TTGmice, with its editorial headquarters in Singapore, will take a break for the public holiday on Tuesday, August 9, in recognition of the country’s 57th National Day.
TTGmice e-Weekly online news bulletin will resume on Thursday, August 11.
Happy National Day in advance to all Singaporean readers!
Recent announcements of year-end international events in Hong Kong, such as the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit and Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, have ignited optimism among travel trade players in the city’s reopening for tourism.
The Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) said a week ago that the Cathay Pacific/HSBC HK Sevens will resume on November 4 to 6, 2022. It was last held in Hong Kong in 2019.
Although there is just a little more than three months to prepare for the sporting event, HKRU chairman Patrick Donovan is confident that the tournament would be a special one. Communications with all stakeholders have kicked off, and more details on the event as well as ticketing will soon be available.
The Cathay Pacific/HSBC HK Sevens will follow on from the November 1 and 2 financial summit organised by Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The two-day event seeks to attract global financial representatives from China and international financial institutions, which will help to re-establish Hong Kong’s position as a global financial hub.
Charlotte Travel’s CEO, Jackie Harris, said the announcements were “encouraging”, and the return of such international events could be a “watershed moment” for Hong Kong.
Larry Lo, CEO Asia for Corporate Travel Management, underlined the importance of international events to Hong Kong’s travel and tourism industry, as such gatherings fuel the creation of local jobs, stimulate the local economy, support tourism operators, and showcase the region to an international audience.
“After a period of lockdown, (having) an international sporting event in Hong Kong is a positive step in the right direction, and sends the right message that we are on the path to reopening,” remarked Lo, who expressed hopes of seeing a concrete roadmap from the government that outlines the destination’s strategy to rebuild inbound business.
Lo said the removal of travel restrictions is crucial for the rugby event to score a stronger attendance, beyond the presence of sporting officials and media representatives.
He said: “Hong Kong is a major transit hub for many travellers and an event like this might encourage some to stay for a night or two before continuing onwards to their final destination.”
Meanwhile, positivity around Hong Kong’s reopening has also translated into improved outbound travel business, noted Harris. Charlotte Travel is seeing more clients returning to frequent travels, and taking up longer itineraries to make the most of their time abroad before returning to Hong Kong.
Nine enquiry mission members from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the governing body of World Expos, landed in Thailand last week to evaluate the Phuket’s candidacy to host Expo 2028 Phuket Thailand.
The mission is a critical step in the selection process of a host city.
Should Phuket be selected, the island would be the first city in South-east Asia to host the high profile global event. The theme, Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity, has been proposed, and the event would be held from March 20 to June 17, 2028 on a 22.56-hectare site on Mai Khao Beach.
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has projected a minimum of seven million expo visitors and a revenue of 50 billion baht (US$1.4 billion) for Thailand. The event is also recognised as an opportunity to raise the quality of life for residents of the province by accelerating infrastructural development for transport, healthcare, and tourism.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of TCEB, stated that BIE’s key priority is in post-expo area development. As such, TCEB is highlighting that the facilities built for Expo 2028 Phuket will be re-developed into the World Medical and Wellness Center with provisions for public-private partnerships in healthcare and wellness, education, and sustainable living.
“The Expo will benefit not only the city of Phuket but also other provinces on the Andaman coast and Thailand. The Expo is expected to generate 110,000 jobs, increase Thailand’s gross domestic product by 39.357 billion baht, and raise tax revenues by 9.512 billion baht. The Thai government is projecting a return-on-investment of 900 per cent,” he said in a press statement.
“Most importantly, Expo 2028 Phuket Thailand will spotlight Thailand and Phuket as a world-class destination and promote health and wellness tourism. We have started to prepare for our second country presentation in November when we hope to convince BIE of Phuket’s global appeal,” he added.
Michael Ganster has been appointed general manager of Niccolo Changsha, part of the Hong Kong SAR-based Wharf Hotels.
Ganster will oversee the hotel’s business operations, identify future property development and growth opportunities, as well as develop and curate authentic Changsha experiences.
Previously the general manager of Niccolo Chengdu, Ganster hails from Austria and has over 20 years of luxury hospitality experience in Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia.
The annual What About Kuching Festival (WAK2022) will break out of its two-year pandemic-induced hiatus with a fourth edition this October.
Endorsed and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, WAK2022 has seen strong support from potential programme collaborators.
Donald Tan, founding festival director of the WAK festival series, said: “At the close of proposal submission on July 31, WAK2022 received 69 proposals from 59 different collaborators covering 111 events of various genres including music, theatre, dance, arts and crafts, gastronomy, literary and culture, and not forgetting sporting events and eco-based adventure activities.
