Organisers of IT&CM China and CTW China, TTG Asia Media and China-based CTG MICE Service Company Limited, have opened buyer and exhibitior registrations for next year’s show.
The three-day in-person event will be held from March 21-23, 2023, at The Anandi Hotel and Spa Shanghai, followed by an online networking and conference segment on April 11-12, 2023.
A pre-pandemic edition of IT&CM China
Due to Covid-related restrictions, hosting is available for China-based buyers outside of Shanghai only.
International business events, associations and corporate buyers are welcome to participate remotely in both the table-top exhibition meets in Shanghai, as well as the virtual networking event.
This is the first time Singapore (pictured) is welcoming the flagship global conference to its shores
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has decided that its 2024 Global Conference will be held in Singapore from November 13-15.
This year, Singapore has hosted at least six significant sustainability-focused events, including CleanEnviro Summit Singapore and World Cities Summit.
This is the first time Singapore (pictured) is welcoming the flagship global conference to its shores
With GSTC Global Conference 2024, there are now more than five such events in the pipeline. Next year’s line-up includes the Asia Climate Forum in April 2023, and Ecosperity Week in June 2023.
In the coming year, STB will also continue to execute its sustainability strategy to differentiate Singapore from other urban destinations and enhance its appeal to environmentally-conscious visitors. Part of the strategy includes ongoing efforts to attract and nurture events that cultivate global thought leadership and gather influential stakeholders to address critical issues around sustainable tourism.
Steve Odell, managing director for Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will retire from his position after a seven-year tenure with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH).
A cruise industry veteran with over 35 years of experience, Odell joined NCHL in October 2015 to spearhead the launch of the company’s Asia-Pacific business across its three brands.
Odell retires amid organisational changes
In his most recent role since 2019, he was responsible for the strategic expansion, vision and continued growth of the company’s presence in the Asia-Pacific market for Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises.
“It has been an honour to lead the unmatched teams at Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises during this exciting period of growth in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Odell in a statement.
Caroline Smith will assume Odell’s responsibilities in her new role as managing director, international in which she will oversee sales and marketing for Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Brazil.
Lisa Pile, current vice president of sales, Australia and New Zealand for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will expand her responsibilities to include the entire Asia-Pacific region as vice president sales and general manager Asia-Pacific for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, reporting to Smith.
Jason Worth, current vice president of sales, Australia and New Zealand for Oceania Cruises, will expand his responsibilities to the entire Asia-Pacific region as vice president sales and general manager Asia-Pacific for Oceania Cruises, reporting to Nikki Upshaw, senior vice president, sales for Oceania Cruises.
Said Odell: “I am proud of the significant achievements we have accomplished together, and I am confident that this is the right team to lead the company into the future and continue delivering best-in-class experiences for our loyal guests and valued travel partners.”
Ben Angell, vice president and managing director Asia-Pacific for Norwegian Cruise Line, will continue to represent the brand in the Asia-Pacific region, reporting to Jason Krimmel, vice president, international sales and marketing for Norwegian Cruise Line.
“We are grateful to Steve for his strategic vision and significant contributions to the company which have positioned us as leaders in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region,” said Frank J Del Rio, president and chief executive office of NCLH.
Del Rio said the leadership transitions “reflect our robust succession planning and the strength and talent of our broader team”.
Ambassadors will be influential leaders who are passionate about the city and committed to helping it grow as a host destination for business events
Destination Gold Coast has recently revitalised its business events ambassador programme, BE Connected Gold Coast, another phase in its plans to attract more delegates to the destination.
BE Connected Gold Coast will include leaders from the valuable academic and scientific world, in addition to a new generation of industry leaders and thought leaders who are driving change, growing their industries, and helping to move the city forward.
From left: Ambassador Hal Rice, Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate, Destination Gold Coast’s Selina Sinclair; and Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre’s Adrienne Readings
Destination Gold Coast’s head of business events, Selina Sinclair, said: “We are excited to launch BE Connected Gold Coast with eight leaders who are making a big impact through their contribution to the social, cultural and economic achievements of the city.
“They will showcase the Gold Coast’s changing profile as a hub for innovation, by attracting and building best-in-class business events whose benefits go beyond visitation and are a key contributor to the city’s growth.”
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate has also accepted the role of patron of the ambassador programme, and the first three leaders to join the renewed campaign are Rebecca Frizelle, Hal Rice, and Dinesh Palipana.
