Malaysia is gearing up to welcome Chinese travellers into the country from January 8, 2023, despite calls to temporarily ban the entry of travellers from China, which is dealing with an explosion of Covid-19 cases after the abrupt lifting of restrictions.
News agency Bernama reported that the Ministry of Health of Malaysia was prepared to change the existing Covid-19 pandemic management healthcare policy at the country’s borders, including the tightening the standard operating procedure (SOP) for health checks.
Malaysian tourism players are looking forward to the return of Chinese tourists to the country; Kuala Lumpur International Airport pictured
Health minister Saliha Mustafa said the extension of Malaysia as a ‘Local Infection Area’ until June will also give the ministry the leeway to deal with the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in China, adding that preventive measures and preparations to face any potential rise in cases will be stepped up.
Regardless, tourism players look forward to the arrival of Chinese tourists once more.
Lambasting those who opposed the reopening of Malaysia’s borders to Chinese travellers, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents’ (MATTA) president KL Tan said: “Outright calls to shut our borders to Chinese travellers at this very early stage are irrational and irresponsible. Since the reopening of our borders in early 2022, our country has been making steady, positive progress towards recovery and any knee-jerk reaction to reintroduce restrictions without proper planning risks undoing all that we have achieved.
“MATTA has complete faith in the Ministry of Health of Malaysia in managing Chinese arrivals just as they have done with other travellers from all over the world. The government’s decision should balance the health and well-being of the people and Malaysia’s reputation as a safe destination as well as the economic ramifications of its policies in this matter. It must also benchmark with current global practices while considering its own capacity and limitations rather than bow to lobbyist groups.”
Solidarity Association For Travel & Tours Agency Malaysia’s (SAFTTA) president, Fathir Badri Alhadad, shared that the country needs to consider the importance of how China can help to rebuild its economy before imposing any bans, adding that Malaysia needs China investors in order to further develop its national economy.
Instead, SAFTTA recommends that the government implement pro-active measures such as compulsory Covid-19 pre-departure testing of up to 48 hours before, Covid-19 screening upon arrival into the country and, if necessary, make it compulsory for Chinese travellers to quarantine for at least three days before allowing them to continue with their activities.
MCEC experienced a faster than expected business recovery
Melbourne has secured the rights to host one of the world’s biggest business events, the 14th World Chambers Congress (WCC) 2025.
More than 1,000 of the world’s leading business chamber leaders, trade delegations and local business leaders are expected to convene at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in September 2025 to discuss solutions for global issues impacting business, create new business opportunities and exchange and develop community best practice.
MCEC will host the conference. Photo credit: Peter Bennetts
Melbourne’s 2025 WCC programme will also have an Environmental, Social and Governance theme (ESG) that will empower, inspire and educate international and domestic chambers to lead business into the future.
The bid led by the Melbourne Convention Bureau in partnership with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and with support from the Victorian Government and Tourism Australia’s Business Events Funds Program, will fill more than 2,250 hotel room nights and inject an estimated A$3.9 million (US$2.7 million) into the economy.
In November, Melbourne’s bid was presented to the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, and edged out China for the rights to host the 2025 WCC.
Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington.
Wellington has secured wins for three international conferences, in conjunction with bid champions from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington.
The wins are in collaboration with Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Design Innovation, Museum & Heritage Studies, and School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies.
Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
The conference wins include OzCHI in 2023, the International Annual Conference on Computer Human Interaction. The Australasian event will bring together a broad international community of interaction designers,U X practitioners, information architects, software engineers, human factors experts, information systems analysts and social scientists to boost Wellington’s growing Human Computer Interaction knowledge hub.
The 15th Linguistic Landscapes Workshop will follow in 2024. Known as the world’s premier gathering of scholars investigating the intersection of language, communication and space/place, it will attract researchers come from a wide range of language-related disciplines. It will be the first time that this conference is held in the Australasia region.
A third conference win has yet to be announced publicly.
Business Events Wellington’s manager Irette Ferreira, stated: “The internationally recognised expertise of the faculty plays a major role in attracting international conferences to the capital. These conferences boost local knowledge by bringing global thought leaders to the city, while simultaneously showcasing Wellington’s knowledge strengths and creating opportunities for collaboration.
