Courtyard by Marriott has opened the 248-room Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town, its latest addition to the Thai island.
Event planners can take advantage of the hotel’s facilities for meetings, business conferences and teambuilding events. There are eight event spaces in total, the largest of which is the 660m2 pillarless Grand Ballroom that can hold up to 540 theatre-style.
Deluxe King Room
The hotel also offers 248 rooms and suites, including two 140m2 Presidential Suites. Other leisure amenities include a fitness centre and outdoor swimming pool, as well as a Kid’s Club, for bleisure travellers with their accompanying families.
Three F&B venues are also available onsite – an all-day Krua Talad Yai offering authentic southern Thai cuisine and international dishes; the Talung Lounge for coffee and freshly-baked cakes; and the Kolae Pool Bar for cocktails and light bites.
Travellers from Thailand, Cambodia, Fiji, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Turkey may enter Singapore under the quarantine-free vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs) next month, joining 21 other countries that are already on the programme.
The scheme will kick in on December 14 for travellers from Thailand, while for the rest it will be enabled from December 16.
Singapore now has VTL schemes with 27 countries, all of which made up a third of total pre-Covid arrivals at Changi Airport; HSBC Rain Vortex at Jewel Changi Airport pictured
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), arrivals from all 27 VTL countries accounted for about 60 per cent of the total daily arrivals at Changi Airport pre-pandemic.
Along with the additional VTLs, Singapore will raise her daily VTL quota from 10,000 to 15,000 travellers.
According to a CNA report, transport minister S Iswaran said that Singapore’s VTL quotas amount to about one-third of the total pre-Covid flows from these countries.
He added that the VTL scheme will reconnect Singapore with the world while managing the public health risk, and the government will “closely monitor the global public health situation” and “impose additional safeguards as necessary”.
CAAS commented that the “successful implementation of the VTL without compromising public health” gave it the “confidence” to extend the scheme to more countries.
All six VTL countries announced on November 26 have “similar or lower Covid-19 incidence rates” than Singapore and the other VTL countries, it said.
Thailand, Cambodia, Maldives and Sri Lanka have reopened their borders to quarantine-free general travel for vaccinated people.
Fiji will reopen her borders to vaccinated travellers from 40 “partner countries”, including Singapore, from December 1, noted CAAS.
“The VTL with Fiji will allow fully vaccinated travellers from other VTL countries which Fiji has opened to, such as Australia, Canada, France, (South) Korea, the UK and the US, to extend their trip to Singapore without quarantine,” added CAAS.
Australia is looking at a promising re-start for business events in 2022 after a challenging year that saw most states close their borders to domestic travel and months of lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne. While international borders will open from November, industry watchers are predicting business travellers will start flowing in early next year.
Sydney Harbour
“We are thrilled to see our borders starting to re-open, which is a positive and crucial step towards the recovery of the business events industry,” said Tourism Australia’s (TA) executive general manager commercial & business events Australia, Robin Mack.
“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,” he continued.
TA’s research was conducted in May to test sentiment across associations and incentive sectors. There are also programmes to ensure that events get the support they need to run in 2022.
TA will continue marketing activities and partnership programmes for the domestic market, like the Business Events Boost Program, which received an additional A$1 million (US$749,339) earlier this year to help convert events for FY2021/22. An industry vaccination initiative, It’s our best shot for events, also launched recently.
Internationally, TA has been keeping the destination front of mind through its distribution activity and marketing initiatives like Australia Next, an incentive publication for 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,” said Mack.
As of 26 August, 46 events have been won via the programme.
Destination Gold Coast’s Board of Directors has appointed Adrienne Readings as chair of the tourism body, following the step-down announcement of Paul Donovan, who held the position for 17 years.
Readings will be working closely with the Board and the team at Destination Gold Coast to represent the interests of Gold Coast’s 4,400 tourism businesses and the 35,000 people employed by the sector. She has served on the Board of Destination Gold Coast for 17 years and formerly acted as vice chair.
Adrienne Readings
In total, she possesses more than 30 years’ experience in business events, tourism management and hospitality.
