Melbourne's skyline with MCG, Centrepiece, and Pullman
Three of Melbourne’s iconic business events venues, Centrepiece, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Pullman Melbourne on The Park have formed a strategic alliance to create a Meet, Celebrate and Stay business conferencing experience.
The partnership was created to drive national and international conferences and business events to the precinct and comes on the back of a strong pipeline of 40 business and conference events secured by Visit Victoria for the State up until 2028, expected to deliver A$150 million (US$99 million) to the local economy.
Melbourne’s skyline with MCG, Centrepiece, and Pullman
As Melbourne’s home of sports and entertainment, the venues’ footprint spans from the edge of the Melbourne CBD and stretches through Fitzroy Gardens and down to the Yarra River edge, encompassing Yarra Park, the MCG and Melbourne and Olympic Parks.
A unique aspect of the precinct is the ability for delegates to easily move throughout, with each venue conveniently located next to one another, connected by footbridges and walking paths. Accessibility carts can also commute between the properties as required.
Combining forces, the three venues are expecting strong interest in the coming year from domestic conferencing and business events, as well as international markets including the UK, US, South-east Asia and New Zealand.
The collaboration has already seen key industry events utilise the three venues for a Meet, Celebrate, Stay experience including Tourism Australia’s Destination Australia Conference in February, Association Forum Conference in April, and Visit Victoria’s Destination Victoria Conference in June.
Accor has announced new appointments to its Accor Pacific executive team.
Anne Gill has been named senior vice president commercial, premium, midscale and economy. Having joined Accor in 2019, she previously held the role of vice president sales and connected partners in the Pacific region. Prior to joining Accor, Gill held similar positions with a number of other leading global and regional hotel companies across disciplines.
Anne Gill and Steven Lake
With 28 years of experience at Accor, Steven Lake is the new senior vice president finance, premium, midscale and economy. He most recently led in growing Accor’s Hospitality Services division incorporating Qantas Lounges, Concierge, Cafés, Kiosks and 3rd spaces in Commercial Office towers.
Angela Howard will take on the position of senior vice president talent & culture, premium, midscale & economy, from March 29. With over 20 years’ experience, she was most recently Holland America Group vice president of talent and culture within Carnival Corporation.
Angela Howard and Claire Haigh
Claire Haigh has been promoted to vice president communications, premium, midscale and economy. Having amassed over two decades of PR and communications experience, she was previously global communications director at Pernod Ricard.
Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) has announced a series of promotions and new appointments in its leadership team.
John Burke takes over the helm as KLCC’s general manager, succeeding Alan Pryor who retires after 40 years in the business events industry.
John Burke is KLCC’s new general manager
Burke joined KLCC in 2017 as deputy general manager where he was integral in pushing the venue’s digital transformation forward and upgrading its security infrastructure. He also managed the development of hybrid and virtual event spaces and platforms, as well as led multiple sustainability projects, initiatives and investments to enhance KLCC as a sustainable venue.
Robert Hatton-Jones will take over as deputy general manager. He brings with him nearly two decades of experience in F&B operations, business development, venue and asset management, event planning and marketing.
Prior to joining KLCC, Hatton-Jones was the general manager of commercial & business development at Cape Town International Convention Centre since 2017.
Layzree bin Bongsu has been promoted to director of finance and administration, and will oversee the day-to-day finance and procurement, as well as information technology operations at KLCC.
Bolstered by government support, the exhibition industry in Greater China is showing signs of recovery, which has resulted in growing confidence among exhibition organisers, speakers noted at the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2023 last week.
During a session entitled China and the Exhibition Industry in 2023, Michael Kruppe, managing director at Shanghai New International Expo Centre, pointed out that confidence in holding and participating in exhibitions in China is seeing a recovery, in line with the Chinese economy.
A pre-pandemic exhibition in China
Many local governments have also realised the important of the exhibitions industry’s role in contributing to economic recovery, and are also providing financial support for exhibition organisers, Kruppe said.
He added that the red tape in organising exhibitions has also been reduced in China, and is limited to obtaining police approval which can be done online.
General manager of the Shenyang New World Expo, Diane Chen, concurred that business has indeed returned, with exhibitions and conferences booked at the venue this year, which was unimaginable when the zero-Covid government policy was still in place.
Monica Lee-Müller, managing director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management), opined that long-term confidence in China and Hong Kong has not dimmed.
“Now that China is open, it is where organisers and exhibitors want to be, as they have missed the market and deals to be made in the last three years,” Lee-Müller noted.