“They’re a win for the university, for Wellington, and New Zealand.”
Rooms
I was provided with the opportunity to test out the 111m2 Two-Bedroom Suite with Pool Access in the new wing. Although it was far too large for me, this space – with two bathrooms, a separate living room and a kitchenette – would be a great option for three or four corporate guests to bunk in together, or a corporate traveller with their family in tow.
I had no complaints about the comfortable bed, and the spacious master bathroom which had a separate shower and toilet, as well as a bathtub.
I personally enjoyed working from the patio area, which despite the bright sun outside was not humid thanks to the ceiling fans above. It was also a treat to be able to go for a dip in South-east Asia’s longest swimming pool a few steps from my living room.
In all, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa now offers an expanded inventory of 420 keys. Rooms start from 55m2 Deluxe Lagoon Pool View, and go up to the 213m2 Two-Bedroom Villa.
MICE facilities
The standalone JW Grand Ballroom provides 758m2 of event space, good for 810 attendees across a range of events such as gala dinners and corporate conventions. Offering an abundance of natural light and fully-equipped with the latest audiovisual technology, the ballroom can be further divided into three separate spaces for smaller events.
On two sides of the ballroom are expansive open-air lawns that will work for evening cocktail sessions, and are able to hold several live stations for an outdoor dinner party, with chefs being able to cook dishes upon order.
In total, the property features over 9,300m2 of indoor and outdoor event meeting space, including seven function rooms, such as the compact 12-pax Griffin Boardroom. Creative set-ups and personalised activities can also be arranged in the resort’s outdoor spaces, including the Infinity Lawn and on the beachfront.
When available, the Two-Bedroom Villa can also be booked out for several hours. This would work for small groups with around 20 pax, where the space is also possible to arrange for an outdoor barbecue with drinks.
The resort is also able to organise corporate suitable activities on-site such as handmade coconut soap workshops, cocktail- or mocktail-making sessions with freshly-picked garden herbs, and Thai cooking classes.
Meanwhile, external activities to explore Khao Lak such as cycling outings to temples and waterfalls, day trips to the town of Takua Pa and a canoe ride in its mangrove forest, as well as snorkelling trips to Similan Islands, can also be added to the agenda.
Other facilities
There is a fitness centre, as well daily exercise classes such as cross fit and yoga. The room rate also offers access to a kids’ club for those with young ones, and usage of the tennis court, squash court, and several non-motorised water activities such as kayaking or stand-up paddling.
The piece de resistance is the 2.4km-long pool, billed as South-east Asia’s longest pool, which includes a water trampoline, large water slide, and wave pool.
The hotel also has several concrete plans in the pipeline, such as a Bamboo Shark nursery. Created in partnership with Oceans For All, the nursery will come online in 1Q2023. It will have trained conservationists onsite, as well as shark eggs, and tanks with adolescent sharks that will be eventually released into the ocean.
Also in the pipeline is the creation of a JW Garden in a plot of land behind the conference centre by 1Q2023. The aim of this garden is to grow as much produce as possible for the hotel’s use, and specialise in southern Thai crops such as rosella, Thai basil, and lemongrass.
As for ensuring one is fed and watered, there are a total of 11 restaurants and bars on-site, with a wide variety of cuisines ranging from Japanese and Thai to Italian and Mediterranean.
JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa takes its F&B seriously. Case in point, they recently hired a director of beverage. While directors of F&B are a common appointment, the former are not.
From what I heard, she has been busy revamping drink lists and developing new concoctions such as a tuna-infused gin, and an equally eyebrow-raising parmesan-infused rum. Even in my Cocomera, a refreshing mocktail made with fresh watermelon cucumber and basil cordial, lime, and soda water, sat a salty chunk of feta cheese. Somehow, the flavours came together beautifully though there was hesitation on my part.
During my 3D2N stay, I got to try all-day dining Sala, Drift Beach Bar & Grill and its towering seafood platter, as well as authentic Thai dishes and desserts at Ta Krai, and Italian-focused Olive Restaurant.
I particularly liked the beachfront Drift Beach Bar & Grill for its laid-back ambience. Open only for dinner, groups can kick back and relax with a cocktail in hand and watch the sun set over the horizon.