Readings is also the general manager of Australia’s largest regional convention centre, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC), the first woman to be appointed general manager of an Australian convention centre.
In her role at GCCEC, Readings successfully identified and developed commercial opportunities for the Gold Coast and oversaw the delivery of billions of dollars of economic impact to the region.
Readings said in a press statement: “The next two years is all about our city’s recovery and creating a blueprint for future success to attract more visitors, more often and to grow expenditure for the Gold Coast.
“It has been a heartbreaking 18 months for our industry, but I see so much opportunity ahead of us with the return of interstate visitors in a matter of weeks and eventually international markets, a future pipeline of A$179 million (US$129 million) in business events opportunity for the city as well as working with peers to strengthen the future of the region through new infrastructure, development and city connectivity.”
; a traveller at a deserted Haneda Airport pictured
Short-term business travellers to Japan need to undergo only three days of quarantine on arrival if they meet certain criteria, but the entry restrictions remain under fire for being too cumbersome.
As of November 8, fully vaccinated visitors staying less than three months for business or returning home from a business trip, can enjoy relaxed restrictions as part of the Japanese government’s “phased measures for resuming cross-border travel”.
Current entry requirements for business travellers may deter companies and individuals; a traveller at a deserted Haneda Airport pictured
But the requirement for the traveller’s organisation to take responsibility for their trip might prove a barrier to a significant increase in business travel to Japan, according to the country’s business community.
The traveller’s organisation or the organisation inviting the traveller must prepare an application form, a written pledge that the traveller will abide by the rules, a plan of where the traveller will stay and go from days 4 to 10 and a list of fellow travellers. These documents should be submitted to the ministry most appropriate for the traveller’s industry.
The traveller, meanwhile, is required to prepare a copy of a vaccine passport or other record of vaccination if they have been inoculated and a negative result of a Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure.
All arrivals will be tested on days 1, 3 and 10 before restrictions are lifted, which include using public transport only if they have reserved seats.
Although Keidanren, the Japanese Business Federation, said the relaxed rules were a “big step”, they added that fully vaccinated travellers should be exempted from quarantine in line with other countries including Australia, the US and France.
Christopher LaFleur, special adviser to the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), said the ACCJ “welcomes the travel policy change” but called for Japan “to move as rapidly as possible to eliminate quarantines and to simplify and eventually eliminate sponsorship procedures for vaccinated travellers.”
As for business travellers to Japan without a Japanese government-approved inoculation (using Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccines), they are required to quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
New Zealand to ease border curbs in a phased manner; a largely empty Auckland Airport due to Covid pictured
New Zealand has unveiled a plan to reopen its borders to international visitors from April 30, in a gradual easing of pandemic border restrictions that have been in place since March 2020.
The South Pacific country has imposed some of the world’s tightest Covid-19 restrictions, which has helped to limit the spread of the virus.
New Zealand to ease border curbs in a phased manner; a largely empty Auckland Airport due to Covid pictured
Outlining the country’s staged reopening plan on Wednesday (November 24), Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said: “A phased approach to reconnecting with the world is the safest approach to ensure risk is carefully managed. This reduces any potential impacts on vulnerable communities and the New Zealand health system.”
Fully vaccinated foreign travellers will be allowed to enter the country from April 30, and will have to self-isolate for seven days on arrival, said Hipkins.
Vaccinated New Zealanders and residence visa holders in neighbouring Australia can travel to New Zealand from January 16, while New Zealanders and residence visa holders in all other countries will be allowed to enter from February 13.
All travellers must show proof of being fully vaccinated as well as a negative pre-departure Covid-19 test result. They will have to self-isolate for seven days, and will be tested for Covid-19 upon arrival.
New Zealand has recorded just over 10,000 Covid-19 cases and 40 deaths since the start of the pandemic – far fewer than most comparable countries.
Singapore-Malaysia land VTL via the Causeway to open on November 29
Singapore and Malaysia will launch a land vaccinated travel lane (VTL) across the Causeway from next Monday (November 29).
