Dao by Dorsett has promoted Roy Liang to vice president of operations.
In his new role, he will head all Dao by Dorsett properties worldwide operationally as well as assist the owners in growing, developing and building the Dao by Dorsett brand and operational guidelines.
Liang will continue his role as general manager of Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore.
Congratulations on your appointment as CEO, Annette! How do you feel about joining SITE at this point in time?
This is such an important time for SITE, celebrating 50 years of incentive travel excellence in 2023. For half a century now, SITE has elevated the transformative power of incentive travel and motivational experiences to help move businesses forward and celebrate human achievement. I am honoured to lead this vibrant, exciting community, and craft the direction for the next 50 years.
SITE will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, and the Global Conference in New York will be a wonderful opportunity for me to meet many SITE members in person for the first time. I’m looking forward to hearing from them about what they want from SITE going forward.
How does the current global situation shape your to-do list?
Associations with global memberships will always be affected by geo-political situations, including travel restrictions, employee visa requirements, and military conflict, to name just a few. It all affects the locations we choose for programmes, and the ability and willingness of people to travel. It is our role as the only association focused exclusively on incentive travel in our industry to inform our communities of risks and opportunities, equip them to make good decisions, and advocate for more open, safer travel.
Also key, of course, will be continuing to watch trends and patterns play out with regard to how and where people are working. The need to motivate and incentivise teams is greater than ever in an era of “quiet quitting” and challenges with retaining and recruiting top talent. The rise of remote working also elevates the importance and strategic potential of in-person gatherings – including incentive programmes.
We also need to remain mindful of the challenges the incentive industry is facing in motivating their own teams and keeping up with the strong recovery the industry has experienced this year. We are learning together about how to navigate this post-pandemic period, and I look forward to prioritising ways we can help and support our members further here, too.
What do you think SITE members are looking for in an association these days and how is SITE answering these members?
By 2025, nearly 75 per cent of the workforce will be millennials. This will be a staggering shift from a workforce made up of primarily baby boomers. We need to look at our current members and our members of tomorrow – including those already connected with us through the SITE Young Leaders programme – and make sure we are offering values that resonate with these different generations. Younger professionals want professional development for career advancement, and tools that help them plan programmes with purpose.
Beyond generational-specific needs, today’s incentive professional needs a professional community that will help them succeed in an ever-changing environment.
SITE is planning to revise its success CIS (Certified Incentive Specialist) certification to reflect today’s needs. We also remain committed to offering incredibly relevant educational content and, most importantly, continue providing and enhancing the strong sense of community SITE is known for.
How will future challenges impact incentive travel, and how is SITE helping members to tide through these challenges?
We are still facing issues related to supply chain and staffing – including flight delays and cancellations, and hotel housekeeping and service delivery.
These threaten the qualifier experience and also affect the programme planning. We are also seeing longer response times from smaller companies, which intermediaries like DMCs and tour operators rely on for fulfilment.
Incentive and event organisers are juggling these longer response times and, at the same time, are also facing shorter planning timeframes. With the threat of global recession and inflation in major markets like North America and Western Europe, planners’ budgets are getting stretched. SITE is helping members mitigate these threats through our online educational resources, as well as co-creating a solid programme with planners and suppliers at SITE Global Conference.
What are some of the other trends you see in incentive travel?
Incentive travel has an opportunity to support many of the United Nations SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), not only those related to climate change and environment. Every programme can benefit local communities where they are being held by smartly partnering with the destination and local suppliers, and including projects focused on education, environment, and promoting local industries.
This past summer, SITE’s Florida and Caribbean chapter had an event that specifically supported SDGs 4, 7, 13, 14 and 15. Memorable incentive travel showcases the unique assets of the destination, and the more we can craft programmes that tap into the authenticity of the destination, the more the destination benefits. The demand for these authentic experiences will continue as more millennials participate in these programmes. They value purpose-driven companies and programming, unique and authentic experiences, and a commitment to the community.
How important is incentive travel moving forward and why should companies choose this instead of cash rewards?
With destinations opening up after the pandemic, we’ve seen a huge increase in “revenge travel” with people making up for the experiences they lost during 2020-2021. Even with increased costs and travel delays, people are still taking trips and often combining work trip and leisure travel. This trend aligns with incentive travel, where many top performers will bring families on their trips.
The need for community is underscored even more by more employees working remotely, away from office environments. Incentive travel can be an even more powerful vehicle to bring teams together and provide truly transformational, culture-building experiences that rewards like cash or free giveaways simply cannot. Finally, the younger workforce craves experiences rather than “stuff” like cash or products, so incentive travel will be more appealing to younger top-performer participants.
How do you think the global incentive travel market will look moving forward, and where does Asia-Pacific play into all this?
I think the reason incentive travel has always survived economic downturns and remained a priority for achievement programmes is our inherent need to experience new destinations. Humans want to be together, and are drawn to explore. The incentive market will continue to lead the way in presenting new locations, unique experiences and immersive programming.