Menu-wise, I loved Olive Restaurant’s homemade wagyu ravioli, Chef Enzo’s signature pizza, and tiramisu, all of which reflect the passion of Italian chef de cuisine Vincenzo Sorrentino. The restaurant also boasts an ever-growing collection of monocultivar olive oil, where each oil is made solely from a single variety of olive harvested during Italy’s autumn season. Olive oil tasting is also available for corporate groups if so desired.
Service
I was met with impeccable Thai hospitality at every turn. My housekeeper was such a sweet lady, and always left a handwritten note, a folded animal towel, and bed decoration made with leaves when she cleaned up my room.
Verdict
Located in the quieter Khao Lak area, an hour away from Phuket International Airport, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa has everything corporate groups need, and everything that groups didn’t think they needed.
I had a wonderful and memorable respite from the city despite being there for work, and the resort would be my top choice when I return in the future for a leisure dive trip in the Similan Islands.
Guests can marvel at the private car collection of Prince Albert II and Prince Rainier at the eye-catching unique venue (Credit: Michael Alesi)
The underground wine cellar contains the rarest wines in the world (Credit: Monte-Carlo SBM)
Unique venue: Underground wine cellar of Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo Highlights: Lovingly watched over by the head cellarman and his team, the captivating vault beneath the luxurious Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo is the largest hotel wine cellar in the world housing hundreds of thousands of bottles of exquisite tipple.
Dazzle your guests with the extensive offerings from the legendary Lafite, Rothschild, Petrus, Cheval Blanc, Yquem, Romanee-Conti, Dom Perignon and Cristal Roederer.
Sprawled over 1,500m², the rare venue provides the ideal setting for exclusive events such as cocktail receptions, business dinners, as well private dining outings.
For example, the cellar’s dining room has a capacity for up to 50 guests, suitable for smaller private gatherings and celebrations.
Score a wine tasting session with the hotel’s head sommelier, Patrice Frank, who is also the president of the Monaco Sommeliers Association and often consulted by the Palace, to make your event truly one-of-a-kind.
Sit-down dinners can be arranged in the exhibition areas, including those showcasing skeletal structures of marine creatures suspended from the ceiling (Credit: Kiev.Victor / Shutterstock.com)
Unique venue: Oceanographic Museum of Monaco Highlights: Welcome to one of the largest museums dedicated to marine science, sitting majestically on the cliffside.
A mind-blowing learning experience for any visitor, the historic attraction spotlights more than 60,000 scientific, naturalist, artistic and ethnological objects.
Presenting a splendid setting for private functions of varying sizes, event organisers can look to the Oceanographic Museum for anything from a cocktail party with up to 1,200 guests, gala dinner, conference, to a film screening.
For example, events can be organised around the aquarium, one of the largest in the French Riviera. On the first floor of the establishment, an incredible voyage to discover the oceans awaits guests in the rooms, surrounded by historical collections and temporary exhibitions.
Another fascinating spot is the rooftop terrace perfect for al fresco cocktails and dining. Perched at a height of 85m between the sea and the mountains, the intimate space offers exceptional panoramic views over the Mediterranean and the Principality.
Besides, sit-down dinners can also be arranged in the exhibition areas, including one which holds the skeleton of the whale shark suspended from the ceiling, for an incredibly immersive and impressive experience.
Interesting fact: The living collection showcased in the Museum’s aquarium contains several thousand specimens, including over 300 species of fish, 300 species of invertebrate and a hundred or so species of coral. https://musee.oceano.org/en/book-a-private-function/
Guests can marvel at the private car collection of Prince Albert II and Prince Rainier at the eye-catching unique venue (Credit: Michael Alesi)
Unique venue: The Cars Collection of HSH the Prince of Monaco Highlights: Beyond impressing petrolheads and automotive fanatics, organising an event at a spectacular car exhibition venue in Monaco can offer an equally eye-opening experience for other guests.
The stunning assortment – a rare collection of vintage automobiles of the late ruler, Prince Rainier III, who had a lifetime obsession with cars – used to be housed close to the palace complex in the Fontvieille district. Recently, Rainier’s son, Prince Albert II of Monaco, has reopened his family’s collection in a brand-new site, right at the heart of the principality.
The new 3,500m² custom-built home, resembling a futuristic underground compound, also caters to event planners seeking a unique eye-catching venue.
