Asia/Singapore Friday, 26th December 2025
Page 300

Broadening horizons

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Event brief
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), in partnership with the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), hosted their inaugural PATA GBTA APAC Travel Summit last December, after realising there was a gap in the market to address.

According to GBTA’s Business Travel Index, the Asia-Pacific region continues to account for the largest share of business travel spend globally, totalling US$350 billion spend in 2021 and accounting for 50 per cent of global travel spend that year. Despite a slowdown in recovery due to stringent lockdowns in 2022, the potential growth from Asia Pacific continues to outperform other regions.

The two-day event was also an opportunity to form a partnership and bring both industry networks together.

Event highlights
The joint event was held at the brand-new Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok. QNSCC is easily accessible via the MRT Blue Line from downtown Bangkok.

Themed Getting Back to Business Travel, Tourism, and MICE, the first day of educational sessions delved into topics such as recovery and opportunities in business travel, the trends shaping travel and meetings management, aviation trends, and the challenges and solutions when dealing with sustainability.

Kishore Mahbubani, distinguished fellow from the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore also took the time to examine the global economic landscape and its relation to sustainability, highlighting the growth potential of the Asia Pacific region, as well as discuss the impact this has on travel and tourism.

QNSCC was also the venue for the first day’s Welcome Dinner, hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

The second day kicked off bright and early with topics such as the challenges and opportunities in duty of care, and the increased scrutiny on travel risk management. The event concluded with two other important topics, human capital development and addressing the staffing gap, and discussions around the future of travel and what emerging opportunities there are.

Challenges
There were a few challenges that came with organising the event. First, both the PATA and GBTA teams were working from opposite ends of the world, and this required a lot of collaboration and planning to successfully design and execute the event.

And when 2022 drew to a close, travel costs in general proved to be particularly high as airlines struggled to get the right balance between supply and demand. There were also inconsistencies in Covid-19 restrictions across the region, which resulted in uncertainty and wavering travel confidence among overseas guests.

To defray travel costs, delegates were offered a preferred rate with Thai Airways. As to getting around the inconsistencies in Covid-19 restrictions, PATA and GBTA selected a destination and location which was definitely open for business, as well as requested all delegates to test for Covid-19 prior to arrival.

Key industry partners, such as FCM Travel Solutions, BCD Travel, and CWT were also instrumental in the event’s success. Meeting with these partners in person was also possible over coffee breaks in the adjoining room.

In total, there was a solid showing of more than 220 travel buyers, suppliers, and partners from across 15 destinations.

In a post-event survey, a majority of attendees expect to attend 2023’s next travel summit, as the educational sessions were well-received based on the variety of topics, the relevance of content, and the expertise of speakers.

“The summit proved to be a great success, delivering a valuable programme for attendees in 2022 and providing a solid foundation to build on for this year’s event in Singapore. We recognise that in such an important region, travel professionals need an event tailored for them and we look forward to delivering another successful summit this year,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA.

Event PATA – GBTA APAC Travel Summit 2022
Organiser PATA, GBTA
Venue Queen Sirikit National Convention Center
Dates December 8-9, 2022
Attendance 220

Van Gogh’s work comes alive at Resorts World Sentosa

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Kicking off on March 1 at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore is the award-winning 360-degree digital immersive art experience, Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience.

It is the show’s debut in South-east Asia.

The show is housed within various individualistic galleries, and invites visitors to step into more than 300 of Vincent Van Gogh’s sketches, drawings, and paintings conveyed through the use of floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall large scale digital projections.

‌One of the core highlights of this exhibition is an expansive central projection area where visitors can sit and absorb the wonders of Van Gogh’s masterpieces.

The Singapore edition features two unique segments: a showcase of the traditional Japanese art style of woodblock stamps and prints; and an authentic matcha tea ceremony that visitors can partake in.

Visit the event site for more information.

