The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s director of global business development & marketing, Angeline van den Broecke, has been elected to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Board of Directors representing the Venue Sector, at the 59th ICCA General Assembly.
On her new role at ICCA, van den Broecke said in a staetment: “I am committed to driving collective momentum to pioneer business and economic recovery to keep our industry transforming and transacting, and to contribute and grow ICCA’s engagement platform across our industry supply chain and to strengthen ICCA’s membership so we can deliver more value to members.
“Of great relevance to me is for venues to be vocal and demonstrate the value they provide as social and economic drivers, we need to communicate the value of venues as important infrastructure assets to cities and communities. We need to keep our venues operating and delivering business events and ascertain what relevant information and support we can share as a sector to advance our recovery and progressive transformation.”.
Her key areas of expertise are in global business development and acquisition, strategic marketing and organisational and destination growth initiatives as well as partnership and alliance engagement models, having worked extensively in both the public and private sector.
What was the inspiration for merging ILTM’s many events into a single World Tour? How will the new show aim to target different markets? ILTM World Tour – access all areas will compensate for the postponed ILTM events in 2020 and provide an environment for international luxury travel brands and regional buyer communities to virtually meet to connect and build their businesses.
While we know that virtual events will never replace our love to meet and share stories in person, we know that right now, what counts the most is getting business lined up for 2021. We cannot predict the timing of when growth will come back, but we can be ready for whenever it happens.
What details can you reveal about the format and content of this event? We have created something very different – a world tour that will take place for four hours a day, for three days over three weeks, (covering) three buyer source regions. It all starts with the sunrise in Asia Pacific; follows the sun north to Europe, Middle East and Africa; then finally crosses the Atlantic to both North and South America.
With some 2,000 participants, each event is a refined version of the annual ILTM in that region so we have given suppliers the opportunity to pick one, two or all three weeks. The ILTM World Tour is representative of the world of ILTM’s portfolio of events, so the content will reflect that. It will also be available to all participants, so they can choose when they want to watch it during the three days of each week across three weeks.
There will be content included with keynote sessions announced each day. We want them to be a surprise to those registered so I’m not going to give away too much right now.
As much of international travel is still difficult at this time, what lessons are you learning about the ILTM and luxury travel community through the past months? 2020 has been a tough year for everyone. The luxury travel industry has suffered as a result of the unprecedented events, and it has meant adapting their business strategies. With target markets shifting as some borders remain closed, we want the ILTM World Tour to open up opportunities for all participants, as well as to bring people together, uniting through shared experiences and business, whilst we plan for our return.
The ILTM World Tour is about offering all of the regions of the world – (places) where we would have had an ILTM event this year – an alternative opportunity to meet together. It doesn’t replace (attending) an ILTM in any of these countries, but we know by the response to it that the world’s luxury travel industry needed an event to happen this year, and this is the biggest we could create virtually.
But we don’t expect anyone to sit in front of a screen for hours on end. With short days and regular breaks, this is as much about self-care as it is business. It cannot replace face-to-face, but it can pave the way for a stronger 2021.
The inaugural air travel bubble (ATB) flight between Singapore and Hong Kong will kick off on November 22, allowing for leisure travel between the two places without the need for quarantine.
This marks the world’s first air travel bubble arrangement, after the pandemic forced the implementation of border restrictions globally.
The initial phase will see 200 travellers allowed to enter Singapore and Hong Kong each day on designated flights
Under the ATB, travellers between Singapore and Hong Kong will be subject to Covid-19 tests, in lieu of quarantine or stay-home notice. There will be no restrictions on the purpose of travel and no requirement for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship.
As a start, there will be one flight a day into each city, capped at 200 travellers per flight. This will be increased to two flights a day into each city from December 7. Travellers from both cities must travel on designated flights on Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Cathay Pacific.
If the Covid-19 situation deteriorates in either city, the travel bubble arrangements will be suspended, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said in a statement on Wednesday.
Travellers must also meet the eligibility criteria and adhere to the prevailing border control measures and public health requirements of both cities, it added. More information is available here.
Transport minister Ong Ye Kung said: “The Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble enables us to achieve two objectives at the same time – open up our borders in a controlled manner, while maintaining safety in our societies. While we may be starting small, this is an important step forward… It will be a useful reference for other countries and regions that have controlled the epidemic, and are contemplating opening their borders.”
The inaugural ATB flight from Singapore, SQ890, will depart on 22 November; while the inaugural ATB flight from Hong Kong, SQ891, will depart on 23 November, according to an SIA press release.
