From left: Lithium Urban Technologies' Manish Raj; Amadeus' Srinivas Rao; MICEcarbon's Daniel Chua; and Centara Grand at CentralWorld’s Ferry Tjahjono
Being a significant contributor to carbon emissions, the business events industry also plays a crucial role in accelerating decarbonisation efforts, according to CTW Conference speakers at the recent IT&CMA 2023 in Bangkok.
Referring to Sustainable Travel International data, Manish Raj, head – strategy & business of Lithium Urban Technologies said tourism was responsible for about 11 per cent of the world’s GHG (greenhouse gases) emissions and is projected to almost double by 2050.
From left: Lithium Urban Technologies’ Manish Raj; Amadeus’ Srinivas Rao; MICEcarbon’s Daniel Chua; and Centara Grand at CentralWorld’s Ferry Tjahjono
Srinivas Rao, head of global TMC engagement APAC, Amadeus, said that there is an urgency to address Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) issues, and reduce carbon emissions.
“Over the last two or three years, we can see the impact of climate change. It is impacting cities and countries. (People now) understand that this is impacting the world and unless corporates and individuals come together and find a solution, this will be very difficult to mitigate,” Rao said.
Fortunately, the pandemic has helped to change people’s mindsets, who are individually looking at how they can reduce their carbon emissions. In turn, companies have been pushed to change the way it can do business sustainably.
Daniel Chua, co-founder of MICEcarbon said: “Having been in the (meeting industry) business for a long time and having seen clients evolve, I think we all need to evolve along with them and lead the way in some cases.”
Rao shared that a recent Amadeus survey revealed that travellers now are increasingly asking for sustainable options like taking the train, or driving an electric vehicle. At the same time, travellers are also questioning the transparency around the sustainability policies that an organisation has.
“There’s a lot of conversation going on at the employee level,” he said. “We also understand that our customers are at different stages in their sustainability journies. So giving them one solution may not be the right fit. Instead, with multiple choices we can then choose which one is the right solution,” he said.
Internally, Amadeus has also taken steps to establish three strategic pillars. The first pillar is to transform the business, where Amadeus is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2025 instead of 2030. The second pillar was to provide customers with the necessary support to help them achieve their sustainability goals, while the final approach was to collaborate with other ESG companies and various industry partners to help achieve the goals.
An international climate adaptation conference will head to Christchurch (pictured) in 2025
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, or the University of Canterbury (UC), will host the 8th Adaptation Futures Conference (AF2025) in 2025, which is part of the United Nations World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP).
The conference is set to convene 1,500 of the world’s leading network of scientists, practitioners, governments, industry and community, youth, educators and communicators at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre. Delegates will join AF2025 both online and in person to discuss climate adaptation.
An international climate adaptation conference will head to Christchurch (pictured) in 2025
AF2025 includes six special events to showcase and advance knowledge in:
Indigenous innovation: Indigenous leadership and knowledge for transformation
Cities: Climate-resilient development solutions for urban governments and communities
Biodiversity and food: Ecosystem health and agricultural innovation for food-water-energy nexus
Arts: The role of performance and creative arts for adaptation
Youth: Global Talanoa connecting high-school students, teachers and young activists
Capacity building: Early career development workshops for researchers and practitioners
The conference will provide a unique opportunity to identify knowledge gaps and implementation needs to advance climate change adaptation in an increasingly complex world.
UC professors Steven Ratuva, Bronwyn Hayward and Shaun Ogilvie played a vital role in securing the bid for the conference and are co-convenors of AF2025.
This hosting announcement was made by WASP secretariat head Maarten Kappelle at the Adaptation Futures conference in Montréal, Canada.
His announcement was followed by an official host handover led by representatives of the Indigenous People of Canada and mana whenua, Ngāi Tūāhuriri from New Zealand. Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Lisa Tumahai and deputy high commissioner of New Zealand to Canada Kirsty Pelenur formally accepted the host handover of the conference.
Tourism New Zealand’s chief executive René de Monchy added: “Aotearoa New Zealand’s tourism sector is committed to supporting the transition to a more sustainable and regenerative future. Events like these bring the best and brightest together to find climate-resilient solutions for our communities. Hosting conferences is a key part of Tourism New Zealand’s strategy to attract high-quality visitors who positively contribute to our environment, communities, culture and economy.”
The highly successful Cannes in Cairns event for the advertising, marketing and media industry is expected to attract 2,000 delegates in 2024 after numbers doubled this year from the 650 who attended the inaugural Cairns event in 2022.
