The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) has released two major research papers: the State of the Business Events Industry Report (2024), and Forward Bids Calendar 2025.
Together, these reports deliver a national snapshot and a forward-looking lens to guide investment, policy and industry-wide planning.
Cover page of the Forward Bids Calendar
Produced as part of ABEA’s commitment to research-driven advocacy, both reports offer credible, consolidated data to support evidence-based decisions across government and industry.
Now in its second year, this edition of the Stateof the Business Events Industry Report uses 2024 data to capture the size, scope and contribution of Australia’s billion-dollar business events industry. Drawing on national and international data, including insights from ICCA, Union of International Associations, Tourism Research Australia, and Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event, the report tracks year-on-year performance and identifies opportunities for long-term growth.
Melissa Brown, CEO, ABEA said the report “ensures decision-makers have access to the kind of longitudinal data they need to drive serious outcomes, whether that’s workforce funding, visa reform, investment in regional venues or trade policy alignment”.
Complementing the annual report, the Forward Bids Calendar provides granular intelligence on the business events pipeline, offering insight into bids won, lost and in progress across all major Australian convention bureaux.
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) has appointed a new facilities director, Cliff Jones.
In his new role, Jones takes on responsibility for the Centre’s Building Services, Facilities Management and Security and Safet, as well as Sustainability and Community Engagement, overseeing a team of more than 40 staff.
He brings vast experience in large commercial organisations and hospitality sectors across Australia and Asia.
Jones replaces Ian Chalmers who has transitioned into a new role as he approaches retirement following an extraordinary career with ASM Global including 27 years at BCEC and three years at Suncorp Stadium.
Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts has appointed Nicolas Kassab as general manager. He will be responsible for operations, team development and guest experience strategy at the resort.
Kassab brings more than 20 years of experience in hospitality. He was previously general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Suzhou, where he oversaw the hotel’s opening and operations. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles with Marriott International, managing luxury brands across Asia-Pacific and overseeing operations in Singapore, Malaysia and the Maldives.
Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas has appointed Stuart De San Nicolas as general manager. He brings decades of experience in ultra-luxury hospitality, with a track record in operational leadership, revenue management and designing bespoke guest experiences.
In 2023, he joined Minor Hotels as cluster general manager, overseeing Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, the launch of Avani+ Fares Maldives, and the introduction of NH and NH Collection brands in the Maldives, leading signature experiences while driving sales and revenue strategies.
Korean Air has completed the first phase of its lounge renewal project at Incheon International Airport, reopening the redesigned Miler Club and Prestige East (Right) Lounge on August 18 and launching two new Prestige Garden Lounges following the airport’s recent expansion.
The renewal programme forms part of the airline’s infrastructure investment ahead of its integration with Asiana Airlines.
Korean Air’s upgraded Miler Club, pictured, and Prestige East Lounges at Incheon feature new dining, wellness and work areas
The redesigned lounges include separate areas for dining, relaxation, work and wellness. Facilities include open kitchens where chefs prepare dishes on-site, buffet options with Korean and Western selections, a bakery, salad bar, cocktail service, and barista-prepared coffee. Menus will rotate quarterly. Other amenities include a wellness area with massage chairs, a technology zone, meeting space, shower facilities and private powder rooms.
The interiors combine modern materials with traditional Korean design elements. The Miler Club and Prestige East Lounge feature Hanok-inspired structures alongside a colour scheme of gold, charcoal, black and ivory, reflecting Korean Air’s premium cabin style.
The Prestige Garden East Lounge overlooks a Korean-style outdoor garden, while the Prestige Garden West Lounge faces a Western-style garden. Both provide F&B service.
Further renovations are scheduled for completion in 2026, including the First Class Lounge, Prestige East (Left) Lounge and Prestige West Lounge. First Class passengers will temporarily use the Miler Club during this period.
Korean Air’s lounge space at Incheon will expand from 5,105m² to 12,270m², with seating capacity rising from 898 to 1,566.
BCD Travel announced has appointed Danielle Russom as managing director for Australia and Singapore.
In her new Sydney-based role, Russom’s mandate includes accelerating growth and deepening BCD’s market presence in Australia, while continuing to strengthen the company’s footprint in Singapore.
With more than 20 years of experience in commercial leadership across the Asia-Pacific region, Russom brings a wealth of expertise in business growth, client management and team development.
Prior to this role, she served as vice president of GBT Select APAC.
Macau began 2025 on a strong note, recording 413 business events in the first quarter, an increase of 77 events year-on-year. These gatherings attracted 188,000 participants and attendees, marking a 3.7 per cent rise compared to the same period last year.
In February 2025, Macau’s Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) made its first foray into the Middle East. Seeking new markets, IPIM carried out investment and business events promotion activities in Dubai, UAE, and Riyadh, participating in two Middle East Market Tourism and MICE Destination Promotion and Networking Seminars organised by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO).
