Sydney is home to several research centres and groups
The International Congress of The Transplantation Society (TTS) is set to return to Sydney in 2026 for the third time.
This biennial meeting is the peak international transplant congress bringing together the world’s leaders in transplantation including researchers, clinicians, service providers and industry to collaborate on cutting-edge science, the latest clinical developments, ethics and public policy.
Sydney is home to a number of transplant-related research centres and groups
The congress is worth an estimated A$10.3 million (US$6.6 million) to the New South Wales economy and will see 3,000 global delegates in Sydney over four days at the International Convention Centre, Sydney.
Sydney is home to several research centres and groups, including the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and The Charles Perkins Centre at The University of Sydney. NSW hosts national centres for paediatric liver transplantation, islet cell transplantation and pancreas transplantation and there were 320 organ transplant recipients in NSW in 2021.
TTS is an NGO that serves as an international focus for leadership in transplantation science, clinical care and ethics. With official relations with the World Health Organization, TTS comprises some 6,000 professionals including but not limited to, physicians, surgeons, scientists and allied health professionals across 105 countries.
The event is hosted by local association The Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand, and supported by BESydney, and Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program.
Event brief
South Korean direct-selling company, Unicity, rewarded its top 1,400 agents, sellers and distributors of health products, foods, cosmetics and household items with an incentive trip to Mactan, Cebu, in April 2023.
Chosen for its wide range of marine activities, and proximity to Korea, Cebu was around a five-hour flight away, where the direct flight is served by Korean Air.
Event organiser, Korea-based Tidesquare, had to ensure that Unicity’s top sellers, a majority of whom were women in their 40s to 70s, were well taken care of and accorded the VIP treatment to encourage rookie sellers to follow in their footsteps.
Event highlights In total, there were 1,400 participants, which arrived in four staggered batches. Starting with 500 pax from April 9-14, followed by 300 pax from April 13-18; another 300 pax from 17-22; and the last 300 pax from April 21-26. Each batch spent six days in Mactan.
Due to its sheer numbers, the incentive group merited a meet-and-greet from the Philippines’ tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco for the second batch. This personal touch and warm welcome from Frasco herself was memorable for the participants, according to feedback from Tidesquare.
Everyone was accorded the VIP lane for Immigration and Customs at Cebu Mactan International Airport, where they were also met with a welcome reception that included serenaders, Sinulog dancers, leis and souvenirs.
Challenges The sheer size of the incentive group was a challenge to begin with, hence the 1,400 participants were broken into smaller groups.
At the airport, Tidesquare and the airport staff also did several dry runs to ensure a smooth operation for their inbound guests.
As South Koreans generally prefer hocance (the portmanteau of hotel and vacance), which meant that their vacation would be spent largely in a resort or hotel, most of them were put up at Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu, one of the few resorts in the island with keys exceeding 500.
“Shangri-La Mactan had a total of 530 rooms and the Unicity incentive group occupied all its premises all through April. But it was hard to get an extra room when needed,” the Philippines’ Department of Tourism business/market development manager for Korea, Natasha Lee, said.
Moreover, most of the meals were in the hotel as it was difficult to eat out with such a huge group.
It was also challenging to transport the group, as the roads in some parts of Cebu were too narrow for the 16 45-seater buses needed for tours. In certain instances, ground transportation was avoided. For example, the island-hopping tour started from Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu’s pier instead.
The Philippines’ entry protocol was another challenge. At that time, all inbound visitors were required to register individually on the e-travel platform and show proof of the e-travel registration upon check-in/boarding and upon arrival in the Philippines. Moreover, travellers could only register within 72 hours prior to their arrival.
Although it is an individual’s responsibility to register, Tidesquare did it on behalf of their clients, especially where many of the travellers were not tech-savvy.
Event Unicity Incentive Trip Organiser Tidesquare Venue Mactan in Cebu, Philippines Dates Four batches of arrivals in April 2023 Attendance 1,400 pax
Daydream Island Resort and Living Reef in the Whitsundays, Australia, has appointed Craig Robertson to the role of executive chef.
He will be responsible for overseeing all culinary offerings including the two onsite restaurants, Infinity and Inkspot, as well as the breakfast buffet ‘Graze’, and catering for all functions and events.
Boasting 35 years of hospitality experience, not only as a chef but as a sommelier, arborist and butcher, Robertson has held a number of senior positions including executive chef for the launch of The Langham Gold Coast, executive chef at InterContinental Hayman Island Resort; and most recently as culinary specialist at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa.
