Jonathan Lallemand joins Rosewood Luang Prabang as managing director, where he will oversee operations, guest relations and strategic development at the resort in Laos.
Lallemand brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience, much of it in Asia. He was most recently resort manager at Regent Bali Canggu.
The New South Wales (NSW) government’s new Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, an ambitious roadmap that sets out to generate A$91 billion (US$59 billion) in annual visitor expenditure and an additional 150,000 jobs by 2035, is expected to help Business Events Sydney (BESydney) unlock new potential across the city.
The strategy, which was developed following extensive consultation with over 500 NSW stakeholders, including BESydney, focuses on five key pillars to accelerate growth.
One of the standouts for BESydney is the commitment to drive growth through events, highlighting the critical role of business events in providing growth opportunities.
BESydney chair, Mary O’Kane, said in a statement: “We are thrilled to see the NSW government’s commitment to driving growth through events. Business events are a multi-billion-dollar global industry and a powerful catalyst for innovation. This strategy will help BESydney to unlock new potential across the city, particularly with the opening of the Western Sydney International Airport next year.”
BESydney CEO Amanda Lampe recognised the significance of the strategy, noting that BESydney had already secured 66 events coming in to Sydney this year, bringing in 46,000 delegates staying 174,000 delegate days, and generating an estimated A$213 million in direct expenditure to the NSW economy.
“As the state’s expert advisor on strategic business event acquisition, we look forward to working closely with the government, Destination NSW, and the local business events ecosystem to achieve these ambitious goals,” said Lampe.
She added: “The large majority of the delegates attending the events we attract are from overseas and visiting Sydney for the first time because of that conference. Beyond their tourism dollars, they contribute to our knowledge economy – sharing their expertise and learning from our local experts. They enter collaborations, they sign business deals, and they invest here. Many also return later for further business, to study, or with their friends and family on holidays.”
The government has outlined three focus areas to deliver business events outcomes.
One, by reinforcing partnerships with BESydney to refresh the business event strategy and ensure that key sectors are identified and prioritised.
Two, by promoting a focus on Western Sydney and regional NSW.
Three, by prioritising opportunities for existing and new infrastructure in key destinations, through an investigation of the supply of venues and infrastructure in Western Sydney and other key locations outside of Sydney.
BESydney expressed commitment to supporting the NSW government in delivering on these focus areas and contributing to the broader goals of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035.
Marriott Executive Apartments Kuala Lumpur has opened its doors to global-minded travellers seeking the perfect balance of upscale living and personalised service.
Nestled in the heart of the Malaysian capital city, the property offers 353 serviced apartments, ranging from stylish studios to expansive three-bedroom accommodation, all thoughtfully crafted to be a true home away from home.
Guests can enjoy a hearty meal at Bistro Kia Peng, where leisurely breakfasts, productive business lunches and relaxed evening meals are served. The property also boasts versatile event spaces, including a rooftop venue that is set against a captivating canvas of the city.
Wellness is seamlessly integrated into daily life with a 24/7 fitness centre and a tranquil lap pool, complemented by a dedicated playroom and kids’ splash zone for family-friendly enjoyment. A team of seasoned professionals at the 24-hour front desk and concierge service ensure personalised assistance at every turn.
Marriott Executive Apartments Kuala Lumpur enjoys a prestigious location just steps from KLCC Park, and grants guests easy access to landmarks such as Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC as well as city commute via Suria KLCC LRT Station, Conlay MRT Station, and major expressways.
Business travellers will appreciate the close proximity to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
AI-powered event technology provider, Jublia, has launched Ask Judy AI in Public Mode, an extension of its widely adopted event assistant, Ask Judy AI. With this new capability, event organisers can now place the Ask Judy AI widget directly on their event websites, enabling broader engagement with their audience, sponsors, exhibitors, and potential attendees.
Built for events, Ask Judy AI in Public Mode transforms how stakeholders discover and interact with event content. Instead of navigating websites or searching through event documents, visitors can now ask questions directly and receive fast and accurate answers powered by Jublia’s event specific AI engine and trained solely on data that is provided by organisers.
