Asia/Singapore Tuesday, 14th April 2026
Page 521

New-build convention centre in Wellington named Tākina

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An artist's impression of Tākina

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.

Singapore-Malaysia causeway light rail link project to begin end-November

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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 brings back the physical MICE experience to Singapore

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MICE stakeholders in Singapore

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).

IBTM World 2020 reveals two new keynotes, more programme details

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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.

Evolving with the times

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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.

Photo of the day: MCEC comes up with creative ways to utilise space

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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 continues expansion in China with latest opening

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Premier King Room

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.

New GM takes the reins at Hilton Kota Kinabalu

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Hilton Kota Kinabalu has appointed Andrew Nisbet as general manager.

In his new role, Nisbet will oversee the day-to-day operations and spearhead the growth and development of the property.

Boasting more than two decades of hospitality experience for the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand, he previously served as the cluster general manager at Hilton Hanoi Opera and Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi since 2015.

In 2014, Nisbet was based at Hilton Melbourne on the Park (now Pullman Melbourne On the Park) as general manager. He has also held positions in the areas of F&B, conference & banqueting sales, operations and general management.

Prior to that, Nisbet fast-tracked from the role of director of operations to hotel manager and finally to general manager in 2012 when he led the team at Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa and Kawarau Hotel.

New DOSM for Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium

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Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium has appointed Shadab Amin as director of sales & marketing.

In his new role, Amin will manage all aspects of sales and marketing, including business development, customer relationship management, digital marketing, and brand and communication strategies.

Amin brings with him a decade of hospitality experience. He joined IHG in Manila and subsequently, moved to Crowne Plaza Muscat and Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, before settling down in Singapore.

During his stint in Manila, Amin played a pivotal role in laying the foundation of IHG’s India global sales team, while at Muscat and Maldives, he held key sales positions that drove revenue targets.

After moving to Singapore in 2017, Amin joined Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium as a senior business development manager. During his three-year tenure in Singapore, he grew progressively to the position of director of sales.

TTG Conversations: Five questions with Andrew Chan, ACI HR Solutions

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Hiring in the travel and tourism landscape is starting up slowly, with job opportunities emerging more in startups and companies that are pivoting to new businesses that take advantage of the current consumption behaviours.

In this new episode of TTG Conversations: Five questions video series, Andrew Chan, founder and CEO of ACI HR Solutions, discusses problems stemming from an employers’ market today, age discrimination in hiring, resources available to travel and tourism job seekers, and more.

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