Beyond Asia: Dusit Doha Hotel; Resorts World Las Vegas; and Barbican Business Events

March 19, 2020

DDH-Amber_Meeting_Room — Dusit Doha Hotel's Amber meeting room

Dusit Doha Hotel rolls out full suite of offerings
The 360-key Dusit Doha Hotel, the first Dusit-branded property in Qatar situated within walking distance to the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, has been progressively opening up its suite of meeting offerings since its launch in August last year.

New facilities, including the Devarana Spa, join the Pearl Ballroom, Emerald and Amber meeting rooms, as well as all-day dining restaurant Taste in making the hotel an up-and-coming location for business events.

Bathed in natural light, the 574m² Pearl Ballroom can host 500 pax, and also has an additional 260m² private outdoor terrace. Spanning an entire floor, the white and gold ballroom, which can be divided into two smaller venues with separate entrance.

Event organisers who wish to host even smaller groups can look to the 168m² Emerald and Amber meeting room on the third floor, designed to hold 100 people. Both rooms also features a spacious pre-function area with a fully-equipped business centre, and breakout space.

Other facilities include Thai restaurant Benjarong, a rooftop lounge, a rooftop swimming pool with sun deck, and a gym.

Resorts World Las Vegas to feature three Hilton brands
Resorts World Las Vegas, a US$4.3 billion integrated resort set to open in mid-2021, will feature three Hilton brands – Hilton Hotels and Resorts; Conrad; and the hospitality company’s newest luxury brand, LXR. The integrated resort will have a total of 3,500 rooms.

Located nearby the Las Vegas Convention Centre expansion, the resort will offer 32,516m² of meeting and convention space, including the Lily Ballroom, which offers views of the Las Vegas strip through its floor-to-ceiling windows that open out to a balcony.

Other facilities at Resorts World Las Vegas include a theatre with a seating capacity of 5,000 pax; a pool complex; spa and fitness centre, as well as fine-dining F&B concepts.

New events manager at Barbican Business Events
Barbican Business Events, the corporate events planning team at arts venue the Barbican Centre, has appointed Emma Dickinson as a new events manager.

Dickinson joined Barbican Business Events from Twickenham Stadium, where she served as events and catering manager and delivered conferences and other large events for up to 1,500 attendees. Prior to that, she held a similar role at Leicester City Football Club.

Experienced in liaising with high profile clients as well as managing large on-site teams, Dickinson will be responsible for corporate events management and delivery at the Barbican Centre. Events she would be in charge of include AGMs for blue-chip clients, corporate presentations and seminars.

137 Pillars offers meeting packages at its two Thai properties

By TTGmice

March 19, 2020

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11_Meeting_Room_on_level_6 — Meeting room

Hospitality brand 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts is offering corporate meeting packages with the option to book the entire property, at two of its properties, the 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai and 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok.

At 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai, a full-day meeting package, excluding accommodation, will cost 1,800 baht (US$53) nett per pax, while a half-day package will cost 1,500 baht nett per pax.

Meeting room at 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok

Prices, valid for bookings until October 31, 2020, include the usage of meeting room, basic audiovisual equipment, set-up and high-speed Wi-Fi access. Companies can also book the entire property on an exclusive use basis.

Over in Bangkok, 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok has unveiled two packages – The Corporate Luxury Retreat Package and The Essential Meeting Package. An exclusive buyout option of its 34 suites is also available.

Delegates can convene at the Rajah Brooke meeting room, which can accommodate up to 30 people, depending on the layout. Meanwhile, Field to Fork organic lunches are offered at the hotel’s six venues.

The Corporate Luxury Retreat Package is priced at US$650 nett per night (single occupancy) includes accommodation in one of the suites, alongside a host of exclusive suites benefits such as breakfast at the private Baan Borneo Club Level 26.

This meeting package includes two coffee breaks (morning and afternoon) with five snack choices; set lunch; fresh fruits and water throughout the meeting period; and 15 per cent discount on F&B. A booking of a minimum of eight suites per night is required for non-buyout option, for a stay of two consecutive nights.

Next, the Essential Meeting Package is priced at US$212 nett per night (single occupancy) and includes accommodation in a 137 Pillars Residence and breakfast.