Customers who have existing bookings but do not meet the ATB requirements, or are travellers transiting through Singapore or Hong Kong and therefore not eligible for ATB flights, will have the option to be reaccommodated on SIA’s low-cost subsidiary Scoot instead.
However, passengers travelling on Scoot’s non-ATB flights must meet the entry requirements for Singapore or Hong Kong, and will have to serve either a stay-home notice or a quarantine.
All travellers are required to take a Covid-19 swab test 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of their designated ATB flight and obtain a negative test result. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, travellers from Singapore are required to take a second Covid-19 test, and must remain in the airport until their results are out. Travellers from Hong Kong arriving in Singapore are not subjected to another round of testing.
Conrad Clifford, IATA’s regional vice president for Asia Pacific, welcomed the impending start of the Hong Kong-Singapore ATB.
“International air travel in Asia-Pacific is practically non-existent. Our latest figures for September show passenger demand at about 95 per cent below the same period last year. The Hong Kong-Singapore air travel bubble, though starting small, is a step in the right direction to reboot international travel in the region. We look forward to seeing Hong Kong and Singapore expand this arrangement with other destinations, and for other governments to adopt a similar approach.
“What is significant is that quarantine measures have been lifted for any travel between Hong Kong and Singapore, and is not limited to just business or essential travel. Replacing quarantine measures with Covid-19 testing will help in reopening borders, restore connectivity that jobs and the economy depend on, and give passengers confidence to travel.
Standards and technological solutions will also be needed to facilitate the management, communication and verification of test results by the multiple stakeholders involved in the travel process. This is something we are working on with the parties in Hong Kong and Singapore.”
The Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre, the city’s first purpose-built facility, is on track for completion by 2023.
It will be able to host conventions of up to 1,400 delegates, and features 18,000m2 of conference and exhibition space spread across three floors. There will also be a new 1,280m2 exhibition gallery space to accommodate large, internationally significant exhibitions.
An artist’s impression of Tākina
Recently, the centre was recently honoured with a Māori name, Tākina. Tākina means ‘to invoke’ which reflects the city as a place people come together to talk and think.
Tākina is being built on a Wellington City Council-owned site on Cable Street, opposite Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum. It’s also within easy walking distance of the city’s entertainment districts and its harbour waterfront.
The city selected the name after working in close collaboration with local iwi (indigenous) partners based in or near Wellington – New Zealand’s capital city.
Wellington mayor Andy Foster said Tākina is the perfect name for Wellingtons’ new iconic space.
“Our new convention and exhibition centre is part of the ongoing regeneration of the city centre and given the breadth of exhibitions, conferences and events it will host. Tākina is set to be a major asset for Wellington as New Zealand’s Arts and Creative Capital.”
WellingtonNZ indicated they have already fielded a string of enquiries from organisations keen to book the venue.
Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar meets with Malaysia Rapid Transit System representatives on the RTS Link project; photo by The Johor Royal Press Office
The much-delayed JB-Singapore Rapid Transit (RTS) Link that connects Bukit Chagar in Johor Baru with Woodlands in Singapore may finally break ground at the end of this month, following a virtual launch planned on November 22 in conjunction with the birthday of Johori ruler sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar meets with Malaysia Rapid Transit System representatives on the RTS Link project; photo by The Johor Royal Press Office
The Johor Royal Press Office said the ruler has been presented with project details, including launch arrangements and final designs for the station.
The RTS Link is expected to ease causeway congestions, improve connectivity between the two countries and generate shared economic and social benefits. When complete, it will be a standalone Light Rail Transit (LRT) System with the capacity to serve up to 10,000 commuters during peak periods, for every hour and in each direction.
TravelRevive will be the first tradeshow in Singapore to trial the newly-developed hybrid event prototype for safe business events and safe itineraries, as it expects to welcome foreign delegates based on existing cross-border travel arrangements.
Powered by ITB Asia and Singapore Tourism Board (STB), TravelRevive will be held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, from November 25-26, 2020.
TravelRevive will be held at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre (pictured)
Andrew Phua, STB’s executive director, exhibitions & conferences, said: “TravelRevive is the first major international tradeshow to take place physically in Asia-Pacific since COVID-19… We look forward to welcoming our international delegates to TravelRevive and working with industry partners to set Singapore apart as the world’s leading destination for safe, trusted and innovative MICE events.”
TravelRevive’s conference will feature a hybrid format with live and on-demand components available on ITB Community in Asia.
The conference will see industry experts across the travel industry come together in two series of panels: The Leaders’ Panels and Keynote Panels. Speakers will touch on topics such as preparation for the new MICE business model, rethinking of business travel, and discussions of ways to revive travel in a safe way.
