The decor of the lounge is inspired by the vibrant spirit of Hong Kong
Plaza Premium Group has opened its second Plaza Premium First lounge at Hong Kong International Airport’s (HKIA) West Hall.
The new Plaza Premium First offers a serene environment with stylish interiors, cosy seating, and a 180-degree tarmac view. The lounge also serves as a gallery, showcasing a curated selection of masterpieces from renowned artists like Zao Wou-Ki, Chu Teh Chun, and Zeng Yang, celebrating a blend of Eastern and Western art traditions.
The decor of the lounge is inspired by the vibrant spirit of Hong Kong
In addition, the new lounge is the first independent lounge at HKIA to feature a fully-certified Halal menu, blending global cuisine with local Hong Kong favourites and popular South-east Asian dishes. Culinary offerings include a wide range of à la carte options, such as Vietnamese Duck Pho, Thai Style Sauteed Spicy Chicken Rice, and a hearty breakfast menu with local specialties like Cantonese Congee.
Open daily from 06.00 to 01.00, guests can take advantage of bathrooms and a shower with complimentary amenities. For those needing to unwind, a neck and shoulder massage is available at Refreshhh by Aerotel. Other conveniences include high-speed Wi-Fi, flight information displays, charging stations, and a secure baggage storage service.
This new lounge complements Plaza Premium Group’s existing lounge in the East Hall.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts has made several senior appointments in Asia-Pacific, including Laurence Onfroy as vice president, business development, Asia Pacific; Eddie Wong as area managing director, Greater China & Australia; and Midori Kataoka as area managing director, Japan.
Based in Singapore, Onfroy will drive portfolio growth, strategic partnerships, and development of the sustainable brand Beyond Green.
From left: Laurence Onfroy, Eddie Wong and Midori Kataoka
Wong, based in Hong Kong, will lead growth and development initiatives across Greater China and Australia, while in Japan, Kataoka will oversee a portfolio of 50 member properties.
Swire Hotels has made three senior appointments: Mark Passmore as head of operations, Kristina Snaith-Lense as general manager of the upcoming House in Shenzhen, and Simon McHendry as general manager of The Upper House.
Passmore will oversee operations and design for all Swire Hotels properties in Asia, including The House Collective, EAST, and Headland Hotel. He has been with the group since 2015, leading key openings and most recently serving as director of operations for Chinese mainland.
From left: Mark Passmore, Kristina Snaith-Lense and Simon McHendry
Snaith-Lense will lead the Shenzhen House ahead of its 2027 launch, Swire Hotels’ first new opening in nine years, and will also oversee wellness projects across the group. She joined in 2011 and was most recently general manager of The Upper House.
McHendry will drive the continued growth of The Upper House and oversee Swire Hotels’ sales and revenue team. Since joining in 2016, he has held senior roles at East Beijing and The Temple House, and most recently served as head of development & projects.
Three destinations in the Gulf region – Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain – are demonstrating strong growth in the global business events market, where these nations have reported increased event wins and significant investments aimed at attracting international business events.
For example in 2024, Dubai secured a record 437 events across various sectors, projected to attract an estimated 210,731 delegates to the city in the coming years.
The glittering Museum of The Future set against the Dubai skyline; photo by Asifgraphy/shutterstock
Among the key event wins for 2025 include the WFNS World Congress of Neurosurgery with 4,000 delegates; 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit & Mayor Summit with 1,200 delegates; 2025 Pan Arab Radiology Conference with 1,500 delegates; 2026 Global Symposium on Health System Research with 3,000 delegates; and 2026 FIP World Stamp Exhibition with 1,000 delegates.
“As part of the Department of Economy and Tourism and aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, Dubai Business Events (DBE) is committed to positioning the emirate as a premier business event destination.
“The bureau’s strategic partnerships with hotels, venues and event service providers, combined with Dubai’s connectivity, safety, and diverse attractions, solidify its reputation as the top MICE destination in the Middle East,” said Karina Lance, associate vice president, DBE.
