New formats, such as Bate Papo, will debut at the Congress
The 92nd UFI Global Congress, hosted by AsiaWorld-Expo, is set to take place in Hong Kong from November 19 to 22, 2025.
Under the theme Shaping the Future, the event will convene global industry leaders to discuss the exhibition sector’s evolution during UFI’s centennial year.
New formats, such as Bate Papo, will debut at the Congress
The Congress will introduce two new features. First, Insight Series – Ideas in Action will be six one-hour workshops spotlighting UFI Award-winning projects across categories like Digital Innovation and Sustainability, which focus on translating innovative ideas into actionable strategies.
Second, the Bate-Papo Corner. This new, informal side stage, inspired by the Portuguese word for “chat,” will host lively discussions, with sessions being recorded and released as the UFI Bate-Papo Unplugged podcast.
Dex Hunter-Torricke, a prominent Silicon Valley strategist and former leader at Google, Facebook, and SpaceX, will deliver the keynote address. He will focus on how AI and technological change are reshaping industries and the exhibition sector’s role in reconnecting people and ideas.
Meanwhile, the main stage will feature sessions examining the forces shaping future events, including Future-first: How leading organisers are redesigning the exhibition experience; What our industry can learn from Hyrox; Rethinking the role of service providers; How venues are evolving; and the Global Economic Outlook.
The UFI Medal of Honour will also return to celebrate individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the global exhibition industry.
And as UFI marks its 100th anniversary, the Congress will feature special celebrations, including the UFI-100 Expo Corner highlighting the association’s history, and a 1920s-themed Welcome Reception – a nod to the year of UFI’s founding.
The Congress will also host the annual handover of the UFI Presidency, with Hugh Jones, CEO of RX, passing the presidency to Panittha Buri, vice chairperson of Bhiraj Buri Group.
Capitalising on Vietnam’s booming business events sector, which is forecast to be a nearly US$10 billion industry by 2030, the new InterContinental Halong Bay Resort has opened its doors, unveiling a suite of purpose-built, state-of-the-art event and conference facilities.
The resort’s purpose-built Meetings Centre features advanced audiovisual technology designed for immersive events, including omnidirectional microphones, Logitech video-conference cameras, expansive LCD screens, and customisable lighting.
InterContinental Halong Bay Resort
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Twin Classic Halong Bay View
Pool bar
Top Terrace
Tonkin Ballroom
The venue lineup includes the Tonkin Grand Ballroom, a pillarless space capable of hosting up to 1,050 guests theatre-style, and the light-filled Cat Ba Ballroom, which accommodates up to 252. A range of smaller boardrooms, along with a scenic landscaped garden and panoramic terrace, offer flexible setups for corporate retreats and exclusive events.
The hotel’s incentive programme offers delegates rare cultural access, including private cruises through limestone karsts and visits to local floating fishing villages like Vung Vieng and Cua Van.
In alignment with IHG’s Meetings for Good initiative, the resort employs responsible event practices, including a digital-first approach to eliminate printed collateral, extensive use of digital signage, avoidance of single-use plastics, and energy-minimisation policies across all event spaces.
InterContinental Halong Bay Resort offers 174 guestrooms, 60 residences, and 41 private villas, many with bay views. Amenities include three outdoor pools, a Hidden Lagoon Spa with specialised jet-lag and stress-relief therapies, and complimentary access to the Timeshifter circadian science app for international travellers.
Voco Auckland City Centre has introduced Elevate Your Experience upgrade packages, designed to enhance corporate meetings and events on the hotel’s exclusive Level 38.
For a fixed price of NZ$35 (US$20) per person, event planners can choose from a menu of premium amenities to customise their booking. This offering is available for all meetings held on Level 38, which provides immediate access to Bar Albert, New Zealand’s highest hotel rooftop bar.
