TUI Blue Hotels & Resorts has named Alex Lam as the head of operations, Southeast Asia. He will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of hotel operations and driving business performance.
With his extensive experience and proven track record in the industry, Lam was previously vice president of hotel operations at Conduit House before joining TUI Blue Hotels & Resorts. He also oversaw a portfolio of over 100 properties across the region during his tenure as Hyatt Regional’s vice president, hotel finance, Asia Pacific.
Penang’s business events sector is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, buoyed by improvements in air connectivity, a new reciprocal visa-free policy, as well as proactive marketing promotions by the state government.
Last year, Penang saw numerous direct air connections between the city and China, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Indonesia, and Qatar. For instance, on October 29, 2023, Qatar Airways commenced flights to Penang via Phuket, while Flydubai’s daily Dubai to Penang will commence on February 10, 2024.
Funicular train on Penang Hill
Francis Teo, head, convention centres for S P Setia, stated that these new connections will not only attract business event organisers from the Middle East, but also from Europe.
He remains hopeful that this year will bring with it improved connectivity from northern Asia to Penang as well.
Penang also aims to ride on Malaysia’s new reciprocal visa-free policy. The policy, which commenced on December 1, 2023, came about due to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
As such, Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) is planning to organise a roadshow to India, specifically to Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and Kochi.
Notable conferences in the coming months include the 45th International Advertising Association World Congress in March; the International Tin Conference in May; both the 3rd ASEAN Conference of Healthy Ageing 2024 and 21st International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade Conference in July; and the 35th Annual Scientific Congress of Malaysian Oncological Society in October.
In anticipation of an increasing number of regional and international events at Setia SPICE, the Setia SPICE events team has also established channels for event organisers and associations looking to leverage their gatherings to bring about a positive impact on the local community.
Teo shared: “We have compiled a list of local organisations in Penang and their specific needs. We aim to act as intermediaries, connecting international and regional event organisers with the local community, fostering meaningful collaborations.”
Teo also plans to work with other secondary destinations in Asia, in his capacity as chairman of the newly-formed Asia Venue Alliance.
The Asia Venue Alliance was founded by five convention centres – Ariyana Convention Centre Danang, Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, International Convention Centre Tainan, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching and Setia SPICE Convention Centre – where a Memorandum of Cooperation was officially signed on December 7, 2023, in conjunction with the 8th edition of BE @ Penang 2023.
The official signing of the Asia Venue Alliance at BE @ Penang 2023
Regarding the benefits of the alliance, Teo stated: “We aim to leverage the collective strengths of our members and tap into the growing international business events market to generate robust business leads for rotating conferences and association meetings.
“Traditionally, one might consider securing 10 to 12 leads per event at trade shows as fortunate. Through this alliance, our goal is to significantly surpass this benchmark,” he added.
Noorazzudin Omar, general manager of the 453-key Amari SPICE Penang, highlighted the hotel’s direct connection to the convention centre at Setia SPICE, underscoring its advantages for business events.
Noorazzudin revealed that he is anticipating a busy 1H2024, as the hotel has confirmed numerous bookings for small- and medium-sized meetings from both local and regional associations, as well as corporate companies.
Moreover, the hotel is experiencing a surge in enquiries for accommodation requests from both local and international event organisers who are planning events at Setia SPICE for both this and next year.
Similarly, Christina Tan, director of communications at G Hotel Kelawai and sister property G Hotel Gurney, also reported strong corporate bookings from the domestic market, as well as from Singapore and Indonesia for 1H2024.
“We are quite optimistic about finishing the year with significantly stronger booking figures in contrast to 2023. We have observed a marked increase in bookings for meetings and conferences from the medical and engineering sectors,” she shared.
Tan pointed out that the recent reopening of G Hotel Gurney allows the team to capitalise on both properties, and attract larger meetings that require many breakout spaces.
“Event organisers now have the option to maximise the potential of both properties due to their proximity. For example, during major exhibitions at G Hotel Gurney, G Hotel Kelawai’s smaller breakout rooms can cater to smaller group discussions, run parallel workshops, and host specialised sessions.
In 2022, Penang hosted 3,762 events, achieving an estimated economic impact of RM1.5 billion (US$323.1 million). Although this was short of 2019 levels, it was considered a relatively successful year.
While the final figures for 2023 were not available as of press time, it is estimated that the state hosted approximately 2,500 events, drawing in 260,000 delegates, and yielding an estimated economic impact of RM1 billion.
Once a United States Military Air Base in the Philippines, Clark is rapidly transforming into a business hub due to massive ongoing infrastructure, business, and tourism developments.
