Singapore trials two events in step towards resumption of B2B events

July 22, 2020

Singapore Night Skyline1 — Singapore city panoranora at sunrise with Marina bay

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has developed a risk management framework to prepare for the safe resumption of B2B events in the coming months, which may see the gradual return of business events of up to 50 attendees.

STB will trial this framework with two pilot events – the 2020 IEEE International Conference on Computational Electromagnetics on August 24-26, and the Asia Pacific MedTech Virtual Forum 2020 on September 24 – before gradually reaching out to other events and event organisers.

STB has greenlighted two hybrid events as it works towards resumption of business events

The two events were selected as their organisers have actively engaged STB and venues to examine the required safety management measures. They will be conducted in hybrid form, with each event hosting a maximum of 50 onsite attendees, in addition to approximately 1,000 attendees joining in for the streamed sessions.

Held in South-east Asia for the first time, the 2020 IEEE International Conference on Computational Electromagnetics was initially planned for March 2020.

Shen Zhongxiang, the event’s general co-chair, said: “We chose to continue with our conference in Singapore because of the country’s strong track record in delivering quality business events. We have complete trust that the Singapore authorities and our venue partner have stringent measures to help us deliver a safe event for our participants.”

Meanwhile, the Asia Pacific MedTech Virtual Forum 2020, organised by the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association, will see its delegates participating in virtual networking and online discussions, which may be complemented by physical panel and networking sessions.

If these two events proceed smoothly, STB will consider allowing other B2B events to resume gradually, provided they can implement general and specific safety management measures as required.

These measures must meet the following outcomes: implement pre- and post-event infection control measures; ensure at least one-metre spacing between individuals at all times and/or an operating capacity of 10m2 per attendee for event spaces more than 930m2; ensure a safe and clean environment for both attendees and staff in compliance with the requirements set by Singapore government agencies and SG Clean measures; as well as prepare for any emergencies relating to Covid-19.

From August 2020, STB will work with the industry to trial more B2B events with the framework and event-specific safe management measures, in order to refine the framework before general resumption is allowed.

STB and Enterprise Singapore are also collaborating with the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers to formulate an Industry Resilience Roadmap.

The roadmap will focus on three objectives: establishing best-in-class standards for new event safety measures; creating agile business models with a focus on digital capabilities; and developing pathways for professional development in the post-Covid-19 world.

Connexus takes over Jardine’s travel management business

By Prudence Lui

July 22, 2020

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After 47 years, Hong Kong-based travel management company Jardine Travel will cease operations on August 31, 2020.

A spokesperson for Jardine Travel told TTG Asia that despite its best efforts, the company faced “significant challenges in maintaining a competitive edge alongside multi-location travel agencies”.

Slethaug is confident that the transfer will be a compelling one for Jardine’s clients

Since July 1, 2020, Jardine’s operations has been taken over by Connexus Travel (formerly Swire Travel). Jardine has assured clients, business partners and employees that they are working towards a “smooth transition” which is expected to be completed by August 31.

Connexus Travel’s CEO Gloria Slethaug said that her company is “delighted” to take up Jardine’s travel management business, and promised that it will be a “compelling proposition” for clients. This move also demonstrates Connexus’ confidence in the market as a travel management company committed to “long-term development”.

Slethaug added that technology and digitisation have transformed the travel industry into a highly specialised business sector in recent years.

An industry veteran, who declined to be named, opined that if Jardine Travel had changed its business model earlier, it might have survived.

He elaborated: “When (Jardine Travel’s) general manager retired two years ago, her successor brought on board staff with a background in airlines, GDS, and corporate travel. However, the company remained traditional, and did not expand its distribution platform, or diversified its business for the last 15 years.”

He pointed out that Jardine could have survived if the company had upgraded their IT capabilities, enhanced tools for B2C and B2B partnerships, as well as upskill employees.

Uptick in China, India corporate travel enquiries

By S Puvaneswary

July 22, 2020

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shutterstock_334143200 — There has been an increase in business travel requests from China and India

Outbound agents from Asia’s two most populous countries, China and India, have noticed rumblings in the business travel sector, with demand set to grow next year.

