Hosting the World Congress of Neurology in Korea will contribute greatly to the recovery of not only the domestic MICE industry but also tourism and related businesses
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Convention Bureau have set aside US$2.2 million in the budget to support the city’s battered business events industry.
Assistance will cover various areas of the business events industry, such as providing a safe and secure environment for events, where quarantine services, quarantine gates, and specialised sterilisation equipment will be provided at venues.
Seoul’s business events industry has been promised US$2.2 million in government assistance towards recovery
Other types of support include Experience Tour Program and Seoul VR Experience Booth for groups of 50 or more participants with in-person attendance; provision of necessary PCR tests for travel; as well as help in digitalising exhibitions.
Subventions for attracting, hosting, and organising international conferences – regardless of whether they are in-person or hybrid – will be enhanced, and a 3D virtual MICE platform will be offered free-of-charge to organisers.
For instance, the subventions for attracting international conferences will be doubled, and the maximum subvention for international conferences will also be increased when 20 per cent or more participants attend on-site.
The 16th edition of Food and Hotel Malaysia (FHM), Malaysia’s trade-only food and hospitality exhibition, will return next week with a physical edition – the first in two years.
FHM will take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from March 29 to April 1. Organised by Informa Markets Malaysia, the event will mark the first trade fair for the hospitality industry in 2022.
Food and Hotel Malaysia last held its in-person event in 2019
The four-day event will feature 200 participating brands and is expected to welcome over 8,000 attendees during the week. Some of the multinational and Malaysian brands showcasing their latest products, services and innovations include FrieslandCampina Professional, Pastry Pro, Bidfood Malaysia, Golden Pacific Victory, DKSH Malaysia, Unox (Asia) and Bestari Sales & Marketing.
The key themes of FHM 2022 will reflect the latest industry trends, such as plant-based food, food technology, industry 4.0 advancements, pastry innovations and sustainable packaging.
Event highlights include a Pastry Innovation Lab, which will feature live cooking showcases by top chefs from the Professional Culinaire Association every day. The chefs will use innovative techniques, ingredients, and state-of-the-art machinery to craft unique desserts, pastries and showpieces infused with Malaysian and Asian flavours. A total of 15 demonstration sessions and six tasting sessions will be held at the Pastry Innovation Lab over the four days.
FHM 2022 will also herald the return of Culinaire Malaysia. In this year’s culinary competition, up to 1,000 professionals will compete for glory in seven gastronomic categories – Cold Display, Patisserie, Artistic, Butchery Skills, Individual Hot Cooking, Team Challenge and F&B Skills. Members of the public can witness the culinary showdown by paying an admission fee of RM10 (US$2.40) per person.
A series of educational seminars will be held concurrently with the exhibition. The programme lineup includes a Wine Features series by Entwine Consultancy, as well as a Crafted@Culinaire series by AYS Wine & Sake Consultancy, both of which will provide insights into key emerging trends within the regional wine, beer and premium alcoholic beverages industry.
The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) and the Congress Center Basel in Switzerland have signed an IAPCO Convention Centre partnership.
Back in 2019, IAPCO staged its Annual Meeting at Congress Center Basel which Martin Boyle, IAPCO president said had “easy accessibility, the state-of-the-art infrastructure”.
IAPCO’s Annual Meeting in 2019 was hosted at Congress Center Basel
Congress Center Basel is one of three convention centres along with KLCC in Kuala Lumpur and ICC in Belfast, to have formed a Convention Centre partnership with IAPCO of late.
Boyle added: “IAPCO is delighted to have Congress Centre Basel as a new Convention Centre Partner. The IAPCO Mission is to raise the standards of service among our Members but also across other sectors of the meetings industry and it is through partnerships with organisations that represent high levels of quality such as Congress Center Basel that we are able to do so. We look forward to collaborating together for the continued advancement of our industry.”
Nattinee McMillan has joined Meliá Phuket Mai Khao as director of sales and marketing.
She joins from Dream Phuket Hotel and Spa, where she served as director of sales and assisted with hotel operations.
The Thai national has 15 years of hospitality experience in sales, event management and operational roles. She started her hospitality career in 2006 with the banquet department at JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, and rose through the ranks to become an event manager. She also spent time at COMO Point Yamu as its sales and event manager.
The Conrad Centennial Singapore has appointed Tan Chii Shyan as the hotel’s new executive sous chef.
The Malaysian brings a wealth of experience and expertise, having developed his culinary techniques in various five-star establishments in Malaysia and Singapore.
Tan joins from Hilton Singapore, where he also served as executive sous chef.
