Brij Hotels has named Sandeep Singh as vice president sales, who brings with him over 25 years of extensive experience in leisure travel sales for luxury hospitality segment.
He will lead the sales efforts for seven operational hotels and develop strategies for upcoming properties in his new position, and will work closely with all unit heads and the frontline sales team to ensure the delivery of exceptional experiences to guests and stakeholders.
Prior to joining Brij Hotels, he served as the director of sales and marketing for the Gujarat region at The Leela Palace Hotels and Resorts.
The survey set out to find how association meetings are evolving
In-person meetings are back in full force, the need for core PCO services has increased, and focus on sustainability and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) are stronger than ever, found ICCA’s 2023 survey on Association Meeting Needs.
Meetings and events are still the largest segment of revenue generation for associations (for 46% of respondents this is the main revenue stream), although there is a growing need for associations to diversify their revenue stream to become more financially sustainable for the future.
The survey set out to find how association meetings are evolving
The survey also shares insights into creative approaches for doing so, as well as some great initiatives associations are undertaking to provide year-round in-person and digital engagement opportunities for their members.
There is a clear trend towards getting events back to in-person format, with 51% of associations indicating that they will hold their largest meeting in 2023 in-person, compared to 41% in 2022 and 14% in 2021.
Just under half of the associations are indicating that they will be changing their RFPs in the near future, with the majority indicating that they will be incorporating aspects such as hybrid/digital options, sustainability, as well as legacy initiatives.
And with many associations returning to in-person events, the need for support in the production of (virtual) events and integrated digital meeting platforms has dropped drastically. The need for core PCO services has however increased compared to last year, and is now the highest-ranking service closely followed by assistance with raising sponsorship and funding for events.
The majority of the respondents (83%) are making efforts to work towards more sustainable events and practices. However, the industry needs to be mindful that associations are in different stages of the sustainability journey, with some mentioning advanced and established sustainability strategies, and others acknowledging there is yet a lot to learn.
Around 80% of respondents indicate that they have a DEI policy in place, or at least are making some efforts to address DEI.
Partnerships are key in supporting associations in their efforts towards more sustainable and inclusive events. By sharing best practices and experiences with peers and with meeting suppliers, as well as engaging with initiatives such as the Net Zero Carbon Events, the whole meetings industry can unite to tackle these challenges together.
The survey was conducted in collaboration with the European Society of Association Executives, the African Society of Association Executives, and the Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organizations.
The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC), and Koelnmesse, have joined forces to create an all-new HoReCa (hotel, restaurant, and catering) tradeshow next year.
Scheduled to take place from March 6 to 8, 2024 at IMPACT, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand, the inaugural tradeshow will showcase a comprehensive range of innovative solutions in nine major segments: Bakery & Ice-cream, Café and Bar, Cleaning and Laundry, Dining, Furnishing, Kitchen, Services, Tech, and Wellness.
The inaugural tradeshow will be located at IMPACT, Muang Thong Thani in Bangkok
Additionally, there will be several supporting programmes, including a Hosted Buyer Programme, slated to host more than 500 top buyers from Asia, allow them the opportunity to network. Industry players can also glimpse into the future of HoReCa at the THAIFEX – HOREC Xperiential Zone, and gain access to industry insights, perspectives, and best industry practices by attending forums, live workshops, and culinary demonstrations.
Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit, director-general, Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), noted that after three challenging years of Covid-19 restrictions, the HoReCa industry is now seeing a surge in consumer demand as people are eager to return to travelling, dining out, and other forms of entertainment.
“Thailand is… a famous tourist destination with a quality reputation for great hospitality and strong capability to serve the needs of the industry. This year, Thailand is expected to receive more than 20 million foreign visitors. Backlog demand is leading to an unprecedented need for new investments and opportunities in the HoReCa industry. Given the growth trajectory and our great achievement of THAIFEX – Anuga Asia tradeshow, all three organisers are confident that THAIFEX – HOREC Asia will be a beneficial platform to meet the needs of the region’s fast-growing tourism and hospitality industry.”
The debut event aims to attract over 300 leading brands and 20,000 trade visitors from South-east Asia and key cities across Asia-Pacific.
A previous edition of the Singapore MICE Forum in 2019
The Singapore MICE Awards will take place for the first time on July 27, 2023, to recognise the achievements and contributions of the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.
Organised by the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) and supported by the Singapore Exhibitions & Convention Bureau (SECB), the Singapore MICE Awards will feature as part of the Singapore MICE Forum.
