Hong Kong may have seen the exit of international businesses and investments in recent years, but the city is still buzzing with business, events, and tourism activities, shares Larry Lo, CEO of Corporate Travel Management Asia.
Small-scale business events have resumed in Hong Kong, while tourism development and promotions are back on track.
In this episode of TTG Conversations: Five questions, Lo offers a snapshot update on the situation in Hong Kong, and discusses the city’s tourism and events recovery potential.
Results of a Policy and Destination Update poll, shared at last week’s Wonderful Indonesia Sales Mission to Singapore, show the top inducement needed to attract business events from Singapore post-lockdown is a marketing fund and incentive scheme.
According to Indonesia’s minister of tourism and creative economy, Sandiaga Uno, who led the delegation, the need for such a scheme received 25 per cent of the votes, closely followed by fam trips at 23.8 per cent.
Lake Toba (pictured) has been classified as a Super-Priority Tourist destination
Discount vouchers at 20.1 per cent was third, free quarantine at 17.1 per cent was fourth, while free PCR tests at 14 per cent was in fifth place.
According to Aris Latiff, marketing and PR manager, Wonderful Indonesia, based in Singapore, the results came from a poll of some 100 members of the industry who registered to attend the May 31 sales mission.
Singapore poll participants included representatives from airlines, hotels, companies, online and offline travel agents, PCOs, event organisers, cruise and ferry operators and the media.
“The aim was to show the level of interest and proof of Singapore as a viable market to invest marketing dollars in,” said Aris.
While Wonderful Indonesia has yet to announce new strategies borne out of the poll findings, the recent sales mission highlighted the destination’s accessibility to travellers, Covid-safe conditions, and “green” experiences for corporate groups.
With effect from May 30, 2022, PCR testing has been dropped for international travellers entering Indonesia, where Riau islands, Bali and Jakarta are the top choices among Singaporeans, the minister pointed out.
Curated programmes in places like Bali and Lake Toba now offer “green” options, while more “serenity, spirituality and sustainability” products are available for corporate groups, he added.
Indonesia is also highlighting five Super-Priority Tourist destinations to revive the industry. These include Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, and Likupang in North Sulawesi.
According to Wiku Adisasmito, a coordinator on the National Covid-19 Task Force, the highest vaccination coverage is in Jakarta, Bali, Yogyakarta, the Riau Islands and East Kalimantan. This would help provide event organisers with a greater peace of mind when sending groups to these locations.
Carlton City Hotel Singapore has announced Niall Cowan as the hotel’s new general manager.
With nearly three decades of experience, and extensive knowledge and experience of luxury brands across Europe, Africa and Asia, Cowan joins Carlton City Hotel Singapore from his former role at Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali, where he was also general manager.
Prior to his Bali stint, Cowan held senior leadership roles at The Savoy, The Berkeley and, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club.
The Hybrid City Alliance has committed to the development and implementation of strategies based on the findings and recommendations of the ICCA Global Association Meetings Protocol.
This announcement was made at IMEX Frankfurt, and the 24 destinations will report on their individual activities and success at IMEX America in October, and the ICCA Convention in November.
Described as A Strategic Future for the Global Events Industry, the Global Association Meetings Protocol focuses on four key pillars:
Sustainability, Equity & Legacy: Sustainability; equity, diversity and inclusion; and legacy are now top of mind for association clients when it comes to site selection. Therefore, destinations should dedicate more resources to deliver on those priorities more effectively.
Crisis Planning & Mitigation: Protocols to enhance safety, health and security should be further enhanced and codified to protect against future cataclysmic shocks and chronic stresses that impact business events.
Advocacy & Policy: Association clients are asking destinations and their partners to continue to advocate stridently for reducing barriers to travel.
Sector & Community Alignment: Providing access to local clusters of advanced industries and community leaders is critical for attracting business events in those industries. Selling brainpower, as well as buildings, improves competitiveness for the destination and enhances legacy outcomes for the client.
“The Hybrid City Alliance was set up to bring likeminded destinations together at a time of extreme stress for our industry,” said Lesley Mackay, founding member of the Hybrid City Alliance and vice president, Meetings & Major Events Ottawa Tourism, in a press release.
“All of the member cities are committed to constantly improving themselves for the sake of their clients. This commitment provides the perfect demonstration of our willingness to make big decisions and implement the strategies, policies and infrastructure that association clients around the world need now and in the future.”
