Asia/Singapore Wednesday, 13th May 2026
Page 385

Cross Hotels & Resorts makes multiple promotions

0

Cross Hotels & Resorts has announced the following personnel promotions, following a number of hotel signings.

Paul Wilson has been made executive vice president.

In his new role, Wilson will be responsible for leading the group’s operations and executions, including brand development, sales and marketing, revenue management, guest engagement, digital transformation, and loyalty strategies.

Prior to joining Cross Hotels & Resorts in 2018, Wilson was vice president of sales for Thailand’s Centara Hotels & Resorts. He also held leadership positions for the Mantra Group in Australia.

Meanwhile, Ratchaya Termsilkanok has been promoted to vice president of strategy & digital transformation. In this new role, he will spearhead the company’s strategy and digital transformation.

Ratchaya first joined Cross Hotels & Resorts in 2019 after an extensive career leading revenue management teams for Radisson, Marriot, and Dusit.

Next, Evan Burns has been promoted to country manager of Indonesia. For the last four years, Burns has been general manager for Away Bali Legian, as well as area manager for Indonesia and Japan.

Burns has been instrumental in signing new management agreements for several properties in Indonesia, as well as extending the brand’s footprint in Japan with the opening of Away Okinawa Kouri Island Resort.

Lastly, Tran Lam is now the director of technical services & business development. He previously took charge of several high-profile projects in Vietnam, China, and the UK, valued in excess of US$50 million.

Lam will be based in Vietnam to guide Cross Hotels & Resort’s expansion in the country.

Amari SPICE Hotel appoints new GM

0

Amari SPICE Hotel in Penang, Malaysia, has named Noorazzudin Omar as general manager of the new hotel.

He brings with him 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having worked for hotels both in his home country Malaysia and abroad in Dubai and Thailand.

Brands he has worked for include IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott, Mayfair, Mutiara, Resorts World, Tradewinds and more.

Companies in China turn to glamping for corporate events

0
Glamping is trending in China

China’s corporates are riding on the rising popularity of glamping to organise scaled-down marketing events and product launches in less restrictive outdoor settings compared to indoor venues.

Violet Wang, managing director of Realm and former China head of Pacific World, said there was huge glamping demand for incentives and corporate meetings from car manufacturing, finance and luxury brand companies for groups of up to 400 participants.

Glamping is trending in China as borders still remain closed

Wang continued: “Prices can range from RMB2,000 (US$119) to RMB15,000 per night per person and these programmes are short, comprising one night in an indoor venue and one night outdoor with hiking in a national park.”

Alexander Glos, CEO, China i2i Group, which provides B2B and B2C tourism-related services, noted desert locations in northern and north-western China offered lots of different experiences from horseback riding and farm visits, to campfires and night astronomy, which were attractive to urbanites.

Glamping, Wang pointed out, is also giving undiscovered second- and third-tier cities with less developed infrastructure a fillip in attracting event groups.

Meanwhile, numbers at glamping sites remain intimate.

Sam Braybon, director, Bespoke Travel Company, said: “Most of them are really small with perhaps 10 or 15 tents which book up really, really early in the high season, like what we saw in spring and autumn.”

But while it would be quite hard to secure inventory, Braybon said it was possible for a corporate to take over an entire glamping site for a retreat, for example.

To meet demand, Wang said five glamping projects were being developed close to Shanghai in “natural spaces” and would be ready in two years’ time.

Tākina on track for mid-2023 opening

0
A rendering of Takina's exterior

Tākina, the purpose-built convention and exhibition centre in Wellington, is on track for a mid-2023 opening, and has already recorded more than 70 bookings on its calendar.

The building exterior is now complete. The facade features about 1,300 glass panels installed across the building’s curved profile, and the engineering of these panels reduces heat entering the building from the sun, reducing the peak cooling requirements and associated energy.

A rendering of Takina’s exterior

Sitting across two levels and ideal for plenaries for up to 1,600 delegates, to date conference sizes range from 300 to up to 1,500 delegates.

The very first conference will be the Festival for The Future in June 2023, while bookings are being confirmed as far out as 2026, including the Congress of the International Association of Sedimentologists.

