CWT M&E and Kaplan Higher Education Academy (KHEA) – part of private education institution Kaplan in Singapore – have signed an agreement to enhance employment opportunities for students in the hospitality & MICE industries.
As part of this partnership, CWT M&E will create a job-shadowing programme for around 50 KHEA students over the course of three years. Students pursuing a Diploma in Hospitality Services & Events Operations at KHEA will be eligible to join the programme alongside their regular classes.
From left: Kaplan Singapore’s Christopher Harris; Kaplan Higher Education Academy’s May Soh; CWT Meetings & Events’ Sam Lay and Xinling Yap
Over a month, participating students will support CWT M&E’s daily operations including venue sourcing, onsite support, budget entries, and supplier management. CWT M&E will also provide training opportunities for students to gain hands-on exposure to the MICE industry.
Students who meet the CWT M&E recruitment criteria upon graduation will be given the opportunity to apply for jobs with the company.
Sam Lay, senior director for Asia Pacific at CWT M&E, pointed out a “huge demand for skilled meetings and events professionals” in Singapore and said the partnership will help to “contribute to the industry’s talent pipeline”, especially since his team in Singapore is “managing nearly twice as many meetings, events and incentive trips compared to just five years ago”.
May Soh, vice president of sales and market development, KHEA, added that this partnership will help to provide students with “the opportunity to gain hands-on, real world experience related to their field of study”, which will be a “valuable stepping stone to a career in the hospitality & MICE sectors”.
Globally, wellness has emerged as one of the most popular ways to spruce up hospitality offerings, but the new Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok wants to go a step further – by tapping world-class physicians and latest molecular science in its lifestyle and wellness destination resort proposition.
An urban retreat tucked among greenery in Bangkok’s Ploenchit area, the new 293-key destination spa resort is clearly leveraging its connection, with owner Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), Thailand’s largest private hospital group that bought the former Swissôtel Nai Lert Park Bangkok in 2016.
Movenpick BDMS Bangkok’s lobby bar
Speaking to TTG Asia ahead of the property’s soft opening on June 1, Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok general manager, Bruno Huber, said that the resort’s access to doctors and medical experts, and its correspondingly body of knowledge and services in the field, are what distinguish it from other wellness properties in Thailand.
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok is conceived as a destination spa resort promoting long and healthy living, not unlike wellness resort titans such as Canyon Ranch in the US, Huber emphasised.
“We are not a hospital but a spa. It’s a hotel for healthy people, and we’re into prevention (of illnesses) and not fixing (them),” he stressed. “We have all the science behind it, as well as all the medical equipment.”
Next door, the BDMS Wellness Clinic – a purpose-designed wellness and illness prevention centre – offers a wide array of wellness treatments and illness prevention therapies, spanning health screening to chromosome/DNA testing to fertility programmes.
Movenpick BDMS Bangkok’s swimming pool
Furthermore, “explosive growth” in wellness tourism worldwide in the last decade makes it an opportune time to launch the Mövenpick wellness property in Bangkok, said Huber, especially as the Thai capital is already an established medical tourism hub in region and the Tourism Authority of Thailand is keen to develop the country’s wellness travel sector to the next level.
While retaining the structure of the former Swissôtel Nai Lert Park Hotel in which Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok now resides, the rest of the low-rise modernist architecture has been given a major overhaul, featuring an airy lobby with plenty of natural light, tiered corridors and lush greenery surrounding the premises in its latest incarnation.
Guestrooms start from an expansive 42m2, with each room offering wellness amenities like mood lighting, yoga mats and bouncing balls, and there are plans to roll out vitamin C showers in the future.
Suites make up a significant ratio of the accommodation at 92 keys, of which 15 units feature Mövenpick’s “first in Asia” YouBed, a Swiss invention that allows adjustment of softness and hardness, according to Huber.
Established nutritionist Gabriela Kurz has been roped in as consultant to develop healthy, GMO-free menus for F&B offerings, as well as coffee breaks for corporate events.
Meanwhile, the resort has its eyes set on attracting health-conscious travellers seeking sanctuary-type accommodation in Bangkok, MICE market, corporates and embassies in the area, and long-stayers from the BDMS Wellness Clinic next door.
