Coworking space operator, The Great Room, has opened its fifth Singapore location at the Afro-Asia building, the operator’s largest location in the country.
The Great Room will take up some 3,400m2 of Afro-Asia’s office space from the sixth to eighth floors, as well as the fifth floor Sky Garden, which can be used as an outdoor event area. Afro-Asia is a 19-storey Grade A office building with Green Mark Platinum and LEED Platinum ecological certifications.
For the design of the Afro-Asia location, The Great Room enlisted award-winning designer Joyce Wang, who made use of recycled and upcycled materials, and co-created art, craft, installations and furniture with local artisans.
The Great Room, Afro-Asia features 50 Dedicated Offices, up to 16 on-demand Hot Offices and 41 Hot Desks, and a host of conferencing and meeting areas.
In the Drawing Room, which forms the heart of the space, members can not only gather for quiet discussions and moments of thought and study, but also to socialise and network.
Gatherings of professionals in sizes ranging from four to 60 can be housed in various meeting areas, from the Studio (an open space for up to 24 pax), to the Stateroom (an elegant boardroom for 14 pax), or the eight meeting rooms that cater to groups of four to 14 pax each.
For private workspaces, the Workhall houses a variety of hot desks and offices, private phone booths, and lounges. Members can also utilise the Podcast Room (up to three pax) for thoughtful conversations.
A first for the coworking operator, the Afro-Asia location will feature a dedicated Wellness Room (up to five pax) in which members can immerse in restorative programmes – such as sound healing, breathwork exercises and yoga – designed to boost their wellbeing.
The Great Room also regularly organises a roster of knowledge sharing programmes for members. This includes Spend The Night with… a fireside chat series with international opinion leaders on topics ranging from climate change to women’s empowerment.
Members will also be invited to regular networking events and entertainment activities, such as craft workshops, Monday Breakfast Club, a turndown cart offering hot chocolate and cookies at the end of day, and Great Thirstday – a monthly social event for members to network over drinks.
Co-founder and CEO of The Great Room, Jaelle Ang, said in a statement: “The opening of The Great Room at Afro-Asia comes at a time when the world is rethinking the concept of the workplace. This next chapter of our brand is a starting point of a journey towards a more sustainable work environment, as well as our continued evolution in human-centric design in this new era of hybrid working, and individual and corporate wellbeing.”
Radisson Collection has expended its portfolio in China with the latest launch of a Radisson Collection Hotel in Wuxi.
Radisson Collection Hotel, Wuxi stands in the city’s Xishan district, just 20 minutes’ drive from Sunan Shuofang International Airport and 15 minutes from Wuxi Railway Station.
Presidential Suite
Meeting planners can avail the 2,400m2 of flexible function space, including a Grand Ballroom good for 800 guests, and put their guests up in one of the 318 rooms. Corporate guests will also be able to make use of the Executive Lounge on the 27th floor.
Lead-in Collection Superior Rooms start at 40m2, and go all the way up to the 258m2 Presidential Suite. All rooms have working areas, smart bathroom fixtures, fast Wi-Fi, a Nespresso coffee machine.
Radisson Collection Hotel, Wuxi will also be the first to offer the brand’s new wellness concept, The Spa at Radisson Collection. The spa offers massage and yoga spaces, a sauna and an indoor swimming pool with a view. Other facilities include five restaurants and bars, from the whisky bar Elaresanse, to the all-day dining restaurant Maillard 69, the first 3D immersive restaurant in Wuxi.
Radisson Collection Hotel, Wuxi becomes the fifth Radisson Collection hotel in China. It also marks Radisson Hotel Group’s second property in Wuxi, following Radisson Blu Resort Wetland Park Wuxi.
Priority Pass, owned and operated by Collinson, has partnered with Sama-Sama Hotels Group in Malaysia, owned and operated by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), giving Priority Pass Members access to eight new lounges in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
The partnership covers eight lounges located across both terminals 1 and 2 in KLIA. The Airport Lounge KLIA (next to Gate C5) in terminal 1 is already open to Priority Pass Members, with remaining lounges added to the network over the coming weeks.
