Asia/Singapore Saturday, 2nd May 2026
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Hong Kong’s KITEC to undergo redevelopment

By Prudence Lui
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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.

KITEC is a popular venue with organisers of concerts, car shows and public events

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

By TTGmice
0

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.

Onyx launches Shama Luxe brand in Bangkok

By TTGmice
0

Thailand-based Onyx Hospitality Group has signed on the management of Shama Luxe Sukhumvit Bangkok serviced apartment with Walton Asset Management Co., marking the Shama brand’s expansion into the luxury accommodation sector.

With the addition of Shama Luxe Sukhumvit Bangkok, the company now has six Shama properties in Thailand – the same number of properties it currently has in Hong Kong where the serviced hospitality brand first began.

Shama Luxe Sukhumvit Bangkok caters to both long-term and short-term guests

Inspired by London’s Knightsbridge area, Shama Luxe Sukhumvit Bangkok offers 52 units, with one- and two-bedroom options. Each residence is equipped with a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom with bathtub, and a spacious working area. Guests can enjoy communal facilities such as a fitness centre, a kids’ playroom, and a swimming pool with city views. Free Wi-Fi is available to support both long-term and short-term stays.

The signing of this agreement is a crucial step for Onyx Hospitality Group in leading the Shama brand in the serviced apartment market in Thailand.

MCEC goes behind the scenes of events

By TTGmice
0

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has released three new episodes of the Event Expert Docuseries, which showcases experts and creators of events working behind the scenes.

The latest episodes feature customer service manager David Howie, operations manager Anthea Fahey, and lighting specialist Matthew Dix.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s Event Expert Docuseries features various individuals in the organisation that are crucial to event delivery

As customer service manager, Howie ensures MCEC’s facilities and services are operating effectively for all events. Having worked at the organisation for over 20 years, he has a wealth of knowledge and his episode highlights some of the unique design details of venue.

Operations manager Fahey oversees events from bump-in to bump-out. Working across teams, contractors and clients, she creates and implements cohesive floor plans to deliver seamless events. She plays a crucial role in ensuring all events held at MCEC are safe, accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Lighting specialist Dix illustrates the importance of collaboration to achieve a unified design. Part of his role is researching cutting-edge technology to keep MCEC at the forefront of the industry.

Earlier episodes feature event planner Maxine McIntyre, sustainability manager Samantha Ferrier, executive pastry chef Alessandro Bartesaghi, digital event manager Mark Higgins, and event delivery manager Amir Asady, who has since been promoted to operations manager.

MCEC’s head of marketing, Liz Kozmevski, said: “Through the series, we aim to inspire and educate our customers on how they can leverage our world-class facilities and expertise to create unforgettable experiences… We hope the series inspires others to host their events at MCEC and witness the magic for themselves.”

Edward Koh chairs BestCities Global Alliance

By TTGmice
0

Edward Koh, executive director of the Conventions, Meetings & Incentive Travel division of the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau, has been appointed as BestCities Global Alliance’s board chair.

In his new role, Koh will prioritise knowledge creation and client engagement in the fields of legacy and sustainability, with a goal of growing the global impact of meetings events. He is committed to enhancing BestCities’ focus on economic, social and environmental sustainability, enabling alliance members to offer delegates more responsible ways to meet amid the growing climate emergency.

Koh takes over from Kit Lykketoft, director of the Copenhagen Convention Bureau. During her two-year tenure as board chair, Lykketoft oversaw the addition of two new partner cities – Guadalajara and Dublin – and navigated the alliance through the global pandemic, among other accomplishments.

Julia Swanson, CEO of the Melbourne Convention Bureau, will assume Koh’s vacated role of incoming board chair, while David Noack Perez, director of the Madrid Convention Bureau, will take up the position of board treasurer.

Michael Issenberg joins TFE Hotels’ Board

By TTGmice
0

Hotelier Michael Issenberg has joined the Board of TFE Hotels, where he will assist the company with the next stage of its growth and evolution.

A 26-year veteran of Accor, where he helms as chairman and CEO of Accor Asia Pacific, Issenberg brings more than 42 years of international experience at executive management and Board level in the travel and hospitality industry to the table.

He is also the current chair of Tourism Australia and a director of the Star Entertainment Group.

Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta welcomes new manager

By TTGmice
0

Vishal Sanadhya has been named the new hotel manager for Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta.

With more than 16 years of experience with Four Seasons, he will take charge of day-to-day hotel operations.

He was previously part of the pre-opening team at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, and has supported several Four Seasons properties in other locations, including Beijing, Maldives, Singapore and Mumbai.

W Goa appoints Siddharth Joshi as new DOSM

By TTGmice
0

W Goa has named Siddharth Joshi as its new director of sales & marketing.

With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Joshi’s in-depth knowledge of the market and his strategic approach to sales and marketing will help him develop and implement sales and marketing strategies to drive revenue growth, enhance the hotel’s brand positioning, and foster strategic partnerships.

Joshi joins the W Goa team from The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts where he was also director of sales & marketing.

Taiwan events industry takes sustainability strategy forward

By TTGmice
0

Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) has commissioned the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) to implement its Sustainable MICE, Taking Strides Towards Net Zero project under the MEET TAIWAN programme this year.

The project, which aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, will comprise three parts: evaluation and guidance, speaking out and taking action, and encouragement and honour.

From left: Taiwan Convention & Exhibition Association’s (TCEA) James Wu, TAITRA’s Simon Wang, BOFT’s Guann-Jyh Lee, and TCEA’s Felix H L Chiu

The first segment, evaluation and guidance, provides three resources – helping business events companies reduce carbon emissions, the Taiwan MICE Sustainability White Paper, and helping business events companies gain ISO certifications and producing corporate sustainability reports.

These resources are designed to enhance the industry’s sustainability. MEET TAIWAN will provide customised consultation services to help industry players meet sustainability goals.

The second segment, speaking out and taking action, involves promoting Taiwan’s international image as a destination for sustainable business events. It carries on from last year’s Net Zero Carbon Events – Route to Net Zero report published by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC)during COP 27. This year, BOFT and JMIC have co-organised an event for COP 28 to jointly promote the net zero initiative for the global business events industry. That, along with the Taiwan MICE Sustainability White Paper and carbon reduction results of Taiwan’s business events industry, will contribute to Taiwan’s sustainable business events image.

In addition, Taiwan has launched the 100 x 100 campaign, which calls on 100 business events stakeholders to carry out 100 sustainable actions.

For the third segment, encouragement and honor, Taiwan’s business events companies will be recognised for their contributions to sustainable events. The annual Sustainable MICE Awards this year will highlight achievements with an SDGs Action Award and a Carbon Reduction Action Award.

BOFT has also declared 2023 a year of carbon reduction and sustainability action for Taiwan’s business events industry.

BCD Travel gets closer to Asia-Pacific customers with Sri Lanka call centre

By TTGmice
0

BCD Travel has opened a fully-owned service centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to facilitate more efficient programme deployment for clients in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore as well as to support its global travellers with frontline services during out-of-office hours in their regions.

The BCD Asia-Pacific Service Center draws on Sri Lanka’s abundant pool of skilled talent and favourable market economics. The company is said to be the first global travel management company to join the Sri Lanka Board of Investment, which demonstrates the facility’s contribution to the local economy and job creation.

From left: John Snyder and Greg O’Neil

The BCD Asia-Pacific Service Center is also creating a local Sustainability Committee and will appoint a local charity to further expand its outreach to the local communities.

“Coming out of the pandemic, our laser focus was on ‘building forward’ through a sustainable operating strategy,” said John Snyder, president and CEO at BCD Travel.

“Investing in a country emerging from political and economic instability not only supports our strategy for sustainable growth, but also demonstrates our commitment to care for our communities and feed the future.”

The BCD Asia-Pacific Service Center is pivotal to BCD’s preparation for the travel industry’s emergence from the pandemic and for clients’ subsequent growing demand for travel. The service centre currently has close to 200 full-time employees and is in active expansion mode. The company expects it to be one of its largest operations in Asia-Pacific by the end of this year.

The facility will be led by a local management team, with Pradeep Kumar at the helm as executive director. Kumar reports to Greg O’Neil, BCD’s president for Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa & Global Network.

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGassociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTGmice | Business travel sentiment slides as global tensions rise: GBTA
TTGmice | New Talking Point – Design Matters – takes centre stage at IMEX Frankfurt 2026
TTGmice | ICC Sydney revolutionises event planning with new 3D tool