Kempinski Hotels sets eyes on Asia
Kempinski Hotels has set its sights firmly on Asia as a key region for expansion, with talks being held in a string of destinations.
Speaking to TTGmice at the Arabian Travel Market last week, Kempinski’s chief commercial officer Amanda Elder stated they have a strong commitment to South-east Asia.
To help grow business, the hotel management company has just hired a head of development based in Bangkok and another in China. They have been tasked with sourcing new projects across the region.
“They are both very experienced and I’m very excited about that because they’ll find new projects,” Elder said, adding the company is close to signing opportunities in Thailand in Khao Lak and Phuket. Initial discussions are also taking place for Chiang Mai.
In addition, there are talks about opening Kempinski’s first property in Vietnam, with a Kempinski slated to open in Lombok in 2027.
“We opened Apurva Kempinski Bali last year and it’s been a very successful hotel,” said Elder. “It’s the number one RevPAR in Nusa Dua. The same owner gave us an additional property in Lombok and there is talk of a third hotel in Indonesia with the same owner.”
For corporate groups, The Apurva Kempinski Bali offers a selection of upscale event venues, with the largest being Candi, a pillarless, ocean-view ballroom that can take up to 1,000 people.
Development also continues in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur in the form of 8 Conlay Kempinski Hotel, a mixed-use development comprising residences, an office tower and hotel complex. It is slated for completion in about 2.5 years.
Elder shared that initial talks on opening a property in Japan are also ongoing.
“Asia has so much potential. You can really tap into global markets in the region. Everybody is looking to go to Asia at some point of their travel experience, and it’s very accessible, about seven to nine hours from most parts of the world,” added Elder.
Global DMC Partners, DMI Hotels form partnership
Global DMC Partners (GDP), a network of independent DMCs and event service providers, have come together with DMI Hotels to better serve clients seeking on-the-ground support and events expertise.
GDP has representation worldwide. Members in Asia include Destination Asia Events offices in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam and more.
DMI has been providing hotel sales representation and marketing services to supplement on-property sales and marketing efforts for the past 25 years. Its services include direct sales calls, tradeshow participation and lead generation, and it offers a referral programme that allows partners to exchange leads and referrals with one another in a non-competitive environment.
DMI founder and president John Gaca, said: “With over 500 premier locations worldwide, the addition of Global DMC Partners to DMI will allow us to provide better service to both our long-term and new clients.”
Katie McAlister helms as president of Cunard
Cunard has appointed Katie McAlister as its president effective from August.
She will bring to Cunard her commercial and operational experience as well as digital transformation expertise and strategic oversight.
She currently serves as TUI as chief marketing officer, UK & Ireland, where she has worked for 20 years.
Sunlight Hotels and Resorts appoints new director of sales
Teody Espallardo recently joined Sunlight Hotels and Resorts as director of sales of its three properties in Palawan: Sunlight Ecotourism Island in Culion and Sunlight Hotel in Coron and in Puerto Princesa.
Prior to that, he was director of sales and marketing of Altabriza Resort Boracay for nearly six years.
Melissa Ow to return to Singapore Tourism Board as new chief executive
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has named Melissa Ow as the new chief executive of Singapore Tourism Board (STB) effective from June 1. She will take over the role from Keith Tan.
Currently the executive vice president for customer experience, marketing & investment facilitation group at the Economic Development Board (EDB), Ow played a key role in transforming the organisation’s B2B sales and marketing model.
Ow has held several positions in STB, with the last being deputy chief executive. She also headed the Experience Development Group and the Corporate Group as well as oversaw STB’s corporate functions such as legal, procurement and corporate administration, finance, and human resources.
Brisbane to get new precinct, business events boost in lead up to 2032 Olympics
Stage One of Brisbane’s A$3.6 billion (US$2.4 billion) Queen’s Wharf precinct is slated to open at the end of this year, bolstering the city’s destination appeal ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
At the heart of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane is The Star Brisbane, comprising The Star’s own five-star hotel, The Star Grand, as well as Dorsett Brisbane and Australia’s first Rosewood hotel. The Star will also be home to one of the largest ballrooms in the city at 2,000m2; a 250m-long Sky Deck with restaurants and bars set 100m above the Brisbane River; and an open-air Leisure Deck, a 12,000m2 mixed-use space with an expansive lawn, resort amenities and an Event Deck.
Rebecca Evans, marketing manager – tourism, business & major events at Brisbane Economic Development Agency, told TTGmice: “As the host city of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is only eight years away, there is a lot happening. We are getting ready for it now, (hence) there is a lot happening (in terms of) infrastructure. There are new hotel openings, new leisure experiences, new F&B openings, and we will continue to build on this into the future.”
Brisbane will also be getting a new metro train network, Evans added, as well as a new pedestrian bridge, which upon completion, will help Brisbane become “Australia’s most walkable city”.
