Alila Villas Uluwatu has named Dayu Susani as director of sales and marketing.
She brings to the resort almost 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and will oversee all sales and marketing activities for Alila Villas Uluwatu in her new role.
She was previously with Raffles Bali in Jimbaran Bay where she led the pre-opening sales and marketing team.
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has appointed Chai Eamsiri as its chief executive officer effective February 1, 2023.
Presently THAI chief financial officer, he has 37 years of experience and knowledge in Thai aviation industry and has played a vital role in the company’s Rehabilitation Plan implementation and transformation in the past two years.
In his new role, he will help THAI accomplish the Business Transformation and Rehabilitation goals with long-term sustainable prosperity.
Singapore’s MICE Sustainability Roadmap was unveiled yesterday by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) at Marina Bay Sands.
The said roadmap is the second such initiative, following the launch of the Hotel Sustainability Roadmap early this year. They are guided by the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
There are three targets in the MICE Sustainability Roadmap:
To achieve these targets, STB and SACEOS also set up a MICE Sustainability Committee (MSComm) in August 2022 to raise awareness of sustainability efforts and best practices, rally the industry to adopt eco-friendly practices, and deepen green competencies.
Edward Koh, STB’s executive director, conventions, meetings & incentive travel, and co-chair of MSComm, stated: “Event delegates and corporate travellers are increasingly concerned about the environment, prompting event organisers to turn to destinations that make sustainability a priority. It is imperative that Singapore’s MICE industry evolves to meet the growing demand for responsible business travel.”
Koh added that the roadmap was important so as to help the industry standardise measurements, have a “clear direction and targets”, and prevent “greenwashing” through third-party verification.
Adam Piperdy, CEO of Unearthed Productions, an event organiser, told TTGmice: “We event organisers are in a position where we can influence a lot of change, and set the tone for delegates. For example, we inform them to bring their own water bottles as we’re not serving anything in a plastic water bottle. That way, we set the tone, people follow it, and then we measure it.”
He shared that Unearthed Productions started their sustainability journey four years ago when they realised the amount of waste that was produced after each mass participation event.
“We started by using reusable furniture, such as pallets transformed into box chairs. In fact, when event organisers become more sustainable, they are actually saving costs by reusing what was previously built, while saving the environment at the same time,” Piperdy pointed out.
As to whether sustainable events tend to be more costly, Koh opined: “There is a clear consumer demand, and many business travellers and event organisers are asking similar (sustainability-related) questions. The issue is (the level of) demand. Once a greater demand is created, the cost (to run sustainable events) becomes more manageable.”
Unearthed Production also started its application process for the internationally-recognised ISO 20121: Sustainable Events Management System Certification earlier this year, which Piperdy hopes to obtain by early next year after audits are completed.
The MICE Sustainability Roadmap was launched at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, the first carbon-neutral business events venue in Singapore, and in partnership with Climate Impact X and Unearthed Productions to ensure a low-carbon and low-waste event.
IATA has reiterated the importance of keeping sustainable growth in sight as the air travel industry rises from the ashes of the Covid pandemic and travel disruption.
Speaking at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines’ (AAPA) Assembly of Presidents in Bangkok last month, Conrad Clifford, IATA’s senior vice president and deputy director general, recalled IATA members’ unfaltering efforts towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 since 2021, despite the travel crisis, as well as the recent adoption of the Long Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly to achieve the same.
“We are extremely encouraged by the LTAG agreement at the ICAO Assembly. With both governments and industry focused on the same goal, the significance of LTAG cannot be overstated. But to achieve net zero CO2 emission by 2050, government policy support in key areas of decarbonisation is critical. One such area is incentivising the production capacity of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF),” said Clifford.
SAF is currently expected to account for 65 per cent of carbon mitigation in 2050. It will be the largest contributor to the industry’s sustainability. Airlines purchased all available SAF in 2021 and have committed to over US$17 billion of forward purchasing agreements.
“The problem is the limited supply and high costs. In 2021, only 125 million liters of SAF were available on the market. That was less than 0.05 per cent of the total fuel used,” explained Clifford.
