Accor has announced its new commercial executive committee across three key regional centres: Singapore, Dubai and Sydney.
The committee will be led by Kerry Healy, chief commercial officer for premium, midscale & economy brands in the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Asia-Pacific, who is based in Singapore.
Kerry Healy will head the new commercial executive committee
Having been a part of the Accor family since 2011, Healy previously served as chief commercial officer for South-east Asia, Japan & South Korea since 2020. With over 25 years of experience, she will oversee the commercial functions for a diverse region which comprises nearly 1,000 hotels across 42 countries.
Other committee members based in Singapore include Victoria Sertic, senior vice president of brand, marketing & loyalty, and Antony Meguerdijian, senior vice president of sales.
Those in the Dubai office comprise Amro Khoudeir, vice president of digital & distribution, and Sarah Fernandez, vice president of PR & communications.
The new senior vice president of topline performance & business intelligence, Kent Warren, will be based in Sydney.
Singapore (pictured) says goodbye to two large-scale incentives; holds steady in exhibitions and conferences
Overall travel costs to Singapore increasing
Incentive travel programmes may be more price-sensitive
Singapore’s international exhibitions and conferences line-up looks strong for now
Singapore (pictured) says goodbye to two large-scale incentives; holds steady in exhibitions and conferences
Rising prices in Singapore and strong regional competition are causing major business events to seek alternative destinations in Asia-Pacific.
After five successful years in Singapore, USANA Health Sciences announced in 2019 that the Asia Pacific Convention would move to South Korea. Herbalife will also hold its last Asia Pacific Extravaganza in Singapore this May – at least for the next few years.
Back in 2019, USANA said rapid growth and increasing attendance at its Asia Pacific Convention, projected to reach 11,000 delegates (from 6,000 pax), necessitated a search for other host cities. The 2020 event was postponed and will now take place from May 4-6, 2023, in Gyeonggi.
Venue size is unlikely a constraint, as the Singapore EXPO has successfully hosted some 22,000 pax at large-scale MLM events, such as the Herbalife Asia Pacific Extravaganza.
A regular attendee of the Herbalife event, who declined to be identified, shared with TTGmice that the main reason was high costs.
“Hotel rates are way too high in comparison with countries around the region. F&B catering is restricted and pricey but of poor quality. Singapore is losing its competitive edge as neighbouring countries will be able to offer better deals.
“At direct selling conventions, expenses such as airfare, hotel accommodation and even tickets to attend the event are borne by delegates although they are top achievers. While winners may enjoy coming to Singapore, overall costs are becoming too high,” the source added.
That is why large-scale incentives seem to be heading elsewhere, where convention bureaus are dishing out subventions to defray costs.
Established track record
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) maintains that the country’s value proposition remains compelling.
“The fundamentals that make us a key MICE hub and attractive location for business and leisure events hold strong. They put us in good stead to partner with international companies and support them as they grow their Asian footprint,” said STB’s Edward Koh, executive director, conventions, meetings & incentive travel.
He added: “It is not uncommon for organisations to rotate their events to other countries, to build and maximise engagements with members, agents, and associates from other parts of the world. The competition for MICE should not be viewed as a zero-sum game.”
Indeed, apart from the more price-sensitive incentive travel programmes, international exhibitions look secure. Many are anchored in Singapore, supported by government agencies and other organisations with vested interests; think of the various “weeks” – water, energy, maritime, aviation, fintech and other key economic sectors.
The new SILMO Singapore (April 12 to 14) exhibition has committed to three years here. Meanwhile, Vinexposium announced in 2022 that its flagship event, Vinexpo Asia, would relocate from Hong Kong to Singapore, and run at Marina Bay Sands from May 23-25.
Some stalwarts are also scaling up. FHA-F&B has gone from biennial to annual this year while maintaining its size.
Some PEOs, however, are divesting – Convention & Exhibition Management Services has sold its café & restaurant and jewellery shows to the Italian Exhibition Group.
The flux in Singapore’s business events industry bears watching.
But with several big international exhibitions and conferences scheduled over the next few years, Koh said: “The robust line-up of events demonstrates the industry’s confidence in Singapore’s ability to deliver high-quality events.”
The InterContinental Bali Resort has added the standalone Jimbaran Convention Centre (JCC) to its portfolio of event spaces, a venue that was built during the pandemic as part of refurbishment and upgrading efforts.
