Whenever Malaysian professional conference organiser Place Borneo conducts business events, its activities provide opportunities for local craft women to earn an income through the sale of handmade conference bags, beaded lanyards and other gifts for speakers and VIPs.
Place Borneo does this through collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Sarawak, such as Tanoti and Helping Hands Penan.
Place Borneo works with NGOs to purchase attendee accessories and speakers/VIP gifts from local women weavers and artisans
Tanoti is a congregation of Sarawakian women weavers and artisans dedicated to the production, promotion and proliferation of handcrafted fabrics. Helping Hands Penan is dedicated to the welfare of the nomadic Penan tribe, whose women are great basket weavers who produce beautiful bags from rattan and jungle produce.
Founder and CEO, Mona Abdul Manap, told TTGmice that conference organisers generally love the idea of supporting local communities this way.
“They can easily buy cheaper bags and souvenirs from China, but they don’t mind spending more for a worthwhile cause that will provide an income for women,” she said.
Place Borneo makes it a point to include the community in its conferencing activities, “if not by way of education or knowledge transfer, then in the form of other economic means such as this”.
“This effectively extends the impact of conferences on Sarawak’s development,” she added.
Mona: conference organisers general welcome the opportunity to support local communities
Place Borneo also finds opportunities to bring the community and their supporting NGOs onto the conference site, where they can display and sell their products.
“With international conferences, there is an opportunity for these NGOs to gain recognition for their cause and for the women, a chance to get future orders from local and international delegates for events they are planning in their home country.
“The more orders they get, the more they will earn. They are skilled artisans, and proud of their heritage. We try and help them to market their handicraft and earn a living from it,” she said.
This story is part of an International Women’s Day series published by TTG Asia and TTGmice, where we highlight organisations in our industry that are committed to supporting gender parity in the workplace and beyond as well as uplifting the quality of life for womenfolk in the communities they interact with through their operations.
ICC Sydney launches its second Reconciliation Action Plan at Business Sydney's First Nations Forum
International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has strengthened its commitment to respecting, celebrating and acknowledging Australia’s First Nations community as it launched its second Reconciliation Action Plan at the city’s inaugural Business Sydney First Nations Forum earlier this week.
ICC Sydney launches its second Reconciliation Action Plan at Business Sydney’s First Nations Forum
Over a two-year period, ICC Sydney’s second Reconciliation Action Plan will celebrate the cultures, protocols and traditions of Australia’s First Nations people. It expands upon established initiatives across four key areas of relationships, respect, opportunities and governance with several deliverables, including:
Working with First Nations businesses and communities across Australia through its supply chains and community networks
Client and community stakeholder engagement via its Legacy Program
Actively collaborating with vocational education providers and community partners to attract and develop First Nations employees
Increasing the cultural competency of its team members to deepen community understanding
ICC Sydney’s CEO Geoff Donaghy said: “Our vision for reconciliation is one where collaboration and partnership foster greater inclusion, opportunities and recognition for Australia’s First Nations people. That’s why events like Business Sydney’s First Nations Forum, which featured speakers such as Reconciliation Australia’s CEO Karen Mundine; City of Sydney councillor Yvonne Weldon; Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce chairman and Nyungga Black group executive chairman, Warren Mundine; and KARI Foundation’s CEO Casey Ralph, are so important.
“As an iconic destination, which stands and operates on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation – on Tumbalong, the land, and Gomora, the water, what is known today as Darling Harbour – ICC Sydney has a unique opportunity to foster and promote reconciliation.
“We are very proud to be located in this special place, where people have gathered to meet, trade and hold ceremonies for many tens of thousands of years, which is why we are committed to meaningful engagement with First Nations communities and through our event Legacy Program, we will continue to present First Nations culture to the thousands of visitors walking through our doors each year,” Donaghy said.
Weldon commended ICC Sydney on its capability to strengthen relationships between First Nations businesses and international and interstate visitors.
