TFE Hotels has launched a new global leadership structure which comprises three new global officer roles.
Amanda Hoolihan takes on the role of global revenue officer and will work to enhance TFE’s revenue management practices and drive innovation and results for the group.
From left: Amanda Hoolihan, Katia Giurtalis, and Shahnaz Bakhshay
Katia Giurtalis has been named the new global marketing officer and will be responsible for steering the global growth of TFE’s brands, and ensuring guest experiences are enhanced through digital technology.
Shahnaz Bakhshay is the new global sales officer, and will focus on developing and implementing global (and local) sales strategies and driving cross pollination of client coverage.
The excitement surrounding the Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre is palpable, and its anticipated opening is set to be a game-changer for the city’s business events industry.
With construction completed at the site, the centre is preparing for a grand opening on May 31, 2023, after a series of test events planned for the month leading up to the official launch.
A rendering of the soon-to-open Tākina
The new venue is expected to allow New Zealand’s capital city to host larger-scale international events for the first time, breaking its glass ceiling for the types and scale of events it could not previously cater for.
“Within the business event sector, the excitement is absolutely red hot,” said David Perks, general manager of Tākina Commercial Development.
“This is something that Wellington’s business events sector and the city has realised it’s needed for a long time… and the fantastic thing is the volume of business we are getting (for the centre) already in terms of conference and bookings is really high,” he added.
These include the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologists Annual Scientific Meeting in 2024, and the Congress of the International Association of Sedimentologists in 2026 for 900 and 800 delegates respectively.
Perks told TTGmice that Tākina will work with Christchurch’s Te Pae and Auckland’s plans for New Zealand International Convention Centre so that all three become regular stops on the Australasian circuit.
“But the real gold is bringing in international events which are really important to our business case, first of all, because those visitors tend to spend more and stay longer, so we get more of that direct economic impact for our businesses in the city and the people who are employed in them.
“Secondly, we do see that as a relatively small city on a global scale, this is a way of getting our story out there about what our place is all about,” he said.
With construction on the building completed on February 28, Tākina is finishing with kitchen fit-outs and AV installation.
David Perks, general manager of Tākina Commercial Development, takes event planners and media on a hard hat tour through Takina. Photo credit: Adelaine Ng
Tourism New Zealand general manager New Zealand & business events, Bjoern Spreitzer, said Tākina will give the business events market added capacity to New Zealand’s meetings offering and greater choice with its premium, purpose-built conference and exhibition centre.
“Event planners from Asia will find what’s always been strong in Wellington and New Zealand – our warm welcome, inspiring thought leaders, and amazing landscape and activities to entice delegates, but now with the added benefit of a cutting-edge venue,” he said.
Tākina accommodates up to 1,600 delegates with two divisible plenary halls, plus a 1,800m2 exhibition hall and meeting rooms. It has about 4,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of its location.
A 2019 edition of Informa Markets' Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong
In its latest 2023-24 budget, the Hong Kong government has pumped an additional HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) into funding the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s efforts in securing more business events for the destination.
The funding is in addition to an incentive scheme for recurrent exhibitions announced back in October 2022 during a Policy Address. Under this three-year scheme from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026, recurrent international exhibitions organised at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and AsiaWorld-Expo will receive an incentive equivalent to 100 per cent of the venue rental, while other recurrent exhibitions will receive an incentive equivalent to 50 per cent of the venue rental, subject to a cap of HK$20 million per exhibition.
A 2019 edition of Informa Markets’ Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong
Recurrent exhibitions are those classified as being held every year or every two years. They must be international events with over 50 per cent of participants from abroad, or at least 500 participants (including exhibitors and buyers), whichever is lower.
Informa Markets’ executive vice president – commercial development, Michael Duck, responded positively to the announcements, stating that the large-scale trade fairs the company organises already have a “history of bringing international exhibitors and buyers to Hong Kong”.
He pointed out that these schemes would help event organisers like Informa with the “huge costs” incurred.
Upcoming large-scale international trade fairs Informa Markets will be organising this year include the Jewellery & Gem Asia (June 2023), Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong (September 2023), Cosmoprof Asia (November 14-17, 2023). The APLF Leather and Fashion show will also return in March 2024.
Founder of one the largest model car exhibitions in Asia, Hong Kong Toycar Salon, and co-founder of Market Hubs, Lierence Li, also welcomed the announcements but pointed out that the beneficiaries would only be large exhibition organisers, as there is little support for the small and medium-sized organisers.
