Japan brings forward end of covid border controls
Arrangements are underway to lift Japan’s Covid-19 border control measures this Saturday, ahead of initial plans to do so on May 8.
According to Japanese news reports, the decision is made in anticipation of an increase in overseas travellers during the Golden Week holidays.
The move will mean that all people entering Japan will no longer need to present certification of at least three Covid-19 vaccination doses or a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of departure.
However, the government is looking to deploy a voluntary testing system at five airports, targeting travellers with symptoms such as fever, with the aim of detecting new infectious diseases.
Japan will maintain its plans to downgrade the classification of Covid-19 under the infectious disease law to Category V, the same as for seasonal flu, on May 8.
Ludovic Gallerne helms as VP of global commerce at S Hotels & Resorts
S Hotels and Resorts has appointed Ludovic Gallerne as its new vice president of global commerce.
Gallerne brings over 25 years of experience to the role, and will be responsible for all commercial activities at the group’s extensive global portfolio of hotels and resorts in Thailand, the Maldives, Fiji, Mauritius and the UK.
He was most recently the vice president of sales & marketing for Asia & Middle East at The Standard Hotels.
China drops PCR test rule for inbound travellers
In another step towards its reopening, China has announced that all inbound travellers no longer need to show a negative PCR test starting from April 29, 2023.
Instead, inbound travellers will just have to show a negative ART test, taken within 48 hours of the flight, according to Xinhua news agency.
“We remind both inbound and outbound travellers to do self-health management and monitoring well before travelling, strictly comply with China’s national and local requirements on epidemic prevention, and ensure a healthy and pleasant trip and a safe return home,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday.
GBTA releases study to tackle carbon emissions in business travel
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Foundation has released a new benchmarking study which sheds light on the approaches that leading companies are using to decarbonise travel programmes.
Titled Managing Emissions From Business Travel Programs: Overview of Corporate Best Practices, this first-of-its-kind report provides a snapshot of purpose-driven companies that are addressing and mitigating their business travel emissions. The study examines which measures are most effective in reducing the climate impact of Scope 3 emissions from business travel and key considerations for implementation and success.
“One of the biggest challenges for achieving more sustainable business travel is knowing how to build the path and the programme to get there. We went to companies and leaders in sustainability to bring forth best practices and insights that can help any company seeking to travel greener and better,” said Delphine Millot, managing director, GBTA Foundation.
Millot added that tackling Scope 3.6 emissions needs to be a joint effort across the entire global business travel value chain and relies on common ownership and shared responsibility between the suppliers and users of travel services.
Forging the path toward a climate-conscious travel programme
The report lays out a pathway of building blocks for companies to create a more climate-conscious travel programme – from getting started with measures requiring less effort and funding, to advancing with more ambitious strategies, activities, and outcomes.
Developing a sustainable travel programme involves a combination of measures at different levels and working with various stakeholders. The report outlines measures across four critical categories: travel decisions, emissions tracking, supplier engagement, and decarbonisation. Additionally, it provides a toolbox of action areas to efficiently reduce emissions while aligning to organization budgets, available time, company culture, and other factors.
Six key points for success in reducing business travel emissions
Lowering the impact of business travel on the environment is an iterative process. The report identifies commonalities among interviewees, emphasizing the integral elements necessary to effectively reduce emissions from business travel:
- No One Size Fits All: Evaluate needs and return on investment before drawing from the toolbox.
- Make a Demand Signal: Corporate travel managers have a key role to play in signalling a growing demand for greener travel options.
- Start Today: Strive to improve emissions data − but don’t let perfection halt progress.
- Go “Glocal”: Global strategies should be localized to consider infrastructure and cultural differences.
- Future Proof: Combine quick wins with longer-term investments.
- Collaboration is Key: Sustainability is a shared effort between corporate travel managers, procurement, sustainability, and employee travellers.
Additional topics covered in the report include integrating climate considerations into corporate travel policies, measuring travel programme emissions, greening the procurement process, and navigating Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) opportunities.
The report’s benchmarking methodology consisted of interviews with a dozen sustainability leaders from global companies that rely on business travel to successfully conduct their business. Participants included members of the GBTA Foundation’s Sustainability Corporate Advisory Board, in collaboration with the GBTA Sustainability Leadership Council.
The full report can be downloaded here.