Allow your guests to go on a time-travelling journey enjoying the curated interactive showcase, sipping their cocktails or savouring their dinner against the backdrop of 1950s to 1960s classics including Cadillacs, and cars from the Millenia age such as F1 Ferraris from the Grand Prix.
Private cocktail events at the spacious location can accommodate a maximum (standing) capacity of 600 attendees.
Interesting fact: Visitors can marvel at the one-of-a-kind wonders designed by Rolls Royce, Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini, Maserati, and many more. http://www.mtcc.mc
The Salle des Etoiles’ retractable rooftop allows for guests to dine under the stars (Credit: Monte-Carlo SBM)
Unique venue: Salle des Etoiles Highlights: The perfect embodiment of luxury and fantasy, event planners can look to Salle des Etoiles to stage a dreamy extravaganza.
The venue of choice for remarkable events such as the legendary Rose Ball Charity Gala, the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival and Monaco Red Cross Ball, the magical space is a awe-inspiring sight to behold.
Spread across 1,000m², the Salle des Etoiles is one of Europe’s most fascinating venues. Through its large bay windows, this venue dedicated to the most breathtaking of performances offers incredible views. The retractable rooftop also allows for guests to dine under the stars. Fireworks displays can be arranged to up the ante on the spectacular stakes.
For an enchanting night out featuring dinner, along with a show or concert, the Salle des Etoiles is ideally located in the heart of the Sporting Monte-Carlo.
Interesting fact: This iconic location can also be hired as a private gala venue, accompanied by a catering service for an elegant finishing touch to your dinner and show events. http://www.montecarlomeeting.com/salle-des-etoiles/
The transformed ground floor of Fairmont Monte-Carlo is now a glitzy events venue that can accommodate 1,500 guests (Credit: Cedou)
Unique venue: Le Grand Salon of Fairmont Monte-Carlo Highlights: Newly-opened on November this year, the elegant and modern space on the ground level of the Fairmont Monte-Carlo comes complete with a private entrance which makes it perfect for product and car launches, exhibitions, catwalks and weddings.
The reopening of the space that was once the Sun Casino came after a massive make-over and the transformed space is now a glitzy events facility that can accommodate a capacity of 1,500.
The new Le Grand Salon makes the Fairmont the hotel with the largest lounge space in the region.
Interesting fact: For those looking for remnants of the old casino, the stunning chandelier in the room’s centre remains, as are a few ornate mirrors. Otherwise the venue is a beige-hued blank canvas, enabling event organisers to furnish according to their own needs. https://www.fairmont-montecarlo.com/en/meeting-room/le-grand-salon/
Travellers arriving in Australia from China, Hong Kong and Macau must show a negative Covid-19 test result from January 5.
Travellers from China, Hong Kong and Macau will need a negative Covid-19 test result to enter Australia from January 5
According to news reports, Australian health minister Mark Butler said the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution”, citing a lack of epidemiological information and genomic sequencing data from China.
The government is also considering additional measures including testing wastewater from airplanes and voluntary sampling at airports for arrivals, Butler told a news conference.
He stressed that the measure is only temporary and a reflection of the current Covid-19 situation in China.
Khao Lak, situated a one-hour’s drive north of Phuket, is shaping to become an up-and-coming destination for corporate groups, but awareness of the coastal city is still lacking on the international stage.
General manager of the expanded and renovated JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort Spa, Abhimanyu Singh, general manager, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort Spa, is taking the lead in pushing the destination, as the property recently shifted its recent focus to attracting medium-sized groups of around 300 pax.
A small beach in Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park
“Khao Lak is not as well-known as Phuket, which might get 10 times the number of corporate group leads, but I believe it will resonate with the right market,” he said.
For instance, the local government has disallowed motorised sports in Khao Lak, which Singh says helps to position the area as a “serene and organic” destination, and focus solely on the “natural wonders in the area”, instead of becoming a “mass-market, touristy destination”.
Another way to position Khao Lak as a viable business events destination is to highlight it as a place “aligned with organisations’ increasing focus on sustainability”, Ben Schumacher, vice president, operations, South-east Asia and Pacific Rim, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts APAC, said.
