As the Covid-19 situation in Taiwan eases with the loosening of restrictions and reopening of public facilities, the destination is also restarting the business events sector beginning with the domestic market.
The reopening of the domestic business events market, with various new public health regulations in place, was announced on June 11, 2020, during the MICE Restart Press Conference.
MICE stakeholders present at the press conference
The press conference was hosted by the Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Taiwan External Trade Development Council, with Taiwan Exhibition and Convention Association, Taiwan Convention & Exhibition Association, and venue operators in attendance.
An estimated 50 domestic events are expected to take place this and next month, covering a variety of industries. This is a far cry from the Lunar New Year period, where domestic conferences and exhibitions numbered almost zero.
Global corporate lodging platform HRS, and inspection, verification, testing and certification company SGS, have introduced a new cleanliness-focused programme for the hotel industry.
This will provide corporations and hoteliers with a defined standard at a time when property hygiene is the leading factor as corporations plan to send business travellers back on the road.
HRS and SGS aim to help hotels ensure their cleanliness and distancing investments pay off via accurate representation in procurement and shopping channels
Entitled Clean & Safe Protocol, it is based on a comprehensive catalogue of measures that includes recommendations from the World Health Organization the World Travel and Tourism Council, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as guidelines for meetings and groups as defined by the Research Institute for Exhibition and Live-Communication.
Measures include:
Improved hygiene services in public areas, guest and meeting rooms
Extended infection prevention measures
Guaranteed minimum distances
Implementation of revised training programmes for employees and suppliers
Regular control and monitoring, and
Other measures that illustrate consistent, recurring practices that enhance safety
Hotels first have to fill out an online self-assessment form, where hotel groups will be able to bundle forms for affiliated properties. With the necessary requirements fulfilled, the hotel then receives a “Clean & Safe Self Inspected” label on all HRS procurement and booking channels. Hotels can also use these channels to show the steps they are taking to enhance cleanliness and on-property distancing.
Next, HRS and SGS offer hotels the opportunity to have new measures inspected and confirmed via remote digital inspection or onsite by an SGS inspector. Upon passing the inspection, the hotel receives the “Clean & Safe Expert Inspected” label, which can be displayed on the hotel property and website. Hotels that have implemented their own measures and had them validated by an external audit partner will also receive the “Clean & Safe Expert Inspected” label directly with appropriate proof.
HRS will also display this label on its proprietary desktop, mobile and agent booking solutions, as well as on corporate online booking engines such as Concur and Cytric.
In a May survey of HRS’ corporate customers, 86 per cent of companies reported that they will only engage with hotels that have implemented revised specific Covid-19 hygiene measures.
Global Business Travel Association’s (GBTA) CEO Scott Solombrino has come under fire, after allegations made over his conduct, misuse of GBTA funds, and racist comments.
This was brought to light in a whistleblower’s email sent to Business Travel News in early June, which accused the CEO of creating a toxic working environment.
An anonymous whistleblower alleges misconduct by Solombrino in his position at GBTA. Photo: LCT Luxury Coach Transportation
The letter, which was signed “current & former GBTA Staff,” pointed to a number of ongoing and specific incidents some described as racist, divisive, and derogatory comments aimed at female staff. The whistleblower also accused Solombrino of enjoying luxurious hotel stays and expensive meals, while denying primary expense reimbursements to GBTA staff.
GBTA has since confirmed Solombrino has been placed on administrative leave, and hired New York-based law firm Polsinelli to conduct an internal investigation.
“We have determined that further investigation is required in this matter,” the board said in its June 20 statement. We have taken this step to affirm that this inquiry has the necessary depth, that the reviewer has sufficient time to consider and corroborate facts and statements and to give any and all concerned parties an opportunity to come forward.
“GBTA senior staff who previously reported to the CEO will now report directly to the executive committee of the board,” the statement said.
Solombrino was promoted to the CEO post in May after having held the post of chief operating officer for one year.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has expanded its portfolio with two property conversions in Japan, and the opening of five new hotels in China.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has expanded its portfolio with two property conversions in Japan,...
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Wyndham Grand Awashima
Wyndham Garden Nagaizumi
Ramada by Wyndham Luoyang Downtown
Ramada by Wyndham Jianyang
Ramada by Wyndham Changsha Wuguang
Ramada by Wyndham Wuhan Qingshan
Wyndham Grand Awashima, formerly known as the Awashima Hotel, is a Mediterranean-style resort hotel located on the island of Awashima. The property boasts 60 suites, and facilities include an outdoor onsen, a concert hall for events and several restaurants, one of which specialising in the local cuisine from Shizuoka Prefecture. There are also several banquet halls for events.