Some of these lounges were previously formal VIP lounges designated for Commercially Important People (CIP), meaning they’re of “exceptionally high quality”, shared Todd Handcock, President, Asia Pacific, Collinson.
This partnership will enhance Priority Pass’s existing network, which includes at least one experience in 94 per cent of the top 100 busiest airports globally – ensuring Priority Pass Members can enjoy access to calming, socially-distanced spaces in the most frequently traversed locations.
Air travellers pass immigration control at Changi International Airport.
From November 15, capacity limits and zoning requirements for selected business events, performance and spectator sports events have been eased under a pilot screen, according to The Straits Times.
The selected business events are the Milken Institute Asia Summit on November 15 and 16, the Bloomberg New Economy Forum from November 16 to 19, and Industrial Transformation Asia Pacific 2021 from November 22 to 24.
Air travellers passing immigration at Changi International Airport
A maximum of 1,000 people is allowed to attend these business events if all attendees are vaccinated. Individuals who wish to attend these events will have to adhere to the country’s new protocols – a combination of vaccination-differentiated measures and pre-event testing – for additional precautions.
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen rapid test (ART) results must be reflected on the TraceTogether app, or performed or supervised by the event organiser or venue operator, either in person or virtually.
These pilots will be assessed before deciding how to expand the protocol to more events and settings, as part of Singapore’s broader plan to allow safe resumption of further activities.
In addition, Singapore intends to launch Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) with travellers from Indonesia and India, starting from November 29. The nation is currently in talks with India to resume scheduled commerical services, beginning with two VTL flights each from Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai.
Travellers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE will also be able to enter Singapore from December 6, under the VTL scheme.
While vaccinated travellers from Singapore can travel without quarantine to and from India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Indonesia remains closed to general travel from Singapore.
Indonesia has already opened its borders to visitors from 19 countries, and Singapore is looking at creating two daily VTL flights between Singapore and Jakarta as a start, and go up to four.
India, Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are in Category Two of the Health Ministry’s Covid-19 risk classification for border measures. The countries’ classification means they either have similar or lower Covid-19 incidence rates than Singapore and other VTL countries.
By December 6, Singapore will have a total of 21 VTLs. Thirteen VTLs are currently in effect, with three more – Malaysia, Sweden and Finland – due to start on November 29.
The Republic is also looking to reopen land links with Malaysia in a few weeks time.
With the addition of the new VTL countries, the overall daily quota of arrivals via the scheme will be increased from 6,000 to 10,000.
Travellers entering Singapore under the VTL scheme do not have to serve a stay-home notice. Instead, they have to test negative for Covid-19 two days prior to departure for Singapore, as well as upon arrival.
Australia has been one of the most locked down countries in the world for most of the pandemic. What has the journey been like for business events in Australia this year? It’s certainly been a challenging year for the Australian business events industry. Earlier in the year however we saw a positive shift in domestic sentiment, with face-to-face events resuming across the country.
The Victorian Tourism Conference 2021 achieved 900 delegates in April, while OzWater’21 hosted more than 2,500 delegates at the Adelaide Convention Centre in May. Tourism Australia’s own 2021 Australian Tourism Exchange ‘live’ event at the ICC Sydney was attended by more than 1,400 delegates.
Our most recent domestic corporate sentiment research, which surveyed respondents in May, indicated that business confidence in holding events was gaining momentum. However, the recent lockdowns in some parts of Australia due to the pandemic has had a significant impact once again on business events in Australia, with industry feedback suggesting domestic events being postponed until the end of the year and into early 2022.
On a positive note, we continue to have new leads coming in from our key international markets and wins through our Bid Fund Program which suggests that Australia’s desirability as a business events destination remains positive.
What are Australia’s plans to restart business events domestically in 2022? For domestic, we’re continuing the delivery of our marketing activity, partnership programmes, as well as our research on domestic corporate sentiment. Earlier in the year, we announced an additional A$1 million (US$735,030) in funding for our Business Events Boost Program to continue to provide Australia’s business events industry with marketing and distribution support that will help convert domestic business events during the financial year 2021-22.
