A splash of local flavour

April 2, 2020

Localing Private Tours Melbourne, Australia
Experience an Aboriginal twist to Australian footy. The Marngrook Indigenous Football Workshop will have delegates construct their version of the eponymous ball – known as Australia’s first football, it was orginally made out of possum skin and used by Aboriginal groups in Victoria.

Delegates will learn the marngrook’s history from an indigenous guide, join a football class, then play a footy game at the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground. They will finish the day with a Wildlife After Dark experience with the owner of Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Park, where they can get up close with some of Australia’s most beloved animals. There are opportunities to feed kangaroos, cuddle and take selfies with koalas, or take dingos for a walk.
Capacity Up to 50
Contact chris@localingtours.com

Phnom Krom Eco Resort, Cambodia
This community-based recreational resort sits on a 100-hectare site nestled at the foot of Phnom Krom hill near Siem Reap.

A dedicated events team is on hand to curate teambuilding activities that offer a glimpse of rural Cambodian life.

A range of skills-based activities can be compiled for groups, such as riding ox carts, fishing Cambodian-style, helping local farmers plant or harvest crops (depending on the season), and boating on one of the four lakes the sprawling site straddles.

There is also the option of camping overnight on the resort’s grounds to experience Cambodia in the wild.
Capacity 30 to 1,000
Contact sales@empressangkor.com

Synergy Production – Travel & Events Business, Indonesia
The Jakarta-headquartered company has devised a teambuilding programme which explores Bogor – a town about an hour’s drive from Jakarta – with the help of an angkot, the prolific minivans that locals depend for their daily commute.

The programme starts with hopping on the Jakarta-Bogor commuter line, a popular rail transport option between the two cities. Upon arrival in Bogor, participants are divided into groups, assigned one angkot per group and given a sum of money. They are then asked to join a Facebook page dedicated to the event on which instructions are given.

Tasks include tracking down and tasting local dishes, visit attractions in the area, and reaching the finish line during a stipulated timeframe.

Aside from learning how to work together, bargaining skills are also tested as the more money left at the end of the tasks, the better chances the team has of winning.
Capacity 30 to 500
Contact eddy@synergyproduction.net

Atelier Tsuzuki, Japan
Soba – or buckwheat noodles – is one of Shikoku’s famed specialities, and deep in the valleys of Tokushima’s rugged mountains sits a quiet studio run by Tsuzuki-san, an elderly soba master who supplies the noodles to restaurants and hotels across the region. Classes taught by Tsuzuki-san are peaceful, fun and challenging at the same time.

Here, participants are guided through the multi-step soba-making process, from grinding soba grains with a traditional hand-powered mill to soaking the noodles in a cold bath. The workshop is followed by a meal of vegetable tempura, cold dishes, and free-flow soba. Tsuzuki-san then brings the session to a heart-stirring end with a short performance of her award-winning folk singing.
Capacity Two to 15
Contact iyajiman.com / (81) 883 88 5625

Borneo Trails Tours & Travel, Malaysia
This activity takes delegates to eastern Sabah to experience the native Rungus tribe’s rustic way of life.

To get there, groups take a scenic, three-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat, arriving by early evening.

A treasure hunt – revolving around the destination and local culture of the Rungus – is first on the agenda, followed by a dinner accompanied by cultural performances and storytelling. Delegates will then retire into traditional wooden longhouses for the night.

Early the next morning, the group is divided into teams, all bound for the forest. Several teams are assigned to look for firewood, while the others will pick wild edibles. The two teams will then converge to build a fire, cook a meal out of the various ingredients sourced from the jungle. Later in the day, participants will also learn how to weave traditional baskets known as rinago, as well as beaded necklaces, all of which are souvenirs that they can take home.
Capacity Four to 15
Contact bernadette@borneotrails.com

Im-Active Travel and Business Events, the Philippines
This tour agency in Pasay City offers a teambuilding programme in Bohol that can cover a range of activities depending on the planner’s objectives.