“Across this country, my people have come together to continue our traditions, practices and ceremonies for over 65,000 years and we are continuing to do this, with, in and alongside ICC Sydney.
“As a prominent location for local and international visitors, ICC Sydney has a unique opportunity to educate and inspire its audiences to connect with Australia’s First Nations. The initiatives that ICC Sydney has committed to across employment, economic development and cultural education are great examples of how the cultures, heritage and history of our First Peoples can be celebrated and continue to be widely promoted.”
ICC Sydney’s director of corporate affairs and communication, and chair of ICC Sydney’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group, Samantha Glass said the venue’s commitment toward a just, equitable and reconciled Australia included initiatives that will reach event attendees and its workforce alike via their new commitments.
“We have the great privilege of welcoming people from around Australia and across the world and for many, their experiences at ICC Sydney may be their first in Australia – whether in person or online. We believe we have not just an opportunity, but an obligation to celebrate and acknowledge Australia’s First Nations. By continuing to build a welcoming and inclusive culture, we hope to extend career opportunities and encourage more First Nations people to join our team,” Glass said.
In 2018, ICC Sydney was the first convention centre to commit to a Reconciliation Action Plan and this next phase of work continues to build respect of, relationships with, and opportunities for Australia’s First Nations people.
CESG is committed to advancing Singapore’s agenda on sustainable development
The CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESG) 2022 will return from April 17-21 this year for its fifth edition at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands.
Returning after a three-year hiatus, this year’s event will be themed Towards Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Cities.
CESG is committed to advancing Singapore’s (pictured) agenda on sustainable development
CESG is a global networking platform for thought leaders, regulators, policymakers, and industry captains to discuss pressing and pertinent issues such as promoting circular economy frameworks, adopting climate-resilient policies and safeguarding public hygiene standards. The five focus areas are: Waste as Resource, Enhanced Hygiene Standards, Effective Pest Management, Sustainable Energy, and Pollution Control.
A feature at every CESG is the Environmental & Water Leaders Forum, jointly organised with Singapore International Water Week (SIWW). This year’s forum will feature industry leaders and senior government officials from around the world including Michele Blom, Netherlands’ vice-minister of infrastructure and water management, and Paul Bulcke, chairman, Nestle.
The forum will tackle issues contributing to climate change such as urbanisation and population growth, finite resources and the need for clean water, sanitation and public hygiene. Leaders at the forum will share their views on how nations and organisations can capitalise on the sustainability challenges and transform them into opportunities.
Environmental leaders will also get the opportunity to connect and forge new partnerships at the Clean Environment Leaders Summit (CELS). Speakers at the plenary sessions of CELS include Grace Fu, Singapore’s minister for sustainability and the environment; Rajeev Menon, board member of the US-ASEAN Business Council and president, Marriott International for Asia-Pacific excluding Greater China; and Amy Khor, Singapore’s senior minister of state for sustainability and the environment.
Another highlight of CESG is the Clean Environment Convention (CEC), where industry professionals and technical experts will get to network and exchange ideas about the latest solutions and best practices to meet environmental needs and challenges. The Convention will comprise four tracks: Sustainable Energy and Energy Efficiency; Resource Sustainability; Advancing Public Hygiene (Environmental Cleaning; Disinfection & Pest Management in an Urban Environment and Innovations & Technology in Climate Change Defence (held in collaboration with the Asia Climate Forum).
For the exhibition component, the Environment Expo will feature innovative solutions and the latest technologies on cleaning, pest management, waste and resource management, pollution control, and sustainable energy. Innovative solutions to build resilience, and address extreme weather and climate change, will also be on showcase in the Asia Climate Forum Exhibit.
Lastly, CESG 2022 will feature a Youth Environment Leaders Immersion Programme for the first time. The programme will provide opportunities for a group of youth leaders to network and exchange ideas with their peers, as well as learn from accomplished environment leaders and industry captains in the environmental sustainability space.
