer around 180 keys and allow guests to share the facilities of Amari Pattaya and Ozo North Pattaya.

Yuthachai told TTGmice that a strong relationship with customers is crucial for the group to succeed in the international business events industry. He has tasked his sales teams to “initiate first contact” with the growing number of multinational companies that have set up operations in Thailand. He also hopes to attract regional events to Thailand.

Yuthachai believes that the Onyx Hospitality Group commands strong recognition in Thailand, where it is established and has flourished for the past 60 years, and aims to accomplish the same across Asia where his hotel brands – Amari, Shama, Ozo, and Oriental Residence – are present.

He also shared that the Amari brand will be rejuvenated next year to reflect a stronger upper-scale positioning.

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