The Londoner, Macau; photo by Aliona_25/shutterstock
MGTO also organised “Macao Tourism + MICE Product Updates Seminar & Travel Mart” from April to July 2025 in major Asia-Pacific cities. An MGTO spokesperson stated that South-east Asian cities also remain a key target market.
For 2H2025, Macau’s business events industry is relatively upbeat despite geopolitical uncertainties.
Bruno Simões, the founder of DOC DMC Macau, anticipates a robust last quarter, similar to what he experienced in 2024. “Despite some volatility in the first half of the year, I expect confidence to return as companies seek to maximise their annual budgets.
As such, Simões is “actively pursuing events” such as a major sports event, which is a “fast-growing segment in Macau”. The company is also hosting a conference focusing on business opportunities in Portuguese-speaking countries, aligning with its role as a bridge between China and Lusophone markets.
Meanwhile, Sands China has enhanced its meeting offerings with the launch of The Londoner Grand – a Luxury Collection Hotel on June 8, 2025.
“When we converted Sands Cotai Central into The Londoner Macao, it truly became a ‘resort within a resort’ complex. This means we can now offer a more exclusive and intimate meetings experience than you might ordinarily find at The Venetian,” explained Sands China’s vice president of sales, Stephanie Tanpure.
The Londoner Macao boasts five hotels, where The Venetian and The Parisian each have only one.
“The Londoner property’s focus on luxury MICE offerings has been significantly intensified. We’re now collaborating with many of our retail brands and welcoming numerous C-suite MICE groups, often comprising 15 to 25 high-level executives, for luxury event or meeting programmes,” she revealed.
The company’s eyes are on the Saudi Arabia market, which is primarily a “high-net-worth market”.
“There is a niche for C-suite events, where our properties are well-suited to support that calibre of traveller. And Hong Kong has also recently started direct flights into the region, which is obviously a key gateway for us,” Tanpure explained.
To better market the new property, the group will be attending ILTM Asia Pacific in Singapore, and ILTM Cannes. A mega fam trip in 1Q2026 is also in the works, Tanpure told TTGmice.
Macau’s striking skyline; photo by f11photo/shutterstock
“About 300 international luxury MICE planners will be invited with a concentration of longhaul markets like UK, US, Europe and the Middle East,” she said.
The St. Regis Macao’s general manager, Stuart-Wayne Douglas, added: “Macau is actively targeting the longhaul MICE market, particularly from the Middle East.
The destination is simultaneously enhancing its Muslim-friendly credentials through initiatives such as the Halal Horizons Pavilion, which features certified products and prayer facilities, as well as industry training programmes.”
Future efforts will include fam trips for trade professionals and media, Arabic-language digital campaigns, and continued development of Halal-compliant services.
“These initiatives aim to position Macau as a competitive, culturally-sensitive business events destination for high-value Middle Eastern travellers, while also appealing to Muslim markets in South-east Asia and China. Such efforts align with Macau’s broader strategy to diversify its visitor base beyond gaming and traditional source markets,” Douglas indicated.
The property is strengthening its luxury business events positioning by hosting exclusive wellness events with brands like Lululemon, targeting high-net-worth travellers and corporate clients.
“These curated experiences – combining fitness, mindfulness, and networking– enhance the hotel’s appeal for premium leisure stays, corporate retreats, and incentive travel,” he stated.
Tanpure further observed that international longhaul markets have also returned.
Sands Resorts Macao will welcome its largest US group since before the pandemic from August 24-27, the 2025 Million Dollar Round Table Global Conference. Following this, several groups from Australia are expected, with additional incentive groups from the US and Europe anticipated later this year.
“I believe that from this summer, following the Million Dollar Round Table conference, we’re on an upward trajectory to welcome significantly more of our international business back to both Hong Kong and Macau,” she opined.
Within Asia-Pacific, groups from South Korea and Japan are also returning.
She added: “People are wanting to get back and hold global events (as opposed to regional events during Covid due to travel restrictions), and we’re seeing some RFPs coming in for 2027 and 2028. – additional reporting by Rachel AJ Lee
Logan: exploring new and different ways to deliver what is important for Asia-Pacific members
GBTA is hedging its bets on Asia-Pacific, spurred by strong and increasing appetite among business travel professionals in the region wanting to be part of a professional community, to learn and to be heard.
The US-based association is tapping the momentum of its successful Asia-Pacific (APAC) conference, held in Singapore in May, by collaborating with its APAC regional and local GBTA advisory boards such as those recently established in India, China and Australia.
Logan: exploring new and different ways to deliver what is important for Asia-Pacific members
While tariff-related disruptions to net exports are likely to act as a drag on businesses, Catherine Logan, regional senior vice president, EMEA and APAC, is optimistic that China – “the second-largest business travel market in the world” – is poised to continue to be a major driver of growth for the sector.
