Indonesia and Malaysia strongly believe in the strength of their regional collaboration
Malaysia has set the stage for the next instalment of Enlit Asia, slated to be held from October 8-10, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur.
The handover ceremony was officially held at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), BSD City, Jakarta, on November 14, 2023.
Indonesia and Malaysia strongly believe in the strength of their regional collaboration
Supported by Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), Enlit Asia 2024 is expected to draw 12,000 visitors from more than 50 countries, generating an estimated economic impact of RM134.6 million and RM 8.2 million in visitor expenditure.
Enlit Asia is an annual conference that unifies two events in the power and energy sector, POWERGEN Asia and Asian Utility Week, which has been a beacon of innovation and collaboration in the industry.
The transition also symbolises the successful ongoing collaboration and synergy between Malaysia and Indonesia in the field of business events. Apart from the handover ceremony, MyCEB’s visit to Jakarta is a follow-up from last year’s trip to further strengthen the bilateral relation between the two countries in becoming the preferred destinations for business events.
TMSS objective of building a sharing platform to facilitate technological progress, showcase domestic and international resources, and foster collaboration among industry partners was realised
The second edition of the Travel MICE Smart Show (TMSS), co-hosted by the MICE Committee of the China Association of Travel Services and Purchasing China Association, and managed by XIN MICE (Beijing), was held successfully from November 9-10, 2023.
The event aimed to advance the integration and elevation of China’s business events industry, while fostering technological advancements within the sector.
TMSS objective of building a sharing platform to facilitate technological progress, showcase domestic and international resources, and foster collaboration among industry partners was realised
There were keynote speeches, round-table forums, signing ceremonies, and resource exhibitions covering a range of topics, from industrial technology integration and achieving a new balance between parties to talent cultivation and the internationalisation of destination resources.
Strategic cooperation agreements were signed between JMIC (Joint Meetings Industry Council) and XIN MICE (Beijing); MICE Committee of China Association of Travel Services and Sanda University; TMSS organising committee and Tongxiang Puyuan Tourism; and The CCEU City Conference and Event Executive Alliance and the Shanghai Haishanghuadao Eco-Resort.
These agreements aim to leverage each party’s strengths and resources for collaboration in various areas, including awards, exhibitions, integrated education systems between the business events industry and university education, distinctive ancient town cultural tourism, intangible cultural heritage tourism, and cultural and creative industries.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 15: Welcome during the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport at Aotea Centre on November 15, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for WISPA)
The 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport integrated Māori values, content and culture into its programming
Aotearoa New Zealand’s indigenous Māori culture has always held appeal for international delegates, with cultural experiences an enriching part of an event’s agenda.
These days, the Te Ao Māori (Māori worldview) approach is being increasingly embedded in New Zealand’s conference delivery, from speakers to content, to enable more authentic and diverse events.
New Zealand’s Māori cultural experiences can constitute an enriching part of an event’s agenda
Increasing diversity of voices The inclusion of Māori culture was evident at the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport held at the Aotea Centre in Auckland last November, attracting 1,850 delegates from 90 countries.
Local host WISPA (Women in Sport Aotearoa) arranged an advisory rōpū (group) He Wāhine Toa Kei Te Kokiri, which alongside Ngati Whātua Ōrākei as host iwi (tribe), guided organisers through the best way to integrate Māori values, content and culture into proceedings: from the opening traditional pōwhiri welcome, to the speakers, poi and waiata (song) in the programme activities.
Outcomes for Māori were also embedded in the conference, including a First Nations Workshop, the first indigenous-focused initiative in IWG’s 29-year history; and WISPA gave 76 scholarships to young leaders and Māori Kōhine (girls) to attend the conference, empowering the next generation.
Martin Sirk, founder of strategic consultancy Sirk Serendipity and recent visitor to New Zealand reasoned: “If a country’s appeal for events could be compared to a gift box, with solutions for the organisation’s and delegates’ business, educational and scientific objectives as the contents of the box, and the destination’s tourism and culture as the emotional wrapping paper, then New Zealand is uniquely positioned to include its cultural appeal inside the box, as well as on the wrapping paper.”
