Confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus local transmissions arising from a business meeting at Grand Hyatt Singapore in mid-January have led to a wave of event rescheduling and cancellation for two major event agencies in the city-state.
The 109-pax event, according to various news reports, had attendees from China as well as from other parts of the world. A Briton, South Korean and Malaysian later emerged as having been infected at the event.
Gloomy skies ahead for Singapore (pictured) as clients place events on hold, change destinations or postpone plans
According to Pacific World Singapore’s global managing director Selina Sinclair, clients have postponed or put programmes on hold, or “have requested to change destinations for their events”.
In response, the PCO has had to relocate some of these events to other cities.
Meanwhile, CWT Meetings & Events’ Singapore office is in the midst of “ongoing consultations with clients to ensure that the well-being of attendees is fully considered before they decide how best to proceed with planned or proposed events anywhere in the world”, shared Sam Lay, the company’s senior director, Asia Pacific.
Both companies are keeping close tabs on the situation and have doubled up on communications with suppliers and partners.
Sinclair added: “We are working proactively with local health authorities, vendors and suppliers to understand the measures that venues and hotels have put in place for the events, as well as kickstart conversations with partners including suppliers and all logistical arrangements.”
She regards the situation as still being in the “monitoring phase”, and expects clarity in the next two to three weeks on the state of containment.
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti and Qatari governments had on Monday issued a travel advisory to their citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, or delay travel, to Singapore because of the spread of the coronavirus.
Singapore’s government raised its DORSCON (Disease Outbreak Response System Condition) alert to Orange over the weekend, which defines the disease as being severe and easily transmitted from person to person, but has yet to spread widely in the country and is being contained.
As of press time, Singapore has 45 confirmed cases, of which 23 are locally transmitted.
AIME is all set for the show next week; photo from last year's event
Organisers for AIME indicate they are looking forward to a successful show with robust registrations despite the drop in travel confidence due to the coronavirus.
The annual event in Melbourne for the Asia-Pacific’s meetings and event industry will kick off this coming Monday with an Australian government travel ban on all flights from China still in place and disruptions elsewhere. However, TTGmice has learned that travel restrictions have brought about a “small impact” on the show’s total numbers.
AIME is all set for the show next week; photo from last year’s event
“AIME is shaping up really well,” said Matt Pearce, CEO of Talk2 Media & Events, which took over the reins of AIME and launched a reboot last year.
“The one thing all events have to consider is the “what happens if” and AIME is no different. This year it is bushfires and coronavirus, hence we have had to keep our hosted buyer recruitment open longer, our diaries open longer and generally ensure our marketing of AIME is extended. We are working hard to ensure that our visitors and exhibitors have a successful show.”
Pearce admits this year’s AIME will have a different flavour however. “There may be some additional emphasis on dealing with the impacts of these natural disasters, but the fundamentals of AIME won’t change and in fact, will help our visitors find alternative locations and opportunities.”
TTGmice understands there are currently about 2,000 registrations with numbers still being added. Last year’s registrations recorded more than 2,500 attendees. AIME maintains its overall number of participants has increased over the last two years, but Pearce believes it “could have been even higher” if there was no coronavirus.
This year’s AIME will launch an Associations Round Table for industry members to discuss issues relevant to the sector. It will also see the continuation of the Knowledge Exchange Program, a full day of lectures and workshops relevant to the business events community.
“The tone of (AIME) won’t change,” said Pearce. “We are the first large-scale event of the year, so we know people are keen to get on with and drive their businesses. This is even more true this year,” he added.
Luxperia partners SME operators to curate travel experiences around Asia
Vietnam-based luxury DMC is aiming to disrupt the market and offer a platform for South-east Asian SME operators to shine.
In an age of corporate buy-outs and acquisition of DMCs, the team behind Luxperia are doing things differently. The Ho Chi Minh City-headquartered company has spent the last 14 months gathering a collective of boutique operators from across South-east Asia to curate innovative itineraries that tap into their wealth of ground knowledge.
Luxperia partners SME operators to curate travel experiences around Asia
Linh Le, principal and co-founder of Luxperia, said: “During the last 10 years, there has been a lot of acquisitions with corporates buying DMCs and tour operators, through to ground suppliers. However, we’re seeing growth in the number of local SME operators. We don’t want to create another DMC model but a network of smaller DMCs to work as one collective.”
Luxperia has brought together a network of experts in MICE, adventure and culinary tourism across the region to craft creative itineraries that offer authentic and unique local experiences, enabling the DMC to curate a diverse range of luxury, niche-led itineraries.
Said Le: “We want to make it win-win for both economies and international buyers. We are seeing increased competition from large DMCs, but we want to use that as a positive. If we can turn it around and share best practices, learn from one another, then there’s huge benefits for SME operators to join together.”
Sustainability is another key driver of Luxperia’s philosophy. Its collective of operators includes grassroots experts able to tap into their local networks, ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism.
Added Le: “It’s important we support and boost local economies with each of these small individual players. For example, a regional expert in northern Laos would know local communities and cottage industries. Supporting these artisan villages, buying local produce and introducing crafts to international tourists helps the growth of the micro-economy and adds to jobs.”
