four GMS economic corridor projects reflect TCEB’s role as a co-creator of business opportunities, under its ‘Thailand Redefine Your Business Events’ branding. It is also in alignment with the government’s policy to strengthen economic ties with neighbouring countries to become ‘Stronger Together” and make Thailand a regional hub. Apart from that the projects meet the objective of the government’s policy to promote regional cities as a destination.
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is implementing four economic corridor projects, co-hosting and supporting conferences to enhance trade and investment with neighbouring countries of in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
These projects were initiated with GMS countries Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, and are in line with the Thai government’s economic policy to strengthen Thailand’s position as a regional hub, as well as promote the country’s regional cities.
Nichapa: the four GMS economic corridor projects also helps to strengthen economic ties with Thailand’s neighbouring countries
The first conference to gain support is the International Conference on Luang Prabang-Indochina-Mawlamyine Economic Corridor (LIMEC), which spans two cities in Laos, five Thai provinces in the lower northern region, and three cities in the south-eastern part of Myanmar. Run by the Provincial Chapters of the Federation of Thai Industries, Provincial Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Council of Thailand and co-hosted by TCEB, the conference has been held in Thailand for the fifth consecutive year since 2015, each attracting between 400 to 500 delegates. TCEB’s involvement has contributed to 20 business exchanges in 2018 alone, totalling 226 million baht (US$7.4 million) in such sectors as agriculture, food, construction, logistics, health and tourism.
Next, the Cambodia-Vietnam-Thailand Economic Corridor Cooperation Conference (CVTEC) was hosted in 2018 in Pattaya and 2019 in Rayong. In Rayong, an MoU was signed between the three countries to open oceanic transportation routes along the southern coast of Vietnam, Cambodia and eastern coast of Thailand in the four Thai provinces of Trat, Chanthaburi, Rayong and Chonburi. Run by the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thailand-Cambodia Business Council and Tourism Council of Thailand and co-hosted by TCEB, the conference aims to promote trade, tourism, logistics and business travel between the three countries. The trial operation of the oceanic transportation route will begin in 2020 when table-top business sessions will be launched with TCEB’s support for the first time.
The third, the GMS Logistic Forum started in Bangkok in 2018 and the second edition was held in Khon Kaen in 2019. Both editions attracted around 450 delegates, mostly logistics operators from the six GMS countries. Table-top sessions were launched at the event this year, leading to 112 business matching with the total value of 12 million baht. Undertaken by GMS Freight Transport Association (FRETA), Mekong Institute, GMS-BC, Thai Federation of Industries (Khon Kaen Chapter) and co-hosted by TCEB, the event is the first GMS-level logistic conference and complemented Khon Kaen’s potential as a logistic hub of the GMS region due to its current infrastructure investment.
Rounding up the list is the GMS Thailand e-Commerce Economic Corridor (GTEC). TCEB hosted the debut event in Chiang Rai this July to provide a platform to link Thai entrepreneurs with Chinese e-commerce platform operators, resulting in the placement of orders for Thai products worth 70 million baht. TCEB’s aim is to drive GTEC as e-commerce economic corridor and plans to stage GTEC annually and rotate to all regions of Thailand, starting with the north-east in 2020 and the southern region in 2021. GTEC is run by Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Centre, International College of Digital Innovation (Chiang Mai University), Ministry of Commerce Biz Club, and Thai-Shenzhen Friendship Association.
Nichapa Yoswee, TCEB’s senior vice president – business, said in a statement: “TCEB has a policy of using conferences and tradeshows as a tool to drive economic growth and generate economic impacts. So far, four conferences have been held in regional provinces located in the economic corridors that connect with GMS countries.
“Co-hosted and supported financially by TCEB, the conferences have gathered entrepreneurs from Thailand, CLMV and GMS to form networks and join table-top sessions for business exchange. The total value of business exchange between 2018 and 2019 is now standing at 307 million baht.”
Major exhibitions have remained, while some smaller incentives and meetings have relocated
Hong Kong’s political situation is unique and tourism recovery is unpredictable
The uncertain political situation in Hong Kong is taking its toll on the economy, with no light at the end of the tunnel yet
The political storm in Hong Kong is not showing signs of abating since some of its citizens took to the streets in June to march against a controversial extradition bill that was finally axed by chief executive Carrie Lam in August.