Separately, Lee-Müller noted that international exhibitions heading to Hong Kong will take some time to return as the destination only reopened last month. But Hong Kong’s strength lies in its service efficiency, duty-free port, no sales tax, and tradeable currency puts it in a very good position for business events organisers.
Despite her confidence in the future of business events brimming, Chen pointed out that it is necessary to “anticipate and mitigate risks” as much as possible in order to better manage future crisis.
Panellists believe that the region's business events industry has the potential to create a large economic impact by strengthening collaboration
Business events stakeholders in South-east Asia have responded to the call for closer collaboration made by Edward Liu, honorary president of the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations at the inaugural Southeast Asia Business Event Forum (SEABEF) – part of ASEAN Tourism Forum 2023 – in February.
Hosea Andreas Runkat, chairman of the Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association (IECA), provided an example of a signed Memorandum of Cooperation between IECA, and the Malaysian Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (MACEOS) last August, which turned out to be a recipe for a speedy recovery for the two countries.
Panellists believe that the region’s business events industry has the potential to create a large economic impact by strengthening collaboration
“Aside from growing our own business events, close collaboration with (other) stakeholders (in the region) will bring about better solutions,” noted Andreas.
He added that “much work is still needed to rebuild the MICE sector”, but through collaboration, countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia now have the confidence to explore new opportunities and find ways to strengthen themselves through the sharing of resources, and exchanging of business leads and relevant information.
Abdul Khani Daud, CEO of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), concurred, pointing out that working alongside Indonesia’s industry champions has helped to create more opportunities for the region despite the pandemic.
“This will ultimately attract and reassure and provide confidence to international world leaders, decision-makers, and potential in Malaysia’s and Indonesia’s ability to host world-class events (in the future),” Abdul added.
Andreas encouraged other South-east Asian member countries to look into collaborations. He stated that this would help to create “a roadmap to recovery”, as well as help “attract more global events to the region” by positioning South-east Asia as a preferred business events destination.
For instance, a partnership similar to the Asian Convention Alliance (ACA) can be formed. Under ACA, members Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), MyCEB, Seoul Tourism Organization, and Taiwan External Trade Development Council have reiterated their commitment to upgrade local events to regional events, as well as help local events become international.
Panellists went on to suggest that for now, the initial focus should be on restoring the region’s business events industry, and facilitating knowledge exchange between member countries through collaborative ventures.
Wisnu Budi Sulaeman, vice chairman of the Indonesia Congress & Conference Association (INCCA), further opined that SEABEF should be made a regular event held among South-east Asian member countries on a rotation basis.
By the next time SEABEF rolls around, Wisu shares that he hopes to see a framework or agreement that all South-east Asian nations can contribute to.
Wisnu elaborated: “(Future) discussions must include marketing and promotions; sharing leads, programmes, knowledge and advice; developing standards; as well as training and education to upgrade the skills of industry players through seminars and workshops.”
From left: UFI's Michael Duck, and Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Associations' Vincent Lim
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further develop the exhibitions sector was signed at the recent 16th UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2023 in Kuala Lumpur on March 3.
The MoU was signed between Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Associations president Vincent Lim and UFI president, Michael Duck, where both organisations agree to collaborate in the areas of education, industry research and advocacy.
From left: UFI’s Michael Duck, and Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Associations’ Vincent Lim
Lim shared: “Through this collaboration which starts immediately, we aim to assist in the recovery of the exhibition industry which has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and to find solutions for some of the pain points in the industry such as (dealing with issues such as) the talent crunch and sustainability.”
Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)’s COO, Noor Ahmad Hamid, also announced that the bureau will be collaborating with UFI to bring the UFI Certified Professional (UCP) programme to Malaysia in July.
Comprising nine modules, the programme will offer courses on exhibition management and venue management, and begin in July and comprise both face-to-face and online lessons.
Through this programme, MyCEB aims to upskill industry professionals and strengthen the exhibitions industry in Malaysia.
A rendering of Cairns Convention Centre, currently undergoing upgrading and expansion works
From March 2-3, 2023, the Strata Community Association Queensland annual conference took place at the Cairns Convention Centre with around 300 delegates in attendance.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s CEO Mark Olsen said the conference held strong links to the Cairns economy as strata accommodation was a major player in the region’s tourism accommodation sector.
A rendering of Cairns Convention Centre, currently undergoing upgrading and expansion works
In addition, the conference brought a “much-needed boost” to the state’s economy during the shoulder season, noted Olsen.
Strata Community Association Queensland’s president Chris Irons added that the association had earlier committed to hosting their annual conference in Tropical North Queensland almost a year ago during the ongoing insurance crisis.
