Asia/Singapore Thursday, 30th April 2026
Page 259

W Hotels debuts in Macau

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Studio Suite Living Room

W Hotels has opened W Macau – Studio City, part of Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s integrated resort of Studio City on Cotai Strip.

This marks the debut of the W Hotels brand in Macau.

Spanning 600m2 across seven customisable rooms, the Academy is W Macau – Studio City’s meeting and events space, equipped with an open kitchen and beverage station – a first in Macau. The largest room measures 152m2 and is able to accommodate up to 130 guests for both gatherings. The Academy is fully equipped with an extensive range of audiovisual facilities, as well as the latest in meeting technology.

Studio Suite Living Room

Designed by world-renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, W Macau – Studio City takes inspiration from the glamour of 1950s Hollywood. Delegates can stay in one of the 557 guestrooms and suites, which range from 37m2 to 258m2. Recreational facilities include a 16m-long indoor pool, a Jacuzzi, a communal steam and sauna room, gym, and the Away Spa.

There are also four restaurants and bars, including all day dining restaurant Hawker Hawker, to Cantonese fine dining restaurant Diva on the 40th floor and its destination bar Blind Tiger.

W Macau – Studio City also features Greater China’s very first W Sound Suite, the brand’s signature recording studio experience. Located within Blind Tiger, the W Sound Suite lets guests explore their musical side and lay down tracks with professional-grade sound equipment.

Niccolo & MAQO Changsha welcomes new area GM

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Wharf Hotels Group of Hong Kong has appointed Henrik Iversen as area general manager of Niccolo & MAQO Changsha.

He spent 12 years working for Hyatt Hotels, seven years for Rosewood Hotel Group, and five years for Conran Restaurants working across multiple locations including Spain, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia and China before accepting his present role.

His most recent role was as general manager at Grand Millennium Beijing Hotel.

Four Points by Sheraton Palawan appoints GM and DOSM

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The 168-key Four Points by Sheraton Palawan, to debut in Puerto Princesa in 4Q2023, has appointed Dietmar Platz as the general manager and Amie Villena as director of sales and marketing.

Platz has extensive experience with Marriott International and was previously manager of Amman Marriott in Jordan, director of operations at JW Marriott Cairo, director of F&B at Doha Marriott in Qatar and cluster director of F&B at Marriott Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Villena’s extensive background in hotel sales, marketing and event management included her stint as group DOSM of The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts, director of sales at The Bellevue Resort Bohol, and pre-opening DOSM at City Garden Grand Hotel.

Collective cadence

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Vietnam Events Group (VEG) has been designing and delivering top-notch experiential events in Vietnam since launching in 2016, with its team core to operations.

“Our vision is to create a creative ecosystem and development of Vietnam’s event industry,” said CEO Bill Nguyen.

VEG’s team of 25 permanent staff and more than 50 freelancers curate a range of events spanning music festivals, major conferences, gala dinners and corporate events. These include the Honda Youth Festival 2021, with more than 150,000 attendees across four events, and Southeast Asia Futsal Football Tournament 2019.

“We believe a great event will provide audiences with impact, emotion and connection. If we can execute with excellence, we can help clients make more effective connections with guests,” Nguyen added.

To keep his team motivated, Nguyen created a VEG Football Team Culture, which promotes team spirit and clear communication. This, he said, helps teammates perform to the best of their abilities, and be able to share their opinions freely.

In addition, the company operates a Recognise and Reward scheme that rewards achievements such as the winning of event pitches.

We also encourage feedback, and provide team members with the space to come up with new ideas and solutions, which can lead to more exciting and successful events,” Nguyen said.

To remain ahead in an increasingly competitive environment, VEG stays on top of industry news, especially about new technologies, products and services. VEG also holds weekly research and development sessions to update each other on any advancements in the sector.

“I recommend encouraging experimentation and innovation within any agency,” he added. “Also, allocate time for brainstorming sessions, where the team can explore new ideas and concepts to incorporate into events.”

Former STB marketing chief joins Resorts World Sentosa

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Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has named Chang Chee Pey as its new senior vice president and chief experience officer.

Chang joins from the Singapore Tourism Board, where he had an illustrious 26-year career. He was integral to the growth and development of Singapore’s tourism sector, and was last assistant chief executive (marketing) at the organisation.

Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Saigon celebrates its birthday with stay specials

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The Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City is offering 35 per cent off stays in celebration of its first birthday.

From now to October 31, enjoy the Funtastic One Birthday Promotion of up to 25 per cent off, with an extra 10 per cent discount exclusively for Ascott Star Rewards members.

Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Saigon celebrates its first year with stay discounts

Starting at a rate of 1,100,000 dong (US$45) per night, the promotion includes a welcome drink upon arrival, daily breakfast, daily complimentary drink coupon, and early check-in or late check-out. In addition, guests can explore the city’s culture and attractions with the hotel’s complimentary shuttle.

Furthermore, guests will receive a special code offering a 10 per cent discount at restaurants, spas, and workshops in Ho Chi Minh City.

For more information, visit Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Saigon.

Insightful ventures

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1. Reef Unlimited
Reef Unlimited’s Reef Connect Program invites guests to immerse themselves in a stunning Great Barrier Reef experience while learning about conservation and First Nation Sea Country, as well as collecting underwater data with marine biologists.

Corporates also have the option of being a Marine Biologist for a day, or a Great Barrier Reef Ambassador. Departing from Cairns and Port Douglas, these guided full-day excursions cater to groups of up to 250 guests.

2. Little Vietnam Tours
Little Vietnam Tours likes to do things differently and ensure all guests enjoy Vietnam in their own way – perfect for corporate tours who want a deeper dive into the country.

After an online chat with a local Vietnamese expert, a personalised itinerary will be drawn up taking into account desired destinations and lodging experience, length of stay, group sizes, and F&B. Options include trekking with hill tribes in the northern mountains, photo tours of rural Vietnam, and learning about endangered primates.

3. Hong Kong Pearl Cultivation Association
This three-hour Pearl Workshop at the Sea – operated by the association – reveals the history and culture of pearl cultivation at the one and only pearl farm in Sai Kung.

The learning journey starts by taking a 15-minute boat ride from Hebe Haven to Ma Nam Wat in Sai Kung. Participants will learn from a professional instructor of how to harvest pearls, get to shuck their own pearl oyster, and design and create a pearl accessory with the pearl that they harvested on-site. The pearl farm’s maximum capacity is 40.

4. Junglewalla Desaru
The Lebam River Cruise in Desaru, Johor, involves naturalist guides with Junglewalla Desaru expounding on the mangrove ecosystem and its importance to the planet.

After the cruise, 60 participants will have the opportunity to get involved in a conservation project of planting trees with ReWild Desaru, a not-for-profit organisation, whose dual objective is to reforest Desaru with suitable food plants that will feed wildlife, while establishing a network of greenways and wildlife corridors useful for both man and beast.

5. Skil Travels
Skil Travels offers adventurous corporate groups the option to explore Mussoorie, one of India’s hill stations in Uttarakhand. The adventure begins with a sunrise visit to Lal Tibba, a scenic viewpoint that allows views of the snow-capped Himalayas on a clear day.

The group is then taken to the Himalayan Adventure Institute for four hours of adventurous activities. Run by army veterans, the institute offers rock climbing, a ropes course, flying fox, and various teambuilding activities. Afterwards, the group will sit down for a sumptuous lunch, before trekking to Kempty Falls. The day will end with pancakes and coffee at a boutique cafe called Café Ivy, where groups can wind down with sunset views.

6. SmallWORLD Experience
Be transported in a rickshaw – a popular mode of transportation in the 19th century in Asia – around the narrow streets of Macau’s old town. As there are only 10 rickshaws left in town, this environmentally-friendly activity is suitable for a maximum of 18 guests at one time. During the 45-minute tour, guests will make several stops at traditional shops in the city.

Manish Nambiar takes up dual role at Kempinski Hotels

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Manish Nambiar has been appointed as the new managing director of Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and vice president operations, South-east Asia.

Manish will be responsible for the execution of operations, including service, operational brand standard delivery and the quality of all Kempinski hotels in the region. He will be based at Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and will lead four other properties in South-east Asia.

A veteran hotelier with almost 20 years of experience with Kempinski, he joins from his executive role as area general manager of Africa since 2021. In his previous position, he oversaw the operations of all Kempinski properties in the Africa region and was based at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra, in Ghana.

Manish started his career path with Kempinski S.A. as an F&B specialist in Tanzania, East Africa in 2004 and enhanced his expertise by opening various Kempinski properties in the Middle East and Africa.

JNTO welcomes new executive director for Singapore

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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.

New Thai cabinet rolls out measures to stimulate the inbound MICE sector

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The new Thai government plans to bolster the business events industry as a means to grow tourism revenue

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 new Thai government plans to bolster the business events industry as a means to grow tourism revenue

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.

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