The once-peaceful demonstrations have since escalated into wildcat strikes, massive street protests and violent clashes with the police, during which dozens of MTR stations were vandalised.
Despite acceding to one of the five demands listed out by the protestors, Lam’s decision was seen as being too little, too late by the angered protestors who have maintained their fight for democracy.
Hong Kong’s tourism has emerged a casualty, with arrivals plunging 40 per cent in the whole of August.
While MICE arrival numbers for the period after June 2019 have not been published, public activities such as the annual National Day fireworks and month-long Matilda the Musical were scrapped, and several business events were either moved out of Hong Kong or postponed.
For instance, The Global Wellness Summit has moved to Singapore where it will be held from October 15-17, while the HSMAI Hotel Revenue Optimization Conference 2019 has chosen to skip its 2019 gathering in November and work on its 2020 edition in a new location.
As well, two mega lifestyle events – Hong Kong Cyclothon and Wine & Dine Festival – set to take place in Hong Kong later this month have been cancelled. A total of three major events called off in the city since protests started in June over the now-shelved extradition bill.
Varying degrees of impact
Negative news attract the most attention, so the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) has made sure to emphasise business continuity at the destination and the city’s two main venues, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and AsiaWorld-Expo.
HKECIA reported on August 28 that major exhibitions and conferences were “running without incident or interruption” despite demonstrations.
HKECIA chairman, Stuart Bailey, said: “Only one exhibition has chosen to cancel – the Seafood Expo Asia – which is a relatively small event occupying less than 8,000m2 at the HKCEC. All other events have gone ahead without disruption.
“We have seen that protestors are not targeting exhibitions for disruption. The important point for international participants coming to Hong Kong is to understand that the city is safe, secure, and remains a great place to come and do business. The protests are well publicised in advanced and generally do not take place during the weekdays. People can go about their day-to-day business, so be smart, be informed, and be in Hong Kong!”
HKCEC has also reported that business is on as usual since July 1. As of September 16, all events scheduled for FY2019/20 will carry on as planned, with the exception of one international exhibition. The venue will continue to welcome some mega events during the remaining months of 2019, some of which will take up all available exhibition spaces in the HKCEC.
International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), which focuses the business of association meetings, has not heard of any cancellation of such gatherings in Hong Kong.
On the corporate incentives front, Pacific World shared that some programmes in Hong Kong this year were cancelled or postponed, with clients requesting for a change in destinations.
Business development manager, Dwirt J Ang, said: “Given clients’ concerns about the developing situation in Hong Kong, we will work closely together to postpone or re-route events to destinations such as Macau, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Sanya, Taiwan and Japan if needed.”
Bailey said different events would react differently to Hong Kong’s situation, suggesting that corporate incentive trips and conferences taking place in chain hotels were more likely to move.
He explained that corporate incentive trips tend to be more sensitive to destination risks while conferences planned in hotels could easily switch to another city as logistics were less of an issue.
“It’s more about getting the right people together in one place,” he remarked.
The annual Hong Kong Cyclothon and Wine & Dine Festival have been cancelled; Wine & Dine Festival 2018 pictured
Risk and corporate travel
In its eighth destination risk update published on September 20, Steve Vickers and Associates, a specialist risk mitigation and security consulting company, stated that fear is rising among expatriate workers and that Moody’s has scaled down its outlook for Hong Kong.
“Businesses caught in the crossfire have suffered disproportionately. Cathay Pacific has lost senior executives, and had to cut some flights owing to lack of demand,” wrote the Number 8 – Hong Kong Protests – Threat Assessment report.
Naturally, the volatile situation in Hong Kong has hurt corporate travel too.
A CEO with a Hong Kong-based TMC who declined to be named, told TTGmice: “Corporate travellers in and out of Hong Kong are very concerned about the situation, especially since the protests have been continuing for months and the chaos has severely impacted the Hong Kong International Airport.
“Corporate travellers are now more hesitant about planning their trips. We’ve had requests to either cancel or issue tickets just days to a flight. At the same time, clients are investing in alternative land transportation as a backup. Global companies with overseas headquarters are also requesting for Hong Kong staff to fly out for meetings, instead of hosting meetings in Hong Kong.”
