Jeanette Mao has been appointed the new CEO of HK Express, taking over the reins from Mandy Ng.
In her new role, Mao will spearhead the airline’s growth strategy to expand its capacity and network, and lead the team in enhancing operational efficiencies and customer experience through digital innovations.
She has over 20 years of experience with the Cathay Pacific Group, and was previously general manager inflight service delivery.
Indian business events movement to Australia is growing strongly on the back of improved direct air access between the two countries, making the market one of the fastest to recover since Australia reopened borders for tourism in 2022.
There are now 22 direct flights a week between India and Australia, compared to seven prior to the pandemic.
In an interview with TTGmice at the ongoing Business Events Australia (BEA) Asia Mega Famil Showcase that kicked off on 30 March, Robin Mack, Tourism Australia executive general manager of commercial & Business Events Australia, said the Indian market has been bringing in “sizeable groups”.
In July 2022, a group of 600 pax from an insurance company in India visited Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
Strong demand is persisting through 2023, with a group of 350 attendees from a dealership of an automobile company calling at Sydney earlier this year.
“Improved air connectivity has been a strong pillar of rebuilding the Indian market,” remarked Mack.
Australian flag carrier Qantas started four-times-a-week flights between Sydney and Bengaluru last year – making it the first direct connection between Australia and South India. The airline also commenced flights between Melbourne and Delhi in December 2021.
“Adding to this, indirect services from Singapore offer great connectivity for Indian MICE groups as (Singapore Airlines) flies to seven gateways in Australia,” he added.
Not only are Indian corporate groups eager to return to Australia for meetings and events, they are also staying on longer.
Mack shared that while Indian business events groups used to stay an average of five nights in two destinations in general, they are now extending their time to seven or eight nights for the same two destinations.
Kristian Nicholls, executive general manager client engagement, Business Events Sydney, said: “India was one of the first markets to open up for Sydney, and at present is among our top three key source markets. Considering the US inbound market is slower to restart at the moment and China has just opened up, I definitely see India as being a critical market for us moving forward.”
Illustrating the promise of the Indian market, Nicholls said demand comes from “vast business verticals, from insurance to paint companies, which we don’t see in other markets”.
“The average size of Indian MICE groups has been between 300 to 500 pax. However, now we are also seeing queries of 1,000-plus groups,” added Nicholls.
Australia attracted 59,000 business events visitors from India in 2019 who contributed A$339 million (US$229.7 million) in direct expenditure. India was the sixth-highest business events market in terms of visitors; and fifth in terms of spend.
Brought to you by InterContinental Bali Resort
The InterContinental Bali Resort recently opened its new Jimbaran Convention Center (JCC), a modern and luxurious venue designed to meet the needs of corporate events, weddings, and other special occasions. Located only a 15-minute drive from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, the spacious events space is strategically connected to the resort and boasts modern amenities amidst the breathtaking location of Jimbaran. These features make Jimbaran Convention Center an ideal destination for anyone looking to host an unforgettable event in Bali.
ARKdesign Architects, in collaboration with Indesign Domus as the interior designer, design the Jimbaran Convention Center. The design is heavily inspired by a luxurious art gallery with the choice of materials and glossy finishes, such as metal gold, bronze mirrors, marble, timber panels, and wooden accents, blends perfectly with the display of paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces that fill every corner of the newly established events space.
Imperial Grand Ballroom stands tall as the jewel of the well-appointed convention center. The multi-purpose space spans 2,300 sqm with a maximum capacity of 2,200 people and is dressed in contemporary design with a touch of Balinese flair. As part of InterContinental’s initiative to make their properties inclusive to every guest, The Imperial Grand Ballroom is designed to be a disabled-friendly space with the installation of adequate ramps and lifts and accessible toilets. Hearing loop facilities are also available for people who are hard of hearing.
Next to the main ballroom, the Puri Kencana Ballroom serves as a smaller multi-purpose event space. Meanwhile, on the Mezzanine and second floor, ten opulent meeting rooms sporting an extravagant interior design and completed with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and high-speed Wi-Fi connection are ready for more private gatherings. The Jimbaran Convention Center is also fully air-conditioned, ensuring guests’ comfort regardless of the outside temperature.
The InterContinental Bali Resort understands that no two events are the same. In this regard, a designated banquet and event team will work closely with clients to create a customized package tailored to specific needs and budgets. From catering and entertainment to transportation and accommodations, the InterContinental Bali Resort team will take extra care of every detail so guests can focus on enjoying the event.
To complement the Jimbaran Convention Center, the InterContinental Bali Resort also offers guests a range of luxurious accommodations, from deluxe rooms to suites and private villas to suit every taste and preference. The newly renovated rooms and villas feature elegant Balinese décor with modern amenities and stunning views of the ocean or gardens.
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.
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 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 full survey can be found here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.