CWT Meetings & Events has shifted total meetings management under Kari Wendel, global vice president, strategic customers, and brought in a new head for Strategic Meetings Management (SMM) strategy.
Wendel will lead the group, which will provide all services, including SMM and end-to-end meetings and events, for CWT Meetings & Events’ top global strategic clients.
From left: Kari Wendel; Monica Dickenson
She steps away from a purely SMM leadership role to embrace both SMM and meetings and events for strategic customers. In her place, Wendel has tapped Monica Dickenson as senior director of the newly-created Global SMM Center of Excellence (COE) within her team.
Under Dickenson’s direction, the SMM COE will support the entire Meetings & Events organisation to ensure advancement by country/region, continued wins with clients that are striving for SMM success, and providing thought leadership in the industry through public speaking engagements, authoring best practices pieces, and sharing information on advanced SMM principles.
Prior to joining CWT, Dickenson served as head of global meetings and events at Shire. She also previously worked with Amex GBT, where she led venue sourcing and supplier contract management strategy, and at BCD, where she worked with global clients on their strategic meetings management strategy.
Thailand-based hospitality company Dusit International has opened Dusit Thani Sandalwoods Resort Shuangyue Bay Huizhou, Guangdong, a resort in Pinghai Ancient City.
The beachfront resort comprises 350 rooms and suites within a 30-storey tower, accompanied by event facilities such as a 1,150m2 ballroom, eight multifunction meeting rooms, and a gym.
Business or corporate travellers will be able to bring along their families, for this family-friendly resort also features four different swimming pools such as an infinity pool on the 30th floor overlooking the South China Sea, as well as a kids’ club, an archery range, and a cinema.
There are seven different resturants on-site, ranging from the Fisherman’s Cave, an all-day-dining restaurant, to Luna Café, which focuses on fresh seafood and fine cuts of meat.
The city centres of Shenzhen and Huizhou are only two hours away by car, while Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, can be reached in three hours. Huizhou Airport and the high-speed train station are a 90-minute drive away.
THAI Airways is the latest airline to cut flights to China in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak
As the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly, airlines around the world are suspending flights to and from China, with some carriers extending the cancellation of all China flights until end-March.
Among the airlines cutting or cancelling flights to China are British Airways, Lufthansa, American Airlines, Finnair, Vietjet, United Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Delta Airlines, Air Asia, and AirSeoul.
THAI Airways is the latest airline to cut flights to China in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak
On Saturday, the Philippines and Australia joined a growing list of countries that are imposing full or limited China travel bans.
Australia’s Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand (ANZ) said that they were suspending direct flights from their countries to mainland China due to travel restrictions and a decline in forward bookings.
The Australian flag carrier will be halting flights from Sydney to Beijing and Sydney to Shanghai from February 9 until March 29. As well, ANZ will be suspending its Auckland-Shanghai service over the same period.
Meanwhile, three Philippine airlines cancelled flights to China, following the authorities’ confirmation of the Philippines’ first case of coronavirus.
Philippine Airlines said it would cut the number of flights between Manila and China by more than 50 per cent, starting this month. It would continue to serve Filipinos and Chinese nationals returning from the Lunar New Year holidays, said the airline in a statement.
Cebu Pacific said it would also be cancelling all flights between the Philippines and mainland China from February 2 to March 29. Fellow LCC, Philippines AirAsia, said its flights to and from China, including Hong Kong and Macau, would be suspended until March 1.
Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways is reducing capacity of its flights to and from mainland China by 50 per cent or more, from January 30 to the end of March.
Indonesia’s Lion Air Group said on January 29 it would suspend all flights to China from February. The airline has suspended six flights from several Indonesian cities to China so far and will suspend the rest next month.
Two days later, Singapore Airlines announced reduced capacity on some of its routes to mainland China in February. The cuts include flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xiamen and Chongqing, some of which are flown by regional arm SilkAir.
Scoot, SIA’s low-cost subsidiary, said it was suspending all flights between Singapore and China from February 8, according to media reports.
Jetstar has decided to temporarily suspend services to Hefei, Guiyang, Xuzhou, Shantou and Haikou until March 31, 2020. All scheduled services from Haikou to Singapore will operate from February 1, with the final flight scheduled for February 8, 2020. A reduced number of services from Shantou to Singapore will operate on February 1, 5 and 7 with the final flight on February 7, 2020.
Over in Malaysia, Sabah has temporarily suspended all scheduled and chartered flights from China to the state with immediate effect until further notice. However, the federal government has no plans yet to suspend all flights from China to Malaysia, according to media reports.
Malaysia has ordered a temporary suspension of incoming flights from Wuhan and Hubei province until the situation returns to normal.
