The Ritz-Carlton has extended its reach in north-east China with the latest opening in Harbin, the largest city in China’s Heilongjiang province.
The hotel offers a total of 3,500m2 of event space, including a Grand Ballroom equipped with three built-in LED screens along with the latest audiovisual technology, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows for river views. On the 56th floor, the hotel’s Sky Gallery has four multifunctional meeting rooms for private events.
Deluxe King Room
Delegates and business travellers can choose from its 368 guestrooms, including 31 suites. Each guestroom features blue-and-white floral motif art walls inspired by traditional Russian lace crafts.
Club guests will also have access to The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, which includes personalised check-ins, five different curated culinary experiences throughout the day as well as Club programming.
Amenities on-site include The Ritz-Carlton Spa with six treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas, a heated indoor swimming pool, and a fitness corner. There are also four F&B options available, ranging from the all-day dining Manor 54 with local and international cuisine, to the Flair bar on the 56th floor serving cocktails and spirits paired with South-east Asian-inspired tapas.
Centrally located along the city’s Songhua River, the new luxury hotel is integrated within an upscale mixed residential and retail development in one of Harbin’s tallest buildings.
Indonesian business events stakeholders are cautiously optimistic that more in-person events can take place; Senayan Stadium with Jakarta skyline pictured
Indonesian event planners are upbeat that the number of business events in the country will continue its upward recovery trend in 2022, provided Covid-19 numbers in Indonesia manage to stay low.
This sentiment was echoed by Hosea Andreas Runkat, chairman of the Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association (IECA), who happily rectified his forecast which previously stated that the domestic exhibition sector in 2021 would be worse than 2020.
Indonesian business events stakeholders are cautiously optimistic that more in-person events can take place; Senayan Stadium with Jakarta skyline pictured
Out of the 64 in-person exhibitions that were scheduled for 2021, 42 managed to take place, thanks to the government’s relaxation of restrictions in early October.
This resumption of events have given event planners a ray of hope and a dose of optimism, who have begun to schedule exhibitions for this year, Andreas shared.
The fact that Indonesia is slated to host the G20 Summit this year, is cause for more optimism, Andreas enthused, because there will be around 100 other conferences and exhibitions, related to the summit, happening. Moreover, these business events will not be limited to one or two large cities, and instead, will be held in various destinations around the country.
He hopes that the government will help support more in-person events this year, so that by mid-2022, the number of in-person events will be much closer to 2019 levels. To date, virtual and hybrid events still dominate the industry, noted Andreas.
Iqbal Abdullah, chairman of Indonesia Congress and Convention Association (INCCA), agreed, and also petitioned the government to have the courage to hold more in-person events in 2022 and 2023, so that the business events industry can make a rebound before elections are held in 2024.
He stressed that that with the strict enforcement of health protocols in place, offline events can be held safely.
Elsewhere in the capital, Salman Anwar, chairman of Jakarta Tourism Forum, believes that upcoming international events in Jakarta, such as the Formula E electric motorsport championship in June, and International Publishers Congress in November, would be catalysts that will help revive Jakarta’s business events scene by mid-2022.
Salman further shared that the capital’s industry players are also petitioning governor Anies Baswedan to sign a gubernatorial regulation to stimulate the business events industry and support stakeholders at international biddings.
The winning bid highlighted New Zealand’s and Australia’s unique archaeology; Auckland pictured
Auckland has been picked as the host city for the Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology Conference (CAA) in 2024.
The conference is expected to attract 350 delegates and deliver approximately NZ$378,000 (US$258,000) to Auckland’s economy. This is the first time the conference will be held in New Zealand and it will take place at the University of Auckland.
The winning bid highlighted New Zealand’s and Australia’s unique archaeology; Auckland pictured
The CAA conference is an annual event where international scholars, professionals and researchers showcase current and innovative computer technologies in the field of archaeology, history and cultural heritage. A proposed focus of the 2024 conference is indigenous archaeology from around the world.
Auckland Convention Bureau (ACB) – a division of Auckland Unlimited – with support from Tourism New Zealand, worked with Joshua Emmitt from the University of Auckland to secure the conference in Auckland.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for New Zealand archaeologists to improve and expand their own methods, with exposure and discussion about techniques seldom seen in the country, and to build relationships with a global network,” he said.
ACB manager Ken Pereira said that securing another bid win highlights the momentum of the Auckland business events sector, which has attracted major academic conferences starting from next year.
“As borders begin to reopen, attracting international conferences to our shores is an important part of growing our visitor economy. Delegates have the potential to help spread visitors across the off-peak season, support employment and bring economic benefit to the region.”