The organiser of IT&CM China and CTW China, TTG Asia Media, has opened registrations for buyers.
The three-day in-person event will be held from May 24-26, 2022, in Shanghai, while the virtual networking event will happen from June 15-16, 2022.
The IT&CM China and CTW China in 2019
In-person buyers will be able to have face-to-face Scheduled Meets opportunities (both in-person and remotely) for exhibitors and buyers from across China and the rest of the world. They will also be able to join in the Social F&B Functions, and network over food and drinks.
There will also be panel discussions, knowledge sessions, and showcases to inform buyers of the latest developments and product updates.
A significant benefit for China-based buyers attending in-person will be the Post-Show Tours. Delegates will be introduced to China’s up-and-coming destinations and their associated DMCs, and get the chance to gain first-hand experience and learn about these destinations’ business events capabilities, charm, and culture.
Buyers attending in-person can also stand a chance to earn cash incentives and prizes by completing event missions.
Virtual buyers meanwhile, will be able to catch up on the highlights of the in-person event in Shanghai the following month.
Similarly, there will be networking sessions and business card exchanges for both buyers and exhibitors to expand their networks and contacts.
In addition, Brand Showcase Presentations from participating business events destinations, suppliers and corporate brands; Knowledge Sessions with the hottest topics this year; as well as the Buyer Procurement Showcases; will be available on-demand.
There will also be several Live Hosted Sessions By Brands, where virtual participants will be able to take part in interactive games, and win attractive prizes.
clients and employees’ expectations of travel and meetings programs are higher than ever before
As countries announce either fully or partially opening their international borders, travel and meetings managers across Asia-Pacific are springing into action to take their organisations’ international travel programmes off the backburner. It’s a pattern we can expect to repeat as countries in our region progressively reduce restrictions on international travellers.
What has become quickly apparent is that both clients’ and employees’ expectations of travel and meetings programmes are higher than ever before.
Clients’ and employees’ expectations of travel and meetings programmes are higher than ever before
As we emerge from the pandemic, traditional patterns of work and travel have changed, challenging the ‘normal’ way people do business. A new era has begun, and it is one where travel and meeting in person is more important than ever before. This gives rise to a unique opportunity for travel and meetings managers: one that will redefine their role and increase their value.
We are operating in an era where organisations, employees and their clients want to renegotiate how they interact. As the lines between professional and personal lives continue to blur, travel and mobility are becoming more central to “traditional” HR issues of employee experience, wellbeing, company culture and retention.
This is an era of increased expectations in how organisations and people engage. Our recent Amex GBT meetings and events forecast highlighted how meetings and events managers are expecting more meetings of every type than in previous years. What is apparent is that people want these meetings on their own terms.
For example, internal meetings in Asia-Pacific are expected to have the biggest jump in growth for hybrid/virtual formats, compared to meetings for clients and others.
For those employees who have spent up to two years working from home, workplace flexibility is a two-way street, a convenience that should work for both parties. This creates an opportunity for travel and meetings managers to not only play a part in a cultural shift, but to take a lead role in transforming a new way of working in their organisation.
The evidence supporting this is the hard data and first-hand knowledge that travel and meetings managers have gathered from the feedback of employees and clients. This insight ideally places travel and meetings functional teams in a prime position to create engaging strategies, and offer sound counsel on employee mobility and interaction policies.
With higher performance expectations on organisations, travel and meetings programs present a plethora of opportunities to showcase their genuine ESG commitment, the progress they are making, and the impact they are having in these areas.
And yet, in many organisations, travel and meetings managers are an untapped treasure chest of talent that can implement and deliver on an effective ESG strategy. From building supplier relationships with diverse companies to greener choices on flights, ground transport and venues: there are large and small, short- and long-term gains to be made through travel and meetings programmes.