At The Leaders’ Panels, heavyweights from hotels, associations and event organisers will share their take on how their respective industries have pivoted in the current-Covid-19 environment. Attendees can look forward to hearing from speakers such as senior executives from InterContinental Hotels Group, Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, International Association of Convention Centres, International Congress and Convention Association, Marriott International and Oakwood Worldwide.
Experts from leading organisations – Accenture, Amadeus, Expedia, Google, Hilton and Travelport – will lead TravelRevive’s keynote panels as well. Topics for discussion will include surviving and reviving by going against the norm and how travel technologies can truly transform travel post-pandemic.
To facilitate one-to-one meetings between exhibitors and buyers in a safe manner, TravelRevive will feature 18m2 booths complemented with 9m2 meeting pods, and an online diary mobile app.
Apart from conferences and exhibitions, there are also various live and live-virtual hybrid side events within TravelRevive. These include a MICE MOU Signing Ceremony; IAEE Asia Hybrid Forum; and SMFX @ MICE Connect.
Lastly, TravelRevive will pioneer specially curated safe itineraries for delegates that not only offer them an assurance of safety, but also experiences that are authentic, bespoke and personalised. These include virtual tours with hands-on activities that delegates can participate in from their hotel rooms, private museum site visits, and even a guided site visit to a Kelong (an offshore wooden platform used primarily for fish farming).
From left: Mike_Wittenstein; and Cecilia MoSze Tham
IBTM has announced Cecilia MoSze Tham and Mike Wittenstein as the latest two keynote speakers for IBTM World Virtual, which will take place online from December 8-10, 2020.
Tham, who has been described as an ‘innovation activist’ and serial entrepreneur, will present a session on the future of human connectivity called ‘When the future worlds meet: How technology will transform the way we gather in the next year and beyond’; a deep dive into the myriad fascinating ways that technology may change the way we meet and interact in the future.
From left: Mike Wittenstein; and Cecilia MoSze Tham
She is currently a social technologist at Alpha Telefonica, using technology to help solve global challenges, and has founded several companies such as MOB (Makers of Barcelona), the largest co-working community in Barcelona; FabCafe, a digital fabrication lab meets coffee shop; and allwomen.tech, an AI training school for women by women to build the next generation of women and technology.
Founder and managing partner at Storyminers and former e-visionary at IBM, Mike Wittenstein is an expert in customer experience and will present a talk to help leaders gain support for their boldest ideas and strategies. Over three decades, Wittenstei has successfully advised leaders and their teams during times of immense change, with a client roster that includes AT&T, Adobe, Apple, Delta Airlines and Holiday Inn.
Both speakers will present their sessions on IBTM World Virtual’s brand new feature – IBTM TV. Available to all registered attendees, IBTM TV will allow attendees to access IBTM’s knowledge programme with a flexible and user-friendly mix of live and on-demand content.
There will also be a new programme of content tailored to those running experiential events in the Exceptional Experiences stream. In addition, Hosted Buyers will benefit from content tailored specifically for them with the IBTM Inspire Masterclass stream, a separate on-demand track with sessions for associations, corporates and agencies.
Other speakers at IBTM World Virtual will include Pancho Campo, who will speak about The future of events: Lessons learned from working with Barack Obama’; Sonja Piontek, who will present a session on ultracreativity: how to create marketing magic with impressive ROI through unforgettable experiences; Isabel Bardinet, CEO, European Society of Cardiology, who will deliver her thoughts on ‘going digital: lessons learnt and going forward; Mikael Ek, managing director EMEA, BCD M&E whose session will cover ‘state of the industry: unexpected trends for the future of meetings and events and Patrick Rush, senior regional director, head of Asia Pacific, American Express Meetings & Events who will run a session on 2021 Global Meetings & Events Trends.
Was Covid-19 the push factor in investing in XR technology?
We believe in always exploring new technologies to innovate and seek greater ways to serve our clients’ needs to bring their events to life.
Covid-19 was a push factor in us adopting XR technology as a new format largely unexplored in our market. We saw it as an opportunity to expand what we can provide our clients in breathing new life to both live and online events, as well as create a new business arm for Aux.
Could you provide some examples of how XR tech can bring to hybrid events and live presentations?
XR technology can help to create hybrid events that are more exciting and interactive than regular online events such as webinars.
For example, we can introduce XR elements to corporate townhalls and presentations such as music videos to bring fantastic settings and environments to life side-by-side with the presenters, making the event more interactive and beautiful for virtual viewers, as the audience in our studio.
The possibilities are only limited by our own creativity, and this technology can also be applied to training programmes and conferences. It will also change the way how brands and organisations interact with their audiences.