Aboriginal cave paintings in the Kimberley, Western Australia
Western Australia’s has been chosen as the host destination of the Congress of the International Rock Art Organisations (IFRAO) and the 4th Australian Rock Art Research Association Congress (AURA) 2024.
Set to take place in mid-to-late 2024, the IFRAO and AURA Congress will attract over 1,000 experts in the field of rock art research to Western Australia, where they will convene over five days at The University of Western Australia (UWA). UWA is home to the world’s largest academic rock art research and management centre, and delegates will be venturing to Western Australia’s regions to study rock art sites for up to eight weeks.
Aboriginal cave paintings in the Kimberley, Western Australia
Premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan said hosting the congress would promote global awareness of WA’s ancient rock art while enhancing the State’s Aboriginal tourism experiences which are currently being developed through the A$20 million (US$19.6 million) Jina: Western Australian Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan 2021-2025.
Of Australia’s 100,000 currently known rock art sites, the most significant examples exist in Western Australia, including the oldest rock art in the world in the Kimberley Region, where 60,000-year-old samples can be found, and the largest collection known to be in existence at Murujuga in WA’s Pilbara region.
Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation CEO Peter Jeffries said the rock art found at Murujuga, also known as the Burrup Peninsula, was among the most significant in Australia.
“There are estimated to be over one million individual engravings at Murujuga within a space of approximately 37,000 hectares, some of which are estimated to be as old as 50,000 years,” Jeffries said.
“This rich concentration of rock engravings and stone arrangements has led to Murujuga recently being added to the UNESCO World Heritage (Tentative) List in recognition of its cultural significance, and I welcome the delegates attending the IFRAO and AURA Congress to come and see this incredible cultural history in person in 2024.”
Western Australia is undertaking world-leading archaeological research into rock art that is supported through The University of Western Australia’s Centre for Rock Art Research and Management (CRAR+M) which focuses on Australian rock art and produces important research outcomes of international significance.
In collaboration with Rock Art Australia, the Western Australian Government, Traditional Owners and national and international universities, the Kimberley Visions project is led by CRAR+M to investigate some of the world’s most complex figurative rock art in the State’s north-west region.
Business Events Perth CEO Gareth Martin said that the congress alone was expected to generate upwards of A$4.8 million in direct delegate expenditure for Western Australia with associated field excursions generating further economic and social returns for regional areas around the State.
communities to interact through a combination of virtual and face-to-face experiences in ways that will increase their return on investments and improve efficiencies
Event technology has exploded over the last year. It seems like every day, a new crop of event trends emerges as event providers are inundated with technology choices.
Comparing traditional television with streaming, a print magazine with tablets, or music CDs with Spotify, the next big thing for events will undoubtedly be the hybrid mix of virtual and face-to-face – and more.
Communities will interact through a combination of virtual and face-to-face experiences in ways that will increase their return on investments and improve efficiencies
Just last year, we made predictions about when the pandemic would end, and in-person meetings would resume. But we did not have the luxury of time to be at a standstill for so long and keep events on hold. This brings us to the 180-degree turn to the virtual when everything was in lockdown, and we had no choice but to leverage on the digital space.
Presently, we are seeing another shift to the hybrid format now that restrictions have eased, and more people are beginning to realise that we need to adapt to the situation we have been dealt with. Many event platforms are also going above and beyond, fully immersing in the technology pool to create unique, immersive, and engaging experiences unlike never before.
In Asia, we are witnessing a stronger appetite for digital or hybrid events – more than twice as likely to have participated in such events than respondents from other regions. Furthermore, nearly 80 per cent of Asia Pacific business events professionals have planned for their in-person and virtual audiences to interact, compared with 27 per cent of North American planners.
The accelerated drive towards embracing the virtual and hybrid, coupled with the booming internet economy and rise of digital natives, gets us excited for what the future has in store for us.
Asynchronous collaboration is the future of events
The when and where of work is no longer one-size-fits-all because the shift to remote work now allows employees to work asynchronous schedules. We are also looking at the rise of a hybrid workplace model based on greater flexibility and more asynchronous communication.
Work is more inclusive for employees who need flexibility, allowing them to work from anywhere and at convenient times.
As a result, the rules of which day and time are best to host an event may no longer apply.
We will now bid adieu to monotonous, one-way interactions, which led to numerous “video fatigue” cases in 2020. As virtual and hybrid event platforms proliferated in 2021, attendees can select the sessions they wish to listen to, network with co-attendees who share the same interests, and even set up meetings with exhibitors when it is convenient for them; not only when it is convenient for event organisers.
As a result, the costs of virtual events were kept low. Rather than needing to capture the attendees’ attention for the entirety of an event, smaller and bite-sized experiences that cater to their interests are far more effective.
