Asia/Singapore Thursday, 9th April 2026
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International Conference on Mycorrhiza chooses Australia for 2026

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Night view of Cairns Convention Centre

The International Conference on Mycorrhiza (ICOM2026) is heading to Australia for the first time, with Cairns set to host the event from July 12 to 17, 2026.

Held at the Cairns Convention Centre, the biennial event will bring together over 500 delegates from more than 40 countries, including top researchers and policymakers.

Night view of Cairns Convention Centre

Themed Mycorrhizas in a changing world: challenges, opportunities and solutions, ICOM2026 will feature 230 scientific talks on topics like evolution, genomics, and climate adaptation. A key focus is on fostering the next generation of scientists through Rising Star Plenaries that will showcase four early-career researchers.

Organisers have also centred the conference around sustainability. The ICOM2026 logo features a sea turtle, symbolising ecological resilience.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to explore the region’s natural environments, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest.

The St. Regis Singapore introduces Meetings Reimagined

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John Jacob Ballroom

The St. Regis Singapore has announced a new business events initiative to celebrate the launch of its newly-reimagined John Jacob Ballroom.

The hotel’s Meetings Reimagined offers a tiered system of benefits based on total contracted spending.

John Jacob Ballroom

Events with a minimum contracted spend ranging from S$20,000++ (US$15,500++) to S$45,000++ can select one benefit from a list. For larger-scale meetings and conferences with a spend exceeding S$45,000++, clients are entitled to choose three benefits, allowing them to tailor the package to their specific needs.

Among the benefits on offer are financial and logistical advantages, including Double Marriott Bonvoy Points and complimentary daily round-trip city transfers. Planners can also enjoy significant room-related perks, such as one complimentary suite upgrade for every 20 paid rooms per night, and one complimentary room night for every 20 paid room nights.

Corporate planners can also secure a special rate of S$4,000++ per day for the use of the hotel’s advanced LED walls, a substantial reduction from the standard S$8,000++ rate. F&B options are also a highlight, with choices such as a special Bloody Mary cocktail experience for up to 30 guests, a complimentary daily welcome coffee break with two pastries, an upgrade of the afternoon coffee break to the signature St. Regis afternoon tea experience, or a complimentary one-hour cocktail reception featuring the Chef’s selection of three canapés and free-flow of soft drinks, beer, and house wine.

This limited-time offer is valid for group inquiries confirmed by December 31, 2025, with events to be hosted by March 31, 2026. A minimum of 10 guestrooms at peak is required to qualify for the promotion.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts names new CEO

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Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has appointed Hishan Singhawansa as its new CEO.

With 17 years at John Keells Group, Singhawansa assumes the role at a pivotal moment as Sri Lanka’s tourism surpasses pre-pandemic levels.

In his new role, he will aim to enhance the brand’s contribution to the sector and elevate the country’s profile as a global destination.

Tourism New Zealand establishes Malaysia resource to grow association meetings segment

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The New Zealand International Convention Centre (pictured) is slated to open in early 2026

With New Zealand expanding its venue capacity for business events and association meetings through the opening of the New Zealand International Convention Centre next February, the country’s CVB is now ramping up efforts to win over organisers.

Its latest initiative is to engage a contract resource in Malaysia to grow business from the South-east Asia region.

The New Zealand International Convention Centre (pictured) is slated to open in early 2026

Penelope Ryan, global manager for business events at Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) told TTGmice that Asia is a focus market for the bureau’s efforts in attracting association meetings, and having a person on the ground to build relations and communicate with valued partners is crucial.

An experienced individual has been identified, but Ryan remains mum on their identity.

“This representative will join us in October,” shared Ryan, adding that the incumbent has strong connections in the industry as well as experience in identifying the bids that TNZ could pursue.

She added that South-east Asia is a promising market, where many event organisers and attendees regard New Zealand as a bucket list destination. Associations based in South-east Asia tend to have a larger Asian majority in their audience.

“Destination New Zealand has a lot of really great points that we can (highlight) to the South-east Asia market. While the tourism aspect is secondary (to association meetings), the appeal of the destination is still really, really important. New Zealand rates highly in terms of appeal and has all the necessary support infrastructure that meetings and events need, like accommodation and venues,” she remarked.

Beyond these “hygiene factors”, Ryan also pointed to the power of New Zealand’s people, “who are doing some really fantastic stuff in terms of the universities, the education sector, and various industries”.

She believes that the country’s wealth of intellectuals will be a strong magnet for associations looking for knowledge exchange and community engagement.