The 84-key Ramada Resort by Wyndham Khao Lak is well-positioned in this area, as it is a Level 1 Wyndham Green certified hotel that has incorporated sustainable practices such as a recycling programme and energy efficient interior lighting. Part of Wyndham’s The Meetings Collection, the property is also ready for corporate events, and can accommodate up to 200 pax indoors, and 150 pax outdoors.
Schumacher also highlighted the numerous options outside of the resort, which includes jungle trekking in a national park and whitewater rafting.
Elsewhere, the Avani+ Khao Lak Resort is also ready to welcome corporate groups with a 1,000m2 multipurpose conference centre that can host 350 guests banquet-style, and whose accommodation needs can be served by the 327-key oceanfront resort.
Leandro Cavaco Silva, general manager of Avani+ Khao Lak Resort, told TTGmice that Avani+ Khao Lak Resort also provides corporate groups with a dedicated meeting butler, and encourage them to enjoy the surrounds through outdoor themed dinners, and seaside barbecues.
When asked if there’s a tourism body equivalent to the likes of Phuket Hotel Association, Singh shared there exists Phang Nga Tourism Association that is run by local hotels and business owners.
“We work with them for a few things, but this could be a focus for us in the future as we have two more Marriott properties set to open in Khao Lak in the future.”
JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa features a plethora of business events facilities
Located an hour’s drive north of Phuket International Airport, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa in Thailand is shifting its focus away from weddings and choosing to prioritise corporate events and meetings instead.
Several reasons behind this shift include the property’s expanded inventory of 420 keys, as well as its refreshed Grand Ballroom, part of the resort’s 18-month-long renovation and expansion of the resort. Aside from the 758m2 JW Grand Ballroom, the JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa features over 9,300m2 of indoor and outdoor event meeting space, including seven function rooms, and outdoor spaces like the Infinity Lawn and the beach.
JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa features a plethora of business events facilities
“All this new hardware gives us a lot of impetus, putting us in a great position to attract medium-sized corporate groups of about 300 pax. MICE guests can also coexist quite happily with our leisure guests, and we want to rewrite the script on what a luxury property can offer.
“For example, one area of the resort, with around 160 rooms, can also be privatised for corporate groups,” Abhimanyu Singh, general manager, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort Spa, told TTGmice.
For smaller groups of 20 to 30 people, the property’s brand-new two-bedroom villa can be hired for intimate events. Other property enhancements include the extension of the pool, now at 2.4km long, and the addition of a water slide, water trampoline, and wave pool.
Singh added: “I think the real key for us is the size of the hotel and the different venues people can enjoy. Corporates don’t have to be stuck in the ballroom all the time – we can arrange for floating coffee breaks in the pool, live cooking stations next to the ballroom for a gala dinner, and teambuilding exercises on the beach. Every night, delegates can also try a different restaurant – there are 11 restaurants and bars on-site – ranging from rustic Italian to a Japanese teppanyaki.”
The hotel also has several concrete plans in the pipeline, such as a Bamboo Shark nursery. Created in partnership with Oceans For All, the nursery will come online in 1Q2023. It will have trained conservationists onsite, as well as shark eggs, and tanks with adolescent sharks that will be eventually released into the ocean.
Also in the pipeline is the creation of a JW Garden in a plot of land behind the conference centre by 1Q2023. The aim for this garden is to grow as much produce as possible for the hotel’s use, and specialise in southern Thai crops such as rosella, Thai basil, and lemongrass. Singh’s plan is to eventually evolve it to a farm where chickens can be raised for eggs, and bees for honey.
Singh noted: “Such activities would appeal to corporate groups, especially since one of the top priorities of MICE groups now is to be working with hotels which have a heavy focus on sustainability. With more than 90 per cent of MICE groups coming from big cities, I believe both the nursery and garden would resonate.”
“Moreover, MICE groups these days are looking for unique and meaningful experiences, which is something that we have.”
Outside of the hotel, activities that can be arranged include a culinary tour or amazing race in Takua Pa Town, visits to the Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park and its surrounding waterfalls, and a day snorkelling trip to Similan Islands.
When asked what international markets they are targeting, Singh shared that the property is casting their net as wide as possible for the time being and targeting Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, the US, the UK, Germany, India, and China when it opens.
Aside from marketing and investments through its own channels, Singh shared that the property is also working closely with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote Khao Lak as a business events destination.