“Gold Coast’s Australian of the Year, renowned stroke specialist and one of the founding ambassadors from the original programme, Hal Rice, is a great example of partnering with Destination Gold Coast to not only bring events to our city, but through his work is putting the Gold Coast on the world medical stage,” Sinclair elaborated.
“Rice has continued to bring international medical conferences to the Gold Coast, generating millions of dollars in economic benefit for the city and is now, through both public and private sector investment, in the final stages of building a world-class training centre for image-guided surgeries right here at the Gold Coast’s A$1 billion (US$671 million) Health and Knowledge Precinct.”
Earlier this year, Destination Gold Coast launched a new business events brand with the positioning The Imagination Capital of Australia. It was designed to present the Gold Coast in a new light and highlight the strengths Gold Coast has as a destination across a broad range of industries.
Destination Gold Coast will work closely with the City of Gold Coast and its Economic Development unit to maximise the impact of the new business events programme.
An amber code is given to an inbound visitor from overseas; Hong Kong pictured
In what is seen as Hong Kong’s biggest relaxation of entry requirements since the start of pandemic control measures in 2020, the city will no longer impose movement controls on arriving travellers.
Hong Kong will no longer limit the movements of inbound travellers from December 14
Authorities announced on December 13 that the amber health code for arrivals will be scrapped from today, and travellers can go about the city as long as they test negative for Covid-19 on arrival.
The amber code restricts the movement of foreign arrivals for the first three days of their time in Hong Kong, prohibiting them from entering bars and restaurants.
For now, the mask mandate remains – unless when individuals are exercising.
In a media address on December 13, Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu said “the decisions were based on data and risks”, noting that the risk of imported infection is now lower than that of local infections.
Curtis S Chin, chair of the Milken Institute Asia Center (extreme right), moderated a session with (from left) actor, Henry Golding; singer Eric Nam, co-founder and creative director, Mindset; and actress and entrepreneur, Raline Shah, at this year's summit
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) launches a four-part series today to showcase why Singapore is a business event destination of choice through the insights of organisers and organisations globally that chose the city-state for their major events.
Featured events centre on thought leadership, lifestyle, sustainability, as well as motivational rewards.
Milken Institute Asia Center’s Curtis S Chin (extreme right) moderates a session with (from left) actor Henry Golding; singer and Mindset’s Eric Nam; and actress and entrepreneur Raline Shah at this year’s summit
The series, titled Say yes to Singapore, will kickstart with an advertorial where Curtis S Chin, chair of the Milken Institute Asia Center, shares more about the competitive advantages of Singapore which were key drivers of the Milken Institute Asia Summit’s extraordinary decade-long success.
The new head honcho – appointed days before the Asia summit opened in Singapore this year – also sheds more light on this year’s summit highlights and the working experience with some of the city-state’s finest event professionals.
A new advertorial will be published every month from December 2022 to March 2023.
On the back of a strong business events recovery and the heels of Singapore’s reopening this year, global event organisers continue to have confidence in the city-state as the preferred destination for business events and a launchpad for international expansion.
In the first three months of this year alone, Singapore hosted more than 150 events attended by over 37,000 delegates, with at least 66 international events secured for the rest of 2022 and a robust pipeline of events beyond.
STB also signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with key business events stakeholders to grow the industry. The Global MICE Sustainability Alliance signatories include STB, Informa Markets, Constellar Venues, PICO World (Singapore), Cityneon Holdings, Kingsmen Exhibits and the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers.
The second, signed with exhibition organiser Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), is part of a business expansion to South-east Asia, which includes establishing IEG’s South-east Asia regional headquarters in Singapore.
The last was an agreement with event organiser Comexposium, which will invest in Singapore by growing existing shows such as Milipol Asia-Pacific, Asia-Pacific’s largest homeland security event, and launching two anchor events in the city-state next year.
Additionally, global Professional Exhibition Organisers (PEOs) are also expanding their teams in Singapore, as they deepen their presence in the region and anchor new events in the city-state. For example, MMI Asia and dmg events Asia increased their staff strength to handle the anticipated growth in new events across physical, digital and hybrid formats.
To encourage sustainable travel, the Singapore MICE Advantage Programme (SMAP) 3.0 includes a new sustainability focus, offering delegates and event organisers the choice to travel sustainably through green transportation options and environmentally conscious tours, among other initiatives.
A full recovery for the MICE industry is also expected in two to three years, according to STB.
Rooms
The eight-storey property offers a total of 177 smoke-free rooms, ranging from the 25m2 Superiors up to the 39m2 Studio Premiers. There is also one floor dedicated to pet-friendly stays.