As a result, we will be supporting 64 partnerships this financial year across a variety of projects including asset creation, event promotion and delegate boosting, marketing campaigns, educational trips and client showcases, digital projects and promotion of key industry events in 2021-22.
We recently launched an industry vaccination initiative, It’s Our Best Shot For Events. And when the time is right, we will also launch the latest evolution of the Event Here This Year campaign to showcase the breadth and quality of Australia’s business events offering and encourage domestic corporates to get back to holding business events.
The Prime Minister of Australia has released Australia’s plan for reopening to the world, which indicates international travel has reopened to Australian citizens and residents who are fully vaccinated.
We are thrilled to see our borders starting to reopen, and hope that we will be welcoming back international business events in the near future. This is a positive and crucial step towards the recovery of the business events industry.
This is great news. What have you been doing to gear up for international events returning? In our international markets, we continue to drive future demand through our distribution activity including a mixture of face-to-face, hybrid and virtual engagement, as well as through our content marketing initiatives such as Australia Next, our incentive publication for business events planners that is distributed to key international markets.
The Business Events Bid Fund Program, which received an additional A$3 million in funding to cover new pledges and bids for an additional 12 months throughout 2021-22, continues to drive conversion for international business events. As of September 30, 2021, 50 events have been won via the Business Events Bid Fund Program worth A$390 million.
Continuing the success of our Advance Program, this year the programme will focus on tailored and strategic partnerships with Australian industries that are actively bidding for international business events. These partnerships continue to help keep Australia front of mind.
What or where do you see the biggest challenges and opportunities for these plans? As a destination, the challenge continues to be to ensure we stay front of mind and in the consideration set for business events planners while they can’t visit.
The good news is that we recently conducted new international research, the Business Events Consumer Demand Project, to help inform our business events strategy and activity.
What we discovered is that the sentiment is largely positive and optimistic for the future of the business events industry, with the majority of decision-makers across both the association and incentive sector indicating that the number of events held post-pandemic will be the same or greater and the available budget will increase.
In addition, the research suggests that once travel is unrestricted, organisations are ready to do something significant to acknowledge all that’s happened, and they will have the funds to do so from not running face-to-face events for some time.
There is a real opportunity for Australia to benefit from this sentiment – especially among those who see Australia as a bucket list destination. Supporting this sentiment, the research showed Australia has a strong reputation for excellent business events facilities, world-class beauty and natural environments, a range of accommodation options and local attractions, clean cities and good infrastructure and an appealing climate.
It is expected to be super-competitive when borders do begin to re-open. Does Australia have a strategy for standing out and winning business? We certainly expect that it will be super competitive between destinations as travel resumes. We’ve been working behind the scenes throughout the pandemic on our reopening strategy, and developing a suite of recovery projects to ensure Australia is optimally positioned for reopening.
The insights and findings from the Business Events Consumer Demand Project as well as from our Customer Advisory Panels, which we hold regularly in our key markets, guide our strategy in preparation for when international travel starts again.
We have a line-up of innovative creative projects and customer engagement initiatives being delivered this financial year. We know it’s important that we stay front of mind and connected with our valued business events planners, and we can’t wait to welcome them back to Australia for their next event.
Attendees will brave travel procedures if they see value in overseas business events
Virtual events provide extra reach, here to stay post-pandemic
Lack of clarity and consistency adds to travel uncertainty
In-person meetings, conferences and tradeshows are projected to increase in number despite cumbersome travel rules and regulations, and larger events look set to retain a virtual aspect
Cumbersome travel conditions, a result of governments’ Covid-19 restrictions, have not discouraged people from crossing borders to attend business events in person, observed show owners and organisers.
While Mathias Kuepper, Koelnmesse Singapore’s managing director, acknowledged that travel restrictions would force people to be “more selective (with) which overseas event they will attend”, the pain of virtual event fatigue was driving delegates to crave the return of face-to-face events.
Kuepper predicts that the expansion of travel lanes, which the world has witnessed in recent months, will encourage an increase in delegate travel.
