From left: Minister of tourism, arts and culture Malaysia’s Shaharuddin Abu Sohot; deputy minister of tourism, arts and culture Malaysia’s Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan; and Tourism Malaysia’s Manoharan Periasamy at GTM's opening ceremony
Tourism Malaysia is hosting the Global Travel Meet 2025 this week, a major international tourism business event designed to drive momentum toward the Visit Malaysia 2026 goal of 47 million visitor arrivals.
The three-day event, running from October 1 to 3 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, serves as a pivotal platform connecting 600 international buyers and 100 media representatives with 400 Malaysian sellers, including hoteliers, airlines, and travel agents.
From left: Minister of tourism, arts and culture Malaysia’s Shaharuddin Abu Sohot; deputy minister of tourism, arts and culture Malaysia’s Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan; and Tourism Malaysia’s Manoharan Periasamy at Global Travel Meet 2025’s opening ceremony
Delegates will engage in structured B2B sessions, networking events, strategic matching activities, and fam trips, to gain exposure to Malaysia’s diverse tourism offerings.
Global Travel Meet 2025 is supported by Malaysian carriers (Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and Batik Air) and key tourism associations, including the Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association and the Malaysian Indian Tour & Travel Association.
Malaysia welcomed 38 million international visitor arrivals in 2024, marking a 31.1 per cent increase over 2023. That trend continued through the first seven months of 2025, during which the nation received 24.5 million international visitors, a 16.8 per cent increase year-on-year.
Interhill Hospitality has made a series of leadership changes across its Accor-branded hotels.
Sunardi Song is appointed general manager of Pullman Kuching. With over 15 years of hospitality experience, he will oversee the multi-million-ringgit relaunch of Pullman Kuching.
From left: Sunardi Song, Adrian Ng, Randy Nickcolas Constantine, and Alan Tham
Adrian Ng is promoted to vice president of operations at Pullman Kuching. He will provide strategic oversight across the group’s portfolio, including Pullman Kuching, Pullman Miri Waterfront, and ibis Melaka.
Randy Nickcolas Constantine is now general manager of Pullman Miri Waterfront, bringing with him more than 17 years of international experience with Hyatt, Pullman, ibis, Song Saa Private Island, Swissôtel, and Royal Tulip.
Alan Tham has been named vice president of F&B and will oversee all F&B operations across Interhill Hospitality.
Carlton Hotel Singapore has appointed Niall Cowan as its new general manager, where he will oversee all hotel operations.
He brings over 20 years of international experience in luxury hospitality across Asia, Africa and Europe, having held senior positions at The Savoy and The Berkeley in London, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, and Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali.
Event brief
Held for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere, the 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters (5WCWS) was hosted at the ICC Sydney from September 15 to 18, 2025.
The primary objective of 5WCWS was to provide a platform for learning and sharing experiences, and to contribute to a worldwide systemic approach to ending violence against women and their children.
The host body had a target of exceeding 1,000 attendees. Through ICMSA’s pre-event marketing campaign, the final result was 120 per cent above expectations, with delegates attending from more than 60 countries.
Event highlights
Delegates participated in pre-conference workshops leading up to the Welcome Ceremony, which included a pre-recorded address by Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese.
The conference ran for three days, following a clear format: each day began with a morning plenary session delivered by local and international experts, followed by up to 11 concurrent presentations. The complete cohort returned each afternoon for a final plenary.
Keynote speakers were a mix of international and national experts, distinguished by strong representation from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Highlights included talks by Cecilia McKenzie (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy and engagement manager at Domestic Violence NSW); singer/songwriter Shellie Morris, and Kyllie Cripps (director of the Monash Indigenous Studies Centre).
On Day 2, Tanya Plibersek, the federal minister for social services and federal member for Sydney, delivered a keynote address announcing the government’s commitment of an additional A$8.5 million (US$5.6 million) to boost programmes compelling domestic violence perpetrators to recognise and change their behaviour.
“The reason is simple: we can’t end domestic and family violence without holding those responsible to account,” she said.
The final night Gala Dinner, managed by ICMSA, took place at Watersedge at Campbells Store in The Rocks (opposite the Opera House). Delegates were transferred by boat from the ICC Sydney at Darling Harbour.
The conference concluded with a variety of Study Tours on the final day, giving delegates opportunities for specialised learning.
These included a visit to Sydney’s Women and Girls’ Emergency Centre Women’s Refuge; the Muslim Women Australia Multicultural Study Tour; the Jesuit Refugee Service Australia Study Tour; a tour of Australia’s National Research Organisation in Women’s Safety; and an introduction to Full Stop Australia’s 50-year history of services and activism to end gender-based violence.