I stayed in a 35m2 Studio Deluxe room, which came furnished with a long sofa, a working desk and armchair, TV, and a comfortable queen-sized bed (that can also be split into two twin beds if needed). Even though my room faced the road, there was nary any sound, which I appreciated.
What is rather important to me are the number, and placement, of the USB ports in the room, and I am pleased to report that there is one each at both sides of the bed, and another at the working desk. Where there were USB points, there were also power sockets. The Wi-Fi was fast and strong.
I did not utilise the kitchenette to cook during my short three-day business trip, but longer-staying or corporate guests would be pleased to learn that the Studio Deluxe rooms also feature an induction cooker, full-sized fridge, microwave, Nespresso machine, as well as utensils and crockery to whip up a quick meal. Drinking water in the meantime, was provided in glass bottles.
On the sustainable front, I was glad to see that large pump bottles of shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner – from US brand Imperial – are being supplied in the shower. The water pressure was strong, and also worthy of mention is the bidet toilet.
One thing I would have liked to have is two different bins in the room, one for recyclables like paper and plastic, and the other for trash.
MICE facilities
Oakwood Studios Sukhumvit Bangkok has a meeting room good for up to 15 pax on the second floor.
Other facilities
There is a lap pool with several deck chairs, and a 24-hour gym with several machines, all located on the third floor. In due time, there will also be a pool bar once the necessary licenses are obtained.
On the ground floor just behind the check-in area is the restaurant, which features a striking red wall with two words “good vibes” in fluorescent lights. A hot buffet breakfast is available in the mornings, while an a la carte menu is provided in the afternoons and evenings.
The restaurant area also doubles up as a co-working space during the day, with thoughtfully-placed power sockets all around the area for laptops.
Service
Showered with warm and attentive service, I was always greeted with a wai (a customary greeting in Thailand) during my comings and goings.
A front office staff, Som, went above and beyond to help me call and sort out transport options when my driver to the airport did not appear at the pre-arranged time.
Verdict
I was always grateful to return to the hotel at the end of a long work day, knowing that its quiet surroundings will allow me time to collect the day’s thoughts, and ensure that I have a good night’s rest.
Events are making its way back into the city; West Kowloon, Hong Kong pictured
Four flagship tradeshows – Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW), Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong (JGA), Cosmoprof Asia, and fresh produce fair ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA – will be returning to Hong Kong in 2023.
JGW will return to its original dual-venue, product category-specific format at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) from September 18-22, 2023, and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from September 20-25, 2023, while JGA will be held from June 22-25, 2023.
Events are making its way back into the city; West Kowloon, Hong Kong pictured
After its special Singapore edition in 2022, Cosmoprof Asia moves back to Hong Kong’s AWE from November 14-16, 2023, and HKCEC from November 15-18, 2023. Lastly, ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA will be held from September 6-8, 2023 the AWE, along with the ASIAFRUIT CONGRESS.
This is in addition to the recent success of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) in attracting over 30 major B2B conventions in the next few years. In total, these events are expected to draw over 300,000 participants.
Kenneth Wong, HKTB’s general manager, MICE & cruise, said in a press release that he was “thrilled” to welcome the tradeshows back to the city, as HKTB strives to “drive the recovery of business events” to the city.
“Their return highlights Hong Kong’s strong fundamentals, favourable business environment, rich tourism offerings, and enormous opportunities brought by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai- Macao Greater Bay Area, which will give Hong Kong an edge in attracting international business events,” he added.
To expedite the recovery, the Hong Kong Government has accorded the strongest support ever with the extension of the 100 per cent free venue rental for eligible events until June 30, 2023, and a new subsidy for recurrent exhibitions to be staged in the city over three years.
Curtis S Chin, chair of the Milken Institute Asia Center (extreme right), moderated a session with (from left) actor, Henry Golding; singer Eric Nam, co-founder and creative director, Mindset; and actress and entrepreneur, Raline Shah, at this year's summit
Curtis S Chin, chair of the Milken Institute Asia Center (extreme right), moderated The Next Saga for Asia’s Creative Industries session with (from left) actor, Henry Golding; singer, co-founder and creative director, Mindset, Eric Nam and actress and entrepreneur, Raline Shah
Singapore as a world-class business event destination of choice is powering along its recovery trajectory with a robust pipeline of renowned international events, driven by the city-state’s resilience, continuous innovation to reimagine the future of business events, and strong ability to meet new and elevated standards in today’s redefined operating environment.
