The 16th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo 2022 (ITE HCMC 2022) recently concluded, having been declared a resounding success by government officials.
During the three-day event, the Expo attracted more than 22,000 visitors and 8,600 meetings between sellers and buyers, a 42 per cent increase over expectation, further boosting the tourism rebound of the Mekong subregion.
ITE HCMC welcomed the participation of 305 international and local travel companies, 161 international buyers from 18 countries and territories, and 21 international media. More than 20 forums, business meetings, and side events were conducted, attracting 60 local and international tourism speakers and 2,500 delegates.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal has tapped the Laos-born, French-raised Martin Becquart to lead its culinary team as executive chef.
Becquart’s culinary career spans 27 years, and his journey has taken him to all corners of the world, working in renowned five-star hotel kitchens in Europe, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, the USand Asia.
In his first move as executive chef, Becquart has rolled out two new dining experiences, including a French-focused culinary tour at Le Phnom 1929, and a new Mediterranean mezze special at The Elephant Bar.
Alma Resort in Vietnam has promoted Nguyen Huy Cuong to director of F&B (MICE and F&B sales) at the resort.
Born and bred in nearby Nha Trang, Nguyen studied English for business and tourism at Nha Trang Teachers’ Training College before starting his 12-year hospitality career as a waiter at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay. He then became a guest relations officer at Six Senses Con Dao before returning to Six Senses Ninh Van Bay as an F&B supervisor.
He then became a restaurant manager at Vinpearl Land Nha Trang, assistant manager at InterContinental Nha Trang Costa Seafood restaurant, assistant outlet manager at Duyen Ha Resort Cam Ranh and outlet manager at The Anam before joining Alma as outlet manager in July 2019.
Nestled in the verdant enclave of Dempsey Hill, Eat At My Kitchen is a restaurant and event space rolled into one.
The venue is the brainchild of two women, Lynn Tan and Janet Lim, both of whom have a passion for cooking and sharing great meals with loved ones. Both women also have their roots in business events and F&B management for corporates, and aim to help their guests create memories over great food.
Eat At My Kitchen
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Air-conditioned with a seating capacity of 70 guests and standing capacity of up to 120 guests, the main venue space is perfect for celebrations, meetings and connecting people. Eat At My Kitchen also has an outdoor deck, surrounded by lush greenery, that is available for intimate receptions.
Minimum spend starts at S$5,000++ (US$3,560++) for exclusive use of the entire restaurant, and package prices will vary depending on time and day of the bookout. Event planners will be able to tailor their menu accordingly, but regardless of whether its French or Asian cuisine, guests can expect hearty home-cooked meals.
Eat At My Kitchen also functions as a restaurant, with weekend brunch served every weekend from 10.30 to 14.30. Reservations are required.
Refurbishment of The Parkroyal on Beach Road in Singapore’s Kampung Glam district is now complete.
The property’s 346 rooms have been elegantly refreshed with warm soothing tones, and continue to provide amenities such as coffee- and tea- making facilities and workspace areas.
Parkroyal on Beach Road
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All Parkroyal Club Room guests will also have access to the lounge where light refreshments and cocktails are served , as well as Club privileges like personalised check-in and check-out service. Club guests will also be able to avail complimentary daily breakfast at Ginger restaurant and daily laundry service.
Beyond the club floor, common spaces like the lobby have also been remodelled to contain pockets of workstations paired with property-wide high-speed Internet.
For event planners, the hotel boasts seven versatile spaces, including two pillarless ballrooms with high ceilings suitable for conferences and gala dinners. Aside from customisable layouts, hybrid packages that allow event attendees to dial in remotely for a seamless event experience are also offered. A dedicated Service Manager will also be on hand to assist in all events and meeting bookings.
Aside from Ginger restaurant, other F&B options on-site include the Club 5 Bar, and Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant, which is connected to Tian Fu Tea Room. Tian Fu Tea Room carries a selection of over 30 types of premium Chinese teas and is the ideal prelude to private meetings conducted at the hotel.
Other recreational facilities include the St. Gregory Spa, a half-Olympic-sized pool overlooking the city’s skyline, and a gym on level 4.
Singapore’s only underwater fine dining destination at Resorts World Sentosa, has reopened with Olivier Bellin – chef-owner of two-Michelin-star L’Auberge des Glazicks in Brittany – at the helm.
Ocean Restaurant is Bellin’s only international outpost, and the menu he has conceived here feature responsibly-sourced seafood, local produce and house-grown herbs. Guests can also enjoy a range of bespoke French-inspired cocktails at the bar pre-dinner, or at their dining table.
Ocean Restaurant
Its refurbished interiors are inspired by the manta ray, evident from the graceful architectural lines reminiscent of the manta ray’s streamlined movement, a deep sea colour palette and minimalist silver pendant lights. Sustainable and ethically-sourced materials – such as alternative timber and recycled stone tiles – have also been used in the refurbishment.