Kuan Yan Tan, CEO of Jublia, said: “Events are about creating meaningful connections – and that starts with making information accessible to everyone.”
Unlike generic chatbots, Ask Judy AI is built as part of Jublia’s Engagement Hub. This means organisers only need to train it once, and it can be deployed seamlessly across multiple touch points – from public websites to attendee apps – saving time and boosting productivity.
What sets Ask Judy AI apart is its grounding in curated event data. Every response is drawn from verified sources, ensuring that information stays event-specific, accurate, and free from irrelevant answers often seen in other AI tools.
Ask Judy AI in Public Mode is offered at no additional cost to all Jublia clients as part of their existing package. This reflects Jublia’s commitment to helping the industry thrive. The decision stems from a mission-driven approach: to democratise access to event knowledge, support organisers in expanding their reach, and empower more people to discover and participate in events.
Phillipa Harrison has been appointed as the new CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA). She will lead RAKTDA’s efforts to position the emirate as a Destination of the Future and is expected to advance its growth targets, including attracting over 3.5 million tourists annually by 2030.
Harrison previously served as managing director of Tourism Australia, a role she held from 2019. She succeeds Raki Phillips, who stepped down in October 2024.
Her leadership is expected to be integral to strengthening Ras Al Khaimah’s reputation as a sustainable and adventure-focused tourism destination. Harrison brings decades of international tourism experience, with expertise in global markets, to her new role.
Destinations have seen more impactful results in their business events development endeavour when CVBs graduate from a marketing focus to strategic management, observed destination specialists at last week’s ICCA Asia Pacific EvolvDestination Forum, which is part of the Goyang Destination Week 2025 series of events built for business events professionals.
Jin-hun Cho, director, MICE Bureau, Jeju Tourism Organization, recalled how his organisation had in the early days focused on destination promotions, without thought given to where events and delegates were going and spending in Jeju.
“That was a problem, which we corrected by adopting a destination management approach. Now, we work with our local partners – hotels, PCOs, DMCs, tourist facilities and all relevant players – to bring about positive economic, social and sustainability results,” Cho said.
Developing a portfolio of unique venues ready for business events is part of Jeju Tourism Organization’s destination management strategy, shared Cho, who explained that such venues allow event delegates to not only appreciate Jeju’s identity, culture and heritage, but also contribute to the city’s economy and sustainable growth.
“Now, we are inspired by New Zealand’s Tiaki Promise and have started to develop a similar Jeju Promise that is rooted in three things: conservation, co-existence and respect. We see the need for visitors and our tourism industry stakeholders to be committed to protecting destination Jeju. We are just at the beginning stage,” revealed Cho.
The Tiaki Promise states that New Zealand is precious, and everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it.
Over in Thailand, Jittanun Techasarin, director, convention department, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, shared that her organisation recognised eight years ago the importance of grooming Thailand’s own convention community and home-grown business events.
A department was established to focus on “educating and supporting all local MICE industry stakeholders, to help them understand what the industry is about and the benefits business events will bring to their communities. The initial challenge we faced was having to explain that MICE was not just a part of tourism,” Jittanun said.
With consistent communications with the government to expose policymakers to a wide range of business events and the economic outcomes of international business events for Thailand, Jittanun said there is now strong support and understanding from officials and local people.
Fellow speaker, Lorraine Han, director, MICE Bureau, Daejeon Tourism Organization, echoed the crucial role CVBs play today in galvanising relevant stakeholders to work together to advance the local business events industry.
“The most important role of the CVB today is to attract events and visitors to the destination and grow the local community. That’s why South Korea has the Korea MICE Alliance, which is made up of organisations and companies that share the vision of the (national) CVB to lead the development of our industry,” said Han.
Tracking Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s (PCEB) evolution through the years, CEO Ashwin Genasekeran said “it was no longer about the numbers today; we are moving towards contribution of meetings and events to our destination”.
