Asia/Singapore Wednesday, 29th April 2026
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Ascott targets 150 lyf properties by 2030

By TTGmice
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A meeting space within lyf one north

CapitaLand Investment Limited’s (CLI) wholly owned lodging business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has set a target to sign 150 properties with over 30,000 units under its lyf coliving brand by 2030.

The announcement was made at the official opening of lyf one-north on Monday, which was the second lyf property to open in Singapore.

A meeting space within lyf one-north

The 324-key property aims to meet the coliving needs of innovative start-ups, research and development firms as well as high-tech and media enterprises located nearby, while injecting vibrancy into the district through its experiential programmes and placemaking activities.

Lyf or ‘live your freedom’ is a lodging concept designed for next-generation guests. The apartments, social spaces and experiential programmes at lyf properties are designed for guests to forge connections and nurture a strong sense of community.

Kevin Goh, CLI’s CEO for lodging, said that lyf “combines the best of serviced residences, hotels and coliving apartments”.

“Our first lyf property – lyf Funan Singapore achieved an 80 per cent occupancy level within three months of its opening in September 2019. lyf one-north Singapore welcomed our first guest in November 2021, and we have already achieved a strong occupancy rate of above 85 per cent today,” he added.

At the opening ceremony, Ascott also announced the launch of the lyf Innovation Lab to power up its digital-enabled offerings. Created in collaboration with Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Informatics & IT, the lyf Innovation Lab will explore, design and testbed immersive virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies and digital experiences for lyf. Lyf one-north Singapore will serve as a living lab for field testing these digital innovations, and successful pilots will eventually be implemented across other lyf properties worldwide.

Tan Bee Leng, Ascott’s managing director for brand & marketing, elaborated: “Tapping on VR and AR technologies, lyf is aiming to offer a borderless experience to our guests in the virtual realm. For example, our lyf Champions can host virtual property tours live or our Ambassadors of Buzzcan offer custom lyf tote bag design workshops where guests can then purchase their own creations in the metaverse as non-fungible tokens, or as actual merchandise in the real life. Guests looking for a workout can even spar over a game of virtual tennis and connect with other guests.”

Moving forward “creative co-innovation with industry partners, domain experts and institutes of higher learning” will be a key focus for Ascott, Tan added.

“We are in talks to set up more innovation labs for our other brands to field test new lodging concepts and hospitality programming. These living labs will enable us to rapidly prototype anything from eco-gyms to the latest cutting-edge technology. Guest usage patterns and preferences can then be translated into actionable insights to improve and expand Ascott’s hospitality product and service offerings. It will also shore up Ascott’s competitiveness through the upskilling of staff and the honing of our innovation capabilities,” Tan added.

Ascott currently has 17 lyf coliving properties with over 3,200 units in 14 cities and nine countries.

In 2022, five lyf properties are slated to open across the globe in cities such as Bangkok, Cebu, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne and Xi’an. Five other lyf properties are scheduled to open in Beijing, Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and Paris by 2025.

IAPCO marks GMID with 99 per cent retention rate

By TTGmice
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IAPCO, is a global non-for-profit organisation representing today 138 accredited business and professional events organisation companies in 40 countries

The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) marked Global Meetings Industry Day 2022 on April 7 with the publication of a full update of its members’ 2021 statistics, where the statistics are based on annual return data provided by IAPCO members.

IAPCO currently has a community of 138 PCO offices in 40 countries. The association shares that it has maintained its membership throughout the pandemic, with a 99 per cent retention rate over the past two years and new applications currently being processed.

IAPCO represents138 accredited business and professional events organisation companies in 40 countries

Ori Lahav, president of IAPCO, stated: “The immense value that our members place in their membership of IAPCO is evident in this years’ annual retention rate which stands at an enviable 99 per cent. This is a remarkable success story in light of the global pandemic and in comparison, to what many other associations are experiencing.”

