Royal Orchid lounge at Phuket International Airport
Priority Pass has inked a new partnership with the national carrier of Thailand – Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI).
The agreement will see Priority Pass Members gaining access to three domestic Royal Orchid lounges located at Phuket International Airport (HKT), Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) and Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).
Royal Orchid Lounge at Phuket International Airport
This partnership will enhance Priority Pass’s existing network, which includes at least one experience at 90 of the top 100 airports globally; airport ranking based on 2019 flight numbers.
Priority Pass Members will be afforded 2.5 hours of lounge usage, access to a snack and refreshment bar (alcohol not included), televisions, and Internet/Wi-Fi.
Khun Nattapong Pokairat, managing director, ground service of THAI added that Priority Pass Members will be able to experience “authentic Thai food, a unique Thai ambience and the charm of Thai hospitality”, adding that each lounge will adhere to the company’s 4Cs: Confidence, Clean, Care and Comfort.
Todd Handcock, president, Asia Pacific, Collinson, noted: “Despite the uncertainties of the pandemic, domestic travel continues to gather pace. Increasing our domestic lounge offering with Thailand’s national carrier Thai Airways caters to this strong desire to travel, while providing a touch of luxury in a safe and comfortable environment.”
Cordis Auckland has become New Zealand’s largest hotel with the addition of its new 17-storey Pinnacle Tower.
Housing 244 rooms and Cordis Pinnacle Tower suites, the addition brings the total number of rooms to 640. The new rooms and suites, by interior designers Space Studio are versatile in design with multipurpose inter-connecting room options, ideal for large groups.
An Executive Room King within the Pinnacle Tower
Two new event spaces have also been created in the Pinnacle Tower. The Jade Room, a 400m2 events space has both natural light and a private outdoor area, and a new state-of-the-art Boardroom adds to Cordis Auckland’s events and gatherings offering.
Suite guests will also be able to enjoy the new Cordis Club Lounge on the 14th floor, an exclusive retreat with complimentary drinks, canapés, and a live breakfast station for made-to-order eggs, accompanied by a city view.
The development also sees the expansion of the hotel’s existing Eight Restaurant, taking the restaurant’s capacity from 180 to 250. The addition of a new bar Our Land Is Alive exclusively showcases New Zealand sourced F&B with a local twist, and an enhanced Reception and Lobby area offers a seamless transition to the new Pinnacle Tower and caters for the expanded capacity of the hotel.
These add on to existing amenities such as a fitness studio, Chuan spa, swimming pool, more meeting spaces, as well as the Eight Restaurant and Chandelier Lounge.
Alma Resort in Vietnam has promoted Vu Thi Huong Giang as resort manager.
Born and bred in nearby Nha Trang, Giang graduated from Nha Trang University with a major in food processing and started her career in 2004 as a waitress at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, where she steadily climbed the career ladder over a decade to become an F&B manager.
She has also worked for Vinpearl Land and Mia Resort in Nha Trang, and was the F&B director at The Anam, before moving to Alma in the same capacity. She was subsequently promoted to executive assistant manager of F&B.
In her new role, the resort’s executive chef, executive assistant manager of rooms, assistant director of F&B and the recreation manager report to her.
A pre-pandemic edition of IT&CM China and CTW in Shanghai
After two successful virtual editions, IT&CM China and CTW China will be back this year with a hybrid event to cater to both international and China-based participants attending in-person or remotely.
The three-day in-person event will be held from May 24-26, 2022, in Shanghai, while the virtual networking event will happen from June 15-16, 2022.
A pre-pandemic edition of IT&CM China and CTW in Shanghai
In-person attendees will be treated to a renewed focus on face-to-face Scheduled Meets opportunities (both in-person and remotely) for exhibitors and buyers from across China and the rest of the world. They will also be able to take part in the Social F&B Functions, and network over food and drinks.
There will also be panel discussions, and exclusive sessions, for delegates comprising buyers, media and other industry stakeholders to harness the latest brand highlights and developments.
A significant benefit for China-based buyers attending in-person will be the Post-Show Tours. Delegates will be introduced to China’s up-and-coming destinations and their associated DMCs, and get the chance to gain first-hand experience and learn about these destinations’ business events capabilities, charm, and culture.