Challenges
One of ICMSA’s biggest challenges was accommodating attendees from more than 60 countries, many of whom spoke English as a second language.
A relatively tight budget prevented the possibility of a complete translation service, a constraint largely due to the Host Body’s priority of sponsoring as many international delegates as possible.
ICMSA overcame the language barrier by implementing a new AI-powered translation system, boosting the accessibility and inclusivity of all presentations. This solution allowed delegates to engage with the content through multiple formats, including real-time translated audio streamed to their devices, translated subtitles, same-language captions, and access to transcripts and summaries in their chosen language. This was achieved for just over A$5 per delegate.
The availability of the translation system was the decisive factor for a considerable number of international attendees, according to ICMSA’s survey data.
Event 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters Dates September 15 to 18, 2025 Organiser ICMS Australasia Venue ICC Sydney and Watersedge at Campbells Store Attendance 1,200 delegates
Hotels are no longer mere venues for business events. Instead, they play a big role in supporting event planners’ content delivery by providing an environment that satisfies attendees’ lifestyle expectations and brings programme ideas to life.
From biophilic design that inspires positive mood and creativity to thoughtful cuisine that answers atteedees’ quest for mindful living, hotels are demonstrating a variety of ways to redefine the business event experience.
A sound-healing session at Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa
Hyatt
Hyatt offers five brand portfolios – Luxury, Lifestyle, Inclusive, Classics, and Essentials – each with a distinct focus. While no single brand is dedicated exclusively to business events, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Alila, Park Hyatt, and Andaz are popular for meetings and events in the Asia-Pacific region.
Grand Hyatt properties are located in key business and convention hubs like Taipei, Hong Kong, and Singapore, offering accessibility, versatile event spaces, and culinary excellence.
Meanwhile, Hyatt Regency hotels, strategically situated in the heart of cities such as Sydney and Tokyo, promise dynamic and flexible spaces, modern workstations, and technology that foster productivity and collaboration.
For corporate groups seeking holistic well-being, the Alila brand offers properties the integrate enriching experiences and a positive community impact into meetings and events programming, from yoga and meditation to sustainably-sourced menus.
Kate Atkinson, vice president of global sales, Hyatt Sales Force, Asia Pacific, said: “We believe meetings should be balanced, engaging and enable authentic connections. Well-being is a key pillar under Together By Hyatt, our event philosophy, and we embed this throughout our event programmes to reflect our commitment to total mindfulness for guests.”
For instance, Hyatt’s wide range of well-being offerings include global partnerships with Headspace for mindfulness and Masterclass for self-development. Hyatt has also collaborated with author Juliet Funt to create a Mindful Meetings Guide, which helps clients make their events more productive by incorporating practices like the 90-minute rule for breaks.
Additionally, Hyatt provides unique amenities to ensure attendees leave feeling refreshed. The Sleep@Hyatt programme in Australia and New Zealand, for example, includes guided meditation and amenity packs, while event Care Stations offer thoughtful items like stress balls and cleansing wipes for guests’ comfort.
Globally, Hyatt has also established a Wellbeing Collective, signifying hotels that developed their own unique experiences to fuel authentic connections, such as silver-crafting workshops with a Balinese artisan at Alila Ubud, or the Four Elements Retreat Experience at Hyatt Regency Hua Hin.
Atkinson added: “We work with planners to bring these elements into event programmes. For example, we will encourage the use of sunrise yoga to start the day or mindfulness sessions as session breaks. Through our food philosophy Carefully Sourced, Thoughtfully Served we also provide guidance on sustainable and healthy menu choices.”
A hotel that exemplifies wellness focus is Grand Hyatt Singapore. Following a massive renovation, the hotel’s reimagined wellness haven, Damai House, now features a hydrotherapy pool and a lawn for yoga and meditation. This facility offers the possibility of group wellness sessions, ranging from vertical Pilates to Body Blueprint consultations that provide detailed body composition analysis.
In February 2025, Hyatt launched the Asia Pacific Meeting and Events Alliance, a new programme designed to streamline multi-year, multi-city event planning for corporate clients across the region. This Alliance, “ has proven incredibly effective at streamlining planning and improving efficiencies”, noted Atkinson.
She noted that the “flexibility and collaboration of the alliance” enabled a a 280-delegate training programme to “swiftly and seamlessly” relocate from one of its Bangkok hotel to a Kuala Lumpur hotel following a natural disaster.