Possible itineraries include a driving competition around Bohol’s Chocolate Hills; handmaking souvenirs like wallets, bags, and mats guided by raffia loom weavers; harvesting cacao to make hot chocolate; and learning from artisans to concoct coconut jam.

Mini competitions, while learning Filipino dances like tinikling and pandanggo, can spice up the itinerary.

A visit to nipa palm groves can also be arranged, where participants will learn how nipa leaves are used to create thatched roofing for local houses, turn the palm fruit into a sweet kaong for a fruit salad, as well as make vinegar and local wine from nipa sap called lambanog.
Capacity Six to 100
Contact im.activeteam@gmail.com

Xperience Singapore Events & Travel
A popular team sport in Singapore with roots tracing as far back as 2,500 years, dragonboat racing offers an exhilarating experience that fosters coordination and teamwork against the unique backdrop of the Singapore skyline.

In this two-hour session, groups will learn from an expert trainer how to paddle and balance a 10-seater practice boat, and observe a steersman in action.

Teams will then row down Marina Reservoir with views of the Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Barrage. The session also includes an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of “The Nursery”, a storage space for the dragon heads and tails that adorn the competition boats.
Capacity Four to 300
Contact contact@xperiencedmc.com

HiveSters, Thailand
HiveSters, along with its sister project, Local Thai Kitchen (a social enterprise preserving disappearing Thai food culture through sustainable tourism), believes that food is capable of connecting people. It runs a few teambuilding programmes centred around Thai cuisine, where groups can taste new items, learn to cook dishes, or be challenged in gamified, fun face-offs.

Groups can hunt for delicious local food in the community and experience cooking with local masters – think aunties and grannies in local communities – in the Foodie Treasure Hunt. Or choose Cooking Battle, where teams compete against each other to prepare Thai dishes with the help of step-by-step recipes, and aim to earn the highest score from local masters. There’s also a Food Blind Tasting activity, where more adventurous groups are blindfolded and have to figure out what they are eating. The group with the most correct answers wins!
Capacity Foodie Treasure Hunt (10 to 180); Food blind tasting battle (10 to 100); Cooking battle (four to 30)
Contact bookme@hivesters.com

Virtual meetings are here to stay, even after Covid-19

By Caroline Boey

April 1, 2020

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Congress_Rental_RSI_-(1) — For Congress Rental, which has offices in Australia, Singapore and Indonesia, its point of difference is its Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) language solution, which helped Nuskin and ICANN proceed with international events in recent weeks.

With event organisers turning to technology and online solutions to avoid disruptions caused by Covid-19, suppliers say hybrid and/or virtual meetings are trending and will fuel their development even when the industry recovers.

Commenting on how Covid-19 could affect event organisers and participants, Veemal Gungadin, founder and CEO, GlobalSign.in, said: “Given the current situation and where things are going, I think companies should seriously start looking into virtual and hybrid events.

Congress Rental offers a Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) language solution, which helped two companies proceed with events recently

“It is impossible to predict the end date for Covid-19 and its repercussions. Investing in live streaming is a safe bet because there is an immediate need for it. But we also believe a whole new paradigm is going to emerge from this situation.

“A lot of people are going to experience organising, or attending, a virtual event for the first time and they will start looking at how it could replace some of their physical events or act as a complement.”

Gungadin shared that only a few small-scale Singapore government events were able to continue with a physical format – to communicate important messages – as there were only a few attendees and measures were in place to ensure participants’ safety. It was the same for some businesses too.

Such measures included health and travel declaration, temperature checks, more space between seats, and making sanitisers available.

Hybrid events, usually small in scale, he added, were also being live-streamed to a larger audience in parallel.

Gungadin: organisers need to consider virtual and hybrid events more seriously

Gungadin said: “We did such an event last week (end-March) which was a briefing session at IMDA’s PIXEL on digital solutions to keep a safe and healthy workplace amid Covid-19.”

For Congress Rental, which has offices in Australia, Singapore and Indonesia, its point of difference is its Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) language solution, which helped Nuskin and ICANN proceed with international events in recent weeks.