Tākina will be operated by Tākina Events who operate the same services at conference venue and national museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa. This arrangement will enable business events planners to access and book the spaces and services of two of Wellington’s conference venues together.

Situated right across the road from each other in the heart of New Zealand’s capital, delegates will also be able to find accommodation nearby, while the airport is a 15-minute drive away.

Penang wins hosting rights for IAA World Congress in 2024

0

Penang will host the 45th edition of the International Advertising Association (IAA) World Congress in 2024 with an expected arrival of 2,000 delegates, entailing an estimated economic impact of RM12.6 million (US$2.9 million) to the state.

The three-day congress will be held from March 6, bearing the theme, Brand ReCode: Createch for Better Lives, Better World. It will comprise panel discussions, tech expos, board meetings and teambuilding sessions, award shows and masterclasses.

Representatives from the state government, PCEB and IAA Malaysia at the signing

The event aims to rewire brands, people and businesses through creativity and technology in the areas of trade and industry, sustainable healthy living, experiential tourism and education.

John Doody Chacko, chairman of the 45th IAA World Congress and president of IAA Malaysia, shared: “It took over four years of intense effort against other more globally famous destinations and pandemic disruptions before IAA Malaysia emerged victorious in the decision to host the congress in Penang, Malaysia.

“It proves that the world is growing to recognise Malaysia and Penang as destinations that are not only attractive in thousands of ways, (but) more importantly, are well equipped in all avenues to host events of world-class stature.”

NZ and Australia combine forces to secure 2029 ageing congress

0
The first part of the event will be held in Queenstown, New Zealand (pictured)

New Zealand and Australia have succeeded in their joint bid for the largest, most significant worldwide conference on ageing in 2029.

Queenstown, New Zealand will host the pre-Congress Leadership Summit, before the 24th International Association of Gerontology and Geriatric (IAGG) World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics takes place in Sydney, Australia in 2029.

The first part of the event will be held in Queenstown, New Zealand (pictured)

The pre-Congress Leadership Summit is expected to attract up to 300 delegates to Queenstown and inject around NZ$1 million (US$617,935) into the local economy. Meanwhile, the Congress in Sydney is then expected to attract around 5,000 delegates over five days.

The quadrennial IAGG World Congress is the largest, most significant worldwide conference on ageing, sharing the latest science, research, training, technology, and policy development presented by experts from around the world.

Delegates will include representatives from medicine, nursing, allied health, aged care, policy and practice fields, and other disciplines brought together to address the latest approaches to improving the experience of ageing for ageing and older people across the globe.

A significant multi-year bidding effort by the Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG), the New Zealand Association of Gerontology (NZAG) and the Australian & New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine (ANZSGM) ensured the win, which was decided by vote by more than 80 IAGG member countries at the 2022 IAGG Council and General Assembly.

The bid was also supported by the business events teams at BESydney and Tourism New Zealand.

CTM acquires 1000 Mile Travel Group

0
The increased demand for travel expertise to support a swiftly rebounding travel market makes this an attractive opportunity for CTM.

Brisbane-headquartered Corporate Travel Management (CTM) has acquired 1000 Mile Travel Group, expanding its interest in the business travel market via the independent consultant (IC) model.

Founded in 2015, 1000 Mile Travel is a network of independent travel experts specialising in SME business travel services across Australia and the UK. Its business model supports a growing workforce of travel experts who desire to manage their own customer portfolio while leveraging the best in buying power and technology.

The increased demand for travel expertise to support a swiftly rebounding travel market makes this an attractive opportunity for CTM

Jamie Pherous, founder and managing director of CTM, said the acquisition is a complementary extension of its corporate travel services. It offers 1000 Mile Travel’s advisors and customers the benefits of CTM’s scale, buying power, access to content and intuitive technology for greater value.

“We’ve been partnering with 1000 Mile Travel for nearly a year through the provision of our proprietary Lightning online booking technology. During that time, we have recognised a strong alignment between our businesses based upon shared values, common technology systems and high growth objectives, and… we are well-placed to expand the 1000 Mile Travel model into our largest markets of North America and the UK,” Pherous added.

Ben Ross, founder and managing director of 1000 Mile Travel, said the acquisition paves the way for substantial growth for the company and its network of independent business owners at a crucial time in the industry’s recovery.