Dan Uglow, co-founder of event organiser The Misfits Media Company, said that the newly-upgraded Cairns Convention Centre, and unique offsite venues such as historical oil tanks in lush tropical gardens, allowed the event to “cater to an audience that had been to the region previously and loved getting away from the southern cold”.
A strong turnout at Cannes in Cairns 2023
Indigenous themes were central to the 2023 event – that coincided with National Reconciliation Week – which started with a Welcome to Gimuy (Cairns) by local Yidinydji representatives from Indigenous cultural group Minjil.
Diverse experiences for delegates also included a Palm Cove beach dinner at Nu Nu, the exclusive Cannes in Cairns Yacht with Parisienne DJ Safire, a VIP dinner at Hemmingway’s Brewery, cocktail parties at Crystalbrook Riley’s rooftop bar Rocco, days of seafood on the iconic Prawn Star, and a Tik Tok takeover of the Cairns Party Bus.
“The event’s wow moment was bringing delegates together for the Pinterest-sponsored Pinchella Welcome Party at the Tanks Arts Centre, an historical venue featuring three WWII oil tanks within the Cairns Botanic Gardens,” Uglow added.
The space was transformed into a “whimsical neon wonderland” featuring indigenous foods catered by Nu Nu, and entertainment by Australian band King Stingray.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland general manager of partnerships and events, Rosie Douglas, pointed out: “Successfully increasing delegates numbers each year in the same destination shows the diversity of our destination’s offsite event venues, world-class catering options, and the professionalism of the business events industry in Cairns and Great Barrier Reef.”
“With increased direct flights from Singapore, Haneda, Tokyo, Osaka and Auckland Cannes in Cairns has the opportunity to grow delegate numbers from across the Asia-Pacific region.”
Jublia has partnered MICEcarbon in a step towards further decarbonising the business events industry
Event networking technology firm Jublia has entered into a partnership with MICEcarbon, a platform targeted at business events industry stakeholders to better understand and meaningfully reduce and offset their carbon emissions through verified and verifiable carbon offset projects.
MICEcarbon is a business events industry targeted solution that allows the transaction of carbon offsets from as low as 10kg to multiples of one million tonnes of carbon through an easy-to-use and integrable system that provides end-to-end transparency and traceability on the origin of the carbon offsets.
Jublia has partnered MICEcarbon in a step towards further decarbonising the business events industry
Daniel Chua, co-founder of MICEcarbon, said: “Strategically bridging the events industry and the carbon markets will be of growing importance in the near future to combat climate change, given the large numbers of people the business events industry works with on both sides of the client-supplier equation, and having reach to all levels ranging from C-suites all the way through to the average event attendee.
“By working with more business industry stakeholders, we hope that more people become more conscious of practicing sustainability in their daily lives, and are also aware of genuine carbon offsets projects they can support via a platform that offers ease and transparency in the process.”
Errol Lim, chief operating officer of Jublia, shared that the company is already “transforming events into fully paperless processes” with features such as AI Maps, and Jublia Scan which physical business cards.
“Our collaboration with MICEcarbon extends this commitment beyond our platform. Together, we empower the events industry to reduce carbon emissions and support genuine offset projects. This partnership signifies more than just a win-win; it’s a transformative journey toward a sustainable future. We’re excited about the possibilities it holds and invite more partners to join us.”
For event organisers, accessibility is critical to ensure that as many people as possible can attend and that all attendees can fully participate and engage with events. However, organising an accessible event can be challenging, especially when faced with resource constraints.
1. Plan ahead and set priorities The earlier you plan, the more opportunity you have to add accessibility to your events. Start by creating a checklist of accessibility needs and prioritise them based on their impact. Identify essential accessibility features that are critical for your attendee’s needs and the event’s success. By focusing on these priorities, you can allocate your limited resources effectively and ensure that the most critical accessibility requirements are met.
2. Utilise volunteer support Volunteers can play a significant role in making your event accessible while keeping costs down. Reach out to local disability organisations or community groups and seek their support in recruiting volunteers and providing advice. Often, university students can be recruited in exchange for an event ticket. These volunteers can assist with tasks such as guiding attendees, providing assistance with mobility, or facilitating communication. Ensure proper training and clear communication with your volunteers to ensure they understand the importance of accessibility and their specific responsibilities.