Surprising discoveries in Tokyo

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Ukai Toriyama is a sprawling dining venue that resembles a mountain village, complete with picturesque gardens and ponds

Brought to you by Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau

Although Tokyo is one of the world’s most populous capital cities, with a reputation as a competitive global business hub that never sleeps, the city packs a big surprise in the form of a relaxing side waiting to be discovered by corporate groups and business events. Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau organised its first fam trip in three years, themed around nature and wellness opportunities, to show off this lesser-known side of the city.

A short ride away by car or train whisks business event attendees from the beating heart of the Tokyo Metropolis to the quieter embrace of the Tama region in Western Tokyo. At a time when event planners and attendees place greater value on natural spaces, wellness, and contributions to local communities, two stand-out areas in this region were chosen for the fam trip.

 

Tachikawa
Tachikawa takes pride in offering modern, city-quality infrastructure and abundant natural draws.

Most hotels are located within a five-minute walk from Tachikawa Station, allowing event delegates to easily commute on foot, minimising their carbon footprint. Hotels are also affordably priced, even for a double room with breakfast.

Palace Hotel Tachikawa boasts a wide selection of function rooms, including the largest banquet hall in the Tama region. The Rose Room can accommodate 650 guests in classroom-style or 1,500 people for buffet parties when the spacious foyer is utilised.

The newly launched GREEN SPRINGS is another outstanding option for business events. This ‘Wellbeing Town’ has gardens, a cascade, a modern workspace, shops, restaurants, cafes, and the Tachikawa Stage Garden with a seating capacity of about 2,500 in a multipurpose hall. A unique feature of Tachikawa Stage Garden is its operable full-width wall at the rear mezzanine, which when fully opened, connects the interior space to an outdoor stage and amphitheatre, with the lush gardens of GREEN SPRINGS as its backdrop. Also, this place allows event organisers to utilise the open-air event space outside.

Within GREEN SPRINGS, the 81-room SORANO HOTEL interior features light-coloured wood and gentle shades of grey and white that are complemented by endless stretches of greenery beyond enormous windows. Guests can enjoy a rejuvenating retreat at SORANO SPA, where there is a heated infinity pool on the 11th floor, as well as an indoor spa, Nano-mist Sauna, and gym on the 10th floor.

More wellness opportunities are offered just a stone’s throw away at Showa Kinen Park, which spans a massive 180 hectares and features several flower fields, a picturesque ginkgo avenue, an expanse of cherry blossom trees, a waterfront with snack stalls, pedal boats for rent, and numerous open spaces for people to relax.

Kanfutei Japanese teahouse within Showa Kinen Park’s Japanese Garden is an ideal venue to introduce delegates to the elegance of Japanese tea ceremony. Following the ritual, guests can enjoy the scenic surroundings from the elevated tatami room or stroll around the beautiful teahouse.

As the gateway to the mountainous Okutama area, Tachikawa offers an easy transition from serious meetings to exciting outdoor activities. Planners can take their pick of hiking, camping, fishing and white-water rafting. The region also boasts an impressive selection of sake breweries.

To leave a positive mark on the region, join Mitake Race Rafting Club for a river clean-up where participants bond over a meaningful activity benefitting the local community.

Tachikawa Tourism & Convention Bureau’s MICE advisor Yuta Goto believes his destination is perfect for mid-sized corporate meetings and incentive events with about 300 attendees.

While the Bureau was only formed in June 2021, the city is experienced with domestic meetings and is now keen to attract overseas groups. It offers comprehensive support for memorable events, including ideas, relevant connections, and financial or in-kind assistance to international planners, covering 10 per cent of the cost of events in Tachikawa.

Tachikawa has 11 convention facilities, 1,601 guestrooms and 22 banquet halls.

 

Hachioji
Adored by locals as The Mulberry City for its thriving silk production heritage, Hachioji today enjoys a strong following among hikers and trail runners who eagerly scale the sacred Mt Takao for a reward of fresh air and good health.

Standing 599 metres tall and protected within Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park, Mt Takao offers several easy and moderate trails as well as a convenient cable car ride.