Attention is paid to expanding Penang’s key industries through business events hosted in the Malaysian state. Genasekeran pointed out that his state houses more than 420 multinational companies as well as a free trade zone – this is an advantage PCEB brings to the marketplace when speaking to business event owners.
Besides highlighting the business value Penang offers to business event owners and their attendees, PCEB also lays the necessary groundwork to raise the success rate for Penang’s event bids. An example of this is PCEB’s work to establish a direct flight between India and Penang, so as to enable more Indian business events to be hosted in the destination.
“Indigo flies between Chennai and Penang with daily direct flights. We are a good six months down the road with this direct flight, and it is already flying with more than 85 per cent capacity,” he said, adding that PCEB supports Indigo with presence at the airline’s sales calls.
A recent six-city roadshow in India led by Indigo and attended by Penang’s event partners scored “so much business”, revealed Genasekeran.
Moderator Leonie Ashford, member of the ICCA Board of Directors and special advisor – business events at Tourism New Zealand, commented that CVBs today do not work in silos, and have to “keep communication and collaboration going” to achieve global visibility for the destination.
When I last visited Goyang City in 2023, I learnt about the extent of ongoing developments in the city’s intellectual capital, medical, and digital technology industries. What is your vision for Goyang?
Goyang City has declared its transformation into an industrial-driven city. Recently on July 9, the city announced the G-nomics Five-Year Plan that is centred on innovation. This is more than just a policy; it is a promise of positive change for our citizens through fostering startups and unicorns, an expanded AI ecosystem, expanding cultural infrastructure, and supporting ecological developments.
This new direction will bring strong momentum to the business events industry’s advancement, as developments include the construction of KINTEX Exhibition Hall Three and a new hotel close by, ongoing development of K-Culture Valley, and the rise of the Goyang Sports Complex as a venue for large-scale performance events. They will provide the infrastructure needed to position Goyang as a hub that connects international conferences, cultural content and tourism.
At the same time, Goyang City’s focus on future mobility initiatives and AI-based smart city technologies will make event operations even more efficient, and improve the overall delegate experience. We have also been building a strong and efficient transport network that makes it easy for people to move within the city.
Eco-friendly urban policies and safe living infrastructure are important factors that inspire confidence in international participants.
You can see that our city is working towards two goals at once. A city where citizens are happy naturally becomes a city that is welcoming to visitors. This strengthens Goyang City’s global competitiveness and attracts international events.
I’d like you to know that BBC recently named Goyang City as one of the five outstanding cities that are making the world a better place (based on the 2024 Global Destination Sustainability Index or GDS-Index). That counts for something.
Does Goyang City attract many large-scale events that rely on the city’s sports facilities?
We have a wide range of sports facilities that host many large performances. Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres Would Tour concert was held in April at the Goyang Stadium, with 54,000 people in attendance. There have also been many K-pop concerts in Goyang as well, led by popular artists such as BlackPink, J-Hope and Jin from BTS.
English rock band Oasis will take its one-night-only concert in South Korea to Goyang Stadium on October 21.
You are both the city mayor and CEO of Goyang CVB. How do you as the mayor support Goyang CVB’s work in the business events industry?
As the city mayor, I am fully committed to supporting Goyang CVB both with policy and financial resources, so as to strengthen the city’s competitiveness in the global business events landscape. I also support Goyang CVB’s efforts to actively grow its international network through partnerships with overseas cities and global business events associations.
I will integrate Goyang CVB into the newly established Goyang International Expo Foundation in early October 2025. The purpose of the integration is to strengthen Goyang City’s business events industry. The bureau, formerly operating as an incorporated association, will merge with the Goyang Flower Exhibition Foundation, a public foundation that has successfully hosted the city’s signature Goyang Flower Exhibition for over 20 years.
This organisational consolidation will also allow the Goyang Flower Exhibition to be elevated into a global expo while the city’s overall exhibition and convention competitiveness will be enhanced.