3. Make use of digital accessibility tools Digital accessibility tools are invaluable in making your event inclusive. One such solution is to implement AI-generated live captioning, a cost-effective option that can easily be integrated into your event’s setup. The use of next-generation AI solutions can deliver accurate and real-time captions and translated captions in multiple languages. This solution ensures that attendees can follow along and participate effectively.
4. Partner with sponsors and local businesses Collaboration with sponsors and local businesses can be a win-win situation when it comes to event accessibility. Approach potential sponsors and local businesses with a compelling case for supporting your accessibility efforts. Highlight the benefits of aligning their brand with inclusivity and offer various partnership opportunities. Sponsors and local businesses can contribute resources such as funding, equipment, or expertise, helping you enhance the accessibility of your event without straining your budget.
5. Promote inclusivity through communication Clear and inclusive communication is vital to ensure that attendees are aware of the accessibility features and services available at your event. Provide detailed information about accessibility on your event website, registration forms, and promotional materials. Utilise multiple communication channels, such as social media, email newsletters, and announcements during the event. By proactively communicating your commitment to accessibility, you create a welcoming environment for attendees.
In conclusion, creating an accessible event doesn’t have to be a daunting task when you have budget limitations. By following these five tips, you can make significant strides in enhancing the accessibility of your event without compromising your financial resources. Increasing event accessibility creates better experiences for the maximum number of attendees and widens your event’s reach.
The 306-key Meliá Hanoi has recently renovated and revitalised several key areas of the hotel, including the meeting and function areas, top suites, and fitness spaces.
The Level Meeting Room, available exclusively for The Level guests, has completely new furnishings, along with more ergonomic chairs and artwork. The larger business events areas, including the Grand Ballroom and its dedicated pre-function area along with the Thang Long Ballroom, have new carpets, furniture, and a new interior design with a crisp white colour palette.
Melia Hanoi’s Grand Ballroom
The Function Room space, ideal for intimate meetings, now features an entirely new interior with nature-inspired panelling framing the space. Meliá Hanoi’s meeting facilities comprise two ballrooms, 10 function rooms and a total capacity to host up to 1,200 guests.
The top two keys, the 135m2 Grand Suite and 168m2 Presidential Suite were both re-imagined with more contemporary, regal furnishings, a fresh colour palette of soft greys, taupe, creams and gold, new state-of-the art entertainment systems, and floor-to-ceiling windows that make the most of the city views.
Elsewhere in the hotel, the open-air swimming pool has a new deck, while the fitness centre has been remodelled with new cardio equipment.
One of the most significant changes was also a complete overhaul of all the property’s gastronomic offerings and restaurant interiors.
In the lobby area, Garbo Bar draws inspiration from the golden era of 1950s Hollywood with its new gold and emerald green bar counter and selection of classic cocktails, tapas, and Meliá’s signature Spanish-inspired afternoon tea.
Mosaico, Meliá Hanoi’s all-day restaurant offers a breakfast buffet ranging from pastries baked in-house to a healthy juice bar, and new live cooking stations.
The former El Oriental Restaurant is set to emerge soon as Cham Restaurant serving sophisticated Cantonese dim sum and Asian noodle dishes in a hip, modern space. The new chef de cuisine, Lê Minh Thái, has 27 years of experience in dim sum and Cantonese cooking.
Finally, a new concept that marries a cocktail bar and luxury barbershop, The Ministry of Men (part of the House of Babaard group), also launched in the hotel in May.
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) secured 405 leads across three exhibition areas at the IT&CM Asia 2023 in Bangkok last month.
The Thailand Pavilion (40 exhibitors) generated 135 leads, a 43.6 per cent increase from 94 leads achieved last year. The Pattaya Pavilion (24 exhibitors) generated 150 leads, while Isan MICE Stand (10 exhibitors) generated 120 leads.
The leads from Thailand Pavilion – 133 for meetings and incentives (24,532 travellers) and two for conventions (2,200 travellers) – are valued at 1,764 million baht (US$48.5 million).
The leads from Pattaya Pavilion carry a potential yield of 30,000 travellers and 2,000 million baht of revenue.
Pattaya, the designated MICE City for Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor, also introduced an all-new incentive package for event planners and organisers called City Package. Co-created with TCEB, the package offers bidding support, assistance in securing endorsement by relevant government agencies, publicity and promotion, recommendation on venues certified by the Thailand MICE Venue Standards (TMVS) and suppliers, and volunteer and traffic management.
For Isan MICE Stand, buyers met 10 exhibitors from three key cities in Thailand’s north-eastern region – Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Nakhon Ratchasima. The potential yield is 24,000 travellers and 1,600 million baht of revenue.