Planners tasked with designing a programme with healthy outdoor activities will find Hachioji a treasure trove of options. In addition to hiking up Mt Takao, groups can bond over a bonfire at the newly-opened Takaone Activity & Stay, an accommodation and cultural activity centre at the foot of Mt Takao, or enjoy Mt Takao Base Camp’s flying squirrel-watching tour. The latter is a hostel that can sleep 34 guests and is available for full hire, providing the perfect space for team-building activities.

For a traditional flavour, arrange for groups to experience the Goma fire prayer ceremony at Takaosan Yakuo-in Yuki-ji temple, located halfway up Mt Takao. At this energetic ceremony, photography is prohibited, making it an essential in-person experience. Conclude the temple visit with an elaborate shojin ryori vegetarian meal in the temple.

Further restaurant options include the beautiful Ukai Toriyama, a sprawling venue that resembles a mountain village, complete with picturesque gardens and ponds. Most impressive is the sloped-roof gassho-zukuri house, available for private parties for up to 60 guests on the first floor. The second and third floors have a space showcasing historical artefacts and photographs of Hachioji in olden times. In all, Ukai Toriyama has 39 traditional houses and offers delicious seasonal meals, including charcoal-grilled chicken, which customers roast themselves at their table.

Saori Kubo, a representative of Hachioji Visitors & Convention Association, said Hachioji is increasingly popular with domestic travellers who discovered the area during Japan’s travel restrictions. Strong domestic demand, in turn, fuelled the creation of new wellness experiences perfect for corporate events.

Hachioji has 16 convention facilities, 1,869 guestrooms and 51 banquet halls.

Easy access to outstanding destination experiences
Planners keen to curate a programme in Tokyo with unexpected experiences can expect free quality guidance and assistance from Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau’s experienced staff, from venue recommendations to site inspections and communication with vendors.

The Bureau’s Unique Venues One-Stop Service Desk, established in 2018, in particular, underscores Tokyo’s ability to deliver on business event expectations every time.

To learn more about Tokyo, visit Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau.

To plan your next event in the Tachikawa or Hachioji area, click here:

 

TTGmice breaks for Lunar New Year

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TTGmice’s e-news will be taking a break from January 23-24, 2023, for the Lunar New Year holidays. News will resume on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.

From all of us at TTG Asia Media, we wish all of our readers a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year!

CWT wins global account with renewable energy giant Siemens Gamesa

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CWT wins Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy contract

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has awarded CWT the management of its global travel and meetings & events programme, following a competitive request for proposal (RFP) pitch process.

After a five-year Spanish corporate travel partnership, CWT will now underpin all global business travel, meetings & events, and hotel solutions for the entirety of Siemens Gamesa’s global travellers, spanning 50 markets.

CWT wins Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy contract

“We were looking for excellent global and local service models to support our key hub settings, alongside strong and flexible offline and online booking platforms. CWT more than demonstrated its ability to meet this brief, whilst also showcasing strong credentials in global tech innovations and enhanced traveller experiences which will be essential to our evolving business needs,” said Maria Gonzalez Larrainzar, global travel manager, Siemens Gamesa.

“We are proud to be working with Siemens Gamesa across the globe. In an increasingly complex corporate travel market, our aim is to furnish them with the tools, resources, services and information they need to make their travel and meetings processes both simple and streamlined, enabling them to focus on their main imperative of leading the way for a sustainable future with comprehensive recyclable commercial energy,” said Nick Vournakis, chief customer officer at CWT.

South Korea drops mask mandate for indoor spaces

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Masks are no longer needed indoors

Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur welcomes back Peter Gibbons as GM

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Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur is proud to welcome Peter D. Gibbons back as its general manager. He previously helmed as general manager from 2012 to 2019.

Supported by his knowledge of the brand’s DNA and 38 years of experience in senior management positions in hospitality across five continents, Gibbons returns with strategies to put the hotel back on the local lifestyle map and will oversee the operations of the hotel.

He will also spearhead the hotel’s focus on people, community and projects that give back.