By leveraging KINTEX, South Korea’s largest exhibition and convention centre, as its central hub, Goyang City envisions this transition as a key milestone toward positioning itself as a leading global business events destination.
There is intense competition among destinations for major regional and international meetings and events. What more do you think Goyang City needs to do to be a more formidable competitor?
For Goyang City to stand out, it is important not only to focus on facilities, but also to create unique value that sets us apart. First, Goyang City needs to become a platform that connects knowledge with strong industry sectors through business events.
Second, we must strengthen the city’s sustainability and eco-friendly practices. International event organisers are placing greater importance on ESG values. Goyang City has an advantage here, as it is already positioning itself as a carbon-city for business events. It ranks 16th in the 2024 GDS-Index of the world’s 40 most sustainable cities.
Third, we should build global networks and nurture talents through cooperation with organisations like ICCA and by developing professional training programmes.
Finally, Goyang City is growing the business events industry with our citizens. When residents take pride and actively participate in business events, international business events can be even more successful here.
What are your thoughts on the annual Goyang Destination Week, and what do you hope overseas attendees had taken home from the conference sessions and activities last week?
Goyang Destination Week has been happening since 2017, and the intention is for it to let us explore together the future direction of growth for the business events industry.
This year’s theme focused on technology, personalisation, sustainability, return on investment, and other key issues shaping this industry. Attendees would have learnt from cases that showed how latest digital tools and smart solutions had optimised event operations and enhanced the delegate experience.
My hope is for Goyang Destination Week to go beyond simple information exchange; I want to see it build global networks, open new opportunities for cooperation, and provide insights that can be applied directly in the business event industry. And through this, we can continue to establish Goyang City as a growing business events hub in the Asia-Pacific region.
You must have attended several business events yourself. What is one event that stood out for you, and why?
Well, the most impressive business event that I have ever attended was the MWC Barcelona in Spain. It is an exhibition that brings together leaders in the high tech industry, who showcase their products and latest technology. This is very impressive for me, but I am also very much taken by the massive space of the venue, Fira Gran Via.
I hope that such a large-scale high tech event (109,000 attendees were reported at the 2025 show) will be held in KINTEX one day.
Well, your dream is possible since KINTEX is expanding with a third hall.
Yes, indeed. Actually, Goyang hosts a similar high tech event now – RAD Korea Week, which integrates five specialised exhibitions under one roof, expanding the exhibition platform and fostering innovation across advanced technology industries.
RAD Korea Week comprises RoboWorld, AI Show, Drone & Urban Air Mobility Expo, Digital Media Tech Show, and Digital Future Show.
This year’s edition is taking place in the later part of this year, from November 5 to 8, at KINTEX Exhibition Center I.
By uniting robotics, AI, drone and urban air mobility, and digital technology industries into a single comprehensive platform, RAD Korea Week 2025 will not only accelerate South Korea’s advanced technology innovation but also strengthen Goyang City’s position as a global hub for technology-driven exhibitions and business events.
I hope that one day this event would grow as large as the MWC Barcelona.
While quantitative data is more easily understood and welcomed by number-crunching decision-makers, the dean of School of Hospitality and Tourism, Sunway University has urged business events professionals to include more qualitative information in their data collection if they hoped to make informed decisions on improvements to events and business activations.
Dean Daniel Chong, who led a session at the ICCA Asia Pacific EvolvDestination Forum in Goyang, South Korea on August 21, highlighted “three awful truths” about data.
First, quantity is not equal to quality. While researchers know that “voices” obtained through open-ended questions can provide “powerful” insights, few would collect them, as “certain business stakeholders prefer to see the numbers”.
Second, statistics are impressive and convey the impression of reliability.
“A survey that has collected 2,000 responses will influence people to think that a lot of work was done in the research, and results must therefore be reliable,” Chong explained.
Third, timing of the survey could jeopardise response accuracy. A survey administered at the closing party of a business event may extract more positive post-event feedback, while one calling for responses just as event attendees are about to leave may see higher rejections or rushed and inaccurate feedback.
