AC Hotels by Marriott, the design-led lifestyle brand part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 brands, has debuted in Australia with the opening of the 205-key AC Hotel by Marriott Melbourne Southbank.
Event planners may avail the 576m2 of flexible meeting space, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing natural light, along with an outdoor covered terrace room and pool bar. The outdoor terrace beside the infinity pool can serve as a pre-function space accommodating up to 200 guests in cocktail format.
Meanwhile, business travellers can make use of the brand’s signature AC Lounge, a modern co-working space for creative gatherings by day and a social hub offering European-style tapas by night. The signature AC Gin Tonic experience is also available throughout all dining and bar venues at the hotel.
Other F&B venues include all-day dining space Sorolla, Triana Bar, and Bar de Buceo by the pool. Leisure facilities such as an outdoor, infinity-edge swimming pool spanning the width of the building, and a 24-hour fitness centre can also be found on-site.
Despite being the last Australian state to reopen its borders, Western Australia (WA) is the first state to bring over 26 diverse operators from the region back into South-east Asia to reconnect with critical leisure and business event partners.
An intense three-day Reconnect WA roadshow in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore last week allowed Tourism Western Australia, Business Events Perth and WA operators to meet with more than 306 airlines, travel trade, and media partners from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Tourism Western Australia also partnered with Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines to host a special WA showcase for corporate buyers.
Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are WA’s second, third and seventh top-performing international source markets.
The Reconnect WA mission is made possible by the WA state government’s Reconnect WA funding package.
The MoU aims to drive tourism to the state; Sydney pictured
The New South Wales (NSW) government and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to rebuild visitation to Sydney and NSW.
The new agreement, which was sealed through the NSW government’s A$60 million (US$41.8 million) Aviation Attraction Fund, will facilitate marketing activities across Singapore, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, UK, Germany and France to stimulate demand and drive visitation to NSW.
The MoU aims to drive tourism to the state; Sydney pictured
The NSW government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, will collaborate with SIA on initiatives including advertising, marketing campaigns and fam programmes.
Minister for enterprise, investment and trade, minister for tourism and sport and minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the agreement with Singapore Airlines was critical to reigniting the NSW visitor economy and helping to restore visitation to pre-pandemic levels.
SIA currently operates four daily flights to Sydney, and this MoU is estimated to deliver over A$231 in visitor expenditure to NSW until July 2023 and support some 1,200 jobs.
“In 2019, NSW welcomed more than 126,000 Singaporean visitors, who stayed more than one million nights and added A$232 million to the NSW visitor economy. Singapore is also a high-traffic hub for passengers from around the globe travelling to NSW,” added Ayres.
The Aviation Attraction Fund forms part of the NSW government’s Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan. It aims to build aviation capacity across NSW by supporting airlines to return to the state’s airports.
Applications for the Aviation Attraction Fund are open until June 30, 2023, and are being managed by Destination NSW on behalf of the NSW government.
As Covid-related restrictions recede around the world, event caterers, restaurant operators and large venues are seeing event dining returning in full force, and has become an important component among corporates eager to reconnect in-person.
Although social distancing and individual food servings were the norm during events that resumed earlier on post-lockdown, event F&B specialists have noticed a spirited return to live stations, controlled buffet lines, and grazing tables.
Melbourne and Olympic Park’s head of F&B, Rachel Dolan, shared: “We’re seeing a move away from traditional buffet-style services to interactive food experiences.”
For example, during the AIME 2022 Welcome Event, guests were treated to 10 live food stations where they could watch chefs whip up dishes in real-time, while at the inaugural SportNXT leadership summit in April, guests were treated to live-oyster shucking.
A spokesperson from 1-Host – part of Singapore-based F&B, lifestyle & hospitality company 1-Group – shared similar observations: “We are now able to showcase more culinary specialties like live paella stations, live grills and even dessert counters. This has also reduced the pressure of having enough manpower.”
Meanwhile, Craig Squire, director of Cairns-headquartered Ochre Restaurant and Catering, told TTGmice: “Grazing tables are back in vogue for private events, and corporate are mixing up menus; for example, share platters for a course, extended canapes or dessert stations.”