The country’s first ‘Garden-in-a-Hotel’, Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore, boasts of extensive lush greenery which functions as natural air purifiers and sinks for carbon dioxide
The country’s first ‘Garden-in-a-Hotel’, Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore, boasts of extensive lush greenery which functions as natural air purifiers and sinks for carbon dioxide
With sustainability a top priority in Singapore, the garden city has key infrastructure that supports Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE) stakeholders in conducting green business events.
This is in line with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, unveiled in 2021, which is a whole-of-nation movement to advance the national agenda on sustainable development.
The Green Plan charts ambitious and concrete targets over the next 10 years, strengthening Singapore’s commitments under the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Paris Agreement, and positioning the city-state to achieve her long-term net zero emissions aspiration as soon as viable.
A wealth of green options for MICE events The country’s business events ecosystem has also stepped up to the challenge of reducing its carbon footprint and waste with green initiatives.
From well-equipped energy-efficient venues, green meeting packages, complete with sustainable dining, as well as eco-friendly accommodation, Singapore is well-positioned to cater to all the needs of eco-conscious businesses.
For instance, MICE delegates mindful of their environmental impact can rest assured that they can stay, dine and work in sustainable ways when they attend a business event in Singapore.
Green options for MICE events
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RWS launched Eco-MICE packages that provide guests with meals served in sustainable packaging
MAX Atria, the convention wing of Singapore EXPO, uses remote controlled, energy-efficient LED lights
MICE venue, MAX Atria, deploys solar panels to be eco-friendly
Edward Chew, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) told TTGmice that the premium lifestyle destination resort launched Eco-MICE packages that provide guests with meals served in sustainable packaging and feature reusable pens and recycled paper for use during events last year.
RWS houses world-class theme parks and attractions, six unique luxury hotels, the Resorts World Convention Centre and a casino.
To reduce food waste, all unserved food is donated to the Food Bank. Food grinders and a biodigester have also been installed in the kitchens to decrease food waste heading to landfills.
LED lighting are also installed across the resort’s MICE venues and motion sensors are fitted in washrooms – all to increase energy efficiency.
RWS became the first destination in the world to be certified in accordance to both Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Destination Criteria and its Industry Criteria for Hotels, and was also conferred the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) MICE Sustainability Certification.
Another MICE option with green operations is MAX Atria, the convention wing of Singapore EXPO. It is the first MICE venue to receive Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority Green Mark Platinum Award.
Its eco-friendly offerings include use of remote controlled, energy-efficient LED lights in MAX Atria and Exhibition Halls, solar panels, and a food digester to turn food waste into electricity, water and compost, according to Ang Chee Chiang, general manager, centre management, Constellar Venues. Constellar is the operator for Singapore EXPO and MAX Atria, Singapore’s largest purpose-built, award-winning MICE venue.
The facility even offers exhibitors modular structures and carpentry that can be repurposed.
Singapore is also home to one of the most sustainable event venues in Asia. Sands Expo and Convention Centre became the first carbon neutral MICE venue in Singapore in 2020, on top of being the first MICE venue in Asia Pacific in 2019 to attain the LEED Platinum green building certification for Building Operations and Maintenance.
In fact, Marina Bay Sands’ (MBS) investment in renewable energy certificates and carbon offsets covers 100 per cent of the carbon emissions generated from the said meeting venue’s gas and electricity consumption.
MBS’ green meeting practices also include delicious sustainable food options and having the event décor reused, recycled or planted.
For MICE planners new to the green frontier, they can also look to MBS’ Sands ECO360 Meetings Programme that helps them plan in three steps and customise their events to meet their sustainability goals.
The country’s first ‘Garden-in-a-Hotel’, Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore, boasts of extensive lush greenery across 15,000 square feet of space which functions as natural air purifiers and sinks for carbon dioxide.
Its urban farm, one of the largest in the city-state, provides 20 per cent of the hotel’s supply, reducing its dependence on the food supply chain, as well as allows its culinary team to introduce more plant-based options and create awareness on their benefits and positive impact on the environment.
The urban farm at Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore, provides 20 per cent of the hotel’s supply, reducing its dependence on the food supply chain and allows its culinary team to introduce more plant-based options
Interest for the hotel’s green meeting package has been high – an eco-centric alternative that focuses on purposefully implemented eco-conscious practices that help to reduce waste and minimise the carbon footprint for events, sustainable options for refreshments and a farm-to-table working lunch in eco-friendly bento boxes.
General manager, Melvin Lim, said: “Sustainability is what is best for the planet, and our guests are increasingly demanding this level of commitment from us.”
To regulate energy use, the hotel’s other green practices include energy-efficient windows, guestroom filtered water systems and motion sensors.
To source more local produce, numerous Singapore hotels have also created their own food gardens. The Fairmont Singapore and sister property, Swissotel The Stamford even house a rooftop aquaponics farm to efficiently grow their own vegetables and seafood without pesticides and utilise far less water than traditional methods.