An opportunity for unique content Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) is becoming an increasing point of difference for New Zealand at bidding time.
Auckland has been chosen to host WIPCE, the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education, in November 2025. It is expected to attract some 3,000 representatives to the New Zealand International Convention Centre to share strategies on culturally grounded education.
The bid was led by Auckland University of Technology’s Office of Māori Advancement and its Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Development with support from Auckland Convention Bureau and Tourism New Zealand.
Christchurch has also recently won two international conferences, both bid for by University of Canterbury (UC) academics in partnership with mana whenua (the local tribe) Ngāi Tūāhuriri, with the support of ChristchurchNZ and Tourism New Zealand.
It will host the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) in 2024, under the conference theme, Whiria te tangata | Weave the people together: Communicative projects of decolonising, engaging, and listening, and set to bring more than 1,000 delegates to Te Pae Christchurch.
The 8th Adaptation Futures Conference in 2025 (AF2025), which is part of the United Nations World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP), is expected to gather some 1,500 top scientists, indigenous scholars and policymakers, at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.
The bid acknowledged the vital role of inclusive approaches to climate-resilient development, which AF2025 will recognise by drawing on indigenous and local knowledge and special relationships with mana whenua, to advance a fairer, more liveable, and sustainable future for all.
Tourism New Zealand’s general manager, New Zealand & Business Events, Bjoern Spreitzer, said: “The authentic and transformative cultural knowledge and experiences that Aotearoa New Zealand can offer business event attendees really sets us apart as a destination. These events create excellent opportunities for knowledge sharing and positive legacies.”
Are you interested in holding a conference in New Zealand? For more details, visit businessevents.nz.com
As Thailand rounds up its role as hospitable host for the 62nd ICCA Congress on November 15, 2023, Abu Dhabi steps in to begin its welcome for the next edition, set for October 20 to 23, 2024.
The destination in the United Arab Emirates was first announced host of the 63rd ICCA Congress this August, beating several other “extraordinary bids of the very highest standard”, according to a statement by the ICCA Board.
(From left) ICCA’s Senthil Gopinath and Marta Gomes, and Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s Mubarak Al Shamsi
The next congress will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and with the support of the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau.
Addressing the ICCA community during the closing presentations last Wednesday, Mubarak Al Shamsi, director at the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition, said: “Abu Dhabi has long been driven by the vision of being a hub for governance. As we make progress in our MICE sector, we provide world-class venues and facilities. More and more we understand the value of business events and their potential as a catalyst for economic growth.”
Mubarak said the business environment in Abu Dhabi is conducive for ideation and knowledge exchange. The destination’s appeal is reflected in its record of hosting more than 1,200 business events in 2022.
While programme details of the next congress have yet to come, ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath told TTGmice that the transformed content approach taken by this year’s edition, which reflects engagement, diversity and inclusion, will carry into the coming years.
Gopinath, along with Marta Gomes, president of ICCA Board, said “ICCA is truly becoming stronger than ever”.
According to Gopinath, discussions about content are already underway.
He said: “Just as how the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau had contributed very well to our content this year, by way of connecting top quality speakers with us, Abu Dhabi will also be a big part of our content design process.”
In the August statement on Abu Dhabi’s host city status, ICCA said the 63rd ICCA Congress will contribute significantly to Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030, which sets out a clear strategy around sustainability, education, and career growth – the same areas of focus that young meetings professionals are passionate about.
The Arinex Group has appointed event technology expert Joe Ciliberto as its new chief revenue officer, a newly-created role.
Ciliberto will lead the continued growth of the full range of products and services that The Arinex Group will offer clients. This includes leading the rollout of the new Arinex event management platform, which has a new, revamped model that will be ready in early 2024.
Ciliberto joins The Arinex Group from EventsAir where he was global director for sales and marketing for five years, before taking on the chief revenue officer role in 2022.
Radisson Hotel Group and Crown Regency Hotels & Resorts have signed on the development of a 558-key hotel that will come with convention facilities and more.
Set to open in 2025, the new-build Crown Regency Grand Paradise Resort Bohol will span 2.9 hectares and command a serene lakeside setting, close to several stunning sandy beaches.