The Waitematā Suite
The upgrade options focus on three key areas of the meeting experience. The View Upgrade guarantees Sky Tower or Harbour views for the event space and includes a fresh fruit bowl on arrival. The Power Up package provides barista-made coffee and wholesome bliss balls to maintain delegate energy. Finally, the Wellness Package features seasonal fruit skewers, an infused water station, muesli bars, mindful breaks, and warm towels. A separate Lunch Beverage Package with premium non-alcoholic drinks is also available.
Level 38 features several event spaces with panoramic city views, including The Wyndham Lounge (seating up to 16 in a boardroom layout), and The Waitematā Suite (a 100m2 harbour-view space for up to 15 seated guests).
Larger gatherings can use Bar Albert, the high-altitude rooftop bar which accommodates up to 110 guests, or The Albert Terrace for outdoor receptions of up to 30. All Level 38 spaces come equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi, audiovisual technology, and dedicated event coordinator support.
Amari Bangkok Grand Ballroom classroom style set up
Choosing the right event venue is a key factor in ensuring its success. Whether it is for a corporate retreat, conference, workshop or team building session, location, amenities, sustainability practices are just some of the factors planners consider when looking for a venue.
Amari hotels offers its warm style of hospitality, sincere service and vibrant spaces capable of hosting meetings and events ranging from 20 to over 1,000 participants.
The brand is under the Onyx Hospitality Group, the prominent management company in South-east Asia specialising in hotels and resorts, serviced apartments, and luxury – including Amari, OZO, Shama, and Oriental Residence.
Equipped with advanced AV technology, flexible seating, high-speed internet, and tailored catering, these venues ensure every event is executed efficiently while leaving a lasting impression, complemented by warm Thai hospitality and a commitment to excellence that the Amari brand is known for.
When organising your next event, these hotels under the Amari brand might just be the venue that you need.
Located in the heart of the city and easily accessible to major landmarks, convention centres and attractions, Amari Bangkok offers versatile facilities. Its expansive Watergate Ballroom is capable of accommodating up to 1,200 guests and is suitable for large-scale conferences, exhibitions, gala dinners, and even vehicle launches – complete with direct vehicle access into the ballroom. Equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, it can be arranged for various seating arrangements. Catering can be customised, ensuring that everything is executed to guests’ needs.
Beyond its facilities, Amari Bangkok is dedicated to social responsibility – it donates surplus food to Scholars of Sustenance (SOS), a non-profit organisation dedicated to combating food insecurity.
A wedding set up in Amari Don Muang Airport’s ballroom
For unparalleled convenience, this property provides direct walkway access to Don Muang International Airport, making it an excellent choice for events that require seamless airport connectivity. The Don Muang Ballroom can host up to 800 guests, with additional meeting rooms that can be adjusted to various group sizes.
Amari Pattaya’s Grand Ballroom foyer is set up in an inviting manner to welcome guests
Along Thailand’s eastern coast lies the popular beach town of Pattaya. Located at the end of Pattaya beach is the Amari Pattaya with unblocked views of the sea. Its Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 600 guests, and if divided into two, each ballroom can hold up to 250 guests.
These spaces are further complemented by Prego Event, a 407m2 venue perfect for corporate retreats and social gatherings.
Backed by decades of regional expertise, Onyx Hospitality Group has earned a trusted reputation across South-east Asia for understanding both traveller preferences and the unique requirements of event planners.
Central to ONYX’s philosophy is a tailored approach to hospitality, ensuring that every meeting, incentive, or celebration is designed around the specific needs of organisers and their guests. With the support of dedicated corporate sales teams and international representatives covering the UK, Europe, India, Greater China, South Korea, and ASEAN, ONYX offers global reach with a personalised touch.
Amari Vientiane’s lobby is bright and spacious for guests to relax
Opened this year in February, Amari Vientiane, situated along the iconic Mekong river, brings modern MICE facilities to the Laotian capital. The grand ballroom at 495.5m2 accommodates up to 600 guests, along with three versatile meeting rooms and a VIP room that are all equipped with modern audiovisual technology.