The meeting package includes a full-day meeting delegate package; two coffee breaks and business set lunch; complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access (guestroom and meeting room); and 15 per cent discount on F&B. Similarly, a minimum booking of eight rooms per night is required.

Both The Corporate Luxury Retreat Package and The Essential Meeting Package is valid until December 21, 2020.

Mövenpick opens in Cam Ranh, Vietnam

By TTGmice

March 19, 2020

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Movenpick_Cam_Ranh_Seaview_Superior_King_1 — Seaview Superior King

Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts has opened a new 500-key beachfront resort in central Vietnam’s up-and-coming destination, Cam Ranh.

Located along Bai Dai Beach in Khánh Hòa province, six kilometres from Cam Ranh Airport, the Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh boasts 118 one- to three-bedroom pool villas, as well as 382 apartments overlooking a 17km-long coast.

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Among the apartments are 250 contemporary rooms designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates, as well as 132 studio apartments for long-stay guests, each boasting a fully-furnished kitchenette, and spacious living and dining areas.

Functions can be held at one of the resort’s six multifunction rooms, some of which come with outdoor spaces. With a seating capacity of 800 persons, the grand ballroom also has an 850m² outdoor lawn area, where teambuilding events or evening cocktails can be held.

Business travellers with their families in tow can make use of the family-friendly facilities in the resort, including an adventure rope park, two club areas for teenagers and younger children, as well as kids’ pool complete with a waterslide. Other facilities include a tennis court, a multipurpose sports field, and a 1,100m² Serenity Spa with its 23 treatment rooms and a wellness bistro.

There are also resort’s five F&B options on-site, ranging from the Tropicana Beach Club with live DJ music, to the Chubeli Beer House, which serves Swiss classics alongside a selection of European dishes. Mövenpick’s signature Chocolate Hour is also available daily at the Lobby Lounge, along with a selection of coffee blends and pastries.

Steven Phillips helms LUX* Grand Baie Resort & Residences

By TTGmice

March 18, 2020

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Steven Phillips has been appointed general manager to The Lux Collective’s flagship resort in Mauritius – LUX* Grand Baie Resort and Residences – scheduled to open 1Q2021.

Prior to joining LUX* Grand Baie Resort and Residences, Phillips served as area general manager for Joali Maldives, and was also the former general manager at Gili Lankanfushi for three years.

The UK native brings two decades’ worth of hotelier experience with various international brands, having overseen properties in London, Japan, Malta, Sri Lanka and Abu Dhabi.

WTTC chief calls on governments to immediately safeguard travel and tourism industry

By TTGmice

March 18, 2020

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In an open letter published on Tuesday, Gloria Guevara, president & CEO of World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), has called on governments of all countries to take immediate action to help ensure the survival of the critical travel and tourism sector which is facing an existential threat during the current pandemic.

Guevara wrote: “No one can doubt that we are in uncharted territory. The coronavirus pandemic means the world is facing a threat on multiple fronts not seen in peacetime. The travel and tourism sector is uniquely exposed, and we estimate 50 million jobs globally are at risk.

WTTC’s Gloria Guevara calls on government support for tourism sector

“To put it bluntly, travel and tourism is in a fight for survival.

“Travel is the backbone of economies around the world. It brings in essential currency and inward investment, creates jobs and stimulates every sector. WTTC figures show travel and tourism contributes to 10.4 per cent of global GDP and 320 million jobs. It is responsible for creating one in five new jobs and, for eight successive years, has outpaced the growth of the global economy.

“Without travel and tourism, economies around the world face an existential threat.”

Guevara identified three vital and immediate measures to be taken by governments everywhere to “help ensure the survival of this critical job-creating sector”.

She emphasised that “any delay will be costed in millions of lost jobs and almost incalculable damage worldwide”.

She wrote: “Firstly, financial help must be granted to protect the incomes of the millions of workers in the sector facing severe economic difficulties.

“Secondly, governments must extend vital, unlimited interest-free loans to global travel and tourism companies as well as the millions of small and medium sized businesses as a stimulus to prevent them from collapse.

“Thirdly, all government taxes, dues and financial demands on the travel sector need to be waived with immediate effect at least for the next 12 months.”

These measures, she opined, taken in addition to recovery funds, will protect a sector which is already facing collapse.