Going green makes business sense Going green not only benefits the environment, it also bolsters demand and contributes to bottomlines for MICE players too.
Ang said: “We have seen an encouraging increase in the number of clients looking at reducing environmental impact of the event components and adopting more sustainable practices for their events. Being a sustainability-focused venue is a key strategic thrust that allows us to remain attractive and relevant as a MICE venue.”
RWS also saw more event enquiries from sustainability-conscious corporates, with several having subscribed and supported its campaign towards greener meetings, according to Chew.
Moving ahead, the MICE ecosystem continues to up the ante on the sustainability game.
Constellar will keep at charting its green targets and adopting established industry practices and standards towards being a carbon-neutral venue, with one of their key targets being organising net zero carbon events, Ang said.
Chew added that RWS is in the process of applying for the Events Industry Council Sustainable Event Standards, which will give it “a stronger edge in catering to the needs of business travellers and sustainable MICE events of tomorrow”.
Discover how easy it is to hold a green event in Singapore here.
Capacity limits for larger events and settings, with more than 1,000 attendees, will be increased to 75 per cent, while live performances at all venues will be allowed from March 29. Photo Credit: Karen Yue
Singapore will remove most travel restrictions in a determined move to rebuild the economy, with ART on arrival, Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) and daily arrival quotas being the items to be struck off border regulations from March 31.
All Covid-19 vaccinated travellers to Singapore, including children aged 12 and below, will no longer be required to take an antigen rapid test (ART) within 24 hours of arrival from 23.59 on March 31.
Capacity limits for larger events and settings, with more than 1,000 attendees, will be increased to 75 per cent, while live performances at all venues will be allowed from March 29. Photo Credit: Karen Yue
VTL flights will be retired along with daily arrival quotas, while travellers will no longer need to apply for a vaccinated entry pass.
However, pre-departure tests taken two or three days prior to departure for Singapore will be retained for the time being, and travellers will still need to obtain a negative test result to fly.
The government will monitor the situation over the coming weeks, and changes will be made accordingly.
Separately, non-fully vaccinated long-term pass holders and short-term visitors aged 13 and above are generally not allowed to enter Singapore. Exemptions will be made for long-term pass holders who are medically ineligible for vaccines, long-term pass holders aged 13 to 17, and long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with other valid entry approvals.
Such visitors must take a pre-departure test within two days before departure for Singapore, undergo a seven-day stay-home notice (SHN) quarantine, and take a PCR test at the end of their SHN period.
Singapore’s Multi-Ministry Taskforce also announced several other changes impacting air and airport crew.
Air crew will also be allowed to resume normal activities in Singapore or overseas. They will be subject to similar testing requirements as vaccinated travellers.
Airport workers will only need to put on surgical masks, except for those in higher-risk roles who will be required to wear face shields and gloves. They will no longer be required to undergo regular Covid-19 testings.
Singapore’s airport will no longer be segregated into zones, allowing travellers to move freely in the transit area.
Social restrictions will also be eased from March 29, facilitating tourist activities. This includes expanding group size and dining out limits from five to 10, removal of mandatory mask-wearing in outdoor settings, removal of restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol after 22.30, resumption of live performances at all venues, and expansion of capacity limits for larger events and settings, with more than 1,000 attendees, to 75 per cent.
However, it is still mandatory to mask up indoors.
Speaking at a press conference, health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who co-chairs Singapore’s Multi-Ministry Taskforce, said: “Today’s announcement marks a pivoting, not a dismantling of our Covid-19-related measures. We cannot abruptly dismantle all our measures because that means letting down our guard, and that will result in the virus coming back to impact us and hurt us.”
The authorities are considering the safe resumption of nightlife businesses, such as bars and discotheques, stated the Ministry of Health.
MICE stakeholders have warmly welcomed the lifting of travel restrictions and venue capacity increases.
Richard Ireland, president, Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers, commented that the announcement was timely, and the association will “work closely with the industry and government” to help boost Singapore’s profile as the “world’s leading destination for safe international MICE events”.
Elaine Chia, APAC CEO of Comexposium, added: “We are delighted to hear that Singapore is taking the next step in its progressive approach to reopening, proving that international MICE events can be held safely without compromising participant experience. The move bodes well for our upcoming events in the year ahead. Global travel restrictions have severely impacted the MICE business, but given the recent relaxations, we are confidently hopeful that we will see visitor numbers to our various events recover to pre-pandemic levels soon.”
“The MICE industry has seen a clear and increasing demand for in-person interaction to resume in a post-pandemic environment. Displaying a strong commitment towards reopening our borders and easing our restrictions are essential steps for us to rebuild confidence among global business communities in our ability to convene international audiences safely for immersive and engaging event experiences,” Jean-Francois Quetin, group CEO of Constellar, said.
