Oceania Cruises has appointed Jason Worth to the newly-created role of vice president, international sales.
Worth, currently vice president, sales & general manager, Asia Pacific, will assume the role with immediate effect, and will oversee sales teams in the UK, Europe, Latin America and Brazil, as well as Asia-Pacific.
He has held various positions with the company since joining in 2011, including vice president, sales, Australia & New Zealand, Oceania Cruises, from 2019 through to 2022, and vice president, finance & accounting – Asia Pacific at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
From left: Turkish Airlines' Bilal Ekşi; and THAI's Chai Eamsiri
Thai Airways International Public Company (THAI) and Turkish Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding to move towards a joint venture operations agreement between the two airlines in Istanbul.
The collaboration will enhance connectivity between the two regions as well as provide seamless travel experiences to passengers of THAI and Turkish Airlines.
From left: Turkish Airlines’ Bilal Ekşi; and THAI’s Chai Eamsiri
THAI will introduce daily services to Istanbul from its hub of Bangkok in December.
With the extensive networks offered by both carriers, passengers can then travel between Thailand and Turkey as well as on to Europe and other points in Asia.
Marked as one of Indonesia’s five Super Priority Destinations, Labuan Bajo, has already established itself as a leisure hotspot, but it is working towards positioning itself as an ideal destination for business events as well.
Located in East Nusa Tenggara, the harbour city stepped confidently into the limelight when it recently played host to the ASEAN Summit, a gathering of heads of state from member countries earlier in May.
Labuan Bajo successfully hosted the ASEAN Summit in May
Wiwin Kurniawan, director of marketing and operations at Pacto Convex, expressed that while there were some limitations when considering Labuan Bajo as an events destination, the successful hosting of the Summit demonstrated the city’s ability as a prime business events hub.
One such limitation was the lack of accommodations and meeting spaces suited for large-scale or high-profile events.
According to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Labuan Bajo currently has 38 hotels offering over 1,500 rooms. Among these properties, only five are classified as upscale accommodations, such as the Ayana Komodo Waecicu Beach Hotel, Meruorah Komodo Labuan Bajo, and Plataran Komodo Resort & Spa.
For the 145-key Meruorah Komodo Labuan Bajo and 205-key Ayana Komodo Waecicu Beach Hotel, hosting national and international business events is not new.
Rizal Kasim, president director of Hotel Indonesia Group, the holding company of Meruorah Komodo Labuan Bajo, stated: “In fact, Meruorah was purposefully designed to target business events. Our meeting facilities are currently the largest on the island. Since its launch in 2019, we have successfully hosted several national and international events, including last year’s G20 meetings.”
The hotel ballroom can accommodate up to 375 people theatre-style and be further divided into three meeting rooms.
Golo Mori Convention Centre is ready to host business events (Photo by HIG)
Christian Hoechtl, general manager of Ayana Hospitality Group as well as Ayana Midplaza Jakarta, said: “MICE bookings accounted for 35 per cent of Ayana’s revenue in 2019. For 2023, MICE business has contributed 25 per cent thus far, and we are optimistic that our participation in this year’s ASEAN Summit will significantly boost revenue.”
Ayana Komodo Waecicu Beach Hotel’s function spaces include a ballroom with up to 220 people for reception and sits 150 theatre-style, as well as five breakout rooms amnd several outdoor venues.
Hochtl added that the Summit will enhance the promotion of local tourist destinations and domestic industries, showcasing Indonesia’s competitive advantage.
In a boost to Labuan Bajo’s event capability beyond five-star hotels’ ballrooms and venues, the Golo Mori Convention Centre (GMCC) was recently completed.
A standalone facility, GMCC is located a 30-minute drive away from the city centre on a 26-km long newly built road. The venue features an amphitheatre with a capacity of up to 1,500 people, a convention centre that can accommodate up to 500 people, and several boardrooms.