Employment has been impacted by the crisis with the IAPCO membership community down 20 per cent and back to 2017 levels. Members have indicated high activity in recruitment through the latter part of 2021 and into 2022 as the meetings industry reopens globally.

In 2021, 11,945 events were delivered, where switching to virtual and hybrid formats has raised the number of attendees from previous years to a total of 14 million. The ratio of attendees at these events was put at 2/3 virtual and 1/3 in person.

Martin Boyle, CEO of IAPCO, added: “Collectively, our members have doubled the number of attendees from 2019. Reaching new audiences, providing accessibility and inclusivity for all around the globe has been a positive outcome of these virtual and hybrid formats.”

The structure of events has also changed, IAPCO reports, with 60 per cent now being association meetings, four per cent governmental and 24 per cent corporate. Before the pandemic corporate represented 50 per cent of meetings.

Martin Radcliff helms Adelaide Convention Centre

By TTGmice
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Adelaide Venue Management has appointed Martin Radcliffe as Adelaide Convention Centre’s general manager, effective May 2022.

Radcliffe brings more than 23 years’ national and international experience in the global MICE and hospitality industries to the role. Most recently he has been running a business consultancy, and is currently serving as chairperson of Adelaide Hills Tourism.

Previous roles include director of sales & marketing at the Adelaide Convention Bureau from January 2008 – to August 2015, where during his tenure, he achieved a then-record year in the Bureau’s 40-year history in terms of economic benefit delivered to the State.

Radcliffe also spent five years as general manager at The Mayfair Hotel in Adelaide, as well as various senior commercial roles with a major convention hotel and a portfolio of large business centres across the UK.

BCD makes two SVP promotions

By TTGmice
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From left: Samrat Roy; and Ben Wedlock

Travel management company BCD Travel has promoted Samrat Roy to senior vice president, programme management APAC; and Ben Wedlock to senior vice president, global sales APAC.

Roy was previously the vice president, programme management APAC, and he will continue to drive global and multinational account/client management methodologies and support the commercial team with regional customer retention.

From left: Samrat Roy; and Ben Wedlock

He has been with BCD for over a decade, steadily rising through the ranks. He first started as a regional account manager, before being named director in 2013 and vice president in 2017.

Meanwhile, Wedlock was previously the vice president, global sales APAC, and in his new position, he will lead the team in the expansion of BCD’s client portfolio in Asia-Pacific, while supporting customer bids globally.

Wedlock has a deep understanding of Asia and its different market nuances, and possesses a wealth of knowledge in travel management.

Tokyo rolls out Budo-inspired Fitness to enliven events

By TTGmice
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How a typical in-person session would look like

Tokyo’s new online and hybrid Budo-inspired Fitness promises physical activity and traditional Japanese culture in a fun, lively package.

The one-hour session, hosted by instructors in trendy Omotesando, combines fundamental budo (martial arts) techniques and “danceable movements” with upbeat music and lighting effects, allowing for beginners to martial arts to easily follow along.

How a typical in-person session would look like

As the experience ends with a guided meditation period, its combination of stimulating and relaxing elements is designed to showcase a sense of both traditional and modern Japan.

The programme is produced by JUN, a famous fashion brand in Tokyo, and is suitable for anyone who has a moderate level of fitness.

Hybrid sessions are suitable for up to 18 pax per session, or a larger group if the organiser can secure a suitable space with the required equipment. It can also be enjoyed as a hands-on attraction for online participants.

The programme is available as a support program provided by Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau for corporate meetings and incentive travel groups. It can be delivered in Japanese or simple English.

Hybrid meetings, domestic visitors help keep Bangkok’s MICE players afloat

By Rachel AJ Lee
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Skyline view of Bangkok from the rooftop of Millennium Hilton Bangkok

Business events stakeholders in Bangkok are looking forward to the rest of 2022 with optimism, as restrictions ease. The Thai government is also set to announce the move to an endemic status come July 1.

Paitara Chaochalard, managing director of PCO Neat Event and Consultant, is confident that “things are only going to get better from here onwards”.