A greater demand for immersive experiences
With the advent of innovative virtual event technologies, there are far more applications than just trade shows and conferences. Other large-scale events such as concerts, political rallies, sales kick-offs, town halls, education summits, mental-health seminars, and job fairs can also use event technology to achieve business goals.
The Metaverse has also changed the expectations for event experiences. Raised with immersive worlds like Minecraft and Roblox, Gen Z is leaning towards augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to build connections.
Data analytics and digital fluency have made it possible to create personalised event experiences for attendees and cultivate relationships through communication styles that are wildly different from pure face-to-face communication.
There will also be more possibilities to engage and emerge as virtual and hybrid to create better experiences. It is crucial for events platforms to reimagine the next event and put forth more innovative and engaging solutions to stay ahead of the curve.
These are just a few of the things we expect we will see in the future. The brilliant and creative minds behind event platforms, along with an ecosystem that supports innovative technologies, make nothing impossible.
Vaibhav Jain is the CEO and founder of Hubilo, a global virtual and hybrid event technology company. Under his leadership, Hubilo raised over US$150 million – a Seed round of US$4.5 million, a Series A round of US$23.5 million, and Series B round of US$125 million in less than a year from hedge fund and venture capital firms globally, and the company continues to grow exponentially, internally and geographically.
Jain’s vision is to create a solution that works for every possible industry where content and community can come together beyond the business world.
Radisson Blu has opened the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Nashik, nestled at the foothills of the two-millennia old Pandav Caves in India.
With over 4,500m2 of indoor and outdoor event space, Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Nashik will be able to host banquet functions, offsite business meetings and conferences, premier launches, and executive retreats.
Indoor spaces comprise the 790m2 Godavari Ballroom or The Living Room good for 12 guests, while outdoor venues include the Godavari Lawns that can host up to 2,000 guests, as well as an Amphitheatre with a manicured lawn.
There are 224 rooms available, including 18 suites with private balconies. Guests can choose from five room categories ranging from the superior room with pool view, to the deluxe suite.
The hotel is also well-equipped with recreational amenities such as Atman – The Spa, a 24-hour fitness centre, a hair and beauty salon, an outdoor pool with a temperature-controlled jacuzzi, squash court, and pilates room.
Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Nashik is also home to four dining restaurants ranging from The Orient House specialising in Chinese cuisine, to The Tuscan Room that is inspired by Italy’s traditional culinary culture. There is also a Tea Lounge with its own whiskey bar.
Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Nashik is conveniently located within a 30-minute drive from Ozar Nashik International Airport, 20-minutes from Nashik railway station, 10-minutes from Nashik bus station and 10-minutes from the city centre.
The Australian Turf Club (ATC) has unveiled Sydney’s newest world-class business events venue, the WINX Stand at Royal Randwick.
Named in honour of the wonder racehorse Winx, the two-level A$46.6 million (US$33.7 million) state-of-the-art venue is expected to play host to Sydney’s top local events and attract domestic and international meetings and events, including conferences, gala dinners, exhibitions, and other boutique or large-scale celebrations.
The Winx Stand
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Designed by Cox Architecture, built by Taylor Construction and project managed by MostynCopper over 13 months, the new two-level multi-purpose facility offers 5,043m2 of flexible floor space which includes The Pavilion on the ground floor, and the Gallery South, Gallery North and Gallery Terrace on level one.
The ground floor features an expansive, fully-enclosed indoor space flooded with natural light from floor-to-ceiling glass and offers 2,300m2 that can host 2,030 pax for a conference, 3,000 for a cocktail event, 1,800 banquet style and 94 stands for an exhibition. This space is accompanied by several other outdoor events and activation spaces.
Meanwhile, level one of the WINX Stand features two fully-enclosed modern indoor spaces connected by a sweeping open-air outdoor terrace offering panoramic vistas over Royal Randwick. This space is ideal for conferences and galas, with each Gallery space designed to host 530 pax for a conference, 500 for cocktails and 400 banquet-style. The level is also suitable for full event takeovers.
For celebrations, parties, and end-of-year events, the WINX Stand can host 4,000 cocktail-style throughout the venue.
Melinda Madigan, executive general manager, commercial, ATC, reflected on the interest already expressed in the venue and the positive economic of the A$46.6 million WINX Stand.
“Not surprisingly we are seeing extensive demand and inquiries, with the venue fully booked out for its first month of opening and strong bookings already throughout 2022.
“While this is an investment in the infrastructure at Royal Randwick, we also estimate the WINX Stand will deliver over A$150 million in economic benefit to New South Wales, while creating over 450 jobs during construction, which is so important to support the state’s post-Covid recovery.”
Contact meetingsandevents@australianturfclub.com.au for more information.