Ari Respati, president director of the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation, also revealed plans for an integrated resort complex spanning 200 hectares around GMCC. A beach club and small dock have already been built, while several hotels and attractions are in the pipeline.
Rizal also pointed out that Labuan Bajo has several upscale hotels currently under development, and are set to come online this year and next.
As such, Pacto’s Wiwin is immensely confident in Labuan Bajo’s business events potential, because aside from having suitable business events spaces, the area’s natural beauty is something that would appeal to many.
She stated: “Labuan Bajo has stunning and alluring natural surroundings, which will captivate visitors from the moment they step off the plane. Although the destination may not be suitable for large conventions due to current facility limitations, it will appeal to small and medium-sized corporate meetings and incentives.”
Possible additions to corporate itineraries include island hopping, sunset cruising, one-day trips to Komodo Island, diving, and enjoying the scenic views from Puncak Waringin Peak.
Terence Lee, general manager of Meruorah Komodo Labuan Bajo, agreed: “Labuan Bajo is good for combining meetings and incentives. You arrive in Labuan Bajo for meetings (on the first day), then go island hopping on the second and third days.”
Wiwin further pointed out that as demand for business events increases, investors will be keen to explore the further development of facilities and equipment, thereby reducing logistical costs.
To sustain the momentum of high demand for both leisure and business events, Lee expects an increase in seat capacity to the Labuan Bajo, which could lead to the expansion of Komodo Airport.
Currently, the airport is equipped with a 2,650m-long runway capable of accommodating A320 and B738 aircraft.
Hochtl is also optimistic, sharing that the government’s plans to establish Labuan Bajo as an international hub in the near future will further solidify the region’s position as a preferred business events destination.
With enhanced infrastructure and convenient access to Komodo National Park, Labuan Bajo would attract event planners seeking new and different experiences for their meetings and incentive travel, he said.
The Workshop Agreement (WA) 4 Sustainable MICE – Guidelines for carbon emissions management was launched by SACEOS (Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers) and the Singapore Standards Council (SSC; overseen by Enterprise Singapore), at the Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) at Sands Expo & Convention on July 27.
This set of standards will support the Singapore MICE Sustainability Roadmap and the Singapore Green Plan 2030 by providing guidelines for the industry to better manage its carbon emissions.
From left: SACEOS’ Richard Ireland; NTUC LearningHub’s Jeremy Ong; Singapore minister of state for trade and industry and culture, community and youth, Alvin Tan; and SACEOS’ Mathias Kuepper
WA 4 covers guidelines and best practices for the measurement, reduction, calculation, verification and offset of carbon emissions for business events. It also provides an emissions-reporting template for reference.
Yap Chin Siang, deputy chief executive of STB, said: “The launch of the new guidelines for carbon management is a critical step in our collective effort with SACEOS to raise sustainability standards across the MICE industry and reinforces STB’s commitment in working with the industry to build a more sustainable tourism sector.”
SACEOS will be running its first MICE Carbon Management Guidelines workshop based on WA 4 in the coming months. The workshop will promote awareness and provide guidance to reduce carbon footprint by each stakeholder.
WA 4 also complements the WA 3 – Guidelines for waste management, which provides guidance and best practices to the industry in reducing waste at business events.
To showcase and drive innovation in sustainability within the business events sector, SMF also featured the inaugural MICE Sustainability Innovation Marketplace. The Marketplace explored various solutions to improve the sustainability performance of organisations, as well as innovative ways to host sustainable events. Attendees discovered solutions in leveraging data and analytics, robotics, energy optimisation, sustainable materials and food & beverage from the Marketplace.
JustCo Changi Airport T3 will feature purpose-built workspaces to support different work modalities. Photo credit: JustCo
Flexible workspace provider JustCo has partnered with Changi Airport Group (CAG) to launch and manage Asia’s first pay-per-minute co-working centre in an airport.