“Our business was established to meet the needs of the independent corporate travel business owner market… That model has never been more in demand than it is in the post-pandemic environment, and we’re excited to take the next step of our growth journey with CTM.”

New Zealand: The adventure of a lifetime

0
Take the plunge at the world’s original commercial bungy site at Kawarau Bridge

Brought to you by Tourism New Zealand

New Zealand’s natural scenery offers a veritable playground of opportunities for those wanting to challenge themselves and engage in some adrenaline-pumping, team-bonding fun.

Ancient rain forests, pristine lakes, snowy mountains, or golden beaches all offer incredible opportunities to reward, revitalise and refocus.

The sky is the limit
New Zealanders seem determined to prove Kiwis can fly and can help your high-flyers do it too.

Queenstown is the ultimate pit stop for adrenaline junkies.

Take the plunge at the world’s original commercial bungy site at Kawarau Bridge, complete with the Feel the Fear programme that addresses the harmful effects of workplace stress.

Help your team muster up the courage to do something they’ll never forget and ensure they leave with an incredible feeling of satisfaction.

Alternatively, try the world-first Nevis Catapult, a skydive, or for those keen on climbing the corporate ladder, clip on and conquer the highest waterfall cable climb in the world in Wanaka.

Walking on air
For slightly less adventurous groups, New Zealand’s scenic flight operators supply a more sedate way to take in views of the majestic Southern Alps, the out-of-this-world beauty of Fiordland – or even orbiting a gigantic sperm whale from the air above Kaikōura.

Adventure of a lifetime in New Zealand
Meet the local wildlife on a trip out on the water

Helicopter tours can land on a pristine alpine glacier for an ice walk – or just a glass of bubbles to celebrate making it to the top. Try your hand at heli-skiing, heli golf, or join a heli gin tour!

Watch the sun roll in over Canterbury’s braided rivers and pastoral plains from a hot air balloon – the memorable way to greet the dawn of a new business challenge.

Rotorua’s beautiful forests offer another way to enjoy life at the top, with groups able to soar through the canopy on a network of ziplines, or traverse swing bridges high above the forest floor.

In Auckland, take it to the limit with a SkyJump or SkyWalk at the SkyTower; enjoy a guided walk over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, or bungy jump from beneath it.

Riding the wave of success
New Zealand’s oceans, rivers and lakes offer multiple incentive options to dive into.

Choose luxury scenic sailing through the Bay of Islands or Milford Sound, or amp up the team work by crewing an America’s Cup yacht across Auckland Harbour.

Jetboat at speed or kayak at leisure in Mount Aspiring National Park. Raft the whitewater rapids in the Tongariro River, or overnight with the wildlife on the placid Doubtful Sound.

Choose the landscape, the tempo, and the activities to best stimulate your team – the options and memories are never-ending.

Ready for the incentive of a lifetime?
For more inspiration, check out The Ultimate Reward – an incentive in New Zealand below:

To discuss an incentive itinerary tailored to your team and objectives, contact:
Edward Kwek
Trade Manager Business Events

Tourism New Zealand
Contact: +65 9152 9122
Email: Edward.Kwek@tnz.govt.nz
Website: businessevents.newzealand.com

W Kuala Lumpur gets new GM

0

Marriott International has appointed Volker Burth as general manager of W Kuala Lumpur, replacing Christian Metzner who has moved to W Singapore – Sentosa Cove.

Burth has 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry under his belt, beginning his hospitality career with InterContinental Hotels Group completing assignments in Germany and the UK.

He then joined the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel in Saudi Arabia as director of F&B in 2012 and subsequently moved to the flagship properties at Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park in Australia and W Bangkok in Thailand.

Greater Bay Airlines announces new CEO

0

Stanley Hui Hon Chung will assume the role of CEO at Greater Bay Airlines, replacing Algernon Yau.

A current member of the board, Hui’s career spans over 45 years. He has held a range of management positions in Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong headquarters and overseas offices, as well as in AHK Air Hong Kong, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, and Hong Kong Airport Authority.

Reviews

The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok

The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike

Mama Shelter Zurich

Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell

Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown

A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.