Crown Regency Grand Paradise Resort Bohol will open in 2025
With a large inventory of accommodation and extensive facilities, including a convention centre for 1,500 people, a ballroom and three smaller meeting rooms, the resort is expected to support the destination’s future growth in corporate events and international group segments.
Ramzy Fenianos, chief development officer, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “We are excited to sign this exceptional resort, which marks another important milestone in our expansion strategy in the Philippines. Panglao is a market with rich potential and holds an abundance of beach island destinations.
“Partnering with a renowned local developer like Crown Regency Hotels & Resorts is certainly a strong vote of confidence in our brands and this landmark project will contribute to the development of the island’s tourism sector as we continue to introduce market-relevant brands to support owners and developers.”
Susan Bernado, COO, Crown Regency Hotels & Resorts, added: “Radisson Hotel Group’s white-label opportunity allows us to retain the resort’s distinct local personality while also tapping into its strong global network and distribution to elevate our international presence.”
Coex's AV-DROP modular event backdrop system being used
Seoul’s Coex exhibition centre has launched the Good Plan, a sustainable event service brand that debuted at its open house event in August.
Solutions include fully reusable structures like the Coex AV-DROP modular system with aluminium frames and upcycled fabrics; the VOMO Smart modular lightweight exhibition wall system with a honeycomb core made of 100 per cent recycled waste paper; and the OSRAM LED lightbox system featuring efficient LED solutions to illuminate booth displays and walls.
Coex’s AV-DROP modular event backdrop system being used
The AV-DROP modular event backdrop system has already gained traction with 160 events served since its introduction two years ago, including the AWS Summit Seoul in May 2023 under Coex’s partnership with Amazon Web Services Korea to put on a sustainable event.
“With initiatives like the Net Zero Carbon Events by 2050 commitment driving major players in the industry, being green and sustainable has been never more essential for our business as a venue operator. Our vision is to lead the way in sustainable event production by investing directly in eco-friendly event systems,” shared Steven Kim, executive director of Coex.
Coex is undergoing significant developments, including the December 2023 launch of The Platz, a 2,224m2 venue. In October 2024, Coex Magok Lewest, Seoul’s largest MICE complex, boasting a 7,452m2 exhibition hall and hotel, will open.
Coex, which is also a professional venue management and exhibition company, will manage and operate Coex Magok Lewest for 10 years.
Royal Caribbean has appointed Diane Chiang as its new sales director for Asia-Pacific.
Having joined the organisation in 2007, she has played a pivotal role in collaborating with local government authorities as well as Royal Caribbean’s global operations team to plan and execute the safe resumption of cruise operations in Singapore.
In her new position, Chiang will lead the sales team to drive growth of Royal Caribbean’s business not only in Singapore but across the entire region.
From left: Destinations International's Jane Cunningham was the moderator; and speakers were Cartagena De Indias Convention Center's Diana Rodriguez; Kenes Group's Ori Lahav; ICC World Chamber of Commerce's Stephanie Vielledent; and Destination DC's Melissa Riley
Mistakes hold invaluable potential as stepping stones towards progress and learning, especially in a landscape as diverse and dynamic as the global business community, discussed industry leaders at The Power of Mistakes: Everybody Makes Them, Everybody Can Learn From Them session at the ICCA Congress 2023 in Bangkok earlier this week.
Stephanie Vielledent, head of chamber relations at ICC World Chamber of Commerce, shed light on the fallacy of assumptions in international collaborations. She recounted instances where assumed understanding led to discrepancies in expectations with PCOs and delegates when organising events.
From left: Destinations International’s Jane Cunningham was the moderator; while the speakers were Cartagena De Indias Convention Center’s Diana Rodriguez; Kenes Group’s Ori Lahav; ICC World Chamber of Commerce’s Stephanie Vielledent; and Destination DC’s Melissa Riley
On bidding for events, Diana Rodriguez, general manager of Cartagena De Indias Convention Center, shared about a failed ICCA Congress bid in 2017, and how the team learnt from it.
