Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Singapore Office has named Kenji Yoshida as executive director. He succeeds Takuya Shiraishi, who has returned to JNTO headquarters in Tokyo.
Yoshida joined JNTO headquarters in 2016, where he was responsible for digital marketing, before serving as executive director at JNTO Hanoi Office.
In his new role, he will oversee JNTO’s initiatives in Singapore and work with local stakeholders to strengthen tourism links between Singapore and Japan.
1. Somma, Singapore
Somma, a modern Italian dining destination by chef-partner Mirko Febbrile and The Lo & Behold Group, is located within the New Bahru lifestyle cluster. Spanning two floors, Somma emphasises purpose and simplicity in its cuisine, drawing from Febbrile’s Puglian heritage and utilising meticulously sourced ingredients.
Somma Bar & Lounge is perfect for cocktail networking, where a full bookout of Bar Somma accommodates 85 to 100 guests and starts at S$15,000++ (US$11,732) on weekdays and S$20,000++ on weekends.
Located on the upper floor, Somma Restaurant offers 36 seats, as well as another eight-person private dining room. A minimum spend of S$35,000++ applies for a customised course menu, complete with wine pairing.
2. Manu, New Zealand
Manu in Christchurch offers a sensory celebration of Pacific heritage and modern culinary artistry, where the restaurant’s design and menu seamlessly blend Maori, Pacific, and Asian cultures.
Catering for groups of up to 80, this venue channels the role of kaitiaki, or the traditional guardian and the host, experienced through storytelling, hospitality, and a taste of New Zealand’s interconnected cultural tapestry.
3. Mesa on 51, Malaysia
Opened in late 2024, Mesa on 51 is located on Level 51 of Permata Sapura Tower in Kuala Lumpur. The venue, which seats around 120 people, offers stunning views of the Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC Park, and the city skyline.
Mesa on 51 features a full Spanish restaurant with a selection of Nikkei cuisine. Guests can also visit Nikkei Lounge, which is equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual lighting, a premium sound system, and a dedicated DJ station. The Terrace Bar completes the experience, providing both covered and open-air seating with panoramic vistas.
4. Plataran Bandung, Indonesia
Plataran Bandung is an upscale dining and event venue in the heart of the city, near the historical landmark Gedung Sate. The venue has a total seating capacity of 350, as well as five private rooms that can host eight to 120 guests which can be flexibly configured for larger parties.
A more recent addition is the Kinandari Ballroom, with a capacity of 150 guests for cocktail or roundtable events. For a more casual atmosphere, the semi-outdoor Bandung Enclave bistro and lounge is perfect for pre-dinner cocktails or networking.
5. Suseokjeong, South Korea
Partake in hanjeongsik, a multi-course Korean table d’hôte in Suseokjeong, Gyeongju, and savour refined Korean delicacies. Its signature grilled galbi (beef short ribs) are a must try and enjoy elevated classic dishes like scorched rice soup, abalone porridge, and royal japchae (stir-fried glass noodles). The restaurant is decorated to resemble a cross between a museum and home, adorned with artefacts. Private rooms are available for corporate groups.
6. Barragunda, Australia
Situated within the expansive 405-hectare Barragunda Estate on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Barragunda is a restaurant and regenerative farm that emphasises sustainability and hyperlocal dining. Around 90 per cent of the food served in the restaurant comes directly from the farm, which boasts its own cattle, sheep, vegetable gardens, and an orchard.
The 40-seat dining room is perfect for intimate gatherings. For larger occasions, the lakeside heritage barn can accommodate up to 200 guests.
What is your vision for Thailand’s business events industry?
My guiding philosophy is “Change That Matters”. MICE cannot be measured by numbers alone. Our role is to win events that create real impact for the economy, industry, and local communities. This means being selective – targeting events that strengthen Thailand’s global profile while transferring knowledge and opportunities to our people.
We frame this through four strategies: Global Reach via smart bidding and partnerships; Local Strength through MICE city clusters and flagship events; Capabilities Excellence with sustainability and standards; and Organisational Transformation embracing digitalisation, talent development, and South-east Asian expertise.
What has it been like coming back to TCEB? What are some of the biggest differences?
The challenge in the MICE industry is much greater than before, because the competitors around us have also developed. Look at Vietnam – they’ve sprung up very powerfully.