The region shows promise, with Udon Thani set to host the International Horticultural Exposition 2026. Connectivity to Isan will also greatly improve when Thailand’s high-speed rail network connects Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima in 2026 (253km) and to Khon Kaen in 2029 (437km).
The 405 generated leads follow TCEB’s 23 conference bid win performance concluded at the end of the bureau’s 2023 financial year on September 30.
Patrik Ilstam has been named general manager of Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort and Villas.
An experienced pre-opening hotelier with a background in operations, Ilstam has held various senior management roles in international five-star hotels in South-east Asia over the last 20 years. He most recently served as the general manager at Burasari Phuket Resort.
A Swedish national, he is also fluent in Danish, Norwegian, English and Thai.
Bangkok’s business events industry has restored its traction and built on its recovery momentum this year, and the city is well on its way to regaining previous levels of success obtained prior to the pandemic.
According to the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), 1Q2023 saw Thailand saw the arrival of 7.9 million business events travellers, 183,618 of which were from overseas, generating 8.5 billion baht (US$240.2 million) for the industry. Buoyed by this, the Thai government has forecast a bumper 2023/2024, aiming for around 18.6 million business travellers, and a target of 109 billion baht for the sector.
Bangkok’s Wat Arun at sunset
International travellers may be flocking to Thailand, but domestic organisations are also loving Bangkok as a host destination for conferences, meetings and expos, observed Tim Russell, head of marketing communications at local DMC and tour company, Smiling Albino.
“With ongoing health concerns and increasing flight costs, we found that in the last couple of years, Thailand has hosted a lot more domestic MICE trips, as Thais who might normally travel abroad have been rediscovering the delights of their own country, and realising why foreign visitors love it so much.”
Confident in the attraction of Thailand and Bangkok to both locals and global visitors as an attractive business events destination, TCEB has put together a bold five-year plan to maximise footfall and bring in more than 160 million MICE travellers and generate 945 billion baht for the country.
Dubbed TCEB Go, the plan incorporates the Thailand MICE to Meet You 2023 campaign, which has already seen some vital updates to the country’s event infrastructure. These include dedicated MICE Lanes at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, which processed 3,500 business events travellers between October 2022 and March 2023.
TCEB has also made an effort to recognise 52 organisations with the Thailand Sustainable Event Management Standard (TSEM). The certification enables event and travel planners to easily select experienced and knowledgeable local partners and suppliers who understand the importance of sustainability, while being able to provide cutting-edge audiovisual, lighting, data analysis, electronic ticketing, and reservations solutions.
Stefan Bruns, general manager Thailand, Diethelm Travel Group, has noticed that the popularity of the Thai capital has led to significant changes to existing infrastructure.
“The MICE business in Bangkok is seeing a notable surge, particularly for conferences and incentives. A prime example of this growth is the increasing prominence of Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) as a venue for both conferences and exhibitions.”
Located in the heart of Bangkok, after three years of remodelling inside and out, QSNCC’s refurbishment was completed at the end of 2022. Its top-down renovations mean the venue now provides more than 78,500m2 of event space across four conference rooms, eight exhibition halls, four conference halls, and four assembly spaces, alongside 50 meeting rooms and breakout areas.
Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre’s exterior
Since its official opening, QSNCC has held over 400 international and domestic events to date, with more slated to happen in the coming months.
“Previously, QSNCC mainly hosted domestic exhibitions and meetings, but (since the revamp), we have welcomed international tradeshows, global conferences, and entertainment events,” Sutichai Bunditvorapoom, executive vice president – marketing, sales and operations division from QSNCC told TTGmice.
He further shared that QSNCC’s portfolio has also changed slightly after its top-to-toe overhaul, where new clients include luxury brand launches such as Porsche and Lamborghini, as well as music concerts. Longstanding clients, such as the annual Book Expo Thailand – which registered around 160,000 in footfall during its October 2022 show – also continue to hold their events at QSNCC.
When asked to outline QSNCC’s strategy for the next five years, Sutichai shared: “Our profile will be clearer next year. This is because we are also trying to bring in new events in the innovation and technology space, as well as fintech. One notable win is Money 20/20, which announced (in April) that our venue will be hosting the 2024 edition.”
Moving forward, QSNCC will be focused on luring more business from Asia, as the “economy is strong, and corporates are willing to spend”. Further afield, the venue will continue to seek out business in France, Germany and the UK as well.