“We are calling upon the world to take urgent and immediate action to prevent this global health crisis becoming a worldwide economic catastrophe. Doing nothing is not an option. We implore every government to take drastic and decisive action now to preserve and protect the contribution of the travel and tourism sector, on which more than 320 million people and their families depend on for their livelihoods,” she concluded.

Hong Kong prepares US$51 million war chest to lift tourism, MICE

By TTGmice

March 17, 2020

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Tourists-at-Victoria-Peak — Tourists at Victoria Peak in better economic times

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will be pushing out a HK$400 million (US$51 million) trade support plan to stimulate tourism and inbound business events once the Covid-19 crisis tapers off.

The announcement comes on the heels of newly released figures that signal a steep crash in visitor arrivals to the country. The provisional figure for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in February was 199,000, down more than 96 per cent from the same time last year, said HKTB in a press release.

HKTB rolls out trade support plan; tourists at Victoria Peak in better economic times

Prior to the major border closure measure implemented by the government on February 8, there were 10,000 to 20,000 arrivals per day. Following after, the average daily arrivals fell to 3,300, about 80 per cent of whom were non-Mainland visitors. In view of the current development of the pandemic, HKTB expects a further drop in arrivals this March.

HKTB executive director Dane Cheng said: “The initiatives will cover local and overseas travel agencies, hotels, airlines and attractions, as well as the retail, dining and MICE industries. The estimated budget for the plan will be HK$400 million, funded by the proposed marketing budget in the 2020/21 financial year and the additional funding earmarked in the Budget.”

The plan focuses on three areas, namely, boosting domestic spending confidence and ambience; partnering with trade to intensify promotions in source markets, and stepping up MICE promotion to attract high-yield overnight visitors.

HKTB will offer subsidies to the retail and catering sectors for joint consumer promotion, as well as waive the renewal fee for Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme accredited merchants and offer a 50 per cent reduction in the application fee for new joiners.

The tourism board will also work with the trade to stimulate local spending, including stepping up promotions and support for the QTS Scheme.

In terms of subsidising the trade in their promotions, HKTB will waive the participation fees of the more than 40 trade activities it organises in visitor source markets, including trade fairs and travel missions, and provide subsidies for related air tickets and hotel accommodations.

The organisation will also fully host travel delegations to conduct roadshows in key markets, invite the travel trade in key markets on familiarisation trips to Hong Kong, reintroduce the matching fund for attractions for promotions, as well as increase the subsidising proportion for the Explore Hong Kong Tours support scheme.

In addition, it will partner with the travel trade from Hong Kong and source markets to conduct tactical promotions to attract visitors.

On the business events front, the NTO will subsidise event organisers to bid for large-scale conventions and exhibitions, lower the threshold for applying funding support for small & medium-sized meetings and incentives activities, and extend the scheme to the hotel sector, as well as waive the participation fees for relevant promotion activities organised by the HKTB in source markets and provide subsidies for related air tickets and hotel accommodations.

To attract business event visitors through enhanced promotions, the tourism board will also team up with the hotel sector on a new initiative, MeetON@HongKong, to provide groups with free meeting packages or dining packages.

In 2020/21, the proposed marketing budget, together with the additional funding announced in the Budget for the HKTB, is worth about HK$1,120 million.

Malaysia goes into national lockdown tomorrow

By S Puvaneswary

March 17, 2020

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Bukit-Bintang-Kuala-Lumpur — Malaysia will go into total lockdown from tomorrow; Bukit Bintang area in Kuala Lumpur pictured in late February

Due to the rapid rise of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia over the last few days, the government has implemented an unprecedented nationwide movement control order, locking down the whole country to counter the spread of Covid-19 starting from tomorrow until March 31.

Prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in a special live broadcast on Monday night that all mass gatherings including religious, sports, social and cultural activities will be prohibited during this period.

Malaysia will go into total lockdown from tomorrow; Bukit Bintang area in Kuala Lumpur pictured in late February

All government and private premises, kindergartens, schools and institutions of higher learning will be closed. An exception are government and private businesses providing essential services such as water, electric, energy, telecommunications, postal, transportation, irrigation, oil, gas, fuel, lubricants, broadcasting, finance, banking, health, pharmaceutical, fire, prisons, ports, airports, security, defence, cleaning, retail and food supplies.