Located at Changi Airport Terminal 3, the new co-working centre will adopt a pay-per-minute pricing model, and feature close to 50 hot-desk workstations. Aside from the hot-desk workstations, the centre will also be equipped with private office suites, a work lounge, meeting rooms with video conferencing tools, and collaboration areas. The space is scheduled to open in 4Q2023.
JustCo Changi Airport T3 will feature purpose-built workspaces to support different work modalities. Photo credit: JustCo
JustCo Changi Airport T3 will also feature a nap zone fitted with partitions and a pantry with food vending machines.
“JustCo’s new partnership with CAG will reinvent the work-life harmony experience for frequent business travellers and digital nomads. We are offering a convenient and cost-effective workspace solution to travellers and patrons of Changi Airport, regardless of their length of stay.
“Round-the-clock access, as well as amenities such as nap zone, food vending machines, and meeting rooms with video conferencing tools, will reshape the work experience for business travellers who need a conducive space to work in between flight transits, or for digital nomads looking for a relaxing work environment,” said Kong Wan Long, co-founder and chief commercial officer, JustCo.
FCM Travel Asia’s technology capabilities and NDC readiness are well ahead of the pack, thanks to a US$200 million investment by parent company Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) in 2019.
Bertrand Saillet, managing director, FCM Travel Asia, who spoke at the CTC Singapore Corporate Travel Summit in June, told TTGmice it was the “first global TMC to attain IATA Level 4 NDC certification”, and is able “to provide Full Offer and Order Management, including booking, servicing, and flight disruption handling”.
Saillet: investment in technology very much welcome
He added FCM was also among the first global TMCs to be included in the IATA Airline Retailing Maturity index, and was launch partner of Amadeus’s NDC-X programme and Sabre’s Beyond NDC programme.
FCM was “‘live’ delivering NDC content to corporate customers and was driving pilot programmes in partnership with customers, airlines and OBTs (online booking tools) to discover the best solutions for our wider customer base and create an industry standard”, noted Saillet.
Since 2019, FCTG has made several acquisitions. In 2019, it acquired SAM. Short for Smart Assistant for Mobile, it is available 24/7 and includes an instant live chat with an agent. In 2020, FCTG acquired San Francisco-based WhereTo, an enterprise travel platform and technology company that simplifies and improves business travel planning for corporations.
In 2021, FCTG acquired FCM Extension. Previously known as Shep, the Texas-based software company provides a browser-extension-based communication platform for MNCs. In the same year, FCM Platform, a new proprietary platform was developed to target customers’ pain points with current and legacy corporate travel technology.
He added that the group’s technology investment was addressing the more complex air distribution environment due to the different strategies implemented by the airlines and the acceleration of NDC in Asia.
The omnichannel, Saillet continued, was designed to address six key pillars: a globally consistent booking experience; always available travel assistance; traveller safety and wellbeing support; sustainability; AI-powered reporting and savings, and flexible integration capabilities.
FCTG also took a majority stake in Dubai-based travel firm TPConnects Technologies in 2022 to offer a wider choice of airfares to clients by aggregating airline content from multiple sources, including GDSs, low-cost carriers (LCCs) and the growing number of NDC-enabled booking channels.
In understanding different market needs, FCM has also developed its very own platform for China. Meanwhile in India, FCM Booking was developed and deployed as a proprietary online booking tool in 2022 to cater to the uniqueness and specificity of the market, allowing access to international content, and a wide variety of relevant domestic content including local LCCs and rail.
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, part of Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR), has unveiled its S$30 million (US$22.3 million) renovation after a nine-month revamp that commenced in October 2022.
At the forefront of Grand Copthorne Waterfront’s renovations are its 33 versatile function rooms. Spanning over 6,200m2 across three floors, the conference spaces benefit from an abundance of natural sunlight, and come equipped with cutting-edge technology, including wireless video signal transmission, laser projectors, and 2K to 4K high-resolution LED video walls.