There has also been a generational shift in leadership. Four or five years ago, we said Gen X was the new president. Now it’s millennials and Gen Z. Their mindsets and expectations are very different, which means we must adapt our approaches to event design, technology, and engagement.
On top of that, the environment has changed dramatically. We are dealing with the lingering impact of Covid-19, ongoing political and economic volatility, the push toward de-globalisation, and the rise of new technologies. All of these factors have made business events more complex, and expectations are higher on destinations to deliver innovation, safety, and credibility.
How central is sustainability to your vision for the industry?
Sustainability is no longer optional – it must be the default for every event. Our goal is to make Thailand’s business events eco-friendly by design, moving toward carbon neutrality and zero waste. When international organisers look at destinations, the first question they ask is whether hotels, venues, and cities have strong green policies – whether we are a Green City or Smart City.
How does this translate into practice for events held in Thailand?
Wellness, safety, and hygiene are now habits. To build trust and confidence, Thailand has to embed these principles in every meeting. We are talking about creating standards that align with ESG principles and ensuring organisers see visible proof of our commitment.
What lessons do you take from global benchmarks?
Leading festivals such as EDM and Tomorrowland are already at the forefront of sustainability. They don’t just run events – they leave behind knowledge bases for the industry and for local students. Thailand must do the same: use each event as an opportunity to transfer knowledge and create long-term benefits for communities, not just short-term tourism receipts
Where does Thailand stand today in terms of performance?
In 2024, Thailand welcomed 19 million MICE visitors, nearly back to our pre-pandemic peak of 20 million. What’s critical is their spending power of 60,000 to 100,000 baht (US$1,889 to US$3,148), which averages 80,000 to 90,000 baht per delegate. This underscores our industry’s outsized value.
But growth in 2025 is forecast to add only two to three per cent to GDP, reflecting fragile business confidence and global economic headwinds.
Exhibitions are our highest-value segment, followed by conventions and incentives. Corporate meetings make up about 20 per cent, but they remain the most sensitive to political and economic shifts.
What challenges must Thailand overcome to remain competitive?
One of our biggest gaps is outside Bangkok. Too few MICE operators are based in secondary cities, so organisers must import teams from the capital, raising costs. Compare this with Korea, Japan, or China – their secondary cities are already event-ready. That is their “product”. Thailand must compete on products too.
Our task now is to strengthen the 10 existing MICE cities while developing new ones tailored to different event types – whether meetings, incentives, conventions, or exhibitions. Alongside this, we are creating a digital platform where local operators, influencers, and partners can connect with organisers.
How do you plan to improve Thailand’s international credibility and perception?
Perception is as important as infrastructure. For too long, Thailand has been labelled a “cheap destination”. That must change. We want Thailand to be seen as worth the price: a premium destination delivering networks, partnerships, and opportunities, not just headcount spend.
Safety perceptions also need rebuilding, and credibility comes from consistent standards. Organisers will come if they are confident in standards and support. They need clarity, and that must be our responsibility. TCEB itself is expanding its role; no longer just a facilitator, but also a regulator and ecosystem designer, ensuring readiness nationwide.
What opportunities are on the horizon?
We have outpaced Singapore in hosting medical conventions and are building strength in science, technology, innovation, and digital events. Partnerships with Chinese exhibition organisers and Tencent are opening doors to large-scale pavilions and incentives.
At the same time, collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Ministry of Foreign Affairs extends our reach in overseas markets where TCEB has no offices.
Which headline events should buyers watch for?
Our upcoming calendar shows the scale of Thailand’s ambition: Amway China (13,000 visitors); Gastech Bangkok 2026 (50,000 visitors, March 2026); the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings (10,000 visitors, October 2026); and the Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo (3.6 million visitors, November 2026–March 2027).
How can business events drive change for the nation?
Ultimately, MICE must evolve from volume-driven tourism into an engine of impact.
Our global reach strategy is to bid for events that create change, secure international recognition, and then cascade benefits across Asia and South-east Asia. To do this, we will work with national ministries tied to target industries, and we leverage Thailand’s priority issues as anchors to attract high-impact events.
Across Asia-Pacific, business events are entering a new era: one where technology is not the headline act, but an enabler of something bigger.
The days of flashy gadgets and impressive displays are giving way to tools that bridge connections, support inclusion, and leave lasting legacies in host communities.
