JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group has appointed Rathawat Kuvijitrsuwan as senior vice president, advisory & asset management, Thailand.
He will be responsible for advising both domestic and international clients through development advisory, feasibility assessment, investment strategies, operator selection and contract negotiation, and asset management.
He joins JLL from CBRE, where he was recently head of research and consulting, Thailand.
UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, has signed an MoU with the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) that will enable Malaysian business events professionals to access the globally-recognised UFI Certified Professional designation (UCP) in 2023.
With courses on exhibition management and venue management, Malaysia’s new UCP training programme will be developed with and delivered by industry experts from Malaysia and beyond.
The curriculum developed under this new partnership will be designed to boost professionalism in Malaysia’s business events sector – in line with MyCEB’s work to establish a national Business Events Standard. Options may range from business development, leadership and crisis management, to digital innovation and sustainable development.
MyCEB chief operating officer, Noor Ahmad Hamid, noted: “The introduction of (the) UCP programme to the Malaysian industry players will further advance our professionalism.”
The UCP programme consists of two foundation programmes and a wide range of specialised modules, delivered by UFI and educational partners. The curriculum is tailored to the specific needs of exhibition organisers and venues in each region of the world where it operates.
Hybrid work and hybrid meetings are now commonplace in the Philippines, with associations increasingly implementing them for employees due to traffic congestion.
Octavio Peralta, founder and CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE), told TTGmice that hybrid working arrangements have “gained ground and are being practised by many associations”.
“Management and staff have already adjusted to this scheme and are happy (to continue) with such arrangements, citing more work-life balance. Hybrid work also reduces a staff’s cost – transportation, parking, meals – in having to go to the office, while associations save on office rent and utilities,” Peralta explained.
It also helps that better technology is more readily available for association members to attend meetings or educational sessions remotely.
During the recent PCAAE 10th Associations Summit, Ramon Isberto, auditor of the board of trustees, International Association of Business Communicators Philippines, also pointed out that in many lines of work, employees need not be physically present.
Antonio Ongsiako, liaison officer and director of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, is another supporter of hybrid work arrangements. He shared how some companies, 50 per cent of the staff come to work only twice or three times a week. Some of these companies are no longer leasing office spaces as well.
Aside from hybrid work arrangements, Peralta also noted that association events will mostly be in hybrid formats – a mix of in-person and virtual attendance – moving forward.
He added: “Events are not merely for learning, but also to network with peers, so a combination of both options will (cover an attendee’s) needs.”
Agnes Pacis, vice president for commercial, SM Hotels & Conventions, added: “Hybrid events will still be around. The virtual component has proven beneficial to those who can’t attend in-person for one reason or another.
“(However), nothing will replace in-person business events, tradeshows or exhibitions, because it is more compelling to (interact with industry peers on-site.”
If social distancing has taught us anything, it is that, as humans, we crave contact. Despite all the uncertainty that lockdowns brought, research and data point to one thing: in-person events are here to stay.
So, what role will tech play in the future of these events?
Now more than ever, we need to develop systems which work symbiotically to streamline and enhance the user experience (UX) for organisers and attendees alike. Think interconnectivity at every stage of program development.
Many all-in-one event software solutions promise to be a panacea, but the more complex an event, the more important it is to choose a bespoke mix of systems – or the right tech stack – to make the process seamless.
Choosing an appropriate tech stack starts with breaking down an event into sets of intelligent requirements, and then choosing the best software solutions accordingly.
In the planning stage of the event, teams work out the minimum requirements based on the ideal journey of each participant type and then build a tech stack around this. Once a successful system is in place, teams can iterate and improve year-on-year.
Editor’s note: This article is part of TTGmice’s media partnership with AIME 2023.
XpoBay provides flexible Event Portal software to assist organisers radically simplify their events. In AIME’s case, XpoBay helps develop systems which make the exhibitor and hosted buyer experience a seamless and integrated journey to AIME.
With over 20 years’ experience in the events and exhibitions industry working with some of the world’s largest organisers of business and consumer events, XpoBay brings a unique insight into the technology needed to streamline many aspects of event planning; from registration to operations to event portals and more.
AIME is Asia-Pacific’s leading trade event for the meetings and event industry, and is where industry decision makers connect, create and do business. The event brings together international and local buyers to access the best exhibitors from around the world. AIME 2023 will be held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from February 13 to 15, and will see the industry coming together to celebrate AIME’s 30th anniversary.
Register for the Hosted Buyer Program by December 13, 2022, here.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has formed three new international MICE partnerships within its key source markets.
These new strategic alliances have been formed with Reilly Resort Representatives (RRR) for the North American market, Avenue Sales & Marketing (Avenue) for the EMEA market and Heavens Portfolio for Asia market.
Asia-based Heavens Portfolio has a team of over 50 experts and similarly works with a curated collection of some of the world’s most luxurious travel brands. They have a high-end clientele and help to expand networks in Asia’s most influential and discerning markets.
Avenue Sales & Marketing is a UK-based representation company specialising in the luxury hospitality industry. Started in 2000, Avenue represents over 100 luxury hotels worldwide, and has over 50 years of combined experience. It has an in-depth knowledge and experience in the corporate, leisure, conference and incentive market.
Reilly Resort Representatives is a female-owned and operated group sales and marketing representation firm in North America providing custom-made group sales support to independently-owned luxury hotels and resorts. RRR also connect hotels to qualified group leads by out bounding sales, trade show representation, hosted quarterly events, and monthly qualified planner meetings.
Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has opened the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur in Bukit Bintang.
The 25-storey high-rise houses 210 one- and two-bedroom suites, ranging from 47m2 to 80m2.
On the topmost level 25, guests can work, relax or recharge in The Living Room, a residents’ lounge that houses a meeting room, pool table, foosball table and other recreational fittings; while the Pacific Lounge serves breakfast as well as all-day coffee, tea and juices. Recreational facilities include a TechnoGym fitness centre; and a rooftop pool overlooking Kuala Lumpur’s skyline.
Guests can also unwind next door at Parkroyal Collection Kuala Lumpur’s rooftop garden terraces, St. Gregory spa, or visit the dining outlets The Botanist Lounge & Bar, Thyme and Skye Chill.
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur is surrounded by landmarks such as Berjaya Times Square, Jalan Alor food street, Wall Art Changkat Bukit Bintang, Bintang Walk, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and The Starhill.
By 2023, PPHG plans to double its serviced suites portfolio, spanning 10 properties in eight cities including Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
TTGmice news bulletin will be taking a break from December 9.
We will be back on January 3, 2023, when we will continue to deliver the latest headlines to your inbox.
In the meantime, TTG Asia Media wishes all readers Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Olivier Monceau has been appointed as Club Med’s new general manager of Singapore and Malaysia.
His priorities will be to guide the team through the next phase of strategic brand growth within the region and lead his team to deliver effective and targeted end-to-end omni-channel experience to clients that synchronises consideration and conversion to grow top line and client acquisition.
The French national was previously general manager of Club Med Russia.
Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre has appointed Alvin Jaiyaseelan as its general manager.
He brings with him 11 years of general management experience to Singapore after serving in Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia.
He was most recently general manager of Crowne Plaza Bandung in Indonesia.
Sven Wunram has been appointed executive chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.
Wunram brings with him 19 years of culinary experience within the hospitality industry, having started at the Maritim Airport Hotel Hannover as an apprentice, growing into the role of Commis de Cuisine.
He is no stranger to The Ritz-Carlton brand, having held positions in four Ritz-Carlton properties – Wolfsburg, Guangzhou, Grand Cayman, and most recently in Nanjing, as part of its pre-opening team in 2017.