He related that his company’s recently-concluded hybrid event, Gamescom Asia, received a number of overseas delegates despite travel hurdles, such as mandatory Covid-19 swab tests and a controlled itinerary in Singapore.
He noted that delegates were very happy to finally attend an event in-person, and interact face-to-face. “This was something most of them have been yearning for, (experiencing) the magic of a live event,” he remarked.
IMEX America, held in-person in Las Vegas from November 9 to 11, also went “really well”, shared Carina Bauer, chair of Association of Event Organisers as well as CEO of IMEX Group.
Bauer said attendees were generally not worried about travelling, protocols, tests and procedures because “they saw the value of attending the event” and went through the necessary trouble.
While interest in in-person attendance is growing, event organisers agree that measures to protect their participants, workforce and community must remain.
Katrina Leung, managing director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), said the company has a functioning hygiene concept and a policy that requires everyone involved in its tradeshows to be either vaccinated or tested.
Both Bauer and Hervé Sedky, chair of the Society of Independent Show Organizers and president & CEO of Emerald, have health protocols in place for their events, undergo self regulation, and conduct activities in the safest possible manner.
Sedky added that show organisers want to help “restart the economy in the right way” and ensure that business events are “not contributing to any additional cases around the world”.
“My impression is that people want to travel, and there’s pent-up demand to get back to business and get to events, and they trust organisers like us to put on events that are safe and secure,” said Sedky.
Alexis Lhoyer, co-founder and chief business officer of Chab Events, believes that the purpose of events will determine people’s willingness to “fly halfway around the world” for. Congresses where attendees close deals and network will more likely attract in-person attendance, compared to events that dispense knowledge.
In-person events in a post-lockdown world would need to provide more face-to-face value, Lhoyer opined, through “better quality meetings or matchmaking, high end touristic/entertainment experiences on the sidelines of the event, and attendees that really matters”.
“If the audience is ultimately (made up of) only competitors and colleagues, (the event) will be a nice industry catch-up but will not make people fly out for it,” he added.
Lhoyer added that event organisers could also help to “facilitate border measures for the next year or two”, as well as provide an “exclusive, curated experience for the in-person part of the event”, to pique delegates’ interest.
Continued virtual value
Even with the affirmation that “in-person events are essential for doing business”, David Thompson, IBTM World event director, acknowledges that “virtual events are a great way to engage with audiences”, especially as travel restrictions continue to impact in-person meetings.
That is why, IBTM World – slated to take place in-person this year at Fira, Barcelona, from November 30 to December 2, 2021 – will be accompanied by IBTM World Online from December 14-15, 2021, as an “enhancement”.
“Incorporating online as part of the mix allows our community the opportunity to engage with new markets like never before by offering more flexibility and extra layers of engagement,” he stated.
Leung pointed out that virtual exhibitions are a “great solution” to work around challenges of not being able to meet physically. Virtual events will continue to serve as an avenue for engagement between buyers, suppliers, and industry players.
Following the launch of the ITB Community platform last year, Messe Berlin went on to host ITB Asia 2021 Virtual on the platform. It featured business scheduling functions, conferences and keynotes, and digital exhibition. ITB India 2022 will also be held in a similar hybrid format.
Need for consistency and clarity
For in-person events to truly rebound, industry players agree that there must be a consistent set of rules for global travel and a reduction in bureaucracy to clear uncertainty among travellers.
“(Having to do) some tests is not necessarily preventive to travel. I think the biggest issue is the lack of consistency, where the difficulty comes from having to check and double check the rules for each destination,” said Bauer.
The lack of consistent travel regulations hurt event planning too, pointed out Sedky.
“(We need to be) very clear on what the policies are, the protocols are, (so that) we can plan around it. The challenge we have is that rules are constantly changing and it’s not clear,” he said.
Changes to travel policies impact event organisers’ ability to determine their operation schedule and to firm up contracts with vendors, such as stand builders.
“These cannot be done with a week’s notice. Therefore, clarity of regulations, and some kind of certainty that those regulations would be in place for a period that covers the event, is needed,” Bauer explained.