Skyline view of Bangkok from the rooftop of Millennium Hilton Bangkok. Photo: Rachel AJ Lee

“The last two years were a struggle, and we’ve had to learn to adapt and pivot to virtual events. One good thing to come out of the pandemic is hybrid events, which has opened up a new offering for us,” she told TTGmice.

Similarly for Paula & Co, the DMC also had to pivot to virtual meetings, which has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“We were able to conduct virtual MICE training for university students, as well as organise small corporate meetings,” shared Sirichet Thanomphant, Paula & Co’s business development manager.

“We will continue to organise hybrid meetings, but as for the incentives business, I am hoping to recover some shorthaul business from regional countries,” Sirichet added, adding that the DMC recently confirmed a 500 pax incentive group from a South-east Asian country, hailing from the luxury sector.

While event companies turned to virtual events, hoteliers shifted their attention toward the domestic corporate and leisure markets to ride out the pandemic.

Nattanicha Benjabut, senior director of sales, Thailand, Hilton, shared: “Business (for Bangkok properties) was very bad (the past two years), and we survived on the leisure market and small domestic meetings.”

But as borders reopen, she said Hilton stand in good stead for recovery, as international hotel brands are favoured among event planners for their own health and safety standards.

Just like Sirichet, Nattanicha’s focus for the year will also be on the shorthaul events market, especially those with direct air access to Bangkok.

Over at Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, international business is slowly picking up, shared Nuntiva Wirotworachai, director of sales. The property is currently “fielding many requests” for events planned to take place from July. At the same time, domestic luxury companies, as well as banking and finance firms, have continued to demonstrate a willingness to spend on events.

However, Karnrawee Jongwattanasawat, senior sales manager – MICE, Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok, indicates that the industry is a long way from full recovery.

One of the challenges, she stated, was that Bangkok is usually not the first choice for domestic groups, as compared to resort destinations like Phuket, Pattaya, and Hua Hin, so they have had to work harder to win business.

“There are too many hotels in Bangkok, and competition is tough. Companies that are stuck here want to get out instead,” Karnrawee said.

Fortunately, as borders reopen, more international requests have started streaming in, and the first international corporate group to stay at the Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok this year was a group of 20 Singaporeans.

When asked to predict when the longhaul market would make its comeback, both Sirichet and Nattanicha pointed to 2023 and 2024, while Nuntiva projected 2024 and 2025.

Waldorf Astoria to debut in Sydney come 2025

By TTGmice
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Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts will plant its first Australian flag in Sydney early in 2025, following a signing last week for the Waldorf Astoria Sydney within the One Circular Quay mixed-use development.

Construction has commenced on the 28-floor, 220-key luxury hotel, which will enjoy a prime location in the city and offer guests unrivalled views of the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Sydney will welcome Australia’s first Waldorf Astoria

Room inventory will comprise 179 guestrooms and 41 suites, while other facilities onsite include the Waldorf Astoria Spa on level one, two original restaurant concepts, a rooftop bar, and Peacock Alley, a signature central gathering place.

“As the first Waldorf Astoria property to debut in Australia, Waldorf Astoria Sydney signals Hilton’s commitment to expanding our luxury portfolio to the world’s most sought-after destinations,” said Nils-Arne Schroeder, vice president, luxury & lifestyle, Asia Pacific, Hilton.

The Datai Langkawi rolls out new nature experiences and upgraded facilities

By TTGmice
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Poet's Trail, a self-guided jungle trek for guests of The Datai Langkawi

The Datai Langkawi in Malaysia has developed a number of fresh nature experiences, relaunched its signature The Chef series, and launched two new room categories, as Malaysia’s borders reopen.

New for 2022, The Nature Centre at the Datai Langkawi invites guests to participate in reef protection activities at the centre’s new Coral Nursery, learn about the resort’s reforestation efforts at the Native Tree Nursery or discover how to harvest the unique Trigona itama honey from the resort’s stingless beehives with a new “Bee a Beekeeper” activity.