Sri Lankan hoteliers commit to rebuilding tourism responsibly

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Singapore prepares for the return of Chinese business travellers

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A previous edition of BuildTech Asia
  • STB optimistic about the pace of recovery from China
  • Outbound bookings from China have surged, but so have airfares
  • Event organisers anticipate return of Chinese business travellers
A previous edition of BuildTech Asia

Singapore has been preparing to welcome the surge in business travel from China given the strong pent-up demand.

“Mainland China remains a key and strategic market for Singapore and is an important source of business visitors. Prior to the pandemic, China was among our top 10 MICE source markets,” Poh Chi Chuan, executive director, exhibitions & conferences, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) told TTGmice.

Poh pointed out that the Chinese continued to travel to Singapore for business and attend business events such as Singapore FinTech Festival and Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific in 4H2022, even though border restrictions were still in place.

But more Chinese visitors are set to step foot in Singapore this year, with China’s Machinery and Electronics Show and Vinexpo Asia set to be held in the city-state for the first time, marking the launch of their Asia-Pacific editions. Other 2023 tradeshows with high records of Chinese visitors in past editions include BuildTech Asia (March 28-30), Food & Hotel Asia – Food & Beverage (April 25-28), and Asia Tech x Singapore (June 6-9).

According to a global survey by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), companies in the exhibition industry are projecting revenues to reach about 87 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 1H2023.

To tap into this potential, STB has intensified efforts to educate local stakeholders on the preferences of Chinese travellers, refresh their knowledge of Chinese consumer behaviour, and ensure their staff are equipped to meet evolving needs.

For example, in October 2022, STB facilitated a sharing by WeChat Pay to over 100 tourism stakeholders, ensuring they remain familiar with mobile payments systems that are widely used by Chinese travellers.

This was followed by a December launch of a tourism alliance between close to 80 tourism stakeholders from Singapore and almost 100 tourism stakeholders from Western China. “A communications channel on WeChat was established, facilitating networking and business opportunities between members from both countries,” Poh added.

To further assist Chinese event organisers and business travellers, STB will be releasing an information guide in the coming weeks with essential information on Singapore’s immigration and health protocols. It will also highlight Covid-19 test locations near business event venues where Chinese business travellers can take their pre-departure tests before returning home.

Bookings have surged
Since the reopening was announced, bookings processed in China shot up by more than 150 per cent during the first week of January versus the previous week, according to CWT. This was a huge incline in comparison to the 15 to 20 per cent week-on-week increase that the TMC saw in the second half of December.

Albert Zhong, general manager, China, CWT, stated: “Singapore has been among the top five destinations booked by our clients in China following the reopening, and this doesn’t come as a surprise given the strong business ties between the two countries, as well as Singapore’s status as regional hub in Asia Pacific for many multinationals.”

He added that although airlines have started increasing flights to and from China, capacity is still “significantly below pre-pandemic levels”.

Hence, the growth in China’s outbound travel will likely be a “well-paced one, considering air capacity will be rebuilt gradually”, as opposed to an immediate surge, noted Poh.

Because of the limitation in flights, airfares have also skyrocketed, and this will likely continue until more capacity is restored.

Zhong noted: “The Average Ticket Price (ATP) of flights to Singapore booked by our customers in China during the first week of January this year nearly doubled compared to the same period in 2019. Business class fares to Singapore increased even more sharply, with ATPs up by 125 per cent compared to the first week of January 2019.”

A previous edition of Food and Hotel Asia – Food & Beverage and Food and Hotel Asia – HoReCa

Eager efforts from organisers
Event organisers such as RX (Reed Exhibitions) and Clarion Events are upbeat about the greater interest from Chinese exhibitors and buyers, and have intensified efforts to woo them for their upcoming Singapore tradeshows.

Yip Je Choong, senior vice president commercial – Asia Pacific and managing director of Singapore and Indonesia, RX Global, said: “With borders now open, we are ramping up that avenue of communication, with some of our team members heading over to China to connect and meet with our Chinese partners in person. There are also plans for us to conduct roadshows in China in due time.”