Alicia Yao, managing director, IME Consulting based in China, said her clients from direct selling companies, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies have expressed interest in travelling for overseas business events next year.

There has been an increase in business travel requests from China and India for next year

This sentiment is buoyed by the Chinese government’s ongoing efforts in developing a Covid-19 vaccine. Expected to be ready next year, Yao said the vaccine is driving confidence in the market that travelling abroad for meetings and incentives is finally possible.

Yao was speaking at a recent hour-long webinar, Asia Pacific Business Events Comeback, jointly organised by Business Events Sarawak and Conference People.

Fellow speaker, Nitin Sachdeva, CEO of India-based Venture Marketing, said his corporate clients were also showing interest in overseas trips, shorthaul and overland journeys being favoured.

Group sizes will depend on the capacity of airlines operating out of India, although Sachdeva believes clients will start small and gradually increase participation alongside improved flight frequencies.

He also predicts that planners will lean towards destinations that have contained the outbreak well, and have health, hygiene and safety protocols in place.

“Flexibility in bookings is also very important in instilling confidence in the absence of a vaccine,” he opined.

Event risks have pushed more clients to approach CVBs directly for RFPs – as opposed to DMCs – due to a desire for more reliable commitment from the destination and its bureau towards the event, according to Yao. Doing so would spare the client from problems should a DMC fold, she ventured.

As such, CVBs now have to collate information from DMCs and send out a proposal on their behalf, she explained.

Sachdeva added that “overseas convention bureaus will play a big role in building trust and confidence in their destinations”.

Also present at the webinar was Abdul Khani Daud, CEO, Malaysia Convention & Convention Bureau, who shared that there is a now a greater need for CVBs in South-east Asia to collaborate.

Nichapa Yoswee, senior vice president, strategic marketing and business development, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, agreed that collaboration was the way forward, and that “a positive mindset” was needed to create “a different experience” when welcoming business groups in the future.

Covid-19 fuels tech upgrades in Japan’s MICE industry

By Kathryn Wortley

July 22, 2020

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Japan’s business events industry is adopting greater use of technology, driven by demand for more impactful functions and Covid-19-prevention methods.

“Adopting innovative technologies allows us to enhance our brand, while delivering a unique and memorable experience to attendees,” said Sam Maddicott, marketing and communications, British Chamber of Commerce in Japan, which holds 40 events across Tokyo annually.

Grand Hyatt Tokyo’s Tarragon room has been spruced up with events technology

“Every year, (technology capability) becomes a more important factor in determining which venue we choose.”

And providers are adapting swiftly to support the industry, which traditionally takes a low-technology approach.

In March, Tokyo-based Event Services recruited audiovisual expert Jun Tatsuki as managing director to help develop its technology-related offerings, shared company chairman Lucky Morimoto.

Tatsuki is advising on the set-up and use of LED hardware to minimise costs to the client, which remain prohibitively high in Japan compared to other countries in Asia.

Masato Masuda, director of sales and marketing at Grand Hyatt Tokyo, shared the hotel has completed a full renovation of all its event spaces to stay ahead of its competitors. The venues now feature custom LED screens, 2,400 pendant lights that can be programmed to reproduce original logos and designs on the ceiling, and high-spec projectors that enable projection mapping, thereby lowering the cost of visual effects.

Because of this, the hotel has seen a resultant uptick in requests for technology highlights at events, particularly from the IT industry.

Nobuaki Koshikawa, deputy general manager of human resources and general affairs at sustainable development company Cerespo, observed that technology was also being adopted to make events easier to run and more comfortable for guests. Recent offerings include cashless services and visual displays showing the availability of toilets.

Such measures to limit contact among attendees and staff are likely to become more prevalent alongside other Covid-19-prevention methods.

According to Masuda, no-touch thermometers, thermal scanners and equipment for online/video conferences will be the new normal to ensure a safe environment for guests.

However, Koshikawa said the use of technology would not gaurantee better or more well-attended events. “The important thing is…compatibility. Without being distracted by the new, we should objectively evaluate whether or not the technology can be utilised,” he commented.