Some Hong Kong companies, whose business have been dented by the riots, have also “cut their travel budget and become more conservative in their spending”, he added. “This is reflected in our transactions, which have dropped about 16 to 17 per cent monthly.”
Retaining a glimmer of hope though, the CEO said July and August are low-season months due to the summer holidays, so he will “continue to observe the situation”.
International coverage of Hong Kong’s prolonged riots has also shaped corporate travellers’ perception of the destination, which industry players say will take time to correct.
Gaurav Sundaram, president of ProKonsul, a business travel intelligence company, and the immediate-past regional director of GBTA India, commented: “The Indian market is looking at the developments in Hong Kong with concern. It is unlikely that this perception will change in the immediate short-term given the intensity of the disturbances.”
Through a quick poll conducted with 300 Indian corporate travel buyers, ProKonsul found that “developments in Hong Kong’s political landscape and related issues with Cathay Pacific” have had a “significant negative impact on travel to/through Hong Kong”.
Sundaram added: “We have many queries for guidance or direction to support the enterprise buyer community in India. We have been actively involved in constructing interim strategies and travel policy modifications to support emergency travel during this period with a large section of the Indian business travel community.
“In the last few months, our Indian corporates have ceased all travel on Cathay Pacific, while non-essential trips to Hong Kong have been stopped. Only extremely business-critical meetings that cannot be rescheduled or relocated have been allowed.”
At the same time, ProKonsul’s enterprise buyer community has also avoided Hong Kong as a transit point, leading to “major inconvenience and significantly higher costs due to cancellation, rescheduling and rebooking of flights”.
Routing passengers through alternative South-east Asian transit points have also resulted in higher ticket costs, he added.
The CEO of the Hong Kong-based TMC, too, believes that Hong Kong’s tourism will have a long road to recovery, as the people’s move against the government is expected to be a long-lasting one.
No point of reference
Political upheavals in Asia that has hurt inbound tourism are not rare. Bangkok witnessed its own riots in 2010 and 2013/2014, most of them held in Bangkok. Mumbai was seized in a four-day series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks in November 2008, by terrorists who targeted hotels and public facilities.
When asked if Hong Kong’s speed of tourism recovery could be predicted based on past cases in other lands, industry stakeholders were mixed in their responses.
ProKonsul’s Sundaram drew some similarities in Bangkok and Hong Kong but said “a lot will depend on the responses of Hong Kong and the Chinese government to the situation”.
The CEO of the Hong Kong-based TMC begged to differ, pointing to the vastly different state of government in Thailand and Hong Kong – the former is under the rule of a military organisation, while the latter is a democratic society with its own administrative systems although it is a part of China.
A HKCEC spokesperson agreed, refusing to make comparisons. She did tell TTGmice that “Hong Kong is a remarkably resilient city which has a very unique proposition for event organisers”.
She opined that the city’s “excellent transport and logistics, combined with a dynamic and easily accessible business environment, has made Hong Kong the successful event destination we see today. I have no doubt that events and exhibitions will continue to use Hong Kong as a base once the situation stabilises and normal business gathers pace once again”.
From left: Economist Corporate Network’s Andrew Staples; TripAdvisor’s Dan Penner; Airbnb’s Parin Mehta; and Oakwood’s Dean Schreiber will be taking part in the debut edition of the SG Tourism Leaders Engagement Series
PATA Singapore Chapter and TTG Asia Media have jointly launched the SG Tourism Leaders Engagement Series, a collection of intimate knowledge exchange events featuring thought leaders from across various fields who will discuss hot button issues surrounding and impacting the business of travel, tourism and events.
The debut edition will be a morning half-day event held on November 5, 2019 in Singapore, at the Garden Pavilion at One Farrer Hotel, with two fireside chats, each lasting an hour.
From left: Economist Corporate Network’s Andrew Staples; TripAdvisor’s Dan Penner; Airbnb’s Parin Mehta; and Oakwood’s Dean Schreiber will be taking part in the debut edition of the SG Tourism Leaders Engagement Series
The first fireside chat, When global economic headwinds and geopolitics collide with tourism, will feature speaker Andrew Staples, global editorial director of the Economist Corporate Network, The Economist Intelligence Unit and moderator Robin Yap, chairman emeritus of The Travel Corporation Asia.