One&Only Desaru Coast in Johor, Malaysia has welcomed two executive chefs to its team, Bianca Palmer, and Aizat Nazri.
In this chef de cuisine role, Palmer will collaborate with Michelin-star chef Andrew Walsh on menu design and engineering to orchestrate dining experiences which showcase the art of open-fire barbecue, a hallmark of Ember Beach Club.
From left: Bianca Palmer; and Aizat Nazri
Hailing from a small country town in New South Wales, she has over 14 years of culinary experience.
Similarly, Aizat Nazri has been named chef de cuisine of Hoshi. He possesses almost a decade’s experience in Japanese cuisine.
Since making its foray into China after its acquisition by Jin Jiang International in 2015, Louvre Hotels Group has expanded rapidly in the destination as part of its internationalisation strategy.
Starting with its first hotel, the Campanile brand in 2016, the group’s portfolio now stands at more than 500 properties in operation or under construction in China. China also became its second-largest key market in terms of development, registering the biggest year-on-year growth since 2016.
This accelerated development is fuelled by four brands, namely the up-market Golden Tulip, mid-scale brands, Campanile and Kyriad Marvelous Hotel, as well as hotel apartment brand, Tulip Lodj.
Gaining a foothold in China was challenging at first, especially when faced with tough competition from well-established Chinese hotel brands, Mathieu Rouri, vice president, international operations, Louvre Hotels Group, told TTGmice.
But Louvre Hotels Group managed to break through – their biggest success in China is with the Kyriad Marvelous Hotel, and the group intends to open over 200 Kyriad-branded hotels within five years.
On top of continuous brand enhancement such as product design and standardisation, the Louvre hotels China team also focuses on brand innovation to cater to current market trends.
He explained: “Our strategy is to use China as a “showroom” to showcase to the world. Because if you want to look at new technology, new design and new trends, you go to China, rather than New York, London, Paris and Dubai. Today, you go to Shanghai and Shenzhen to look at the latest trends in hospitality.”
Testimony to its robust expansion, the first half of the year saw a new Campanile hotel signed up for Shenzhen, another Kyriad Marvelous Hotel inaugurated in Jiangxi, as well as the opening of Golden Tulip Shanghai Hongqiao Yankuang. Tulip Lodj, launched in April 2021, also has more than 10 projects in the pipeline.
In fact, the group is working towards surpassing 1,000 hotels when it celebrates its 10th anniversary of establishment in China in 2025.
Louvre Hotels Group
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Mathieu Rouri, vice president, international operations, Louvre Hotels Group, shared that regular market research is crucial to keep their fingers on the pulse of the market
Louvre Hotels Group has more than 1,700 hotels worldwide in 60 countries
The first hotel brand the group launched in China was Campanile in 2016
Golden Tulip is the group's up-market brand
The group's biggest success in China is with the Kyriad Marvelous Hotel
Tulip Lodj has more than 10 projects in the pipeline in China
While the Chinese market continues to drive its growth in Asia Pacific, Louvre Hotels Group’s global footprint is also on an upward trajectory. Last year, the group added 122 hotels to its portfolio. In total, Louvre Hotels Group has more than 1,700 hotels worldwide in 60 countries.
Rouri shared that regular market research is crucial to keep their fingers on the pulse of the market, and to keep abreast of hospitality trends and consumption patterns.
For instance, the group is aware that its French DNA appeals to the young clientele base in China’s new consumer era – one with different expectations from generations prior.
He added: “We had the price-focus approach before, but now Gen Z’s main priority is experience. When going in with an international brand, you need to bring something tailor-made and different from the ones in China. While we localised the French concept to cater to Chinese customers, it doesn’t mean that we are diluting the brand.”
The key is to make “a big differentiation in terms of sales, brand standard, operations and marketing”, said Rouri.
Established in 1976, Louvre Hotels Group has over 40 years of experience in hotel management and operation, and is the second-largest hotel group in Europe. In 2015, it was acquired by Jin Jiang International, the second-largest hospitality group in the world, and made its entry into the Chinese market.
For more details on Louvre Hotels Group, visit here.
The Calyx will be transforming cocktails with branded ice
Event venue The Calyx, located in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, has launched its summer F&B offerings, which include cocktails with native ingredients, a caviar bar, and soft-serve ice cream.
Homegrown herbs and spices from the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney will feature in the new summer drinks selection. Guests will choose from an adaptation of a firm favourite – the Wattleseed Espresso Martini – a coffee cocktail infused with the rich, nutty flavour of native Australian wattleseed; and a zesty Finger Lime and River Mint Mojito – a sweet and refreshing mix of flavours, perfect for warm evening cocktail parties.
