Asia/Singapore Sunday, 21st December 2025
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BCD Travel deepens AI integration with Oversee

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The goal of the partnership is to provide fast, accurate, 24/7 global responses without losing the human touch.

BCD Travel is expanding its partnership with Oversee to integrate agentic AI across its operations, following a successful pilot automating email-based service requests.

The collaboration positions BCD to blend technology and talent, enhancing service delivery and operational resilience.

The goal of the partnership is to provide fast, accurate, 24/7 global responses without losing the human touch.

Oversee’s agentic AI automates repetitive tasks for travel agents, such as booking requests and exchanges, freeing them for complex service needs. The pilot showed improved agent workflows and SLA adherence.

The agentic AI solution supports TMC workflows, proving AI can enhance – not replace – the human side of travel management, stated Aviel Siman-Tov, CEO and co-founder of Oversee.

Sapporo’s Red Brick Office ready for new chapter

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Red Brick Offce

Sapporo’s Red Brick Office, an iconic symbol of Hokkaido’s prefectural capital, will reopen this month following the completion of renovations that began in October 2019.

The remodel, the first since 1968, has opened up rooms for corporate meetings while retaining the building’s fixtures and fittings dating from 1911.

Red Brick Offce

The event spaces comprise two halls on the second floor and two rooms on the first basement floor, together totalling 224m2 suitable for meetings, exhibitions and concerts.

Other new facilities include a restaurant, and an exhibition introducing indigenous Ainu culture.

Rental fees are ¥25,800 (US$175) for the morning or afternoon, ¥34,400 yen for the evening (17.00 to 21.00), and ¥103,300 yen for a full day (09.00 to 21.00). Using the Akarenga Garden at the front of the property would cost ¥53,100 for a half day, ¥70,800 for an evening and ¥212,400 for a full day.

Constructed in 1888, the Red Brick Office was the site of the Hokkaido Government Office for about 80 years. It is a National Important Cultural Property and considered a prime example of American Neo-Baroque architecture.

John Burke joins AIPC Board

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John Burke

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s general manager, John Burke, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) for 2025.

John Burke

As a Board member, Burke will be working alongside industry leaders such as Julianne Jammers of the SwissTech Convention Center, who serves as president, and Taubie Motlhabane of the Cape Town International Convention Centre, who serves as vice president of AIPC.

With representation from over 55 countries around the world, the AIPC brings together professional convention and exhibition centre managers worldwide and is committed to advancing excellence in venue management through research, education and global networking. Its Board of Directors oversees the strategic direction of the Association, recommending policies and programmes that serve its members and elevate global standards across the industry.

Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Koh Samui appoints new GM

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Nikki Beach Hospitality Group has named Yang (Michael) Fan as the new general manager of Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Koh Samui.

Photo by Nikki Beach Hospitality Group

With more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry – with roles at Anantara, Rosewood, Banyan Tree, and Angsana – he will oversee the day-to-day operations at Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Koh Samui in his new role.

Top incentive ideas, part 1

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1. Harmony in motion
In the heart of Toyama Prefecture, groups can experience a two-day, one-night tranquil retreat in the World Heritage Site of Gokayama, renowned for its untouched landscapes and traditional way of life. All accommodations are in the village’s famed thatched roofed homes, where meals featuring mountain-grown vegetables and fresh fish are served around traditional irori hearths.

Optional add-ons include Japanese papermaking, a performance of local folk songs and a visit to the village museum. Fees for the package, which is available year-round, start at 13,000 yen (US$91) per person.

2. A walk on the wild side
Discover an unforgettable experience at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS), where conservation and culture come alive. CWS has been conserving native wildlife and nurturing the local indigenous heritage for over 75 years. Enjoy private tours of the onsite Wildlife Hospital, caring for over 14,000 animals annually, and immerse yourself in traditional Aboriginal dance and storytelling. Groups of up to 200 people can be hosted at The Homestead banquet-style, where paddock-to-plate dining showcases Australian flavours and produce.