Over in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom successfully secured the bid for Riyadh Expo 2030, an event anticipated to be transformative. This year, Saudi Arabia will be hosting major events like Global Infrastructure Expo (September 15-17), the largest infrastructure trade event in Saudi Arabia; Saudi Event Show (September 17-18) for the business events industry; and Cityscape Global (November 17-20), the region’s top real estate gathering.
“Saudi’s T-MICE (tourism MICE) strategy is aiming to position our country as a global hub for MICE tourism,” said Alhasan Aldabbagh, president of APAC Markets at Saudi Tourism Authority. He added that in Asia Pacific, key markets include China, India, South Korea and Japan.
Hot air balloon experience in AlUla
Fahd bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Rasheed, chairman of the board of directors, Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA), pointed out that Saudi Arabia’s business events sector has grown steadily at around nine per cent per year since SCEGA’s establishment in 2018.
Moving forward, Saudi Arabia’s business events ambitions are underpinned by a US$800 billion investment in the tourism sector, which includes the development of state-of-the-art venues designed to host large-scale events. Complementing this is a rapidly growing hospitality pipeline, with 500,0000 hotel rooms coming online by 2030, ensuring there is ample capacity to accommodate business events delegates.
“We are investing a lot in (business events) infrastructure. In Riyadh alone, we’re building one million square meters of exhibition space, adding 7,000 hotel rooms, increasing the capacity of our airport to 120 million passengers a year, and launching a new airline called Riyadh Air, which will connect us with 100 new cities around the world,” Fahd elaborated.
“With 60 per cent of the world’s population just an eight-hour flight away and direct connections to 170 international destinations, Saudi offers unparalleled accessibility for global delegates. This strategic advantage combined with its forward-thinking vision and world-class infrastructure makes Saudi the destination of choice for hosting impactful events on the global stage,” added Alhasan.
Business tourism is also a key pillar of Bahrain’s five-year tourism strategy, said Fatima bint Jaffer Al Sairafi, minister of tourism, and chairman of the Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority, during the ICCA Congress 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
“A key project supporting that is Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB), which is a gamechanger that has helped the Kingdom to position itself as a regional and international MICE hub. It is one of the biggest venues in the region with cutting-edge facilities,” she commented.
Landmark events last year include the 9th UN Tourism World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism and the 29th Routes World 2024, both making their inaugural appearance at EWB and in the Middle East. Together, these events attracted thousands of participants from over 100 countries, and over 100 international exhibitors.
Recently, EWB introduced an incentive programme to support major international organisers and associations to host their events in Bahrain at the venue. The programme is a collaborative effort, directly supported by Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority.
Fatima also pointed out that even though there is a mandate to promote our countries independently as a business events destination, Fatima stressed that there is “real power when we promote our countries in the GCC collectively”.
It is good news that the long-pending Unified Tourist Visa for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has received official approval and is set for rollout soon. The visa will allow seamless travel across the six GCC nations – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait – under a single permit. It is expected to launch by late 2025 or early 2026. – additional reporting by Rachel AJ Lee
MACEOS' Yusno Yunos (third from left), and UiTM’s Shafinar Ismail (fourth from left), together with the working committee of the Sustainability Event Framework at the launch on August 7
The Malaysian Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (MACEOS) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) have jointly launched the Sustainability Event Framework (SEF).
The launch of the framework on August 7 took place during the second annual EventXpo 2025, which was organised by MACEOS and held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
MACEOS’ Yusno Yunos (third from left), and UiTM’s Shafinar Ismail (fourth from left), together with the working committee of the Sustainability Event Framework at the launch on August 7
The SEF identifies eight core sustainability categories deemed essential for any event: F&B, Waste, Products and Materials, Energy, Freight and Logistics, Accommodation, Digital and Communications, and Travel to and from the event destination.
Yusno Yunos, vice president – innovation at MACEOS indicated that “these categories were selected because they represent the most common sources of environmental impact across different types of events”.