Virtual attendees meanwhile, will be able to catch up on the highlights of the in-person event in Shanghai the following month.
Similarly, there will be networking sessions and business card exchanges for both buyers and exhibitors to expand their networks and contacts.
In addition, Brand Showcase Presentations from participating business events destinations, suppliers and corporate brands; Knowledge Sessions with the hottest topics this year; as well as the Buyer Procurement Showcases; will be available on-demand.
There will also be several Live Hosted Sessions By Brands, where virtual participants will be able to take part in interactive games, and win attractive prizes.
Governor of Assam, Jagdish Mukhi lighting a lamp at the opening ceremony of the North East Festival that took place between January 7-9 at Radisson Blu Hotel Guwahati
The Indian government has turned its focus towards the north-eastern states of the country, and is drawing up plans to further develop the infrastructure to draw investment, as well as corporate travellers to the area.
As part of its Act East policy, the Indian government has been heavily investing in the region’s infrastructure projects such as national highways, railway networks and telecommunication. Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi has also voiced his eagerness to connect the capitals of all the eight states by air by 2024.
Governor of Assam, Jagdish Mukhi lighting a lamp at the opening ceremony of the North East Festival that took place between January 7-9 at Radisson Blu Hotel Guwahati
Meanwhile, the Make in Northeast initiative is helping to attract investment from global companies, in sectors such as oil and gas; sectors that have recorded multi-million dollar investments from international markets like France and Germany.
Sarbendra Sarkar, founder and managing director of Cygnett Hotels and Resorts, told TTGmice: “Tourism infrastructure including highways and railway connectivity has been steadily improving in the region. In 2021, the government of India announced several projects worth billions of rupees to augment the tourism infrastructure in north-east.”
“Corporate presence has increased in the region, and economic activities have grown. All this is helping to bring more tourists to the north-eastern states while boosting corporate travel. I expect the north-east to emerge as a big corporate travel destination over the next few years,” added Sarkar. Cygnett Hotels and Resorts operates three properties in north-east India.
At present, tourism in the country’s north-east, to states such as Assam and Sakar, is primarily driven by the leisure and adventure tourism sectors.
The Indian government is also keen to explore trade ties between the north-east and neighbouring South-east Asia region, a market that remains untapped, and could significantly fuel international corporate travel.
In 2017-2018, the total trade between India and South-east Asia was US$81 billion, but the contribution of north-east states was almost negligible.
“Sectors like agriculture, textiles, IT and tourism provide immense investment opportunities to corporates looking at India’s north-east. We are working on the infrastructure that will help it become a trade hub for the South-east Asian region,” revealed G. Kishan Reddy, minister of tourism, culture and development of North Eastern Region of India to delegates at the North East Festival which took place in Guwahati from January 7-9, 2022.
As part of the ongoing infrastructure projects, the Asian Trilateral Highway that will connect India to Myanmar and Thailand is expected to be operational this year.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways was recently given the approval for the final location survey of the Imphal-Moreh railway line. The proposed 111km long railway line will help India to connect with Myanmar, further helping the country become a part of Trans-Asian railway network.
“The north-east states need to take advantage of their strategic location and develop the region as an expressway to South-east Asia. We have to continue improving our connectivity, logistics and infrastructure which will help to develop strong business ties with South-east Asia,” concluded Reddy.
Dream Cruises believes that the the SG SafeEvent Certification will offer an extra element of reassurance
World Dream, operated by Dream Cruises, is the first cruise ship to receive the SG SafeEvent Certification by Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS).
In addition to ensuring hygiene benchmarks, Dream Cruises’ MICE At Sea cruises will adhere to Singapore Tourism Board’s CruiseSafe guidelines and SG SafeEvent Certification, with stringent safe distancing measures, capacity controls, and event cohort groups’ safety assurance.
Dream Cruises believes that the SG SafeEvent Certification will offer an extra element of reassurance to MICE guests; World Dream pictured
“Singapore has long been renowned as a safe and trusted Global Asia hub for business events. However, during these exceptional times, we have re-imagined MICE At Sea cruises in anticipation of regional cruise resumption to welcome international fly-cruise MICE event delegates to Singapore onboard World Dream once again,” said Michael Goh, president of Dream Cruises.