Incentive groups can customise a private experience to get up close encounters with access to the enclosures, have a morning tea in the Koala Nursery with specialist conservation talks and activation, or go on behind-the-scenes hospital tours or enclosure tours to see the animals up close.

3. Island hopping
The Tanjung Kelayang Reserve, a 350-hectare UNESCO Global Geopark on Belitung Island, Bangka-Belitung Province, Indonesia, is a protected natural environment. Bluemind Experience facilitates a full-day programme for up to 50 participants within this reserve.

The day will commence at the Sheraton Belitung Resort beachfront, where participants will embark on a private boat journey through the Geopark’s islands. This excursion reveals 213-million-year-old rock formations, notably Pulau Batu Berlayar (Sailing Rock), with its striking granite emerging from turquoise waters.

The trip then proceeds to Pulau Lengkuas (Galangal Island) to visit the 1882 lighthouse and snorkel among vibrant coral reefs. Following a fresh seafood lunch on Kelayang Island, the itinerary includes visits to Garuda Rock Island and Pulau Pasir (sandbank).

Evenings offer the possibility of culminating on a Private Island for an awards ceremony or a themed dinner beneath the stars.

4. The rock challenge
Embark on a half-day, adrenaline-packed adventure to the Rock Viewpoint in Khammouane Province’s Phou Hin Boun National Protected Area with Green Discovery Laos.

Not for the faint hearted, this adventure sees nine guests brave Laos’ only spider net bridge, climb the via ferrata to fly above one of Asia’s largest limestone forests, soak up stunning vistas of the nature reserve from various ziplines and suspended bridges before enjoying more splendid views during lunch at Phou Pha Marn Visitor’s Centre.

5. White Lotus lore
The Lotus Awakening Escape is an extraordinary four-night retreat through Phuket and Koh Samui.

From lotus rituals at ancient temples to sound healing, walk in the footsteps of The White Lotus characters in a journey that blends heritage, culture, and serenity with curated experiences that offer an insight into the three Anantara properties that were settings for the HBO show. Immerse in shooting locations through experiences like the Passage of the Lotus and exclusive Tree Tops dining, including a stay in the White Lotus Villa – Belinda’s accommodation throughout the show. 

6. Desert delights
For incentive groups heading to Dubai, a quintessential experience awaits in the majestic desert. Arranged by FCM Travel, this adventure begins with exhilarating 4×4 transfers across the golden dunes.

As dawn breaks, groups can soar above the stunning landscapes on a hot air balloon adventure. This serene aerial journey offers an intimate setting to enjoy breathtaking vistas, complemented by a traditional breakfast served amidst the scenic desert backdrop. This experience is best enjoyed outside of the summer months.

7. Coastal discovery
This 3.5-hour outing organised by Go Park Sports takes nine guests to Sham Chung, a Hakka village established in the north-west of the Sai Kung Peninsula more than 140 years ago.

Starting from Go Park Aqua, the journey begins with a boat ride, offering scenic views of the Kei Ling Ha Hoi coastline and surrounding mountains. In 15 minutes, the boat arrives at Sham Chung Pier. A guided stroll then leads through lush meadows to the revamped Epiphany of Our Lord Chapel, followed by a walk across a vast grassland, concluding with a Hakka-style lunch in the village.

8. Hidden gems
Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul offers a Bosphorus Prestige Experience programme good for groups of up to 10.

Onsite experiences include signature treatments at Pürovel Spa & Sport such as Turkish hammam rituals; Turkish wine and raki (traditional alcoholic beverage) tastings led by local sommeliers; and a sunset cruise with live music, cocktails and views of Istanbul’s iconic skyline.

Meanwhile, offsite experiences include VIP guided tours of the Old City; a private culinary walk through Karaköy or Galata with local chefs; and Turkish coffee fortune-reading workshops.

9. Celestial nights

This incentive experience takes groups through Masungi Georeserve’s limestone paths, guided solely by stars and lanterns for a truly intimate and unique journey.