Theses awful truths, in Chong’s opinion, underscore the greater advantage of collecting “smart data” to guide future events decisions.
Citing examples to differentiate traditional data from smart data, Chong said a question that elicits the former would be phrased: “Which sessions did you attend?” or “Rate how satisfied you are with the conference overall.”
In contrast, a smart data-focused question would read: “We noticed you attended three sessions and skipped two; why?” or “Which event moment was most memorable and why?”
Open-ended questions allow respondents to flesh out their opinions, providing researchers with “insights that are actionable” so that the right improvements can be made to the delegate journey for future events.
When asked what is stopping business event owners and organisers from shifting to smart data collection, Chong pointed to the lack of the right resources. He explained that the questionnaire design must enable the extraction of qualitative information and there must be capable interviewers to analyse responses on the spot and press respondents for more meaningful answers.
Chong acknowledged that chasing smart data is a resource-heavy exercise, and suggested that business event owners and organisers could start with quantitative data and review findings to identify areas they would want more in-depth feedback on.
He also advised business event owners and organisers to accept that good market intelligence comes at a price, and should consider incentivising their target audience to participate meaningfully in surveys and interviews.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has set an ambitious goal to triple the tourism receipts generated by business events by 2040, aiming for the sector to contribute around 10 per cent of its targeted S$47 billion (US$36.5 billion) to S$50 billion in overall tourism revenue.
To achieve this triple-fold goal, several initiatives to build Singapore’s future pipeline of business events are underway. This includes exploring the feasibility of a MICE Hub in the downtown area, and launching a new Business Events Inspired pilot programme.
When asked about the difference between the MICE Hub, and venues such as Marina Bay Sands and Suntec City Convention Centre which already exist alongside lifestyle offerings, Ong Huey Hong, assistant chief executive, industry development group, STB, indicated that Singapore “needs to continue to look at expanding its MICE capacity”.
“We want to triple our MICE contribution to tourism receipts, so we definitely need to have the capacity. We have observed that MICE travellers do not just visit Singapore for a business event. They are also interested in bleisure offerings, such as F&B and lifestyle experiences, hence we are looking into the development of this MICE Hub,” added Ong.
Together with Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers, STB will also be introducing a new Business Events Inspired pilot programme to catalyse and grow the pipeline of business events in Singapore. This will be officially launched at the Singapore MICE Forum this month (July), Ong told TTGmice.
Under this pilot programme, event organisers will have access to mentorship, events consultancy services, and seed funding to develop quality events, with the goal of incubating them into impactful international events.
Edward Koh, STB’s executive director, conventions, meetings & incentive travel, told TTGmice at IMEX Frankfurt 2025, that Singapore’s events pipeline is “very busy” up till 2032.
This year, major business events in Singapore include the inaugural World Sleep Congress 2025; LSI Asia 2025, the first edition of this medtech conference in Asia; the World Robot Olympiad International Finals; and the 30th edition of SEMICON South-east Asia, with over 18,000 delegates expected.
Looking ahead, the city-state is set to host the Herbalife Extravaganza 2026 with an anticipated 25,000 arrivals; while Sibos 2027, a major banking and finance conference, is estimated to attract 7,000 delegates.
Several new tradeshows will also be launched next year. Among these is the Passenger Terminal Expo Asia 2026, marking its debut in the Asia-Pacific region and expected to draw 3,500 aviation leaders. German trade fair organiser Messe Berlin, with its Asia Pacific Headquarters in Singapore, will launch Smart Health Asia 2026, a new event aimed at health and tech executives focused on digital innovation in healthcare. Additionally, UK-based event organiser Hyve is bringing its first event to Singapore with Breakbulk Asia 2026, the world’s largest gathering for the project cargo and breakbulk industry, anticipating 3,500 attendees.
When asked about how Singapore’s business events industry is shaping up given global uncertainties, Koh stated: “Singapore’s image is still very strong. Our image is an image of trust, which is a currency in short supply these days, and appreciating. We’re also not changing our brand – our brand of connectivity, accessibility, and innovation – and are trying to deepen it, to provide planners with assurance.”