Agnes Devanadera, CEO of Clark Development Corp. (CDC), shared with TTGmice that aside from actively promoting the Philippine MICE Conference – scheduled to be hosted by Clark on July 10-12, 2024 – CDC has also been participating in Asian roadshows with Clark International Airport (CRK), engaging with airlines to mount more flights.
Clark International Airport
This effort has paid off, as the number of airport passengers last year reached nearly two million. This represents a 158 per cent increase over 2022’s numbers and surpassed the forecast of 42 per cent by CRK’s key partner and technical consultant, Changi Airports International. Currently, CRK serves 11 international and 10 domestic flights.
Noel Manankil, CEO and president of LIPAD, the consortium operating and managing CRK, stated that the growth in passenger numbers indicates “a robust recovery for Clark and the Central and Northern Luzon regions”.
However, there is a need to attract more hotel investments, especially in the mid- and lower-market segments, said Devanadera, to beef up Clark’s hotel portfolio of 4,007 keys.
In the high-end market, Hann Development Corp., responsible for bringing the Marriott and Swissotel brands to its integrated resort in Clark, plans to introduce more international hotel brands to Hann Reserve. Hann Reserve is a 450-hectare luxury golfing and leisure paradise taking shape in New Clark City.
Earlier this year, Banyan Tree Clark broke ground at Hann Reserve, and is expected to open in 2026.
The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) has more than doubled its exhibitor numbers at its largest show in a decade, thanks to a partnership with Grip, an event platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
More than 600 international buyers and 3,500 visitors are attending the event in Melbourne, along with 570 exhibitors from across the business events sector. Exhibitor numbers are up 63 per cent on the previous year.
Silke Calder at AIME 2024. Photo: Adelaine Ng
Organisers attributed the increase to three years of working closely with the AI firm to refine the matching process through ongoing feedback.
“The secret source of AIME is undoubtedly the sheer amount of work that goes into matching our exhibitors with visitors, or sellers with their buyers, said Matt Pearce, CEO of Talk2Media and Events.
“Our AI-aided system is optimising these connections, driving the right matches and this has culminated in about 16,000 scheduled meetings. At least 57 per cent of the buyers are also first-time buyers,” Pearce said.
Momentum was struck when last year’s show generated about A$200 million (US$131 million) in secured business deals.
“Last year, we had extremely happy exhibitors and buyers that (helped to) spread the word about the business that people had walked off with on the showfloor,” Silke Calder, event director for AIME told TTGmice.
“The software continues to evolve with us. We are working through the AI matching system, and tweaking it constantly so that we have perfect matches. We refined the questions we asked buyers and exhibitors and the outcome (speaks for itself),” she added.
Calder added that the stakes are higher for a mid-sized show like AIME, and high-quality participants are paramount. In addition to 32 pre-arranged meetings, the show has also introduced open sections within the event app for vetted participants to request meetings.
AIME will run over the next three days, from February 19-21, 2024. The Knowledge Program kicked off today where more than 1,000 delegates attended personal and professional keynotes, and breakout sessions.
This year, 33 countries are represented at AIME, with many destinations including South Korea, Macau, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India, and the Maldives, returning for the first time since the pandemic.
The Malaysian travel trade is eagerly anticipating next year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Johor, as it presents a prime opportunity to showcase the state’s tourism offerings to delegates.
Murray L Aitken, general manager of Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast and area vice president of hotel operations – Asia for Hard Rock International, stated: “There are several Visit Johor 2024 initiatives ongoing this year, and this will set the stage for success in the upcoming ATF 2025. We anticipate a significant increase in business events such as regional meetings, conferences, teambuilding activities, and corporate events.”
An aerial view of Johor, Malaysia
Similarly, Christian Gerart, general manager at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, expressed enthusiasm about Johor hosting ATF 2025. He hopes that at least one of the events will be held at Desaru Coast, a destination equipped with the region’s largest waterpark and nearly 800 rooms.
As of press time, details regarding the venues remain undisclosed.
Arokia Das, executive director of The Essence of Asia Tours & Travel, also highlighted the importance of making the most of this rare opportunity. He shared that he had plans to organise site visits to hotels suitable for business events and offsite event venues in Johor, for selected foreign tour operators attending the event.
To maximise the business and tourism potential of the event, Uzaidi Udanis, chairman of the Consortium of Inbound Tourism Alliance, indicated that it was important for stakeholders and industry players to collaborate. He further stressed the need for Tourism Malaysia and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Malaysia to start planning and marketing early, and suggested disseminating email teasers, and developing pre- and post-tour programmes to generate interest.