Sands China successfully delivers MDRT Global Conference

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The successful hosting of the MDRT Global Conference (pictured) boosts Macau’s business events profile

Sands China recently hosted the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Global Conference, an event that brought over 6,000 financial professionals from more than 35 countries to the city from August 24 to 27, 2025.

It is the first time the large-scale annual event has been held in Macau, where previous locations include Dubai, Singapore, and Sydney.

The successful hosting of the MDRT Global Conference (pictured) boosts Macau’s business events profile

The four-day programme was held primarily within Sands Resorts Macao, with experiences spread across The Venetian Macao, The Parisian Macao, and The Londoner Macao. The single venue, which offers nearly 11,000 rooms and suites, over 150 restaurants, and 150,000m2 of flexible venue space, was chosen to eliminate logistical complexities and maximise attendee engagement.

Sean McCreery, executive vice president of operations, Sands China, said: “The conference is the city’s first large-scale association conference post-pandemic, and to be the host destination reaffirms Macau’s growing global presence on the elite business stage. Macau continues to evolve into an important centre where business, culture, and connectivity converge, and we’re proud to play a role in that transformation.”

ATPI expands in Asia-Pacific to meet growing corporate travel demand

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The expansion aims to enhance client ability to accelerate growth beyond their borders

ATPI, a global travel management company, has opened four new offices in India, along with planned growth in China and South Korea.

This strategic move directly addresses the region’s booming corporate travel market, which is projected to grow from US$506.6 billion in 2024 to an estimated US$851.3 billion by 2033.

The expansion aims to enhance client ability to accelerate growth beyond their borders

“Asia Pacific’s growth trajectory is growing steadily, accounting for more than 41 per cent of global business travel spend in 2024,” Ali Hussain, regional managing director of ATPI Asia, said.

“This growth, combined with increasingly sophisticated regional requirements, presents an exceptional opportunity for companies that understand the nuances of rapid expansion in this dynamic market.”

BEIA Conference to unify industry in November

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The two-day event will take place at Cordis Auckland; Auckland pictured

New Zealand’s business events industry will take centrestage this November as the Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) 2025 Conference returns to Cordis Auckland on November 26 and 27.

Thie two-day conference will be preceded by the Business Events Expo and will also coincide with the inaugural Business Event Awards — The Bizzies 2025. The awards, supported by BEIA, will be held on November 26 and are designed to biennially honour excellence, innovation, and impact across the industry.

The two-day event will take place at Cordis Auckland; Auckland pictured

Conference programme topics will include experience design, the economic outlook, artificial intelligence, and technology’s role in the future of the industry. The programme also features sessions on personal well-being, workplace culture, and managing imposter syndrome.

Delegates are encouraged to attend as a team to share the experience and cover more sessions.

After the conference concludes, delegates can enjoy exclusive discounts on activities throughout Auckland. Registrations for both the conference and The Bizzies awards dinner are available on their respective websites.

Sky-high standards

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Event brief
Earlier in July 2025, Perth hosted the AIA Singapore corporate incentive trip, which saw over 1,400 of the company’s top performers arrive in a single wave.

The event was touted as the largest corporate tour from South-east Asia to Perth in 2025. The trip’s objective was to reward and recognise high-achievers, motivate sales for 2H2026, and provide a unique Australian experience.

Event highlights
Perth went above and beyond to provide a memorable experience for the AIA Singapore Achievers.

The premier qualifiers, over 200 of them, were treated to a special Pinnacles Desert tour. The day was packed with activities, including sandboarding and a thrilling 4WD sand dune bashing at Lancelin Sand Dunes. The group also enjoyed a delicious lobster lunch at Lobster Shack Cervantes.

In addition, over 1,000 qualifiers participated in a hosted visit to Caversham Wildlife Park. The park arranged an exclusive welcome and a custom programme for the group, featuring guided animal encounters and special presentations to fully immerse the participants in Western Australia’s wildlife.

The trip culminated in an extravagant celebration, where a themed four-course dinner and bespoke show were held at the beautiful Sandalford Winery in Swan Valley, Perth. According to event planners, this was Sandalford’s largest sit-down dinner.

The highlight of the evening was a spectacular drone show featuring 400 drones. The seven-minute show had 13 different scenes, including images of a quokka, a cowboy, a desert with cacti, and a didgeridoo, along with the AIA and AIA One Team logos.

Challenges
One of the main challenges was to provide a top-tier Australian experience while staying within a specific budget. Perth was a perfect choice due to its close proximity to Singapore and its excellent value, which was further enhanced by the strong Singapore dollar against the Australian dollar.