On December 28, 2022, the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) hosted a Taiwan MICE ESG Day.
The event included a press conference to release the 2022 Taiwan MICE Sustainability White Paper, co-published with UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry). This white paper is the first and most complete business events sustainability document in Asia, which considers the entire life cycle of the business events industry across five factors – sustainability, impact, resilience, collaboration and ownership.
In 2023, the BOFT will also launch a Sustainable Empowerment Counselling Service for Taiwan business events, to provide customised services to industry players to help achieve event sustainability.
There was also a ceremony to issue ISO certifications to business events suppliers, where the BOFT also assisted them to achieve their sustainability goals.
For instance, BOFT assisted Hilton Taipei Sinban in completing their ISO 50001 Energy Management System, as well as aided Big Dome Event Rental Service in publishing their first-ever sustainability report. The Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centers I and II were also the first venues to accomplish the Greenhouse Gas Inventory according to the ISO 14064-1: 2018 standard, while the International Convention Center in Tainan acquired its ISO 20121 Sustainable Event Management Systems standard.
One way event organisers can improve on is to remove the need for multiple apps at a single event
With more live events returning and technology becoming more integrated, 2022 has been a positive year for the events sector. In fact, the annual growth rate for events is predicted to rise by 11.2 per cent between 2021 and 2028.
As discussions about the metaverse and other technologies continue to dominate the event industry, event organisers and marketers are often looking for the next big thing that would elevate the event experience.
One way event organisers can improve on is to remove the need for multiple apps at a single event
However, this often leads to a chaotic, fragmented and noisy event environment. To successfully deliver a dynamic experience to attendees, they need to be more purposeful and strategic about their platforms and tools.
To remain competitive in the ever-changing industry, 2023 will undeniably be a pivotal year for the events industry as event tech continues to evolve rapidly to cater to each unique individual.
Ensure seamless integration of current event tech stack Event tech stack, when integrated seamlessly, will provide event organisers greater autonomy to reduce time spent on manual and repetitive tasks so they can refocus towards higher value tasks without creating a fragmented experience. With the event tech landscape being saturated with a myriad of companies providing solutions to improve the event experience, it is inevitable that event organisers face the challenge of integrating the right technology within their stack.
For event organisers who are not well versed in event tech, choosing a platform that integrates third-party apps is a more cost-effective solution to ensuring a seamless integration of the tech stack. Through this, event organisers would not have to worry about data being spread across multiple platforms and attendees would not have to go through the hassle of moving from one application to another, a beneficial situation for both attendees and organisers.
For more experienced organisers, the usage of other technologies to fill the gaps in such platforms would create a more holistic solution.
Cater to both app lovers and web lovers Gravitating towards a hybrid event, organisers that are striving to create an elevated experience should bridge the gap between the physical and virtual landscape. The usage of an omnichannel event platform, typically in the form of a mobile app, would be able to leverage the data collected across attendees’ digital touchpoints and provide a convenient way for them to interact physically.
Though 91.2 per cent of organisers and marketers are aware of the benefits of mobile apps, they often face the challenge of accommodating both attendees who are willing to download mobile apps and attendees who would prefer to use the phone web browser. By having an application that runs on both mobile apps and web browsers, such as having mini-experiences via Gevme’s Event Companion app, organisers would be able to achieve an experience that leaves no attendees behind.
An application with endless possibilities Undoubtedly, the pandemic created a shift in consumers’ expectations with them wanting more individualised experiences following the increased autonomy and options offered during the remote period.
To address the shift, event organisers are seeking an alternative solution that allows for customisation to adapt to the diverse needs and desires of attendees for different sorts of events. Instead of having multiple applications serving different solutions, a single application on a single device that smoothly integrates all the needed event features and experiences, from registration to agenda reading to live Q&A sessions, should be prioritised.
A foundation for a thriving event scene in 2023 The chance to upgrade present event infrastructure should be at the forefront of event planners’ minds as 2023 draws nearer. Prioritising the need to upgrade the present event infrastructure should come before exploring more complex event tech innovations like the use of the metaverse and other exploratory event experiences.
Veemal Gungadin is the CEO of GlobalSignIn, a tech company with offices in Singapore, Australia, India, Myanmar, and the US.
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