According to managing director Jeremy Ducklin, RSI allowed interpreters to be remote from the event they were providing the interpretation/translation and the platform further extended to having the audience remote.

Ducklin said: “The ICANN event was a truly remote meeting with all the presenters in remote locations worldwide. At its peak, it had 690 people listening to their community forum session with many remarks complementing the online nature of the meeting and the language support that we provided.

“Similarly RSI was used for a Honda event where space was an issue,” he shared.

“We are now talking to one client with a requirement for an online AGM where the presenter and presentation need to be shown at the same time to 1,000-plus shareholders,” Ducklin noted, adding that enquiries and proposals for remote solutions have trebled in the past week.

But Kenny Goh, founder of Singapore-based event tech company miceNEUROL, said event organisers must look beyond just the end product or the broadcast portion.

Goh – a proponent of event tech “integration” – pointed out: “There many piecemeal solutions for virtual MICE. Many like Zoom, YouTube, etc focus on the last-mile solution – the broadcasting solution.”

But there are few integrated event tech companies that start from accreditation and registration, or even start from contact management. As such, Goh cautioned that even though the tech solutions are in place, the systems integrators are not, which may bring about serious consequences.

“When there is a problem, the broadcasting media may blame the registration company, the registration company may blame the accreditation company which may blame the onboarding system, which may blame the AV supplier which may blame the telco. That is the problem,” he explained.

Claiming that the implementation of integrated virtual conferences and exhibitions is “low cost”, Goh has been spending time educating event organisers instead of deploying its systems over the last few weeks.

For some organisers, going hybrid is a defence strategy and Goh observed that the Covid-19 pandemic could provide the opportunity to lead event organisers to adapt, adopt integration and succeed.

Phuket readies for lockdown; MICE industry to get support

By Anne Somanas

April 1, 2020

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Aerial-view-of-a-resort-in-Phuket — Aerial view of a resort in Phuket

Phuket’s announcements over the past weekend have most of its hotels considering temporary closures, as the destination’s land and sea borders have been sealed off, with a looming cessation of air transfers from April 10-30 due to Covid-19.

Currently, its beaches have been closed, and a curfew from 20.00 to 03.00 is in place. Tourist attractions such as zoos, animal shows and Patong’s walking street have also shuttered.

Anthony Lark, Phuket Hotels Association’s (PHA) president, commented: “As travel has almost ground to a halt, the island’s hotels and business that cater to travellers have been (badly) hit in terms of business levels.”

“Most Phuket hotels anticipated these rules being imposed by the government, and our main concerns are for the safety and health of our staff. We support the measures the government is taking to stop the spread.”

As Phuket’s tourism industry braces itself for an impending lockdown, PHA is also preparing to support its members going forward.

One of PHA’s initiatives is a MICE recovery programme that will be released at a timely moment, and as soon as the industry is on the verge of a rebound. It includes an e-event planners’ guide which features all Phuket hotels, venues and event offerings. Short clips and videos on venues will also be produced and shared by hotel association members.

While there has not yet been an official announcement on closure of hotels, local hotels are already in preparation mode, based on a letter of guidance from the Phuket governor addressed to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).

However, without a clear order from the authorities to close, affected full-time, formal hotel employees will be ineligible for benefits from the Thai Social Security Fund (SSF), and properties will find themselves bearing the brunt of subsidising their hard-hit businesses.

But Lark remains optimistic that the island will emerge from this even stronger once the storm blows over.

“Phuket’s inbound MICE business was growing well, particularly for the Indian market with the increase of direct flights. We expect this to continue after the travel restrictions are lifted. Phuket hotels were also (anticipating increased business pre-Covid-19), upsizing their MICE venue capacity to cope with influx and demand from major markets like China, Europe and Australia,” Lark shared.

He added that Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s increased budgets and action recovery programme in response to the Covid-19 crisis will also help the industry weather these tough times.