“(This) has since led to the client considering our hotels in Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong for future events,” she added. – Rachel AJ Lee
Parkroyal Penang Resort’s Jintan function room brings green views inside
Pan Pacific Hotels Group
Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) offers three brands – Pan Pacific, Parkroyal Collection, and Parkroyal – in the meetings and events market, with venues of varying sizes and functions built into its properties.
An ongoing global asset enhancement initiative (AEI) project has made event spaces in all its properties a priority. The outcome is a variety of venues that boast sustainable infrastructure in both the back-end and client-facing touch points, memorable sense of place, sensible biophilic design, and advanced audio-visual technology.
PPHG CEO Choe Peng Sum told TTGmice that the goal is to “make every ballroom and events space in all our hotels top-of-the-line through the ongoing global AEI”.
In Australia, a destination that is highly favoured for local, regional and international business events, PPHG has invested close to A$100 million (US$65.2 million) into rejuvenating three hotels, where all function rooms have been upgraded.
At Pan Pacific Perth – PPHG’s most significant AEI project in Australia – discerning event planners now have a new 2,500m2 convention floor to bring their creative events to life. A Wellness Concierge stands by to help event planners weave guided wellness breaks, mindfulness sessions, and a curated Wellness Menu into their programme.
Choe’s vision is to bring biophilic design and natural light into all function rooms, while equipping properties with modern technology to support clients’ immersive storytelling requirements.
Indeed, the group’s newer properties perfectly reflect this intention.
Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore, which opened in June 2023 and holds several design and architecture awards, is a prime example. The hotel blends sleek architecture with lush greenery. There are four architecturally distinct open-air terraces that welcome creative business gatherings while indoors there are various eye-catching venues for events of all forms and sizes.
In Malaysia, Parkroyal Penang Resort on Batu Ferringhi’s iconic beachfront recently unveiled refreshed event spaces that reflect the local cultural identity while supporting modern event needs.
At the heart of this transformation is the Andaman Grand Ballroom. Beyond its soaring double-tier timber ceiling, the ballroom is equipped with Batu Ferringhi’s largest built-in LED wall, advanced audiovisual systems, and customisable lighting. Cultural elements are seamlessly integrated with lighting panels that cast patterns reminiscent of wayang kulit, a tribute to Malaysia’s traditional shadow puppetry.
The hotel’s other seven function rooms are also renovated, and now open up to a pre-function area that offers a visual connection to the resort’s lush surroundings.
Choe shared that Pan Pacific Hanoi in Vietnam and Parkroyal Collection Pickering in Singapore will soon unveil “spectacular” new venues for events. – Karen Yue
Pullman Ciawi Vimala Hills Resort Spa & Convention’s lush surroundings offer a revitalising environment for meetings
Accor
Pullman, Mövenpick, and Swissôtel are brands in Accor’s portfolio that are well-equipped for business events due to their focus on flexibility, well-being, and purposeful design.
Pullman, with its Work hard, play hard ethos, appeals to the new generation of event planners. Hotels such as Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach, and Pullman Ciawi Vimala Hills Resort Spa & Convention, West Java, combine facilities with wellness-driven programming, energising breakouts, and social experiences that fuel productivity.
Swissôtel integrates its Vitality ethos into every aspect of the delegate journey. At Swissôtel Nankai Osaka for example, this includes wellness breaks, organic catering from its Sky Farm, and in-room fitness options to support both physical and mental well-being.
The brand’s Vitality Meeting setups include height-adjustable tables and wellness zones to boost energy and focus during long sessions, as seen at properties such as Swissôtel The Stamford Singapore.
As for incentive and wellness-focused events, Mövenpick properties like Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali and Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok offer immersive local wellness experiences, flexible venues, and standout cuisine.
To meet the needs of modern organisers, Accor continues to upgrade its business events infrastructure across Asia.
Ollie Ansell, vice president, commercial market strategy – Accor Asia, said: “Our venues feature modular spaces with natural light, LED screens, hybrid meeting technology, and ergonomic furniture to enhance comfort and flexibility. Recent upgrades at Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit and Pullman Singapore Hill Street exemplify this focus.
“We have also introduced wellness touch points, such as air purification systems, hydration stations, and calming design palettes.”
Other upgrades taking place behind the scenes include a strengthened technology backbone with high-speed connectivity and advanced audiovisual. Real-time translation tools have been implemented across key properties, while sustainability-related improvements include energy-efficient lighting, waste-reduction systems, and eco-certifications.
