The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has appointed Takuya Shiraishi as executive director for the Singapore market.
In this role, he will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of strategies to promote Japan as a preferred tourist destination among Singaporean travellers.
The recently inaugurated Thai government, led by prime minister Srettha Thavisin, has turned to the business events sector to drive tourism revenue, unveiling a slew of initiatives to attract more business events travellers – especially from China – to the country.
To stimulate year-end tourist spending, the government plans to collaborate with businesses across all sectors to host top-tier trade fairs and festivals – position Loy Krathong and Songkran as world-class festivals, and hosting more exhibitions throughout the year.
The government will also incentivise business events visitors by introducing a dedicated Fast Track Visa programme.
In response to the developments, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is currently preparing an action plan, which will be announced in October.
In August 2023, TCEB revised its revenue projection for 2023 down to 96 billion baht (US$2.7 billion), from 109 billion baht in February. This decline is linked to the underperforming Chinese business events market, with lower carrier volume post-pandemic and visa processes hindering growth. China’s current focus on domestic spending has also boosted its own business events industry, impacting revenue flow to Thailand.
To stimulate the Chinese market, the new cabinet also approved a temporary visa-free scheme – operational from September 25, 2023, to February 29, 2024 – for visitors from China. Previously, inbound Chinese travellers were subject to a 2,000 baht visa-on-arrival free.
In response to the government’s behest to supplement flight volume to Thailand – an initiative written into its policy statement – national carrier Thai Airways International has committed to operating daily flights to six Chinese cities during high season, including Shanghai and Guangzhou from October 29, 2023, to March 30, 2024, and Beijing, Chengdu and Kunming starting December 1, 2023.
New Zealand will continue its work in supporting the professional development of the business events industry by hosting an in-person ICCASkills Training Hub in 2024.
International business events professionals can now apply to take part in a three-day in-person ICCASkills training event, scheduled to be held in New Zealand in September 2024. Individuals can also complete the training certification online.
Tourism New Zealand will also continue its ICCASkills scholarship programme, offering New Zealand business events professionals the chance to undertake the certification, sharing costs with the scholarship recipient’s employer.
Tourism New Zealand’s general manager New Zealand & business events, Bjoern Spreitzer, said: “New Zealand’s Business Events industry is maturing. We want to support the sustainable growth of our industry and help educate and develop the best business events professionals in our region. Encouraging professional development ensures the expertise of our people is recognised at a global level and helps to elevate New Zealand’s event standards.”
The announcement follows Tourism New Zealand’s inaugural scholarship with ICCASkills, which saw seven New Zealand business events professionals undertaking ICCASkills certification online this year.
One successful graduate was Jessica Carlson, director of Meetings & events, Accor New Zealand, Fiji & French Polynesia. She said: “ICCASkills has been a highlight for me and my professional development in recent years. The opportunity to learn from the high calibre of Instructors along with the networking and insights shared between the other students was invaluable. It allowed me to gain understanding and knowledge from across the entire ecosystem of business events, outside of my day-to-day role and experience. It has opened my eyes to exactly the size, scale and value of the industry we work in.”
Established by ICCA (the International Congress & Convention Association), ICCASkills is the only globally recognised professional accreditation for every sector of the business events industry. The in-depth curriculum has been developed by industry experts, including business leaders, academics and ICCA members, and is delivered through on-site and online learning environments.
ICCA’s CEO, Senthil Gopinath, stated: “This is wonderful news. When we first announced the collaboration between ICCASkills and Tourism New Zealand last year, both parties shared every confidence that it would prove successful. Our renewal agreement confirms this and is evidence of how innovative and impactful ICCASkills has been in New Zealand.
“Through two courses – CICE for experienced professionals, and CICS for new colleagues starting out – ICCASkills champions real-world learning and growth irrespective of age or experience. Positive feedback about the know-how and effectiveness of our expert instructors again shows the tangible value of attending courses designed for our industry, by our industry.”