To provide peace of mind and ensure hygiene, Showtime Event Group’s (SEG) director of experience Brad Dabbs shared that “all live stations are manned by chefs who serve guests (directly)”. During the Guinness World Record attempt at the world’s longest grazing table at AIME 2022, individual tongs and sanitiser bottles were also provided.
Over at CWT Meeting & Events, the company actively encourages clients to make use of the food station concept where possible, to lower the chances of cross contamination.
Localised menus are also rising in popularity among organisers, as international delegates return.
Squire noted: “There has also been more interest in native ingredients, which we’ve incorporated into menus. We’ve noticed renewed interested in bush food tasting and cooking demo lunches for partner programmes and are working with two indigenous start-ups to provide a bush food experience before the main meal.”
Alan Pryor, general manager, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), commented he has noticed a “continuity in localising experiences”, which the venue can provide through its “Malaysia-inspired culinary offerings”.
CWT’s director, Australia & New Zealand, Michelle Sargent, shared: “For a recent incentive group in Fiji, we visited a village and had a local catering company – that specialises in barbecue – assist with lunch. This was a great success due to the locally-sourced produce and our caterers’ familiarity with local cuisine.”
A cocktail event at The Old Melbourne Gaol, a venue under SEG
Sustainability status
It is no surprise that sustainability concerns have seeped into event F&B. These days, this movement has expanded beyond food miles and sourcing, to encompass biodegradable items and waste management efforts.
In Singapore, Cedric Nubul, general manager of Hilton Singapore Orchard, makes the effort to “source locally whenever possible, and make sustainable seafood choices with MSC- and ASC-certified produce”.
The hotel also has a waste management programme in place, and utilises compostable and biodegradable, plant-based packaging and reusable bags during events. It also plans to partner with local farming organisations and cultivate an herb garden on-site.
Over in New Zealand, Te Pae Christchurch’s director of culinary service Darren Tait shared that sustainable sourcing has been their “philosophy from day one”, with over “80 per cent of our produce sourced locally”, even though the supplier may not commercially be the cheapest.
Melbourne-headquartered SEG, meanwhile, combats item wastage by using biodegradable products for single-serve options and bamboo utensils, as well as on the food wastage front.
“This includes in-house composting, multiple production kitchens to reduce travel emissions, and an Electrolysis System which creates food-grade cleaning supplies that degrade back into water after seven days,” revealed Dabbs.
KLCC partners with Food Aid Foundation to donate extra food that is not served and safe to consume.
“We begin the conversation around food waste management with clients and organisers at an early stage in their event planning to ensure we are well-prepared, and that food wastage is properly managed in a timely manner,” shared Pryor.
Going a step further, KLCC has installed an AI-powered system to track type and quantity of food waste. Currently deployed for small meetings, Pryor plans to implement these for large conventions and banqueting functions.
“This data will enable our chefs to better understand delegates’ food consumption behaviour and engineer menus, resulting in lesser food waste, and a more efficient management of food and production costs.
“For larger functions, we aim to provide this data in a post-event sustainability report to help our clients’ with forward planning of their events,” Pryor added.
A beachfront event by Ochre
Dietary, space and budget trends
Hotels with event venues and offsite catering services are spotting an increased appetite for wellness-focused and plant-based menus.
Nubul shared: “Guests are more health conscious and are requesting for healthier meal options, including locally-sourced produce and menu items that cater to a variety of diets like gluten intolerance.”
He cited the recent HSBC Women’s World Championship as an example, where the hotel’s culinary team conceptualised a plant-based menu that incorporated the use of Tindle meat.
Ramesh Daryanani, vice president, global sales, Marriott International, Asia Pacific, has also noticed an increase in demand for plant-based options at events.
“Covid-19 has left a lasting impact on our mindsets, especially in the way we make decisions around travel and dining,” he opined.
With the rise in wellness focus comes the challenge of having to cater to varied dietary requirements.
Tait said: “Approximately 15 per cent of guests now have dietary requirements, and this makes service challenging especially for larger events where seating placement isn’t confirmed.”
To reduce the number of changes at events, Te Pae is “creating more menus that include gluten-free and dairy-free options”.
The great outdoors are also highly sought after by organisers, noticed Australian planners.