Securing ETAs and visas for all the qualifiers was another critical hurdle. Edward Kwek, Tourism Australia’s senior business events manager for South and South-east Asia, offered an invaluable solution by recommending that the list of qualifiers be submitted to the International Event Coordinator Network (IECN) in advance. This proactive approach proved to be a key factor in the seamless process.

According to Michelle Seet, co-founder and director of MICE Matters, the celebratory dinner was the biggest challenge of all. However, it was a tremendous success thanks to the close collaboration and support from the MICE Matters team, Sandalford Events, and Encore AV.

Melvyn C Nonis, co-founder and director of MICE Matters, praised Australia as a business events destination, adding that the company will “will not hesitate to recommend Australia as a MICE destination to our clients”.

“The Aussie partners understand MICE and also have the experience and resources for us to collaborate, design and execute memorable, seamless experiences for large corporate incentive groups,” he said.

Event AIA Singapore Achievers Perth 2025
Dates July 5 to 8, 2025
Organisers MICE Matters, AIA Singapore
Venue Perth and its surrounds
Number of attendees 1,400 pax

Thailand launches safety initiative to reinforce international confidence

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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has unveiled the Trusted Thailand Stamp to give international travellers peace of mind when choosing the Kingdom and to recognise operators that meet the highest safety standards.

TAT noted that in today’s travel environment, safety has become a decisive factor, especially among families, female travellers, independent tourists, and quality visitors from key markets such as China, South Korea, Japan, the US, the UK, and Europe.

Thailand’s vice minister of tourism and sports Jakkaphon Tangsutthitham (fourth from left) and TAT’s Thapanee Kiatphaibool (fifth from right) preside over the launch of the Trusted Thailand safety stamp

Online platforms and social media significantly shape a destination’s image, and negative reports can impact confidence on a wide scale. Recognising this, TAT has prioritised the development of a robust initiative that demonstrates Thailand’s readiness to be a safe, trustworthy, and friendly destination in both systemic and symbolic ways.

Jakkaphon Tangsutthitham, vice minister of tourism and sports, said the Thai government recognises that safety is the foundation of sustainable tourism and remains the first priority in policy.

He emphasised that the government has continuously paired safety measures with tourism promotion, including upgrading the standards of attractions, coordinating with security agencies, delivering accurate communication, and facilitating visitors in all dimensions.

Under this initiative, tourism operators aiming for the Trusted Thailand stamp will be assessed on four key areas: general safety measures at tourism sites such as CCTV installation, emergency response systems, controlled access and disaster preparedness; secure financial transactions with recognised global platforms and transparent practices (such as Alipay and WeChat Pay); foreign language communication and professional visitor care, particularly in emergencies; and safe access and mobility, including clear signposting, transport connections and information points.

Beyond certification, the project also features supporting activities to strengthen confidence across the sector. These include a public forum with agencies such as the Department of Provincial Administration, Department of Tourism, Tourist Police Bureau and Department of Land Transport to discuss integrated safety management; workshops on passenger transport safety with demonstrations of emergency procedures; and targeted campaigns to rebuild trust ahead of the high travel season.

While the initiative serves all travel markets, it will have a strong focus on key points of interest for Chinese travellers – accommodation, restaurants, attractions, recreational venues, and shopping centres.

A mini-site will be launched in September 2025, providing a self-assessment platform for operators and a directory of certified businesses accessible to visitors.

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT governor, said: “The Trusted Thailand stamp is a practical mechanism to restore traveller confidence while laying the foundation for Thailand’s tourism industry to meet international safety standards. More than a symbol, it represents our commitment to making Thailand a destination where every visitor feels secure and truly welcome.”

Revinate expands Asia-Pacific team with key leadership hires

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Revinate, a direct booking platform for the hospitality sector, has appointed Jeff Hoh as APAC head of sales and Nick Ellis as Australia country director, strengthening its presence and capabilities across the Asia-Pacific market.

Ellis will report to Hoh, who reports to Doug Tilford, chief revenue officer.

From left: Jeff Hoh and Nick Ellis

Hoh brings over 18 years of experience in SaaS and travel technology, with leadership roles at Agoda, Bookaway, and Seatos, specialising in regional expansion and partner development across Asia-Pacific and Oceania.

Ellis has more than 25 years of hospitality leadership experience across brands including Accor, Ovolo, Spicers Retreats, and Salter Brothers Hospitality, with expertise in hotel launches, digital transformation, and commercial growth. He also serves as deputy chair of Queensland’s peak tourism body and is a senior judge for the Queensland Tourism Awards.

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