Wyndham Garden Nagaizumi, formerly known as Nagaizumi Garden, features 95 Japanese and contemporary style-suites, all equipped with kitchenettes. Situated on the slopes of Mount Ashitaka, guests are surrounded by views of Numazu City and Suruga Bay. Visitors can bathe in the Momozawa natural onsen which contains vanadium from Mount Fuji, while travellers with pets will be delighted to know that the hotel is pet-friendly and even has a dog café, Blue Bird.
Both hotels, which have recently undergone light refurbishments, mark the debut of the brands in the country and make Wyndham the first global hotel company to expand into the emerging destinations of Awashima and Nagaizumi.
Over in China, Wyndham has opened five Ramada by Wyndham-branded hotels.
Located in the centre of Luoyang city, the Ramada by Wyndham Luoyang Downtown offers 142 rooms and suites, alongside amenities such as meeting spaces, a business centre, gym, bar and restaurant. It stands less than 30 minutes by car from Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site housing some of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art.
Situated south-east of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, the Ramada by Wyndham Jianyang is the first international five-star hotel in Jianyang city. The 191-key hotel is just 30 minutes from the new Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and only 18 minutes from Chengdu East Railway Station. Facilities include meeting rooms, fitness centre, indoor pool, restaurant, and a lobby bar.
Looking over Changsha’s Yuhua district, the Ramada by Wyndham Changsha Wuguang offers delegates easy access to the Changsha International Convention & Exhibition Center. There are 140 rooms and suites within, alongside amenities such as meeting facilities, fitness center, and two restaurants.
Over in the capital of Central China’s Hubei province, the Ramada by Wyndham Wuhan Qingshan is situated at the intersection of Jianshe 3rd Road and Fushun Street. The property boasts over 100 keys, as well as convenient access to nearby businesses as well as attractions like East Lake, and the Hubei Provincial Museum. Two restaurants and meeting facilities feature are also available
Lastly, the 179-room Ramada by Wyndham Kunming Yiliang in central Yunnan Province stands 45 minutes from the Jiuxiang Scenic Region and Shilin Stone Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Onsite facilities include two restaurants, meeting facilities, pool, and spa.
UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has revealed the results of the elections for chapter chairs and vice chairs in its four regional chapters around the world.
David Zhong
The elected industry leaders will begin their three-year mandate in November.
The future chapter chairs are:
Asia-Pacific – David Zhong (VNU Exhibitions Asia, China)
Europe – Andreas Gruchow (Deutsche Messe AG, Germany)
Latin America – José Navarro Meneses (Tarsus Mexico)
Middle East/Africa – Albert Aoun (IFP, Lebanon)
Europe – David Boon (1st vice chair, Brussels Expo, Belgium), Albert Arp (Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs, Netherlands), Antonio Bruzzone (BolognaFiere, Italy)
Latin America – Raul Strauss Justiniano (1st vice chair, Fexpocruz, Bolivia), Fernando Gorbarán (Messe Frankfurt Argentina), Joāo De Nagy (World Trade Center Sāo Paulo, Brasil)
Middle East/Africa – Said Salim Al Shanfari (1st vice chair, Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre), Craig Newman (Johannesburg Expo Centre, South Africa), Mohammed Al Hussaini (Riyadh Exhibitions Co, Saudi Arabia)
The chapter Chairs work with UFI to deliver events, education, research, and advocacy for the members in their respective region. They also represent the respective chapters in both the UFI Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.
View of Quang Ninh Exhibition of Planning and Expo Center flanked by UNESCO-listed Halong Bay
Slated to be Vietnam’s next big business events destination, Quang Ninh is ready to make its move once the coronavirus crisis is over.
Recent years have seen a raft of developments across the province after Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) earmarked it to be developed into one of the country’s MICE destinations.
View of Quang Ninh Exhibition of Planning and Expo Center flanked by UNESCO-listed Halong Bay
Before the crisis happened, in December last year, the provincial Department of Tourism set out to boost business events tourism from 20 per cent to 35 per cent in 2020 – a figure authorities have set their eyes on once the world has been given the all-clear.
Developments helping establish the area as a choice business events destination include the opening of Van Don International Airport, Quang Ninh Exhibition of Planning and Expo Center, and the completion of Hanoi–Haiphong Expressway, halving the driving time from Hanoi to Halong to less than two hours. It has also hosted a string of international events, including ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019.
A surge in investment in Quang Ninh from major local developers, including Vingroup, Sungroup and FLC Group, as well as international hospitality brands joining the fray, such as MGallery and Wyndham, has also helped raise the destination’s profile.