Premier Club Waterfront with water filter
Venues include the pillarless 850m2 Grand Ballroom with two giant LED screens on two walls that can be divided into smaller screens and junior ballrooms for various event sizes.
Eco-conscious practices are evident throughout with the use of recyclable and biodegradable stationery, filtered drinking water replacing plastic bottles, and a linen-less table setup.
Meanwhile, all of its 574 guestrooms and suites have received a redesign. Each room now features an in-room water filtration system, a smart room control thermostat, a HD TV, and wireless bedside charging technology.
In addition to the hotel’s redesign, Grand Copthorne Waterfront offers enhanced food and beverage concepts at its three restaurants, as well as events catering. Food Capital is an all-day dining buffet restaurant; TEMPO Bar & Grill is a cocktail bar featuring an alfresco dining area with a selection of barbecue and grilled seafood delicacies; while Grand Shanghai serves Shanghainese fare inspired by the golden age of the 1930s.
Catering to the demands of the function spaces, the hotel operates three individual kitchens including a Halal-certified kitchen to cater to guests’ personal dietary requirements.
The Executive Club Lounge, located on Level 29, has also undergone a complete transformation, boasting a contemporary living room ambience with vistas of Singapore’s iconic cityscape. Reserved exclusively for My Millennium Prestige members and Club Floor paying guests, the Club Lounge will also offer afternoon snacks from live food stations, as well as evening cocktails.
Rooms In total, the hotel houses 198 rooms and suites, 144 one- to three-bedroom residences, and 18 three-bedroom villas. Currently, the villas are being progressively refurbished with new interiors and furniture.
I stayed in the King Bed Ocean View room that came with a sofa area (which doubled up as my working space), a walk-in closet, and separate toilet and bathing areas. Overlooking a portion of the main swimming pool, I enjoyed watching the sunrise over the ocean from my balcony, framed by the mountains in the distance.
I barely spent any time on the balcony itself as it was scorching hot during the day, but it was pleasant to laze on the daybed in the breezy evenings. I also enjoyed lounging in the hammocks strung between coconut trees on Non Nuoc Beach, and even dozed off in one listening to the waves crash on the beach. Speaking of the beach, Hyatt Regency Danang & Spa is truly on the beachfront, with direct access to a 700m-long stretch of Non Nuoc Beach.
MICE facilities The Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa has a standalone event building which has a dedicated entrance so that the arrival of a large group of delegates will not be disruptive to guests. The event building will be getting an uplift in the near future, but details have not been released.
As of now, the property features 900m2 of event and meeting facilities, where conferences and receptions for up to 250 guests can be held in the 500m2 Regency Ballroom on the first level. Seven breakout rooms are available on the second level.
Other event spaces include five outdoor lawns, apt for gala dinners and outdoor barbecue dinners in the evenings. The property also has five swimming pools, two of which are located in a quieter portion of the resort, which allows for the sectioning for private events.
A number of the Pool Villas are also available for event hire, which would work for small-sized corporate groups that would like to meet while looking out to the soft sands of Non Nuoc Beach and the ocean.
Other facilities Refurbishments include the expanded kids’ club, Camp Hyatt, which boasts four indoor and outdoor play zones equipped with toddler play pits, ball pools, canopy swings, climbing nets, and a climbing wall. There is even a water obstacle course, as well as daily activities to keep the young ones entertained – perfect for corporates travelling with their families.
Other recreational facilities include a 24-hour access fitness centre, aerobics room, cold plunge pool, hot tub, steam room and sauna. A variety of water activities such as bodyboarding, paddle boarding and kayaking, are complimentary during the day.
Meanwhile, Vie Spa offers two double treatment rooms, and eight single treatment rooms set in a garden, where each calming space has been designed in the concept of a separated villa, which means there is also an outdoor bathtub, bathroom, steam room and changing room.