The framework provides actionable examples across several categories. For instance, F&B practices include sourcing local produce and minimising single-use plastics, while Waste management focuses on clear recycling and composting. In terms of Products and Materials, the emphasis is on sustainable sourcing and renting over buying.
Organisers are also encouraged to use energy-efficient lighting for Energy and to consolidate shipments for Freight and Logistics. The framework also promotes partnering with green hotels for Accommodation, using paperless communication for Digital and Communications, and encouraging public transport and local participation for Travel.
Yusno added: “These real-world examples not only guide organisers in taking meaningful action but also provide a consistent measurement standard for evaluation and improvement.”
The SEF Assessment Matrix further structures these categories into two levels.
The first level focuses on four entry-level categories – F&B, Waste, Products and Materials, and Energy. Events scoring between 10 to 20 points in these areas will receive the Certified Sustainable Event recognition.
The second level incorporates the other four additional operational categories – Freight and Logistics, Accommodation, Digital and Communications, and Travel. This is assessed using a tiered certification system, providing a transparent and structured pathway for organisers to progressively elevate their sustainability performance.
Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment, Inc. (TRLEI), operator of Okada Manila, has appointed Nobuki Sato as its new president and chief operating officer, effective September 15, 2025.
Sato currently serves as senior executive officer and chief financial officer of Universal Entertainment Corporation and has been a member of the TRLEI Board of Directors since March 2023. He brings over 20 years of leadership experience in hospitality, finance and strategic operations.
Byron Yip, who has held the president and chief operating officer roles for seven years, will continue overseeing daily operations and support the leadership transition through September 2025.
Gold Coast is a year-round destination for corporate groups; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
Buyers at the recently-concluded This is Gold Coast 2025 (TIGC) are reporting a strong pipeline of bookings and positive momentum for the destination from the Asia-Pacific market.
Sonja Soderbom, director, destination management for Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti & Fiji at Ovation Global DMC, told TTGmice on the sidelines of the event that the Gold Coast is “definitely one on the radar” as an incentive travel destination.
Gold Coast is a year-round destination for corporate groups; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
“It’s been a few years since I’ve been here, (but I’ve learnt that) much has changed, and the Gold Coast has a wider variety of activities and event options available. It also has great weather, which is a drawcard for international groups out of Asia-Pacific. In fact, I’m coming through with a large MLM (multi-level marketing) incentive travel group soon,” she elaborated.
The group, Soderbom revealed, will have 400 to 500 people. Although the event is managed out of Europe, attendees will be from all around Asia-Pacific.
First-time buyer Nikki Lou, operations, with Australian Tours Management, shared with TTGmice: “It’s my first time in the Gold Coast, and from my perspective, TIGC is a great way to learn more about new and existing suppliers. The city looks like it will continue to grow (in the lead up to the Olympics).”
When asked how the Asia-Pacific market is performing for the DMC, Lou shared that the strongest source market is currently India, and she predicts that it will “be a strong performer for us over the next few years”.
Business from Japan and Hong Kong are also looking to perform well for Australian Tours Management, with clients showing interest in secondary Australian destinations such as the Gold Coast.
She explained: “I am seeing many MICE and educational groups from Japan. Australia is easy for the Japanese in terms of cuisine (and a shared appreciation of) cultural respect. As for the Hong Kong market, (many groups have) already visited major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, and are open to trying new destinations in Australia.”
Overall, the Asia-Pacific market is expected to perform well for not only the Gold Coast, but Australia too.
“Australia is a very open country, and there is a lot of immigration. I feel that suppliers are able to understand clients from Asia-Pacific very well,” quipped Lou.
Soderbom agreed: “We can cater to a variety of cultural needs, particularly food for Indians and Asians, which is a big part of the destination appeal. It also helps that groups feel comfortable and safe. Access is great, it’s an English-speaking country, so there are no challenges with communication.”
She added that she has three groups from technology firms on the cards for Australia in 2026, and expects forward bookings to be positive.
Shangri-La Singapore has named Yusuf Yaran as resident manager. With over 20 years of international experience in hotel operations and F&B management, he brings extensive expertise to the hotel.