“We are also a convention hotel attached to such (wellness) facilities,” Huber pointed out.
The property boasts 2,000m2 of event spaces, including the Chamchuri Ballroom that can host up to 800 delegates, three meeting rooms that can be divisible into smaller rooms, and a host of function spaces across the property from private dining room in the all-day-dining Tamarind restaurant to outdoor receptions by the pool.
The hotel’s partnership with BDMS Wellness Clinic also gives it ready connections and access into the medical and pharmaceutical fields for MICE leads, although Huber stresses that the property is keen to court business events from all industries.
In the pipeline is a 780m2 spa, which will offer traditional Thai medicine using brand-new technology as well as non-invasive beauty treatments, and the signature restaurant – both of which are scheduled to launch with the resort’s grand opening this year-end.
Singapore, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Hong Kong have emerged as the top five cities within Asia-Pacific, according to the Asia Pacific Destination Report 2019 published by American Express Meetings & Events, a division of American Express Global Business Travel (GBT).
The American Express Meetings & Events survey also revealed the key drivers behind this as relating to minimal travel times within Asia-Pacific countries, cultural variety, cost, and the emergence of attractive second-tier meeting cities.
Singapore (pictured) is the top meeting destination in Asia-Pacific
The report surveyed 200 Meetings & Events professionals across the region, focusing on the top five meetings and events cities, as ranked by Cvent’s annual destinations list.
According to the research, 47% of meeting planners are seeing a strong interest in operating meetings within the region, while 63% said this interest was increasing.
“We anticipate that Asia-Pacific would continue to rise in popularity globally as a meetings and events destination, but to see such a level of interest across a spectrum of cities is encouraging for the longer-term success of the region,” said Jamie Roseburgh, market leader, Singapore, India and ASEAN, American Express Meetings & Events.
“Our research shows respondents enjoyed the relatively short travel times and the different cultural experiences that come within a wide variety of nearby destinations. As meeting planners face increased pressure to provide unique experiences, they can look to Asia-Pacific as an appealing destination,” added Roseburgh.
Despite Asia-Pacific’s rising popularity, the region is not without challenges. Potential language barriers across countries, as well as rising costs, have been identified as possible obstacles when deciding on a destination.
The 2019 Global Meetings Forecast from American Express Meetings & Events further revealed that costs are rising faster than budgets, with hotel rates within Asia Pacific expected to rise by an average of 1.1%, while overall meeting spend across the region is expected to rise by only 0.9%.
Roseburgh said: “Well-established global cities such as Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore are typically considered expensive for executing large-scale meetings or events. As planners are under increasing pressure to maximise every dollar spent, this may fuel greater interest in countries such as Vietnam and Thailand where new experiences can often be delivered at a lower price point.
To reduce risks, such as safety hazards or dealing with disreputable operators, it’s common for meeting organisers to stick to cities and suppliers with which they’re familiar. While it’s likely that increased business and leisure travel to new cities will increase familiarity and possible Meetings and Events interest, meetings organisers should also conduct suitable due diligence in new, interesting, and cost-effective locations, to increase their options for future events.”
A full copy of the Asia Pacific Destinations Report 2019 can be downloaded here.
The Australian city of Sydney will add the Sydney Coliseum Theatre to its events portfolio, once the state-of-the-art theatre venue opens in 2020.
Constructed to the tune of A$100 million (US$72.8 million), the purpose-built venue will be located within the West HQ precinct in the city centre, and will be able to accommodate audiences of between 300 to 2,000.
A rendering of how Sydney Coliseum Theatre’s lobby will look like
The auditorium will have retractable seating, and be able to accommodate up to 2,000 delegates in theatre mode. Unique break-out spaces for delegates include a rehearsal room for 150, VIP room, 18 dressing rooms, banquet areas within foyers and outdoor cocktail spaces.
Aside from conferences, the multifunctional space will be able to seat up to 550 guests for a banquet event, awards night or gala dinner. It can also hold 750 pax for a cocktail party.
Not only a theatre, the Sydney Coliseum Theatre also features a Rehearsal Space and Outdoor Courtyard which presents more possibilities for events.
The full-sized rehearsal space is also ideal for VIP private functions. The outdoor courtyard – complete with Terrazzo flooring – can be used for pre-show VIP soirees, corporate cocktail gatherings, post conference debrief sessions, opening night private events and after-show parties.