The 50-seater restaurant also overlooks the marine world of S.E.A. Aquarium’s Open Ocean Habitat, home to more than 40,000 marine animals. There is also a private dining room for six persons, which is encased with one-way glass mirror-like panels that allow guests privacy as they gaze at giant manta rays, schooling fish and a host of marine life swimming just a few metres away.
Destination experience specialist Monster Day Tours was recently awarded by the DesignSingapore Council to conduct a tour showcasing three design concepts recognised by the country’s President*s Design Award.
The award is Singapore’s highest honour for designers of all disciplines and recognises the significant achievements of people who make a difference in the lives of Singaporeans and the global community.
Bynd Artisan
The tour highlights Enabling Village, The Pinnacle@Duxton, and Bynd Artisan.
Enabling Village is a one-of-a-kind village that was repurposed to become an inclusive space that connects people with disabilities and the wider society, maximising the potential for a socially successful environment.
The Pinnacle@Duxton redefines what public housing can be in a densely populated city for a sustainable future, where views, connectivity, air and light flow were all taken into consideration, including the lush environmental deck.
Bynd Artisan puts home-grown master craftsmen in the spotlight as they share with attendees the traditional ways of book-binding and leather crafting.
Takashi Hoshino is the new general manager of Hotel Nikko Bali Benoa Beach, bringing with him over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry.
He has rich experience in launching new hotels with Okura Nikko Hotels, having joined several pre-opening offices where he set up a sales channel and IT system for Room Division such as OTA, wholesaler, metasearch, PMS, and more.
Anjali Masih is the new director of human resources at Kuramathi Maldives. She brings over two decades of experience in several hospitality brands and owning companies in the United Arab Emirates.
Prior to joining Kuramathi, she was the director of human resources & training in The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah.
In her new role, she will champion an inclusive culture of growth and create a sustainable workforce by emphasising team building, colleague development, succession planning and improving overall employee welfare.
Macau (pictured) resumeed quarantine-free travel with Mainland China last month
Reopened borders and quarantine-free travel have facilitated a return in interest among China-based event planners looking to hold events and meetings in Macau.
Sands China’s vice president sales, Stephanie Tanpure, has reported seeing good traction from event organisers, with “solid RFPs” for 4Q, where group sizes are also considerably larger.
Macau (pictured) resumed quarantine-free travel with Mainland China last month
She said: “Quarantine-free entry is the first thing that event planners will consider, therefore the easing of travel restrictions is definitely a favourable factor in attracting groups. With reopened borders, it is easier to attract Mainland clients, especially those situated within a 1.5-hour radius from Macau, such as in the Greater Bay Area.”
Tanpure added that the resort “took the initiative to reach out to and keep in touch with China clients” throughout the pandemic, and held a total of 13 online events via its Smart Stage to promote Macau and its diverse offerings.
Earlier in June, Sands China unveiled Macau’s first hybrid meetings space, Smart Stage, at The Londoner Macao, an Extended Reality (XR) studio. And of all the six integrated resort operators in Macau, Sands Resorts Macau accounts for 85 per cent of the available event venues.
hOn a similarly positive note, Artyzen Hospitality Group, area vice president/Macau operations, Rutger Verschuren, told TTGmice: “Considering there will be an end to Covid at one stage, we do receive RFPs from organisers who want to be jump-ready once travel is no longer discouraged and restrictions are eased.
“However, group events require advance planning with site visits, and there have been many factors that have disrupted travelling for events. We hope that with the control of the Covid situation in our key feeder markets, and relaxed measures by the authorities, the situation will improve soon.”
During the pandemic, The Artyzen Grand Lapa took the opportunity to spruce up its contemporary Chinnery Ballroom good for 200 guests, as well as its adjoining Atelier function room, and is ready to welcome events back.
Aside from meetings and events, the Venetian Macao and Macau Fisherman’s Wharf are reportedly experiencing brisk business in the exhibitions sector.
According to Alan Ho, vice president of the Macau Convention and Exhibition Association, the event calendar is filled with exhibitions every week until the end of the year.
He explained: “Many exhibitions that were suspended during the pandemic were shifted to 4Q2022, such as the 10th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo Tourism Expo that was rescheduled from July to September.”
New events like China (Macau) High-Quality Consumption Exhibition, and the Hengqin Global Bay Areas’ Forum, will also be debuting in late November.
Ho attributed the pick-up in exhibitions to the easing of visa policies, whereby Chinese business travellers saw there visas expedited when presenting an invitation letter issued by designated event organisers in Macau.
“From September 1, overseas visitors visiting Macau have also been granted a three-month multiple-entry visa, with a maximum of 30 days stay in Hengqin. This favours those who are planning to attend exhibitions and promote trade exchange in the region,” he added.
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He has rich experience in launching new hotels with Okura Nikko Hotels, having joined several pre-opening offices where he set up a sales channel and IT system for Room Division such as OTA, wholesaler, metasearch, PMS, and more.
In her new role, she will champion an inclusive culture of growth and create a sustainable workforce by emphasising team building, colleague development, succession planning and improving overall employee welfare.