Tourism New Zealand launched the new education programme as part of New Zealand Business Events week, at the BEIA (Business Events Industry Aotearoa) Annual Conference in Marlborough.
IBTM World’s 2023 Incentive Travel Report indicates that the recovery of the incentive travel sector is going from strength to strength, with its global market value projected to reach £174 billion (US$215.2 billion) by 2031.
The report finds that the sector is growing at an annual rate of 12.1 per cent, and predicts that the number of people participating in incentive travel programmes worldwide will grow by 61 per cent in 2024, compared to 2019.
These figures reflect the power of incentive travel schemes as a valuable resource to attract, retain and motivate talent and as an essential driver of culture and reputation, particularly as the modern workforce becomes ever more disparate with working-from-home and hybrid working. Benefits such as inclusivity, peer-to-peer relationships, and being able to take a partner on a trip have become more relevant to employees, according to 66 per cent of incentive travel agencies.
Despite its revival, the sector still faces significant challenges including talent shortages, inflation, rising travel and supply chain costs. Plus, tighter corporate budgets which have resulted in a reduction in the frequency of business trips and fewer employees attending face-to-face events. The report highlights the need for companies to adapt their incentive travel schemes to ensure they remain competitive.
The importance of authenticity, wellness and sustainability are highlighted, driving a new breed of incentive travel programmes which reflect the changing expectations of the workforce.
Employees now place more emphasis on incentives which provide valued experiences, support corporate social responsibility (CSR), and demonstrate concern for employees, with 35 per cent of respondents placing greater value on wellness activities and 44 per cent underlining the importance of CSR-focused team building. These incentives could include opportunities which enable employees to connect with local culture, and excursions which counteract loneliness, stress and burnout.
As companies continue to navigate the changing business travel landscape, the report shares advice for ensuring incentive travel schemes thrive into the future. This includes remembering the power of connection to enhance an experience and never losing sight of who the programme is aimed at to guarantee that what is on offer is relevant and engaging.
To view the report, please click here.
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) has achieved a pioneering subscription to the Green Electricity Tariff (GET), a programme launched by the Malaysian Government and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), the nation’s largest electricity utility company.
This subscription will supply the Centre with renewable electricity, making the Centre the first venue in Malaysia to be powered by green energy.
The GET Programme was created to empower electricity users across Malaysia to reduce their carbon footprint in electricity consumption. Through this initiative, the Centre can now power its facilities and events with renewable energy resources, sourced from solar power plants under Malaysia’s Large-Scale Solar Programme and TNB’s hydropower and renewable energy plants.
This subscription to GET marks a significant stride towards the Centre’s commitment to become a net-zero carbon venue by 2030.
John Burke, general manager of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, said, “In line with Malaysia’s sustainability agenda and the guiding principles of our industry and owners, our objective was to shift at least 25 per cent of our energy to renewable sources by 2030, but the subscription to GET has enabled us to do this much more quickly. This is a significant milestone for us, reflecting our continuous commitment to ESG practices and our desire to be one of the sustainability leaders in the business events industry. By subscribing to GET we have ensured that our clients’ events will be powered by green energy, and we are now working to build on this achievement by hitting our next target, which is to reduce overall power consumption by 25 per cent before 2030.”
He added that the GET subscription will enable “meeting and events planners to confidently organise events at the Centre, knowing that the impact of those events on the environment will be dramatically reduced”.
The Centre’s Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) targets are guided by the 12th Malaysia Plan – Advancing Sustainability, the Net Zero Carbon Emission pledge signed as part of our industry commitment and the ASM Global Acts, the corporate social responsibility programme driven by ASM Global (the Centre is part of ASM’s global network of venues).
Sustainability is a core focus for the Centre, which has a dedicated Sustainable Development Goals Taskforce guiding its sustainability progress. The Centre’s journey has encompassed various waste reduction initiatives, extensive recycling programmes, food waste minimisation efforts, investment in food composting technologies, development of sustainable sourcing practices, and the establishment of a hydroponic farm on the Centre’s rooftop.
