A new solar farm at Melbourne Airport will produce enough renewable energy to power all four terminals
Melbourne Airport is set to open Australia’s largest behind-the-meter solar installation that will produce enough renewable energy to power all four passenger terminals.
Construction of the solar farm is expected to be completed by end-September, and be operational in January 2021.
A new solar farm at Melbourne Airport will produce enough renewable energy to power all four terminals
The solar installation will generate 17GWh of electricity per annum, equal to nearly 15 per cent of the airport’s annual electricity consumption.
Melbourne Airport chief of landside access, utilities and facilities group, Lorie Argus, said the investment in renewable energy will reduce the airport’s carbon footprint.
She added: “With the airport’s electricity demand expected to grow, the construction of our solar farm makes sense for several reasons. The project is expected to deliver significant annualised energy cost savings, a timely benefit with the impacts of Covid-19 wreaking havoc on the aviation industry.”
Glen Thomson, general manager of Beon Energy Solutions, which is working with Melbourne Airport on the project, said: “The airport location brings with it some unique complexities and challenges, which utilises our collective strengths.”
Premium passengers flying with Etihad Airways will receive antimicrobial-treated face masks
Etihad Airways has introduced a snood style face mask for its first and business class guests, as part of its new health and hygiene programme, Etihad Wellness.
The soft reusable snood has been treated with MicrobeBarrier fabric treatment, a broad spectrum antimicrobial treatment, laboratory tested and proven to reduce the presence of germs in fabrics. With this long-lasting protective layer, the snoods are washable and reusable, making them environmentally friendly.
Premium passengers flying with Etihad Airways will receive antimicrobial-treated face masks
Made out of lightweight, breathable and stretchy jersey fabric, the snood can be worn around the neck like a scarf and be easily slipped on and off to cover one’s mouth and nose as needed.
The MicrobeBarrier treated snood is one of the many initiatives the airline has introduced to create a healthier and cleaner environment.
The return of business events in Victoria has been dealt another setback with harder lockdowns imposed this week as a second wave of Covid-19 cases surges over the Australian state.
With growing concern about community transmissions, the Victoria state government has declared a state of disaster and imposed Stage 4 restrictions, believed to be one of the strictest in the world for the next six weeks.
Gold Coast Expo held 24-26 July saw almost 9,000 people in attendance despite very wet conditions
“We really feel for our colleagues in Victoria and obviously this situation has delayed the restart of events in Victoria,” said Claudia Sagripanti, chief executive of the Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia.
“Clearly the Victorian Government is taking all steps necessary to contain the spread of the virus, and we will work with them to get the industry operating again as soon as possible. At this stage, given the containment efforts, we are confident that the industry has the capacity to return from October or November 2020 onwards,” Sagripanti told TTGmice.
However, a different situation is seen in other Australian states, where event houses have started to see green shoots of recovery. A small number of exhibitions and events have begun returning since July. This includes the successfully staged Gold Coast Expo which saw almost 9,000 visitors over three days in what was Australia’s first exhibition since the pandemic began.
Weeden: MICE recovery in Western Australia will only come when interstate borders are reopened
Rob Weeden, general manager of Pan Pacific Perth, confirmed Perth was also seeing an uptick in bookings for day meetings and social events.
“That’s everything from university faculties to school formals to even weddings, and that’s a precursor to business (events) because once there’s confidence, (it will flow on to meetings),” Weeden said.
Village Roadshow Theme Parks in Queensland’s Gold Coast has similarly seen corporate bookings return. “Interest is spiking for 2021,” said Caroline Duveau-Clayton, head of conferences and events.
“We are working in line with a government-approved Covid-safe plan that includes maintaining social distancing, which has reduced the capacities of all our venues. However, across our 64 indoor and outdoor venues we are in an enviable position to still cater for multiple large events,” she added.
“We have also been very creative in looking at other ways to use our unique venues, for example introducing daytime conferences at Australian Outback Spectacular, and offering customers the possibility to postpone their event or relocate between venues depending on the restrictions applicable at the time of their event, giving everyone peace of mind that their event can still go ahead safely,” said Duveau-Clayton.
Meanwhile, The National Wine Centre in Adelaide has hosted seven events last week, representing about 20 or 30 percent of usual business compared to pre-Covid-19.
But the venue’s general manager Jason Bird suggested state and territory governments will now delay plans to lift restrictions further to the next stage as Victoria attempts to control the spike in Covid-19 cases.
