Sean Seah has been appointed as senior vice president – strategy, technology and innovation at Langham Hospitality Group (LHG) and will be based at the company’s global headquarters in Hong Kong.
Having previously worked for LHG 2009 in the position of vice president – E-business, loyalty, and partner marketing, Seah will identify emerging market trends and craft innovative approaches to capitalise on those trends in his new role.
He will also steer the development and implementation of new technologies to enhance guest experiences and streamline business activities across the group’s portfolio of hotels and resorts.
IT&CM China and CTW China 2024 kicked off this afternoon in Shanghai, with more than 250 exhibitors, over 400 buyers, and 30 media representatives in attendance.
This is the 16th edition of both events, and the first in-person gathering for the annual series since the pandemic. IT&CM China and CTW China were held virtually in 2020 and 2021, and in a hybrid format in 2023.
Opening day conferences for IT&CM China and CTW China 2024 are hosted at Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Changfeng Park Hotel
Day one featured a keynote presentation led by Sun Weijia, special researcher of Counsellors’ Office of the State Council, who discussed the importance of government influence on the growth of meeting destinations.
Other guest speakers for the day included Hong Kong Tourism Board Beijing Office’s Zhu Jun, SITE China Chapter’s Lisa Xu, First Incentive Travel’s Joost de Meyer, and Beijing Zhongrunhua Petrochemical’s Yu Dandan.
Tomorrow and for the next two days, the exhibition component will commence with one-on-one business meetings.
Exhibitors hail from destinations such as Abu Dhabi, New Zealand and Sri Lanka as well as from Chinese territories.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board dominates in terms of pavilion size, at 222m2, followed by the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (90m2), Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (84m2), and Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province (66m2).
In terms of buyer presence, representation from China is the strongest, at 81 per cent of total attendance. India, Singapore, and Indonesia buyers form the majority among international attendance.
Cairns Convention Centre will welcome more than 500 scientists and experts in the physics community when the XVIth Quark Confinement and the Hadron Spectrum Conference descends on the city from August 19 to 24 this year.
The conference, a significant event in the physics community, is organised by the Centre for the Subatomic Structure of Matter, University of Adelaide, Australia. Inaugurated in 1994 in Como, Italy, the series has evolved into a vital forum for scientists engaged in strong interactions. It fosters stimulating exchanges among theorists and experimentalists, as well as across various related fields.
The world’s physics community will convene at Cairns Convention Centre
Cairns Convention Centre was chosen for the meeting due to its strong partnerships with the scientific community as well as its world-class facilitates, which include the recent opening of its new extension that adds 10,500m2 of new floor space.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to experience Cairns’ unique local culture and heritage as well as its stunning natural setting, which encourages scientific exploration and creativity.
Ayse Kizilersu from the University of Adelaide, School of Physical Sciences, who is leading the organising team, said: “Both the venue and destination offer incredible appeal to our delegates, ensuring a high level of attendance from around the world. This year’s event promises to be our best yet and I look forward to welcoming our community when they arrive in Cairns.”
Janet Hamilton, general manager of Cairns Convention Centre, said: “Hosting such a high-profile scientific conference less than a year after our new expansion opened demonstrates our appeal as a venue dedicated to knowledge sharing, community engagement and education.”
American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire industry competitor CWT at approximately US$570 million on a cash-free, debt-free basis, subject to certain assumptions and purchase price adjustments.
The transaction will be funded by a combination of stock and cash and is expected to close in 2H2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of certain regulatory approvals.
American Express Global Business Travel’s acquisition of CWT will allow the latter’s customers access to the former’s software and services
CWT serves 4,000 customers and is expected to generate approximately US$850 million in revenue and US$70 million to US$80 million of Adjusted EBITDA in 2024.
Paul Abbott, CEO, Amex GBT, said in a press statement: “Bringing CWT onto the proven Amex GBT software and services model will create more choice for customers, more opportunities for people, and more value for shareholders.”