At BestCities Global Alliance, we have always believed that innovation should make events more meaningful for delegates, destinations, and communities. With the tech revolution accelerating, our 13 partner cities – including Singapore, Tokyo, and Melbourne – are using artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive tech to transform events into intentional, inclusive, and impact-driven experiences.
BestCities: Tech with purpose
For 25 years, BestCities has advocated for business events that leave positive legacies. Our Global Forum embodies this mission. At the 2025 event in Dublin, for example, we introduced AI-powered translation, sustainability tracking, and social impact projects.
Through our new collaboration with Snapsight, attendees gain real-time, personalised insights from AI analysis of live discussions – making engagement smarter and more impactful. And through Engage for Good, every delegate interaction supports local causes, like the Solas Project in Dublin. It’s tech and impact, working hand in hand.
Singapore: AI as a delegate ally
Singapore is breaking new ground as the first destination in Asia to partner with OpenAI, embedding generative AI into tourism and events. For delegates, this means multilingual support, immersive storytelling, and more intuitive and inclusive conference experiences.
At GITEX Asia 2025, over 1,000 innovations debuted – 75 per cent of them for the first time in Asia-Pacific – showing Singapore’s role as a testbed for business events tech. Events like the Singapore FinTech Festival use AI for smart matchmaking, taking networking to another level.
Supporting this innovation ecosystem are organizations like the VR/AR Association and Plug-In@Blk71, alongside national leadership through the Digital Education Council, which ensures responsible AI adoption.
Tokyo: Tech with empathy
Tech meets empathy in Tokyo with events such as SusHi Tech Tokyo and WebX, where attendees do not just observe – they interact, operate robots, and step into virtual environments across city infrastructure, healthcare, and WEB3.
With backing from collaborations like Microsoft Research Asia – Tokyo, which focuses on “societal AI” for wellbeing and neuroscience, Tokyo proves that experiential storytelling can be meaningful and human-centre, not merely spectacle.
Melbourne: Innovation with purpose
Recognised as Australia’s hub for ethical innovation, Melbourne hosted The Economist’s Progress 2030 Summit – its first-ever event in Australia – attracting over 400 global leaders.
The city’s commitment is evident in the Australian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Innovation, the world’s first university innovation centre advancing vaccines, immunotherapy, and medical breakthroughs with AI. In parallel, Monash University and partners are developing MAVERIC, Australia’s first AI supercomputer, designed to solve some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Looking ahead: Purpose as priority
In Singapore, Tokyo, and Melbourne, business events tech is evolving – shifting from what tech can do, to what tech can help us achieve.
At BestCities, we’re proud to help lead this transformation – from gadgets to goals, from passive participation to lasting impact.
Loren Christie brings more than 25 years of experience in Tourism & Hospitality to his role as managing director of the BestCities Global Alliance.
He held various leadership positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts during his 17 year career. From 2017 to 2020, he moved to Destination Toronto, the Destination Management Organization for Canada’s largest city, where he led the International Congress and Canadian sales teams.
For the last three years he has been running his own consulting and project management company working with a number of clients including IAPCO – as faculty, #Meet4IMpact and the Global Destination Sustainability Movement teaching their masterclass on Legacy and Impact. He recently wrapped up two years as the vice-chair of the Global Business Travel Association’s meetings & events committee for Canada.
Kuala Lumpur is revving up preparations for the 47th ASEAN Summit, and many related meetings, in late October which will draw thousands of delegates.
In the hospitality sector, Hyatt’s two newest hotels opened in August – Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur and Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown, bringing its total to seven in the federal territory.
“Being the first Park Hyatt in Malaysia atop Asia-Pacific’s tallest skyscraper, Merdeka 118, we cater to the luxury and bespoke MICE segment. Rather than scale, we offer discerning delegates from within Malaysia and the region an exclusive, elevated experience,” said Herman Kemp, general manager, Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.
The 252 guestrooms and suites are on levels 100 to 118. The six residential-style Executive Salons on level 98 come with natural daylight, pre-function areas and show kitchens. Seating capacity ranges from 18 pax in an individual salon up to 170 pax theatre-style in three combined salons.
Meanwhile, the 306-key Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown, opposite Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre, is also able to host events across three floors, with a total of 16 event halls and meeting rooms, including a pillarless grand ballroom. The level 4 Courtyard has four meeting rooms for up to 270 pax, with outdoor patio and option for a full-floor buyout.