Dolan shared: “We are seeing a growing desire from clients and event planners for venues with multiple, connected spaces that offer indoor and outdoor experiences.”
She related how CENTREPIECE’s outdoor terraces are “popular locations for dessert and cocktail bars”, while the venue’s central terrace has also hosted pre-function gatherings that allow for outdoor networking.
For Squire, unique experiences offsite have proven to be popular. “Sugar cane farms are hot this year, and we’ve put some time into assisting a farm we work with to develop the shed into a ready-to-go venue.”
Sargent advised venues to “think outside of the box and consider how outdoor areas can be utilised”, such as an unused carpark to incorporate food trucks.
Monti Italian restaurant in Singapore, under 1-Group
This would provide guests with a casual and fun ambience, along with some fresh air, help venues overcome labour shortages, and work with local vendors who have familiarity with local cuisine, she elaborated.
When asked about corporates’ budgets for dining functions, Sargent said clients are setting aside good money, with some “even (more) than pre-Covid days” as companies seek to reunite staff in a memorable fashion.
Nubul has also not observed “any restrictions on budgets”, because the priority now is on “celebrating being back together and creating memorable experiences.”
“Everyone is appreciating the need to bring people together, so budgets have not been severely impacted,” observed Dabbs for SEG events.
However, when it comes to decision-making, Squire hopes that event organisers will have more respect for suppliers.
“As suppliers, we do our best to supply quotes as soon as possible, but when clients take their time to decide, venues become unavailable. We also take time to host potential clients at venues, talk through the possibilities and provide quotes, but we never hear back from them.
It would be nice to get back to us with a yay or nay,” Squire lamented.
Australian apartment hotel operator Veriu Group will be opening the Veriu Queen Victoria Market later this year, in light of the resurgence of corporate travel and the increase in the number of in-person meetings.
The property will feature three conference rooms and a dedicated breakout area, as well as a large outdoor terrace facing Queen Victoria Market, offering opportunities for curated market or foodie experience to delegates.
Punthill Caroline Springs’ conference room
More recently, the newly-built Punthill Caroline Springs offers a meeting space with floor-to-ceiling windows that open out across Spring Lake, as well as an adjacent breakout area, which can accommodate up to 110 delegates. The space can also be divided into two rooms for smaller events.
In addition to properties in Victoria, Veriu Group has a spate of Veriu and Punthill branded properties in New South Wales, and Queensland, that have been designed to accommodate and cater for all corporate conference requirements.
All conference rooms are furnished with a 75-inch TV monitor, as well as a webcam and speakers for any delegates participating remotely. Veriu Group will also take care of all culinary requirements, with a variety of F&B options throughout the day.
Axiata Arena for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Kuala Lumpur
Venue management company ASM Global has partnered with the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports via Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia to enhance existing operations and event activity at the Kuala Lumpur Sports City precinct, the largest sports complex in the country.
The announcement is a step forward in the Malaysian Government’s goal of developing the National Sports Precinct at Bukit Jalil into a world-class location for sports, entertainment, and community events.
Axiata Arena is a multipurpose indoor arena in Kuala Lumpur
This move also expands ASM Global’s footprint in Asia with the addition of KL Sports City, comprising the 87,400-seat Malaysia National Stadium and the 16,000-seat Axiata Arena. The company has a portfolio of more than 350 venues worldwide.
ASM Global will partner with local Malaysian company Sportswork to deliver services for Kuala Lumpur Sports City.
PHOTO CAPTION:
From left: TCEB's Supanich Thiansing and Supawan Teerarat, and Unicity's Christopher Kim and Bobby Kim at the press conference at TCEB's office in Bangkok earlier in July
Nutritional supplement company Unicity has selected Thailand as the host destination for its upcoming 2022 Unicity Global Leadership & Innovation Conference.
To be held from August 5-7, 2022 at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, the convention will be attended by more than 10,000 Unicity distributors from over 50 countries. There will also be post-event tours to Pattaya and Phuket, which in total, will generate some 660 million baht (US$18 million baht) for Thailand.