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore raises the meeting bar for Gen Y professionals

By Pamela Chow

April 1, 2020

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Dusit_Thani_Laguna_SIN_-_Night_view — Artists' impression of the upcoming luxury golf resort

As more Gen Y employees enter the workforce and leadership positions, their preferences are influencing the way business meetings and travel are conducted, and the soon-to-open Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore was constructed with this in mind.

“Gen Y, now in their mid-20s to 30s, is an important generation that craves connection and engagement. Well-thought-out MICE events are no longer just about stimulating presentations and networking opportunities. Meeting planners are designing programmes that consider the dietary, physical and mental wellness of their delegates,” observed Eric Piatti, general manager of Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore.

Artists’ impression of the upcoming luxury golf resort

Slated to open in July 2020, the 198-room resort will be Singapore’s first hotel with direct access to a golf course, the Laguna National Golf & Country Club’s two 18-hole championship golf courses.

This unique location opens up new possibilities that planners can explore for events in Singapore. Piatti described: “Imagine a welcome reception on an outdoor event lawn with the golf course as a backdrop, a C-suite gathering in one of our private pavilions or a farm-to-table dining experience. Teambuilding activities can also include cooking classes following a therapeutic harvesting experience from the hotel’s herb farm, or an excursion to the neighbouring East Coast Park.”

In addition, golf lovers and beginners alike can enjoy the sport with an Asia first – Laguna National’s Moonlight Golf programme, which adds an evening of golfing powered by Swiss-engineered LED technology.

Other unconventional meeting options on the property include three event lawns with a golf course backdrop; eight private pavilions, each with their own outdoor plunge pool; and a host of modular workspace arrangements – be they sofa lounge or bean bag set-ups – for C-Suite discussions or creative brainstorming sessions.

But Piatti assures that Gen Y are not their only target, as he affirmed that “C-Suite executives in their 40s and 50s will also find these enhanced experiences both engaging and enriching”.

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore will also be decked out in technology that caters to Gen Y and any other guests who have “high expectations when it comes to digital services”, he added.

For instance, meeting attendees can register on the hotel’s e-network platform to engage and interact with each other, while event organisers can conduct real-time polling and Q&A with attendees.

Beyond a seamless e-registration, property guests will also be able to check-in and obtain their mobile keys via an app. Through the app, guests can also request for in-room amenities, such as a yoga mat, or arrange for late check-out without having to pick up the phone.

Aside from Dusit Thani’s events team, planners can also access an e-MICE planning tool to organise, manage and execute their events on the property with ease.

UFI delivers educational sessions and talks online

By TTGmice

April 1, 2020

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UFI-Connects-main-slide-card-e1585558989866 — As regular events cannot take place as usual, UFI connects is how the association will continue to deliver

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic that is keeping exhibition industry professionals apart, UFI – the global association for the exhibition industry – has launched “UFI connects”, a series of online sessions.

Organised by the UFI team and the UFI community, “UFI connects” will provide a schedule of regular talks, panels, and webinar sessions streamed globally. The programme will also feature selected sessions from previous UFI event that are normally only available to members of the association.

As regular events cannot take place as usual, UFI connects is how the association will continue to deliver

Access to all sessions will be free of charge for industry professionals.

The first sessions focused on the impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on the exhibitions and events industry in various regions around the world.

For example, the Focus on Asia session included updates and insights from Aloysius Arlando (SingEx Holdings, Singapore), Michael Duck (Informa Exhibitions Asia, HongKong), Anbu Varathan (BIEC, Bangalore), and Michael Kruppe (SNIEC, Shanghai), moderated by Mark Cochrane (UFI Regional Manager Asia/Pacific).

The hub for this evolving programming is a designated area on the UFI website at www.ufi.org/uficonnects. Schedules and programme announcements will be posted there. Exhibition industry professionals will also have the opportunity to re-watch previous episodes and programmes from there.

“As our industry’s global association, we are working to support our members and the industry at large through this unique time. The recovery of the world’s economies will rely on our companies, our skills. We will need to build and run the market places and the meeting places for industries and experts to come together again. UFI connects is a way to stay connected, to get through this pandemic, and to be ready for the time afterwards“, said Mary Larkin, UFI President, in a statement.

Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bangkok opens

By TTGmice

April 1, 2020

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Sindhorn Midtown, the flagship property of Thai-inspired hospitality brand Siam Sindhorn, has opened in Bangkok’s Langsuan neighbourhood.

Spread across two towers are 344 hotel rooms and suites, alongside 49 serviced residences.

F&B offerings include Tr.EAT, an in-house eatery with the flavour and flair of the local neighbourhood; and Rhumba, a gathering spot offering a large selection of rum, mixed into classic and creative cocktails. On the 18th level, the Horizon Pool offers skyline views, cocktails and small bites; while the Fitness Center on the 19th level allows guests to stay fit 24/7 with the latest equipment from Life Fitness.

The BTS Sky Train Chit Lom and Ratchadamri stations, the Erawan Shrine or Pratunam Market are a five-minute walk from the hotel. Or, walk on the nearby Rajprasong to major shopping centers Central World, Siam Paragon and Siam Center.

Better together

By TTGmice

April 1, 2020

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The Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on some industry associations which had no choice but to suspend operations or lay off staff. How has JMIC been impacted?
JMIC has always had very modest resources so we are as yet unaffected by staffing issues and doing the best we can to act as an aggregator, access point and analyst for the wide array of information and resources being generated by individual member organisations via the JMIC website at www.themeetingsindustry.org.

This is a better course than to attempt to recreate what is already useful and available, and this includes everything from links to member resources to specific resources such as guides and leading national strategies of note.

What challenges are associations with in-house teams facing?
In the absence of specific information, it may be assumed that most associations will be re-evaluating resources in anticipation of needing to maintain priority activities in the face of potentially reduced revenues in the coming year.

However, as we are relatively early into the current fiscal, most will have some time to sort this out. Much will depend on the reserves that have been built up in “the good times” and their “burn rate”.

Major objectives will be to maintain core programming and to redeploy resources from areas with reduced demand, for example live events, in favour of those having to ramp up such as online presence, remote engagement capabilities, etc.

What can associations do to help affected staff?
First, they have to be fully aware of the wide range of applicable government support measures and how they can facilitate access for affected staff.

This is becoming highly complex and individuals will need all the help they can get to navigate the process. However, there is also a psychological component – identifying and promoting ongoing roles that will give staff something useful to do, even at a reduced level of engagement.

This will not only enhance functionality but would help support their morale and ensure they are better able to re-engage when conditions improve.

What can associations – hit by no event revenue and possible membership fee delinquency – do to continue serving members?
I think the time for “motivational pronouncements” is over. The biggest need now is to use the power of the collective to gather and distribute hard information – to create context – and facilitate the exchange of strategies and policies being developed either by governments or the members themselves in order to cope.

The greatest value of a collective is the power of sharing. That is where we should be focusing efforts now, and it has the added benefit of being pretty cost-effective.

JMIC has provided a forum for information exchange, strategy development and the recognition of excellence among industry groups for well over 50 years. It can continue to document and communicate the diverse values of the industry in supporting global economic, academic, professional and social development.

Radisson’s Nanjing property to be events-ready

By TTGmice

April 1, 2020

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Radisson Hotel Group has signed its first property in Nanjing, China, which is primed to be the city’s central business and lifestyle landmark come 2024.

Located in Nanjing South New Town, a rapidly emerging commercial area that will become the city’s new CBD, the upscale Radisson Blu Hotel Nanjing South New Town will feature 300 keys, an extensive collection of event spaces, three restaurants, a lobby lounge, an indoor swimming pool, and a fitness centre.

Radisson Blu Hotel Nanjing South New Town will feature two exhibition areas, a large ballroom and seven functions spaces

The hotel’s events capability shines through two exhibition areas spanning more than 3,200m², a large ballroom as well as seven other meeting and function spaces.

Radisson Blu Hotel Nanjing South New Town is part of a larger complex which houses a high-end shopping mall and an office tower.