Ansell added that property teams “co-create agendas that keep delegates engaged and energised”, such as by creating “purpose-driven experiences”, from yoga before a leadership forum to nutritionist-curated menus at conferences. Solutions are tailor for each client. – Mimi Hudoyo
The Taiwan Expo 2025, held September 25-27 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, saw 107 Taiwanese companies showcase their latest innovations and products to Indian businesses and consumers.
Focused on four core themes – Smart Manufacturing, Smart Technology, Green Innovation, and Wellness Fiesta – the Expo featured solutions in electronics, EVs, renewable energy, semiconductors, and healthcare, emphasising stronger India-Taiwan economic ties in these growth sectors.
Taiwan Expo 2025; photo by Rohit Kaul
“In 2018, bilateral trade volume between India and Taiwan was only US$5 billion. As of 2024, our bilateral trade volume has surpassed US$10 billion. I believe that the Taiwan Expo 2025 in India has played an instrumental role in facilitating business cooperation between the two countries,” James Huang, chairman, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), told TTGmice.
The deepening relationship is evident in trade and investment; the number of Taiwanese firms in India has surged threefold since 2017 to over 250 companies. TAITRA has also played a proactive role by hosting other events in India, including the Smart City Expo in Bengaluru.
“Taiwan Expo has created business opportunities for both Taiwanese and Indian companies. We are not here to just sell our products; many of our companies are here to look for partnerships to work with their Indian counterparts,” added Huang.
Addressing the growth of India’s manufacturing industry under the Make in India policy, Huang said, “India is doing a great job in the manufacturing sector, and Taiwan is honoured to be a great partner of India in this endeavour.”
This year’s expo was jointly organised by TAITRA, and the International Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan). First established in 2018, the annual event has become a cornerstone for fostering commercial and technological exchange between the two nations.
The return on investment (ROI) for meetings and events (M&E) is no longer an option, but essential for proving value, securing investment, and aligning strategies with business goals.
While cost savings and precision spend are still key, ROI has evolved where return on engagement (ROE) and return on sustainability also matter, according to speakers at the inaugural Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) APAC webinar Why ROI matters in M&E Now More Than Ever.
Meetings must now prove value beyond cost savings
Donna Liew, Asia East, ASEAN and Singapore, regional leader and director, brand, marketing and communications, EY, said “story-telling and a compelling narrative” is important in managing stakeholder expectation.
Isaac Yeo, South-east Asia travel and events manager, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), added: “Cost saving and spend reduction may be some of the reasons, but ROI is also about productivity especially for international events… and improved collaboration in the long-term.
“It’s also about return on time and the experience, where attendees are energised, which can boost job retention and long-term careers.”
As for the return of experience and ROE, Simone Seiler, global general manager, FCM Meetings and Events, commented that integrating data analytics and using it to create a success matrix performance indicator could address “what works and future risk”.
On the use of AI, Liew shared that EY was building its own “super efficient” platform to measure the ROI outcome for the long sales cycle, 18 months after an event.
Meanwhile, Yeo pointed out that AI is “definitely crucial in ROI management”, and every BCG staff also creates a “personalised ‘ChatGPT’” for client servicing.
FCM also uses AI for design and event concept, to customise the attendee experience and enhance data analytics, and Seiler noted AI is used 100 per cent in day-to-day operations like room rate reconciliation, with data privacy in mind.
There was also the issue of sustainability.
Liew identified waste management as a key takeaway, calling it “a very important ROI area,” which moderator Hida Khalid, director of sales – MICE, Hilton Worldwide Sales, Asia Pacific, labelled a return on environment.
BCG’s Yeo added environmental sustainability is not only about offsetting the carbon footprint, but also giving back to the local community, how people are impacted and how it is measured.
Similarly, Seiler shared that FCM gives clients the opportunity to offset their carbon footprint and engage with the local community.
Regarding internal ROI discussions, Yeo advised that the conversation should not be limited to the “budget holder,” but should involve everyone, stressing that “only with data points can we craft an event”. He added that giving staff a choice of events improves collaboration.
Liew agreed, noting that budget owners may not always know the true ROI or employee desires, and providing options ensures positive outcomes for all.
The session opened with an eco-mocktail demonstration
Food is central to every conference, yet the way it is sourced, served, and wasted is now under sharper scrutiny.
At IT&CM Asia and CTW APAC 2025 last week, ICCA’s Sustainable Gastronomy in MICE engagement activity highlighted how the industry can reshape its practices. The session combined hands-on activities with honest knowledge-sharing from venues, consultants, and hoteliers.