The land VTL will be rolled out “in a safe and calibrated manner”, said Singapore’s Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Wednesday.
Singapore-Malaysia land VTL via the Causeway to open on November 29
In the first phase, travellers will have to use designated VTL buses. The scheme will be open to citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders of the country that they are entering. This is to give priority for those who have been working in either country to visit their families, said PMO.
Singapore prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, said: “Malaysia is Singapore’s closest neighbour and the two countries share deep and warm relations. The Causeway was one of the busiest land borders in the world before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted our cross-border activities. The launch of the VTL (Land) is a big step towards reconnecting our people and economies, and will further enhance our bilateral relationship.”
PMO said that the land VTL will be progressively expanded to include more travellers, including general travellers, depending on the public health situation in both countries. Singapore and Malaysia will also work towards restoring quarantine-free travel between the two countries through Tuas Second Link.
This latest development follows the announcement of the VTL between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport, also to launch on November 29.
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has made four new general manager appointments at resorts in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Qatar and the UAE.
From left: Erik Billgren; and João Corte-Real
Erik Billgren is now the general manager at Anantara Mui Ne Resort in Vietnam. The Swedish national brings with him over a decade of hospitality experience and property management of luxury hotels, resorts and residences in Vietnam.
He began his career in 2005 as International management trainee – assistant F&B manager for Life Heritage Resort, and Swiss-Belhotel Golden Sands Resort in Hoi An, Vietnam. Between 2006 and 2010, he was promoted to F&B manager, then assistant resort manager, and ultimately general manager for Life Heritage Resort, Hoi An, which is now known as Anantara Hoi An Resort.
Staying in Vietnam, in 2012 he joined The Ocean Resort, VinaCapital, Da Nang, as general manager/property manager. Between 2010 and 2020, he was also the owner/director of Waterfront Restaurant & Bar in Da Nang. Prior to joining Anantara, Billgren worked as hotel manager, New World Hoiana Hotel & Residences, Hoi An.
Over in Sri Lanka, João Corte-Real joins as cluster general manager overseeing Anantara Kalutara Resort and its neighbouring and sister property Avani Kalutara Resort.
The seasoned hotelier started his career in hospitality in 1996 with ENATUR – Pousadas de Portugal, a government enterprise for small luxury, traditional or historical hotels, and has since held senior management positions with Lisboa Regency Chiado Hotel and Tróia Resort in Portugal, as well as Hotel Timor in Dili, the capital of East Timor.
Corte-Real then joined Anantara in 2015 as general manager at Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort in Thailand. Prior to that, he was based in his native Portugal working with sister brand Tivoli Hotels & Resorts, where he was cluster general manager at Tivoli Palácio de Seteais and Tivoli Sintra Hotel. In May 2018, he moved to Brazil as general manager, Tivoli Mofarrej São Paulo Hotel.
From left: Gauderic Harang; and Mohammed Wazir
Over in the Middle East, Gauderic Harang rejoins Anantara – from Six Senses Zighy Bay Oman – to oversee the three Anantara Sir Bani Yas Resorts in the UAE as the new general manager.
Harang’s career began in France at Plaza Athénée Paris, followed by several other positions in his native France. In 2013 he relocated to Thailand to join Swissôtel Resort Phuket, before moving to Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in Canada, both positions as director of operations.
In 2016, he joined Anantara taking the position of resident manager for Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli and Naladhu Private Island in the Maldives, stepping up as acting general manager before moving back to Thailand as resort manager at Anantara Golden Triangle.
Lastly, Mohammed Wazir has been appointed as General Manager at Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara. Bringing over 17 years of hospitality experience to the role, Mohammed moves to Qatar from his most recent position as general manager at Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara in Oman.
His hospitality experience began in the UK with Millennium Hotels before he moved to Malta with Corinthia Hotels. With Corinthia Hotels, Wazir spent time working in properties in Russia, North Africa, the UK and Eastern Europe.
Wazir’s journey with Anantara began in 2015 at this same island property in Doha where he held the position of hotel manager. He then moved to Thailand as Hotel Manager at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel.