Other city properties ideal for business delegates include the Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur and Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, where the latter is directly connected to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
A Hyatt spokesperson said the company will work closely with Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau on key events and initiatives, including support for the ASEAN Summit and Visit Malaysia 2026.
Aloft Surabaya Pakuwon City has opened, marking its debut as a fresh business events-focused property in East Surabaya.
The hotel boasts flexible meeting spaces, including seven Tactic rooms featuring adaptable layouts and contemporary design. For larger gatherings, a 489m2 ballroom offers high ceilings, a pre-function foyer, and advanced audiovisual capabilities, suitable for events ranging from product launches to exhibitions.
Beyond its event facilities, guests can dine at Vibe Restaurant, socialise at Echo Lounge & Bar or W XYZ bar, and find quick refreshment at Re:fuel by Aloft, available 24/7. The hotel also features 233 loft-inspired guest rooms and suites, equipped with modern amenities for comfort and productivity.
The hotel – located with direct access to Pakuwon City Mall – provides exceptional convenience for business delegates. Its accessibility extends to major transportation hubs and attractions, including Juanda International Airport, Kenjeran Beach, and the Suramadu Bridge, making it a practical choice for regional and international visitors.
Elite Havens, a provider of luxury villa rentals in Asia, is offering special savings on corporate retreats and incentive group bookings at its properties in Bali.
Companies and event planners can save up to 30 per cent on year-end retreats, with additional discounts available for bookings made for 2026.
The company’s portfolio of large villas in Bali is being promoted as a venue for executive getaways, teambuilding retreats, and incentive travel. The villas offer private accommodations with spacious communal areas, allowing groups to stay in a single location.
Properties recommended for corporate groups include:
All bookings include access to a dedicated concierge service to arrange activities such as yoga sessions, cultural excursions, curated dining, and workshops.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has strengthened its Asia-Pacific team with several new hires.
Melissa Ong has been named director, travel partnerships, Asia, based in Singapore, effective September 8. She was with Marriott Luxury Group as global account director for six years and previously worked for The Leading Hotels of the World for eight years.
The reservations team in Sydney has grown from two to five. New members are Christopher Menon, who joined on August 18 from Four Seasons Singapore; Nathan Gudsell, who joined on September 2 from Baillie Lodges; and Jasmine Zaman, who will join on October 6 from Marriott, where she is currently assistant front office manager at Pier One Sydney Harbour.
Menon and Gudsell are training in Fort Lauderdale and will begin assisting partners in October. Zaman will train in Malta and will begin in November.
The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place has appointed Sumit Joshi as general manager.
He brings more than 25 years of experience in hotels, resorts and residences. In his new role, he will focus on guest experience, local culture and staff leadership at the hotel.
Joshi started his career with The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, progressing through leadership roles. He was most recently the general manager of JW Marriott Jakarta.
Hokkaido’s resort area of Niseko is targeting corporates from South-east Asia during the Green Season (May to November), as part of efforts to promote the snow sports mecca as a year-round travel destination.
Renowned for its powder snow, the area welcomes almost 700,000 visitors between December and April, but only 200,000 during the Green Season. International visitors make up 80 per cent of total arrivals in winter and 50 per cent in Green Season.
The tourism association in Kutchan, home to the main resorts, is actively promoting the area for incentive groups of 20 to 100 during the Green Season. The organisation hosted a fam for agents from Singapore and Thailand over September 7 to 11 to showcase Niseko’s recent and upcoming developments.
New accommodations include Nikko Style Niseko Hanazono, which opened in December 2024. The 234-key property in Niseko Hanazono Resort features a 122-seat all-day dining restaurant, café & bar, club lounge, gym, and a event room that can accommodate 50 pax banquet-style or 120 pax theatre-style.
Nearby Chalet Ivy Weiss, which is scheduled to open by the end-2025, has 22 suites and 65 rooms, including those with private onsen. Facilities include a wellness floor with a spa, gym and outdoor infinity onsen. The sky lounge and roof are available for private events, while exclusive dinners with chef catering, receptions and star gazing, can also be arranged.
Meanwhile, at resort Niseko Grand Hirafu, three new F&B facilities are being launched within 2025. Sanshoku, which has 240 seats, opened in July and will be available exclusively for groups from 2026. The 380-seat Nest813 and 270-seat Ace Center will be unveiled in December.