The Hybrid City Alliance boasts 24 member cities in 16 countries across five continents.
Located in the Beijing Olympic Green Area, the China National Convention Center, Phase 2 (CNCC-II) – one of the key projects in Beijing’s strategic development plan – is on track to open in 2024.
Designed by French architect Christian de Portzamparc, the venue previously served as the main media centre for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, and is undergoing transformation into a flexible events venue.
A rendering of the CNCC-II exterior
CNCC-II features 420,000m2 of floor space and 270,000m2 of meeting and event space, comprising a 7,300m2 divisible plenary hall and 30,000m2 of exhibition floor space. The second floor has over 35,000m2 of function space with 70 meeting rooms in sizes from 100 to 2,000m2. On the top floor (level three), there is over 35,000m2 of function space comprising three banquet halls and two gardens. There are also over 30 VIP lounges spread across the three floors.
CNCC-II is expected to host conferences, forums, banquets, and other commercial events for up to 20,000 maximum, as well as exhibition events for more than 50,000 attendees.
When ready, CNCC-II will have smart venue systems from LED walls to robots that serve meals and undertake cleaning. The centre is also built in accordance with the LEED Platinum and China’s Green Building Evaluation Standard or GBES 3-star, developed by China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
The venue is part of a complex that includes two hotels, commercial offices and retail.
“Beijing, as the capital of China, attracts many high-profile events with global influence. The convention centre’s target market includes high-profile intergovernmental meetings, international association meetings, Fortune 500 company meetings, banquets, niche exhibitions and special events,” said Rod Kamleshwaran, pre-opening international consultant of CNCC-II and partner at GainingEdge.
“CNCC-II will rejuvenate Beijing conventions and exhibitions infrastructure boosting the city’s competitiveness. In addition, Chinese thought leaders – the majority of them based in Beijing – bring business and help brand Beijing as a knowledge-based society.”
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) have officially signed a destination partnership at IMEX Frankfurt on June 1.
This is Japan’s first such partnership, and IAPCO’s second partnership within Asia.
Inking the partnership at IMEX Frankfurt
JNTO will participate in IAPCO’s network and actively engage with prominent PCOs, providing them with information about Japan’s potential as a destination for international conferences by highlighting the diverse options, facilities, and services of their convention cities.
This is as JNTO aims to make Japan the number one destination in Asia for international conferences by 2030.
Etsuko Kawasaki, executive director of JNTO, said: “The surveys we carried out last fiscal year for our next three-year marketing strategy highlighted the importance of connecting with core PCOs and strengthening Japan’s public relations. JNTO will actively engage with prominent PCOs worldwide through IAPCO’s network. We also plan to provide seminars and invitations for IAPCO members to foster understanding of Japan’s potential as a destination for international conferences.”
“The Asia Pacific region is one of growth potential for our members’ clients, as well as IAPCO. Forming such an important destination partnership with JNTO will ensure our communities and stakeholders can form stronger mutually beneficial relationships well into the future,” Martin Boyle, CEO of IAPCO, added.
Japan is the seventh destination to form this partnership agreement with IAPCO, joining Hamburg, Melbourne, Toronto, Dubai, Hong Kong and Rwanda, and more recently Athens.
A bird's-eye view of Marina Bay Sands and Singapore's CBD skyline
Marina Bay Sands’ Sands Expo and Convention Centre has become the first venue in Asia to receive the Healthy Venue Gold accreditation for its efforts to incorporate wellness into its suite of business events offerings.
The recognition, awarded by the World Obesity Federation, is granted to venues that integrate wellness into conferences by prioritising healthier eating, movement, and workplace health.
A bird’s-eye view of Marina Bay Sands and Singapore’s CBD skyline
Event organisers and delegates can expect a healthier customer experience at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, including menus with 30 per cent less oil, sugar and salt; and facilities for standing conferences and meetings. Overall event programming can also include fitness and relaxation sessions; and outdoor activities such as SkyPark yoga, cycling and walking around the Marina Bay area.
The accolade comes as Sands Expo is also transforming its banquet service style to incorporate a variety of new hybrid dining experiences at events. Event organisers can customise a mix of à la minute (live) stations alongside a row of self-service buffets. Butler-style buffet, with service team roaming the event grounds with canapes or hors d’oeuvres, can also be incorporated as part the overall F&B service during show days.