“I urge Asia-Pacific governments to look at stimulating SAF production,” he said, adding that government incentives for SAF could result in 30 billion liters of production capacity globally by 2030.
He cited Japan and Singapore as exemplary in their approach to SAF, where governments actively involved the industry in the consultation process and promoted domestic SAF production.
“We urge other States to take similar steps, and to support the efforts to develop a global framework for a Book & Claim system for SAF,” he said.
The Book & Claim system enables travelling consumers to claim the CO2 reduction that their purchase achieves even if their aircraft lacks SAF access at the airport. This is achieved by directing their SAF purchase to another aircraft elsewhere with access to SAF.
Speaking to TTGmice separately, Clifford said the Book & Claim system has been instrumental in enabling public participation in sustainable travel. Through the system, companies are able to support sustainable business travel and urge their airline vendors to use more SAF.
“But it is more than just the corporates that are driving the use of more SAF. In Europe, the general public demands that too,” he added.
Clifford acknowledged the benefits of having emissions listed with flight searches, such as on Google, as that has allowed consumers to make informed decisions on sustainable travel.
“We have developed a global standard for the industry to measure emissions, and that helps to reduce confusion when consumers look at different sites,” he shared.
The airline industry’s sustainable efforts are also supported by the ICAO Assembly’s reinforced commitment to the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) as well as goal to stabilise emissions of international aviation at 85 per cent of 2019 levels.
When asked about the effectiveness of carbon offsets compared to emissions minimisation right from the start, Clifford told TTGmice that air travel’s sustainable efforts currently could not be without carbon offsets.
“Carbon offsetting is important at the beginning, especially when we have this massive gap in SAF supplies. We need carbon offsets to ensure airlines are meeting their (emissions) targets. Carbon offsets is a gap-filler and certainly not the ultimate answer, but it helps at this point,” he explained.
Homegrown bean-to-bar chocolate brand, Mr. Bucket, has launched Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie (Dempsey Factory) at Singapore’s lifestyle enclave, Dempsey Hill.
The attraction features Singapore’s first ever build-your-own chocolate slab station, an indoor and outdoor dining experience, as well as a new chocolate dispensary where guests can buy their favourite treats sustainably with their own containers.
From bon bons and bars, to housemade bakes and entremets, to drinking chocolate and cacao wine, everything in Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie is made fresh daily, using only responsibly-sourced single-estate Asian chocolate.
Since establishing his chocolaterie in 2020, founder Jerome Penafort has remained committed to crafting chocolates from sustainably sourced cacao from Asia.
Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie (Dempsey Factory) allows Penafort to combine education and experience with chocolate appreciation, and to cultivate a deeper appreciation for cacao grown in Asia.
New Zealand is extending an invitation to business event planners who seek more through extraordinary travel through its new campaign If You Seek.
The country’s first global campaign post-pandemic, If You Seek showcases how Aotearoa New Zealand rewards those curious enough to look a little deeper and go a little further to discover more authentic, meaningful connections.
A dedicated suite of assets has been released that highlights the memorable experiences, people and places that ensure business events held in New Zealand are far from generic.
From the thrill of facing a traditional Māori pōwhiri welcome, to a venue set among the lush native forest, the exhilarating rush of a jet boat that serves as transport between activities, to the inspiring stories outside and inside its new world-class convention centres, the assets demonstrate how New Zealand’s offerings can deliver a business event with a difference.
Tourism New Zealand’s general manager New Zealand & business events, Bjoern Spreitzer, said that the If You Seek campaign is “an emphasis on return on objective that adds value to an event already packed with amazing activities, innovative content and stunning scenery.
“Whether that means experiencing New Zealand’s unique Māori culture and using that as a platform to expand on your organisation’s own culture and values; engaging closely with and learning from the local community; or exploring nature, and then giving back to the environment through sustainable initiatives, those more meaningful connections are here to find.”
The İGA Istanbul Airport has become the first airport in the world to be accredited under Airports Council International (ACI) World’s new Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation programme.