Ngo Tien Duc, chief operating officer at Luxury Travel Vietnam, said: “Governments are investing in upgrading the infrastructure, and tourism boards are stepping up their efforts in Quang Ninh to promote it as a MICE destination.”
He added post-coronavirus, flash packages and attractive event budgets aimed at specific markets are essential to continue to promote the province.
Lan Le, managing director and co-founder of Luxperia, said the ease to organise charter flights, helicopters and private cruises in Quang Ninh will also help boost its appeal with business travellers.
Noted Le: “Avoiding crowds will be an increased trend that eventually will become an expectation. Charter flights and ocean cruises can easily access Quang Ninh, so this can be promoted for the safety of VIP MICE guests.”
Natural wonders
Quang Ninh’s major draw is Halong Bay. The majestic natural wonder is dotted with 1,600 limestone karsts, islands and islets that form a dramatic seascape of towering pillars rising from the sea.
And Halong Bay is proving to be the perfect playground for corporate travellers, with an increasing number of cruise operators curating innovative itineraries. For example, Bhaya Group boasts a team of dedicated business events experts to arrange corporate events ranging from teambuilding activities to conferences.
In mid-2019, Bhaya Group also secured exclusive access from Halong authorities to host events at Trinh Nu Cave, which was previously off-limits to visitors. The company is currently the only cruise operator granted access to the ancient grotto, which is one of 72 that dot the UNESCO World Heritage site.
The ancient grotto provides a flexible function area that can hold events for about 200 people. Tables and chairs, stages and other arrangements can be set up on the beach or inside the cave, making it ideal for gala dinners or special gatherings.
For incentive groups, Heritage Cruises has curated a four-day, three-night itinerary that sails guests through Halong Bay and on to lesser-visited Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Activities include a tailor-made cocktail class, CSR no-plastic activities in Cat Hai village, and cultural performances.
Cultural deep dives
While Halong Bay is the province’s main attraction, Quang Ninh is home to more than 620 historical and cultural attractions. A growing range of products have been developed to showcase these and also offer a glimpse into local life.
Yen Duc Village is a community-based tourism project about 60km west of Halong City. It offers a range of tours that are increasingly attracting tourists seeking authentic and immersive experiences. These range from traditional fishing and learning to cook like a local, through to water puppetry, and helping villagers farm.
Another popular attraction highly recommended is Cua Ong Temple. Standing as one of the most spiritual tourist sites in Quang Ninh, it sits on a hill and boasts stunning views across Bai Tu Long Bay.
Hop On Hop Off Vietnam also offers tours that can be curated for up to 40 pax through Halong City. Elsewhere, Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company has rolled out a series of flights offering an alternative way to view scenic Halong Bay. These can also be used for private transfer to events hosted at the bay’s islands or from the airport.
Infrastructure upgrade
With VNAT having earmarked Quang Ninh, developers have also been heavily investing in accommodation to cater to the growing number of business visitors.
Sun Group has opened a swathe of resorts and entertainment activities in the area, with several projects slated to open soon. This includes Yoko Onsen, a luxurious hot spring resort in Quang Hanh; Premier Village Halong Bay Resort in the heart of Ha Long city; and a three-wire cable car route on Cat Hai Island. The establishment of Van Don Economic Zone has also helped attract investment.
In line with this, FLC Group is currently carrying out several projects, including FLC Ngoc Vung Beach & Golf Resort, which will see Ngoc Vung island transformed into a high-end tourism hub by 2030. Amenities include five-star resorts and hotels, an international convention centre, golf course and safari park.
And while several major international brands have already landed on Quang Ninh’s shores, Best Western is gearing up to open 13-storey Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long in 4Q2020. It will feature 1,008 keys and a range of facilities, including a swimming pool, fitness centre, business centre, executive lounge and retail outlets.
Malaysia now allows for business events of up to 250 to take place; Kuala Lumpur pictured
Business events industry leaders in Malaysia have welcomed the government’s decision to reboot the sector, allowing planners to organise meetings, workshops and conventions, capped at 250 people, starting from July 1, 2020.
These business activities can only be carried out in Malaysia’s green zones, and with strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs). Green zones are districts with no active Covid-19 cases; yellow zones have one to 40 cases; while red zones have 41 or more active cases, according to the Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Business events of up to 250 can now take place in Malaysia’s green zones; Kuala Lumpur pictured
Aside from a capacity cap, the venue also has to be large enough to hold the group with social distancing measures in place. Buffets are also banned, and will be replaced with pre-packed food.