Pattaya’s latest attraction is beckoning meeting planners, enticing them with an opportunity to meet differently – outdoors and among pretty blooms.
Flowerland Pattaya, opened in December 2018, is located in Map Prachan Lake in the eastern part of the Thai resort town. Spanning 16.2 hectares, it is said to be the largest garden in Pattaya.
Flowerland Pattaya
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The attraction displays a wide range of flora from tropical locations as well as cold countries. Highlights include the viewpoint zone which has an iconic bridge where visitors could take photos, an aquarium and four domes housing plants from temperate lands. There is also a large fountain that dances to lights and sounds, creating spectacular 3D shows.
Flowerland Pattaya welcomes venue hires, and allows its outdoor areas to be transformed into platforms on which to create corporate events and activities, such as conferences, meetings and teambuilding programmes.
The cost of hiring venues at Flowerland Pattaya start from 5,000 baht (US$156) for the small meeting rooms, up to 85,000 baht for both indoor and outdoor spaces, excluding F&B cost. Should F&B be required, the garden will also be able to make suitable arrangements.
Banyan Tree Phuket has reopened The Lagoon Deck – a new indoor venue built over an open-air space – for event bookings, following renovations.
Featuring 454m2 of space with floor-to-ceiling windows, the pillarless space offers oversized glass windows overlooking the resort’s main lagoon and gardens, allowing maximum daylight into the space. At night, it transforms into a dreamy venue bathed in moonlight. The Lagoon Deck’s interior design keeps with the contemporary Thai architecture and design of the 25-year-old resort.
Banyan Tree Phuket - The Lagoon Deck
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The property’s largest event space is able to hold celebrations for up to 500 guests, sit-down dinners for up to 300 guests, or corporate meetings for up to 220 guests.
The venue rental of The Lagoon Deck is 65,000 baht (US$2,033), while a minimum of 105,000 baht F&B charge for full venue hire applies.
The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali has promoted executive chef Manoj Rawat to the position of director of F&B.
Rawat has spent more than 20 years in the kitchen, and has now taken on a more senior managerial role. He has been in charge of the resort’s culinary team since 2015, where he assumed responsibility for elevating F&B services across the resort. He also helped to introduce more healthy offerings in line with Westin’s wellness concept.
Event brief
With sustainability at the core of its business, Schneider Electric commissioned Marina Bay Sands (MBS) in Singapore to whip up an “Earth-friendly” Schneider Electric Global Innovation Summit last September.
This was the event’s first time in Singapore, after having visited countries like France, Mexico and India as part of Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit World Tour.
The event welcomed more than 3,200 leading entrepreneurs, executives and industry leaders.
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Challenges
Not only was MBS tasked with giving Schneider Electric’s delegates a memorable impression of Singapore, the venue had to carefully weigh its options for sustainability.
“The Schneider Electric Innovation Summit Singapore was the largest green event that MBS has ever hosted. We had to execute many ‘firsts’ for this event, including putting together the most sustainable menu we’ve ever done,” shared Roger Simons, associate director of sustainability, MBS.
He continued: “It was both challenging and exciting working with our chefs to conceptualise new dishes using ingredients that were locally-sourced, certified organic, sustainable, or responsibly produced. It required us to balance sustainability and creativity to elevate the delegate experience.”
Moreover, Schneider Electric had also requested that the event be completely free of single-use materials, such as plastic or paper cutlery and stationery. This posed a considerable challenge to the MBS team given the scale of the event, explained Simons.
Solution
Going beyond its usual Harvest Menu for green meetings, MBS engaged in a six-month long collaborative process with Schneider Electric to conceptualise a fully sustainable menu featuring ingredients that were organic, Fair Trade- or Rainforest Alliance-Certified, responsibly produced or locally-sourced.
Highlights included Rainforest Alliance-Certified coffee; sustainable rice certified by The Sustainable Rice Platform convened by UN Environment and the International Rice Research Institute; responsibly sourced seafood ingredients; as well as organic products such as meat, wine, butter, eggs and vegetables.
More than 10,400 Earth-friendly meals were served over the two-day event, which included an Innovation Summit Dinner for 1,000 delegates on the first day.