Role of CVBs comes into focus for next TTG Conversations

By TTGmice

July 22, 2020

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TTG_Conversations_#4_-_speaker_montage — (From left) Industry leaders PCMA's Karen Bolinger, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s Nichapa Yoswee, K&A International Co’s Kitty Wong, and CWT M&E Australia’s Michelle Sargent will feature in TTG Conversations on August 13

TTG Asia Media’s TTG Conversations webinar series will return on August 13 with an hour-long panel discussion on the critical role CVBs play in shaping the quality of recovery of Asia-Pacific’s business events industry.

Titled, Are destinations ready to dance again?, the webinar will feature heavy-weight industry leaders: PCMA’s Karen Bolinger, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s Nichapa Yoswee, K&A International Co’s Kitty Wong, and CWT M&E Australia’s Michelle Sargent.

From left: Industry leaders PCMA’s Karen Bolinger, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s Nichapa Yoswee, K&A International Co’s Kitty Wong, and CWT M&E Australia’s Michelle Sargent will feature in TTG Conversations on August 13

TTG Asia Media’s Karen Yue will lead the session as moderator and drive the conversation around considerations of event and meeting planners today and in the near future, and how the responsibilities of CVBs will evolve to support current and emerging requirements as well as to ensure a sustainable recovery for the events industry.

TTG Conversations: Are destinations ready to dance again? will be held on Thursday, August 13, from 15.00 to 16.00, GMT +8.

Registration is now open on a first-come-first-serve basis. Seats are limited.

IACC launches guide targeted at smaller venues and meetings

By TTGmice

July 22, 2020

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IACC (International Association of Conference Centres) has launched a Critical Pathway to Re-opening guide, created specifically for venues hosting meetings, training courses and smaller conferences for up to 150 delegates.

The 53-page guide, which shares in-depth strategies and advice on how to reopen venues safely, concentrates on three key areas. They are about the re-designing of the meeting attendee experience; the re-designing of space and the re-designing of the product. Each of these sections including detailed guidance from industry experts on how venues can adapt their offering in line with the new normal for meetings and events.

The guide will demonstrate how venues can make the most out of their space and reopen safely

The IACC Critical Pathway to Re-opening guide also provides an overview of the entire meeting experience and how this may look in a post-Covid-19 market, from pre-arrival to the event itself.

Throughout the guide are examples from a number of IACC’s global member venues from on procedures and guidance they have put in place.

The guide also shares advice on how venues can maximise their available spaces while ensuring that delegates can practice physical distancing as well as ideas on how to work with F&B, how to carry out site tours safely and how to structure their pricing.

The IACC Critical Pathway to Re-opening Meeting, Conference and Training Spaces guide costs U$199 and can be downloaded directly from the IACC website here. The guide is free to download for IACC certified venues and associate members.

AC Hotels by Marriott opens in Japan

By TTGmice

July 22, 2020

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AC Hotels by Marriott, the design-led lifestyle brand from Marriott International, has opened an outpost in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza District.

Business travellers who require a space to work will be able to make use of the AC Lounge, a co-working space which transforms into an urban bar at night. There are also three function spaces on-site – L’osier D’or; a multifunction space with a roof terrace, and two meeting rooms that can hold up to a maximum of 10 people each.

AC Hotels by Marriott

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All of its 296 guestrooms feature large windows allowing in natural daylight, a 55-inch flatscreen TV, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Other facilities on-site include a 24-hour fitness centre, and a Japanese sake cellar.

As this hotel marks the debut of the European design-driven brand in Japan, guests can also expect to find freshly-baked croissants imported from France and sliced prosciutto from the breakfast spread at the all-day diner AC Kitchen.

JTB melds Kuoni and Tumlare into a global DMC

By TTGmice

July 21, 2020

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Three years after the joint venture between Kuoni Global Travel Services and Tumlare Destination Management, holding company JTB Corporation has finally integrated both into a single entity to establish a global DMC.

A press statement from JTB Corporation stated that Kuoni Tumlare will benefit from “Kuoni’s Swiss heritage, Tumlare’s Scandinavian roots and JTB’s deep history in Japan”.