Rooms
The hotel has 515 guestrooms including 21 suites. I stayed in the 46m2 River View Deluxe Room which has a magnificent view overlooking the Huangpu River.
The room has an open-concept bathroom, where the bathtub is placed right in the middle. Every bath, I delight in an unobstructed view of Shanghai skyline, pampering myself with amenities from AromaTherapy Associates.
The room also comprises a workstation, 55-inch TV flatscreen satellite HDTV, high-speed Internet access, spacious walk-in closet and a section holding Nespresso machine, and mini fridge.
MICE facilities
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Shanghai Pudong offers a three-storey standalone event space – with a dedicated entrance – of more than 3,200m2, comprising 16 multifunctional rooms and banquet venues.
The largest ballroom is located on Level 3 – the Grand Marquis ballroom. With a total area of 1,680m2, it can be divided into five smaller venues. On Level 2, in a space between Marquis 1 & Marquis 2 meeting rooms, sits a Culinary Theatre. This large open, full-service kitchen, has bespoke glass walls that can be adjusted from opaque to transparent upon request. I can see how events that require a live culinary demo or class would benefit from this as it allows guests to interact with chefs.
Other facilities
With bleisure travellers on the rise, family-friendly facilities are offered through the Family by JW programme. For instance, dedicated family floors on the 26th and 27th storeys, where the rooms are built for the little ones in mind featuring mini tents, kid’s bathrobes, and cartoon-themed bedding. Dedicated shuttle services from the hotel to Shanghai Disneyland are available on weekends too.
Other recreational facilities include a 24-hour access fitness centre, indoor pool and spa. As my stay came with lounge access, I could not pass up on indulging in the afternoon tea and snacks while taking in the breathtaking river view.
Other F&B options include a stylish steakhouse and bar at Flint; buffets featuring international dishes at Merchant Kitchen; three-story Le Manoir Ling offering Cantonese cuisine in a French setting; and a rooftop bar (check opening times).
During my stay, I was privileged to enjoy lunch at Le Manoir Ling, and was intrigued by how the concept of the restaurant is based on the story of a fictional Ms Ling and her birthplace in Shanghai, to her growing up years in Hong Kong and France. My lunch included a signature seafood broth, a roasted meat platter, drunken prawns, vegetables in a claypot, and a black truffle abalone rice. These dishes and more can also be enjoyed within the restaurant’s private dining rooms. Named after China’s ancient beauties Fu Rong, Min Xiu, and Ping Ting, these spaces are good for intimate corporate gatherings.
The property’s location is close to Lujiazui, the central business district, home to Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, and also the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Service
Every staff member I encountered was welcoming and helpful. I was greeted warmly upon check-in at the executive lounge, and the receptionist was very detailed in explaining the available facilities and opening hours.
Delivery of items to the hotel is a breeze. I had arranged for my luggage to be transported by a local logistics partner from Beijing to the hotel, and the luggage was already placed in my room upon check-in.
Delivery of my online shopping items was also well taken care of. They were either placed for safekeeping by the concierge or placed in dedicated lockers, located conveniently near the lobby, so guests could easily retrieve them. I encountered issues because of my phone’s compatibility with local Chinese apps, denying me access to items in the lockers. The hotel staff had patiently called up the delivery person for the access code and resolved the matter in no time.
Verdict
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Shanghai Pudong, and would definitely recommend the property to leisure visitors or corporate travellers heading to Shanghai.
Contact details
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/shamj-jw-marriott-marquis-hotel-shanghai-pudong/
Phuket’s Jampa restaurant, which acquired a Michelin Green Star this year for its zero-waste, plant-based food, offers a unique and Instagrammable venue extension tucked away in a serene and scenic part of Pru Jampa organic farm.
Aptly named Hideaway at Jampa, the restaurant exudes a rustic vibe, occupying a wooden structure by a sparkling lake that is surrounded by greenery. Here, an open kitchen makes food preparation part of the dining experience.