Regions in Asia-Pacific that are committed to cultural authenticity and sustainability will be attractive to newer, younger participants – many of us were excited, for instance, to see Japan relax its entry requirements, as a destination that was gaining increased interest pre-pandemic and one that has invested in research and planning tailored specifically to incentives in the interim.
But with 278 Asia-Pacific properties and assets on the UNESCO World Heritage list, the region will remain a desirable region for incentive programmes.
With a month to go in 2022, BESydney has secured another 14 bid wins with a combined direct expenditure of A$40 million (US$27.3 million), which will bring thousands of international delegates from key industries and fields of study to the city in the near future.
This solidifies the Sydney business event pipeline through to 2029 with 85 global and national events, generating an estimated A$483 million in direct expenditure. In total, BESydney secured 259 events in 2022, generating an estimated A$181 million in direct expenditure.
Bidding wins include the International Mining and Resources Conference, which will return to Sydney and the International Convention Centre (ICC Sydney) in 2023. The conference is expected to attract 6,000 delegates from 110 countries over three days to collaborate on trends in mining, investment and innovation towards a sustainable future and is anticipated to be worth A$17 million to the local economy.
Also in 2023 is the IEEE International Future Energy Electronics Conference 2023. This biannual event will bring together academicians, students, researchers, and engineers from all over the world to present emerging topics on electronic technologies for future energy applications. Around 300 delegates over four days are expected, which will generate around A$1.1 million.
Another win for 2023 is the IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality, which is set to attract 400 delegates over five days, and generate an estimated A$1.9 million for the local economy.
Further on in 2026, the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences will hold its congress at ICC Sydney, and is set to attract 700 delegates over four days generating an estimated A$2.5 million for the local economy.
The ICC Sydney will also host the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s national conference in 2027. The conference is expected to attract 1,800 delegates over three days generating an estimated A$5.1 million.
Mercure Rayong Lomtalay Villas and Resort has made its debut in Rayong, Thailand, offering 51 rooms, suites and villas in its initial opening phase.
For corporate events and teambuilding sessions, the Ocean Wing offers an expansive space with an outdoor terrace that can accommodate up to 250 guests. Other facilities already in operation include an all-day dining restaurant Ecume, pool bar, swimming pool, gym, and Lomtalay Spa.
Another 133 additional keys will come online next year when the resort’s Garden Wing is complete, bringing the total to 184 keys. There will also be four additional dining concepts added to the complex.
Alila Villas Uluwatu has named Dayu Susani as director of sales and marketing.
She brings to the resort almost 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and will oversee all sales and marketing activities for Alila Villas Uluwatu in her new role.
She was previously with Raffles Bali in Jimbaran Bay where she led the pre-opening sales and marketing team.
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has appointed Chai Eamsiri as its chief executive officer effective February 1, 2023.
Presently THAI chief financial officer, he has 37 years of experience and knowledge in Thai aviation industry and has played a vital role in the company’s Rehabilitation Plan implementation and transformation in the past two years.
In his new role, he will help THAI accomplish the Business Transformation and Rehabilitation goals with long-term sustainable prosperity.
Singapore’s MICE Sustainability Roadmap was unveiled yesterday by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) at Marina Bay Sands.
The said roadmap is the second such initiative, following the launch of the Hotel Sustainability Roadmap early this year. They are guided by the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
There are three targets in the MICE Sustainability Roadmap:
To achieve these targets, STB and SACEOS also set up a MICE Sustainability Committee (MSComm) in August 2022 to raise awareness of sustainability efforts and best practices, rally the industry to adopt eco-friendly practices, and deepen green competencies.
Edward Koh, STB’s executive director, conventions, meetings & incentive travel, and co-chair of MSComm, stated: “Event delegates and corporate travellers are increasingly concerned about the environment, prompting event organisers to turn to destinations that make sustainability a priority. It is imperative that Singapore’s MICE industry evolves to meet the growing demand for responsible business travel.”
Koh added that the roadmap was important so as to help the industry standardise measurements, have a “clear direction and targets”, and prevent “greenwashing” through third-party verification.
Adam Piperdy, CEO of Unearthed Productions, an event organiser, told TTGmice: “We event organisers are in a position where we can influence a lot of change, and set the tone for delegates. For example, we inform them to bring their own water bottles as we’re not serving anything in a plastic water bottle. That way, we set the tone, people follow it, and then we measure it.”
He shared that Unearthed Productions started their sustainability journey four years ago when they realised the amount of waste that was produced after each mass participation event.
“We started by using reusable furniture, such as pallets transformed into box chairs. In fact, when event organisers become more sustainable, they are actually saving costs by reusing what was previously built, while saving the environment at the same time,” Piperdy pointed out.
As to whether sustainable events tend to be more costly, Koh opined: “There is a clear consumer demand, and many business travellers and event organisers are asking similar (sustainability-related) questions. The issue is (the level of) demand. Once a greater demand is created, the cost (to run sustainable events) becomes more manageable.”
Unearthed Production also started its application process for the internationally-recognised ISO 20121: Sustainable Events Management System Certification earlier this year, which Piperdy hopes to obtain by early next year after audits are completed.
