Oceania Cruises gets a new culinary director
Oceania Cruises has appointed chef Alexis Quaretti as director of culinary programmes and development. Previously senior executive chef for Oceania Cruises, Quaretti will now oversee all aspects of the development, introduction, and implementation of new concepts across the line’s seven ships and 12 restaurant brands.
Quaretti first joined Oceania Cruises in 2004 and was soon promoted to executive chef at the young age of 27.
“We welcome Chef Alexis, one of the most influential chefs in hospitality, back to the Oceania Cruises family with open arms,” said Howard Sherman, president and CEO of Oceania Cruises. “He brings a unique perspective to the role, having been an integral part of our growth and prowess over the last 20 years helping build our reputation for serving The Finest Cuisine at Sea.
New Zealand removes indoor capacity limits
The New Zealand government has moved the Covid-19 Protection Framework (traffic lights) down from Red to Orange, three weeks after it was first announced.
Under Orange, indoor capacity limits have been lifted, and the seated and separated rule for event venues – alongside bars, cafes and restaurants – have been lifted. People are also still required to wear a face mask in most indoor settings.
Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) chief executive Lisa Hopkins said that this announcement, coupled with the lifting of border restrictions and doing away with self isolation, is very much welcome by the business events industry.
She added: “There is pent-up demand from Australian, international, and domestic event organisers with a robust booking pipeline waiting in the wings.
“Business events are critical to New Zealand’s recovery. The desire to meet face-to-face has never been stronger, and the return of in-person meetings and events, and people travelling for business events has never been more important. This will bring a positive impact right across our economy and our communities.”
Meanwhile, BEIA’s annual tradeshow MEETINGS is set for June 15-16, 2022, which Hopkins revealed has “attracted registrations from hundreds of Australian and New Zealand event managers and PCO”. MEETINGS will be held at the new Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, and have 200 exhibitors from 18 regions of New Zealand in attendance.
Cisco rebrands Socio to Webex Events
Socio has now been transformed into the all-new Webex Events, following the acquisition of Socio by Cisco, the owner of Webex, in July 2021.
This is according to a blog post shared by general manager, Webex Events (formerly Socio CEO) Yarkin Sakucoglu.
Socio began as an in-person event management solution that created a virtual offering during the pandemic. Webex Events has now been integrated into the larger Webex ecosystem, which includes products like Vidcast and Slido.
Describing Webex Events as a “true end-to-end, hybrid-ready event management platform”, Sakucoglu writes that “technical integrations” with other solutions like Webex Meetings and Voicea, are currently being accelerated. The platform is currently able to support registration, ticketing, check-in, and badge-printing to advanced studio production, sponsorship capabilities, engagement features, lead retrieval, and analytics.
In all, this would help the company expand beyond the online meeting space, and make a move on the in-person and hybrid event spaces.
In addition, Webex Events is remaining open to other streaming solutions, meaning that organizations that use Microsoft Teams can still host an event on Webex Events without needing a Webex license.
“Hybrid events are going to become increasingly commonplace, but at this pivotal moment, it’s important to look at hybrid events differently. Hybrid isn’t just about providing the same content to two distinct audiences, based on where they’re consuming it,” indicatedSakucoglu.
“Moving forward, events will live on a spectrum, allowing for unique, personalised experiences, no matter how people choose to attend.”
Ascott targets 150 lyf properties by 2030
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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”.
“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.
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Australia’s Victoria state has earned hosting rights to the 2026 Commonwealth Games (Victoria 2026), as well as the 2028 and 2040 Presidents Cup, all of which will bring hefty local economic benefits and positive legacy for its people.
Victoria 2026 is estimated to contribute more than A$3 billion (US$2.2 billion) to the state’s economy, and create more than 600 full-time-equivalent jobs before the games, 3,900 jobs during the games, and 3,000 jobs beyond the Closing Ceremony.
To be held across multiple regions, Victoria 2026 will create a new multi-city model for the Commonwealth Games, with four regional hubs to be established in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland – each with its own athletes’ village and sport programme. The opening ceremony will be hosted at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The games will also see significant investment in community infrastructure, including housing and world-class sports facilities. These will leave a legacy of affordable housing for the regions and modern sports infrastructure to encourage Victorians to get active and attract future major events.
Premier Daniel Andrews shared: “It’s a great honour to have Victoria chosen as the host venue for the 2026 Commonwealth Games – we can’t wait to welcome the world to all of our state. The Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria is great for jobs, hospitality and our economy.”
“Hosting the Commonwealth Games in four years’ time will deliver major benefits, particularly the regions, and leave a lasting legacy for the growth and development of sport throughout Victoria,” said Martin Pakula, minister for tourism, sport and major events.
Meanwhile, Melbourne’s iconic Sandbelt will play host to the Presidents Cup in 2028 and 2040, bringing the prestigious global golf event back to Victoria.
Previous Presidents Cups were held in Melbourne in 1998, 2011 and 2019. The biennial event generated a combined economic impact of more than A$121 million, thousands of hours in broadcasts globally, and more than 315,000 spectators, including 47,000 visitors to Victoria.
The 2028 Presidents Cup will also help deliver on Victoria’s Golf Tourism Strategy 2018-23, as the state vies to be recognised as one of the top five golf destinations in the world.
Pakula said: “Securing two more Presidents Cups is a real coup for Melbourne, promoting our city to the world and providing a boost for tourism and jobs. The PGA TOUR joins the likes of the Australian Open, Formula One, T20 Cricket World Cup and Super Rugby in choosing our world-class facilities for their international events.”