Staples will cast his eyes on the forward global economic, political and risk landscape and discuss how recent developments, particularly the US-China trade war, sensitivities on the Korean Peninsula and anti-government clashes in Hong Kong, will impact travel and tourism business.
The second fireside chat, The rising tide of experiential travel, will centre on the rise of experiential travel, how that is changing the way accommodation and destination experiences are marketed and sold.
Joining this session are Dean Schreiber, CEO, Oakwood, and managing director, Oakwood Asia Pacific; Parin Mehta, managing director, Airbnb Trips, Asia Pacific; and Dan Penner, senior regional manager, Asia Pacific, TripAdvisor Experiences, with Xinyi Liang-Pholsena, TTG Asia editor as the moderator.
Explaining the motivation behind the creation of the SG Tourism Leaders Engagement Series, Wong Soon-Hwa, chair of PATA Singapore Chapter and Vice Chair of PATA, said: “This series is a continuation of our successful Singapore Tourism Leaders Forum in March this year. We want to maintain this high level of engagement with our industry peers, including our eight association partners: Association of Singapore Attractions, Cruise Lines International Association, National Association of Travel Agents Singapore, Orchard Road Business Association, Restaurant Association of Singapore, Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers, Singapore Hotel Association, and Singapore Retailers Association. This will allow us to realise the “Power of One”.
“SG Tourism Leaders Engagement Series will be a quarterly series featuring VIP conversations, panel discussions and lively debates, focusing on topical issues and current trends. It will also be a great platform for industry networking.”
Wong will join both sessions as chair of the series to contribute to the discussions.
Darren Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media, the co-presenter of the SG Tourism Leaders Engagement Series, said: “This collaboration allows both PATA Singapore Chapter and TTG Asia Media’s award-winning editorial team to leverage their passion for and understanding of the business we are in, and reach into their extensive network of opinion leaders to co-create some of the most fascinating fireside chat opportunities for the Singapore travel and tourism and business events fraternity.”
Karen Yue, group editor, TTG Asia Media, added: “The travel and tourism and business events industries do not operate in silo, and their health is influenced by macro factors. It is therefore important and beneficial for industry players to have regular big picture conversations with thought leaders across various fields. The SG Tourism Leaders Engagement Series will provide such a platform.”
Each event will be kept to an intimate size to allow maximum interaction, with 100 to 150 attendees allowed.
Participation is free. To register for this event, please click here.
(1) Mr. Arthur Chen, Vice President of Sino Splendid Holdings Limited
(2) Mr. Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media
The 30th edition of the annual TTG Travel Awards commemorated 86 outstanding travel and tourism stars on September 26, 2019, in Bangkok.
Twenty new winners have emerged across various categories, taking home the signature Hermes trophy for the first time. Debuting winners include Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park and MEET Taiwan, who took the honour of Best Business Hotel and Best Convention & Exhibition Bureau respectively.
From left: Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Thailand)’s Tony Wu; Sino Splendid Holdings’ Arthur Chen; Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Thailand)’s Jason Hsu; Meet Taiwan’s Lee Jerchin; and TTG Asia Media’s Darren Ng (yellow tie)
Other first-time winners who made their way into the TTG Travel Awards include Scoot (Best Low-Cost Carrier), Dorsett Hospitality International (Best Mid-Range Hotel Brand), and TST Tourist (Best Travel Agency – Vietnam).
This year’s edition also debuted seven new awards, with a bulk of the new titles in the Travel Services Awards category. The Destination of the Year award, previously an Outstanding Achievement Award in the non-voting category, is now classified as open voting. Other awards which made their debut include Best Luxury Cruise Line, Best River Cruise Line, and Best Travel Technology Provider.
Amid fierce competition, 16 awardees marked their resurgence into the awards. Two winners in particular stood out from the rest. Having previously been awarded in 1999, both Bali, Indonesia and Hanjin Travel Service made a comeback in their respective titles Destination of the Year and Best Travel Agency – South Korea.
In addition, outstanding Achievement Award recipients handpicked by TTG’s editorial team for exceptional contributions as industry role-models are Mario Hardy, CEO of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA); Jim Qian, chairman & CEO of Fosun Tourism Group; and Discova as Travel Personality of the Year, Travel Entrepreneur of the Year and Most Sustainable Travel Company respectively. All are first-time winners to these titles.