The Foundation is also set to launch a new global State of Climate Action study in June 2023. This report follows last year’s State of Sustainability in Global Business Travel Study and aims to measure the adoption of best practices for reducing Scope 3.6 emissions across the entire business travel community. The report will provide statistics on the progress made by various organisations in different regions toward their climate goals.
The report will be unveiled on June 13, 2023, at GBTA’s 2nd Sustainability Summit in Washington, D.C. which will include travel buyer case studies presented by Google, Salesforce and Shell.
The GBTA Foundation’s Sustainability Program has also released a Sustainability Toolkit to guide, inform, and empower corporate travel managers in reducing the climate impact of business travel in their organisation.
First international construction arbitration conference in Vietnam draws strong support
The Hochiminh City International Construction Arbitration Conference (HICAC) 2023 – the first of its kind in Vietnam – chose complex construction arbitration as its theme to stimulate interest and build knowledge in this niche area.
Held at Le Méridien Saigon on April 17, 2023, it was organised by the Society of Construction Law – Viet Nam (SCLVN) and International Law Faculty – HCMC University of Law. Although total attendance was relatively small at 140 people, 34 per cent were from overseas, mainly from the region and Singapore in particular.
“The conference brought together professionals from the construction industry, experts, lawyers, arbitrators and academics to discuss the latest trends, practices and developments in construction arbitration,” said SCLVN chair Trung Nguyen.
Organisers managed to invite leading arbitrators, lawyers and academics as speakers and moderators at plenary and breakout sessions, while informal networking among attendees continued during the river cruise dinner.
SCLVN noted that as a developing country, Vietnam has seen a significant increase in construction activities, leading also to an increase in construction disputes. The complexity of construction projects and the involvement of multiple parties often results in disputes arising from various issues.
Trung noted: “As Vietnam continues to experience significant growth in construction activities, this conference provided a timely platform for potential arbitration users in Vietnam and the region to learn from the international arbitrators and experts’ experiences and insights into construction arbitration.”
Acknowledging challenges in organising its first high-level international conference, Trung said these were mainly in securing sponsors and speakers, such as for the panel on digital technology in international construction arbitration. Some participants also faced problems with online registration and payment.
Regardless, both organisers and attendees rated the venue highly, such as the meeting facilities at Le Méridien Saigon, and the professionalism and quality of service of the staff.
Amanda Lees, international arbitration partner at King & Wood Mallesons and a panellist, complimented SCLVN’s efforts. “We had a chance to elaborate on some of the issues identified in the keynote speech and discuss the importance of proactive case management by tribunals in Asian arbitrations.”
The next legal event is Vietnam ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Week 2023, which will be held simultaneously in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from May 8-12, 2023.
Vinexpo Asia 2023 returns to Singapore after four-year absence
Vinexpo Asia 2023, the wine and spirits industry’s largest B2B gathering in the region, will be held from May 23-25, 2025, at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore.
The three-day convention organised by Vinexposium marks the return of the event after a pandemic-induced hiatus.
An estimated 1,000 exhibitors and 8,000 trade visitors are expected to attend. Of the 8,000 visitors, most will hail from China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, with an estimated 50 per cent being importers.
On the exhibitor front, over 35 countries will be represented with producers from France, Italy, and Australia making major showings. The US has been named the country of honour for this year’s exhibition.
Part of the event will see Vinexpo Academy will be offering a slew of masterclasses, conferences, and tastings, providing over 52 hours of content for attendees. Highlights include the IWSR conference on global and Asian consumption trends, Battle of the Sommeliers, and the Vinexpo Challenge.
For instance, in the Battle of the Sommeliers, Singaporean sommelier Mason Ng, Malaysian sommelier Chuan Ann, and Vietnam’s sommelier Le Hoang Khanh Vi compete in a series of tasting challenges.
It has been announced that Vinexpo Asia 2024 will be held in Hong Kong, alternating with Singapore as the host country on odd-numbered years. Previously, Vinexpo has been held in Hong Kong since 1998.
Melbourne shines as a top choice for medical conferences
Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) has secured 48 medical conferences which will take place within the next five years.
The 48 medical conferences are expected to attract 38,000 delegates to the city, an injection of A$225 million (US$149 million) to Victoria’s local economy, and legacy opportunities for investment, collaboration and medical breakthroughs into the future.