This was announced at a press conference on Wednesday by Malaysia’s senior minister security Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Ismail further encouraged attendees to wear face masks, wash their hands with soap or use hand sanitisers, and reiterated the need to use the MySejahtera contact tracing app.
Business Events Council Malaysia chairman, Alan Pryor, said: “The announcement demonstrates the recognition and importance of the business events industry in contributing to economic recovery and affirms the government’s confidence that the sector can operate safely, and provide a controlled, regulated and secure environment for the commencement of events.”
“It has been very heartening to see how the entire industry supply chain has come together and worked in solidarity to proactively engage with the government and to establish their detailed SOPs, which have enabled us to reopen the sector,” added CEO of MyCEB, Abdul Khani Daud.
Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers’ president, Vincent Lim, hailed the move as a “good start”, adding that he hopes that the government will also soon allow for exhibitions to be held.
Anthony Wong, Malaysian Association of Hotel Owner’s secretary, said the reopening “signifies the beginning of the recovery of domestic tourism and the meetings industry, which has been badly affected by the pandemic”.
He added: “Revenue from a business events delegate is, on average, three times more than a leisure tourist. I foresee strong competition among hotels with meeting spaces who will be giving out promotional deals on meeting packages to encourage domestic consumption.”
BESydney’s regional director for Asia, Sinead Yeo, said a renewed campaign is planned for the Asian market, which accounts for about half of BESydney's business.
Australian venues are reinventing their business with digital tools and pivoting their attention towards Asia, believing it will be “the fastest market to come back” when international borders reopen.
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) for example – which remains closed until August 2 – has been using this period to renovate its offering.
The MCEC team has made good use of this downtime to plan its next steps forward
“We’re looking at completely new business models, new partnerships and potential new revenue streams, both nationally and internationally,” said MCEC’s chief executive Peter King. “I think it’s a really interesting opportunity because we’ll never get another chance like this to reset our business.”
Over recent weeks, King said staff who “wouldn’t normally get to contribute to these conversations” have been grouped into cross-departmental teams to work through ideas in two-week spurts, completely changing the dynamics of the organisation.
“With no business as usual and the doors closed, we’ve got 100 per cent capacity for innovation and creative thinking and what we’re enjoying so much at the moment is allowing our people to change the rhythm of the way they work and contribute,” King continued.
One of MCEC’s main workstreams to emerge is in the development of offerings that feature elevated virtual and hybrid components to the conference experience. Other areas being enhanced include the reinforcement of partnerships.
“We’re trying to move away from being such a prescriptive, mechanical delivery organisation to becoming a more nimble, creative operation. I think that’s directly in line with the expectations of the way the Asian market works and it’s a big opportunity to partner more closely with our customers to provide a different type of event experience,” he said.
BESydney is working on a renewed campaign for the Asian market; Sydney pictured
Similar waves are also being seen in Sydney, where a reboot strategy is in the works. BESydney’s regional director for Asia, Sinead Yeo, said a renewed campaign is planned for the Asian market, which accounts for about half of BESydney’s business.
“Traditionally, our clients have looked for big hero activities when visiting Sydney,” Yeo told TTGmice. “We are now working with our partners and the industry to look at more bespoke experiences that will really appeal, especially to repeat clients that have visited Sydney before.
“We are also looking at more digital tools that we can provide to assist and service our travel industry partners and clients.”
Yeo also said the bureau has been busy keeping communication lines open with priority customers, providing updates and listening for their key motivations and concerns. “We must keep relevant,” said Yeo. “Our new activities include conducting webinars with our markets, (hosting) around 17 webinars to date with close to 600 participants, as well as holding virtual site inspections.”
Industry leaders believe Asia will be first in line when Australia’s international borders reopen, projected for December or January. But pressure is also building for travel bubbles to be created sooner with select Asian countries deemed low risk for Covid-19 cases.
“There’s a reboot strategy for all of our segments and Asia is obviously at the top of the list internationally, said ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy.
“I think it’s very obvious that airline travel out of Asia will occur well before it does out of the US, for example,” said Donaghy, having just announced ICC Sydney’s EventSafe Operating Framework, which involves a set of protocols in 16 key areas of event management.
“We believe it will create a whole lot more confidence and trust in ICC Sydney as a venue. And part of that will be direct follow up with our Asian contacts who are prepared and ready to run events, probably in the first half of next year,” he said.
King also observed that Australia’s similar timezone with Asia will be a benefit. “That allows us to conduct face-to-face and hybrid or virtual elements attached to these sorts of meetings a lot more easily than trying to do it in North America or in Europe,” he said.
“The challenge is to address confidence in meeting face-to-face which will take a little while to rebuild. But I think the Asian market is likely to be the fastest to come back because the propensity of Asians to get together is very, very strong,” he continued.