In his new role, Yusuf will oversee daily operations across the hotel’s dining outlets, banquet services and three wings, leading a team of over 1,000 staff.
He joins from Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa in Kota Kinabalu, where he led operations and a team of over 700 colleagues. A member of the Shangri-La group since 2006, Yusuf has held leadership roles across Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Shanghai, Manila and Singapore.
From left: PCMA’s Florence Chua, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre’s Mala Dorasamy; and Universiti Malaya Medical Centre’s Nazirah Hasnan
Event organisers must place diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at the heart of event planning to deliver experiences that are not only impactful and engaging, but also relevant to today’s diverse audiences.
“Truly inclusive events don’t happen by chance. They are the product of intentional choices made in how programmes are curated and how the overall attendee experience is shaped,” stated Mala Dorasamy, CEO, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
From left: PCMA’s Florence Chua, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre’s Mala Dorasamy; and Universiti Malaya Medical Centre’s Nazirah Hasnan
“By embedding inclusion into every stage of planning organisers can foster a sense of belonging and increase participation from underrepresented groups,” she added.
Key to inclusive event planning is making intentional decisions. For instance, curating a speaker lineup that reflects a diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints, ensuring venue layouts and content delivery methods are accessible, and creating safe spaces for open and respectful dialogue.
Dorasamy was the moderator for a session entitled: Embracing diversity & inclusion in business events at the recently-concluded Malaysia Business Events Week 2025.
Nazirah Hasnan, director of Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and immediate past president of the Malaysian Association of Rehabilitation Physicians, added that business events hold the potential to be powerful platforms for raising awareness and driving inclusion for people with disabilities.
“Event organisers shouldn’t just include people with disabilities as participants; they should be involved as vendors, speakers, and contributors across the entire event. That way, we normalise disability and make inclusion a natural part of every event experience,” she elaborated.
Building on this, Florence Chua, managing director APAC with PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association), highlighted often-overlooked aspects of inclusivity in the digital space. For example, online event platforms and digital content frequently fail to consider users with visual impairments.
“A visually attractive website filled with images is of no use if screen readers, speech recognition tools or audio-to-text software cannot interpret the content. Images should be accompanied by captions and alternative text. It’s a simple step that can make a significant difference for users who depend on assistive technology.”
Chua also emphasised the importance of accommodating neurodivergent attendees, who may require access to quiet spaces during events.
She also encouraged business events venues to train their staff to recognise and support attendees that have diverse needs with empathy.
“Training is essential. Staff should be equipped with the awareness and skills to proactively assist, creating an environment where everyone feels respected and supported.”
Korea MICE Expo 2025 (KME2025), the country’s largest exhibition for the business events industry, will be held at Coex in Seoul from November 3 to 5.
This year’s event is expected to draw approximately 5,000 domestic and international business events professionals, including over 200 key buyers and more than 450 exhibiting booths. Organisers anticipate over 5,000 business meetings will take place.
Korea MICE Expo 2024
Participation from the hotel and resort sectors has notably increased this year, a move expected to enhance business meeting satisfaction as these sectors are a high priority for buyers.
In addition to the main exhibition, KME2025 will be co-located with the Korea Expo Expo and a joint academic conference, offering attendees a broader range of insights and networking opportunities.
Under the slogan Meaningful Impact Connects Everyone, the event will also feature the MICE WAVE conference and Open Session programmes. The conference will cover a diverse range of topics, with collaborative sessions planned with international organisations like the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) and the global PCO network INCON.
Now in its 25th year, the event is hosted by the Korea MICE Association with official support from key government and tourism organisations, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
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Byron Yip, who has held the president and chief operating officer roles for seven years, will continue overseeing daily operations and support the leadership transition through September 2025.
He joins from Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa in Kota Kinabalu, where he led operations and a team of over 700 colleagues. A member of the Shangri-La group since 2006, Yusuf has held leadership roles across Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Shanghai, Manila and Singapore.
