Collinson has partnered with Singapore Airlines (SIA) to offer Lounge Pass to SIA’s customers, allowing them to pre-book airport lounge access for both the outbound and inbound legs of their journeys.
Lounge Pass is available to all travellers flying with SIA and their codeshare airline partners, regardless of cabin class, programme status, or route.
The partnership allows SIA’s customers to purchase the Lounge Pass regardless of cabin class, programme status, or route
Lounge Pass presently offers pre-bookable airport lounge access at over 600 airport lounges worldwide, located across 100 markets and countries, at over 350 airports.
Todd Handcock, global chief commercial officer and president, Asia-Pacific, Collinson, said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming SIA’s customers into our airport lounges and delivering a comfortable airport experience where they can unwind and recharge before their flight.”
PCEB's Ashwin Gunasekeran (second from left) and partners at the show's launch
The Electronics Manufacturing Expo Asia (EMAX) and Penang Manufacturing Expo (PMAX) are set to take place from July 12-14, 2023, at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Penang, Malaysia.
EMAX and PMAX, well-known tradeshows in the manufacturing industry, are back with even greater offerings, showcasing the latest advancements in electronics manufacturing equipment, assembly technology, and industrial manufacturing equipment. This year’s event has experienced remarkable growth, expanding by over 30 per cent compared to its previous edition, and will feature a lineup of more than 200 international exhibitors.
PCEB’s Ashwin Gunasekeran (second from left) and partners at the launch
The shows are expected to attract over 8,000 trade visitors such as engineers, researchers, procurement specialists, maintenance personnel, contractors, as well as equipment manufacturers and suppliers.
Ashwin Gunasekeran, CEO of Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB), highlighted that manufacturing tech events such as EMAX and PMAX play a vital role in driving the adoption of technology among local manufacturers. These events facilitate knowledge exchange, foster innovation, and showcase cutting-edge solutions, empowering local manufacturers to stay at the forefront of technological advancements.
New Zealand’s capital, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, is set to host New Zealand’s largest business events showcase MEETINGS 2023 next week, the first time it has been held in the city.
Staged by Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), MEETINGS will be held on June 21 and 22. And for the first time in four years, buyers from international markets including Asia and North America will also be in attendance.
The buzzing showfloor at the 2022 edition
Over 100 buyers from Australia, 134 hosted buyers from New Zealand and 10 from international markets including North America and Singapore will attend. Up to 300 day buyers from Wellington and around New Zealand have also registered.
Over the two days, and across two floors at Tākina, buyers can pre-schedule appointments of their choice from 224 stands across 19 regions of New Zealand.
Many Australian-hosted buyers are set to stay on and discover more with the support of Air New Zealand and regional business events bureaux. They can choose to visit Auckland, Taupō, Rotorua, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, Christchurch and Canterbury, Dunedin, Queenstown and Southland/Fiordland.
A range of professional development sessions are also part of MEETINGS. They include the Tourism New Zealand Knowledge and Destination Hub, Celebrity Speakers Showcase, and a Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) Masterclass.
Registrations are still open for day buyer positions. The event is free to attend.
Loren Christie will move to BestCities Global Alliance as managing director, effective July 1.
He takes over from Lesley Williams, who led the BestCities team for three years.
In his new role, Christie will oversee BestCities’ operations, prioritising the alliance’s focus on legacy and sustainability to advance the global impact of meetings events.
Christie brings to the position over 25 years of experience in travel, tourism and business events. He has held various leadership roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Destination Toronto, and has spent 20 years in broadcast television. During the past three years, he has built a consulting business that provides project management and solutions for the hospitality, travel and tourism industries, with a focus on legacy, impact, and promoting equity, diversion and inclusion.
Park Regis Singapore has appointed Kenny Yeo as its new general manager.
He will lead the strategic direction, business performance, and operations of the hotel in his new role.
With over 24 years of experience, he joins Park Regis Singapore from Oasia Hotel Novena and Oasia Hotel Downtown where he served as hotel manager for five years.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced several senior management appointments, all effective from September 10.
Tan Kai Ping, currently executive vice president finance and strategy and chief financial officer, will be appointed executive vice president operations and chief operations officer. He will be responsible for SIA’s cabin crew, customer services and operations, engineering, and flight operations divisions.
From left: Tan Kai Ping and JoAnn Tan
JoAnn Tan will take on the role of senior vice president finance and chief financial officer. Currently senior vice president of marketing planning, she led SIA’s efforts to restore network connectivity and capacity after borders re-opened, as well as played a role in deepening strategic partnerships with multiple airlines around the world.
Divisional vice president digital, Dai Hao Yu, will be promoted to acting senior vice president marketing planning. Having joined SIA in 1998, he helped lead the SIA Group’s digital transformation in his current role.
Meanwhile, executive vice president operations and chief operations officer Mak Swee Wah will retire on September 9 after 40 years with the company.
Linda Reddy has been appointed as the new hotel manager at Hilton Singapore Orchard.
A seasoned veteran with over 25 years of hospitality experience, Reddy’s most recent stint was general manager of Hilton Sandton, a position she held since 2019.
In her new role, she will oversee a wide range of duties at the hotel, including its MICE and wedding offerings.
