Emirates is the first airline to offer global Covid-19 insurance
Emirates has become the first airline to offer its customers’ free cover for Covid-19-related costs, in a bid to boost travel confidence.
Customers flying with the Middle East airline from now until October 31, 2020, can claim medical expenses of up to €150,000 (US$174,000) and quarantine costs of €100 per day for 14 days, should they be diagnosed with Covid-19 during their travel, while away from home.
Emirates is the first airline to offer global Covid-19 insurance coverage
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates group chairman and CEO, said: “We know people are yearning to fly as borders around the world gradually reopen, but they are seeking flexibility and assurances should something unforeseen happen during their travel.”
Applicable across all fare classes and destinations, this cover will be valid for 31 days from when an Emirates’ passenger flies the first sector of their journey.
Customers do not need to register or fill in any forms before they travel, and they are not obligated to utilise this cover provided by Emirates.
Any impacted customer who has been diagnosed with Covid-19 during their travel simply has to contact a dedicated hotline to avail of assistance and cover.
Japan has postponed its plan to further relax event attendance limits amid the rapid uptick of Covid-19 infections across the country, delivering another blow to the battered hospitality and business events industry.
The government had initially scheduled to lift its current 5,000 pax cap on events on August 1, giving organisers leeway to fill their venues “up to about half capacity”.
Covid-19 cases are rising again in Japan, forcing the government to halt plans on restoring MICE activities; Osaka pictured
Economy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura made the announcement at a press conference in Tokyo on July 22, pointing to the recent record spikes in Covid-19 cases in the capital and other major urban areas, including Osaka, Aichi and Fukuoka.
On the same day, Japan reported a new single-day record of 795 new Covid-19 cases, exceeding the previous high set in April. Osaka Prefecture confirmed 121 cases, while Aichi and Fukuoka prefectures recorded 64 and 61 cases respectively.
The current limit on event capacity will stay in place until the end of August, according to Nishimura. It is the last restriction in the government’s progressive plan to restore normalcy to Japan’s damaged events industry.
On July 10, Japan eased capacity restrictions for outdoor sporting, concert and other events to a maximum of 5,000 pax from the previous 1,000, provided the number of attendees is within 50 per cent of the venue’s maximum capacity.
Organisers of indoor events, meanwhile, must keep capacity to 50 per cent or below the usual level.
The steps are in line with the government’s request that people avoid the three C’s of closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
Venues have been quick to realign to the July 10 guidance, providing event organisers with revised capacity information for indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as information on new health and safety measures for events.
Among those to roll out new event manifestos is Andaz Tokyo, a central venue popular for business meetings and weddings.
An aerial rendering of how the future Jamil MICE Cluster is expected to look like
The new convention and exhibition facility planned for years for Seoul’s Jamsil district area has finally been given the go-ahead, and bids for operating right will soon open in October.
Currrently, two consortiums led by the Korea International Trade Association and Hana Financial Investment are the two most probable contenders. However, public offerings will begin in October this year, where multiple bidders are expected to join the race.
An aerial rendering of how the future Jamil MICE Cluster is expected to look like
The consortium led by the Korea International Trade Association is a group of 17 institutions and companies including Daewoo Engineering & Construction, Korea Development Bank and Parnas Hotel. Its plan is to create a complex that combines both sports and business events, taking into consideration that Jamsil was where the 1988 Olympics was held.
The consortium led by Hana Financial Investment, on the other hand, is solely made up of private companies in the finance, sports and IT sector that are keen to create a global platform that enables online-to-offline businesses.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has indicated it will select the winning bidder in March 2021.
Once the winner is selected, the consortium will have the operating rights of the Jamsil MICE complex for 50 years from the expected completion date in 2025.
However, ownership will be held by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
“The Jamsil Sports-MICE Private Investment Project is a key project to continually strengthen Seoul’s competitiveness. We will thoroughly implement anti-speculation measures by cooperating with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other related agencies,” said Kim Sun-soon, head of the Seoul government’s regional development division.
When completed, the Jamsil MICE complex will cover an area of 334,605m2, three times the size of COEX. It will comprise of exhibition space, sports facilities, and a new luxury hotel with 900 keys for visiting delegates. Together with the existing Coex venue, both facilities will form a “MICE Cluster” in south-eastern Seoul.
Airbnb has appointed Amanpreet Bajaj as general manager for India, South-east Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, taking over from Mike Orgill who returns to his former role as Airbnb’s regional policy director for Asia-Pacific.
In his expanded role, Bajaj will be responsible for driving Airbnb’s strategy and long-term growth in Asia-Pacific. He was previously the company’s country manager for India.
Amanpreet Bajaj
Bajaj will continue to report to Kum Hong Siew, Airbnb’s regional director for Asia-Pacific and COO of Airbnb China.
Before joining Airbnb, he co-founded Letsbuy.com in 2010, which was acquired by Flipkart.com in 2012.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(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 (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.
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