Li added: “During the pandemic, many in the exhibition industry have switched careers, (which is why) exhibition costs have increased more than 20 per cent. This hinders the industry’s overall recovery.”
As such, he suggested that the government could help provide more support such as by offering larger incentives to encourage the adoption of technology such as artificial intelligence to aid in the manpower woes.
The national guidelines will enable Singapore's MICE industry to reduce its environmental impact and align with national sustainability targets; Singapore skyline pictured
The Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) together with the Singapore Standards Council (SSC), which is overseen by Enterprise Singapore, launched the new Workshop Agreement (WA), known as WA 3 Sustainable MICE – Guidelines for waste management.
Applicable to business events with 50 or more attendees, WA 3 provides specific guidelines for event organisers, venues, event builders, F&B providers and exhibitors. These include setting waste management goals and reducing specific types of waste through a reduce, reuse, and recycle approach.
The guidelines will enable Singapore’s MICE industry to reduce its environmental impact and align with national sustainability targets; the Singapore skyline pictured
The new guidelines are in line with the Singapore MICE Sustainability Roadmap which was launched on December 1, 2022. WA 3 referenced both international and national standards to help the industry organise greener events through practical guidelines and industry best practices. The guidelines are also aligned with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which calls for a 30 per cent reduction in waste sent to landfills by 2030.
To build waste management capabilities among stakeholders, SACEOS will be running its first MICE Waste Management Guidelines workshop based on WA 3 on 12 April 12, 2023. The workshop will promote awareness and provide guidance to reduce specific waste generated by each stakeholder. This will enable MICE stakeholders to start establishing specific initiatives and support companies to prepare for MICE Sustainability Certification by 2025.
E-copies of the guidelines are available for purchase on the Singapore Standards eShop. WA 3 can also be accessed for viewing at public libraries.
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (MCEC) Club Melbourne Ambassador Program welcomes two new Ambassadors, chef Alejandro Saravia and Emma Coath.
Chef Alejandro Saravia is on a culinary mission to champion Victoria’s produce, farmers, and growers. Through his celebrated dining concept Farmer’s Daughters, his latest project Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters at Federation Square, and residency in the MCC Long Room at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Saravia is showcasing the quality and diversity of producers from across the state.
From left: Emma Coath; and Alejandro Saravia
Known for introducing Peruvian cuisine to Australia’s food culture, Alejandro has cooked in world-class kitchens in Peru, New York, Barcelona, Paris, London and Sydney.
Emma Coath is managing director of Rocket Seeder, a company that supports innovators and entrepreneurs to develop solutions to the world’s biggest problems in the food and agriculture sector by giving early-stage startups the best chance to develop a sustainable enterprise for global impact.
A strategic thinker and innovative professional with expertise in stakeholder and project management, and international market research and development, Coath connects thought leaders and challenges conventional perspectives.
Clare Kellett, Club Melbourne manager, said: “Through their networks, interests and collaborations, Emma and Alejandro will strive to promote Melbourne and Victoria to the world, boost the economy and bring thought leadership to the city.”
The Club Melbourne Ambassador programme is a cohort of eminent Victorians from diverse disciplines of medicine, science and environment, technology, engineering, business and education. The programme works with MCEC and the Melbourne Convention Bureau to secure significant conferences and events that promote Victoria as a knowledge destination.
Since its inception in 2005, the Club Melbourne Ambassador Program has secured 160 international conferences worth over A$1 billion (US$659.7 million) to Victoria’s economy.
From now until September 15, 2023, planners that stage an event at JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong will be eligible for a host of privileges.
Aside from being awarded double Marriott Bonvoy points, bookers can also choose from either a complimentary night in a Deluxe Room for every 30 rooms per night, or a complimentary room upgrade to the next category for every 30 rooms per night.
Executive meeting suite
Events should not be held any later than September 30, 2023, to enjoy these rewards, and a minimum of 10 rooms per night is required.
The 608-key JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong offers 1,115m2 of function space across 16 rooms. This includes the pillarless JW Marriott Ballroom that can accommodate up to 940 delegates theatre-style, or 1,100 guests for receptions.
With travel back with a vengeance, Singapore-based corporate incentive organisers MICE Matters have hit the ground running.
And unlike other travel suppliers laid off staff or placed them on furlough, MICE Matters did no such thing, which has helped with the voluminous influx of travel requests since April 2022.
“One benefit of keeping all my staff during the pandemic was that we didn’t have to recruit again. We also have new clients knocking on our door because their previous suppliers are dealing with manpower shortages and unable to provide travel services,” Melvyn Nonis, director, MICE Matters, told TTGmice.