“We are very pumped up to see the amount of support we are getting, not only in terms of numbers but also the very high, world-class quality genres. We will now be closely engaging all collaborators to discuss further details and tighten the loose ends so we are all fully ready.”
WAK2022 is expected to bring a variety of events and activities to Kuching throughout October, making the Malaysian city and the larger Sarawak state even more exciting for visitors.
The final line-up will be announced in September.
Tan hopes WAK2022 will entice visitors who had missed out on some of Sarawak’s most iconic events earlier in the year, such as the Rainforest World Music Festival and Borneo Jazz Festival.
“WAK2022 will be your best opportunity to experience and be immersed in our rich culture and heritage, while satisfying your craving for musical, theatre and fine arts performances as we present both the old and the new. Gastronomy will be a big part of the festival too,” he added.
Serge Cuypers has been appointed as the new general manager of Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas.
Bringing over 22 years of experience in high-profile international luxury hospitality properties to the role, Cuypers has been a part of the Anantara family for years – his most recent position was general manager of Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort since 2021.
Meanwhile in Chiang Rai, Arnaud Béril will head Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort as its new resort manager.
Prior to his new role, Béril was director of operations (executive assistant manager) with Avani+ Samui Resort and the newly-opened Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club.
Two major global travel management companies are reporting continued business travel plans among their clients even as chaotic conditions are reported at some of Europe’s important air hubs, such as Heathrow Airport in London and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which were caused by a blend of staff shortages and labour strikes by both airport workers and air crew.
Airlines, such as Lufthansa, British Airways and KLM, have reportedly cut thousands of flights from their summer schedules to cope with the disruptions, while major airport have ordered passenger traffic limits. Heathrow Airport has imposed a 100,000 daily departing passenger cap until September 11, while Amsterdam Airport Schiphol announced on August 2 an extension of its passenger traffic cap – down from the current 72,000 daily departing passenger limit to 67,500 in September and 69,500 in October.
Rob Coomer, senior director, global customer management with CWT, said clients are not spooked by these travel inconveniences.
“On the contrary, there continues to be a steady recovery in business travel volumes – including between Asia, Europe, and the US – as people are keen to meet face-to-face,” added Coomer.
While BCD Travel has seen “considerable dialogue” with its clients arising from Europe’s airport conditions, Emanuel Tzafaris, vice president, supplier relations, Asia Pacific, told TTGmice that customers are not discouraged from travel. They are, however, re-evaluating when they will travel and requesting for more pre-trip information to help them “prepare for and navigate the challenges”.
Travelling under current challenging conditions requires a change in behaviour, noted corporate travel specialists who spoke to TTGmice.
Coomer said most business travellers are flying with carry-on baggage only and checking-in online to avoid multiple queue points at the airport. Travellers in premium cabins are also utilising fast-track security and immigration clearance should these be available to them at airports.
BCD Travel is advising clients to travel light where possible. Tzafaris said: “We know of clients missing scheduled engagements at their destination because it took much longer than normal for their checked baggage to arrive, and in some cases the checked baggage was lost altogether. While these are not unique problems, the chances of them occurring are much higher than normal at the moment due to the challenges the airports and airlines are facing.”
At the same time, with business travellers competing with leisure travellers for the same seats in a marketplace that is hit by demand outpacing supply as well as airport caps, BCD Travel is urging clients to plan and book their flights well in advance to avoid high ticket prices.
Uncertainties in the post-lockdown travel environment, largely stemming from the severe manpower shortage that has impacted the entire travel ecosystem, have underscored the importance of travel agents. Furthermore, some travellers are “out-of-practice” when it comes to getting back on the road, observed Coomer.
“For example, they may have forgotten their company’s travel policy or have expired travel documentation and credit card information stored in their travel profiles,” he said. “CWT has been rapidly scaling-up its travel counsellor teams, not only to match the rebound in travel volumes, but also due to the fact that travellers are calling us more frequently and for longer durations than before the pandemic as travel arrangements are still more complex than they used to be.”
Travel managers are also more focused than ever on helping clients manage rising costs of travel in a volatile environment, while advancing their travellers’ well-being and sustainability objectives, stated Chris Sabby, director of CWT Solutions Group.
The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has reported that 18 international business events will be held in the country in August 2022, a sign of the country’s business events industry bouncing back.
These business events (14 conventions and four trade exhibitions) are expected to bring together close to 24,000 total delegates, which is estimated to generate more than RM56 million in economic impact to the Malaysian economy,” Nancy Shukri, the minister of tourism, arts and culture (MOTAC) Malaysia said in a press release.
Events include the Malaysian Society of Anesthesiologists & College of Anesthesiologist Annual Scientific Congress, Asia Pacific Glaucoma Congress (APGC), and IPMEX Malaysia 2022.