Kuepper added that accurate information on “who can travel and what is needed for travel” would instil confidence in event delegates, and allow show organisers to dispense such information early and clearly.
The next steps forward
As show organisers rebuild their line-up, top priorities have now shifted to upskilling, attracting new talents, and bringing old talent back into the fold.
New talents in demand include data scientists, noted Bauer, who are critical to helping event organisers “marry the event experience with data”.
Recognising the need for continued education, IBTM World 2021’s programme will include three keynote speakers from outside the business events industry presenting on trends and technology; gamification and engagement; the future of event planning (including discussions around sustainability, safety and security and government support); and career and personal development.
According to Sedky, the industry needs to prioritise attracting talents back, as many have shifted to other roles during the pandemic.
“When you’re in the live events industry, and you don’t run events for 18 months, you lose talent. (We need to look at) how we are going to attract these talents back into the industry, as well as attracting new ones,” he said.
A screenshot of the health and safety procedures being observed at GIIAS
As Indonesia’s government relaxes rules and movement restrictions across the country, event planners breathe easier as business events – mostly in hybridised formats – are allowed to take place.
Currently ongoing until November 21, 2021, is the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), held at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition in Tangerang. It will then be staged at the Grand City Convex in Surabaya, East Java, from December 8-12, 2021.
A screenshot of the health and safety procedures being observed at GIIAS
For both events, strict enforcement of health protocols are currently in place, and only fully-vaccinated individuals have been allowed entry.
GIIAS however, will still be engaging with its virtual audience through its Auto360 app, which will allow virtual attendees to sign up for test drives, test rides, seminars, and talks online.
From October 27-29, 2021, the Indonesia International Halal Lifestyle Conference and Forum was also held in a hybrid format at Jakarta Convention Centre.
Speaking at IECA (Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association) Afternoon Tea at Ciputra Artpreneur Jakarta, Wini Yoniton, the association’s executive director, said that a number of exhibitions by association members have been lined up for the coming months.
She shared that IECA itself is “planning to participate at the Expo 2020 Dubai in January”, and “host a national conference in February 2022”.
Hosea Andreas Runkat, chairman of IECA, shared: “It is easier to obtain a permit to hold (B2C) exhibitions now. Now, the challenge for us is to ensure that all events strictly implement CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability) protocols. A slight slip may cause the authorities to decline an organiser’s request for a permit for their next event.”
In response to this, IECA has formed a task force to help observe and monitor the implementation of CHSE protocols at events. They will be going around, and advising and reminding organisers to keep to prevailing rules.
When asked for his opinion on the possible resumption of international B2B events, Andreas lamented it would be a “challenge not only for Indonesia”, but for buyers returning home, they would still be required to serve quarantine.
China's outbound travellers – which were a rapidly growing sector – can not be depended on for post-pandemic recovery due to China's closed-door policy
Travel players looking to hedge their bets on China driving the post-pandemic recovery may have to watch the country’s economic, social and political trends more closely as the market “stays on the international travel sidelines”.
Peter Harbison, chairman emeritus, CAPA – Centre for Aviation, predicted “a lean 2022” and “a considerable shift in the way China behaves in future”.
China’s outbound travellers cannot be depended on for post-pandemic recovery due to China’s closed-door policy; domestic tourists at City God Temple of Shanghai pictured
Speaking at last week’s CAPA live on Travelling Again: Outlook for Asia as China stays on the sidelines of international travel, Harbison alluded to many countries in the region not being able to depend on China numbers, which have grown substantially over the last 20 years.
With no China outbound since the pandemic, he cited the creation of “substitute international operations and generous provisions to buy duty-free goods on Hainan island” meeting holiday and business travel demand.
Harbison believes China’s “total protection from Covid-19” stance would retain and the government would adopt a “very different policy from most of the other countries in terms of being ultra-conservative and opening up”.
He also flagged China’s birth rate, which declined to 1.3 per household in the last two years, resulting in 750 million fewer Chinese by 2065.