After the acquisition closes, CWT customers would have access to Amex GBT’s proprietary software and services for travel and expense, including Neo1, Neo and Egencia, in addition to Select, which enables customers to integrate with leading technology partners. Customers would have access to the broadest portfolio of professional services, including meetings and events, consulting and sustainability solutions, and Amex GBT’s marketplace would provide access to the most comprehensive and competitive content in the industry.
CWT CEO, Patrick Andersen, said: “Joining forces with Amex GBT helps accelerate our vision of a tech-enabled future for business travel, where people and technology combine to deliver an exceptional customer experience. We are highly confident in the value creation of the combined company.”
Amex GBT is operated by Global Business Travel Group, Inc.
TUI Blue Hotels & Resorts has appointed three professionals to their Commercial Team in the Asia region – Stefan Wolf as the head of commercial Asia, Wook Sung as regional sales & marketing director for South-east Asia, and Janny Tu as regional director sales & marketing for Greater China.
Wolf brings a wealth of expertise in revenue management and hospitality operations to his new role, having worked with renowned hotel brands, and successfully implementing revenue management strategies across various regions.
From left: Stefan Wolf, Wook Sung, and Janny Tu
Wook has held key positions in leading hotel brands, and his experience in sales and marketing will be instrumental in expanding TUI Blue’s presence and customer base in the South-east Asia region.
Tu’s experience in business, distribution connectivity, revenue management, and operations, as well as her extensive knowledge of both domestic and international markets, will help drive customer acquisition and enhance brand awareness in Greater China.
The Lufthansa Group’s Green Fares has been well received since it was launched a year ago – with more than one million passengers opting for the new fare – and demand continues to rise steadily in all booking classes, underlining the success of this sustainable option.
Available with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Edelweiss, Discover Airlines and Air Dolomiti on more than 730,000 flights per year within Europe and to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, the Lufthansa Group has also been testing Green Fares on selected longhaul routes since November 2023.
Lufthansa Group’s Green Fares sustainable option earns buy-in from both business and leisure travellers
In the first year, an average of three per cent of passengers have used the offer, making an important contribution to more sustainable travel. In Business Class, Green Fares tickets are already selected for eleven per cent of bookings via the Lufthansa Group portals.
Green Fares are particularly popular on routes such as Hamburg-Munich, Zurich-London and Frankfurt-Berlin. In total, travellers have offset more than 77,000 tonnes of CO2 since the launch of Green Fares by offsetting their flight-related CO2 emissions.
Green Fares includes the full offsetting of individual, flight-related CO2 emissions by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as well as a contribution to high-quality climate protection projects. With SAF, a reduction of 20 per cent of CO2 emissions is achieved, while the remaining 80 per cent is compensated by climate protection projects. The Lufthansa Group ensures that the amount of SAF required for offsetting is fed into the airport infrastructure within six months of purchase.
The Lufthansa Group’s CO2 compensation portfolio currently comprises 15 projects, including two technology-based projects.
Currently, around four per cent of Lufthansa Group passengers use one of the various offers for more sustainable flying. Passengers can either select a special fare such as the Green Fares, or individually tailored offers with a higher proportion of SAF during the booking process. They can also offset flight-related CO2 emissions during or after the flight.
In addition to private customers, more corporate customers are also using one of the Lufthansa Group’s offers for more sustainable flying – in 2023, more than 1,500 companies worldwide invested in SAF with the Lufthansa Group.
The Lufthansa Group has set itself ambitious climate protection goals and aims to achieve a neutral CO2 balance by 2050, halving its net CO2 emissions by 2030. As the first airline group in Europe with a science-based CO2 reduction target in line with the goals of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, the group is focusing on accelerated fleet modernisation, the continuous optimisation of flight operations, the use of SAF and offers for its private travellers and corporate customers to make air travel more sustainable.