From left: TCEB’s Supanich Thiansing and Supawan Teerarat, and Unicity’s Christopher Kim and Bobby Kim at the press conference at TCEB’s office in Bangkok earlier in July
Supawan Teerarat, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s (TCEB) senior vice president – MICE capability and innovation said in a press release that this will be the “largest corporate meeting and incentive travel group to visit Thailand since travel restrictions were lifted”.
To help bring the 2022 Unicity Global Leadership & Innovation Conference to Thailand, TCEB provided a partial subsidy and travel services. For example, Unicity executives and its pre-event conference teams will enjoy fast-track immigration clearance with TCEB’s MICE Lane Service at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, and arrangements have also been made with Thai embassies and consulates abroad to facilitate visa applications by Unicity delegates in their home countries.
“As the Covid-19 situation abates and business travel and tourism resumes worldwide, we are mobilising our resources to attract more MICE events to Thailand. International corporations are confident that Thailand is ready to host events of all sizes because we have all the necessary controls and support in place. TCEB’s collaboration with various government departments and MICE organisations are bearing fruit – we are witnessing an upswing in corporate meetings and incentive groups coming to Thailand,” Supawan added.
Looking ahead, TCEB forecasts Thailand will host no less than 25 international corporate meetings and incentive travel groups from July 2022 to September 2022, which will contribute more than 1,000 million baht to the Thai economy. This includes 15,138 travellers from the key source markets of India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, the UK, and Vietnam.
CWT inches toward NDC at scale; Singapore Airlines pictured
CWT has taken another step towards making wide-scale NDC adoption a reality with a new pilot programme that will see its travel counsellors make live NDC bookings for customers via its global distribution technology partners.
CWT will commence booking and servicing NDC-enabled content on Singapore Airlines and Air France-KLM, through the Amadeus Travel Platform, come August.
CWT inches toward NDC at scale; Singapore Airlines pictured
In addition to corporate negotiated rates, the pilot covers certain unique NDC-enabled content on these airlines. For Singapore Airlines, this will initially include special discounted fares, while additional amenities like paid seats and extra baggage will be added to the programme at a later date.
Meanwhile, with Air France-KLM, CWT’s customers will be able to access the airline’s continuous pricing offers, while seat bundles and sustainable aviation fuel options will be introduced in the near future.
CWT will expand the pilot to include other airlines on both the Amadeus and Sabre platforms through 2022.
WHO declares monkeypox a global health emergency amid rising cases
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has labelled the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency, effectively sounding off an alarm for a coordinated international response and the possibility of funding and sharing vaccines and treatments.
More than 16,000 cases have been detected in at least 75 countries, up from about 3,000 at the end of June.
WHO declares monkeypox a global health emergency amid rising cases
The decision by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on July 23 has not triggered any major travel restrictions or mass vaccination orders in Asia.
While Singapore has eight monkeypox infections at press time, the Ministry of Health said on July 25 that mass vaccination of the population against the viral disease was not recommended. Health minister Ong Ye Kung said the benefits of vaccination do not outweigh the risk, but continued surveillance is ordered.
Thai health authorities, which had on July 24 upgraded the country’s monkeypox alert to the national level, advised against public panic, saying that the “virus does not spread rapidly like Covid”. The Medical Services Department said the country has sufficient medicine and facilities to treat patients in the event of a monkeypox outbreak, according to The Nation Thailand.
Indonesia’s Health Ministry told Jakarta Globe on June 24 that there are no identified cases in the country, but the government has established two labs to detect monkeypox and is preparing detailed guidelines for lab testing.
Australian hospitality company Crystalbrook Collection has rolled out a new event planning service called Meet Mindfully.
Designed to remove the stressors and environmental pressures of conventional corporate meetings, Meet Mindfully encourages meetings with purpose and value.
A guided meditation session at Crystalbrook Byron
No two Crystalbrook meeting experiences are alike, as each property will bring its own personality and local destination experiences to the table, to provide
Highlights include guided sound healing at Crystalbrook Byron on the north coast of New South Wales, local gin blending at Crystalbrook Kingsley in Newcastle – just over two hours from Sydney – and beehive workshops at Crystalbrook Riley in Cairns, Queensland.
Capacity varies based on the activity and ranges from a minimum of 10 people per group to a maximum of 100.
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