Compared to last year, hotels in Johor are also seeing stronger demand for business events.
Pauline Chua, general manager of the Amari Johor Bahru, shared with TTGmice: “Year-on-year, our bookings for 2024 have increased impressively by 25 per cent, and this is accompanied by a surge in enquiries from Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Singapore, and Thailand.”
Meanwhile, Andreas Justkowiak, general manager at Doubletree by Hilton Johor Bahru, noted that there was growing interest from Singapore and China, attributing it to Johor’s proximity and favourable exchange rates.
He expects business events from Singapore to continue growing, especially with the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, aimed at enhancing business ties and connectivity between the two countries.
To meet the rising demand for business events, efforts have been made to upgrade facilities, such as the recent refurbishment of the hotel’s grand ballroom and meeting spaces. Additionally, wellness components have been integrated into the Hilton’s Meet with Purpose programme, reflecting a commitment to providing innovative meeting experiences.
The THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2024 tradeshow will be taking place from March 6-8, 2024, at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand.
To raise the bar for South-east Asia’s hospitality industry professionals, the lineup of educational, competitive, and special events at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2024 include THAIFEX – HOREC Academy; Thailand Ultimate Housekeeping Challenge; and the ASEAN Barista Team Championship.
Delegates listening to a speaker at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2023
Attendees will have the opportunity to better their hospitality knowledge and learn from 65 hotel, restaurant, and catering experts such as Asset World Corporation’s chief hospitality group officer Matthew John Knights; and Dusit International’s chief people officer, Niramol Lindanuwat. In total, attendees can expect 36 live conferences at the Main Stage.
The eight topics covered include industry leadership, future-proofing your business, optimising hotel performance, embracing technology and sustainability, redefining hospitality leadership, wellness trends, and the future of gastronomy.
Over at the Demo Stage, experts will be providing 13 interactive sessions such as boulangerie, patisserie, ice cream, and barista workshops.
Next, helmed by the Executive Housekeeper Association, Chiangmai Housekeeping Club, The Housekeepings Club of Eastern Region of Thailand and Housekeeping Management Club Phuket and Andaman, the Thailand Ultimate Housekeeping Challenge aims to foster collaboration among members and drive discussion about housekeeping standards, sustainability, and technology-driven solutions.
The inaugural competition will see over 100 skilled Thai hotel housekeepers vie for the coveted Thailand Ultimate Housekeeping Champion title. To earn it, they will demonstrate their prowess and excellence at keeping cleanliness by competing in a bed-making Competition, a flower arrangement competition, a towel folding competition, and a speed housekeeping cleaning challenge.
THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2024 will also host the ASEAN Barista Team Championship, which will bring together baristas from across the South-east Asian region to vie for the coveted team title.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore’s sustainable air hub blueprint has spelt out plans to implement compulsory sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) usage on flights departing from the city-state from 2026.
This is part of efforts to progressively decarbonise airline operations.
The announcement was made by transport minister Chee Hong Tat at the Changi Aviation Summit on February 19.
Singapore will aim for a one per cent sustainable aviation fuel uplift target in 2026, and three to five per cent by 2030 – subject to “global developments and the wider availability and adoption” of SAF in the next few years, Chee told the press.
As a result, passengers flying from Singapore can expect to pay more for their air tickets due to the fuel levy attached. An economy class ticket from Singapore to Bangkok, Tokyo and London could go up by around S$3 (US$2), S$6, and S$16 respectively.
More details on the implementation will be shared in the future.
Glenn Thorsen, global sustainability lead of FCM Consulting, said that this initiative is similar to the ones being rolled out in Europe, although the execution is slightly different.
“KLM, for example, already have an SAF fee on their tickets which is designed to cover the cost of 0.5 per cent SAF for a given flight. The European Union has also just formally agreed to the RefuelEU initiative which will mandate two per cent SAF on all EU flights starting in 2025.
“Given the increasingly global application of this approach, we don’t believe it will have a decidedly negative impact on demand for business travel, and the slated time frames of 2025/26 for implementation also leaves room for potential amends to these initiatives in the meantime,” he explained.
Thorsen added that this was a “much better initiative than offsets”, as it has a “genuine reducing impact on aviation emissions”.
“It’s also great as it helps to stimulate demand, increase supply and provide security on the growing market for new innovators to continue to emerge and increase the availability and affordability of SAF,” he added.