Within China itself, RX hosts more than 70 trade fairs across 12 sectors in China annually. Meanwhile, for its Singapore-based tradeshow, Inter Airport Southeast Asia (March 1-3, 2023), RX is also confident of positive attendance rates from Chinese delegates.

Yip further noted that the reopening of the world’s second-largest economy holds “immense opportunities for businesses in Singapore and the region”.

“China accounted for 19 per cent of tourist arrivals in Singapore before the pandemic. With inbound travel from China to make a gradual return, China’s opening is also expected to offset the effects of the slowdown on Singapore’s economy. This bodes well with the progress needed for Singapore’s MICE industry to make a full recovery in two to three years,” he added.

Meanwhile, Clarion Events, which organises Insurtech Connect Asia, has similarly kept busy laying the groundwork for the re-emergence of Chinese business travellers amid the pandemic.

Richard Ireland, Clarion Events’ CEO Asia, elaborated: “As the world’s second-largest insurance market, China plays a vital role in shaping the global insur-tech industry. In November 2022, we held a virtual event specifically tailored to the Chinese market as part of our efforts to bridge the gap and promote collaborations between China and the global insur-tech community.

“We have also been working closely with our local Chinese partner INSLAB to bring in delegations from China to participate in our InsureTech Connect Asia event taking place from May 30 to June 1, 2023 in Singapore.”

Healthy outlook for Singapore’s business events industry

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Outlook for Singapore's (pictured) looks bright and rosy

Singapore’s business events industry is set for further growth this year in tandem with increasing flight connectivity and capacity, China’s gradual reopening, and strong interest from Indonesian, Malaysian and Indian markets, noted Singapore Tourism Board (STB) officials at yesterday’s Year-in-Review conference.

Looking back on the year past, STB said recovery for business events had picked up pace. In 2022, marquee international events that made a comeback to Singapore included Food and Hotel Asia – Food & Beverage and Food and Hotel Asia – HoReCa, which took place as two dedicated trade shows for the first time; ITB Asia; and Singapore Fintech Festival, which attracted a record turnout from over 115 countries.

Outlook for Singapore’s (pictured) looks bright and rosy

STB also secured new events like FIND: Design Fair Asia, Global Health Security Conference 2022, and the 14th World Stroke Congress, as well as high-quality business gatherings such as Herbalife APAC Extravaganza 2023 and the 25th World Congress of Dermatology 2023.

To support industry recovery, STB will pump S$110 million (US$83.1 million) into boosting both business and leisure events over the next two years. Funding comes from the S$500 million war chest that was set up in 2022 to aid tourism recovery.

In terms of incentive travel potential, Juliana Kua, STB’s assistant chief executive, International Group, said groups from China, Indonesia and Malaysia have shown a strong interest in Singapore.

Kua added that STB received strong signals even during the pandemic that they were able to secure a number of Chinese groups for Singapore.

Singapore’s strong appeal as a business centre for the Chinese is further underlined by a number of China-based events that were held in the city-state last year, despite travel restrictions. Asia Corporate Week and Caijing Summit were such examples. Coming up, Singapore has a steady pipeline of business events either from China or which appeal to Chinese corporate travellers.

For now, China’s connectivity with Singapore is resuming at a slow and cautious pace – a deliberate move by the Singapore authorities to ensure Changi Airport has the capacity to maintain smooth operations. There are currently 38 weekly flights between Singapore and China.

STB chief executive Keith Tan said at the Year-in-Review conference that he expects to see Chinese arrivals returning to 30 to 60 per cent of 2019’s numbers by the end of 2023.

The Indian corporate market, meanwhile, has indicated strong interest in Singapore despite current testing requirements for travellers returning to India from Singapore. Air access between Singapore and India will improve in about one to two months’ time, with connections to 17 cities in India, one more than the pre-pandemic level of 16.

Stronger interest from Indonesian and Malaysian corporate groups is spurred by successful KOL engagements for Muslim markets, which has positioned Singapore as a muslim-friendly destination.

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