For nourishment, there are six F&B options on-site, two of which have been rebranded and revamped – Italian Osteria Al Mare and lounge space Terrasse.
During my stay, I was able to try Osteria Al Mare’s new menu, and I really enjoyed the Agnolotti Di Funghi E Capesante (seared scallops and agnolotti filled with wild mushroom, and parmesan cream), and Casereccia Al Pesto Genovese (casereccia with Italian basil pesto, potato, green beans, and pecorino cheese). My most memorable dish, however, was the sweet note at the end of the meal – my Panna Cotta which was presented beautifully with a scoop of milk ice cream and pistachios, and topped with a honeycomb-shaped biscuit.
The Vive Océane beach club is also a brand-new option for beachside cocktail evenings, and can be booked out for team dinners. The menu covers a range of casual bites ranging from Lemon Crab Cakes and Pork Bahn Mi to Soft Shell Crab Bao Buns and Pomelo Salad & Squid. When not booked out, Vive Océane will offer regular entertainment shows, spinning DJs, or live bands to create an upbeat atmosphere.
There is also a new art gallery that features both local and visiting artists, and when I visited, French photographer Réhahn’s work was on show.
Service Every staff member I encountered was always ready to greet guests with a smile, and if so needed, hand guests a cold towel and a drink to beat the heat.
Verdict I enjoyed my stay at the Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa, and would definitely consider the sprawling property again should the winds take me to Danang in the future.
I also feel that Danang is a great option for companies that would like to take their employees out from bustling cities to a more relaxed setting. Danang did not feel crowded, had an easy, unhurried vibe, and is certainly a value-for-money destination.
Situated in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Zone of Bao’an District, InterContinental Shenzhen WECC has opened a mere 800 metres from the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Delegates attending conferences or meetings at the centre can opt to stay in one of the 359 guestrooms and suites, which offer floor-to-ceiling windows and range from 50m2 to 280m2 in size.
A rendering of the InterContinental Shenzhen WECC
InterContinental Shenzhen itself offers 3,300m2 of versatile meeting space, including a 1,200m2 pillar-free Aden Grand Ballroom with natural lighting, as well as an outdoor terrace.
There are four F&B options for guests, the Cai Feng Lou Chinese Restaurant; American-style steakhouse, Char Bar & Grill; Commune; and The Lounge 1872. Other facilities include an infinity indoor heated swimming pool, and a fitness centre.
Marriott International has made several new appointments to its Asia Pacific (excluding China) leadership team – Christina Chan as its chief financial officer, and John Toomey as its chief sales and marketing officer.
Chan, a 23-year veteran of the company, will oversee finance operations, asset management, compliance and owner relations; while providing counsel for the administrative finance, business analysis, and feasibility teams in the region.
Having been with the company for 27 years, Toomey will oversee the consumer strategy for Marriott International in the region in his new role, which includes brand management, marketing, sales, distribution, revenue management, loyalty, customer experience, digital and communications.
Andrew Newmark has also been appointed chief human resources officer, Asia Pacific (excluding China). With more than 30 years with Marriott, Newmark has been tasked with strengthening Marriott’s ‘People first’ culture and ensuring the business attracts, engages, and develops best-in-class talent and leaders at all levels.
Lastly, with over 25 years of experience in the industry, Oriol Montal has been appointed managing director, luxury, Asia Pacific (excluding China). This newly-created role underscores the company’s commitment to the growth and leadership of its luxury brand portfolio which include The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott and W Hotels Worldwide.
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.
He has held various positions with the company since joining in 2011, including vice president, sales, Australia & New Zealand, Oceania Cruises, from 2019 through to 2022, and vice president, finance & accounting – Asia Pacific at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
Having been with the company for 27 years, Toomey will oversee the consumer strategy for Marriott International in the region in his new role, which includes brand management, marketing, sales, distribution, revenue management, loyalty, customer experience, digital and communications.