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) is poised for a remarkable year in 2024, having already secured 65 per cent of its revenue target for the year.
The Centre has kickstarted 2024 with confirmed bookings for 37 conventions and 50 exhibitions and these numbers are expected to increase as more national conferences and exhibitions, short lead meetings and events are confirmed during the year.
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre looks forward to a busy calendar of events this year
Events that have already been confirmed for 2024 include the Ancaro Imparo Dental Conference; International Café & Beverage Show; 21st AILA World Congress; European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology meets Asia; International Surgical Week; Aesthetic Medicine & Surgery Conference & Exhibition; and International Union of Architects Forum.
In 2023, the Centre hosted 1,724 events which was the highest number since 2014. These events attracted more than 1.3 million delegates to the Centre and contributed to an estimated RM656 million in economic impact for Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia.
John Burke, general manager of The Centre, stated: “Based on industry trends and the bookings the Centre has already secured, 2024 will be a strong year for international conventions and exhibitions. Our focus for the year and moving forward, is not so much about expanding the number of events we host, but on maximising the opportunities events bring, whether in trade or economic impact.”
Earlier this month, the Centre was honoured EarthCheck Gold certification. EarthCheck Certified is the world’s leading science-based environmental certification and benchmarking programme for the business events and tourism industries. As part of a comprehensive five-year process, the Centre was independently audited and benchmarked by experts on its performance in many areas including energy, water, waste, paper and cleaning.
According to EarthCheck, the Centre is the first business events and tourism venue in Malaysia to achieve gold-level certification.
Burke added: “Our sustainability transformation and commitment to low or zero carbon events is a major part of our strategy both this year and into the future. Our investments in sustainability, which include everything from waste management, energy efficiency, sustainable sourcing and more, have made the Centre a rock-solid choice for clients and organisers looking to minimise the environmental impact of their events and are already paying dividends in attracting new corporate and government events. Our dedicated sustainability working team and manager will continue to drive our sustainability progress in the coming year.”
The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has opened Citadines Science Park Singapore, the group’s eighth Citadines property in Singapore.
The property – which counts corporate travellers working in the surrounding area as one of its key markets – offers 250 rooms located on levels 10 to 15.
Studio Executive Bedroom
Onsite amenities include a resident’s lounge, shared working space, meeting rooms, launderette, outdoor barbecue, fitness corner, F&B outlet, and a 25m-long infinity pool.
Guests staying at the property can benefit from Citadines’ signature programmes, such as curated programmes to jumpstart city living with key places to explore within the neighbourhood. For instance, the property provides recommendations on what to see and do in the area, such as walking, cycling, and running trails in Kent Ridge and Rail Corridor Central. Yoga practices, networking sessions, and coffee-related workshops, are also organised regularly.
As part of the energy conservation initiatives, energy-saving smart occupancy sensors have been installed in all guestrooms. Citadines Science Park Singapore has also achieved the BCA Green Mark Platinum SLE certification, highlighting its commitment to sustainability.
In support of the sustainable transport vision in the Singapore Green Plan 2030, several low carbon mobility options include 466 bicycle lots complemented with end-of-trip shower and locker facilities, as well as 14 electric vehicle charging lots.
Australian scientist and engineer Mary O’Kane has commenced her role as independent director and chair of the Board of strategic event bidding organisation Business Events Sydney (BESydney).
Her term will last for three years.
This is the second time she is sitting on the BESydney Board, previously serving a nine-year term as an independent director during her time as the inaugural NSW chief scientist & engineer (2008-2018).
With a professional and academic career spanning working as a computer engineer undertaking pioneering research in artificial intelligence to the University of Adelaide vice-chancellor and serving as member or chair on many government and private sector boards and committees, O’Kane brings an extraordinary breadth and depth of experience in the innovation, research, higher education, energy, ICT, public policy and development spheres to the BESydney Board.
O’Kane is currently chair of the NSW Independent Planning Commission and continues to advise universities and governments in Australia and around the globe, having been a reviewer for European innovation agencies including the FFG, the Austrian Research Promotion Agency and VINNOVA, the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems.
She joins the Board after completing her most recent of several reviews for the Australian government, and the Australian Universities Accord, which was tasked with making recommendations to deliver a higher education system that meets the current and future needs of the nation.
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With his extensive experience and proven track record in the industry, Lam was previously vice president of hotel operations at Conduit House before joining TUI Blue Hotels & Resorts. He also oversaw a portfolio of over 100 properties across the region during his tenure as Hyatt Regional’s vice president, hotel finance, Asia Pacific.