Business travel expenditure in the Middle East is forecast to rise by 32% this year, following a predicted 49% increase during 2021
Uniplan, a global agency for brand experience has opened a new regional office in Dubai, UAE, as it looks to scale up its service and support for clients in the Middle East & North Africa region.
The new office is headed by Safwan El Roufai, CEO for Middle East and North Africa.
Uniplan now has a regional office in Dubai
Newly-appointed, El Roufai has been tasked with leading Uniplan’s Dubai team in delivering innovative solutions and unparalleled experiences for clients across various industries.
He has over two decades of experience in the events and communication industry. Previously, El Roufai was executive vice president MENA for VML, WPP’s creative company; and CEO of Prisme International, the events agency behind the launch of Burj Khalifa, and Dubai Tram.
Christian Zimmermann, Global CEO of Uniplan, said: “Dubai’s strategic location between the East and the West offers unparalleled opportunities for Uniplan. Currently, Dubai works closely with our Hong Kong office, exemplifying its role as a bridge between cultures and markets… Additionally, our new office will play an important role for bringing Chinese brands to the MENA region, leveraging Dubai’s unique position and our global network.”
Uniplan was founded in Cologne in 1960 by Hans Bruehe, father of the current CEO and owner Christian Zimmermann.
The AIME Welcome Event was held at Grazeland, with more than 1,700 people in attendance
The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) has reported more than A$330 million (US$215.2 million) in business traded between exhibitors and buyers this year – a 65 per cent increase on 2023.
This year’s edition was AIME’s largest in a decade, with more than 570 exhibitors, 595 hosted buyers, and 17,000 meetings occurring on the showfloor across two days. More than 4,000 people attended AIME 2024, including 70 media representatives from around the world, and more than 89,500 connections were made across the event.
The AIME Welcome Event was held at Grazeland, with more than 1,700 people in attendance
Further post-show analysis revealed almost one in two visitors were first-time attendees; more than 85 per cent of visitors met their objectives for attending AIME ; more than 90 per cent of exhibitors were likely to return next year; and more than 90 per cent of exhibitors and visitors were satisfied with their attendance at AIME. These statistics put AIME in the top 10 per cent of tradeshows around the world.
AIME 2024 was the third event delivered by event director Silke Calder and her team from Talk2 Media and Events, who manage the show on behalf of Melbourne Convention Bureau.
Organisers can opt for a pop-up Padre coffee cart at their events
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has added two Australian beverage companies, Padre Coffee and Vanguard Luxury Brands to its list of local suppliers as it continues its responsible sourcing efforts.
Padre Coffee has been synonymous with Melbourne since opening its doors in 2008. Padre has five locations around the city, including South Melbourne Market, a short walk from MCEC. Renowned for its speciality grade coffee, Padre Coffee ensures its products are of the highest quality, while prioritising fair and sustainable prices for the farmers and producers it works with.
Organisers can opt for a pop-up Padre coffee cart at their events
Vanguard Luxury Brands sources the best liquor from Victoria and around Australia. It features Four Pillars Gin and The Gospel Whiskey at MCEC. Four Pillars Gin is Australia’s first carbon neutral gin distillery, and is locally distilled in the Yarra Valley, less than an hour from Melbourne. Meanwhile, The Gospel Whiskey is crafted from 100 per cent Australian unmalted rye from South Australia and locally distilled in Brunswick. The Gospel also uses 100 per cent recyclable packaging, diverts waste from landfill and donates to charities.
Vanguard also supplies MCEC with other premium local Melbourne liquor brands, such as Melbourne Cocktail Company and Aether Vodka.
MCEC’s commitment to sourcing and promoting local produce not only benefits Victorian businesses, but also contributes to its own sustainability targets by reducing emissions from transportation. Last financial year, 97 per cent of MCEC’s suppliers were Victorian-based.
“By partnering with suppliers like Padre Coffee and Vanguard that share our commitments to community and sustainability, we can ensure fantastic quality and sustainable produce, and we know our customers and visitors will love it,” MCEC’s head of F&B, Paul Kanaan, said.