The Neville Bonner pedestrian bridge will connect Queen’s Wharf Brisbane to South Bank’s cultural precinct, providing access to Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, and Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Once the precinct is complete, Queen’s Wharf will deliver an estimated 1,000 hotel rooms, more than 50 new F&B experiences, entertainment, luxury retail, public artworks, the restoration of nine heritage buildings, 1,500 residential apartments, and 12 football fields of public space in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD.
Expected to attract an estimated 1.4 million additional visitors each year, Queen’s Wharf is also the first development in Brisbane to be awarded the 6-Star Green Star Communities rating in recognition of its social, environmental, and economic sustainability designs.
Aside from new infrastructure, Evans shared: “At this point, Queensland’s immediate task is to build direct aviation routes back, as these are key to welcoming more international visitors back.”
“We’re also working closely with medical technology companies, health scientists and sporting associations to get them (to bring business events) up to Brisbane (in the lead up to the Olympics),” she added.
Vietnam’s first Autograph Collection offers elevated events experiences
Vinpearl Landmark 81 – Autograph Collection has opened in Ho Chi Minh City, on the upper floors of Vietnam’s highest skyscraper from the 47th to 71st floors.
It also lays claims to the country’s first Autograph Collection hotel.
The 223-key hotel positions its business event facilities across levels 48, 66 and 69.
Perched on level 69, the Sky Studios are an exclusive collection of three intimate rooms and a sky terrace where delegates can enjoy premium facilities and breathtaking views of the city and river. For glittering gala gatherings, the Grand Ballroom – the biggest in Ho Chi Minh City – can host 1,000 guests and features a drive-in entrance for cars to create truly remarkable events.
A team of professional planners, creative caterers and cutting-edge technology will bring every event to life.
Elsewhere in the hotel are a selection of refined dining experiences, the Akoya Spa, outdoor infinity pool and gym.
The hotel is housed within The Landmark 81 tower, which comprises an upmarket mall, an ice skating rink, a cinema, kids’ play centre, and multiple dining venues.
Hong Kong’s KITEC to undergo redevelopment
Authorities have approved the redevelopment of Hong Kong’s Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre (KITEC), which will bring the building in line with government plans to establish Kowloon East as the city’s second CBD and complement the revitalisation of the larger East Kowloon Area.
The redevelopment will see KITEC sporting new facilities including three office towers and a 11,285m2 exhibition hall.
According to local news reports, the redevelopment is slated for completion in 2027.
Stuart Bailey, chairman of the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA), said the renewed KITEC could alleviate Hong Kong’s shortage of indoor exhibit space for medium-scale events during peak times.
But he added that the success of the renewed KITEC would “depend on how the developer decides to integrate the facility with the rest of the development and the surrounding transport infrastructure in Kwun Tong”.
Bailey said: “We at HKECIA would be pleased to participate in an exchange with the developer and our members to ensure that the facility is designed with the needs of the user in mind.”
Qantas picks new CEO
Qantas Airways has named finance chief Vanessa Hudson as its next chief executive officer.
Hudson joined Qantas 28 years ago and has held several senior roles there, including chief financial officer, chief customer officer and senior vice president for the Americas and New Zealand.
She will officially take over from Alan Joyce, whose has held the role for 15 years, at the 2023 annual general meeting in November.
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Marriott Bonvoy has launched a new campaign, Spark This
Moment, that is themed around connections between business travellers.
To empower and meet the evolving needs of meeting planners and corporate travellers, the new campaign highlights how guests can best maximise their meeting experience when booking with its hotels.
The campaign highlights five connection aspects: Success, Passion, Appreciation, Relationships, and Kindness.
To facilitate the successful flow of new ideas, Marriott Bonvoy properties offer innovative and high-tech event spaces as well as the support of on-site event experts.
To help guests spark passion in their corporate gatherings, hotel and resorts build unique local heritage and culture of the destination into the stay experience.
To bring people together through a shared appreciation of delicacies and good times, Marriott Bonvoy properties offer a portfolio of world-class restaurants and bars, and boast 26 Michelin stars in 21 restaurants in Asia-Pacific.
To build relationships, the company’s wide array of offsite meetings and corporate retreats help meeting planners and business travellers cultivate purposeful experiences.
And finally, to make the world a better place, Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy is available in almost 100 hotels in Asia-Pacific to deliver purpose-driven travel that will enable corporate goups to create a positive impact and form deeper connections with the local communities.
Ramesh Daryanani, vice president of global sales, Asia Pacific, said: “We’ve seen a strong uptake in MICE bookings, indicating a deepened desire for human connection and face-to-face meetings since the easing of pandemic restrictions.
“With our diverse portfolio of hotels and resorts across the region, we’re able to deliver a wide range of offerings to meeting planners
and corporate travellers to suit their needs, inspiring more meaningful connections and memorable moments”.
Spark This Moment campaign comes with limited-time offers. Eligible bookings of meeting or events with Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of participating properties in Asia-Pacific can earn rewards including Double Marriott Bonvoy Points and Group Perks.