As well, Vietnam has suspended all air travel to China, with national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and budget carrier Vietjet suspending all flights to and from China from February 1. The airline continues to operate services to and from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Earlier, Air India said it was cancelling its Mumbai-Delhi-Shanghai flight from January 31 to February 14.
THAI Airways (THAI) said today it has adjusted its flight frequencies to China in order to match with current changes to flight demand.
Its Bangkok-Beijing-Bangkok route has been cut from twice a day to one daily flight, from February 8 to 29; while its Bangkok-Shanghai-Bangkok route has been reduced from two flights per day to once daily, from February 10 to 29.
Meanwhile, the carrier’s Bangkok-Guangzhou-Bangkok route has been slashed from two daily flights to one flight per day, from February 8 to 29. Its Bangkok-Chengdu-Bangkok route has been cut from seven flights per day to five flights per day, from February 6 to 27.
As well, THAI has reduced its Bangkok-Kunming-Bangkok route from seven flights per day to three flights per day, from February 6 to 29. On the Bangkok-Xiamen-Bangkok route, services have been reduced from four flights per day to two flights per day, from February 6 to 27.
China is facing deepening isolation from widening travel bans and flight suspensions, as total fatalities from coronavirus reach 304 as of Sunday, with the Philippines reporting the first case of death from the virus outside China.
In light of the ongoing Novel Coronavirus, organisers of IT&CM China and CTW China have decided to defer the 2020 event in consideration of the well-being and safety of all delegates and stakeholders.
The new dates for the tradeshow are August 3-5, 2020, subject to the recovery and control of the outbreak.
The bustling showfloor at last year’s IT&CM China
This course of action of deferring mass gatherings including large-scale exhibitions and conferences is in line with advisories by health and government authorities (e.g. WHO) to prevent, contain, and mitigate spread of the virus. Further, as the status of the outbreak is constantly evolving, the postponement of the event is deemed to be the most appropriate step at this point when travel risk to and within China is heightened, and health and safety are immediate concerns on the top of everyone’s minds.
Co-organisers Singapore-based TTG Asia Media and china-based CITS MICE will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates when necessary.
In a press statement, the organisers advised delegates and partners that have confirmed their attendance for the event to watch for communications from their TTG liaison officer.
Corporate Buyers and Sponsors may continue to reach out to CTW China Sales & Marketing partner TriStar at ike.zhang@tristar-china.cn.
Other contact channels that can provide additional information and assistance are:
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has appointed Brice Borin as general manager of Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh, a new beachfront resort in Vietnam.
With more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Borin has taken on the role of general manager at a variety of hotels including Soori Bali, The Regent Phuket Cape Panwa and The Regent Maldives; and also oversaw the opening of three Anantara resorts.
Most recently, Brice spent two years with Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, where he also served as the pre-opening general manager of Mӧvenpick Resort & Spa Kuredhivaru Maldives.
We are introducing a fresh, modern Amari Pattaya that has undergone a spectacular physical transformation. With two distinct wings of the all-new Amari Suites with 49 two- and three-bedroom residential style suites with ocean views perfect for family gatherings, and a fully-rejuvenated Amari Tower with 297 stylishly refurbished rooms and suites ranging from Deluxe Rooms to Executive Club Ocean View Suites.
Executive Club Suite - Ocean View Bedroom
Entry level rooms at Amari Tower are among the most spacious in the immediate area, with 49 squares metres of personal space, oversized baths with separate showers, double vanities and a balcony. Also amongst all-new facilities are an outdoor free-form swimming pool with a treehouse-themed slides, a brand-new state-of-the-art pillar free ballroom for up to 700 guests.
Breeze Spa
Stepping past the resort’s main lobby in the tower, guests will also find the signature Amaya Food Gallery, enjoy refreshing treatments at Breeze Spa and maintain a healthy workout routine at the 24-hour fitness centre. Amari Pattaya can proudly call itself the perfect base for a wide range of travel needs – from multi-generational family getaways to corporate meetings and leisure escapes.
Kids Club
For the leisure market, kid-centric offerings are designed to delight family travellers: kids get to enjoy their own check-in counter with an assortment of vacation surprises, a specially curated daily activity programme, the Treehouse Kids’ Club and aquapark, and even a kids-only treatment room at Breeze Spa.
Grand Ballroom banquet set-up
For the MICE market, we offer the made-to-order MICE & More package, where guests can take advantage of the synergy of the all-new Grand Ballroom and Beach Lawn, an outdoor space facing the ocean ideal for team building and activities.
Food gallery
At Amaya Food Gallery – we offer a dining experience inspired by the local food markets of Asia with its open-air cooking stations and friendly chefs preparing regional and international culinary highlights, as well as a collection of signature Thai favourites.