Katerina Giannouka, president, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “Nanjing has always been one of China’s most important cities; its name literally means Southern Capital, which reflects its historical influence. Today, Nanjing remains one of China’s 21^st century most vibrant destinations and the rise of Nanjing South New Town will further enhance its development.

“With its world-class accommodation, facilities and conference space, Radisson Blu Hotel Nanjing South New Town will be a central landmark in this exciting new district.”

The property is being developed by Nanjing South New Town Exhibition Centre Development Co.

Singapore lifeline fails to address larger MICE ecosystem

By Rachel AJ Lee

April 1, 2020

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Several business events industry stakeholders in Singapore are feeling shortchanged by the Resilience Budget announced last week by the Singaporean government – of which S$440 million (US$309) has been dedicated towards providing relief for the tourism sector.

One of the sore points, according to these stakeholders, is that event organisers such as DMCs, PCOs, and service providers like audiovisual suppliers, F&B caterers, and exhibition stand contractors have fallen through the cracks.

Stakeholders call for Singapore government to also address the larger MICE ecosystem

The stimulus package has provisions for only venue owners and travel agencies.

While Andrea Teo, head of Pacific World, Singapore, said the Resilience Budget was a step in the “positive direction”, it “excludes a number of critical players in the MICE ecosystem”.

“These industry players are moving parts that are crucial to running a well-oiled machine. Should these companies be unsuccessful in getting through this period, Singapore will be faced with a lack of capabilities to support our position as a top MICE destination and bear the additional burden of acquiring manpower in an industry that is already facing talent shortages to begin with,” Teo cautioned.

Trade fair company Koelnmesse’s managing director, Mathias Kuepper, said: “(The situation has) equally affected event organisers, PCOs, DMCs, and all supporting businesses are facing serious challenges to keep their business running over the coming months.”

“We are categorised as ‘Suppliers’ under Enterprise SG’s website (yet we have been excluded from) the latest singaporebudget.gov.sg website. It seems very unfair, since we are the first industry to be hit with absolutely zero revenue streams since Chinese New Year, as compared to the F&B, tourism and airline industry,” remarked Gerard Rodrigues, managing director of audio, lighting and video company, Expo AV-InSync.

“MICE venues, such as Singapore Expo, Marina Bay Sands and Suntec, rely heavily on our professional services and solutions. We play an integral part within the MICE ecosystem and contribute to every success of it through event technology and other solutions,” he added.

Rodrigues also pointed out that even though the government has initiated a Working Capital Loan to tide various industries during this period, many business owners in the audiovisual industry have been rejected because their bank statements over the past three months were not healthy.

Kuepper said: “At the end of the day, it wouldn’t benefit Singapore if only venues survive this episode, with nobody left to organise and service the events.”

Fusion appoints Stuart Lyall to manage new Vietnam property

By TTGmice

March 31, 2020

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Wellness-focused hospitality group Fusion has appointed Stuart John Lyall to manage a new Vietnam property, Fusion Suites Vung Tau, which is opening in April.

Lyall’s most recent role saw him guide Selong Selo Resort & Residences in Lombok through its soft opening phase as general manager. Prior to his time in Indonesia, Lyall was also general manager at Our Jungle Camp from 2017 to 2018.

Before his move to Asia, he was with Australian cruise company, Travel Marvel, where he served as regional product manager of Asia and India from 2013 to 2017.

Prior to that, Lyall spent time in other capacities, such as general manager of sales and marketing for South Sea Horizons; regional product manager Asia Pacific with Peregrine Adventures; an international travel and hotel consultant for Flight Centre; and Asia-focused tour director for Intrepid Travel.

A splash of local flavour

Virtual meetings are here to stay, even after Covid-19

Phuket readies for lockdown; MICE industry to get support

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore raises the meeting bar for Gen Y professionals

UFI delivers educational sessions and talks online

Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bangkok opens

Better together

Radisson’s Nanjing property to be events-ready

Singapore lifeline fails to address larger MICE ecosystem

Fusion appoints Stuart Lyall to manage new Vietnam property

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