Wendy Teo, director of sales & marketing, Grand Hyatt Singapore, noted: “Singapore’s strengths as a MICE destination is that it is safe, predictable, and has a stable economy. Our challenge would probably be the higher costs of holding an event here. The reality is when an event planner chooses a different hotel or destination, it always boils down to costs.”
“Singapore remains one of the most desirable MICE destinations, but cost sensitivity is real – especially with the strong Singapore dollar. Organisers are increasingly comparing regional alternatives that offer compelling value,” Piotr Kupiec, general manager for Novotel and Mercure Singapore on Stevens, agreed.
But despite prince sensitivities, Kupiec highlighted STB’s Business Event in Singapore (BEiS) Build Foundation incentive scheme, which helps local stakeholders defray costs when pursuing business events leads.
“While discussions with STB are still exploratory, we are proactively looking at how we can align with the BEiS Build Foundation scheme, particularly in the areas of digitalisation, experiential fam trips, and high-impact programming for emerging industries,” he shared.
Improving Orchard Road’s visibility is a priority for Teo. She explained: “The Marina Bay area usually gets more attention due to the large-scale events it regularly hosts, thanks to the Bay Precinct Strategy. On our end, we need to change the perception that Orchard Road is just for shopping. Many hotels along Orchard Road also offer great meeting facilities, and the best part is that delegates can go out for a good meal, or some retail therapy to wind down.”
Overall, Teo remains “cautiously optimistic” about the hotel’s business events prospects, given that it only reopened a year ago after an extensive refurbishment. While many loyal clients have returned, global uncertainties continue to prompt a “wait-and-see approach”.
For Kupiec, demand remains strong among sectors like FinTech, GreenTech, and Health & Wellness for the rest of 2025.
“If we are losing events in one direction, I would be very concerned. But the industry is very dynamic, and we win some, we lose some. Singapore continues to win a lot of events because (planners) see the value (in holding an event here),” Koh concluded.
The Indonesian Event Industry Council (IVENDO) is working towards uplifting the country’s events sector by focusing on creating proprietary event intellectual properties (IP), and expanding workforce certification programmes to strengthen industry professionalism.
Speaking at his inauguration as the 2025-2029 IVENDO chairman in Jakarta recently, Irvan Mahidin Sukamto opined that IP driven strategy would give IVENDO greater control over event content, reduce reliance on government-backed opportunities, and facilitate expansion into international markets.
He explained: “We believe homegrown IP events can be a catalyst for sustainable growth. By owning the format, we can adapt content for different markets and showcase Indonesia’s creative capacity to the world.”
Moreover, IVENDO will pilot scalable, market-ready event concepts that combine local cultural insights with flexibility for international replication. Each prototype is more than just a fully developed event. It is a way to put Indonesia’s event industries on the map, and bring in investors, government backing, and international partners.
Following this, IVENDO will organise focused group discussions within regional chapters to identify the most promising prototype events that can be scaled commercially and licensed internationally.
“We encourage our regional branches to develop their own IPs rooted in local wisdom, opening new opportunities across Indonesia’s diverse provinces,” Irvan added.
While building homegrown IP is core, Ivendo is also eyeing international expansion, starting with South-east Asia, before branching out to Australia and Europe.
Prior to Irvan’s appointment, some IVENDO members had already begun testing international waters, including organising a concert in Sabah, Malaysia.
Alongside event development, IVENDO is prioritising the professionalisation of its workforce. Over the next four years, the council will offer 500 free certifications in roles like event planning, logistics, marketing communications, and management.
“Raising the standard for our workforce is key if we want to compete and collaborate globally. Certification helps ensure our talents meet international standards, lifting the whole industry,” he said.
The programme also aims to tackle regional skill gaps and uneven access to training, striving to level the playing field and promote inclusive growth.
“Great events alone are not enough. Skilled professionals are the backbone to meet the world’s demands,” Irvan added.
