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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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, 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.
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.
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.