The Malaysian Society of Anesthesiologists & College of Anesthesiologist Annual Scientific Congress 2022 is a hybrid conference which will have networking, provide participants with the most up-to-date information on anesthesiologists’ management, and encourage more doctors to choose a career in anaesthesia.
Meanwhile, APGC 2022 brings together stakeholders from the Ophthalmology field with a focus on glaucoma, providing a platform for delegates to collaborate, and share experiences, knowledge, research results and recent innovations.
Lastly, IPMEX Malaysia 2022 will bring together print, paper, label, package, corrugated printing, signage, and advertisement industry professionals to develop a strong network and collaborate to bring out the best in digital and print technology.
Before the pandemic, Malaysia in August 2019 welcomed a total of 14 conventions and exhibitions.
“This is a strong testament that our industry players are resilient, and the support received from various government agencies is reaping results. We view these positive results as very promising for Malaysia and we hope to continue these efforts to progressively realise our mission,” Abdul Khani Daud, CEO of MyCEB added.
The Global Business Travel Association has re-established its charitable arm, the GBTA Foundation.
The GBTA Foundation will focus on the strategy and execution of GBTA’s global sustainability programmes, supporting initiatives related to climate action, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion and other talent-related topics via education, research, and advocacy.
“We are excited to re-establish the GBTA Foundation within a fine-tuned scope of ‘people and planet,’” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA. “It’s an important moment in GBTA’s 54-year history, as we renew our commitment to creating lasting, positive impact. The GBTA Foundation, along with its newly appointed Board of Directors, will focus on making a positive impact in our industry and beyond.”
GBTA’s Sustainability Program initiative, which launched in late 2021 to build a greener future for business travel and help reduce its climate impact, will now be managed under the Foundation, as well as GBTA’s existing people-related programmes, WINiT by GBTA and GBTA Ladders.
Paul Abbott, CEO of American Express Global Business Travel, will serve as the chairperson of the GBTA Foundation Board of Directors for the next two years.
Meanwhile, leaders from across the global travel industry with interests and strengths in key ESG (environmental, social and governance) areas will serve as the Board of Directors for the Foundation for staggered terms of one and two years:
The Board held its first meeting in July 2022 and is prioritising Foundation governance, providing guidance on GBTA’s existing people and planet programme efforts, and determining strategic areas of focus and priorities within environmental and human sustainability initiatives for 2023.
The GBTA Foundation was originally formed in 1989 as a US 501c3 charitable arm of GBTA. Until early 2018 when it was put on hiatus, the GBTA Foundation was the centre of all GBTA education and research. The education and research areas of GBTA were subsequently moved to the core GBTA organisation’s 501c6 tradeshow arm where they will continue to reside when not related to the “sustainability of people + planet” focus of the Foundation.
ICCA’s latest Destination Performance Index (DPI) has identified the US as the top performing country for association meetings, based on high scores for four of the six indicators – planned events, virtual events, digitalisation, and business continuation.
The DPI, which adopts a new methodology for a more accurate view of association meetings performance following pandemic disruptions, now examines 8,000 international events scheduled for 2021, based on six performance indicators – planned, unaffected, virtual, hybrid, digitalisation, and business continuation. When combined, the indicators represent the overall DPI, highlighting how destinations have performed with regard to winning the original bid, Covid policies, adaptability, and technological capabilities to convert on-site events into virtual/hybrid formats.
The US had 512 planned meetings, 32 unaffected meetings, 268 virtual meetings, 54 hybrid meetings, 322 digital meetings and 352 in terms of business continuation.
Breaking down the rankings by each performance indicators, the US, Spain and Japan are the top three for planned events; Spain, US and Germany for unaffected events; US, UK and Japan for virtual meetings; China, Japan and South Korea for hybrid meetings; US, Japan and Spain for digitalisation of meetings; and US, Spain and German for business continuation.
The DPI noted that Europe was a strong performer as an association meeting destination during the pandemic. Seventy per cent of the top 20 countries and 80 per cent of the top 20 cities are European. Denmark and Greece replaced Argentina and Brazil in the top 20 countries for meetings. Austria made the biggest jump, from 16th to 11th place. Italy claimed fifth place from the UK. Spain jumped two spots since 2019 to become the second meeting destination globally.
Facing stricter Covid policies than many other meeting destinations worldwide, China Japan, and South Korea embraced new technologies to go hybrid. In fact, due to their high number of hybrid meetings, the South Korea replaced the Netherlands in the top 10 country destinations.
Among destination cities, Montreal (19th) and Dubai (21st) were both outliers within their respective regions. Montreal was the only North American city in the top 20. Dubai ranked first for unaffected meetings and was the only Middle Eastern city represented in the six individual top 20 rankings. Meanwhile, Budapest, Porto, and Stockholm are all newcomers to the top 20 DPI for cities.