Melbourne has one of the largest and most innovative life science sectors in the world, with 40 per cent of Australia’s funding for medical research based in Melbourne, the highest proportion of people employed in the life sciences sector in Victoria, and the highest number of biotherapeutic companies in Australia.
Moreover, the commercial medical technologies and pharmaceuticals sector in Victoria generates more than A$12.7 billion in revenue, and the state’s life science sector is worth more than A$35 billion.
“When you host your conference in Melbourne you are tapping into the strengths of our city’s world-class knowledge and innovation hub,” said MCB’s chief executive Julia Swanson.
The upcoming Spine Intervention Society’s quadrennial SpineWeek in May is one of the 48 medical conferences coming to Melbourne and is expected to attract 2,250 delegates from across the globe and deliver around A$14.7 million to the local economy.
Similarly, The International Congress of Genetics in July is expected to attract 3,000 delegates, and deliver over A$26.6 million to the local economy, when it’s held in Melbourne this July. It’s a big win for the local accommodation sector too, with over 19,000 room nights expected to be filled across just these two events alone.
The importance of events such as these is about more than a one-off boost to the local economy, explained Swanson. “Medical conferences provide opportunities for investment, collaboration and knowledge-sharing, which can lead to significant breakthroughs in medical research and advancements in the healthcare sector.”
The Victorian Government continues to invest in major infrastructure such as the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, an important life science cluster and one of only five of its calibre in the world; as well as the state-of-the-art, A$206 million Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery – Australia’s first collaborative, hospital-based biomedical engineering research centre set for completion in late 2024.
TK Elevator signs new global partnership with CWT
CWT has been selected to provide global corporate travel management services to TK Elevator, a Germany-based elevator company.
The new partnership began in April 2023, following a competitive request for proposal (RFP).
CWT will support TK Elevator’s business travel programme by providing travel booking management and fulfilment through a client online platform; CWT hotel content in multi-channel; and global client management.
CWT’s executive vice president & chief customer officer, Nick Vournakis, said that the corporate travel management company was “delighted” that its offering has been “recognised by TK Elevator”.
He added that CWT will “continuously invest in technology and solutions” that will help “maximise the value of our customer’s business travel spend, while achieving a seamless and safe travel experience for their employees”.
Pullman Singapore Orchard
Rooms
Pullman Singapore Orchard has 326 rooms and suites in nine configurations, from the lead-in Classic Rooms to the Presidential Suite. The interiors are inspired by the fashion powerhouses that surround the sleek hotel.
I was given a 32m2 Club Residence Room on Level 4, just a few doors down from The Archive Club. Entering my room was akin to going into someone’s house. There was an open wardrobe and a space for my bags, and I adored the gorgeous bathroom – think sleek fixtures, geometric shapes, and marble countertops – with double vanities. There’s even a small chair and mirror for those among us that need to put on makeup.
To get down to the sleeping area, there are three steps to walk down, so do be careful when stumbling to the toilet at night. The room was also furnished with a 55-inch Smart TV, as well as a grey chaise and small round table.
I found the king-sized bed extremely comfortable, but I did find the duvet a little too thick for Singapore’s weather. It didn’t help that my air conditioning turned off suddenly that night on its own accord, but I got that sorted by lowering the temperature slightly.
If you’re a business traveller that prefers not to wait to be checked in, Pullman Singapore Orchard has a custom-designed hotel app and digital room key that enables you to check in online, receive a digital key, and skip directly to your guestroom. But rest assured, there are still humans at the counter to check you in if that is preferred.
Taking a leaf from fashion books, the entrance lobby features catwalk-inspired bleachers, and the theme continues to run throughout the property.
MICE facilities
There are three meeting spaces on-site named after iconic fashion destinations – New York, Paris, and Shanghai – which would be suitable for small corporate meetings of about 20. One of the rooms even doubles up as a karaoke and private dining room, which could help groups to wind down and socialise after a long day of work.
Business travellers will appreciate The Archive Club, tucked away at the back of Level 4, after a whole row of Club Residences. The space was tastefully furnished with comfortable chairs and loungers in soothing hues of cream, brown, and grey, and was a perfect perch to work from. There were also ample USB ports and sockets to go around, as well as two Zoom Rooms (booths rather) for phone calls that cannot be overheard.