In addition, Malaysians are also banned from travelling overseas and foreign visitors from entering the country. Those who have just returned from overseas are required to undergo health screening and self-quarantine for 14 days.

As of Monday, the total number of Covid-19 infections in Malaysia stood at 553. Many of the new cases are linked to a Muslim convention at Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling mosque attended by 14,500 people from February 27 to March 1.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents’ (MATTA) president, KL Tan, shared that the government’s initiative was a timely and wise decision.

Tan elaborated: “It will provide Malaysia with an opportunity to recover quickly from the outbreak. This, in turn, will inject public (both local and international) confidence in the destination.

“We are doing our part to stem the outbreak, just as many European nations have done and more countries are expected to follow suit. The global outbreak of the coronavirus has reached a scale where nations have to take bold and drastic measures.”

MATTA has also postponed two fairs, one scheduled for April and another for May.

On the business events front, Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers’ (MACEOS) president, Vincent Lim, said he supported the movement restriction as it has proven effective in stemming the spread of human to human transmissions in China.

He said the association will be sending out a circular to its members urging them to support the government’s direction and not organise events and conferences during this period. He said: “We urge members to work from home, stay healthy and prepare for a rebound.”

Nathan Vaithi, general manager of Zenith Putrajaya, agreed, indicating that the government’s precautionary measures were the right move. The few bookings from the government and corporate sector have also deferred to 2H2020 anyway.

To cope with low occupancy since the start of the year, hotel staff have been encouraged to clear their leave from 2019, while it has also frozen overtime wages and hiring of new staff,

When contacted early Monday morning, Francis Teo, head of Setia City Convention Centre, shared with TTG Asia and TTGmice he was waiting for a directive from the management on the next course of action, such as whether staff should work from home or the centre be temporarily shut down.

IATA drives industry dialogue on how to cushion Covid-19 economic blow

By Caroline Boey

March 17, 2020

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Empty-Changi-Airport — The usually bustling Changi Airport is experiencing quieter times

Nobody knows when the travel industry will see the light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel as events and corporate meetings continue to be cancelled or postponed, while airplanes, hotels, restaurants and attractions are half-empty.

While recent projections of the financial impact on various sectors are sobering and some say it is too early to talk recovery, industry associations and the private sector are jumping into action to cushion the blow as best as they can.

The usually bustling Changi Airport (pictured) is much quieter than usual due to travel bans across the globe

IATA said it could be up to US$113 billion with broader spread of Covid-19, while a Global Business Travel Association survey released at the end of February put it at US$46.6 billion per month, or 37 per cent of the total 2020 forecasted global spend for corporate travel.

IATA’s two-day Aviation Resilience & Health Workshop in Singapore on March 4 and 5 brought airline members and industry partners together to discuss how they could meet medical and regulatory aspects of the Covid-19 outbreak and work with governments. By holding the workshop, which was organised in just 10 days, IATA hoped to reassure people the travel process was safe, indicating that catching Covid-19 on a flight was “extraordinarily low”.

Mario Hardy, CEO of PATA, based in Bangkok, who said he personally chose to attend the workshop, noted: “I believe that with precautionary measures and regular hand washing and use of hand sanitisers, it is fine to travel.

“I’m also conscious that this is a personal choice and not everyone may be as tolerant to risk. I would recommend everyone to first consult WHO, their respective country CDC and travel restrictions listed on IATA’s website before confirming their travel plans.”

Hardy further revealed that PATA is in the process of forming two task forces led by its volunteer board members to address industry concerns and issues as well as recovery.

He expressed that “the industry is in the process of organising itself” and shared that a Uniting Travel leadership conference call – with representatives from ACI (Airports Council International), CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), IATA, ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), PATA, UNWTO, WEF (World Economic Forum) and WTTC – was organised the week of March 9 to discuss joint strategies.

“PATA has also joined a tourism task force with WHO, World Bank, IMF, ADB and CDC to discuss, understand and look at actions needed regarding health and economic recovery. It is still in early stages as we had our first call last week,” Hardy noted.

Kitty Wong, president, K&A International and former president of World PCO Alliance, said it was important for companies to “make their own judgment” on who and what to believe amid all the information out there.