Event organisers can also expect to see a rotation of healthier sweet treats to make an appearance daily at Sands Expo. These themed days include Juice Bar Mondays, Acai Bowl Tuesdays, and Kombucha Wednesdays.
“Wellness has become a key agenda in today’s events. The accreditation and the reinvention of Marina Bay Sands’ banquet service is a culmination of the lessons learnt during the pandemic, giving organisers the confidence to revitalise their delegates’ journey with wellness across multiple touchpoints,” said Ong Wee Min, vice president of conventions & exhibitions.
Accor welcomes back Business Travel, Meetings, Conference & Events with a range of enticing offers
Hospitality giant Accor has pushed out a range of meeting offers directed at small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Through the Accor Business Offer programme, companies without a contract with Accor can subscribe to the programme to avail up to nine per cent savings for business trips.
Accor’s ALL Connect in action
Companies will receive their offer without 24 hours of registration, and benefit from all-year-round savings at Accor’s stable of more than 4,100 hotels worldwide. SMEs will also be able to make bookings via a dedicated Accor Business Travel website, or via the Accor ALL mobile app.
A key benefit of the programme is that businesses do not have to commit to a volume of bookings at one specific hotel. Instead, they can place a minimum of 50 room nights across any of Accor’s hotels per annum to take advantage advantage of the savings.
Meanwhile, Accor’s Choice is Yours offers allows event planners to earn double reward points with ALL – Accor Live Limitless, at over 300 participating Accor hotels in South-east Asia, Japan and South Korea until December 31, 2022. These ALL loyalty points can be redeemed for complimentary hotel stays or to offset the next celebration.
Other benefits include 30 per cent savings on the master bill, no blackout dates to earn points, and points do not expire. Members can also share their points with other members to combine them for redemption on future events or complimentary accommodation.
Previously in April, Accor teamed up with Microsoft to launch ALL CONNECT, a hybrid meetings concept supported by Microsoft Teams.
Last week, Sands China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Macau Fair & Trade Association (MFTA) on Global Exhibitions Day 2022 event (GED2022) at the Londoner Macao.
Dignitaries at the signing
The Green Development and Carbon Neutrality MoU between Sands China and MFTA calls on both entities to promote and cooperate on the sustainable development of the convention and exhibition industry in Macau. Initiatives include the development of training programmes for the industry that focuses on green education, waste and usage of single-use equipment; reusing; and offsetting the carbon footprint when operating events in Macao.
Under this agreement, Sands China will also promote the upcoming 2022 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum in August. Held at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo, the event will also be Macau’s first carbon neutral exhibition.
Auckland will welcome 2,500 pest control experts in 2026 as the Federation of Asia Oceania Pest Management Associations (FAOPMA) – Pest Summit Conference is set to meet in New Zealand for the first time.
Slated to be held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre, the annual conference is the largest pest management event in the Asia-Pacific region. The programme will feature discussions international speakers, technical workshops, and an exhibition, plus opportunities to see pest control activity in the field.
Auckland’s (pictured) conference win recognises New Zealand’s environmental protection innovation
It will bring an estimated economic benefit of NZ$6.5 million (US$4.2 million) to New Zealand, boosting the local hotel, hospitality and retail sectors.
Pest Management Association of New Zealand (PMANZ) executive council member Gerwyn Jones said that New Zealand’s Predator-Free 2050 efforts played an integral role in winning the bid.
“New Zealand is seen as one of the leaders of innovation in the pest control/conservation space. We’re seeing technology developed as part of Predator Free 2050 adopted for urban pest management and for the global market. Hosting FAOPMA is a great way to showcase our country and its technological advancements in pest control to the rest of the world.
“Being recognised on the global stage will be massive for PMANZ and the pest control industry in New Zealand. We will have 300 delegates from around the country coming to the conference, learning, collaborating, and building potential research or business partnerships with international leaders in this field.”
PMANZ was supported by Tourism New Zealand’s Business Events team and Auckland Convention Bureau – a division of Auckland Unlimited, to secure the event for New Zealand.
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
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
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
Prior to his Bali stint, Cowan held senior leadership roles at The Savoy, The Berkeley and, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club.
Described as A Strategic Future for the Global Events Industry, the Global Association Meetings Protocol focuses on four key pillars:
