Singapore, Australia in travel bubble talks; a party boat sailing at a very quiet Sydney Harbour on Australia Day 2021 pictured
Singapore and Australia are in talks to forge a quarantine-free air travel bubble which will facilitate cross-border travel between both countries.
Additionally, the two nations are also in discussions on the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates and resumption of travel with priority for students and business travellers, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on Sunday (March 14).
Singapore, Australia in travel bubble talks; a party boat sailing at a very quiet Sydney Harbour on Australia Day 2021 pictured
MFA was responding to media queries following a report by The Sydney Morning Herald which said that plans for a two-way bubble between Singapore and Australia was underway. The report also stated that it could be possible for people from third countries to enter Australia via Singapore after completing a 14-day quarantine in the city-state.
“Australia is a key partner of Singapore in the region. We are in discussions on how to cooperate in opening our economies safely, taking into consideration the Covid-19 situation in both countries,” MFA said.
The ministry also stated that both countries are not in discussion on the concept of a quarantine centre or vaccination hub. It said: “Australian nationals can transit via Singapore without quarantining to return home if they travel on approved transit routes and if they comply with our public health protocols while in transit.”
CTMs are once again placing more focus on sustainability now that the Covid situation is under control
Corporate Travel Community (CTC) members have reaffirmed their commitment to “environmental sustainability” in their travel programmes, with many saying they plan to strengthen “core value statements” after having had to prioritise duty of care in the last year.
During last week’s CTC Roundtable discussion, a buyer from a pharmaceutical company, which had set clear sustainability guidelines for business operations, was seeking suppliers with “sustainable missions” to meet its 2030 goals, adding it was already working with a TMC on how to offset carbon emissions.
CTMs are once again placing more focus on sustainability with the Covid situation is under control
He continued: “It is not only about suppliers, but on educating travellers to turn off hotel room lights, to use less water, to take public transport instead of a taxi from the airport and to use technology to track carbon emissions.”
CTMs acknowledged the airlines were taking the sustainability lead in reducing carbon emissions in the type of fuel and aircraft used, and Shirley Yuen, regional director – global and strategic sales Asia Oceania Sale Office, Japan Airlines (JAL), said its long-term goal was to cut carbon emissions to zero by 2050.
Yuen said: “JAL has set up a specific department to address this because it is of utmost importance for our clients.”
An insurance industry CTM shared that her company was working with its TMC on cutting carbon emissions, tracking travel patterns and how to plan to drive sustainability better.
The Delhi-based buyer of a global professional services company, who acknowledged sustainability took a back seat at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak, noted the global travel team did not only look at travel sustainability.
He pointed out that facilities, the type of rental cars provided, etc, were also part of the sustainability strategy, and the travel target is a 2024 deadline to deliver “real-time flight bookings and carbon emissions” and airfares with a “threshold for reducing carbon emissions”.
In addressing the sustainability challenge, CAPA – Centre for Aviation founder and chairman emeritus, Peter Harbison, said “finding a balance between an existential threat and a threat to our existence was not an easy equation”.
“Sustainability and the recovery of air travel need to go hand in glove,” he said, adding the focus for governments should remain on how to reduce carbon emissions rather than measures such as new taxes.
Harbison commented: “Incentivising the creation of new sustainable fuels for aircraft is a real step in the right direction. Sustainability is a critical part of the whole aviation equation.”
A positive outcome from the collapse of air travel demand, he noted, was that global passenger levels were similar to what was last seen in 2005, that global aviation emissions had reduced significantly and would remain “well below 2019 levels for some years to come”.
According to Harbison, longhaul international air travel accounted for around 40 per cent of emissions in 2019 and flight levels will be constrained for at least two years; and with airlines operating around half the wide-body fleet of 2019 alone would help reduce previous aviation emissions by around 20 per cent.
But the reduction in air travel in 2020 was unprecedented, and it is already starting to recover as Covid-19 vaccination programmes become more widespread, he added.
As the recovery continues, he said the industry would have to – and be seen to – take bolder steps to produce new solutions and show progress is being made because “governments, businesses and investors will increasingly pressure the aviation industry moving forward”.