Touted as one of the larger event spaces on the island, the JCC is located adjacent to the resort’s main building and comprises more than a dozen multipurpose spaces. These range from the Imperial Grand Ballroom and Puri Kencana Ballroom on the first level, to the smaller Yudistira and Drupadi meeting rooms on the second level. The largest space available is the Imperial Grand Ballroom, good for 2,000 pax theatre-style, or 1,360 for a gala dinner.
Puri Kencana Ballroom
Three outdoor spaces – Taman Gita Garden, Alun-Alun, and Sunset Garden – round up the function spaces available at the JCC, and can accommodate 100 to 2,500 guests.
Prior to the inclusion of the JCC, InterContinental Bali Resort offered only eight meeting spaces.
Puspa Rianti, InterContinental Bali Resort’s director of sales & marketing, told TTGmice that the property has to make a stronger push for more business events, so as to “generate more income as business is now very volume-driven”.
She noted that the “market hasn’t recovered 100 per cent”, in reference to 2019 figures.
While InterContinental Bali Resort has just 425 keys to support its large venue portfolio, Puspa said there is a close partnership with neighbouring Le Meridian, Ayana, and Four Seasons hotels to help house spillover corporate groups. For instance, a recent 900-pax government-affiliated group was split over two properties.
As 2023 is the election year for Indonesia, InterContinental Bali Resort aims to welcome more government-related meetings. Puspa said her team is working with local DMCs to obtain business.
“But I feel that we are now ready to welcome more international groups, especially from Asia-Pacific, such as Singapore and Hong Kong,” she opined.
In China, one of the hotel’s target markets, marketing activities have commenced. There is also attention on South Korea, an “upcoming market” that has generated several incentive travel leads.
Beyond this region, Puspa said Europe continues to be a strong source market for her property, with many incentive travel groups coming out of Germany and Belgium.
The hotel, which was the official hotel for last year’s G20 meeting, will welcome two sporting events – the Oceanman Bali and World Beach Games – this year.
While business events demand is building, Puspa expressed worries over the “very, very short lead time”, which brings about operational challenges due to manpower shortages.
The Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) is making a return from July 26-28, 2023, with the theme The Great Reset.
Organised by the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the three-day conference will gather industry professionals and leaders from the region as well as an esteemed line-up of expert speakers from the global business events industry.
The 2019 edition of the Singapore MICE Forum
To celebrate and recognise the spirit of resilience, innovation and progress of the industry achieved in the past two years, the inaugural Singapore MICE Awards will take place as part of the SMF for the first time.
The Singapore MICE Awards covers various categories, including Consumer Show of the Year, Trade Show of the Year, Meeting/Conference of the Year and Venue of the Year. Each category is judged based on criteria such as innovation, creativity, and sustainability.
Concluding the SMF will be the Singapore MICE Challenge which aims to cultivate and uncover future talent. Students from Singapore’s institutes of higher learning are invited to create and explore revolutionary approaches in curating an event through purposeful technology adoption, re-inventing audience experience while ensuring sustainable practices are in place.
Richard Ireland, president, SACEOS, is confident the SMF will not only further strengthen its position as the premier and choice event for the international business events community, but also Singapore’s standing as a leading and innovative hub for the global business events industry.
Following its successful establishment in Vietnam’s luxury accommodation space, The Anam has now set its sights on the business events arena, with a multipurpose convention centre set for launch in Cam Ranh this July.
Named Axi Plaza, the property sits on the beach next to The Anam Cam Ranh. It packs in a conference hall for up to 1,000 people, a rooftop bar with panoramic views, and about 10,000m2 of shopping and dining facilities.
The Anam Cam Ranh
Martin Koerner, group commercial director, The Anam, told TTGmice that interest in Axi Plaza is strong. It secured its first business event – a 600-pax gathering this July – before the commencement of sales and marketing activities.
Business events operations will begin this July, while tenants and operators for the commercial spaces will be finalised in the coming months. Axi Plaza is expected to be fully operational end-2023/early-2024.
While Axi Plaza is the group’s first dedicated events property, Koerner emphasised that The Anam team is no stranger to high-quality business events, as its resort, The Anam Cam Ranh, has been a popular venue for luxury car launches and incentive travel programmes.
With both The Anam Cam Ranh and Axi Plaza, The Anam expects to be the only operator of a property that “combines events spaces, beachfront views and top-end hotel accommodation” – something that does not yet exist in the area, said Koerner.
“We will attract international meetings and events, such as product launches, award dinners, etc,” he said.