With Luxperia’s Spain-based CEO Vicente Catala having established the company in Spain, Portugal and Latin America, Le is now tasked with growing business from English-speaking markets, including the UK, Australia, Europe and the US.
Added Le: “What’s most important is we offer a multifaceted win-win scenario for local people and communities, the buyer and the end consumer.”
Nine Hilton properties in Malaysia have come together to unveil Elevating Ideas, a flexible meeting package that reinforces its Meet with Purpose concept with sustainable practice, healthy food choices and mindful breaks.
The participating hotels are Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Hilton Petaling Jaya, Hilton Kota Kinabalu, Hilton Kuching, DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur, DoubleTree by Hilton Melaka, DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang, and Hilton Garden Inn Puchong.
Room rates start from RM165 (US$40) nett/per room, per night, while full-day meeting packages go for RM110 nett and up.
Event planners can enjoy discounts and complimentary rooms plus upgrades, as well as a complimentary delegate pass for every 10 paying delegates and more.
Bookings have to be made by March 31, 2020, with events to be held from now until June 31, 2020.
Marriott International has opened the first Courtyard by Marriott in Suwon, South Korea, part of the new MICE Complex within Suwon Gwanggyo New Town.
The newly-opened Courtyard by Marriott Suwon offers 288 rooms, ranging from the lead-in 28m2 Premiers to the 84m2 Lake Park Suite.
Meeting amenities include the 70-seater Executive Lounge featuring views of Gwanggyo Lake Park, the Lake Park Ballroom which can take up to 300 pax theatre-style, as well as three multipurpose boardrooms for 16 pax each theatre-style.
There is also a fitness centre, laundry room, and two F&B options including the Suwon Kitchen which serves an international menu and has four private dining rooms.
For guest’s convenience, the hotel is connected with the Suwon Convention Center, Gwanggyo Lake Park, Galleria Department Store, and Aquarium.
Chinese restaurant Mott 32, founded and operated by Hong Kong-based restaurant group Maximal Concepts, has opened its latest outpost in Singapore.
This follows locations in Hong Kong (the first opening six years ago), Las Vegas, Seoul, and Vancouver. Located on the Galleria Level of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, the 149-seater Mott 32 is open for dinner daily, with lunch service commencing today.
Soft Quail Egg, Iberico Pork, Black Truffle Siu Mai
Helming the kitchens of Mott 32 Singapore is Hong Kong-born executive chef Chan Wai Keung. With over 35 years of professional culinary experience, the veteran is known for his mastery in traditional Cantonese cooking, specialising in seafood, dim sum and soups.
Mott 32 Singapore will be serving iconic dishes from the original Mott 32 menu, such as the Barbecue Pluma Iberico Pork Glazed with Yellow Mountain Honey, and the Apple Wood Roasted Peking Duck with Mott 32’s “Signature Cut”.
A number of offerings will be exclusive to Mott 32 Singapore, such as the Signature Crispy Sugar Coated Peking Duck Bun, Crispy Prawns with Salty Egg Yolk and Oatmeal, and the Wok-Fried Live Whole Crab in Black Pepper Singapore Style.
In addition to the a-la-carte menu, Mott 32’s menu will also feature handmade Cantonese dim sum items with a twist, such as Soft Quail Egg, Iberico Pork, Black Truffle Siu Mai; and South Australian Scallop, Garoupa, Caviar & Gold Leaf, Egg White Dumpling.
Mott 32 is in possession of an extensive wine collection, and its mixologists have created a selection of cocktails inspired by Asian ingredients and culture, three of which are exclusive to Singapore.
Philippe Bartholomi, co-founder and COO of Hospitality Resources – a new hotel management firm formed in Cebu last year – will also take on the general manager role for its first managed property, the soon-to-open The Reef Island Resort Mactan Cebu.
Bartholomi was previously with another management company, Hospitality Innovators, as corporate group director and general manager.
His general manager stints across the country include Century Park Sheraton Manila, Fridays Boracay Resorts and Manila Polo Club.
Mark Sands has been promoted to vice president of wellness at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas in Bangkok, Thailand.
Having joined the group in 2011 as area spa director, Sands played a significant role in creating and launching many of the brand’s wellness initiatives, while leading spa operations.
Prior to that, Sands worked at the Ananda in the Himalayas for six years.
Raty: firm plans in place, beginning with ICCA Indonesia formation, to advance the country's MICE sector
The ICCA Indonesia Committee is all set to hold the inaugural ICCA Indonesia Forum 2020 on February 25 in Jakarta.
Launched by the newly-formed ICCA Indonesia members’ community, the forum aims to bring about more visibility for Indonesia on the international stage, and elevate the capacity and capability of the country’s meetings sector.
Raty: firm plans in place, beginning with ICCA Indonesia formation, to advance the country’s MICE sector
Raty Ning, chairman of the ICCA Indonesia Committee, said: “Apart from fostering the growth of the MICE industry in Indonesia, which includes education and networking, the ICCA Indonesia Forum 2020 is held in support of the government’s programme to elevate Indonesia’s position as one of the world’s preferred MICE destinations.”