(TMCs) are reinventing themselves – preparing for a new trading environment
The impact the pandemic has had on business travel is well documented and the changing market conditions are leading to a significant shift in the industry.
Rebuilding Business Travel – Insights from global TMC leaders on the business travel industry outlook and recovery strategies for 2022, the latest report from Amadeus explores the opportunities, challenges, and growth strategies that will shape the future of business travel.
TMCs are reinventing themselves and preparing for a new trading environment
The research is based on insights from over 250 Travel Management Companies (TMC) executives, gathered through a quantitative survey as well as deep-dive interviews.
The research looked at the changing priorities of business travel, with the results showing:
Globally, 92% of business travellers want to be informed about health and safety information on the country they are visiting, before and during their business trip. Eighty-two per cent of business travellers in APAC echo a similar sentiment.
Last-minute changes are becoming increasingly common; due to changes such as flight cancellations as a result of new quarantine restrictions or testing requirements. Meanwhile, 50% of global travellers prioritise disruption management for last-minute changes, compared to 38% of APAC business travellers. This indicates that as the needs of business travellers evolve, so do TMCs’ roles in managing these disruptions.
Duty of Care is now identified as the number one business travel requirement for clients – (Global: 65%; APAC: 68%). The need for companies to reduce risk is expected as TMCs now facilitate more than air travel, with rail, hotel and car bookings included.
When asked about the future of the business travel industry, the survey results show:
Globally, 49% of TMCs see a shift from ‘unmanaged’ to ‘managed travel’. The number is higher for APAC at 57%. As planning for a business trip becomes increasingly complex with logistical and risk management exercises, employers will require assistance when it comes to travel arrangements.
Next, 71% of TMCs in APAC cited technological advancements as the top strategy for the recovery of business travel, compared to 63% globally.
Other recovery strategies include cost optimisation (Global: 49%; APAC: 63%), where TMCs automate tasks like routine service desk enquiries or offer more self-service tools to clients so that they can focus more on the duty of care for travellers, followed by diversification to new revenue sources (Global: 69%; APAC: 59%). Business travellers are looking for more services and content, which means TMCs can look at different technologies to improve customer service including improving mobile apps and messaging tools, virtual payment offerings and self-booking tools with fuller content.
Mieke De Schepper, executive vice president and managing director, Asia Pacific, Amadeus, said: “TMCs in Asia Pacific are the most optimistic that business travel will recover – something which has already happened in the Chinese domestic market – and resume its impressive long-term growth trajectory.
“But much has changed, and APAC TMCs see clear opportunities in the new world of business travel to also further improve on the past. A great example is the high number who expect more companies to shift from unmanaged to managed business travel. This provides fantastic potential for TMCs to earn more revenue by helping clients with this transformation. Expect more use of technology too: APAC TMCs are especially strong believers in progress through automation.”
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has appointed Mark S. Bradford as general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen.
In this new role, Bradford will establish a new luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel in Shenzhen. The project is scheduled to open in early 2022 and encompasses 178 spacious guestrooms and suites, eight restaurants and bars, several event spaces and a spa.
The seasoned hotelier has two decades of experience with Mandarin Oriental, initially joining as hotel manager at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, and then taking on senior leadership positions in Chiang Mai, Marrakech, Manila and Jakarta.
Prior to this move, he was opening general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Wangfujing, Beijing.
W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 hotel brands, has opened the W Xiamen in China.
Set in Xiamen’s downtown East Business District, the property welcomes gatherings in its 1,000m2 Great Room that features avant-garde art, colour-changing ceiling bulbs, and a 110m2 LED screen, the largest in the city. There are also six other customisable studio spaces for smaller events. The 262m2 Extreme WOW Suite is another possible exclusive function space, filled with contemporary art.
W Xiamen
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There are 293 guestrooms and suites in total, alongside recreational amenities such as a 24/7 fitness centre, the Away Spa, and an indoor swimming pool.
Guests can also avail the four dining concepts within W Xiamen, where watering holes like the pool bar offers modern street food-inspired bar bites and cocktails, and the lobby-level Living Room Soundscape offering organic brews and healthy beverages.
There is also Min Yen restaurant featuring a fusion of Cantonese and Minnan flavours, and private hostings of Cognac tastings paired with mystery menus; and all-day dining space Nine, which serves baked goods and handmade noodles in the day, high tea in the afternoon with rare teas and craft beers, and steaks and seafood when the sun goes down.
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.
Vaibhav Jain is the CEO and founder of Hubilo, a global virtual and hybrid event technology company. Under his leadership, Hubilo raised over US$150 million – a Seed round of US$4.5 million, a Series A round of US$23.5 million, and Series B round of US$125 million in less than a year from hedge fund and venture capital firms globally, and the company continues to grow exponentially, internally and geographically.