Underpinning all of this is traveller confidence. Crucially, travel and meetings managers can put all the information that their clients need at their fingertips, engaging them with timely and targeted messaging no matter where they are and what time of day or night it is. Ours will continue to be a swiftly changing world and travel and meeting managers know that, at their effective best, communications are two-way: travellers need to be empowered to ask questions, seek help, get advice and give feedback on their experiences, which they can trust will be listened to and acted upon.
My advice for today’s travel and meetings managers is simple. If they’re not already actively consulting on policies around employee mobility, engagement sustainability, and diversity and inclusion, then they need to start now. These are significant topics that affect all of their stakeholders individually and organisationally, travel and meetings managers have an important part to play in driving these forward.
Jo Sully is the vice president & regional general manager, Asia Pacific at American Express Global Business Travel, a role she has held since March 2020. Sully is responsible for developing the strategy in Australia, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, our Joint Ventures in China and Japan.
Hilton has opened Hilton Singapore Orchard, the company’s largest hotel in Asia-Pacific.
Offering 1,080 keys, the property is located at the heart of Orchard Road, and is directly connected to the Mandarin Gallery shopping centre.
Premium City View Room
Energy-efficient technology such as in-room motion, air-conditioning and light sensors feature in every room and suite, alongside digital key access and smartphone-connected services.
Event planners will have access to 2,400m2 of function space, spread across 16 versatile spaces. Two pillarless ballrooms – the Grand Ballroom accommodating up to 900 guests and multi-tiered amphitheatre-style Imperial Ballroom with city views – are fitted with state-of-the-art LED walls, and lighting and sound technologies to create memorable event experiences.
The hotel will also be home to five F&B concepts, which includes Osteria Mozza by celebrated chef Nancy Silverton; all-day dining restaurant Estate; the Ginger.Lily lounge for afternoon tea and cocktails; two-Michelin-star Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro; and Chatterbox restaurant, known for their elevated take on local Singapore dishes.
Recreational amenities include two fitness centres, and an outdoor swimming pool.
Reopening a destination after a lengthy tourism freeze requires the collaborative effort of government agencies, the tourism board and private sector stakeholders, reflects Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, chief operating officer of the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines.
In this episode of TTG Conversation: Five Questions, Velasco-Allones recounts the footsteps leading to the Philippines’ resumption of international travel on February 10, sheds light on hiccups and lessons learnt along the way, and details what is next as the country fights a hyper competitive destination marketing war now.
In-person MICE tradeshows and fam trips are returning
Event planners say in-person destination and venue assessments remain an important part of evaluation process
Convenient online destination information can remain relevant, but must be creative
Representatives of Asian MICE cities that have had to rely heavily on online interactions with business event owners and planners over the past two years are finally able to dust off their shoes as they prepare to welcome buyers in person once more, now that travel bans and social restrictions have eased.
Days at the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines have been buzzing with excitement since the Department of Tourism announced on January 28 that the country would reopen to fully vaccinated international tourists from February 10. While TPB has maintained communications with business event owners and organisers through mostly online means, such as webinars and participation in virtual editors of international MICE tradeshows, the team relishes the chance to intensify engagements.
MICE destinations are bringing back opportunities to engage with potential buyers in person; a party scene at AIME 2019 (pictured) will come alive once more this year
Maria Anthonette C Velasco-Allones, chief operating officer at TPB, told TTGmice: “We are definitely preparing for an in-person invitational programme in the next half of the year, but we are also observing the situation of other countries as well as buyers themselves through the MICE shows that we will be participating in this year.”
For now, full attention is on preparations for the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit, which the Philippines will play host to from April 20 to 22. The Summit is recognised as a travel and tourism industry heavyweight, as it brings together more than 800 top leaders from across multiple companies as well as tourism ministers and officials from influential organisations like UNWTO.
Over in Australia, where international travellers were welcomed on February 21, after two long years of border lock-down, Business Events Australia is intensifying conversion-driving activities that tap into the short- and mid-term business. These include the Business Events Australia Asia Showcase 2022, which will be held from March 8 to 11 in a hybrid format.
Days later, Melbourne will host Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) from March 21 to 24 for in-person attendees. Traditionally known for offering impressive destination showcases of Melbourne and the wider Victoria region, AIME 2022 will kick off a day ahead with the Uncover Melbourne Program on Sunday. At press time, the Melbourne Convention Bureau is expected to offer more than 50 experiences to hosted buyers and media, taking them through the destination’s newest and most unique product offerings.
AIME attendees will also get to network at various Melbourne Convention Bureau events, including one held at Melbourne’s newest cultural icon – The LUME. The LUME is a 2,000m2 multi-sensory digital gallery immersing guests in the world’s greatest masterpieces. It weaves imagery from 150 state-of-the-art projectors on a curated tapestry of surfaces, all harmoniously choreographed to a dramatic musical soundscape.
In Singapore, in-person inspections and planning visits are happening more frequently, revealed Edward Koh, executive director, conventions, meetings & incentive travel with Singapore Tourism Board (STB), thanks to the country’s quarantine-free Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL), a system that was launched on September 8, 2021, and progressively expanded to connect a host of countries and cities such as Germany, the UAE and the Philippines.
These destination assessments join STB’s ongoing efforts in trade engagements through webinars, virtual tradeshows like the SingapoReimagine MICE Virtual Show in March 2021, and in-person events – such as IMEX America and IBTM World Barcelona in November 2021 – in markets where international and business have resumed.
Koh: renewed demand for site inspections, especially for events that are scheduled for later this year, 2023 and beyond
“Compared to pre-pandemic times, we are in contact with (buyers) more frequently to provide destination updates,” said Koh.
Although Singapore has safely delivered a number of high profile business events amid restricted global travel in 2021, such as Geo Connect Asia in March and Bloomberg New Economy Forum in November, Koh said those were not enough to convince decision-makers to confirm their future events with Singapore in the absence of an in-person assessment.
“The ability to deliver high-profile business events is not equivalent to traditional fam trips and site inspections for decision-makers since each serves a different purpose,” he emphasised.
Seeing is believing
Indeed, even though business events specialists expressed appreciation for the frequent and convenient CVB and supplier virtual engagements seen throughout the travel freeze, they welcome the return of in-person site inspections and fam trips.
They told TTGmice that these assessments were necessary for shaping event decisions.
Nelson Khoo, head of events – Singapore & Indonesia with CWT Meetings & Events, explained: “On the one hand, planners have found that virtual site inspections can save them time and money, while also helping them lower the carbon footprint of their meeting and events programme.
“On the other, you just can’t go into the same level of detail with virtual inspections as you would by visiting a venue. Planners sometimes overlook certain logistical issues during an online inspection, which they may have noticed if they had been physically present at the venue. Buyers can also get a much better sense of what the attendee experience will be like when they see the space, the service delivery and other elements in-person, and that helps build confidence.”
Sanjay Seth, managing director, Asia Pacific for BCD Meetings & Events, agrees. “It is very difficult – especially for the customer as opposed to an experienced event planner – to imagine the gravitas the space might give you based on the virtual view. You can only feel that when you stand in that space, to determine that this is the grandeur, the sophistication, the emotion that you are looking to bring to your audience,” he said.
Khoo: virtual inspections of venues and destinations cannot be as detailed as in-person assessments
In-person assessments are especially crucial for complex business events, such as large conventions and incentive programmes that take in multiple experiences around the destination.
“These events typically require larger local tourism resources such as transportation, attractions, restaurants and manpower,” said Khoo.
Planners and clients are also able to feel the vibe of the destination by being there in person, added Sanjay. “Evaluating different aspects of the destination is a critical process because you want to bring people to a destination and have them think that they want to return,” he emphasised.