Launched earlier this year, the first-of-its-kind programme was designed to help airports measure, evaluate, and improve their accessibility management and culture, providing a continuous path of improvement in the area of accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
The accreditation was developed as a collaboration between accessibility advocacy groups, airports, industry partners, and ACI.
Luis Felipe de Oliveira, world director general, ACI said: “Air travel accessibility continues to be a priority for the industry, and this has been reflected in our recent advocacy work with governments through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as well as the resources we are developing for airports.
“The input from the accessibility community was absolutely crucial for this programme as we work to make an air travel system for all people – one that is equitable, inclusive and accessible. We hope to welcome more airports in the coming year.”
Kadri Samsunlu, CEO, İGA Istanbul Airport said: “We view accessibility as a fundamental human right.
“We are proud of being the first airport in the world to be accredited with the ACI Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation programme and we will continue to improve accessibility on an ongoing basis, stand in solidarity with all local and international disability communities and advocate inclusivity and accessibility.”
The Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) has won the bid to host the World Franchise Council (WFC) meeting in October next year.
It will be held alongside the Asia-Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC) meeting and the Franchise Asia Philippines Expo and meeting, Philippine Franchise Association president, Chris Lim, told TTGmice.
As the WFC has over 40 national franchise associations around the globe, Lim is expecting to welcome a huge turnout of foreign delegates. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific Franchise Confederation has members in 16 countries including Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, UAE and Turkey.
In addition, the largest franchise show in Asia, the Franchise Asia Philippines Expo, will be on a bigger scale next year, shared Lim. It will be held at the SMX Convention Center Manila, while the adjacent Conrad Manila Hotel will be the venue for the WFC and APFC meetings.
The Philippines is the seventh largest franchise market in the world, contributing 8.7 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product and employing, directly and indirectly, over two million people.
As part of the programme, delegates will also have the opportunity to explore attractions outside Metro Manila.
“We will partner with the Department of Tourism to promote the Philippines as a tourist destination (to these delegates),” stated Lim.
The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence, Thailand chapter or SITE Thailand, in collaboration with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and College of Innovation Thammasat University (CITU) recently concluded the SITE Thailand M&I Sustainability Advocate Project 2022.
The project challenged 150 young leaders aged 17 to 25 to come up with sustainability practice ideas for the meetings and incentive travel sector. In total, there were 11 teams of young leaders incubating 11 ideas for sustainable practices in incentive trips to 10 MICE cities.
These young ambassadors were then invited to present their ideas virtually at the M&I Sustainability Forum.
Max Boontawee Jantasuwan, SITE Thailand president said that this project is one of SITE Thailand’s legacies to remind the new generation in the business events industry to cultivate a greater awareness of sustainability.
Orachon Wongpan-ngam, director of MICE Capabilities Development Department, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), added: “Currently, most corporates are looking for a destination and business partners who have a solid background in sustainability practices in organising sustainable events. TCEB (aims to) empower the younger generation to step up and create new solutions for our industry.”
From November 25-28, 2022, Hong Kong hosted an incentive group from Thailand’s beauty brand IB Skincare, following the relaxation of restrictions for inbound travellers.
Aside from wining and dining on local specialities such as Hong Kong-style roast goose rice, the group’s itinerary included a tour of the brand-new Hong Kong Palace Museum, temple-hopping, and an exclusive Christmas tree light-up moment at Hong Kong WinterFest at the West Kowloon Cultural District, the city’s new flagship art and cultural quarter.
Kenneth Wong, general manager, MICE & cruise, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), said: “We’re delighted to welcome our friends from Thailand to Hong Kong again. This group marked the very first of our line-up of incentive groups from shorthaul markets, with even more coming in the future.
“It indicates encouraging overseas demand for motivational incentive programmes to Hong Kong, especially after the recent implementation of favourable arrangements for inbound tour groups.”
Inbound tour groups received by licensed travel agents, and have pre-registered itineraries, are permitted to enter tourist attractions and dine in designated premises.