“It would have to be said, that with the current national circumstances, all (state and territory) governments within Australia are rightfully hedging their bets a little. So I don’t think we’ll see any next round of restrictions lifted in (the immediate future),” he opined.
Both Bird and Weeden said all interstate borders need to reopen for their states to see much-needed improved traffic for events.
“If (your venue is) blessed with large space, you will probably be doing better than others. But the cry is, open the borders so that we can get business from the east coast. And until that happens, we might not see recovery in Western Australia,” Weeden concluded.
Regional industry leaders on the keynote panel of Monday’s Virtual IT&CM China and CTW China 2020 have pushed a different view of the pandemic, saying that the digitalisation of business events today is just part of its evolution, and that industry stakeholders who are able to adapt have found new business opportunities.
George Cao, co-founder & CEO, Dragon Trail Interactive, opened the keynote session with an acknowledgement that “the pandemic has changed many things, both personally and professionally. But the changes may not be as big or fundamental as some seem to suggest”.
Panellists discussed the positive changes in the business events industry during the pandemic
Drawing comparisons between a traditional exhibition and one that is cloud-based, he pointed out that pre-pandemic tradeshows were already utilising many technologies, such as registration by facial recognition, digital match-making programmes, and event apps that help attendees navigate the show floor.
“In a physical event, people meet face to face whereas in a virtual tradeshow, people communicate over video calls. I’d say that this is the major difference between the two formats, but this is merely a continuation of the digitalisation of (events).”
Cao also emphasised that virtual event participation is not new, as in 2017 the late Stephen Hawkin had co-hosted a physical conference in a holographic form.
Fellow speaker, Zoe Lo, regional director, Mainland, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), agrees that the digital event shift brings with it new business opportunities.
Since the outbreak in February, HKTB has organised nearly 20 online product training sessions for more than 800 industry professionals, as well as a three-day live-streaming training for more than 1,500 Mainland buyers and a business matching platform that were both launched in June.
“We are glad that we kept up with market changes and transformed the crisis into new business opportunities. Online events are cost-effective and flexible, and they allow us to go deeper with content,” shared Lo.
For event owners and planners looking for a digital event solution, Sharon Liu, business development director, Tencent Cloud Media, Tourism and Telecom Industry Center, suggested that they consider the solution’s credibility, platform, technology and channels.
Using Tencent as an example, Liu said: “Tencent’s strength is in consumer Internet, cloud technology and industrial solutions. We have the largest social platform in China, which includes WeChat, QQ, Tencent News and Tencent Video – and they can all be used as advertising channels for exhibition organisers.”
Drawing on her vast experience in event organisation, including the execution of a virtual conference during the dot com boom, Kitty Wong, chairman, K&A International and Expo Union Corporation, advised fellow event specialists looking to transition online to imagine themselves producing a play.
“Write a script so that everyone involved is clear about their role and purpose, and then rehearse. The goal is to make the communications work so that an episode two or three is possible,” Wong quipped.
More than 800,000 page views from over 140 countries and regions have been recorded within the first three days of the Global Sources Online Show (GSOS), which went live on July 29 to reach global trade buyers from across multiple industries.
GSOS has more than 1,700 buyers set up for GS Match business matching services, and around 20,000 business meeting recommendations were provided with compatible suppliers.
GSOS features products segmented by themes
The first week of the event, which concluded on August 4, featured products under the themes of Medical & Healthcare and Study & Work from Home.
The second week, which runs from August 3 to 9, focuses on Home & Hardware products.
Several features were established to deliver what was described as “new sourcing experiences”, according to a GSOS press statement. They include themed product pavilions that allow buyers to quickly browse products of a specific category; virtual meeting rooms to build business relationships in a private environment; supplier live-streaming led by professional hosts, featuring suppliers’ exclusive designs as well as factory or showroom tours to provide buyers with an intuitive sourcing experience; and live performances tailored for the online audience.
There were also 40 seminars conducted by 50 expert speakers, with a range of sourcing topics in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
Hu Wei, CEO of Global Sources, said: “Global Sources has been dedicated to promoting trade for 50 years. As the only O2O platform in China’s export industry, Global Sources makes tireless efforts to meet buyers’ ever-changing sourcing requirements.”
Buyer Ruby Fung, founder of Pedda Marri, commented: “It is difficult for us to visit physical tradeshows or other offline sourcing events during the pandemic. Global Sources Online Show is a great solution to that challenge.”