Amari Colombo’s Club Pahana offers a panoramic ocean view
Over in Sri Lanka, the Amari Colombo houses a 160m2 ballroom that can host up to 250 guests as well as flexible meeting rooms for 70 to 150 guests, great for executive business functions and intimate celebrations.
Amari Spice Penang's dinner set up is ideal for corporate dinners and dances and weddings
Classroom style set up for Amari Johor Bahru
Amari Kuala Lumpur Veria Ballroom in a banquet set up
With direct connection to the Setia Spice Convention Centre, Amari Spice Penang in the city’s central business district is conveniently located for delegates travelling for events nearby. For other activities, the hotel is well equipped with a 266m2 pillarless event hall, complemented by five meeting rooms and expansive outdoor spaces, catering to a variety of event formats.
Located in the central business district of the Malaysian capital and close to neighbouring malls and public transport, Amari Kuala Lumpur is an eco-certified hotel with a large event space of 552m2. This includes a ballroom that can accommodate up to 200 guests and seven versatile function rooms.
For those with business in the city of Johor Bahru, Amari Johor Bahru near the JB Sentral train station offers versatile spaces including its spacious Lido and Rex function rooms and six other flexible venues, which can accommodate up to 400 guests, ideal for conferences, meetings, and social gatherings.
For those looking at more than one hotel under the Onyx group, take advantage of Onyx’s Reward Bookers and Planners programme for corporate clients, bookers and event planners to enjoy loyalty benefits and perks. Visit <LINK> for more information.
TFE Hotels has expanded its leadership team across New Zealand and its Rendezvous Hotels in Perth and Queenstown.
Stuti Kumar has been appointed director of people and capability, New Zealand. Kumar previously served as general manager of people and culture at Ezi Car Rental in Auckland and has over a decade of human resources experience across New Zealand.
From left: Stuti Kumar, Lindsay David, and Joseph Stipo
Lindsay David joins as director of sales, New Zealand. She brings more than 20 years of hotel sales and business development experience, including senior roles with Millennium Hotels, IHG, and Rendezvous Hotel.
In Queenstown, Joseph Stipo has been named general manager of Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Queenstown. Stipo has spent 18 years with TFE Hotels, most recently as general manager of Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne, where he led a major refurbishment and rebranding.
In Perth, Thiva Kesavan has been appointed general manager of Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough. Kesavan most recently served as general manager of Hyatt Regency Perth and has more than 20 years of hospitality experience across Australia and Asia-Pacific.
Supporting him, Lucy Ockleston has been named hotel manager. Ockleston has been with TFE Hotels for 14 years and previously held leadership roles across the Travelodge and Adina portfolios.
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Geopolitical risk, AI disruption reshape incentive travel as buyers seek new destinations
The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) have unveiled the 2025 Incentive Travel Index (ITI).
The 2025 edition of the ITI forecasts modest growth through 2027, tempered by mounting concerns around rising costs, global instability, and shrinking optimism. Expectations for 2026 show flat usage of incentive travel programmes in terms of participant volume.
Geopolitical risk, AI disruption reshape incentive travel as buyers seek new destinations
Several powerful forces dominate the 2025 edition: geopolitical risk, trade tensions, AI disruption, and demographic change. Regions are consolidating incentive activity locally, while demand for US destinations is in sharp decline. At the same time, AI is beginning to impact programme design and delivery, and generational shifts are reshaping destination preferences, programme formats, and reward structures.
“While 75% of respondents agree that the value of incentive travel remains strong, they also say the business gets tougher every year,” said Stephanie Harris, IRF president. “Incentive professionals are under pressure to deliver more with less – without compromising quality or impact.”
“Buyers continue to seek out something new,” said Annette Gregg, SITE CEO. “Nearly 70% are seeking destinations they haven’t used before – and 63% already have new ones booked for 2026 or 2027. What hasn’t changed is what matters: direct air access, top-tier accommodations, and a trusted DMC remain top priorities.”
For key insights from ITI 2025 and past editions, click here.