Poet’s Trail, a self-guided jungle trek for guests of The Datai Langkawi

Meanwhile, the resort’s sustainable craft-making centre, The Lab – built from over 9,000 used wine, champagne, and liquor bottles – has also been extended with an open-air annexe to conduct upcycling workshops.

Outdoors, the resort’s inspirational Poet’s Trail has been relaunched with a series of poems by Max Wallis, Khalil Gibran and The Datai’s Resident Naturalist, Irshad Mobarak.

The Datai Langkawi also welcomes back The Chef Series, a signature chef residency dining experience that welcomes culinary stars to its kitchens throughout the year. Previously, guest chefs included luminaries as Michel Roux, Nils Henkel and Michel and Sebastien Bras.

The focus for this year is ‘Eclectic Malaysian’ Dining, spotlighting the country’s culinary talents. From April 22-23, 2022, chef Azli Ahmad from OpenHouse KLCC, will champion Malaysian flavours based on recipes handed down by mothers and grandmothers.

For their menus, the chefs focus on local ingredients, especially what they can hand-pick from the resort’s own permaculture garden where the resort team grows turmeric, chilli, lemongrass, pandan and many more ingredients essential to authentic Malaysian fare. Fresh fish and seafood are predominantly sourced from Langkawi’s fishermen and organic chicken is available from a local village farm.

Some of the chef residencies are accompanied by cooking demonstrations and cooking classes, where guests are able to enjoy a hands-on gastronomic experience creating and enjoying their own culinary creations, under the guidance of the chefs themselves.

The Datai Langkawi has also introduced two new room categories: the Canopy Garden and the Rainforest Premium Villa. The five new Canopy Garden rooms are ideal for larger groups, offering direct access to an outdoor private patio and seating area, while the Rainforest Premium Villa offers enhanced privacy views of Anak Datai River and Sungai Datai.

Thailand scraps PCR tests to boost tourism

By TTGmice
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Baggage claim area at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Thailand plans to scrap the mandatory on-arrival Covid-19 PCR test for foreign visitors starting from May, as the country steps up efforts to lure more tourists back.

The PCR tests will be replaced with the quicker ART tests at airports, Thailand’s deputy health minister Sathit Pitutecha said on Friday, after a meeting with the Covid-19 panel.

Baggage claim area at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Vaccinated travellers will also no longer need to reserve a one-night hotel stay to secure visas, joining other countries such as the Philippines and Singapore in easing border restrictions.

The Test & Go scheme has been seen as a major deterrent for travellers, and the hospitality industry has long asked for the programme to be scrapped.

Thailand’s Covid task force will review the proposed visa relaxations again over the new few weeks.

Surge in business event enquiries for Queenstown

By TTGmice
0
Queenstown (pictured) in New Zealand is reporting a surge in MICE enquiries

The Queenstown Convention Bureau (QCB) has reported a dramatic increase in business event enquiries, following the recent New Zealand government announcement welcoming Australian business events groups back into the country.

According to the bureau, Australian leads are up 366 per cent for 3Q2022, while hotels in Queenstown are reporting a great increase in queries.

Queenstown (pictured) in New Zealand is reporting a surge in MICE enquiries

Significant investment over the past two years in accommodation, facilities and services puts Queenstown in a good position to support the return of business events.

Accommodation capacity has increased by 38 per cent since June 2018, new activities such as Oxbow and iFly are now available, new restaurants and bars have opened, and airlines have confirmed they will increase flights between Australia and Queenstown.

Jana Kingston, business development manager – Australia and North America at QCB, shared that she met with over 60 buyers at the recently-concluded AIME in Melbourne, at which Queenstown’s new venues and activities were showcased, generating almost 20 leads.

“To say we are excited to welcome Australian business events and delegates back to Queenstown is an understatement. We have spent two years preparing for this day, we have used our downtime wisely and we are ready to show why Queenstown is still one of the world’s top business event destinations,” said Kingston.

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