The MICE Sustainability Roadmap was launched at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, the first carbon-neutral business events venue in Singapore, and in partnership with Climate Impact X and Unearthed Productions to ensure a low-carbon and low-waste event.
IATA has reiterated the importance of keeping sustainable growth in sight as the air travel industry rises from the ashes of the Covid pandemic and travel disruption.
Speaking at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines’ (AAPA) Assembly of Presidents in Bangkok last month, Conrad Clifford, IATA’s senior vice president and deputy director general, recalled IATA members’ unfaltering efforts towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 since 2021, despite the travel crisis, as well as the recent adoption of the Long Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly to achieve the same.
“We are extremely encouraged by the LTAG agreement at the ICAO Assembly. With both governments and industry focused on the same goal, the significance of LTAG cannot be overstated. But to achieve net zero CO2 emission by 2050, government policy support in key areas of decarbonisation is critical. One such area is incentivising the production capacity of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF),” said Clifford.
SAF is currently expected to account for 65 per cent of carbon mitigation in 2050. It will be the largest contributor to the industry’s sustainability. Airlines purchased all available SAF in 2021 and have committed to over US$17 billion of forward purchasing agreements.
“The problem is the limited supply and high costs. In 2021, only 125 million liters of SAF were available on the market. That was less than 0.05 per cent of the total fuel used,” explained Clifford.
“I urge Asia-Pacific governments to look at stimulating SAF production,” he said, adding that government incentives for SAF could result in 30 billion liters of production capacity globally by 2030.
He cited Japan and Singapore as exemplary in their approach to SAF, where governments actively involved the industry in the consultation process and promoted domestic SAF production.
“We urge other States to take similar steps, and to support the efforts to develop a global framework for a Book & Claim system for SAF,” he said.
The Book & Claim system enables travelling consumers to claim the CO2 reduction that their purchase achieves even if their aircraft lacks SAF access at the airport. This is achieved by directing their SAF purchase to another aircraft elsewhere with access to SAF.
Speaking to TTGmice separately, Clifford said the Book & Claim system has been instrumental in enabling public participation in sustainable travel. Through the system, companies are able to support sustainable business travel and urge their airline vendors to use more SAF.
“But it is more than just the corporates that are driving the use of more SAF. In Europe, the general public demands that too,” he added.
Clifford acknowledged the benefits of having emissions listed with flight searches, such as on Google, as that has allowed consumers to make informed decisions on sustainable travel.
“We have developed a global standard for the industry to measure emissions, and that helps to reduce confusion when consumers look at different sites,” he shared.
The airline industry’s sustainable efforts are also supported by the ICAO Assembly’s reinforced commitment to the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) as well as goal to stabilise emissions of international aviation at 85 per cent of 2019 levels.
When asked about the effectiveness of carbon offsets compared to emissions minimisation right from the start, Clifford told TTGmice that air travel’s sustainable efforts currently could not be without carbon offsets.
“Carbon offsetting is important at the beginning, especially when we have this massive gap in SAF supplies. We need carbon offsets to ensure airlines are meeting their (emissions) targets. Carbon offsets is a gap-filler and certainly not the ultimate answer, but it helps at this point,” he explained.
Homegrown bean-to-bar chocolate brand, Mr. Bucket, has launched Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie (Dempsey Factory) at Singapore’s lifestyle enclave, Dempsey Hill.
The attraction features Singapore’s first ever build-your-own chocolate slab station, an indoor and outdoor dining experience, as well as a new chocolate dispensary where guests can buy their favourite treats sustainably with their own containers.
From bon bons and bars, to housemade bakes and entremets, to drinking chocolate and cacao wine, everything in Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie is made fresh daily, using only responsibly-sourced single-estate Asian chocolate.
Since establishing his chocolaterie in 2020, founder Jerome Penafort has remained committed to crafting chocolates from sustainably sourced cacao from Asia.
Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie (Dempsey Factory) allows Penafort to combine education and experience with chocolate appreciation, and to cultivate a deeper appreciation for cacao grown in Asia.
New Zealand is extending an invitation to business event planners who seek more through extraordinary travel through its new campaign If You Seek.
The country’s first global campaign post-pandemic, If You Seek showcases how Aotearoa New Zealand rewards those curious enough to look a little deeper and go a little further to discover more authentic, meaningful connections.
A dedicated suite of assets has been released that highlights the memorable experiences, people and places that ensure business events held in New Zealand are far from generic.
From the thrill of facing a traditional Māori pōwhiri welcome, to a venue set among the lush native forest, the exhilarating rush of a jet boat that serves as transport between activities, to the inspiring stories outside and inside its new world-class convention centres, the assets demonstrate how New Zealand’s offerings can deliver a business event with a difference.
Tourism New Zealand’s general manager New Zealand & business events, Bjoern Spreitzer, said that the If You Seek campaign is “an emphasis on return on objective that adds value to an event already packed with amazing activities, innovative content and stunning scenery.
“Whether that means experiencing New Zealand’s unique Māori culture and using that as a platform to expand on your organisation’s own culture and values; engaging closely with and learning from the local community; or exploring nature, and then giving back to the environment through sustainable initiatives, those more meaningful connections are here to find.”