How can XR technology be applied to online events and webinars?
Online events and webinars have become very popular since the pandemic hit. As people were forced to stay at home, brands and organisations have adapted to push their events online.
However, there is only so much one can achieve with these online events and webinars, and the medium has become stale in the last six months.
With the help of XR technology, companies can elevate the level of delivery for their content and engage their audience in ways that have not been possible in the past year. For example, Aux can help to create realistic environments that surround the presenters, that aids in building their credibility and helps keep the audience engaged.
What does this business transition mean internally for Aux, and externally their clients?
Aux Media Group is vastly experienced in creating festivals, concerts, conferences for a wide variety of campaigns and clients across industries.
With Aux Immersive Studio, we are well-equipped to hold both physical events as well as virtual productions of all scales, or hybrid events that combine both. For our clients and their audiences, this means the best of both worlds.
Our over-20-years of events management experience means we understand what works on the ground. We are translating that experience to bring events online and this is a key focus of Aux Media Group with this business transition. We are empowering our clients to reach out to their target audiences.
What new business opportunities has Aux seen as a result of this pivot?
Aside from the obvious hybrid events, this added capability brings us to another industry: From Disney’s The Mandalorian to Amazon Prime’s Inside The Boys, a behind-the-scenes look of the popular programme, using LED technology for film and cable TV programme is gathering pace.
We are currently exploring this production workflow with various content producers. This is very exciting for us as the new skillsets picked up are applicable in other areas of our business.
This is a long-term investment on Aux’s part. Will this technology remain relevant when borders reopen and people gravitate towards physical gatherings once again?
There will definitely be a flock toward physical gatherings once this pandemic has passed. However, this pandemic has accelerated the popularity and showcased the possibilities of virtual and hybrid events. Now, locally-produced events are now able to reach a global audience.
While some meetings and shows will still need to be conducted physically, I see XR technology as an exciting way to elevate all types of events regardless of their formats. I am confident that with Aux Immersive Studio, we can help businesses change the ways they engage their audiences, both internally and externally.
MCEC is also supporting the community by providing Guide Dogs Victoria a safe, contained space and free-of-charge space to train Guide Dogs
Coronavirus restrictions have seen Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) explore new ways to make use of their unutilised spaces, including the training of Victorian Guide Dogs, and filming of a Hollywood blockbuster.
MCEC closed its doors in March due to the pandemic, but as a major contributor to the Victorian economy, the venue has been exploring new ways to contribute to the community.
MCEC is providing Guide Dogs Victoria a safe environment to train Guide Dogs in
Peter King, chief executive of MCEC, said: “We can play an important role in the state’s economic recovery by using our spaces in new ways, both to bring jobs back to the city and support the wider community.”
For instance, MCEC has been providing Guide Dogs Victoria a safe, contained and free-of-charge space to train Guide Dogs. This will ensure people with low vision or blindness can continue to receive essential services during restrictions.
Another example of using the enormous venue’s space differently includes as a film studio – an idea that was originally floated as part of an innovative new idea-generating ‘hackathon’ held by MCEC in August called ‘Unconventional Ideas’.
Since that event, MCEC has been working with the Victorian screen industry, and is now hosting the production of a major Hollywood film called Blacklight, starring Liam Neeson. Directed by Mark Williams (co-creator of Ozark and director of box-office success Honest Thief), the production is expected to bring more than 500 local jobs for cast and crew back to the local film sector.
MCEC continues to explore new uses for the venue, in addition to its newly-installed virtual event studios and technologies for hybrid and online events. In the pipeline are opportunities to use the building for safe and physically-distanced entertainment and events that may support the heavily affected hospitality, cinema and arts industries.
Marriott International has opened the Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong South, the seventh Marriott-branded property in Shanghai.
There are 241 rooms available, including 33 Premier Rooms and six Executive Rooms. Rooms are furnished with round office desks, as well as high-speed Wi-Fi and HDTV.
Premier King Room
Event spaces comprise two pillarless ballrooms – a 800m2 grand ballroom and 400m2 junior ballroom – and four flexible function rooms spanning a total of 2,650m2.
Corporate travellers may also make use of the Executive Lounge, reserved for guests who stay on the executive floor as well as Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members. The longe is accessible 24/7, and provides complimentary breakfast, check in/out service, hors d’oeuvres and premium beverages.
Meanwhile, recreational fitness and wellness facilities including an indoor heated swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna room, and 24-hour gym. These are rounded off with three dining venues and a lobby lounge that transforms into a bar in the evenings.
Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong is just a 25-minute drive from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, while downtown Shanghai and Xinchang Ancient Town are both within 30-minute drives.
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.