The Calyx will be transforming cocktails with branded ice
The Calyx will also introduce a caviar bar, and highlight the delicacy with fries, chocolate dishes, and alongside a crisp glass of champagne.
The following summer treat available at The Calyx will be transforming cocktails with pretty ice. Crafting ice in fun-shaped moulds, organisers can request ingredients such as edible glitter or frozen fruit – whipping up eye-catching ice that can showcase company colours and themes.
Finally, The Calyx will reimagine the classic soft-serve ice cream. Beyond the quintessential vanilla, The Calyx will tantalise with an assortment of flavours ranging from exotic fruits to unexpected savoury elements in every creamy swirl.
In addition to the F&B options, the team at The Calyx is bringing to life summer theming with a complete venue experience.
Astrid Renigeris, sales manager at the Calyx, said: “We’re seeing lots of demand from businesses wanting to incorporate natural elements and biophilic design principles in their events for summer, with earthy colour schemes and organic ambiences.
“Eco-friendly and sustainable styling choices are in high demand including re-usable fruit and vegetables, upcycled and recycled materials and environmentally friendly decorations.
“The Calyx, is very well placed to be able to offer this type of adaptation for our guests being situated in Sydney’s city garden.”
Hancock: Gold Coast is growing its reputation as one of the most accessible destinations
A landmark initiative will see Destination Gold Coast go on a domestic roadshow starting today (August 21, 2023) with new tools tailored for the disability tourism market.
The roadshow will visit the Gold Coast’s key interstate markets of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, in what is believed to be the first of its kind by a Regional Tourism Organisation in Australia.
Hancock: Gold Coast is growing its reputation as an accessible destination. Photo: Adelaine Ng
It will showcase an extensive Accessible Tourism Guide, featuring 31 accommodation partners, 27 attractions and experiences, and an audio guide to be launched soon, as part of its bid to position itself as an inclusive and accessible destination.
Announced at This Is Gold Coast 2023 (TIGC23) which concluded last Wednesday, the roadshow is part of the state of Queensland’s drive to promote its disability tourism credentials, with this year earmarked as the Year of Accessible Tourism.
“The Gold Coast is growing a reputation as one of the most accessible destinations in Australia. Earlier this year, the Gold Coast made history in being the first Australian city to host the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference,” said Destination Gold Coast’s interim chief operating officer Rachel Hancock.
“We’ve been getting a lot more website hits, and soon we will be re-launching our website to include more accessible-friendly features such as the use of fonts and the ability to change text size for the visually-impaired, colour scheme options, and audio-based initiatives,” she added.
Some examples of attractions contributing to the initiative include indoor skydiving company iFLY, which is offering extra support on Thursdays for visitors with physical disabilities, and Paradise Resort which has set up a room for children with audio and sensory sensitivities.
Such efforts have impressed TIGC23 delegates such as Bredette Koen, event manager for Australian Network on Disability, who has been looking for a suitable destination for their next national conference for 500 participants.
“The one thing that surprised me the most is the amount of awareness that’s already been created to make events and venues more accessible. The framework they’ve created is phenomenal,” she told TTGmice.
“Everyone that I’ve spoken to, where I would mention the challenges that we’ve experienced in the past, showed an incredible level of eagerness to listen, learn, adjust and better the situation. That is in contrast to major centres (in other destinations) that are more set in their ways and won’t make a small change to their menu, which doesn’t work for us.”
“Another big thing for us is that there are very limited venues around the country that can take on our numbers. Here, I’ve identified four venues in the Gold Coast that can accommodate us, whereas in Sydney I could only identify one or two venues,” Koen elaborated.
Another delegate sourcing an Australian destination to host the next World Association for Assisted Employment Conference for 500 people is Ann Ip, who represented Disability Employment Australia at TIGC23.
“The Gold Coast is more competitively priced for us as a non-profit organisation, and the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre looks to be perfectly suited to our needs,” she said.
“Our only reluctance is that we need accessible travel for some 200 international delegates flying in and there aren’t many direct flights into the Gold Coast,” she observed.
There are currently six direct international flights into the Gold Coast including Kuala Lumpur, Denpasar and New Zealand’s main cities.
South Korean MICE agents having fun in Ocean Park Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) recently concluded several fam trips – held over the last two months – for more than 160 agents and corporates from the Mainland, South Korea and India.