King also concluded that Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong are among markets in the region with the greatest possibilities for the resumption of travel with Australia.
Indonesian exhibition industry stakeholders are expecting a slow rebound even as the country begins to resume economic activities end of June, and believe that cooperation will bring better solutions for challenges.
Soehoed Kosasih, director of operations with Samudra Dyan Praga, an exhibition contractor, related his experience of riding out the 2008 global financial crisis when he was with PEO Dyandra Promosindo.
An aerial view of the Jakarta International Expo
“To restart an event requires great effort. We have to be creative and have to accept low profits, or even losses,” he said.
He recalled Dyandra having to move the Indonesia International Motor Show, Indonesia’s biggest motor exhibition, from the Jakarta Convention Center to Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran, even though exhibitors had not yet recovered from the crisis and were unsure about the new venue.
To ensure a successful show, Soehoed said “a lot of sacrifices” had to be made and “massive discounts” had to be given to participants. Some even participated for free, he said.
The show took off on the back of close collaboration between all show stakeholders, which Soehoed said is necessary today for the country’s exhibitions industry to emerge well from the Covid-19 crisis.
Iqbal Rudianto, president director of Untuk Negeri Production, agrees that collaboration is critical and will help to spawn new ideas.
Iqbal, who is also chairman of the Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association (IECA) South Sumatera chapter, elaborated: “For the last three months, all exhibition stakeholders in South Sumatra have coordinated with each other, to look for solutions so that we can hold (physical) exhibitions again as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, IECA South Sumatera chapter members are also undergoing training on how to conduct virtual exhibitions, as it is the only way for tradeshows to be conducted for now.
IECA chairman, Hosea Andreas Runkat, added that the organisation is working with the government to develop health protocols that can suit various exhibition-related businesses.
Rizki Handayani, deputy of tourism products and events of the Tourism and Creative Economy (TCE) Board, expects the draft of the joint protocol to be completed end-June. He added that the target was to have a trial exhibition with the new protocols in place by 3Q2020, before it will be passed on to business events stakeholders and exhibition visitors.
For now, the TCE Board is focused on helping local event organisers stage virtual events.
Soehoed also proposed two solutions to help exhibitions rebound. First, he suggested switching production costs once borne by the event organiser to the exhibition contractor, to ensure equal participation. Second, he suggested using bailouts from non-bank financial institutions to pay for production costs.
Heavy industry corporate travel buyers and a specialist TMC reveal that the increased use of charters is helping to meet airlift needs by repatriating employees in marine, oil and infrastructure projects affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Peter Muller, international board director, ATPI, a specialist TMC and worldwide charter operator, said the agency was harnessing charter opportunities in the offshore and marine industries.
TMCs for heavy industries had to come up with creative workarounds travel restrictions during the pandemic; an offshore oil rig in Rio de Janeiro pictured
Muller added that apart from more charters being mounted in Australia and a number of areas around the world, some flights saw different companies sharing capacity to cut cost.
Glencore, a multinational commodity trading and mining company, has been putting on more charters, and to address the concern for and commitment to arrival destinations, nurses at departure points and temperature taking of travellers were put in place, according to Paul Littman, its regional procurement coordinator.
Sometimes, TMCs had to get creative to work out a destination’s travel restrictions.
Muller shared: “There was an opportunity to put people on rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, but there was the question of the 14-day quarantine. So we put them on a cruise ship then sent them by helicopter to the rig and back.”
Broadspectrum, an infrastructure maintenance services company, could not have done it without its TMC, which had to repatriate 40 crew onboard the Diamond Princess stuck in Tokyo back to Australia, John Browne, general manager category services, shared.
Littman added: “Our travellers can fly to Brazil, so what we want (from our TMC) is the current state of regulations, where we can and cannot travel to and how to track our people,” he said.
A more fundamental question for Glencore, which is switching to a new TMC, is if the “dedicated team at tender” would remain intact and what are its future investments when all businesses are facing cash constraints, Littman commented.
A Corporate Travel Community (CTC) online poll on how adaptive and proactive TMCs were in meeting corporate travel needs throughout the Covid-19 crisis showed encouraging results.
Almost half (48.4 per cent) of respondents said their TMC was “very supportive with current bookings and discussion of future options”, while 44.1 per cent said their TMC was “very supportive in every aspect, with a high level of contact and solutions for future travel”.
According to Muller, GDS projections show 2019 corporate travel levels might only return in 2022/23 and would still be 10 per cent down, and moving forward, TMCs would be in the management of continual change.
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.