This certification builds on the success of an SME Learning Cruise that was organised by Shin Min Daily News, Bosses Network and Dream Cruises on October 1 – 3, 2021, the largest event at sea since World Dream’s cruise resumption, added Goh.
The guidelines for MICE at Sea cruises include:
Full vaccination for all passengers and ship crew
Same day Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Testing for guests
Staggered cruise embarkation/disembarkation times
Deployment of safe distancing and crowd control Cruise Ambassadors and dedicated Hotel Event team during events
Contactless contact tracing technology such as TraceTogether Token/App, Tracey Tokens, Cabin Key Cards and CCTV surveillance records
100 per cent fresh air ventilation in each cabin and public areas with no re-circulation of air
A well-equipped 24-hour Medical Centre with Covid-19 testing capability, two doctors including an Infection Control Officer, Isolation wards & Quarantine cabins
Increased frequency of sanitation at high-touch points using hospital-grade disinfectants
Deluxe accommodation, Asian and international cuisines, entertainment shows and recreational activities are all included in the price of the cruise fare with the option to elevate the event experience to the next level in ‘The Palace’ – the “luxury ship-within-a-ship” concept across the Dream Cruises’ fleet that includes all-suite accommodations, 24-hour butler concierge service and exclusive privileges.
The World Dream is well-equipped with versatile onboard venues, with business facilities featuring the latest state-of-the-art technology including simultaneous translation service, HD screens, live streaming facilities and photo/video services. A dedicated Hotel Events team is also ready to offer event customisation to fulfil the needs and business objectives of every meeting planner and event organiser.
“As we continue to see the reopening of MICE events in Singapore, delivering a sense of confidence in the safety and wellbeing of all event attendees will be key for enterprises. And that is what the SG SafeEvent Certification aims to do… We hope more enterprises will come onboard the SG SafeEvent Certification to gain a competitive edge as we build towards a safe and progressive reopening of MICE events,” said Dylan Sharma, vice president, advocacy & communications, SACEOS.
Parris: this initiative is one way of working collaboratively together as an industry to support each other through difficult times
Travel management company FCM has launched its fee-free travel management programme for start-ups to mid-sized companies in Singapore.
The first of its kind in Singapore, FCM’s fee-free travel management programme provides fee-free business travel for all flight and hotel bookings. FCM will also help the company with systems and technology implementation at no cost, completed within two weeks.
Parris: this initiative is one way of working collaboratively together as an industry to support each other through difficult times
Services included within the programme are FCM’s 24/7 expert agent support; monthly reporting; always available duty of care via Safety and Risk functions through FCM’s mobile technology to account for the well-being and location of every traveller; and online booking capabilities.
With the reopening of the Singapore borders and Vaccinated Travel Lane arrangements with several markets in 4Q2021, business travel has been on the rise.
Henry Jones, director of marketing who is also leading the SME Travel division in Asia, shared: “Often, these companies have similar business travel needs as MNCs and large national companies, but are held back by greater budgetary considerations. They also have less negotiating power for group deals with suppliers as compared to large organisations. This is our way of supporting them – providing cost-effective rates and full travel management services inclusive of technology support at no fees.”
Following the programme roll-out for Singapore, FCM plans to launch the initiative in markets like Malaysia and Hong Kong when they reopen for international travel on a greater scale in 2022. The programme aims to help SMEs travel more and spend less.
“We recognise that the travel landscape is changed, which has created a challenging trading environment for some companies, especially budget-conscious clients,” said Vicki Parris, vice-president of customer success for FCM in Asia. “This initiative allows us to offer a helping hand to more Singaporean start-ups and mid-sized companies as they continue to grow.”
Eric Lochner has been placed at the helm of the new company
Event software companies MeetingPlay and Aventri have merged, as well as received a growth equity investment from Sunstone Partners and Camden Partners.
In conjunction with the merger, Eric Lochner has been named CEO of the new company. Lochner has over 25 years of experience in building technology and technology-enabled services companies, with an impressive record of mergers and acquisitions.