For Bruns, the centre’s accessibility is a highlight: “Its strategic location, in proximity to Sukhumvit hotels and the MRT station, makes it even more appealing for attendees favouring public transportation.”
QSNCC isn’t the only venue with a packed calendar, where events this year include the 62nd ICCA Congress 2023 (November 12-15) and Asian Pacific Digestive Week 2023 (December 6-9).
Other venues with major upcoming events include the World Allergy Congress 2023 (December 1-3) at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, while the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) will host Oil & Gas Thailand 2023 (October 18-20), Mobility Live Asia 2023 (November 1-2), and Thailand Friendly Design Expo 2023 (December 7-10). – Additional reporting by Rachel AJ Lee
Vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and forum chairman of GTEF, Ho Hau Wah; and secretary-general of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, join other officials and leading partners in celebrating the 10th anniversary of GTEF
The 10th Global Tourism Economy Forum Macao 2023 (GTEF) achieved fruitful results after a series of innovative and inspiring high-quality exchanges and discussions.
During the three-day forum, a diverse range of activities took place, including keynote speeches, panel sessions, special interviews, engaging fireside chats, insightful case sharing and productive business matching sessions.
These sessions enriched the event and infused new ideas and momentum into the robust development of the global tourism economy, with the goal to benefit all stakeholders by harnessing new opportunities and enhancing their quality of life.
Successful delivery & impressive turnout The year 2023 commemorated the 10th anniversary of GTEF, and it concluded on a remarkable note.
With 2,300 participants on-site and an active engagement of over 2 million online participants across more than 38 countries/regions and 84 cities/provinces in China, this milestone edition has made a lasting impression.
Themed around Destination 2030: Unlocking the Power of Tourism for Business and Development, it gathered over 100 ministers of culture and tourism, industry leaders, decision-makers, scholars, and stakeholders from different tourism sectors.
In the context of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, participants were encouraged to think beyond tourism and explore opportunities for the recovery of the global tourism economy.
They also discussed about constructing a resilient, high-quality, and people-oriented environment for the tourism industry in the new normal through innovative and sustainable international cooperation.
The secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, said in his opening speech: “The Global Tourism Economy Forum is set to be the premier platform for cooperation between governments and the private sector in the area of tourism for development. By creating the ‘Davos of Tourism’, we can shape the course of the sector’s future around the pillars of jobs, education, innovation and investments.”
Secretary-general of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, gives an opening address
Minister of Tourism of Italy, Daniela Garnero Santanchè, also delivered a speech on behalf of Italy as the partner country of GTEF, where she emphasised that tourism is crucial to spread the values of peace and friendship among people worldwide, as well as achieve sustainable development goals.
Vice chairman and secretary-general of GTEF, Pansy Ho, delivers a setting-the-scene keynote speech at the opening ceremony
During the opening ceremony, vice chairman and secretary-general of GTEF, Pansy Ho, also delivered a setting-the-scene keynote speech on “Charting a Visionary Path: Unlocking Tourism’s Potential at the Global Tourism Economy Forum”.
Besides, former vice minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of China, former secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia and honorary chairman of GTEF, Long Yongtu, made a keynote speech on “China & the World Towards a New Vision”, followed by a keynote speech on “Collaboration for Prosperity and Development” by president and chief executive officer of the World Travel & Tourism Council and honorary chairman of GTEF, Julia Simpson.
Vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and forum chairman of GTEF, Ho Hau Wah; and secretary-general of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, join other officials and leading partners in celebrating the 10th anniversary of GTEF
Injecting new ideas & momentum The GTEF is hosted by the Secretariat for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government, in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), co-organised by the China Chamber of Tourism and Macao Government Tourism Office, and coordinated by the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC).
The GTEF’s supporting units include the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), the European Travel Commission (ETC), The Association of Chinese Enterprises in Macao (MCEA), The World Tourism Alliance (WTA), and the International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA).
Since its inception in 2012, the GTEF has successfully established itself as an influential high-level cooperation platform to promote sustainable development in the global tourism industry with a focus on China.
Pansy Ho, vice chairman and secretary-general of GTEF, concluded: “In the past decade, we have attracted tourism industry practitioners across the globe to this international forum originating in China. We will take it to the international stage in the next decade, bringing GTEF to other parts of the world, raising both the voice and influence of China’s tourism industry internationally. We will continue to provide an equal and inclusive platform for stakeholders worldwide and inspire the global tourism industry with innovative ideas.”
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.
A Swedish national, he is also fluent in Danish, Norwegian, English and Thai.
