Rooms
Outpost Hotel offers 193 sleek rooms, all measuring equally at 24m2 – including the Deluxe Room with patio. I stayed in the Deluxe Room with sea view, furnished with a king bed, a mini-sofa, an open-concept sink, and separate stalls for the toilet and shower.
The room might be no-frills, but it wasn’t without style. It was polished with sleek minimalist touches: matte-black hardware lined the marble and glass furnishings, and a panelled floor-to-ceiling window that opened out to a beautiful sea view that stretched to infinity.
MICE facilities
Strategically placed within Far East Hospitality’s (FEH) cluster, The Outpost Hotel allows its guests to take advantage of meeting and event facilities at the dedicated Events Centre heritage building. The Events Centre’s ground floor houses three rectangular breakout rooms, each able to accommodate up to 80 pax – ideal for mid-scale meetings, networking sessions or even teambuilding activities.
On the second floor is the Revelry Hall, a 240m2 space good for up to 300 person. Featuring high ceilings and elegant chandeliers, it is more suitable for sophisticated conferences or corporate events.
Groups can also make use of event spaces at the adjacent Village Hotel Sentosa. Village Square is a 330m2 space that can accommodate up to 300 pax and includes an open kitchen for more relaxed programmes. It can also be divided into smaller spaces should it be required. For even larger events, The Commune can host up to 500 people in a 778m2 space, making it the cluster’s largest venue.
Lobby
Other facilities
A great draw here is the private pool – restricted to only Outpost Hotel guests – a welcome respite with a calming sea view, away from the other themed pools in the main cluster.
The hotel also has a gym, while F&B options are available throughout the FEH properties. Outpost Hotel itself has a food truck and a pool bar at the pool deck. The lobby is situated on level three, away from the drop-off point, for greater privacy and quiet.
Service
Upon arriving at the drop-off point, a staff member was ready to greet me and usher me up to the lobby. While waiting to be checked in, I was offered a delicious welcome mocktail in a copper pineapple mug complete with metal straw.
My favourite twist to the stay was the mini-bar selection. After checking in, I was given a basket and asked to pick out a complimentary range of snacks and a drink in place of a generic mini-bar. This personal touch is a great way to ensure guests feel taken care of during the stay.
Verdict
The Outpost Hotel is stylish and minimal in both design and guest treatment, in a way that hits the right notes to make one remember the experience.
Drive down France’s roads while on a sensorial road trip with Hertz
Hertz wheels out Voyage à la Française tours in France
Hertz Europe, part of Hertz Global Holdings, has unveiled Voyage à la Française self-driving tours in France, beginning with the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur itinerary.
The first itinerary, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, follows the delicate scents of local perfumeries and the fields throughout the region. To introduce customers to the unique fragrances of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Hertz France is providing guests with a specially designed gift box from local perfumer Fragonard, containing lavender soap and perfume. Additionally, Voyage à la Française renters will receive a travel guide highlighting where to discover the region’s best scents.
The Voyage à la Française series will offer customers five regional itineraries – one for each of the five senses – to discover the best of France. Each sensorial tour comes with the rental of a premium vehicle, such as an Alpine A110 sports car, or DS7 Crossback and DS3 Crossback premium SUVs. As part of the package, customers will have the option to have an additional driver added free of charge.
These tours can be adapted for small corporate groups such as incentives.
Hertz’s Voyage à la Française is currently available from the company’s branch at Nice Airport, with an expansion to more locations across the French Riviera this month. The service will be then be launched in the other four regions in France between the end of this year and summer 2020.
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center to be expanded
The Baker-Polito Administration has announced plans to pursue the expansion of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) in South Boston, with the goal of consolidating the city’s major convention business in one location.
The plan calls for the sale of the Hynes Convention Center in Boston’s Back Bay neighbourhood, which will open up a parcel for redevelopment in the heart of the city. This move is part of a financing plan for BCEC’s expansion.
“Boston is a popular convention destination, and there has been market demand for larger, more flexible event space in recent years. Our plan will make Boston’s convention space more efficient and maximise new economic opportunities in both the Seaport and the Back Bay, benefiting the City of Boston and the Commonwealth,” said Massachusetts’ governor Charlie Baker. “
Fringe medical events happening during Expo 2020 Dubai
During the six-month-long Expo 2020, Dubai will also be hosting nine medical conferences and specialised events at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC).
The nine events – expected to attract attendees from across the world – will run from October 20, 2020 until April 10, 2021, and will be organised by MCO, a Dubai-based medical conference and consumer events specialist.
Events scheduled to be held at DEC include a Virtual Reality, and Robotics Expo pediatric, orthopaedic and surgery conferences, as well as events focusing on cutting-edge technological advances such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing and wearable technology.
Set amid 18 hectares of tropical flora and fauna on the Gaafu Alifu Atoll is Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort, the latest Accor hotel to open in the Maldives.
The all-inclusive resort boasts 122 overwater and beachside villas, including two exclusive Aqua Villas featuring bedrooms submerged beneath the waters, from where guests can get up close with the region’s marine life. Meanwhile, The Royal Suite is a resort within a resort, providing complete privacy and indulgence.