The knowledge economy forms part of the advocacy platform for the business events industry
It’s been almost 12 months since Covid-19 hit Australia and abruptly shut down the business events industry. Events including conventions, symposiums, association meetings and trade exhibitions all disappeared overnight.
The financial impact of the pandemic on Australia’s economic health has been well and truly documented. Specifically looking at our industry, the Business Council of Australia (BECA) reported a loss of A$35 billion (US$27.1 billion) in direct expenditure to the Australian economy and over 230,000 jobs being impacted as a result of the pandemic.
However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are other impacts not so easily quantified, but with enormous ramifications that will continue to have a lasting effect long after the pandemic has retreated.
As I reflect one year on, one such ramification that hasn’t been widely acknowledged is the long term impact on Australia’s knowledge economy which is silently suffering.
Business events deliver much more than travel and hospitality spend, as significant as that is. They are a driving force for innovation, providing researchers and practitioners with a platform to discuss and disseminate new ideas. They are where the brightest minds come together to solve the world’s problems – from health and medical breakthroughs, technology and ethics, engineering and development, to environmental sustainability and more.
Meeting in person allows for networking opportunities, business exchanges, recruitment efforts and introductions. Some of the greatest business ideas, scientific developments and technical innovations have been sparked during an event workshop or in the corridors outside of formal sessions.
Connections are made and actions are taken, which otherwise may never have taken place. For example, The University of New South Wales (UNSW) was awarded a A$17.7 million grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council to support research into HIV AIDS as a direct result of the World Aids Conference held in Sydney. They also received an A$18 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support a research study into HIV drug therapy while being recognised as an international leader in HIV AIDS research.
Hosting virtual and hybrid events in the current climate has certainly been valuable for businesses and organisations to continue to communicate in a pandemic environment however, there are some things that we need to do together face-to-face that you can’t easily replicate online.
As the pandemic endures, it’s never been more important for private industry, government and the community to recognise the broader value of business events to our society, beyond the obvious monetary outcomes. It may be difficult to quantify the non-monetary benefits but it’s crucial that they are ultimately recognised and outcomes are captured.
Along with the reactivation of the visitor economy, the knowledge economy forms part of the advocacy platform for the business events industry. It is yet another reason why we need to bring the return of face-to-face events into the foreground and make this our primary focus in 2021.
We have reached a major milestone with the beginning of the vaccination roll out in Australia but realistically, the business events industry remains in survival and immediate recovery mode.
In order for business events to reach their full potential, we need to reach a unified approach to interstate border closures, agree on a national definition for hot spots and ultimately open our international borders so that international travel can resume.
Longer-term, once we have achieved effective global vaccination, only then will people be able to move freely to attend international events with confidence, putting the industry in a position to fully recover and once again deliver intellectual, business and social legacies for Australia.
Geoff Donaghy is the CEO of ICC Sydney, as well as group director of convention centres (Asia Pacific) for ASM Global.
Donaghy is also the immediate past-president of the International Association of Congress Centres and is their representative on peak global body, the Joint Meetings Industry Council.
His extensive experience in the business events industry was born from his airline and hotel industry experience. He headed the Cairns region’s tourism and convention bureau for five years before managing the 1996 opening of the Cairns Convention Centre. He previously also served five years as chairman of the Business Events Council of Australia.
Hosted buyer applications have opened for New Zealand’s business events showcase MEETINGS 2021 in Auckland, scheduled for June 2 and 3.
Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) chief executive, Lisa Hopkins said in a press statement: “We believe MEETINGS is the first event for the sector globally in 2021, after other key events have unfortunately had to cancel. Our timing will enable New Zealand’s business events industry to connect early with buyers who are focused on 2022 and beyond.
Buyers and suppliers speaking in person at the previous MEETINGS 2019
“With the roll-out of the vaccine programme, confidence will be streaming back. Now is the time for business to be secured and to provide certainty for the future.”
MEETINGS is New Zealand’s largest business events trade show and this year it includes a two-day programme, plus eight regional fam tours.
Business event organisers can attend MEETINGS in a number of different ways this year.