At a scenic rock peak, a group of up to 20 participants can enjoy traditional hot chocolate and rice cakes while stargazing with experts from the Philippine Astronomical Society, who will share captivating stories of the cosmos.

The evening culminates with an organic dinner, wrapped in banana leaves and prepared by the local community, served deep within the forest – a memorable finale for the team.

Melbourne leads with inclusive bids and innovative sector events

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Melbourne’s business events sector continues to thrive, following the highly successful Amway China incentive – Australia’s largest ever – which brought 16,000 delegates to the city over six weeks in April 2025.

“We have a really strong pipeline of business events. We have both national and international business events coming from now to 2028 worth more than A$539 million (US$352.8 million), a total of 102,000 delegates filling 253,000 room nights; it’s equivalent of filling the city nine times over,” Julia Swanson, CEO of Melbourne Convention Bureau, told TTGmice.

Swanson: appetite for Australia in the current climate holds strong; photo by Rachel AJ Lee

Other major events slated to arrive in Melbourne this September include the 14th World Chambers Conference with 800 delegates and World Congress of Gastroenterology with 3,000 delegates; as well as the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in November with 400 delegates.

Swanson is also looking forward to the Women Deliver 2026 Conference next year. With around 6,500 delegates expected to attend, this event will be regionally hosted for the first time by the Oceanic Pacific.

“Women Deliver is a significant international summit on gender equality. It’s been held before in Copenhagen, Vancouver and Kigali. Melbourne has bid three times for it, and we finally won it earlier this year. It’s a fascinating global group of experts in gender equality, and has a grassroots approach,” she explained.

When asked if global geopolitical events are helping Melbourne secure more of such conferences, Swanson stated the city and country are “getting a lot more interest and attention because of our approach to DEI”, a factor “coming up more and more” during the bidding process.

Swanson opined: “In the current environment, people want to find a destination that’s stable and is safe to meet. We are very multicultural, and have a stable political system and open culture, so there’s a predictability and trust about doing business in Australia.

“And if you layer our openness with DEI on top of that, that helps to move (the destination) up in the consideration set for decision makers.”

The Melbourne Convention Bureau is also actively seeking business events that foster sector development and create new platforms for experts. A prime example is the Global Wind Energy Conference, conceptualised and first held in Melbourne in 2023, then Incheon, Seoul in 2024. This September, the conference will return to Melbourne, maintaining its Asia-Pacific focus.

“Australia is looking to modernise its energy sector, and move from coal and fossil fuels into renewable energy. We have a lot of natural assets, hence we worked with the Victorian Government to build this conference up,” elaborated Swanson.

The city also has additional investments in the cancer space, as well as a new infectious diseases institute opening in the next few years. In addition, Melbourne’s second convention centre, the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is scheduled to open in July 2026.

STB scales up MICE engagement in India

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From left: STB’s Markus Tan; and SDC’s Michael Ma at the STB roadshow in New Delhi; photo by Rohit Kaul

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is experiencing a substantial increase in demand from India’s business events segment.

This year, STB has successfully secured several large-scale group movements from India. Notable events include a 6,000-delegate contingent from Sun Pharma; 1,100 participants for CREDAI Natcon; and 120 delegates for the International Cricket Council Annual General Meeting 2025.

From left: STB’s Markus Tan; and SDC’s Michael Ma at the STB roadshow in New Delhi; photo by Rohit Kaul

“Sun Pharma MICE group will be visiting Singapore in September. This is the first time that Singapore has got such a big Indian incentive group. In fact, it is the biggest ever,” said Markus Tan, STB’s regional director for India, Middle East and South Africa, during a STB roadshow in New Delhi.

Tan added that CREDAI is also STB’s “first lead from the association segment in India”.

To further capitalise on this momentum, STB is extending its Just Between Us Friends campaign to the business events sector. This initiative offers exclusive privileges for newly-secured Indian incentive groups travelling to Singapore between August 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.