Visitors to MCEC can enjoy Padre Coffee at the venue’s onsite cafes and catered events. while Vanguard liquors are available at Goldfields Café & Bar as well as on the menu at corporate catered events. Organisers can also opt for a pop-up Four Pillars activation station or Padre coffee cart at their events.
FCM Meetings & Events (FCM M&E) has launched FCM Venue Finder to allow meeting planners quicker access to venues and to complete bookings.
The new booking solution for meetings and group hotel lodging for corporates is powered by Hubli. It includes over 200,000 spaces worldwide that can be booked online as well as sustainability solutions with contracting and cost controls. Detailed images and specifications of unique venues are reflected too.
FCM Venue Finder platform makes venue sourcing and booking easier
Manpreet Bindra, leader of Asia, FCM M&E, said: “We believe the meetings, events, conferences, and event travel markets are ripe for disruption worldwide – this is an important step in ensuring we have best-in-class technology to deliver for a flourishing travel market sector.”
Bindra added that the new FCM Venue Finder platform was user-friendly and could effortlessly deliver seamless venue sourcing, event management bookings, innovative sustainability solutions, and cost control to simplify the dynamic events world.
Looking ahead, he noted that in-person activity levels are rising, with recent data showing that conferences and events are one of the top two reasons for travel among business owners and decision-makers.
“We’re experiencing and anticipating a steady annual growth rate of demand at 12 per cent year-on-year for in-person meetings, which means we have some exciting opportunities coming our way,” he said.
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
He will also steer the development and implementation of new technologies to enhance guest experiences and streamline business activities across the group’s portfolio of hotels and resorts.
The Lufthansa Group’s Green Fares has been well received since it was launched a year ago – with more than one million passengers opting for the new fare – and demand continues to rise steadily in all booking classes, underlining the success of this sustainable option.
Available with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Edelweiss, Discover Airlines and Air Dolomiti on more than 730,000 flights per year within Europe and to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, the Lufthansa Group has also been testing Green Fares on selected longhaul routes since November 2023.
In the first year, an average of three per cent of passengers have used the offer, making an important contribution to more sustainable travel. In Business Class, Green Fares tickets are already selected for eleven per cent of bookings via the Lufthansa Group portals.
Green Fares are particularly popular on routes such as Hamburg-Munich, Zurich-London and Frankfurt-Berlin. In total, travellers have offset more than 77,000 tonnes of CO2 since the launch of Green Fares by offsetting their flight-related CO2 emissions.
Green Fares includes the full offsetting of individual, flight-related CO2 emissions by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as well as a contribution to high-quality climate protection projects. With SAF, a reduction of 20 per cent of CO2 emissions is achieved, while the remaining 80 per cent is compensated by climate protection projects. The Lufthansa Group ensures that the amount of SAF required for offsetting is fed into the airport infrastructure within six months of purchase.
The Lufthansa Group’s CO2 compensation portfolio currently comprises 15 projects, including two technology-based projects.
Currently, around four per cent of Lufthansa Group passengers use one of the various offers for more sustainable flying. Passengers can either select a special fare such as the Green Fares, or individually tailored offers with a higher proportion of SAF during the booking process. They can also offset flight-related CO2 emissions during or after the flight.
In addition to private customers, more corporate customers are also using one of the Lufthansa Group’s offers for more sustainable flying – in 2023, more than 1,500 companies worldwide invested in SAF with the Lufthansa Group.
The Lufthansa Group has set itself ambitious climate protection goals and aims to achieve a neutral CO2 balance by 2050, halving its net CO2 emissions by 2030. As the first airline group in Europe with a science-based CO2 reduction target in line with the goals of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, the group is focusing on accelerated fleet modernisation, the continuous optimisation of flight operations, the use of SAF and offers for its private travellers and corporate customers to make air travel more sustainable.