China represents 61 per cent of APAC’s spending, and GBTA’s recently-published Business Travel Index Outlook report shows China’s growth is expected to moderate from five per cent in 2024 to 4.6 per cent in 2025, and 4.4 per cent in 2026.
However, Logan believes policy measures China introduced in March 2025 – aimed at boosting consumption, supporting investment and stabilising the property sector – should help offset some of the negative impacts.
“In the longer term, China’s structural shift toward domestic consumption remains central to sustaining growth momentum,” she added.
Meanwhile, GBTA will support, develop and nurture current and future volunteer members.
Logan commented: “In APAC, the foundation that Peter Koh (APAC Advisory Board chair) was instrumental in creating for GBTA members and programmes. It will continue to further evolve and grow as our advisory leaders and volunteers also continue to expand and bring their own insights and expertise.”
Koh, an industry veteran, received the Business Travel Service Award at the 2025 GBTA APAC conference and the President’s Award at GBTA Convention in Denver in July.
Other industry experts such as Sandeep Shastri, senior director, Airline Distribution, Sabre Asia-Pacific; and Kenji Soh, general manager, South-east Asia, FCM Travel; were recognised at the APAC event.
Logan continued: “We consult extensively with our advisory boards across APAC to provide business travel professionals with the skills, knowledge and networking opportunities they need to thrive, both as volunteer leaders within GBTA and in their chosen profession.”
She highlighted that “APAC is a powerhouse of growth for the business travel sector”, adding that its members across the large and diverse region have unique needs. As such, GBTA is working closely with volunteer members to “deliver localised offerings and programmes such as for education that provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive”.
“Building on the strong momentum of the APAC conference in Singapore, our focus is on continuing to expand and enhance our year-round offerings to our expanding membership across the region,” Logan added.
GBTA’s re-engagement in APAC started in 2023 with the appointment of Elle Ng-Darmawan, Asia Pacific regional director, nearly eight years after the association closed its regional Bangkok office in March 2015.
Singapore-headquartered events management company Unearthed Productions (UP) recently launched its new regional brand UPGroup Asia, as well as a new MICE Venue Search Platform, at CatchUP 2025, its annual industry gathering.
“This year’s CatchUP is about marking a new phase for the company and bringing our network together to share that vision. Through our regional brand UPGroup Asia, we now operate in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. Over the next 12 months, we will open offices in Bangkok, Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City,” Adam Piperdy, founder and chief experience officer of UP, told TTGmice.
UP’s MICE Venue Search Platform
According to Piperdy, more of UP’s clients are looking to expand their events regionally, and this expansion makes it easier for them “to take their events into new territories without having to manage multiple vendors”.
With its expanded regional presence, UPGroup has also launched a new MICE Venue Search Platform. The platform aims to solve the problem of slow and fragmented venue searches in the Asia-Pacific region by bringing verified, up-to-date venue information into a single place.
“The platform offers filters designed specifically for MICE needs, such as capacity, layouts, technical capabilities, and hybrid-event readiness,” Piperdy explained.
Currently, the platform exclusively features venues managed by UPGroup Asia. Event planners can use the platform to filter listings by specific criteria, review specifications, and explore immersive media like 360-degree virtual tours. The listings also include insights from UPGroup Asia’s own production experience, helping planners understand how each space performs for different event formats.
Piperdy added: “As more events are listed and shared, the platform will also become a source of ideas and inspiration for how venues can be used in creative ways. It’s a win-win, serving as a lead generation tool for the venues we manage.”
Bolt, the European mobility platform, has officially launched Bolt Business in Malaysia.
The new service is designed to help companies of all sizes simplify and manage employee travel with a centralised platform.
The launch of Bolt Business
The Bolt Business solution eliminates the need for manual claims and paperwork. It provides companies with a dashboard to set ride limits, track usage, and access real-time reports. According to a press release, this allows finance and HR teams to streamline expense management and make data-driven decisions.
Afzan Lutfi, general manager of Bolt Malaysia, said the service was created to make life easier for businesses and their employees as many “businesses still struggle with messy claims and manual processes”.
The launch follows Bolt’s expansion in the Klang Valley since late 2024, which has included new features like toll-inclusive fares and the premium Bolt Executive category.
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
Kassab brings more than 20 years of experience in hospitality. He was previously general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Suzhou, where he oversaw the hotel’s opening and operations. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles with Marriott International, managing luxury brands across Asia-Pacific and overseeing operations in Singapore, Malaysia and the Maldives.
In 2023, he joined Minor Hotels as cluster general manager, overseeing Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, the launch of Avani+ Fares Maldives, and the introduction of NH and NH Collection brands in the Maldives, leading signature experiences while driving sales and revenue strategies.