Lastly, the TTG Travel Hall of Fame welcomed two new inductees, Best Western Hotels & Resorts (Best Mid-Range Hotel Brand) and Travelport (Best GDS), this year. The new additions brings the total number of honoraries inducted to 19.
The complete list of BT-MICE Award winners are:
Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park for Best Business Hotel
Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld for Best Meetings & Conventions Hotel
Singapore Tourism Board for Best BT-MICE City
Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands for Best Convention & Exhibition Centre
MEET Taiwan for Best Convention & Exhibition Bureau
Phuket’s tourism industry has received a major boost with the recent unveiling of Blue Tree Phuket (pictured)
Business groups seeking to inject something different into their events can head to the newly-opened Blue Tree Phuket in Thailand.
The first phase of the US$35 million, 22.7ha leisure and entertainment destination in the Cherngtalay district, opened in early September. It comprises a 17,000m2 lagoon, water park, variety of F&B and retail outlets, adventure park, kids planet, and an open-air arena.
Phuket’s tourism industry has received a major boost with the recent unveiling of Blue Tree Phuket (pictured)
While positioning itself mainly as a family destination, Blue Tree Phuket is also targeting corporates looking to add unique activities to their itineraries while visiting the island.
Its general manager Michael Ayling said: “There are several hotels close by that are building conference centres. So for MICE business and groups, having an off-site attraction like this is very attractive.”
Blue Tree Phuket is currently working with hotels on the island to drum up business, and so far the response has been positive. Said Ayling: “The hotels we have talked to have been excited by this unique complex. It is a great addition.”
The destination itself has several facilities that can cater to business groups, e.g. a dedicated event island on the lagoon which can cater for up to 80 pax. Various dining options, the Treehouse – comprising a beach lounge, restaurant and bars spread across four floors – and Phuket’s largest open-air arena are also available for private hire. An 8,000m2 park area to the back of the lagoon can host marquees and festivals.
Ayling believes that these venues offer “flexibility” and “exciting options” for the MICE segment. Aside from these venues, the destination also offers a range of teambuilding events such as ziplining, a Ninja Warrior course, and paddle-boarding.
In the coming months, an arts and culture centre, Kids’ Planet and eco hub are slated to open. Plans for phases two and three have yet to be unveiled.
Sailing out to sea presents a unique concept for business meetings and gatherings, but on such trips, shore excursions can hold equal weight in determining the success of the event.
At last month’s Asian MICE Cruise Conference, Naresh Rawal, vice president, sales – India and South Asia, Genting Cruise Lines, stressed: “Land tours play a very important role. The experiences on board the ship are important, but we also try to (create) experiences off the ship.”
Expedition cruising to unfamiliar shores such as the Galapagos are becoming more popular in recent years
For example, Genting Dream offers food trails through Malacca, while World Dream holds cultural immersion and handicraft tours at Japanese ports. Should a ship docks for only a few hours, the cruise liner may go the extra mile to bring local experiences on board for guests.
“One of our ships was in Australia, which is known for its fresh local produce. We brought local produce on board for our guests and called it a ‘farm to ship’ experience,” shared Rawal.
Corporate groups which desire something extra special can also consider chartering a private cruise, which allows full customisation down to the interior decorations and porting duration.
“People have a dream about what certain destinations are, and it’s up to cruise lines to fulfil that dream. For example, Phuket comes alive at night, so there’s no point in porting there from 09.00 to 17.00. You have to customise these things by changing the itinerary and getting creative,” said Steve Bloss, co-founder and president, Worldwide Cruise Associates.
For groups cruising on a scheduled route, Rawal and Bloss advised against taking shore excursions through a third-party ground operator, as the ship will not wait for latecomers.
Bloss also shared that the selection of ports of call determine whether corporate groups take up cruising. He said: “Companies are trying to inspire people to (cruise) and going to the same old places isn’t an answer anymore.
“Expedition cruises to places like the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica and the North Pole are becoming very popular, especially with senior management – people who have been cruising for years. (Companies have to) be creative, even if it means considering some products that are a little more expensive.”
DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort has opened its doors in the heart of Patong, directly opposite a beach that faces the Andaman Sea.