To meet Schneider Electric’s request to eliminate single-use materials, MBS put in place initiatives such as the recycling of lanyards and omitting disposable items across the event floor.
The team went one step further by facilitating the donation of Schneider Electric’s leftover event furniture to the Association for Persons with Special Needs. A total of 320 furniture items such as shelves, sofas and tables were donated, and used to furnish the association’s new Centre for Adults.
Key takeaways
The willingness to go the extra mile for shared goals – sustainability and corporate responsibility – was the key for this successful collaboration between MBS and Schneider Electric, shared Simons.
“It was great working with a client that was fully supportive of the sustainable measures we proposed, and also eager to take their commitment to another level (while) challenging each other to push the green envelope,” he explained.
The event now serves as a benchmark for MBS’ commitment to sustainability.
Simons added: “The success we saw from our work with Schneider Electric also paved the way for future green events, as it allowed us to witness MBS’ capabilities in raising the bar for sustainable meetings.”
Event: Schneider Electric Global Innovation Summit Organiser: Schneider Electric Venue: Marina Bay Sands Date: September 20-21, 2018 Number of participants: More than 3,200
Tane Picken has been appointed as general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, overseeing the Shangri-La Apartments and Shangri La Residences in his new role.
The South African native was previously the general manager at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore. No stranger to the group, Picken was also the general manager of Hotel Jen Penang from 2015 to 2016.
Picken has more than 18 years of hospitality management experience across a variety of luxury hotel brands across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Pictured on May 22, protests escalate in Indonesia’s capital over presidential election results
After riots erupted in Central Jakarta on May 21 and 22 in protest of president Joko Widodo’s re-election, tourism stakeholders are keeping their chins up and stepping up on safety and security until order is restored in the city.
The protests broke out in Jalan Thamrin, near the office of the Election Supervisory Body, before spreading to the neighbouring Tanah Abang, Petamburan, Wahid Hasyim and Sabang.
Pictured on May 22, protests escalate in Indonesia’s capital over presidential election results
At press time, Canada, the US, the UK and Australia have issued travel advisories to their citizens in light of the violent protests in Jakarta that left six dead.
However, hotels in the Ring 1 area that TTG Asia spoke to are expecting to operate as normal, with the majority claiming that impact on business has been minimal.
Khika Meutia Mahardhika, director of marketing and communications at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta, said the property has received many questions regarding the situation, but no cancellations.
She added that the hotel has heightened security and precautionary measures, with a crisis management committee activated as part of protocol.
Likewise, Roman Soleh, assistant marketing communication manager of Holiday Inn Express Wahid Hasyim, said the hotel imposed a lock-down for all guests and staff during protests and riots, given how it is located just steps away from a site of protest.
Roman added: “A few days before the protest, we informed guests (including incoming ones) that the rally was going to take place. We also issued safety precautions. So far, they are fine and have not cancelled.”
With the police raising the alert level for public order and safety until May 25, Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta has lost some business.
Elsa Amalo, marketing communication manager Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta, located in the Tanah Abang area, said: “We received 10 room and three event cancellations on a single day. Mostly, it was because guests were not sure which routes were open and if it was safe to get to the hotel…”
Although the riots are contained within an area in Central Jakarta, Krishnadi, chairman of Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Jakarta chapter, acknowledged that the unrest could impact city-wide hotel occupancy.
He stressed that the extent of tourism impact falls on law enforcement securing Jakarta and arresting perpetrators of the unrest.
Krishnadi believes that as soon as order is restored, tourism will be quick to recover.
“Nowadays people realise (riots) could happen anywhere. Moreover, most the visitors to Jakarta are here to do business. They will need to return to the city as soon as the situation is back to normal,” he opined.
Meanwhile in Bali, Indonesia’s most popular tourist destination, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, deputy governor Bali, commented that the riots have had no impact on tourism. “Bali is enjoying an increase in the number of tourists. When compared to the same month in 2018, the number of tourist arrivals increased by three per cent.”
While tourism to Bali does not appear to be threatened, I Ketut Ardana, chairman of ASITA Bali Chapter admitted that he has received some questions from overseas business partners concerned about whether the unrest was likely to spread to Bali.
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.