Blazing the trail on the thought leadership front in September was the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2022, which played host to more than 1,000 in-person regional and global leaders from more than 35 countries.
With nearly 230 diverse speakers on more than 50 public panels, private sessions and receptions, the curated discussions and purpose-driven meetings aimed to translate ideas into scalable solutions to transform institutions and communities.
In the first instalment of the Say yes to Singapore series, Curtis S Chin, chair of the Milken Institute Asia Center – the new head honcho appointed days before the Asia summit opened – and former US ambassador to the Asian Development Bank, told TTGmice why the nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank chose the city-state to stage its influential event.
Summit highlights
1 of 5
Curtis S Chin was appointed chair of the Milken Institute Asia Center days before the Asia summit opened
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Singapore's senior minister, gave his insights at the 9th annual Milken Institute Asia Summit
The Future of US-China Relations featured a conversation with Nicholas Burns, ambassador of the US to China
The Future of Cuisine session, moderated by Veronica Phua (in red), spotlighted celebrity chefs and restaurateurs, Wolfgang Puck, Daniel Boulud and Nobu Matsuhisa (with his translator, Ichibakuk Kobayashi - extreme right)
Top Singaporean singer JJ Lin (centre) with chair of Milken Institute Asia Center, Curtis S Chin (with green tie) at the summit welcome reception
What are some of the highlights at your event in Singapore? Our 9th annual Milken Institute Asia Summit – held over three days in September 2022 on the eve of the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2022 – underscored that Singapore is back as a major, world-class locale for meeting, incentive, conference & exhibition (MICE) events.
Singapore is setting the pace for MICE events in a region and world hungry for in-person convenings.
The theme of the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2022 was ‘The World Transformed’ – how the world has changed and not changed – with a focus on ideas and discussions that are transforming institutions and communities as Singapore and numerous other nations adjusted to living with Covid-19.
For me, a clear highlight of the 9th Milken Institute Asia Summit was our successful return to a fully in-person format to convene and to discuss critical issues and topics ranging from environmental, social and governance standards, to the rise of Asia’s creative industries.
The summit welcomed more than 1,100 in-person attendees originating from more than 35 countries; and a diversity of nearly 230 speakers on more than 30 public panels, some 21 private discussion sessions and three private receptions.
As in past years, this year’s summit welcomed top global and regional leaders, cultural, sports and business icons, innovators and disruptors.
Adding to a diversity of speakers at the summit including many a titan of industry, tech and finance, were superstars of another sort, including Singapore’s senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam; Julia Gillard, 27th prime minister of Australia and inaugural chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership; K-pop star and mental health advocate, Eric Nam; British-Malaysian Hollywood actor, Henry Golding making his return to Singapore; top Singaporean singer JJ Lin; celebrity chefs and restaurateurs, Wolfgang Puck, Daniel Boulud and Nobu Matsahisa; Indian matchmaker and Netflix series star, Sima Taparia or “Sima Aunty”; and Indonesian actress and entrepreneur, Raline Shah.
What aspects of Singapore made you choose it for your event, and why are these considerations important to host destination selection? Singapore’s vibrant business culture, stable and respected government, and excellent infrastructure continue to be key drivers of the Milken Institute Asia Summit’s phenomenal success for nearly a decade.
Step-by-step and well-thought-through easing of community health measures such as indoor masking has meant major events are even more likely to resume and scale up as Singapore leads the region in moving forward.
At a time when the eyes of the world have shifted to South-east Asia with ASEAN, G20 and APEC summits held in Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand respectively in November 2022, how terrific it is that the Milken Institute in close partnership with the Singapore government, continues to be a major part of Singapore’s (message) making clear to the world that this dynamic city state is back.
How would you describe your experience working with MICE professionals in Singapore? Any highlights? My colleagues in Los Angeles and Singapore tell me that they had a terrific experience working with event and production company professionals in Singapore.
They felt that the working experience was smooth and efficient, with event and production professionals in Singapore proving to be extremely attentive and responsive in supporting the event. They set a high standard in terms of the quality of work they produced.
Our success in putting together yet another blockbuster Milken Institute Asia Summit was very much the product of working and partnering with some of Singapore’s finest MICE professionals.
How likely would you return to Singapore for future events? With Singapore home to our Milken Institute Asia Center, work is already underway on plans for our 10th Milken Institute Asia Summit in 2023, as well as on a range of other future events in Singapore.