They can choose to be fully hosted for two days in Auckland, attend fully-hosted for a day, or visit for a few hours as a local day buyer. There will also be a virtual Hosted Buyer programme to ensure Australian and international buyers will be able to get in touch with New Zealand suppliers at MEETINGS 2021.
Pre-fams will take place from May 30 to June 1 in Auckland, Northland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin-Central Otago. After MEETINGS, from June 4-6, hosted buyers can choose to visit either Waikato or Queenstown.
“Following the huge success of BE Reconnected, supporting the industry to connect consistently is vital. The interest we have for MEETINGS is really exciting. Some of the comments from Australian-based buyers are giving us insight into the pent-up demand for New Zealand, which is seen as a low-risk international destination,” Hopkins said.
Hosted buyer applications for MEETINGS 2021 close on April 9, and pre-scheduled appointment requests will begin online from April 19.
Dash Living, a serviced apartment operator in Hong Kong and Singapore, has combined forces with hotel group Ovolo, to launch two new Hong Kong projects in Aberdeen and Sheung Wan.
The Aberdeen by Dash Living, soon-to-be converted from Mojo Nomad By Ovolo, offers 79 rooms ranging from studios to executive suites. The 56-room The Sheung Wan By Ovolo, only remaining under Ovolo’s management for stays under seven days, will offer units from studio, one-bedroom, to family room options.
The Aberdeen by Dash Living Studio unit
The Aberdeen by Dash Living will include communal areas spanning across three floors including a lounge, a living area, a movie-viewing space, a common kitchen, a laundry, a gym and an entertainment terrace. The management will be similar to that for a hotel, but for co-living long stays. The Sheung Wan by Ovolo includes a gym and laundry room for residents as well as a Mexican restaurant, Te Quiero Mucho.
Tenants in Aberdeen and Sheung Wan will also have access to a variety of lifestyle perks. For example, Dash Living provides free access to a variety of co-working spaces, free professional fitness centre membership, a multitude of wellness, dining and shopping options with discounts, and more. As well, Dash Living offers regular tenant events including collaborations with local partners for activities such as yoga, baking and fitness.
Dash Living, founded by serial entrepreneur Aaron Lee in 2014, now manages and operate over 1,300 units across serviced apartments, co-living homes and hotel rooms across Asia.
Meanwhile, the Ovolo Group was founded by entrepreneur Girish Jhunjhnuwala and first entered the real estate market in 2002; then further expanded into the hotel industry in 2010. It owns and operates 12 hotels across Hong Kong, Australia and Bali.
JW Marriott Singapore has unveiled Studio Britannia, a fully-equipped broadcast studio with cutting-edge technology for virtual or hybrid events.
Aside from being outfitted with a 6m by 4m green screen, the room also features digital broadcast cameras, a teleprompter, and ultra-high-speed live streaming connectivity.
Virtual rates start from S$2,000++ (US$1,488++) per hour (minimum of two hours), and includes the use of Studio Britannia with existing Studio Equipment, on-site production crew, and meeting amenities.
Meanwhile, hybrid events with on-site participants will have to allocate extra budget for additional meeting room rentals, with Assembly Meeting Rooms starting from S$800++, or the Grand Ballroom from S$3,500++.
South-east Asia’s flagship geospatial and location intelligence event, Geo Connect Asia, will be a hybrid event held in Singapore, on March 24 and 25, 2021.
Organised by Montgomery Asia, the event is expected to welcome some 1,000 in-person delegates to Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, as well as 1,200 virtual attendees. The virtual event showfloor will feature up to 50 companies, more than half of which are international firms.
Marina Bay Sands will again be the host location for the hybrid event
For delegates attending in-person, GCA 2021 will feature Geo Suites, which are ballrooms converted into exhibition booths. Each Geo Suite will cater to a single exhibitor who can display their products and provide demonstrations on a stage and hold business meetings in pods located within the Suite. Geo Suites will replace a typical tradeshow floor as the main mode of interaction and minimise intermingling between cohorts of attendees.
Besides meeting pods to enable one-to-one meetings between exhibitors and attendees, larger meeting pods that are double in size will also be piloted at GCA to cater to two-to-two meetings. Business meetings can also be scheduled prior to the event, and continue their engagements after the show.