Agreeing with Hardy, she pointed out: “Be sensible and do your own risk assessment. Take care of yourselves, follow the instruction/guidelines set by our governments – if you trust them – look after your staff and protect your clients.”

Wong shared that partners and stakeholders in Taiwan had pledged to honour contracts for postponed events with hotels and venues agreeing “to cooperate” on such cases until the end of the year.

“Work closely with your local MICE industry/community to prevent further losses and/or damages,” she urged. “The aftermath and recovery will rely heavily on our collaboration with partners and stakeholders. Some governments already have plans for economic recovery and I am sure the governments and the private sector will work hand-in-hand going forward.”

In reacting to IATA’s call for rational messages, an industry veteran observed that with so many unknowns about Covid-19, whatever messages that need to be sent cannot be “too clinical”.

“We need to look at restoring travel confidence, that is key. But how to convey that is the challenge we face,” he quipped.

Aventri’s new partnerships help ensure meeting continuity during outbreak

By TTGmice

March 17, 2020

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Virtual meetings — Aventri secures three partnerships geared towards offering virtual events

Event management software company Aventri has partnered with three companies – Digitell, Evia and Intrado Digital Media – to provide more virtual meeting and digital solutions to organisations impacted by Covid-19.

The goal of these partnerships is to provide the market with multiple solutions to continue to connect over shared interests, content and events, no matter where in the world their attendees they may be.

Aventri secures three partnerships geared towards offering virtual events

Digitell is a digital multimedia development company specialising in assisting organisations on how to leverage their educational content online, for instance, bringing a conference online through live streams or webinars.

Evia meanwhile, offers complete digital event and media distribution solutions to companies of all sizes. Its latest product, the Evia Player, is an intelligent cloud-based video player that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to make content more accessible.

Lastly, Intrado Digital Media is a cloud-based, global technology partner, with a host of solutions to connect people and organisations.

“We know nothing beats the value of face-to-face meetings,” Jim Sharpe, CEO, Aventri, said in a statement. “Amid concerns of coronavirus, it’s important to realise that for thousands of live events across the globe, the show will go on.”

“Meetings and events are a strong, resilient, US$565-billion/year industry. Our thoughts go out to the families and all affected by this health emergency, but this shall pass. In the meantime, organisers don’t need to cancel meetings and conferences. Our new partnerships help them transition easily to engaging, revenue-producing virtual events.”

AIPC and UFI release good practices guide to Covid-19

By TTGmice

March 17, 2020

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AIPC, the International Association of Convention Centres, and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, have released a guide to good practices for venues in the management of health and operational challenges specifically relating to the current Covid-19 outbreak.

The 27-page document incorporates both strategic and practical guidance in the form of advice, suggestions, examples and tips focusing in particular on new, updated and modified information as opposed to simply pre-existing, standard health and safety controls and crisis management plans. The text also includes ‘live’ document links to allow additional information to be accessed directly, as well as lists of additional key industry and health authority resources that may enhance planning and tactics.

This Guide was created to emphasise the importance of cooperative action in the face of such an issue

“While no single resource will be able to capture the full range of information available on such a broad and constantly evolving issue, this Guide offers a framework for response to make it as relevant as possible to the needs of managers,” said UFI president Mary Larkin.

“As the COVID-19 situation and corresponding impacts evolve, the amount of relevant, practical information and experiences will continue to grow and we will reflect this in future updates”.

The Guide is available for download by AIPC and UFI members on their respective web sites. It will also be made available to all members of the industry.

Beyond Asia: Dusit Doha Hotel; Resorts World Las Vegas; and Barbican Business Events

137 Pillars offers meeting packages at its two Thai properties

Mövenpick opens in Cam Ranh, Vietnam

Steven Phillips helms LUX* Grand Baie Resort & Residences

WTTC chief calls on governments to immediately safeguard travel and tourism industry

Hong Kong prepares US$51 million war chest to lift tourism, MICE

Malaysia goes into national lockdown tomorrow

IATA drives industry dialogue on how to cushion Covid-19 economic blow

Aventri’s new partnerships help ensure meeting continuity during outbreak

AIPC and UFI release good practices guide to Covid-19

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