Oakwood will manage the 250-key Oakwood Hotel Cheongju that is set to open in the capital of North Chungcheong province come 2026, a win that will deepen the brand’s footprint in South Korea to three properties.
Set within the Cheongju Millennium Town landmark, Oakwood Hotel Cheongju will comprise 150 hotel rooms and 100 apartments.
Oakwood Hotel Cheongju to open in 2026
The expansion to this region, where the Cheongju Industrial Complex for the semiconductor, biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, as well as the Cheongju Aeropolis aerospace cluster and other key industries are based, “represents a strategic advancement for Oakwood in an emerging market for global hospitality brands”, noted Dean Schreiber, CEO of Oakwood.
Served by Cheongju International Airport’s high connectivity, the city is also a famous hub for academic institutions and universities, along with the Korea Air Force Academy and Korea National University of Education.
Popular for its numerous hiking, trail racing and mountain biking routes, the destination features myriad attractions such as the ancient Sangdang Mountain Fortress, Cheongju National Museum, Heungdeoksa Temple, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and the historic Chojeong Haenggung palace.
Discova has formed a partnership with Horus Development & Consulting that will utilise the latter’s in-depth knowledge of the South-east Asian travel markets to lead B2B promotions in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
Horus will be developing education, training and events aimed at increasing market knowledge of Discova in the region. Both companies have also expressed commitment to jointly promote sustainable and responsible travel.
Horus will add value to Discova’s key competencies in South-east Asia, while sharing a commitment to jointly promote sustainable and responsible travel (photo credit: Discova)
Benoit Badufle, managing director of Horus Development & Consulting, said: “The plea for a more sustainable tourism industry has become greater than ever, and it is a core value of our company to leave a positive impact in travel.
“Likewise, Discova focuses on sustainable and community development. With 95 per cent of its employees based locally, it drives direct benefits into the local communities and, retrospectively, benefits Discova with unrivalled grassroots knowledge and experience.
“We are honoured to join Discova in driving positive change and rethinking growth in the travel industry.”
Discova’s sales & marketing director Andrew Turner shares Badufle’s positive outlook. He said: “We regard Asia as a key source market opportunity with increasing outbound regional travel demand. Growth in these markets is a key element in both our short- and long-term goals. This exciting partnership with Horus will enable us to capitalise on their expansive knowledge and experience, and we look forward to extending our sustainably focused services to South-east Asian markets.”
Events venues can increase their indoor gathering limit from 100 to 200 this Friday; Auckland pictured
The New Zealand government will be ending its vaccine mandates from April 4, which includes the increasing of indoor event capacities, lifting of gathering restrictions in outdoor settings, and scrapping of vaccine passes.
Starting from March 25, the number of people allowed to gather indoors increases from 100 to 200, under the changes to the red light setting. Under this setting, there will be no outdoor capacity limits.
Events venues can increase their indoor gathering limit from 100 to 200 this Friday; Auckland pictured
Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s (BEIA) chief executive Lisa Hopkins welcomed the reduction of restrictions, and stated it is a further move in the right direction for the sector’s recovery after border reopening was announced last week.
“Our sector hasn’t been able to work effectively since last August when traffic light settings of the Covid Protection Framework were set at red and gathering numbers restricted to 100. Confidence has been at an all-time low,” she stated.
She added that up to 100 multi-day international conferences and events are currently waiting to confirm bookings for New Zealand.
On April 4, vaccine passes are also set to be scrapped, and certain vaccine mandates will also be lifted.
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
Discova has formed a partnership with Horus Development & Consulting that will utilise the latter’s in-depth knowledge of the South-east Asian travel markets to lead B2B promotions in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
Horus will be developing education, training and events aimed at increasing market knowledge of Discova in the region. Both companies have also expressed commitment to jointly promote sustainable and responsible travel.
Benoit Badufle, managing director of Horus Development & Consulting, said: “The plea for a more sustainable tourism industry has become greater than ever, and it is a core value of our company to leave a positive impact in travel.
“Likewise, Discova focuses on sustainable and community development. With 95 per cent of its employees based locally, it drives direct benefits into the local communities and, retrospectively, benefits Discova with unrivalled grassroots knowledge and experience.
“We are honoured to join Discova in driving positive change and rethinking growth in the travel industry.”
Discova’s sales & marketing director Andrew Turner shares Badufle’s positive outlook. He said: “We regard Asia as a key source market opportunity with increasing outbound regional travel demand. Growth in these markets is a key element in both our short- and long-term goals. This exciting partnership with Horus will enable us to capitalise on their expansive knowledge and experience, and we look forward to extending our sustainably focused services to South-east Asian markets.”