China’s corporate travel and MICE sectors are recovering at a steady clip, buoyed by rapid advances in digitalisation, indicate panellists at the Corporate Travel & Events Industry Outlook For 2021 online session on Monday.
Ni Hui, president, Grand China MICE Holdings, told participants of Virtual IT&CM China and CTW China 2020 that there was a “noticeable increase in business” this month, and projected that domestic programmes would return before international ones.
Clockwise from top: Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism’s Patrick Chen as session moderator with speakers Beckman Coulter Diagnostics’ Luc Lu; Jing Dong Group’s Fan Lifeng; Grand China MICE Co.’s Ni Hui; and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts China’s Linda Xia
While the MICE industry has been slower to adapt to digital processes, Ni said the pandemic has boosted the adoption of technology. He added that digitialisation and support from local governments are now key to China’s MICE recovery.
Luc Lu, JAPAC senior strategic sourcing director, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, expects the shift towards online meetings the last six months to “change the way future business may be conducted”.
“For instance, we may be seeing more off-site meetings as companies adopt more tech tools,” he elaborated.
However, panellists also agree that online will not replace offline meetings entirely.
Fan Lifeng, Jing Dong Group’s general manager strategic cooperation, opined: “Certain sales trips, and conventions, are irreplaceable online. There will be a great need to reconnect (once the pandemic is over).”
Over the last two weeks, Fang has seen several companies in Beijing hold meetings of less than 500, signalling that there was pent-up demand to meet in person.
Several conferences and exhibitions have also taken place in Shanghai, noted Patrick Chen, director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism. Corporate occupancy at CBD hotels have spiked too.
Chen added that China Eastern Airlines’ unlimited flight offer for about US$500 per passenger will aid business travel recovery.
“It is a long way to go before we get back to pre-pandemic levels, but with the current steps being taken, the city – and China – is well on its way to recovery,” said Chen.
Meanwhile, Lu said some companies have started to budget for 2021 events and trips, which lends yet another positive sign, although he expects budget “rearrangements and cuts” to come.
Osaka International (Itami) Airport reopened its north and south terminal buildings on August 5, marking the completion of the first major renovation at the west Japan airport in some 50 years.
Operator Kansai Airports, which also manages Kansai International Airport, said the new facilities offer increased opportunities to shop, eat, relax and work in a bid to make the airport more comfortable and enjoyable for travellers and people waving them off, as well as local residents.
The renovated Osaka International (Itami) Airport will feature new Kansai-borne retail, F&B outlets
The aim is to offer visitors a “Kansai experience” by showcasing products from the seven prefectures around Kyoto and Osaka that make up the region.
The post-security Retail Zone in both terminals will be home to Japan’s first walk-through commercial space in the domestic gate area, offering 31 new stores. Most will sell exclusive Kansai-inspired products and experiences.
Five new stores will also open in the pre-security area in an effort to attract local residents and visitors to the area who are not flying.
Some 17 F&B outlets have also joined the airport’s commercial space, including many that are making their debut in the Kansai area or the airport.
The renovation of the new terminals began in February 2016 and was scheduled for completion in July, but was delayed due to Covid-19.
The work is part of a long-term upgrade on the airport, which handles about 17 million passengers per year across an extensive domestic network. The central area and observation deck were reopened in April 2018 following renovation.
A growing number of destinations around the world have restarted their tourism industries while adapting to the new normal, with the latest analysis from UNWTO showing that 40 per cent of all destinations worldwide have now eased Covid-19 restrictions on international travel.
This latest outlook, recorded on July 19, is up from 22 per cent of destinations that had eased restrictions on travel by June 15 and the three per cent previously observed by May 15. It confirms the trend of a slow but continuous adaptation and responsible restart of international tourism.
UNWTO finds that destinations with a higher dependency on tourism are more likely to be easing restrictions on travel
However, of the 87 destinations that have now eased travel restrictions, just four have completely lifted all restrictions, while 83 have eased them while keeping some measures such as the partial closure of borders in place.
Destinations with a higher dependency on tourism are more likely to be easing restrictions on travel, according to the UNWTO report. Of the 87 destinations that have eased restrictions recently, 20 are small island developing states (SIDS), many of which depend on tourism as a central pillar of employment, economic growth and development. The report also shows that around half (41 per cent) of all those destinations that have eased restrictions are in Europe, confirming the leading role of the region for the responsible restart of tourism.
UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili said in a statement: “The restart of tourism can be undertaken responsibly and in a way that safeguards public health while also supporting businesses and livelihoods. As destinations continue to ease restrictions on travel, international cooperation is of paramount importance. This way, global tourism can gain people’s trust and confidence, essential foundations as we work together to adapt to the new reality we now face.”
In addition, this latest edition of the UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report shows that 115 destinations – 53 per cent of all destinations worldwide – continue to keep their borders completely closed to international tourism.
Of those 115 destinations, the majority (8 per cent) have kept their borders completely closed to international tourism for more than 12 weeks, found the report.
The cost related to the travel restrictions introduced in response to Covid-19 has historic dimensions. Last week, UNWTO released the data on the impact of the pandemic on tourism, both in terms of lost tourist arrivals and lost revenues. The data shows that already by end-May, the pandemic had led to US$320 billion in lost revenues – three times the cost of the 2009 global economic crisis.
The pandemic has blown open a wide window for event businesses to re-examine and overhaul their services, in order to exceed the evolving demands of customers.
In a session at the Virtual IT&CM China and CTW 2020 on Monday, industry experts from China shared that the rise of hybrid events has caused the usual customer satisfaction yardsticks to be outdated.
Clockwise from top left: CCPIT Commercial Sub-council’s Alicia Yao moderated the session that fielded speakers Marriott International’s Becky Cao, CCPIT Commercial Sub-council’s Jack Yao and Sourcing China’s Catty Yun
To guide companies and their staff towards the new standards of operations, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Commercial Sub-council has espoused Surviving/Service, Preparation and Actualisation (SPA), a plan to enable MICE enterprises to survive and find opportunities in the current crisis.
Jack Yao, secretary general, elaborated that under this initiative, the Sub-council is urging businesses to “reconsider the services (they) provide in the MICE ecosystem” within two quarters of a year, before moving on to Preparation by the third quarter, and actualisation in the fourth quarter.
“In a pyramid of service excellence, most companies can currently reach levels one and two to achieve basic customer satisfaction. But how can they reach level three – individual service – and level four – surprising service? If they are able to achieve customer delight, it can translate into customer loyalty, and generate higher financial as well as non-financial results,” Yao stressed.
A company should not only launch a new product or service, but also seek to make it an industry standard, opined Yao.
Citing an example, he said the Sub-council had pushed for new industry standards due to the rise of contactless delivery services in the region. Within 26 days, it launched a set of association standards, and in some 100 days, it achieved global standardisation by the International Organization for Standardization.
China-based PCO 31 Events has adopted new structures and leaned into “forced innovation” to test a new model of hybrid events. These involve a “small but smart offline” mixed with “strong online presence”, described Tony Wan, its CEO and co-founder.
One event that used this model was the 2020 World AI Conference in Shanghai, which featured speakers in a physical panel on stage and no more than 300 people in the audience. While the offline scene was greatly downsized, the online programme was abuzz with strong participatory content, good channel design, and wide social media spread, said Wan.
“We need to consider the attendees’ patience since they can leave the online session at any time. We can no longer expect participants to sit and watch videos for two days. Instead, the content can be better spread out over three, five or even 10 days. We also have to create a more high-tech and fashionable environment with live-streaming to attract different decision makers,” he shared.
Seri Ramlan Ibrahim has been appointed as the chairman of Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, effective August 3, 2020.
Ramlan entered the Administrative and Diplomatic Service of Malaysia in 1983. His first posting was as second secretary to the Embassy of Malaysia in Jakarta in 1988. Two years later, he was reassigned to the Embassy of Malaysia in the Netherlands, but as first secretary.
In 1994, Ramlan returned to the headquarters and was assigned to the Europe Division. Shortly after, he was posted to the Embassy of Malaysia in Zagreb, Croatia, to take on the role of the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
He returned three years later, in 2000, to become the principal assistant secretary at the Division of South-east Asia. The following year, Ramlan was appointed as deputy high commissioner to Singapore.
His first posting as ambassador was to Bosnia Herzegovina, in 2004. In 2009, Ramlan was again appointed ambassador of Malaysia – this time to the Republic of Korea. His return from Korea in 2013 saw him heading the Bilateral Department, the second-highest post in the Malaysian foreign service. In April 2015, Ramlan was appointed as Malaysia’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.
In 2017, Ramlan was elected as the secretary general of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In February 2019, he was elected as the member of Election Commission of Malaysia until July 2020.
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.