Now in its eighth year, the ITI is a joint research initiative from IRF and SITE, supported by Oxford Economics. The 2025 study, which surveyed professionals in five roles (corporate end users, third-party agencies, DMCs, destination suppliers, and DMOs) between May and July 2025, offers a panoramic global view based on insights from 2,700 professionals across 85 countries.
Chinese buyers at Sri Lanka MICE Expo Business Forum; photo by Alicia Yao
Chinese buyers looking for safe and new options for business events and association meetings are eyeing Sri Lanka in Asia and countries in Africa, where the local authorities are keen to support and grow their share of the pie.
Beijing-based IME Consulting, which works with major tradeshow organisers, led 15 buyers from Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan and Hong Kong to Sanganai Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, dubbed, Kumbanayi, in Zimbabwe last month.
Chinese buyers at Sri Lanka MICE Expo Business Forum; photo by Alicia Yao
According to founder and managing director, Alicia Yao, Zimbabwe – one of three African countries hosting the 2027 Cricket World Cup – wants corporate events and named Victoria Falls as having the requisite infrastructure.
Yao continued: “Victoria Falls has good hotels and special programmes. For week-long corporate incentives, itineraries can be organised to cover one or two cities, including the capital, Harare.”
Industrial development in Wuhan is growing rapidly and Chinese companies, she added, are also investing in Africa, and an incentive group of about 200 people is heading to Zambia next month.
Authorities in Sri Lanka are laying out the welcome mat and 10 Chinese buyers participated in the September 22 to 26 Sri Lanka MICE Expo and fam trip, while another 17 who attended the September 23 to 25 IT&CM Asia in Bangkok went on a post-trip.
Yao commented that Sri Lanka is perceived as “safe”, compared to some other destinations in South-east Asia where news of kidnappings and job scams still linger.
“The price in Sri Lanka is also good,” she commented, adding that the opening of the sprawling Cinnamon Life complex offering 687 luxurious rooms, multiple entertainment venues, and state-of-the-art convention facilities, is a boon.
IME consulting led 64 Chinese association, corporate and incentive buyers to ITB Asia 2025, up from 50 last year. The bulk of 35 buyers were from Shanghai and Beijing – for corporate and association meetings respectively, and the rest from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Wuhan and Xi’an.
Madrid’s sustainability push preserves and promotes its natural heritage; Palacio Real pictured
Amidst an increasing global demand for sustainable events, leaving a positive impact ranks high on event planners’ agenda.
On a mission to help planners meet their sustainability goals is the Madrid Convention Bureau (MCB). For years, it has been committed to ensuring congresses and incentive trips leave a positive impact on the city, supporting about 250 events each year.
Green metropolis
This is evidenced by Madrid’s 360 Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy. Approved in 2019, it outlines a series of measures to help the capital adapt to climate change, promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, manage water resources, reduce emissions and waste, and encourage sustainable transport. It also promotes the creation of green infrastructure and low-carbon urban renewal, positioning the city as a model for responsible urban development.
These help preserve Madrid’s wealth of green spaces. More than 55 per cent of the city’s streets are tree-lined, with nearly 300,000 trees helping to improve the capital’s air quality, making Madrid home to the world’s second-leafiest streets.
It is also home to more than 200 parks, gardens, and natural spaces covering almost 6,400 hectares, offering serene nature to enjoy. Some of its most famous are El Retiro Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Madrid Río Park, a 10km riverfront park that has seen ecological restoration, and Casa de Campo Park, an expansive 1,500-hectare recreation zone designated an Asset of Cultural Interest with spaces for outdoor recreation.
Reaffirming its commitment to the environment, Madrid was named a Tree City of the World by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation.
Looking ahead, Madrid continues to build its green legacy with the Metropolitan Forest, a 75km green belt encircling the city.
Tools to support green planners
The Spanish capital offers a wealth of cultural heritage and gastronomic delights for an engaging and environmentally responsible programme
In keeping with the city’s firm commitment to environmental protection, MCB developed the MICE Sustainability Guide, to reinforce how companies in the industry can integrate environmental, economic and social sustainability elements in their processes and products aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Spain’s Strategic Guide for sustainable tourism for 2030.