Laurent Myter, group general manager, The Anam, said the opening of The Anam Cam Ranh six or seven years ago had put Cam Ranh on the world travel map, and the presence of Axi Plaza and the arrival of business events will “bring even greater attention to Cam Ranh”.
The 2023 Menu Collection has breakfast, lunch, dinner, and canape dishes for clients to choose from, such as sago crisp cured salmon with avocado crème fraiche and espelette; green garlic prawns with crab; and new potato salad and sauce vierge.
Tākina Events’s new menu has sustainability at its heart
A crucial part of Tākina Events’ food philosophy is focused on collaborating with local suppliers. Servicing both Tākina and Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum, the new menu will showcase a taste of the capital with 90 per cent of suppliers based in the Wellington Region.
“Our mission is to nourish people and ideas with local, sustainable, and delicious cuisine,” said executive chef Ilavarasu Rajendran. “With sustainability at its core, our menu has created diverse offerings that feature regional, seasonal ingredients which save on food miles.”
The Standard, Hua Hin, has made available its Village Villas – a cluster of design-led pool and tree-top beach villas – that can be booked for corporate events, teambuildings, and even incentive programmes.
Within the compound are four private zones, each with a cluster of up to seven pool and tree-house villas circling a leafy courtyard garden where guests can fire up the barbecue, throw an impromptu poolside party or a moonlit soiree, or celebrate with a private al fresco meal.
Village Villas at The Standard, Hua Hin
They can also opt to turn the private courtyard into a barbecue party with a personal chef, live grill station, salad corner and more for 2,500 baht (US$72.50) net per person.
The 82m2 Canopy Villas can accommodate two adults and a child – for those travelling with their young ones in tow – while the Standard Pool Villas range from 99m2 to 106m2, which is good for three adults and a child, or two adults and two children.
In addition to daily breakfast served at Lido, Village Villa guests are also entitled to Not Your Standard Cocktail Hour where they can enjoy complimentary cocktails and snacks served at Praça Beach Bar daily from 15.00 to 16.00.
The Philippine IATA Agents Travel Association (PIATA) recently inducted its officers and board of trustees for 2022-2024 led by president Maria Paz Alberto of Ark Travel Express; vice president Carlo Severino of Adventure International Tours; corporate secretary Gianina Dita Fortun-Plumley of Fiesta Tours and Travel; and treasurer Gene Velasquez of Mango Tours and Travel.
Also inducted to the board of trustees are Bea Berenguer Testa of Mondial Tours and Travel; Chal Lontoc-del Rosario of Jeron Travel and Tours; Mylene Monzon of Karilagan International Travel and Tours; and Kem Lim of International Journeys.
Their induction was postponed last year due to the pandemic.
China’s foreign ministry said today that it would restore the issuance of all types of visas from March 15 – signalling the country’s complete reopening to foreign tourists for the first time in three years since the pandemic.
Shenzhen, Guangdong (pictured) and other areas that were visa-free pre-pandemic will regain their accessibility
Areas in China that were visa-free pre-pandemic, such as Hainan and Guangdong (for foreigners from Hong Kong and Macau), will regain its accessibility.
The authorities also said it would honour visas issued before March 28, 2020 that are still within their validity dates.
A major milestone in the lead-up to the opening of Tākina was celebrated this week with Wellington City Council receiving the keys to the new convention centre.
The venue will officially open end of May, with the test events taking place earlier in the month.
Tākina’s exterior
Taranaki Whānui representatives, as mana whenua, attended the ceremony to officially bless the building prior to occupation.
Tākina, meaning ‘to invoke or encounter’, was gifted by Taranaki Whānui to reflect the building as a place people come together to connect and collaborate in the capital.
Wellington City Council’s focus is now on the internal technical fit-out to prepare the venue for its first conference and exhibition.
This week’s activities also opened the door for Tākina Events, the operator of the venue, to move in to start a rigorous schedule of testing and training.
“With more than 100 events on the calendar for the first year, the majority of which are multi-day conferences between 300 and 1,000 delegates, our team is excited to be on-site to get to know every square centimetre, bit of equipment and technology,” says Jake Downing, Te Papa’s director of commercial services.
Almost 500,000 people are expected to visit Tākina in its first year based on the line-up of conferences and events.
On June 3, 2023, the ground-floor public Exhibition Gallery will open with the LEGO interactive exhibition, Jurassic World by Brickman on display. The show is set to be the first of many touring exhibitions to take place in the centre and is the biggest ever put on by Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught, with more than six million LEGO bricks, including 2.5 million for visitors to show off their skills with.
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