The GCA 2021 Conference is themed Mapping the data-driven future economy, and will be led by high-level speakers and thought leaders from across the global geospatial industry.
The first plenary session, entitled Geospatial Planning & Solutions; the Key to a Robust & Sustainable Recovery, will examine how geospatial solutions can support ASEAN economies in staging a sustainable recovery from the pandemic.
Other key topics the 40 speakers and panellists will be covering at the GCA 2021 Conference include On the Move: Smart Transportation for Asia’s Dynamic Urban Landscapes; Harnessing the Power of Satellite Imagery for a Sustainable Future; and Smarter Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities.
Abdul Karim Hamzah beats the war drum to launch Sarawak’s -new incentive packages and new promotional video .jpeg
Sarawak has unveiled more funding support to encourage locally-based business event planners and partners to hold business events in the state.
This announcement was made by Sarawak’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Minister of Youth and Sports, Abdul Karim Hamzah at a hybrid event at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching last week.
Abdul Karim Hamzah (in white) beats the war drum to signify the launch of Sarawak’s new incentive packages
Meant for Sarawak-based associations and corporate organisations, the Tribe Homegrown Package by Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) provides support for conventions, corporate meetings and incentive programmes.
To qualify for financial assistance under the Conventions category, organisers must have a minimum of 100 delegates with one full-day programme held any time from May 3 to November 30, 2021.
The focus of the convention should be on the development of tourism, arts and culture in Sarawak as this support is a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Sarawak and BESarawak to develop the local tourism, arts and culture scene via homegrown conventions.
Meanwhile, the qualification criteria for the corporate meetings category is a minimum of 30 delegates attending a minimum 1.5-day programme. For the corporate incentives category, there is a minimum of 20 delegates attending a two full-day programme and a two-night stay. The corporate incentives category also include teambuilding, workshops and company retreats.
Such efforts are being made as Malaysia’s borders remain closed and interstate travel is still not allowed.
Another incentive that was launched during the event was the Tribe Collaborate Incentivised Package for Sarawak-based industry partners to help with advertising, marketing and promotional efforts on the digital front.
“Solid marketing and promotions will make a positive impact on Sarawak’s business lead generation efforts,” said BESarawak’s acting CEO, Amelia Roziman. She added that the business events industry’s total economic impact for 2021 is set at RM 179.2 million (US$43.4 million), and a target of 60 secured business events.
Despite the pandemic, Sarawak managed to secure 95 business events in 2020, which are set to take place from 4Q2021 onwards, and translate to RM 112.9 million in direct delegate expenditure.
“The bid wins surpassed the initial target by 106 per cent which is great news. Having said that, national and international in-person events will not take place any time soon; which is why we need to put our current emphasis on hybrid and local business events first to help the business events industry restart and recover during this difficult time.”
And while homegrown events are the current focus, Amelia added that incentivised packages for national and international planners are also being revived to give better support hybrid events and fit the current planners’ needs.
Travellers are growing more confident when it comes to travelling again by air, are increasingly frustrated with current travel restrictions, and are more accepting of a travel app to manage health credentials to allow travel, revealed a poll by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Air travel is set to take off again
Travel restrictions
88% believe that when opening borders, the right balance must be struck between managing Covid-19 risks and getting the economy going again
85% believe that governments should set Covid-19 targets (such as testing capacity or vaccine distribution) to reopen borders
84% believe that Covid-19 will not disappear, and we need to manage its risks while living and travelling normally
68% agreed that their quality of life has suffered with travel restrictions
49% believe that air travel restrictions have gone too far
While there is public support for travel restrictions, it is becoming clear that people are feeling more comfortable with managing the risks of Covid-19.
People are also feeling frustrated with the loss of freedom to travel, with 68% of respondents indicating their quality of life is suffering as a result. Travel restrictions come with health, social and economic consequences. Nearly 40% of respondents reported mental stress and missing an important human moment as a result of travel restrictions. And over a third have said that restrictions prevent them from doing business normally.