“The insurance pool was one step for us and we will not give up the fight on this issue until we see as near to parity as possible,” he said.
Cairns-based Strata Community Association Queensland board director and Devenish Law Cairns owner Shane Devenish it was important to demonstrate just how important Tropical North Queensland is to Queensland strata by bringing the conference to Cairns.
“Insurance issues have been front and centre of our advocacy programme and Cairns is ground zero for these problems. There will be significant discussion around the State Government’s reforms and how they will particularly effect Cairns,“ she said.
From February 23-26, 2023, Malaysia played host to the 38th Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress (APAO 2023) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The APAO Congress, considered the largest and most prestigious ophthalmology conference in Asia-Pacific, was also the first conference for 2023 for the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).
Malaysian culture on show at APAO 2023
A total of 4,500 delegates – 3,800 of whom were international – were in attendance at the four-day congress. They comprised top eye doctors, professors, researchers and healthcare practitioners from all over the world who came to Malaysia to share and exchange new concepts, as well as address the latest treatments and advancements in technology.
To speed up their immigration process, access to the Malaysia Business Events Special Immigration Lane was given to all delegates attending the congress at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2.
In addition, APAO 2023 was projected to boost the Malaysian economy by RM87.2 million (US$19.5 million) in estimated economic impact
Abdul Khani Daud CEO added: “This congress provides an ideal platform for our local experts to gain valuable insights and share best practices from their international counterparts, while at the same time allowing us to showcase Malaysia’s credibility as a business events hub and an ideal tourism destination.”
The bid for the 2023 conference was won by MyCEB and the Malaysian Society of Ophthalmology back in 2018 in Hong Kong.
Radisson Hotel Group has thrown open the doors to Radisson Resort & Spa Hua Hin, an upscale, beachside retreat along Cha-am Beach.
Event planners may avail the property’s six indoor and outdoor function spaces, such as the Grand Ballroom which seats 460 guests for gala dinners, or a beachside lawn that can host 250 people for teambuilding activities and cocktail receptions.
Delegates can be put up in one of the 243 rooms and suites, with different accommodation types including Familiy Suites with bunk beds and children’s amenities for those travelling with their families.
A full range of leisure facilities includes an outdoor pool with a water slide, a water sports activity hub, a fitness centre, spa, skate park and direct beachfront access. Families with young children can expect a line-up of programs and activities, crafted by the resort’s rangers at the Siam Adventure Club, in addition to a supervised kid’s club with plenty of onsite activities, such as cooking classes and arts & crafts sessions.
Siam Adventure Club’s tour desk also makes it easy for guests to explore the best of Hua Hin through an array of offsite excursions.
Meanwhile, F&B options includes Horizon Restaurant, which serves daily buffet breakfast; JoeKool Terrace Restaurant, which offers an elevated seafront experience with Thai and international cuisine; and JoeKool Pool Bar, an inviting place for refreshments and snacks after a swim. The coastal Beach Club & Cabanas offers freshly-caught seafood, barbecued on the spot, plus a regular calendar of uplifting events and entertainment, while the Champions Sports Bar promises cold beverages, light bites and live sports.
Guests heading out for full-day tours can grab takeaway sandwiches and pastries at the Grab N’ Go outlet or savour sweet treats at WowCow, an ice cream parlour with over 30 flavours and freshly-made waffle cones.
The opening ceremony of the conference was officiated by minister of tourism, arts and culture Malaysia (MOTAC) Tiong King Sing; accompanied by MOTAC's Seraya Arbi; MyCEB's Abdul Khani Daud; and UFI's Michael Duck and Kai Hattendorf
Malaysia’s Business Events industry welcomed the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2023 (The Conference) in Kuala Lumpur on March 2.
Held over two days, the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) supported conference will be attended by more than 200 delegates from 22 countries, of which 150 will be international. The conference will also generate RM2.8 million (US$625,558) in estimated economic impact.
The opening ceremony of the conference was officiated by (from left) MyCEB’s Abdul Khani; UFI’s Michael Duck; minister of tourism, arts and culture Malaysia (MOTAC) Tiong King Sing; MOTAC’s Seraya Arbi; and UFI’s Kai Hattendorf
The conference is a flagship event by UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry and attended by exhibition organisers, venue operators, event industry associations, government bodies and service providers.
As UFI’s first conference since 2019 in Tokyo, the Malaysian edition will shed light on the exhibition industry’s risks navigation, ways of overcoming the volatility of global economic pressures, the role of technologies, new opportunities, and effective advocacies from a global perspective. The conference is also expected to spur the UFI membership in Malaysia, as well as the country’s ranking in South-East Asia.
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