A previous edition of the Singapore MICE Forum in 2019
The annual awards will cover 11 categories, including Trade Show of the Year, Meeting/Conference of the Year, Venue of the Year, Sustainability Initiative of the Year and Emerging Talent of the Year.
Nominations for the Singapore MICE Awards are now open and will close on May 26, 2023. Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner on July 27, 2023.
It is the first of such awards that are organised by the industry for the industry, which has inspired with its spirit of resilience, innovation and collaboration throughout the past three years.
Besides honouring the outstanding achievements of the sector, the Singapore MICE Awards will showcase Singapore as a leading global destination for business events and provide a platform for networking and sharing best practices among business events professionals in Singapore.
Arinex employees planting trees for the Wongabel Mabi Forest Restoration project
Australasian event management company Arinex has become the first to trial a new reforestation project open to business event groups visiting Tropical North Queensland.
While in Cairns for the Arinex Conference, team members had an opportunity to learn about and revitalise the endangered ecosystem of the Wongabel Mabi Forest Restoration project. The team funded the planting of enough native trees to remove the non-travel-related carbon emissions generated by the conference.
Arinex employees planting trees for the Wongabel Mabi Forest Restoration project
Situated on the Atherton Tablelands near Cairns, the project is the only one of its kind involving Mabi Forest species. It is a collaboration between Reforest (a company that assists businesses in taking climate action), Terrain (an environmental management organisation), and the local community.
With support from Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ), their goal is to revegetate an area of land previously cleared for forestry and agriculture, by enlisting the help of businesses and individuals.
Nicole Walker, managing director of Arinex, said empowering clients to reduce their event carbon footprints is a priority for the company and the team was privileged to be the first to trial the reforestation project.
“This project highlights a practical and impactful way that sustainability can be incorporated into conference and incentive programmes. We were able to give back to the Cairns region and make a positive environmental impact through hands-on work. We look forward to extending this opportunity to our clients in the future,” Walker said.
TTNQ CEO, Mark Olsen, noted that including a corporate social responsibility aspect in an event itinerary is a fulfilling way to leave a positive impact on a destination beyond the event’s influence.
“The Wongabel Mabi Forest restoration project is an exemplary model of regenerative tourism and part of a larger set of sustainable tourism initiatives that allow visitors to make a positive impact on the Cairns region while exploring the area during their visit,” Olsen said.
Arinex followed up their reforestation efforts with a wider tour of the region including Lake Eacham, the mountain village of Kuranda and the Caravonica lakes.
Emirates and United have activated their codeshare partnership, allowing Emirates customers to enjoy easier access to an expanded choice of destinations in the US.
Emirates customers will be able to fly to Chicago, Houston or San Francisco and connect easily to United’s expansive network of domestic US points.
Customers of Emirates and United will benefit from expanded flight services and enhanced loyalty programmes
Similarly, Emirates customers in the US can easily access Dubai and beyond, across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, where the Middle Eastern carrier operates extensively.
Emirates is enabling its Skywards members to earn and redeem miles on all flights across United’s worldwide network, while United will allow its MileagePlus members to earn miles on select flights in the Emirates network when travelling from Newark to Dubai and onwards to certain destinations.
Both airlines have an interline arrangement, affording travel conveniences to their customers.
JW Marriott has opened the JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa in Seogwipo, Jeju, perched on a cliffside overlooking the volcanic coastlines of the South Korean island.
The property can comfortably host travelling delegates in its 197 guestrooms including 28 suites, where Deluxe Rooms start from 45m2, while Suites start from 92m2.
Event spaces include the 561m2 Grand Ballroom for a 600pax reception, where all come equipped with the latest audiovisual technology.
Delegates looking to unwind after a long day of meetings can head to the spa. The Spa by JW features sauna facilities, and four indoor and outdoor swimming pools fed by the island’s volcanic springs.
To relax further, guests can also participate in organised morning walks, yoga, pilates, meditation, or sound healing sessions; while special interest activities include a Jeju Tea ceremony, and traditional wine tastings.
Also located on the resort’s grounds are five F&B options, which include the all-day dining Island Kitchen; a BBQ and rotisserie restaurant, The Flying Hog; and Yeoumul, a Jeju-style omakase restaurant, featuring seasonal ingredients and fresh seafood harvested by the island’s local female divers called Haenyeo.
As for bleisure travellers with their families in tow, the brand’s signature Family by JW programme organises activities for their young ones such as cooking classes, and harvesting fresh produce from the resort’s own JW Garden. This is in addition to the kids’ club, playground, and swimming pool.