As to how he and co-founder Michelle Seet emerged in a strong position from the pandemic, Nonis shared that it was because his 15-strong staff had “a deep level of trust” in them, as well as sufficient financial reserves.
“This strong foundation of trust has been developed over the years; staff have been with us for six to seven years on average. We work beside them every day, and they know we have their best interests at heart,” he shared.
But even though both Nonis and Seet were prudent over the years, a company-wide pay cut still had to be enacted in 3Q2020.
During this time, staff were also given the opportunity to take on other part-time jobs, such as teaching tuition.
To ensure that employees felt “purposeful” coming to work during the pandemic, MICE Matters created a virtual meetings division.
“Virtual meetings were booming, and we helped to run webinars. This helped my staff learn new digital skills that are still relevant today. These skills are currently in use when we do virtual pre-departure briefings and pre-registrations,” Nonis stated.
Another way MICE Matters keeps its team motivated and performing at their best is also the S$10,000 (US$7,388) bonus coupled with 10 days of paid leave, awarded after being with the company for 10 years. This incentive was already in place before the pandemic.
“Out of the 15, five have already received their bonus,” Nonis said with a chuckle.
Melbourne's skyline with MCG, Centrepiece, and Pullman
Three of Melbourne’s iconic business events venues, Centrepiece, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Pullman Melbourne on The Park have formed a strategic alliance to create a Meet, Celebrate and Stay business conferencing experience.
The partnership was created to drive national and international conferences and business events to the precinct and comes on the back of a strong pipeline of 40 business and conference events secured by Visit Victoria for the State up until 2028, expected to deliver A$150 million (US$99 million) to the local economy.
Melbourne’s skyline with MCG, Centrepiece, and Pullman
As Melbourne’s home of sports and entertainment, the venues’ footprint spans from the edge of the Melbourne CBD and stretches through Fitzroy Gardens and down to the Yarra River edge, encompassing Yarra Park, the MCG and Melbourne and Olympic Parks.
A unique aspect of the precinct is the ability for delegates to easily move throughout, with each venue conveniently located next to one another, connected by footbridges and walking paths. Accessibility carts can also commute between the properties as required.
Combining forces, the three venues are expecting strong interest in the coming year from domestic conferencing and business events, as well as international markets including the UK, US, South-east Asia and New Zealand.
The collaboration has already seen key industry events utilise the three venues for a Meet, Celebrate, Stay experience including Tourism Australia’s Destination Australia Conference in February, Association Forum Conference in April, and Visit Victoria’s Destination Victoria Conference in June.
Accor has announced new appointments to its Accor Pacific executive team.
Anne Gill has been named senior vice president commercial, premium, midscale and economy. Having joined Accor in 2019, she previously held the role of vice president sales and connected partners in the Pacific region. Prior to joining Accor, Gill held similar positions with a number of other leading global and regional hotel companies across disciplines.
Anne Gill and Steven Lake
With 28 years of experience at Accor, Steven Lake is the new senior vice president finance, premium, midscale and economy. He most recently led in growing Accor’s Hospitality Services division incorporating Qantas Lounges, Concierge, Cafés, Kiosks and 3rd spaces in Commercial Office towers.
Angela Howard will take on the position of senior vice president talent & culture, premium, midscale & economy, from March 29. With over 20 years’ experience, she was most recently Holland America Group vice president of talent and culture within Carnival Corporation.
Angela Howard and Claire Haigh
Claire Haigh has been promoted to vice president communications, premium, midscale and economy. Having amassed over two decades of PR and communications experience, she was previously global communications director at Pernod Ricard.
Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) has announced a series of promotions and new appointments in its leadership team.
John Burke takes over the helm as KLCC’s general manager, succeeding Alan Pryor who retires after 40 years in the business events industry.
John Burke is KLCC’s new general manager
Burke joined KLCC in 2017 as deputy general manager where he was integral in pushing the venue’s digital transformation forward and upgrading its security infrastructure. He also managed the development of hybrid and virtual event spaces and platforms, as well as led multiple sustainability projects, initiatives and investments to enhance KLCC as a sustainable venue.
Robert Hatton-Jones will take over as deputy general manager. He brings with him nearly two decades of experience in F&B operations, business development, venue and asset management, event planning and marketing.
Prior to joining KLCC, Hatton-Jones was the general manager of commercial & business development at Cape Town International Convention Centre since 2017.
Layzree bin Bongsu has been promoted to director of finance and administration, and will oversee the day-to-day finance and procurement, as well as information technology operations at KLCC.
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