For us at the Milken Institute Asia Center and for MICE events in Singapore, it is most definitely clear: the best is yet to come as this city-state goes from strength to strength.
All images to be credited to the Milken Institute and the Milken Institute Asia Summit.
Keen to organise your next business event in Singapore?
Find out why Singapore is your business event destination of choice here.
The pandemic has given rise to the need for transformational travel after the prolonged period of border restrictions. Post-lockdown, engaging in unique cultural experiences will provide travellers with an authentic window into people and places.
Meaningful connections can be made by exploring somewhere new and inspiring, or being immersed in nature with activities that both revitalise the visitor and the environment.
The logical next step for the sector is therefore organising transformational events. Tourism New Zealand’s first 100% Pure New Zealand global campaign post-lockdown, ‘If You Seek’, showcases how the island country rewards those curious enough to look a little deeper and go a little further to discover more authentic, meaningful connections.
This extends to conferences and incentives, with an emphasis on the activities that can be added to an agenda that is far from generic.
René de Monchy, chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, explained: “Aotearoa New Zealand is a place for those who pursue meaningful connections with culture, people, and the environment.
“Those curious manuhiri (visitors) are rewarded with a rich experience of our beautiful country and are met with manaakitanga (a deep expression of hospitality and reciprocal understanding/connection). These are visitors whom we think will explore more deeply and ultimately contribute to New Zealand’s tourism sector in ways beyond the economic benefit.”
A sneak peek at creating an incentive with a difference in New Zealand:
Cultural connection: Delegates can experience the thrill of facing a traditional Māori powhiri welcome or accepting a wero (challenge). Incentive groups can learn about and take part in the storytelling of a haka or poi dance. Engaging with New Zealand’s indigenous Māori culture can also provide a platform to expand on your organisation’s own culture and values.
Revitalising nature: The idyllic nature of New Zealand’s diverse landscapes amazes and inspires. Making positive event choices, such as opting for the forest zipline that ploughs profits back into pest eradication, or the whale and dolphin safari that contributes directly to marine conservation, means that these experiences are protected for future generations.
Add unique adventures to your incentive travel in New Zealand to create a memorable event for your organisation
Embracing the unique: Great places to dine at, comfortable spaces to sleep, and convenient means of transport are essentials to the smooth running of an event. But why not elevate the experience further?
From venues nestled among the native bush, cooking your meal in a geothermal pool, or taking a jet boat transfer to get from the airport to the hotel, every unique adventure can add to a memorable event.
Indeed, seeking the extraordinary options that will ensure a transformational event adds value to a programme already packed with amazing activities, innovative content and stunning scenery.
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
Steve Odell, managing director for Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will retire from his position after a seven-year tenure with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH).
A cruise industry veteran with over 35 years of experience, Odell joined NCHL in October 2015 to spearhead the launch of the company’s Asia-Pacific business across its three brands.
In his most recent role since 2019, he was responsible for the strategic expansion, vision and continued growth of the company’s presence in the Asia-Pacific market for Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises.
“It has been an honour to lead the unmatched teams at Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises during this exciting period of growth in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Odell in a statement.
Caroline Smith will assume Odell’s responsibilities in her new role as managing director, international in which she will oversee sales and marketing for Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Brazil.
Lisa Pile, current vice president of sales, Australia and New Zealand for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will expand her responsibilities to include the entire Asia-Pacific region as vice president sales and general manager Asia-Pacific for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, reporting to Smith.
Jason Worth, current vice president of sales, Australia and New Zealand for Oceania Cruises, will expand his responsibilities to the entire Asia-Pacific region as vice president sales and general manager Asia-Pacific for Oceania Cruises, reporting to Nikki Upshaw, senior vice president, sales for Oceania Cruises.
Said Odell: “I am proud of the significant achievements we have accomplished together, and I am confident that this is the right team to lead the company into the future and continue delivering best-in-class experiences for our loyal guests and valued travel partners.”
Ben Angell, vice president and managing director Asia-Pacific for Norwegian Cruise Line, will continue to represent the brand in the Asia-Pacific region, reporting to Jason Krimmel, vice president, international sales and marketing for Norwegian Cruise Line.
“We are grateful to Steve for his strategic vision and significant contributions to the company which have positioned us as leaders in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region,” said Frank J Del Rio, president and chief executive office of NCLH.
Del Rio said the leadership transitions “reflect our robust succession planning and the strength and talent of our broader team”.