The property features 290 guestrooms and suites ranging from 35m2 to 350m2, where each dwelling features a private balcony or terrace area overlooking the garden or one of the three main swimming pools. It is also the first Hilton hotel in Phuket to introduce the propriety Digital Key technology.
DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort
1 of 5
King Premium Pool Access
Outdoor swimming pool
Swim-up pool bar
Andaman Ballroom
Blah Blah Bar
Guests can relax at one of the three large free-form swimming pools, work out at the 24/7 fitness centre; or dine in one of the five F&B options on-site ranging from all-day dining The Port, to the Blah Blah Bar with outdoor seating which overlooks Patong Beach.
The resort is ideal for small-and-medium sized meetings and events with the Andaman function venue being able to accommodate up to 396 guests. Offering 400m2 of space, an eight-meter ceiling height and a dedicated foyer, it is equipped with the latest audiovisual equipment and can be divided into two venues by an operable wall.
The resort is a 30-minute and 60-minute drive to Phuket town and Phuket International Airport respectively. Located within walking distance of the property are Soi Bangla, the heart of Phuket’s nightlife; Central Patong Shopping Center; Jungceylon Shopping Center and Baan Zaan night market.
The opening marks the brand’s second hotel in the country after DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok.
Holistica, the destination company recently formed by Royal Caribbean Cruises and privately-held ITM Group, has appointed Carlos Torres de Navarra as CEO.
Navarra, who has 20 years of experience in port and destination development, will report to the Holistica board and will be based in Miami, Florida.
“Carlos’ excellent reputation of building relationships and delivering on strategic and commercial initiatives makes him an ideal candidate to deliver on Holistica’s mission,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “We are thrilled to have him on board to meet the needs of coastal communities, local governments, and land, sea, and air travellers (while) helping design the future of destinations globally.”
Prior to joining Holistica, Navarra most recently served as vice president of global port and destination development for Carnival Corporation, and previously, as vice president of strategic and commercial port development for Carnival Cruise Line.
Prior to that, he spent seven years with Royal Caribbean Cruises as assistant treasurer and was involved in the company’s business development, liquidity and capital planning, financial risk management, acquisitions, as well as port development.
Wharf Hotels has appointed Michael Ganster as general manager of Niccolo Chengdu.
Ganster joins Niccolo Chengdu from the Fairmont Beijing, where he spent seven years as general manager.
Originally from Austria, Ganster has a wealth of hospitality experience spanning over 20 years with companies including Hilton, Raffles, Dusit International and Fairmont Hotels, in hotels located in China, Europe, Middle East, Thailand, the UK and the US.
He takes over from Adriano Vences, who has since taken up the leading role at The Murray, Hong Kong a Niccolo Hotel.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s CEO Andy Stuart (left) will be succeeded by Harry Sommer when he steps down year-end
Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Andy Stuart, an industry veteran with 31 years at the company, will step down at the end of this year following the launch of Norwegian Encore.
Harry Sommer, current president, international for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), has been named as successor to Stuart, who will remain with the company as senior advisor through March 31, 2020 to ensure a smooth transition, said the cruise line.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s CEO Andy Stuart (left) will be succeeded by Harry Sommer when he steps down year-end
Stuart joined Norwegian in 1988 and held several key executive positions during his tenure of more than three decades, including president and COO; executive vice president, global sales and passenger services; executive vice president and chief product officer and executive vice president of marketing, sales and passenger services.
“Andy has accomplished everything possible in the cruise industry, including leading its most storied and innovative brand. He will leave on a high note after delivering the brand’s latest ship, Norwegian Encore, the last ship in the most successful ship class in the company’s history,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of NCLH. “We are extremely grateful for his leadership and contributions to Norwegian Cruise Line, our company and the cruise industry.”
Stuart is said to be instrumental in many of the cruise line’s key achievements including the introduction of the Freestyle Cruising offering, which gives guests the choice to dine at whatever time they chose in a variety of dining venues and frees them from the then-industry norm of traditional set dining times in a single venue.
Sommer, in his current role as president, international for NCLH, is responsible for all sales, marketing, public relations and office operations for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises in all markets outside of the US and Canada.
He previously served as executive vice president, international business development and executive vice president and chief integration officer for NCLH and held various executive positions for Prestige Cruise Holdings including chief marketing officer; senior vice president, finance and chief information officer and chief accounting officer.
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