With travel restrictions finally lifted by the Hong Kong SAR government in January, stakeholders in the business events industry are feeling more certain about the future, and have kickstarted various initiatives to start courting international events again.
According to a spokesperson from AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), international events heading to Hong Kong in 2023 have the potential to reach pre-pandemic levels.
Hong Kong glitters at night
The spokesperson shared: “Our marketing initiatives never stopped even during Covid. The MICE team continued to engage with organisers, and stayed in close contact with the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
“AWE also leveraged platforms such as the UFI Global Summit to share the latest developments at (the venue), as well as the subsidy scheme introduced by the Hong Kong SAR government.”
As a result, AWE scored the Global Sources’ flagship series of tradeshows, which will take place April 11 to 21, 2023.
RISE, a tech event, will also return to AWE for the next five years, starting from 2024.
Aside from its marketing efforts, AWE has continuously upgraded its hardware. Its HK$600 million (US$76.5 million) venue-wide upgrades include the use of IoT in its operations, and the introduction of 5G and Wi-Fi 6.
The next digitalisation effort will target billboards and branding touchpoints in high-traffic areas, and will be unveiled in phases from now until 2026.
New and upgraded attractions have also been introduced in the past few years. Most notable among the dozens of new developments are M+ and Hong Kong Palace Museum at the West Kowloon Cultural District, the new sixth-generation Peak Tram, Water World Ocean Park, the new night-time show Momentous at Hong Kong Disneyland, and enhanced waterfront promenades offering spectacular new ways to admire Victoria Harbour.
Global Sources Hong Kong set to return at full scale
Hotels are not far behind, with many ramping up their operations to prepare for business rebound.
General manager of The Park Lane Hong Kong, A Pullman Hotel, Luc Bollen, told TTGmice: “We recently converted a few floors into executive rooms and an exclusive executive lounge in order to accommodate Chinese conference groups, senior management from China companies, as well as luxury travellers.”
Bollen expects Chinese guests will combine business and leisure when they return to Hong Kong for their first trip in three years.
As for the brand new 1,208-room Regala Skycity Hotel, it has been contacting previous and potential event clients, and has resumed its advertising and promotion campaigns targeting both China and overseas markets.
The property is located a two-minute walk from AWE and 11 Skies – expected to be Hong Kong’s largest hub for retail, dining and entertainment – via an enclosed footbridge.
The hotel’s spokesman said: “International events take about one to two years to plan, so we expect the pace in 2023 to be a bit slower. More events will be held in 2024 and beyond.”
Regala Skycity Hotel’s Banquet Hall
Regala Skycity Hotel’s immediate focus is set on the shorthaul market due to the shorter lead time to organise events. Fam trips for corporate travel agents and planners from shorthaul markets are currently underway to showcase the hotel.
“In the long term, we also plan to target longhaul markets like Europe and the US. Related marketing and promotion strategies will be rolled out in due time,” the spokesperson said.
Yet, there remains a sense of caution among Hong Kong’s battered business events stakeholders.
Gunther Homerlein, owner and general manager of Destination China, pointed out: “Restrictions are not yet fully lifted. We still have a mask mandate, and some of our longhaul clients have said they will not consider Hong Kong until (these obstacles are) gone, so it will be slower coming back. Having said that, we are seeing requests from June onwards and have already confirmed some corporate groups for mid-2023.”
A challenge ahead for Hong Kong, Homerlein added, is the manpower shortage across the tourism ecosystem, as many of workers have left the industry.
Craig Cochrane has been appointed as the new chief people officer of Minor Hotels.
He will oversee people and culture functions for Minor Hotels in his new role, including employee engagement, maintaining a strong company culture and leading learning and development programmes for the group.
Cochrane joins Minor Hotels from Accor Hotels where he served as senior vice president of talent & culture – Turkey, India, Middle East & Africa.
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
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
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
Prior to joining Brij Hotels, he served as the director of sales and marketing for the Gujarat region at The Leela Palace Hotels and Resorts.
Event spaces include the 561m2 Grand Ballroom for a 600pax reception, where all come equipped with the latest audiovisual technology.
Cochrane joins Minor Hotels from Accor Hotels where he served as senior vice president of talent & culture – Turkey, India, Middle East & Africa.
Constellar’s chief executive (venues), Chua Wee Phong, is now interim group CEO.
He takes over from Jean-François Quentin, who will be moving on from the company after June 30, 2023 to pursue personal interests.
Prior to Constellar, Chua built the exhibition business for Singapore Press Holdings into one of the biggest event companies in Singapore.