I spent a good chunk of my weekday afternoon in The Archive Club, where my work was fuelled by cups of free-flow coffee, bottles of Acqua Panna, and canned drinks.
Open from 10.00 to 22.00, The Archive Club also hosts an Evening Cocktail session from 17.00 to 19.00, where small savoury bites can be had alongside a tipple from the extensive beverage list.
Other facilities
When not shopping or exploring the city, guests can make use of the fitness centre, and a striking, outdoor swimming pool complete with inflatables and comfortable sunbeds. As guests laze by the pool, they can also order drinks and snacks.
All the above recreational facilities are located on Level 4, alongside the Eden Restaurant and Atelier Lounge.
I noticed that the Atelier Lounge was decorated with fashion-inspired artefacts ranging from design books to a pug statue wearing sunglasses – cute. Dubbed the hotel’s social hub, the lounge has a concise menu that offers burgers and sandwiches, as well as alcoholic beverages.
For a more substantial meal, head adjacent to Eden Restaurant. During the day during the breakfast buffet and lunch, the glasshouse is drenched with natural light, accentuated by indoor plants that give the space a life of its own. It serves a mod-Asian menu, where my favourites include the Eden Crab Cakes; Satay Lamb Rack; and the Coconut Pandan Tart. Eden Restaurant is also available for corporate buyouts, or a space can be carved out, especially for groups.
Rob McIntyre, general manager of Pullman Singapore Orchard, shared that the hotel will also host “a series of collaborations and pop-ups to showcase the wonders of Asia and to elevate guests’ experiences”, bringing to life the hotel’s motto: Our World Is Your Playground.
Current activations include a cocktail menu designed in partnership with Orientalist Spirits, coffee from Common Man Coffee Roasters, craft beers from Brewlander, and an agreement with Ritual to offer gym access for Pullman guests.
Service
The hotel staff are very intuitive, and attentive, and exceeded all my expectations. They certainly ensured that my one-night stay was as comfortable as it could possibly be.
Verdict
Pullman Singapore Orchard has all the bases covered in being able to appeal to all types of guests ranging from business travellers to staycationers, as the lines of work and play are increasingly blurred in this current world.
Contact details
www.pullmansingaporeorchard.com
Reviews
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
Mama Shelter Zurich
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
Singapore integrated resort Marina Bay Sands (MBS) says it is making headway with the launch of its Bay Precinct Strategy, which aims to position the property and the surrounding Bay area as the epicentre for international business gatherings.
The Bay Precinct Strategy is said to be the first of its kind, as it brings together different hospitality players, attractions, service providers and restaurants from the Marina Bay area, playing to their strengths in an enlarged business events ecosystem.
At press time, the partnership will comprise 10 hotels, including The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, The Westin Singapore, Swissotel The Stamford, Pan Pacific Singapore and The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. The close collaboration enables MBS and partner hotels to leverage each other’s strengths and assets to bring an expanded offering to international event organisers looking to host their events in Singapore.
“Authenticity, mass customisation, sustainability and wellness are some of the key drivers that will fundamentally shift the tentpoles of how future events are designed. Even as Marina Bay Sands is playing the lead role in hosting international events, we need to continually innovate and drive benefits beyond our own corners. The Bay Precinct Strategy allows us to do just that – we’re able to offer clients an enlarged platform and direct access to different services around the Bay, opening up the playing field. Event organisers are empowered to harness the best-in-town offerings to conceptualise their desired event experience,” said Paul Town, chief operating officer at MBS.
The integrated resort will also be joining hands with other service providers and attractions around Marina Bay, such as Gardens by the Bay, Satay by the Bay, and National Gallery Singapore to create trails that explore Singapore’s gastronomy, wellness, arts, culture, and more.
Event organisers can weave these interest-based trails into their programmes, thereby broadening the attendee experience beyond a single venue.
Besides progress on the business events front, MBS has also completed refurbishments to more than 850 hotel rooms and suites across two of its hotel towers. These make up a third of the hotel’s total room inventory.
The next phase of renovation will focus on the ultra-luxe suites. The hotel renewal will see more suites being created within Towers One and Two – from 137 previously to around 422 – to cater to the growing demand for luxury travel.
When works at Towers One and Two are completed end of this year, the renewal journey will continue into Tower Three, the Hotel Lobby and Sands SkyPark.