Hideaway at Jampa operates only on Saturdays for lunch, taking in no more than 20 pax each time and strictly by reservations. A sharing-style set menu, priced at 2,900 baht++ (US$81++) per pax, is served here. Dishes change with the day’s best harvest.
Hideaway at Jampa welcomes private events, and the sustainability-focused team is happy to conduct insightful tours of the well-established Pru Jampa organic farm, which shares the land with main restaurant Jampa and Hideaway at Jampa. The farm supplies a wide range of fruits, vegetables, herbs and even chicken eggs to Jampa, sister restaurant and one-Michelin-star-holder Pru, and other dining outlets within the luxurious Trisara hotel. These establishments are all part of parent company, Montara Hospitality Group.
The farm tour can accommodate a maximum of three groups of 10 people each at the same time, and is a good prelude to the meal at Hideaway at Jampa.
Larger private events may choose to charter the venue, and a maximum of 50 guests can be accommodated. Such arrangements will require a rental fee of 300 baht per person.
Event planners with guests keen on supporting sustainable producers may wish to host a lunch party at Hideaway at Jampa on November 4, when Local Roots by Jampa community market is conducted. The event will showcase sustainable produce from local farmers and hospitality providers.
Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford have appointed Marshall J Orton as the new general manager of F&B.
He will steer overall F&B operations including the culinary department, drive strategic direction, and enhance business performance and guest experience in Raffles City Convention Centre and the hotels’ 12 restaurants and bars.
With a career spanning 35 years across multiple prestigious hotels and resorts, Orton brings extensive expertise in luxury hospitality, hotel management & operations, F&B and culinary, having made notable contributions in his different capacities as executive chef, director of F&B, and executive assistant manager.
He was most recently general manager of Fairmont Sirru Fen Fushi in the Maldives.
Following a recent transformation, the Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa has beefed up its portfolio with more event venues, and created a new Journey programme with curated local excursions for business events groups.
The transformation included the launch of Vive Océane, a beach club restaurant; Terrasse, a space ideal for pre-dinner drinks, cocktails and canapés; Osteria al Mare, the revitalised Italian restaurant; a dedicated gallery space, and revamped villas for intimate gatherings.
Other venue spaces include the 334m2 Regency Ballroom – which can comfortably host 210 guests for gala dinners – and seven other rooms that can hold between 10 to 80 guests. Outdoor spaces are also available, with 20 hectares available for barbecues or cocktail receptions.
Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa is also one of only five Hyatt Regency-branded properties in Asia Pacific to pilot Hyatt’s Event Experience Guide. The Event Experience Guide platform has been designed to provide event planners information about the resort’s event spaces, accommodation, menus, sustainability practices, wellbeing options and more.
Moreover, under the resort’s Journey programme, meeting planners can explore a choice of onsite activities or local area adventures that have been curated to inspire delegates and connect them with the destination’s nature, culture and communities. Options include visits to Hoi An, Hue, or My Son, distillery tours, jeep rides through Son Tra Forest, and trekking in the Hai Van Pass.
Every event at Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa can also be enhanced with wellness programmes, sound meditation, Vietnamese dance and rejuvenating spa offerings to create holistic and mindful experiences for all guests.
Qualified events that book between now and November 30, 2023, with a minimum spend of US$2,500 will earn an additional 20,000 World Hyatt Bonus Points plus 10 per cent off their master bill.
The Air France-KLM Group has appointed Femke Kroese general manager for South-east Asia & Oceania.
Based in Singapore, Kroese is responsible for Air France and KLM commercial passenger sales and flight operations throughout Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.
Prior to her move to Singapore, Kroese was commercial director UK and Ireland with Air France-KLM Group.
She joined KLM in 2002 and held several positions in the Air France-KLM Group within sales, pricing revenue management and other commercial roles while being based in the Netherlands, France, Canada and the UK.