“The top priority of everybody at the moment is staying safe amid the Covid-19 crisis. But it is important that we map a way to being able to reopen borders, manage risks and enable people to get on with their lives. That includes the freedom to travel. It is becoming clear that we will need to learn to live and travel in a world that has COVID-19. Given the health, social and economic costs of travel restrictions, airlines should be ready to re-connect the world as soon as governments are able to re-open borders. That’s why a plan with measurable milestones is so critical. Without one, how can we be prepared for restart without an unnecessary delay?” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general and CEO.
Future travel trends
57% expect to be travelling within two months of the pandemic being contained (improved from 49% in September 2020)
72% want to travel to see family and friends as soon as possible (improved from 63% in September 2020)
81% believe that they will be more likely to travel once they are vaccinated
84% said they will not travel if there is a chance of quarantine at destination (largely unchanged from 83% in September 2020)
56% believe that they will postpone travel until the economy stabilizes (improved from 65% in September 2020)
Survey responses are telling us that people are becoming more confident to travel. Those expecting to travel within a few months of “Covid-19 containment” now account for 57% of survey respondents (improved from 49% in September 2020). This is supported by vaccine rollout which indicates that 81% of people will be more likely to travel once vaccinated. And 72% of respondents want to travel as soon as possible after COVID-19 is contained to see friends and family.
There are some headwinds in travel trends. About 84% of travellers will not travel if it involves quarantine at the destination. And there are still indications that the pick-up in business travel will take time with 62% of respondents saying they are likely to travel less for business even after the virus is contained. That is, however, a significant improvement from the 72% recorded in September 2020.
“People want to get back to travel, but quarantine is the showstopper. As testing capacity and technology improves and the vaccinated population grows, the conditions for removing quarantine measures are being created. And this points us again towards working with governments for a well-planned re-opening as soon as conditions allow,” said de Juniac.
IATA Travel Pass
89% of respondents believe that governments need to standardise vaccine and testing certificates
80% are encouraged by the prospect of the IATA Travel Pass App and would use it as soon as available
78% will only use a travel credential app if they have full control over their data
Travel health credentials are already opening borders to some countries. IATA believes that such a system needs global standards and the highest level of data security.
The survey produced very encouraging data indicating traveller willingness to use a secure mobile phone app to manage their travel health credentials. Four of five people surveyed would like to use this technology as soon as it becomes available. They also expect that travel health credentials (vaccine or test certificates) must comply with global standards — a work that is still in progress by governments.
Survey respondents also sent a clear message on the importance of data security. Some 78% of travellers will not use an app if they are not in full control of their data. And about 60% will not use a travel credential app if data is stored centrally.
“We are designing IATA Travel Pass with the traveller in mind. Passengers keep all the data on their mobile devices, and they remain in full control of where that data goes. There is no central database. While we are making good progress with numerous trials, we are still awaiting the global standards for digital testing and vaccine certificates. Only with global standards and governments accepting them can we maximise efficiency and deliver an optimum travel experience,” said de Juniac.
FCM has made it a priority to address customers’ pain points and their travel programmes by investing in new technology
Global travel management company FCM has unveiled a fresh branding, and developed a new proprietary platform.
FCM’s new look is designed to showcase the brands’ flexible and unconventional approach to providing agile travel management services to its customers globally. The end-to-end rebrand has been launched in 97 countries across all websites, customer communications and social media platforms.
FCM has made it a priority to address customers’ pain points and their travel programmes through its investment in new technology
In addition, a core component of the announcement is that FCM is pushing ahead with the development of a proprietary technology. The in-house platform is an omnichannel offering that is being developed following extensive research among customers to understand the different concerns of their bookers, travellers and managers. Findings of this research revealed customers need an all-encompassing platform that is consistent across all markets, but also flexible with a simple user interface.
FCM’s global chief technology officer Adrian Lopez said the vision for the platform is based on addressing six key pillars: a globally consistent booking experience; always available travel assistance; traveller safety and wellbeing support; sustainability; AI-powered reporting and savings, and flexible integration capabilities. There will also be features like AI-powered reporting, and allowing a search experience similar to that of Google for actionability of data.
Customers in several regions around the globe will begin testing the FCM Platform prior to the first phase of onboarding this year.
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