That said, Sanjay stated that even simple and “standard” meetings could benefit from an in-person inspection, as the event might require some hospitality segments.
“Imagine this: the client has a preference for rooftop cocktails after a meeting, and without actually checking out the hotel’s rooftop venue ahead of the event yourself, you may end up giving your guests a view of the city’s drainage system during the party,” he said.
With more governments lifting travel restrictions, event planners are eager to return to the in-person assessment process.
STB’s Koh has observed a “renewed demand for site inspections, especially for events that are scheduled for later this year, 2023 and beyond”.
“After two years of travel restrictions, we are aware that meeting planners are hungry to get back into face-to-face engagements since nothing can replace experiencing a destination in person. With the progressive reopening of borders and resumption of more international MICE tradeshows, we are also seeing interest from our stakeholders to attend and get back to business development efforts,” he added.
STB plans to attend major MICE tradeshows this year where the team and Singapore suppliers will engage their audience. With ITB Asia set to take place in Singapore later this year, Singapore will have a chance to showcase the destination to key decision-makers.
Truly, destination marketing has intensified in recent weeks, found Sanjay, evident in the “incredible” number of fam trip invites tied to upcoming tradeshows.
“Every tradeshow invite we get now is more than an offer of hosted buyer status; it comes with fam trips to many destinations. It is wonderful to see that our destination partners in Asia-Pacific are upping the ante on their marketing to bring business back,” he remarked.
However, with time always a limited resource, Sanjay said BCD would filter invites based on destinations where there is a planned or confirmed client event in 2022 or 2023, or where clients have expressed great interest in for future events.
Mix it up
It is unlikely that CVBs and business events suppliers will immediately replace virtual communications with in-person engagements, as some level of travel uncertainty remains.
Furthermore, TPB has found that communications through virtual means and digital platforms can match resources and suppliers beforehand, making an in-person site inspection or fam trip later on more efficient and focused, shared Velasco-Allones.
Sanjay believes that virtual site inspections and destination walk-throughs can continue to have a place in event planning, but destinations and suppliers must get creative.
“Most engagements (over the past two years) have been virtual or via direct marketing in the form of newsletters. It has been interesting to see over LinkedIn or other social media channels some very creative content from hotel salespeople. Some have shot videos of themselves doing a property walk-through. People have become entrepreneurial, and I love that they are not sending another boring brochure,” he said.
One video walk-through that stood out for Sanjay came from a sales director with a property in Macau. After introducing the property and reminding viewers of the warm welcome and fun experiences that await them, the sales director leapt excitedly into the swimming pool.
“I hope this creative engagement continues,” Sanjay remarked.
Pierre Lang, an industry veteran with over three decades of experience, has joined Kamalaya Koh Samui in Thailand as general manager.
The German has previously worked for international hotel brands including Alila Hotels & Resorts, Armani Hotels & Resorts, Park Hyatt, and Grand Hyatt, in countries such as Germany, Dubai, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Maldives.
Wharf Hotels has promoted Thomas Salg to the role of president, from his current position as vice president operations.
Salg joined Marco Polo Hotels in 2013 as general manager, Marco Polo Shenzhen, and was promoted to area general manager of Marco Polo Hotels Hong Kong. He was made vice president operations in 2017.
He replaces president Jennifer Cronin who announced her resignation on March 1, 2022, and will leave her position on April 30.
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.
Jo Sully is the vice president & regional general manager, Asia Pacific at American Express Global Business Travel, a role she has held since March 2020. Sully is responsible for developing the strategy in Australia, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, our Joint Ventures in China and Japan.
Salg joined Marco Polo Hotels in 2013 as general manager, Marco Polo Shenzhen, and was promoted to area general manager of Marco Polo Hotels Hong Kong. He was made vice president operations in 2017.
He replaces president Jennifer Cronin who announced her resignation on March 1, 2022, and will leave her position on April 30.