The session opened with an eco-mocktail demonstration
The session opened with an eco-mocktail demonstration, showcasing how hyperlocal produce can cut carbon footprints along the supply chain while elevating the delegate experience.
But the bigger challenge, said LightBlue Consulting founder Benjamin Lephilibert, lies in food waste, which accounts for eight to ten per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
“Reducing food waste is not just transforming it into compost – it is anticipating, identifying the root causes, and embedding better procedures. Prevention is the top priority. Redistribution comes next. Only after that should we talk about animal feed or soil recovery,” Lephilibert explained.
ICCA’s regional director for Asia Pacific, Waikin Wong, steered the discussion to the audience, gathering candid examples of cultural expectations, buffet logistics, and plate waste.
“It’s crucial for organisers to start the dialogue with venues. Some venues may lack experience or not know the right questions to ask – so bridging that gap and educating each other is where communication becomes essential,” she said.
Hotels face the sharp end of the issue. Pornticha Wongyannava, sustainability manager at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, said: “Preparation waste we can compost, buffet waste we can donate. But plate waste goes to animal feed at best. Educating guests to take only what they can finish is critical.”
She further highlighted: “We even upcycle oyster shells into fire-resistant paint for local schools. This example also makes a good talking point to initiate the dialogue with our guests and vendors about food waste.”
From the venue perspective, Eileen Quek, assistant director of sales (international) at Singapore Expo, noted that cost remains a barrier: “Everyone wants to go sustainable, but no one wants to pay for it. That’s why we took it upon ourselves to make the initial investment in a food waste digester, which first produced fertiliser and now creates grey water safely released into the public system.”
She added: “On our site, it’s all about data and information, so I would highly encourage event organisers to think of F&B as part of your event design at the beginning. Because not only do good food and a good experience make your event; leave it to the end, and you lose the chance to shape impact.”
The session also spotlighted the ICCA Food-Waste Management Toolkit for Associations, developed with LightBlue Consulting and launched in July 2025.
States: the data reveals an industry stabilising but facing sharper pressures on cost, safety, and risk
The global business events industry is heading into 2026 with significantly cooled optimism, according to the latest research presented at the Inside MICE: Trends and Data for Strategic Decision-Making session at IT&CM Asia and CTW APAC 2025 last week.
“Forty-seven percent of respondents believe business conditions will improve in the next 12 months, but 43 per cent expect decline,” Jessie States, vice president, consulting, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), presented.
States: the data reveals an industry stabilising but facing sharper pressures on cost, safety, and risk
She noted that optimism has cooled sharply since late 2024, when 78 per cent foresaw growth, underlining a tougher business environment heading into 2026.
Risk is also on the rise, with 51 per cent of planners say their level of concern related to safety and risk is higher than in 2023, while 39 per cent say their concern is significantly more than pre-pandemic 2019.
Top perceived threats include natural disasters and weather (48 per cent), IT outages (34 per cent), and data breaches (33 per cent), alongside social unrest (31 per cent) and international conflicts (25 per cent).
Costs are also rising across all categories. More than half of respondents reported one to 10 per cent price hikes in F&B, AV, event space, hotels, and transport over the past year – with respondents expecting the same again in the year ahead. F&B was hit hardest: over a quarter saw prices jump more than 10 per cent last year, while more than 20 per cent anticipate another double-digit increase this year.
While 47 per cent of planners still project budget growth, 30 per cent foresee cuts, marking a 25 per cent year-on-year drop in confidence.
“The top concern right now is cost and budget, right up there alongside politics, the economy, and legislation – and that’s international, across all organisers. In all areas, prices are going up. Planners need to go back to stakeholders with data, and have a serious discussion on whether to amend the delegate experience or allocate more funds,” States emphasised.
Business travel habits, meanwhile, are rebounding beyond pre-Covid norms. Forty-six per cent of respondents report more trips than in 2019, 42 per cent add leisure time, and 45 per cent show a stronger desire to travel. However, satisfaction levels remain uneven, with only 16 per cent reporting improved travel experiences.
Data from MPI’s AI Sentiment Meter also revealed somewhat positive views rising from 50 per cent in late 2023 to 68 per cent by February 2025, as planners grow more comfortable with AI.
“When we first started asking, everyone was wary of its impact. Now, while concerns remain, many organisers are leaning into AI as an invaluable tool,” concluded States.
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He brings more than 20 years of experience in hospitality and will oversee operations as Jati enters its first full high season.
He brings over 20 years of international experience in luxury hospitality across Asia, Africa and Europe, having held senior positions at The Savoy and The Berkeley in London, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, and Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali.