It outlines sustainability practices, areas for improvement and how organisers and delegates can make each event more responsible and impactful.
Another initiative is PLUS, a digital platform designed for event organisers to manage the social and environmental footprint of their events.
Users can generate sustainability reports for each meeting and see pre-event recommendations to minimise environmental and social impact. Post-event, the platform calculates the meeting’s carbon footprint and is able to classify emissions by scope from Scope 1 to 3 for greater precision and accountability.
In addition, PLUS connects organisers with a catalogue of local social organisations in Madrid, enabling them to integrate positive-impact activities into their programmes. This is complemented by an open directory of the same organisations, ensuring that every event contributes to the city’s social and environmental well-being.
With its green heritage and mission, Madrid’s vibrant city life and rich cultural heritage makes it a natural choice for combining business with leisure. Planners have a diverse variety of options to choose for team building activities and authentic gastronomic experiences.
Meet your event’s sustainability goals in Madrid now. Visit Madrid Convention Bureau to get started.
From left: Mix’s Martin Donovan (moderator); Sight Agency’s Anna Patterson; ConferenceDirect’s Damian Pisanelli; Creative Technology’s Chris Burke; and Business Events Perth’s Gareth Martin; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
The future of event design is moving away from mere logistical execution and towards creating authentic, deeply personal, and co-created experiences, according to panellists on the MICE Leaders’ Panel: MICE 2030: Innovating for a Bold New Era in Event Design and Experiences at ITB Asia 2025 this morning.
Anna Patterson, founder and chief amazement officer of Sight Agency, pointed out that this shift demands event planners to play the role of “brand storytellers” and “event architects”, as programmes move beyond an eight-hour confinement in conference rooms.
From left: Mix’s Martin Donovan (moderator); Sight Agency’s Anna Patterson; ConferenceDirect’s Damian Pisanelli; Creative Technology’s Chris Burke; and Business Events Perth’s Gareth Martin; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
“What we are going into now is a bold new era of co-creation, away from operational matters into designing experiences and telling stories. Everyone is asking for authenticity in what we create, and having empathy, and the audience intimately integrated, is how events are created now,” stated Patterson.
She shared how Sight Agency helped a client transform a hall at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre for an event two weeks ago that had a padel court, a stage with lounge chairs, and a nightclub-esque space.
Sight Agency also helped a client, who was inspired by the Vegas Sphere, to recreate a small, three-metre version.
Patterson emphasised that powerful design is “not so much dictated by budget, but the creative thinking of the agency and concept behind it”.
Business events looking to include wellness in the programme can hire a local yoga instructor or engage Karu Nanithi, Marina Bay Sands’ director of wellness, added Patterson, as she shared ideas for this trending focus in events.
Damian Pisanelli, vice president, global accounts, ConferenceDirect, spoke of the needs of the modern attendee, particularly the younger generation.
“It’s all about the experience these days. Gen Zs and millennials look for scope. They are looking to be part of a community, or to be attached to something that gives back. (As event planners), we need to look at the market we’re going into, and how we can find partners to make the conference an experience,” he elaborated.
Meanwhile, Chris Burke, group managing director of Creative Technology Asia, noted that technology is vital because it allows the process “from the visual of the creative idea… through to delivering the end product to look and feel the same”, effectively helping to transform “concept to reality”.
From a CVB’s perspective, the destination is no longer a mere backdrop for business events; it is an essential element of the design and attendee experience.
Gareth Martin, CEO of Business Events Perth, spoke of the power of collaboration and local identity.
“It’s really a collaboration of all suppliers in the chain,” he stated, adding that reimagining event spaces and applying “new themes” will allow fresh opportunities to showcase a destination and provide a different experience for event delegates.
Just 10 minutes from Phuket International Airport on the serene northern coast, this 178-key, Bill Bensley-designed resort offers delegates a quiet, tropical paradise steeped in Phuket’s tin-mining heritage
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
Bourachi joins from The St Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort in Oman, where she held the same role.