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort
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Guests will never go hungry, for the resort boasts six outlets across the island. Options include Mélange, an all-day dining restaurant; The Hub, a sunken pool bar offering signature drinks and sharing plates; Saffron Affair for tapas and crafted cocktails; and Souq Oven for Middle Eastern dishes, for pairing with a wine list featuring over 80 wines from around the world. For something more casual, guests can enjoy healthy café treats at Sol Rising; or one of the region’s first organic, vegetarian and vegan restaurants, Phat Chameleon, set amid a vegetable and herb garden. For those on the go, the Bites on Wheels food cart, offers refreshing sorbets and light snacks throughout the day.
Other facilities include a jogging track with five fitness stations, as well as the Spa by Phytomer with eight treatment rooms. Nature walks, arts and crafts class, marine conservation talks, scuba diving, snorkelling and outdoor sports are also available to guests.
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort is accessible by domestic flight 55 minutes from Velana International Airport in Malé, followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride from Kooddoo Airport.
High personalisation and authentic experiences have trickled in from the leisure sector and taken root in business events, and Singapore’s industry is coming up with increasingly creative solutions that bring out the flavour of the Lion City.
Setting the tone last year, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) launched the Tour Design Challenge to encourage the development of immersive tours that tell an engaging tale about Singapore which appeals to MICE visitors. For this, tour operators participated in a “Learn-Pitch-Pilot” process comprising industry workshops and site visits. Selected applicants were given grant support to pilot these new tours.
Skyline of Singapore’s CBD
Tours that were successfully launched include Singapore 1920s: Trails of Ah Huat tour by Let’s Go Singapore and the Silicon Valley of Singapore insider tour by UBE Singapore. The latter takes participants through thriving innovation hubs, one-north and JTC Launchpad, and is the debut product of UBE Singapore. The brand was recently established by tour operator Woopa Group in light of the demand for immersive concepts to stimulate the MICE industry.
“UBE is the pioneer of start-up and business innovation tours in Singapore. We aim to offer unique localised experiences to interact with creative start-ups and businesses from various key industries,” said TY Suen, founder & CEO of Woopa Group.
“In the past two years, we have seen existing players and tourist guides start to innovate and develop more unique tour experiences. It has also began to attract even players outside of the industry,” he added.
The Tour Design Challenge is part of STB’s ongoing collaborations with industry players “to catalyse new tours to build stronger destination affinity” with MICE visitors, said Dr Edward Koh, executive director, conventions, meetings & incentive travel, STB.
He added: “Authentic local experiences and customised solutions help to enhance the overall experience of business visitors. They deepen visitors’ engagement with Singapore as an inspiring destination that offers experiential events and authentic local character.”
Event planners are also seeing a parallel trend towards demand for exhibitions and conventions that bring out authentic flavours of Singapore. This May, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) played host to the Skift Forum Asia held at Equarius Hotel, which featured uniquely Singaporean dishes at live stations and meeting areas designed to resemble traditional kampung huts and coffee shops.
“There is an increase in demand for bespoke events and festival-style conventions with greater elements of entertainment, networking and audience engagement rolled into one, alongside the formal seminars. With more emphasis on creative programming, flexibility, customisation and out-of-the-box ideas are key,” said an RWS spokesperson.
Aloysius Arlando, CEO of SingEx Holdings, claimed that localised event experiences are an instance of “highly customised solutions” that can leave a “significant impact” on attendees. SingEx is well-acquainted with running innovative F&B experiences – it popularised the concept of festivalisation through its Singapore Fintech Festival, where guests enjoyed an all-day, multi-ethnic Asian menu in a space spruced up with sampan boats and a batik motif.
Such localised experiences are examples of “novel highlights” that SingEx is seeking to integrate into its suite of solutions, having revealed earlier this year the possibility of introducing “hawker-style” dining concepts for event organisers.
This will be officially announced in Q4 this year, when Singapore EXPO and MAX Atria, which are operated by SingEx, are slated for a relaunch with a new suite of customisable event solutions. This will be led by “a service partnership approach”, said Arlando, in which SingEx will function as both venue provider and a “full-service concierge” to “co-develop a customised suite of products and services” with clients.
He added: “The bleisure trend is predominantly increasing, (and as) international MICE delegates are taking the opportunity to mix work with leisure while travelling, they too want to explore like a local… being able to offer experiences that embrace local flavours and culture will provide international clients with a deeper impression of Singapore as a unique destination.”
Creative events have ignited so much demand that The Special Event Show will make its Asia debut in RWS this November, converging the top offerings in event conceptualisation, planning and show production to bridge buyers with MICE service providers.
Blair Fowler has been appointed general manager of Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, bringing more than 15 years of operational experience in the US, the UK, Australia and South-east Asia to his new role.
He is no stranger to Marriott International, having first joined the company in 2008 in Queensland, Australia. In 2010, he moved to Thailand to become rooms division manager in Hua Hin. This marked the start of a five-year period living and working in the country.
In 2011, he moved to the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel, and worked his way up from director of rooms operations to director of operations, and then to acting general manager.
In 2015, Blair achieved his first full general manager’s role at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon in Vietnam.
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.
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
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