“We lost the bid in 2017, but we won it in 2020 after getting (and working on) feedback from board members. We also shared the feedback with the rest of the team, documented it, and made many other changes before another bid.
“This industry is about connections, people, and trust, and (at the failed bid), not everyone was there. But during our successful bid, the team was physically present, they were clear about what the value proposition was, and each member had an important part to play,” she said.
The conversation then encompassed global perspectives from Melissa Riley, senior vice president of convention sales and services at Destination DC. Drawing from international encounters, Riley underlined the significance of cultural awareness in business. Mistakes stemming from cultural misinterpretations, even in seemingly trivial matters, can lead to profound repercussions.
She related how KFC’s market share is larger than McDonalds’ in China, because when both fast food chains entered the market, fried chicken was more universal than hamburgers at that time. This propelled KFC to become more recognisable, while McDonalds had to adapt its menu to market tastes.
Similarly, understanding the small nuances of different cultures is a pivotal element in fostering success, Riley posited, especially in a landscape as dynamic as the global business community.
Ori Lahav, CEO of Kenes Group, contributed a perspective on leadership, and the significance of acknowledging mistakes. He emphasised that leaders should set an example by not avoiding conflict and providing honest feedback, to cultivate a working culture that values mistakes as learning opportunities.
At the recently-concluded ICCA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) revealed that Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) has become the exclusive Seed Grant Contributor for the first legacy impact certification programme – Association Impact Masterclass.
The Association Impact Masterclass is co-created by ICCA, GainingEdge and Meet4Impact. ICCA’s goal is to elevate the business events standards and make it inclusive for everyone, from juniors to leaders, to become world-class professionals. The Association Impact Masterclass will also empower the industry to maximise all opportunities in business events by having professional training aligned with ICCASkills Certification.
Sarawak delegation standing alongside the ICCA team at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center
Amelia Roziman, CEO of BESarawak, said: “Being the exclusive contributor will help us to position Sarawak better. However, what is important is growing the human capital with highly qualified legacy impact association members. ICCA has been supporting our efforts to change the narrative of business events for the past six years. Our long-term collaboration is with associations who are vital stakeholders with a pivotal role in developing our key economic sectors in Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030.”
More details on the Association Impact Masterclass will be revealed at IBTM World in Barcelona this November.
During the ICCA Congress, Sarawak also stepped out of the delegate role and joined as key speakers for the first time.
The delegation was led by Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, minister for tourism, creative industry and performing arts Sarawak, who spoke at a session entitled Igniting Destination Growth in Unleashing the Power of Association Meetings. During the session, leaders and stakeholders dove into the business events industry’s pivotal role in driving change, and shared strategies for the industry to successfully interact with senior officials.
“What you will see from business events is one of the highest levels of advocacy and awareness of critical topics. And when there is advocacy, there is awareness. You will build support from those who believe in what you are trying to do,” said Abdul. “Sarawak and ICCA are advocating for the same thing – legacy impact.”
Deputy state secretary in the Department of the Premier of Sarawak and BESarawak’s deputy chairman, Hii Chang Kee, was also the lead speaker for the exclusive CEO of the Future workshop. The workshop was designed for C-suite and senior leaders to do a deep dive into critical topics facing the industry and elevate their leadership to meet future challenges.
“Unprecedented challenges have taught the industry that leaders need to have a long-term vision or risk falling behind,” expressed Hii. “While we focus on immediate progress and results, we need a balanced approach by thinking further into the future that can sustain success and resilience in today’s highly competitive business space. It will inspire innovation, accelerate growth and enable the industry to stand out in their respective regions. It may seem farfetched to strategise the next 10 or 200 years but it is necessary for sustainable growth.”
Other partners who joined the Sarawak delegation include the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching led by CEO, Eric Van Piggelen, and Sarawak Trade & Tourism Office Singapore led by CEO, Chew Chang Guan.
On November 12, 2023, at the ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter Meeting, Sarawak was also awarded the Certificate of Achievement in recognition of Sarawak’s contribution to the global business events industry.
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
In her new position, Chiang will lead the sales team to drive growth of Royal Caribbean’s business not only in Singapore but across the entire region.