Harbison continued: “If, and the trend suggests this, it falls to one (per household), and that’s not out of the question, the population will reduce by that amount by 2050.
“Even by 2030, we’re going to start to see a significant decline in working-age citizens as the population ages. And that has a considerable impact on international travel numbers,” he added.
As for China’s aviation industry, Harbison said past policies stimulated low-yield international outbound growth but “couldn’t really attract much in terms of inbound, which tended to have a higher profile higher premium travellers including business travellers”.
Given the airlines’ losses, which he described as “pretty steep”, the financial considerations of the major players, which have been heavily subsidised, is perhaps something that is going to influence Chinese policy.
Business and longhaul travel to remain the slowest-recovering travel segments in 2022, while shorthaul leisure travel sees the beginnings of a revival in certain locations
A new survey of global travel industry experts, Asia Pacific Travel Recovery Report, conducted by Collinson and CAPA – Centre for Aviation (CAPA), shows an increase in expectation of travel resumption to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, versus expectations from five months ago.
The survey of more than 400 C-Suite and senior managerial level travel industry experts from leading global travel brands reveals that while 37% of respondents are now expecting a ‘full recovery’ to 2019 pre-pandemic levels in 2023 – compared to 35% in the April 2021 survey – optimism that herd immunity would be reached in the US, UK and a few other developed countries has slipped from 33% to 24%. Additionally, concerns around quarantine and fraudulent Covid-19 test results remain a worry for respondents.
Business and longhaul travel to remain the slowest-recovering travel segments in 2022, while shorthaul leisure travel sees the beginnings of a revival in certain locations
Borders reopening Polarisation with regards to travel controls, testing and policies remains globally, with market requirements, protocols and measurements continuing to change over the course of the last few months.
That said, an increasing number of experts now expect border reopening arrangements by governments to ease or substantially ease in 2022 (43%), while a third of global respondents (32%) still expect border reopening arrangements by governments to evolve at different rates in 2022. This is a significant reduction from the April 2021 survey of 56%, where uncertainty dominated.
Testing to remain, with quarantine phased out Signalling confidence in testing protocols enabling a safer return to travel, over half (54% – an increase of 3% since April) expect robust Covid-19 testing to remain key to reopening borders until the end of 2022, with a further 26% expecting this until the end of 2023. This mindset can be seen by the recent border reopenings in markets such as Singapore, Australia and the US – all of which cite Covid-19 tests as core components for reduced quarantine or even quarantine-free travel.
That said, 74% of experts are concerned by reports of fraudulent Covid-19 test results and vaccination passports. Levels of those ‘very concerned’ are up from 38% in April 2021 to 41% in September 2021 and for ‘mildly concerned’ from 28% in April 2021 to 34% in September 2021.
To address such concerns, Collinson is partnering with over 30 airlines, airports and technology providers globally both to help implement enhanced verification processes at key checkpoints in the journey, as well as make trusted, accredited Covid-19 testing more easily accessible to travellers.
Globally, just shy of a huge three quarters (72%) shared the view that traveller vaccine documentation is of ‘vital importance’, with most governments not risking re-opening borders without them. This is an increase of 5% when compared to the April study. Conversely, less than a fifth (18%) considered them ‘not important’, as some governments will allow access regardless of digital health documents.
Once a traveller has entered a country, they then face possible quarantine. Almost two-fifths of experts (38%) now expect quarantine measures will remain in place for the foreseeable future as an extra safety precaution in addition to vaccinations and testing, up from 23% in April 2021.
Conversely, a larger number of industry leaders remain hopeful regarding imminent action in this area. Forty-two per cent believe quarantine measures will be phased out by the close of 2021, in line with vaccinations and testing measures becoming more widely available. However, the sentiment has evidently decreased when compared to 58% who were of the same belief back in April 2021.
The traveller’s state of mind A large proportion of experts believe that travel is ‘extremely safe’ if everyone adheres to preventative solutions (e.g. mask wearing, social distancing). But that said, the figure has dropped by a noticeable 17% (42% recorded in September; 59% in April), suggesting a dip in confidence despite the widespread vaccine rollout, and given the varied nuances as to what individuals may consider to be safe solutions.