Eric Lochner has been placed at the helm of the new company
This new event software powerhouse will blend visionary technology and best-in-class service to close all gaps in the planning process, offering a complete full-service solution for meetings and events of all sizes, from conferences of 200,000+ to meetings with less than 100 attendees.
Each year, MeetingPlay and Aventri power a combined total of more than 50,000 events, service over 10,000 companies, and elevate the attendee experience for more than seven million attendees.
Founded in 2011, MeetingPlay is an award-winning technology pioneer, centred around creating innovative solutions for premier in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. The company is known for pushing the envelope on technology advancements and has successfully powered many of the largest, most complex global events to date across numerous industries.
Founded in 2008, Aventri is the global leader in data-driven, end-to-end event management solutions for virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. Today, the award-winning platform provides a suite of solutions for the entire event lifecycle, from venue sourcing to event marketing, registration, onsite technology, strategic meetings management, data security and privacy, and ROI reporting.
The two companies will integrate their proprietary software platforms to elevate event experiences through a lineup of products to leading companies in the technology, financial services, travel, hospitality, health services, and association markets.
Highlighted capabilities include:
A Virtual and Hybrid Event Platform, which uses novel technology to create lifelike experiences for virtual attendees. The platform provides virtual and onsite attendees with unified engagement features like chat, Q&A, network matchmaking, and video conferencing that enables participants in the same room and across the world to connect instantly.
A Mobile App and imaginative Onsite Event Solutions, which enrich the attendee experience start to finish, boost engagement, and deliver ROI metrics, while keeping participants safe.
Meanwhile, co-founder and former MeetingPlay CEO Joe Schwinger, and co-founder and former MeetingPlay COO Lisa Vann will remain with the new company and undertake executive roles. Former Aventri CEO Jim Sharpe will remain a shareholder and advisor to the new company.
The IMEX Group has today confirmed that it has secured new dates for IMEX in Frankfurt 2022, with the 20th anniversary of the tradeshow now set for May 31 to June 2.
In a press release, the IMEX Group stated that the postponement was due to the “increase in omicron cases across Europe and around the world”, as well as the “current regulatory uncertainty”.
A previous edition of IMEX Frankfurt
IMEX CEO Carina Bauer explained: “Everyone in our industry can see the current situation in Europe and knows that, with tradeshows depending on such long lead times, it doesn’t support a show in April. We strongly believe that a late May edition of IMEX in Frankfurt will allow everyone to move ahead and plan with certainty and confidence.
“Having recently come off a highly successful IMEX America, we’re completely focused on building a strong return for IMEX in Frankfurt and we’re also keenly aware of how much our industry needs IMEX to bring everyone together and prove that business regeneration and good lead flow is not only viable but closer than some may think.”
In addition to the tradeshow, IMEX Frankfurt with feature a dedicated day of tailored education on May 30 for specialist groups such as corporate, association and agency buyers.
Registration for IMEX in Frankfurt will go live in the week commencing January 17.
Oakwood has crossed the milestone of 10,000 keys across more than 62 operating properties worldwide with its latest opening, the Oakwood Premier Melbourne in Victoria, Australia.
A debut for the Oakwood Premier brand in Australasia, the new-build soars 140 metres and 40 storeys with views of the CBD and the Yarra River, South Melbourne, Albert Park and Port Phillip Bay.
Studio Room with City View
Oakwood Premier Melbourne offers 132 hotel rooms and 260 serviced apartments with fully-equipped kitchens for both extended and short-stay guests.
In addition to the all-day dining restaurant Fifth, other amenities include a Sky Bar, fitness centre, three meeting rooms, two multipurpose event venues, co-working space, games centre fitted with modern entertainment for those looking to play snooker or video games.
As part of the brand’s hallmark experience, a mixologist will create seasonal cocktails in the privacy of the guest’s apartment through the Oakwood Premier Mobile Bar, a club lounge experience that is a first of its kind in Australia. To complement this experience, a selection of canapés, comprising a rotational menu of hot and cold savouries or sweet treats, will also be served.
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
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.