One Stop Service Desk is the perfect resource for your business events
Fancy holding your next business gathering on the 45th-floor observatory of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building with Tokyo’s glittering panoramic skyline as your unbeatable backdrop, or in the idyllic compounds of Jindaiji Temple, Tokyo’s second oldest temple? Accessing some of Tokyo’s most outstanding unique venues is no longer a dream, as planners can now leverage support from the Tokyo Unique Venues initiative.
Launched in May 2018, Tokyo Unique Venues is a one-stop service desk that promotes more than 50 business event-ready venues in the sprawling metropolis. The initiative provides assistance and recommendations on event spaces as well as planning coordination to help planners create magical experiences.
Financial support of up to 10 million yen may be offered to qualified events at unique venues in Tokyo, to help offset set-up costs such as audio-visual equipment rental.
Tokyo Unique Venues is a joint collaboration between the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB).
Tokyo Unique Venues is the perfect resource for international planners hoping to experience Tokyo’s famed contrasting cultures, where Edo period traditions are juxtaposed with cutting-edge innovation. This priceless trait is celebrated through the Tokyo Tokyo Old meets New campaign by TMG.
The city boasts a diverse range of unique, historical and cultural venues. These include shrines and temples, noh theatres, gardens, observatories, theme parks, aquariums and museums. Of these, more than 50 venues have been introduced as Tokyo Unique Venues, as they are representative of the Tokyo culture and most of them have a standing capacity of around 100 people.
A city that inspires event confidence
All eyes are now on Tokyo, as the city gears up for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. Many international conferences and MICE events have been planned in the city.
Events that utilised unique venues in Tokyo included the Culture Evening “Tokyo Garden Night” in Kiyosumi Gardens, for the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress & Exhibition 2018, a charming strolling garden that dates back to the Meiji period. Event activities included a karate performance, followed by a matcha tea ceremony and koto music performance held at the Ryotei Lodge. Delegates helped themselves to dishes made from Tokyo ingredients at the Taisho Kinenkan Hall, which has a standing capacity of 130.
Another event, the 10th International Aquarium Congress Pre-Event Ice Breaker 2018 was held at the Tokyo Sea Life Park, where 250 delegates sipped on ocean-themed cocktails while watching aquatic animals swim around the doughnut-shaped tank.
And TCVB is holding Tokyo Unique Venues Showcase Events, each of which introduces Tokyo’s varied and attractive Unique Venues, and provides opportunities to use them. Some of Unique Venues are showcased to event organisers as in the following two illustrations below.
Tokyo Unique Venues One-Stop Service Desk
The Tokyo Unique Venues One-Stop Service Desk staff are experienced event managers and are happy to partner with you in venue sourcing.
The charming temple street of Shibamata, located in eastern Tokyo, shed its serene cloak one evening to welcome a lively crowd of dignitaries, business people and media representatives in a private event showcasing to event organisers regarding the Tokyo Unique Venues Showcase events.
In a true demonstration of the versatility of the city’s unique venues, Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau along with 25 supportive local merchants transformed the 200-metre-long temple street into a festival that featured traditional street performances and well-loved local dishes prepared in bite-sized portions for easy snacking.
Festival guests were invited to graze from stall to stall, where different delicacies and beverages were served, and to interact with the local merchants who supported the festival by extending their operating hours.
Some shops also threw open their doors, providing a comfortable space for guests to sit and mingle with fellow event attendees while enjoying their meal and roving street performance.
Daikyoji Temple, at the end of the temple street, was illuminated by colourful projection lights. It was also the site for the official opening ceremony, which saw a string of welcome speeches by VIPs including Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike as well as a heart-stopping act involving locals dressed as ancient firemen performing stunts on a ladder that reached skywards.
Built in 1930, the Former Residence of the Maeda Family was the family home of marquis Toshinari Maeda – the 16th head of the Maeda Clan – and state guest house of government dignitaries. Along with its Japanese-style Garden Annex, the residence has been registered as an Important Cultural Property since 2013.
However, it continues to extend warm welcomes to foreign guests to Japan – now as a unique event venue.
Last December, 50 attendees from public offices, embassies and associations were hosted to an evening cocktail and formal banquet at the Former Marquis Maeda Western Style Mansion. The event showcased gastronomic delights from Tokyo and Kanazawa, where the Maeda family had originated from.
Guests were serenaded by a band that comprised of a violin, guitar and the okraulo (a vertical flute named after its inventor baron Kishichiro Okura of the famed Okura Tokyo hotel).
There was also the precious opportunity to tour the living quarters on the second floor and understand what noble life was like in the early 20th century.
Rounding off the mansion tour, Hironobu Fujimura, director of TCVB, highlighted the organisation’s one-stop service of Tokyo Unique Venues and pledged his support for organisers planning events in Tokyo.
Kazunori Noguchi, executive director of TCVB and Toshiyasu Maeda, the 18th head of the Maeda Family, opened the exclusive event with a speech and toast, respectively.