The STB has also forged partnerships with companies such as Sentosa, IndiGo, and Singapore Airlines to provide a range of benefits to business events delegates. For instance, Sentosa will offer incentives including flexible hotel check-ins, suite upgrades at partner hotels, dining privileges, and complimentary attraction access for stays of a minimum of two nights.

Michael Ma, assistant chief executive, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), noted that the island has observed “strong demand for incentive travel”, as well as an uptick in delegates choosing Sentosa for post-conference experiences.

APAC event planners embrace smart event tech: Cvent

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From left: Cvent’s Will Kataria, Graham Pope, and Brian Ludwig, Navodit Srivastava at the Cvent Accelerate 2025 event in Singapore

Event technology provider Cvent’s engagement solutions Attendee Hub is gaining significant traction among regional meeting planners.

Will Kataria, country head and senior director, Asia Pacific, told TTGmice that Cvent is seeing demand for tools – which focus on event engagement through features like Q&A and polling – “as planners seek to offer experiential events with robust tracking capabilities”.

From left: Cvent’s Will Kataria, Graham Pope, and Brian Ludwig, Navodit Srivastava at the Cvent Accelerate 2025 event in Singapore; photo by Caroline Boey

Kataria noted that “smart events” that utilise event technologies and strategies to boost audience engagement, enhance post-event value and improve return on investment include integrating AI, AR and VR technology, use data analytics to personalise agendas and content (on-site and post-event) to foster ongoing dialogue.

“Additionally, there is growing demand for lead capture and tradeshow solutions. This trend is evident even at corporate conferences, where there is a noticeable shift towards on-site lead management solutions that move beyond the traditionally manual or basic versions embedded in apps, which often fail to deliver a satisfactory experience,” he shared.

According to Kataria, Singapore is reportedly leading the Asia-Pacific region in adopting advanced event solutions, though significant demand is also emerging from South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, signalling a wider regional trend toward innovative event technologies that improve attendee experience and streamline management.

Meanwhile, Kataria advises that meeting planners, as they navigate economic and geopolitical uncertainties and prepare for future improvements, should focus on centralising event data “to gain a clearer view of programmes and harnessing technology to streamline planning, measure success and make venue sourcing and promotion more efficient”.

“Get creative with venues and formats. Consider unique venues like golf courses or restaurants and explore virtual or hybrid formats to cut travel and accommodation costs. Flexibility with dates and locations can help us snag the best deals,” he elaborated.

Kataria also suggested focusing on hosting smaller, more intimate meetings with fewer than 50 attendees, which can still foster great communication and teamwork without costing a fortune.

Business travel optimism plummets as US actions create global uncertainty: GBTA

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New GBTA poll reveals shifts in 2025 outlook for business travel volume, spending and revenue as well as related to costs, traveller concerns and meeting decisions

The business travel industry is navigating increasing uncertainty and shifting strategies for the remainder of 2025, largely due to ongoing US government actions reshaping the global landscape.

Optimism across the sector continues to decline, with more companies anticipating reduced travel volume and spending, particularly for international trips.

New GBTA poll reveals shifts in 2025 outlook for business travel volume, spending and revenue as well as related to costs, traveller concerns and meeting decisions

Additionally, nearly half of global travel suppliers now anticipate revenue losses (up from 37% three months ago), while more organisations are canceling or relocating meetings from the US and/or shifting to virtual formats. US policy developments – such as trade tariffs, entry restrictions and cross-border advisories – are driving companies to reassess travel plans, tighten budgets and explore markets outside the US.

These latest insights are from a new poll released from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) tracking the sentiment and impact of US government actions on business travel.

“This latest poll shows the business travel industry and corporate travel programmes and professionals actively adapting to shifting geopolitics and evolving US policies. While overall demand currently remains resilient, the results underscore how economic uncertainty and US government actions continue to send ripple effects across the global travel landscape,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA.