Similarly, she added that Jakarta was chosen as the location for the forum as it was in line with the city’s government initiative to raise the city’s profile as a prominent MICE and Events destination.
The event aims to attract 200 participants from Indonesia’s business events and related industries including representatives from major associations, as well as regional government officials. Both national and international speakers will be featured.
Raty explained: “There are (currently) 10 ICCA members from Indonesia, all of whom are major players in Indonesia. We want more companies to join ICCA, as we want to be able to combine forces and appear as one Indonesia at international forums and win non-government events. We used to attend ICCA events as individual members.”
She pointed out that Indonesia already had the facilities and infrastructure, as well as relevant experience in handling mega government events like the Climate Change Conference and World Bank IMF Annual Meetings. However, very few large-scale association meetings have been held in Indonesia.
Internally, the committee also sees the need to elevate the capacity of Indonesian stakeholders through education. Plans are in motion to hold two to three educational forums a year in different business events cities in the country.
“We have often heard people talk about networking, presentation and bidding for events, but how to do all that effectively may not be skills that many have mastered,” she said. Raty added that she had seen bids fail, not because of the offered content, but because of the way it was presented.
Moreover, sending a government official that is a decision-maker, to bid sessions, sends a clear message that the destination is serious in its intention to host the event.
Currently, Indonesia’s ICCA members include the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Pacto Convex, Royalindo Convention International, Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta International Expo, Indonesia Convention Exhibition, Grand City Convex Surabaya, Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre, Bali International Convention Centre, and The Trans Luxury Hotel.
Gold Coast projects A$40 million in losses due to nCoV
Australia’s business events sector has begun to feel the knock-on effects from airline disruptions as a result of the global Novel Coronavirus threat.
Reports of cancellations for incentive groups, as well as larger meetings have emerged, as the country moves out of the holiday season into the business events season. This comes as dozens of airlines around the world, including Qantas, suspend their routes to China for the weeks ahead.
Gold Coast projects A$40 million in losses due to nCoV
Tourism Accommodation Australia’s CEO Michael Johnson told TTGmice: “The substantial amount of cancellations of groups from hotels is starting to affect our business sector, as groups and large conferences are starting to now reconsider travel.”
“(It could be) because there are Chinese delegations within that conference, but very sizeable conferences (are also) cancelling out of CBD locations…. I think the only thing that we have in our favour is that due to the bushfires, we have (already) been working closely with government on a recovery plan,” he continued.
Johnson added several “sizeable international conferences” scheduled for travel to Sydney have pulled out, but declined to elaborate further. When invited to respond, ICC Sydney said it received “minimal enquiries” from clients regarding upcoming bookings.
“At this stage, we have had a small number of events postponed or cancelled,” said ICC Sydney’s CEO, Geoff Donaghy. “We are working with these clients to find the best possible solution to their situations and are continuing to monitor the situation closely both at ICC Sydney and across the ASM Global group.”
Melbourne Convention Bureau is also reporting minimal impact, with CEO Julia Swanson pointing out that the corporate meeting and incentive sectors from China represent less than 10 per cent of their business mix, and in the meantime is urging any affected groups to reschedule rather than cancel their plans.
However, the situation appears more dire in the Gold Coast, where travel disruptions caused by the coronavirus is projected to cost at least A$40 million (US$27 million). “This could increase significantly, depending on how and when the coronavirus is contained, and the threat removed,” said Destination Gold Coast’s CEO Annaliese Battista.
“The (coronavirus) setback couldn’t have come at a worse time, with the temporary group travel ban coming into effect two days into the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday period. We are seeing widespread cancellations as a result, which is affecting our leisure and business events sectors. This is on top of a 20 per cent decrease in group bookings that we were already shouldering (from the bushfires),” she lamented, despite the Gold Coast being otherwise unaffected by the current bushfire season.
The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) expects the coronavirus will continue to have an immediate impact until a vaccine is discovered and travel return to normal.
“There are approximately 250 international bids in play, where a host destination has not yet been selected,” said AACB CEO Andrew Hiebl. “Given the long-term nature of the business events industry, it is too early to tell the impact of Coronavirus on these decisions. (However) the business events industry relies upon the face-to-face nature of how we meet and do business. Any threat to this basic principle and restrictions placed upon it will have a devastating impact on our industry.”
In response, Australia has launched campaigns to encourage domestic tourism in both the leisure and business events markets to mitigate the twin impact of the bushfires and coronavirus.
Announced last week, the Event Here This Year campaign – supported by the A$76 million National Bushfire Recovery Fund – urges the local meetings sector to reconsider their conference destination choices to support the struggling tourism industry, which is still trying to assess and quantify the damage from both ongoing events.
The Event Here This Year campaign will run in parallel with Tourism Australia’s Holiday Here This Year campaign, directed at leisure travellers.
“(The dollar impact) will be a sizeable amount once that data becomes available, especially for businesses that are heavily involved with the China market. It has hit us at a (crucial) time and it turned off like a tap, so it can’t be replaced immediately. Every effort will go into minimising the impact, but in the immediate future, it’s going to have huge effects,” Johnson concluded.
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