What trends have you seen in Okinawa in recent years?
Okinawa used to be all about enjoyment. Business events focused on incentive trips to resorts. Now companies want incentive packages that enhance loyalty and improve communication. We, therefore, made a listing of unique venues that both inspire and motivate, and created a programme of special experiences utilising Okinawa’s beautiful nature and culture. These and more can be found at our website.
In the past, planners wanted to use international hotel brands that they knew but there were few, and local hotels were not chosen. Now we have more international brands and agents have been successful in recommending Okinawan hotels, too.
How is Okinawa performing in the business events space?
The number of business events is increasing year on year. In particular, the market for incentives is very strong, thanks to the island’s plentiful resorts and good reputation for ease of hosting. Growth in incentives looks set to continue and we are also seeing a rise in the number of conventions.
There are many reasons for the growing popularity. Visitors come to have an extraordinary time, to be in nature and experience unique history and culture. Also, their stay is stress-free and comfortable, thanks to renowned Japanese hospitality. There are many international and domestic flights, as well as high-quality facilities and support for MICE events.
What steps are you taking to build on the growing demand?
We’re working to show that Okinawa is not only ideal for incentives, but for other business events too. Our biggest market is domestic, followed by Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and South Korea. We’re using our Okinawa offices in Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Hong Kong and Singapore for promotion.
We’re working to attract global companies from both Asia and Europe. For European destinations with no direct flight to Okinawa, we are promoting tie-ups with Tokyo and Osaka. Visitors spend time there before coming to Okinawa for an incentive trip or a business meeting.
In terms of support, we’ve made packages for incentives and conventions from both short- and longhaul destinations. From April 2019 to March 2020, for example, groups from overseas can enjoy an airport welcome banner, an Awamori (Okinawa liquor) tasting booth and event attendance by Miss Okinawa. We also have travel subsidies, as well as discounts on chartered buses and selected conference facilities.
What strategies are you implementing to push business events?
In 2017, the local government launched a 10-year MICE development strategy for the Okinawa archipelago that we are working to deliver. We are marketing to planners and developing a support system to host seminars and help businesses make new products. We are also creating a MICE network through which they can easily operate. As part of this strategy, we have divided Okinawa into five areas, each with different characteristics, so that buyers can more easily understand what the island can offer.
What challenges do you face in these efforts and how are you tackling them?
Flight and hotel room capacity is a challenge, depending on the season. In July and August, we have found it hard to accommodate business events due to the number of tourists, but a new runway will open in March and we are seeing more flights and hotels opened. We are also welcoming more MICE groups in the offseason period, such as April, May, June and October.
Okinawa still has the image of a resort destination so we want to show that it’s a place where you can do business, too. That’s why we launched a new tagline, “Where inspiration meets,” and a new logo to represent the Okinawa archipelago and the discussion that can be sparked in Okinawa at business events.
Why is further growth in business events so important for Okinawa?
Our MICE market is small, but it is expanding. Okinawa’s location in the centre of East Asia is encouraging growth in various markets, which is attracting information, products, services and people to Okinawa from around the world. If this continues, it will boost businesses and the local economy.
Christoph Meyer has been appointed general manager for Hong Kong, South China and Macau at Lufthansa Group, from February 1, 2020.
In his new role, Meyer will be responsible for passenger sales of Lufthansa German Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) in Hong Kong, South China and Macau.
The Swiss previously worked as head of content & dialogue marketing for SWISS based in Zurich, where he was responsible for airline sponsoring, event management, and tourism partnerships, among others.
Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) chief operating officer Marie Venus Tan has left barely two years into the plum post, a move that sent shock waves through the Philippine travel trade that thinks highly of the veteran tourism official.
“I am gratified that my more than 30 years in government service that started with the Philippine Tourism Authority ended still in service to the tourism industry that I love with passion,” Tan wrote in a farewell message posted on TPB’s Facebook page.
From left: Marie Venus Tan; and Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones
“I would never trade the opportunity I was given, as Department of Tourism’s (DoT) Tourism Attache in Europe, to show the world how beautiful our country is and how charming the Filipinos can be – given the chance to meet them up close and personal.
“What gave me a sense of fulfilment too was working with our communities as DoT regional director, highlighting their awesome natural treasures, being a bridge that provided them with livelihood and entrepreneurial skills in the tourism value chain, giving them pride of place and, ultimately, enabling them to become beneficiaries of the developments that tourism brings.”
Bruited to replace Tan next month is Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, a lawyer and currently executive director of the government agency Career Executive Service Board.
Velasco-Allones did not reply an email from TTGmice asking confirmation of her appointment to the top TPB post.
She clocks 22 years of public sector service, including stints as assistant secretary of National Defense and the Department of Labor and Employment and later, resident ombudsman of the Department of Labor and Employment.
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