Shinji Kamio, CEO, Kuoni Tumlare, added: “Kuoni Tumlare embodies the best of these companies: a stronger brand with richer expertise, the largest suppliers’ network in the group travel space, a broader destination portfolio and a more comprehensive offering.”

Adopting a destination-centric model, the new entity will serve retail and wholesale travel agents worldwide. It will leverage an existing network of local experts in European destination offices to handle all key operational tasks and deliver “higher quality, speed of response and operational excellence end-to-end”, noted the press statement.

“One brand and one global team mean a simpler way of working together, allowing us to focus even more on growth and customer satisfaction,” said Kamio.

Prior to this move, Kuoni Global Travel Services and Tumlare Destination Management had traded as separate brands in many global markets, although both operated as a single brand in Europe.

Marco Groten takes on dual role with Hyatt

By TTGmice

July 21, 2020

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Grand Hyatt Bali has welcomed Marco Groten as general manager.

In addition to his responsibilities as general manager at Grand Hyatt Bali, he will also take on the role of area vice president of Hyatt Indonesia where he will oversee the following area hotels – Park Hyatt Jakarta, Andaz Bali, Alila SCBD, Alila Villas Uluwatu, Alila Seminyak, Studios at Alila Seminyak, Alila Ubud, Alila Manggis, Alila Purnama, Alila Solo, Grand Hyatt Jakarta, Grand Hyatt Bali, Hyatt Regency Bali and Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta.

Groten takes over the area vice president role from Peter Stettler who held this position for the past 25 years, and is now moving into his new role as senior advisor to Hyatt in Indonesia.

Groten has more than two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, having first started out as a front office manager in Bandung, Indonesia.

In 2018, Marco became head of operations for Alila, based in Hong Kong, working on the integration of Alila properties within Hyatt.

Indonesia’s MICE comeback led by government events

By Kurniawan Ulung

July 20, 2020

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Indonesian hoteliers report movement in the MICE sector after restrictions were lifted; Jakarta pictured

Hoteliers across Indonesia are seeing a pick up in business events from the government sector, following the relaxing of Covid-19 restrictions.

Emmanuel Guillard, Swiss-Belhotel International senior vice president of operations and development, and CEO of Zest Hotel International, noted that business events in almost every city across the country started to pop up in June.

Indonesian hoteliers are upbeat about the movement in the MICE sector after restrictions were lifted; Jakarta pictured

Similarly, Prita Gero, spokesperson for Santika Indonesia Hotels and Resorts, said that properties – particularly in Jakarta and Bogor – have started to see rising demands for business events after the Jakarta city government eased social restrictions.

Currently, a bulk of the meetings are coming from the government sector. This is as Indonesia’s ministries are encouraging their institutions and associations to organise events in hotels to help foster economic growth, Guillard pointed out.

For this reason, Johannes Hutauruk, Parador Hotels and Resorts’ COO, projects that the government sector will continue to be a major segment for the group moving forward, in particular, events organised by the different ministries. Currently, most of their business comes from the neighbouring city of Jakarta.

There has been movement in other segments too, a trickle-down effect of relaxed virus-related restrictions.

For Swiss-Belhotel, Guillard indicates that it has seen some corporate business activities too.

Guillard elaborated: “There are several companies (from the) oil and gas, mining, plantations, consumer goods and manufacturing sectors which continue to (send staff) on business trips during the pandemic.”

Meanwhile, Prita revealed that some Santika properties have also welcomed families of business travellers, who take the opportunity to go for a staycation.

On the new requests corporates have when organising an event in the new normal – apart from the standard health protocols – Guillard shared that full-board, residential meetings are the order of the day, while some companies are doing away with twin-share for the time being.

Singapore trials two events in step towards resumption of B2B events

Connexus takes over Jardine’s travel management business

Uptick in China, India corporate travel enquiries

Covid-19 fuels tech upgrades in Japan’s MICE industry

Role of CVBs comes into focus for next TTG Conversations

IACC launches guide targeted at smaller venues and meetings

AC Hotels by Marriott opens in Japan

JTB melds Kuoni and Tumlare into a global DMC

Marco Groten takes on dual role with Hyatt

Indonesia’s MICE comeback led by government events

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