Here are some of the top takeaways as a result of US. government actions:

Supplier revenue concerns deepen

  • Showing a divergence in spending and revenue outlooks, almost half (48%) of suppliers expect a drop in business travel revenue, with an average decline of 17% (versus 18% in April). This is up sharply from 37% in April, with lodging suppliers the most concerned as over half (58%) are anticipating revenue decreases.

Business travel volume outlook softens slightly, international travel more vulnerable

  • One-third of buyers (34%, slightly up versus 29% in April) continue to expect the number of business trips taken will decline in 2025, as a result of US government actions. Among those who expect a decline this year, there is little change in the average volume decrease anticipated (19%, versus 21% in April).
  • International business travel is more likely to be impacted than domestic travel. Half of respondents (49%) expect declines in their international business travel versus 23% for their domestic/intra-regional business travel – citing anticipated decreases, on average, of 19% and 21% respectively.

Impact on spending remains concerning

  • Business travel spending outlook stayed relatively consistent compared with three months ago – with one-third of buyers (31%, versus 27% in April) expecting declines in their company’s business travel expenditures (17% on average, down from 20% in April).

Divergence in travel buyer, supplier and regional optimism

  • Optimism for the remainder of 2025 remains muted, both globally and regionally. Industry optimism declined slightly to 28%, down from 31% in April, and significantly lower than November 2024 at 67%. Declines in optimism are particularly significant in Asia Pacific (27%, down from 40% in April).
  • Buy-side corporate travel manager optimism stayed relatively consistent (29%, vs 28% in April), while supplier and TMC optimism dropped several points to 27% (versus 36% in April).

Increasing concerns around safety, budgets and travel willingness

  • The top two long-term concerns cited by respondents paced the same including higher travel costs (55% versus 54% in April). and increased administrative burdens (47%, versus 46% in April).
  • However, concerns increased in the areas of safety and duty of care (46%) and border detentions (31%), both up nine points since April. Budget cuts (44%) and decreased willingness of non-US employees to travel to the US (41%), were both up four points from April to July.

Canceled, relocated and virtual meetings ─ all on the rise

  • As a result of US government actions, there have been across the board increases from April to July in global travel buyers who say they have:

    • cancelled US-based meetings (18%, up from 13%) or events (17%, up from 10%)
    • relocated meetings (13%, up from 8%) or events (12%, up from 6%) outside the U.S
    • canceled sending employees to US-based events (20%, up from 10%)
    • shifted meetings or events online (24%, up from 19%)

Are companies Seeking New Trade Partners Outside the US?

  • One-third (35%) of non-US based industry professionals say their organisation is traveling or plans to travel for business to meet with potential new trade partners or vendors outside of the US
  • Europe and APAC are the top regions for companies seeking new trade partners outside the US, by 70% and 53% of respondents respectively.

When the impact gets personal

  • One in five travel buyers globally (18%) say employees have declined US-based business trips due to concerns related to US government actions.
  • Over a third of global respondents (35%) now say they personally know someone whose travel has been affected by US policy changes – up from 23% in April.​​​​​​​

The July 2025 GBTA poll was conducted from June 16–27 and includes responses from 951 global travel buyers, suppliers, and other industry professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East/Africa.

New visa fee set to raise travel cost to the US

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Travellers from non-immigrant visa categories entering the US will have to pay for the new US$250 Visa Integrity Fee, set to take effect by October 1, 2025. This fee, which is established under the Trump Administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law on July 4, applies to tourists, business travellers, students, and workers.

While it is intended as a refundable compliance bond, details on the refund process is unclear at press time.

The US adds new fee to visa costs amid tightening immigration controls; Washington DC in the US, pictured

According to news reports, the Visa Integrity Fee will apply to passport-holders from non-waiver countries, such as China and India, as well as select countries in Asia and the Middle East.

Visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries – Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan here in Asia-Pacific – will not be affected.

The new charge will join other visa application fees, including the Machine Readable Visa fee, reciprocity fees, and anti-fraud charges.

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