General Hotel Management (GHM) has appointed Clement Koh to be the group’s inaugural executive vice president for sales and marketing.
In this newly-created role, Koh will continue to oversee GHM’s strategic expansion of its collection of luxury properties, as well as brand development campaigns and new commercial initiatives to support the company’s growth momentum.
A veteran commercial and branding professional, Koh offers a wealth of expertise acquired over three decades of luxury hospitality management, including senior leadership positions at Mandarin Oriental Group in Hong Kong and Minor International in Thailand.
He previously served as GHM’s vice president of sales of marketing and presided over corporate strategic, branding and communications efforts. In 2013, Koh assumed additional responsibilities in shaping the group’s business development strategy as senior vice president. He also played a key role in enhancing the content curation capabilities and best practices for GHM’s hotels and resorts.
Strong pipeline of business and contribution to the State up until 2028
Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) has secured 40 more business events worth A$150 million (US$108 million), according to its 2020/21 Annual Report.
From 2022 to 2028, this pipeline now boasts 118 business events that will attract 133,495 delegates, filling 387,372 hotel room nights across the city and set to inject A$804 million into Victoria’s visitor economy. Over 1,800 jobs were also created from the secured business events.
There is a strong pipeline of business and contribution to the State up until 2028; Melbourne city pictured
Speaking at the company’s Annual General Meeting, MCB chief executive Julia Swanson reflected on the challenges created by the pandemic and how the Bureau’s purpose has never been more relevant than over the past year.
“Driving economic and social progress for Victoria by securing and delivering world-class business events, has provided MCB with a strong sense of direction in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our strategy has been the right one to guide the organisation in laying the foundation for a bright future for business events in our State. From enhancing our profile and business opportunities across both international and domestic markets, engaging stakeholders, and an ambition to provide a leading digital experience for professional event organisers and event planners globally,” said Swanson.
Chair of the MCB Board Deborah Beale acknowledged the strength and stability afforded through the Victorian Government’s long-term investment of A$41.3 million in MCB over four years and stated it has been a significant factor in enabling the Bureau to continue its business development for larger international association events, and a focus on driving short-term business via the domestic market.
“This commitment recognises business events as an important contributor to our economy and has also supported a broadened focus of MCB’s business event acquisition into the domestic business events market with the successful launch of the National Business Events Program, designed to aid the immediate restart of the business events sector,” said Beale.
The first of its kind for Victoria, the funding programne provided business event organisers with a significant cash injection to support costs for hosting their events in Melbourne. The events approved at the close of the financial year and to be held in 2022, are expected to deliver A$102 million in economic contribution to the State.
Deborah Beale AM, current chair of the MCB Board and director, Federation Square, was re-elected for a three-year term and Adrian Williams, vice president operations (Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia) for AccorHotels was also re-elected for a further three-year term as director.
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.
Destination Gold Coast’s Board of Directors has appointed Adrienne Readings as chair of the tourism body, following the step-down announcement of Paul Donovan, who held the position for 17 years.
Readings will be working closely with the Board and the team at Destination Gold Coast to represent the interests of Gold Coast’s 4,400 tourism businesses and the 35,000 people employed by the sector. She has served on the Board of Destination Gold Coast for 17 years and formerly acted as vice chair.
In total, she possesses more than 30 years’ experience in business events, tourism management and hospitality.
Readings is also the general manager of Australia’s largest regional convention centre, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC), the first woman to be appointed general manager of an Australian convention centre.
In her role at GCCEC, Readings successfully identified and developed commercial opportunities for the Gold Coast and oversaw the delivery of billions of dollars of economic impact to the region.
Readings said in a press statement: “The next two years is all about our city’s recovery and creating a blueprint for future success to attract more visitors, more often and to grow expenditure for the Gold Coast.
“It has been a heartbreaking 18 months for our industry, but I see so much opportunity ahead of us with the return of interstate visitors in a matter of weeks and eventually international markets, a future pipeline of A$179 million (US$129 million) in business events opportunity for the city as well as working with peers to strengthen the future of the region through new infrastructure, development and city connectivity.”