A firm believer in the power of teamwork and shared vision, Reddy is also passionate about championing the advancement of women in hospitality and executive positions, to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce.
With tourism in general on the road to recovery, Jeju Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is eyeing Asian markets that showed strong interest before the pandemic struck in 2020, as well as keeping a close watch on new sources.
“While China was the largest producer before Covid-19, South-east Asia was already seen as a new growth market. We engaged in bidding and promoting to countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Post-Covid, Singapore has emerged as a new market, while Taiwan is also a major contributor, Byeon Deok-Seung, chairman of Jeju CVB, told TTGmice.
Jeju Folk Village is on Jeju’s list of Sustainable Unique Places
In addition to incentive trips, Jeju CVB is also seeing demand for more corporate meetings. He added: “There is special support for organisers who choose our Unique Venues and Unique Activities. In addition, the Green MICE Support Program is the first project in Jeju to provide subsidies for sustainable, eco-friendly events.”
Efforts seem to be paying off. So far this year, Jeju has secured two groups from Taiwan, two from Singapore and five from Malaysia, with more enquiries coming in as air travel capacity increases.
Besides advertising and public relations, Jeju CVB will be participating in major tradeshows such as IMEX Frankfurt, IT&CM Asia in Bangkok, and ITB Asia in Singapore. These overseas promotions help Jeju CVB relay the range of support available from bidding, promotion and hosting to using Unique Venues and MICE-linked tourism products or Unique Activities.
Under the Unique Venues initiative, Jeju has identified 13 parks and gardens, cultural complexes, active sports venues and luxury hotels. In addition, there are 15 Unique Activities comprising experiential programmes featuring Jeju’s nature and culture, such as the Haenyeo women divers; female divers who dive into the sea without any equipment to harvest seafood.
The scale and amount of financial assistance vary across international conventions/conferences, corporate meetings and incentive tours. Events that meet sustainability guidelines may also receive additional funding.
International Convention Center (ICC) Jeju is South Korea’s only resort-style convention centre, located in Jungmun Tourist Complex.
ICC Jeju offers views of Mount Halla in its backyard, and the Pacific Ocean at its doorstep
Recent events include the 59th Orient and Southeast Asian Lions Forum in November 2022 which drew 8,500 delegates, including 1,500 from overseas. Another three global and Asian congresses this year are set to draw thousands of delegates.
“ICC Jeju provides a one-stop service for MICE events. We operate convention facilities, PCO/PEO service for conferences and events, and F&B service directly. So it is possible to accommodate organisers/planners’ various requirements,” explained Sungmi Jang, marketing manager, ICC Jeju.
On the sustainable front, ICC Jeju has installed multiple 751kw solar power generation facilities – the largest in scale on the island. The panels produce approximately 790,590kwh of electricity per year, saving approximately 100 million won (US$77,170) in electricity bills annually.
ICC Jeju also has plans to construct a new building with exhibition space and small meeting rooms, with completion expected in 2025.
Major hotel brands like Shilla and Lotte – the 500-key Lotte Hotel Jeju is a Unique Venue – are located in the south, providing planners with a range of five-star accommodation and meeting facilities.
Shinhwa World Water Park
Further west, Jeju Shinhwa World (JSW) – Jeju’s largest integrated resort – is also riding on the business events revival. JSW comprises four five-star hotels, more than 40 dining outlets, premium shopping centre, meeting facilities, theme park, water park and casino.
“While the majority of MICE bookings are still from domestic event planners, we are seeing significant growth in interest as well as actual bookings from Asia-Pacific, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong in particular,” shared Shinae Lee, JSW’s senior director, sales & marketing.
This is partly attributed to how Jeju’s profile on the world stage has been elevated, thanks to K-dramas and K-films that were broadcasted during the pandemic, noted Lee.
“JSW is looking forward to working more closely with Jeju CVB to promote Jeju among global MICE event planners. With improved infrastructure and two integrated resorts, the other being Dream Tower, it is a good time for the industry to work together to promote Jeju as the perfect bleisure MICE destination,” Lee concluded.
Theo Ocks has been named the new commercial general manager of Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford. He will spearhead the strategic business direction for the hotel in his new role.
He has extensive experience from resorts to conference and urban hotels across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and was most recently the vice president of business development at Resorts World Sentosa.
Renest Hotels and Resorts has appointed Abhishek Bhatnagar as the general manager of their newest property Renest Kumbhalgarh.
In his new role, Bhatnagar will oversee and coordinate all aspects of the resort’s operations.
He has over 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having previously worked with various hotels in Udaipur, Rajasthan, and a nine-year-long tenure at the HRH Group of Hotels.
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With over 24 years of experience, he joins Park Regis Singapore from Oasia Hotel Novena and Oasia Hotel Downtown where he served as hotel manager for five years.
In her new role, she will oversee a wide range of duties at the hotel, including its MICE and wedding offerings.
He has extensive experience from resorts to conference and urban hotels across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and was most recently the vice president of business development at Resorts World Sentosa.
He has over 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having previously worked with various hotels in Udaipur, Rajasthan, and a nine-year-long tenure at the HRH Group of Hotels.