Similarly, insiders considering travel as simply ‘not safe’ has doubled: from 4% in April 2021 to 10% in September 2021. This is indicative of the opportunity to reassure, educate and communicate to passengers how safety remains the utmost priority, particularly as more travellers take to the skies.
Unsurprisingly then, questions remain on whether travellers will be able to kick back and relax once their plans are booked. Unlikely, according to the survey, with three-quarters of experts (79%) opting to believe that travel will feel ‘more stressful’ than before the pandemic (up from 70% in April 2021).
The results show a likely increased desire to be ‘away from the madding crowds’ with fast-track accesses and lounge experiences preferred, for peace of mind. This is in line with Priority Pass’s global drive to enhance lounge experiences for travellers; with the introduction of Be Relax Spas for the ultimate pre-flight relaxation, and contactless food and beverage offerings such as Ready 2 Order set to double its presence across the lounges for a seamless dining experience.
Slow reboot for business travel While shorthaul business and corporate travel has made a cautious comeback in certain markets, there’s been little movement between the April 2021 and September 2021 surveys. In predicting travel in 2022, just over a third (35%) of respondents expect a 41 to 60% recovery to 2019 pre-pandemic levels of shorthaul business travel, while 23% are more positive and expect to hit 61 to 80% of 2019 levels next year. Only 8% see 80%+ of 2019 levels next year – indicative of the tapestry of travel remaining in its ‘new norm’.
In Asia Pacific specifically, just 24% see short-haul corporate travel recovering to more than 61% of 2019 levels next year – and 7% see demand reaching four-fifths of 2019 levels.
Longhaul business travel remains the furthest from reach. Recovery to 2019 levels is expected to take longer than any of the other segments, with respondents becoming less confident in the timescale of segment recovery, due to travel restrictions remaining imposed far longer than previously anticipated. According to 86% of respondents, less than two-thirds of the longhaul business/corporate travel market will be back next year. In Asia Pacific, just under a third (30%) of survey respondents believe that we won’t even reach 20% of 2019 levels next year.
Speaking about the research, Todd Handcock, Asia Pacific president for Collinson said: “While travel recovery progress isn’t happening at the pace we had hoped for, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, we are seeing steps in the right direction more generally, namely a reprioritisation of travelling safely, purposely and responsibly.
“For the next six to 12 months at the very least, it’s clear that as an industry we need to continue to innovate, and better communicate advances to travellers. Tools and solutions that help travellers to navigate their way safely but efficiently, causing the least stress as possible, is a core focus.
“For business travel, at this moment in time, it’s about understanding and evolving travel risk management strategies by engaging the right professional support, especially with the newly published ISO 31030 Standard – while for brands in the travel space, there’s an increased importance being placed on loyalty programmes with regards to keeping brands front of travellers’ minds – with 68% describing them as very or quite significant, an increase of 6% since April.”
The full Asia Pacific Travel Recovery Report can be found here.
Hilton has opened DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside, its first DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Putrajaya.
Planners may avail the extensive range of event spaces, spanning a total of 3,773m2 with the largest room setup at 926m2. There are a total of 22 meeting rooms, all of which are outfitted with an LCD projector, Wi-Fi, and wired Internet, video and teleconferencing facilities, digital sound system, as well as a dedicated event manager. There is also a dedicated hybrid virtual studio should corporate guests wish to reach a wider audience.
Welcoming guests with 290 well-appointed rooms, the hotel has 10 accommodation types to cater to different guest needs. All rooms are non-smoking, with complimentary Wi-Fi for Hilton Honors members, a flatscreen TV with HD channels, as well as a work desk for business travellers to work in comfort.
Aside from two F&B options, recreational facilities include the fitness centre, and Lakeside Pool which overlooks Putrajaya lake. There’s also a children’s pool for business travellers with their families in tow.
Located in the heart of Malaysia’s third Federal Territory, the DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside is a 20-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA 1 & 2), and 40 minutes from Kuala Lumpur city centre via the new KL-Putrajaya Expressway.
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.