The destination offers new and upgraded attractions, such as the two first-rate museums – Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ – in the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD). Attractions such as Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Ocean Park Hong Kong, and the Peak Tram are constantly creating new products that will deliver engaging experiences for groups.
South Korean MICE agents having fun in Ocean Park Hong Kong
Nam Hyo Rim, section manager of The MICE from South Korea, commented: “Hong Kong is a multicultural city with a perfect blend of East and West. The new museums in the city’s flagship arts and cultural quarter, WKCD, not only have world-class art exhibitions but also diverse flexible event venues for MICE groups to draw inspiration and stimulate creativity.”
Kong Yan, general manager of NEW VIEW (Shenzhen) M.I.C.E SERVICE, added: “My perception of Hong Kong has been renewed by the wide range of new experiences, from exclusive group arrangements at theme parks including the spectacular multimedia show – Visions of Hong Kong and Soul of the Ocean at Ocean Park Hong Kong and the Momentous show at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, to VIP horse-racing parties. It’s truly unforgettable.”
Beyond Hong Kong’s signature attractions, there were also creative incentive ideas that catered to planners’ and corporates’ desire for immersive experiences.
Dipti Narvekar, senior manager – MICE, Thomas Cook India said: “Hong Kong is full of party ideas, day and night, perfect for team bonding! From bar-hopping to a poolside party at the new Water World Ocean Park or adrenaline-racing VR Sandbox, or horse-racing parties, Hong Kong has a lot of action to keep my clients who are party-goers coming back for more!”
Liu Jun, procurement director of Hunan Ruizhi International Conference Exhibition Co, added: “Lantau is a neighbourhood that is full of surprises and exceptional experiences – Discovery Bay is exotic and off the beaten track. Yachting is a great way to chillax, and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is as always full of creative entertainment for planning memorable team experiences.”
In the past six months, Hong Kong has welcomed close to 300 meeting and incentive groups of all sizes. For instance, liquor brand Luzhou Laojiao brought 1,250 of their best-performing distributors to Hong Kong in five batches in August.
MEETINGS 2023 at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre
Aotearoa New Zealand’s annual business events exhibition, MEETINGS broke records this year for the projected value of business it generated.
Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) post-MEETINGS buyer survey shows NZ$157 million (US$93 million) will be placed over the next five years following the two-day event in Wellington earlier in June – a significant increase on 2022’s results.
MEETINGS 2023 at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre
With the opening of the New Zealand International Convention Centre in 2025, and two new convention centres in Christchurch and Wellington already open, business is being booked well into the future.
BEIA’s MEETINGS 2023, held in Wellington, was the largest in its 27-year history, with 224 exhibition stands representing 19 regions, and over 400 buyers, including 100 from Australia and 10 from international markets.
BEIA chief executive, Lisa Hopkins, added: “In a month’s time, BEIA will be hosting New Zealand’s inaugural Business Events Week, starting with BEIA’s annual conference in Marlborough on September 18.”
Business Events Week takes place from September 18-22, starting with the BEIA Conference in Marlborough, followed by a Policy Forum in Wellington, the Tourism New Zealand Business Events National Awards, and a Business Forum in Auckland.
From left: SSPCA’s Dona Drury Wee with Place Borneo’s Gracie Geikie reviewing a curated vegan menu by Borneo Convention Centre Kuching
The Asia for Animals Sarawak Conference (AfA) 2023, organised by The Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), will be happening from October 11-14 this year at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
Themed Education and Engagement Bring Change, AfA2023 will bring together experts, advocates, and stakeholders in the fields of animal welfare and wildlife management from the Asia-Pacific region.
From left: SSPCA’s Dona Drury Wee with Place Borneo’s Gracie Geikie reviewing a curated vegan menu by Borneo Convention Centre Kuching
AfA2023 will feature a diverse lineup of 75 distinguished speakers hailing from various corners of the globe, where these experts will share their knowledge and experiences, presenting groundbreaking insights that contribute to the advancement of animal welfare and wildlife conservation that Sarawak can adapt.
SSPCA’s president, Dona Drury Wee, shared: “Our second Asia for Animals Sarawak Conference hosted in Kuching from October 11-14 promises to be even more engaging and transformative, building on the success of the previous edition. AfA2023 seeks to foster long-term positive changes in animal welfare through the exchange of ideas and the establishment of lasting collaborations.”
“With a specially curated vegan menu by BCCK, we look forward to welcoming our delegates to Sarawak,” said Gracie Geikie, director of Place Borneo, official conference organiser for AfA2023.
AfA2023 is supported by the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, and Business Events Sarawak.
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.
