The ACTE (Association of Corporate Travel Executives) is undergoing a leadership reshuffle following the resignation of its US-based global executive director Greeley Koch last month, as well as the departure of Asia regional director Benson Tang and senior executive Jeffrey Chan, both based in Hong Kong.
Koch was with ACTE since 2012, while Tang joined seven years ago.
Holden is ACTE’s interim Asia director
However Singapore-based John Holden, interim Asia regional director, assured members it was “business as usual” and that he will be leading the April 26 Bangalore Education Forum, followed by the May 7 Singapore Education Forum. Both forums will have about 100 participants.
Holden is an industry veteran with 18 years of experience, and was previously global travel operations head of Goldman Sachs. He was most recently ACTE Asia regional head of business development and a member on the ACTE Asia Regional Council from 2014 to 2017,
In addition, ACTE’s managers in India and China will continue to work with members in the region. Holden shared with TTGmice that Edward Fong has already been appointed as ACTE’s representative in Hong Kong.
“The appointment of the new global director is expected to be announced next month. Once he or she is on board, a decision will be made on the location change for ACTE’s regional office from Hong Kong to Singapore,” Holden added.
The immediate focus over the next two to three months, Holden said, was the development of the Macau Global Summit programme, which will take place on August 26 and 27.
Event management software (EMS) company Aventri has unveiled Aventri Marketplace, a one-stop portal for events.
Marketplace partners on the Aventri platform encompass everything from event promotion and budget management to staffing, ground transportation, payment processing and more.
How the Aventri Marketplace portal looks like
The partners, classified into eight categories on the Aventri Marketplace, are:
Event Staffing – Plannernet, a pool of 1,500 meeting and event specialists in 70 countries
This includes Aventri’s newest partner, Uber for Business. This web-based tool allows organisers to easily create and manage campaigns online by setting parameters for pickup, drop-off, timeframe and ride costs. They pay only for Vouchers their attendees redeem. Plus, this will enable companies to better predict and control transportation costs.
In addition, Aventri has a robust pipeline of future providers. The company will evaluate companies and roll out new partners on an ongoing basis.
“Aventri technology assists planners throughout the event lifecycle,” said Michael Burns, global head of sales and marketing, Aventri.
“Marketplace builds on our promise to customers. The aim is to present top-notch providers that enhance every corner of event planning and management. Using Aventri Marketplace, planners will save time and money, while optimising their events.”
The Ascott has launched Ascott Star Rewards, said to be the world’s first loyalty programme in the serviced residence industry.
Members will enjoy a range of privileges including year-long 10 per cent off Best Flexible Rates, seasonal offers of up to 50 per cent discount, property opening specials, birthday discounts of up to 40 per cent, early check-in and late check-out, as well as perks such as complimentary airport transfers, room upgrades and breakfast.
Ascott Star Rewards is the first serviced residence loyalty programme in the world
Ascott Star Rewards members will also have no cap to the points that can be earned, no minimum points required for redemption, no blackout dates, and even the option to nominate other guests to earn points. Its four membership tiers are based on the guest’s accumulated spending during the qualifying period, starting with the complimentary Classic membership tier, followed by Silver, Gold and Platinum. In addition, members can also easily redeem the points in part or in full through Ascott’s websites for complimentary stays and other privileges.
Alfred Ong, Ascott’s head of global operations, shared: “We are rolling out Ascott Star Rewards to drive more direct bookings on our websites and reduce our cost of sales. We aim to increase our brand websites’ share of online revenue to 40-50 per cent of total online revenue by 2021.
“Within the first 10 days of soft launching this new loyalty programme, the number of room nights booked on our websites by members has tripled and online revenue through our websites has grown by 50 per cent,” he added.
Ascott has revamped its booking websites to enable members to access their rewards, redemptions, booking history and preferences on a personalised dashboard. It has also enhanced members’ online experience by streamlining its room booking process from six to three steps.
To celebrate the launch of Ascott Star Rewards, members will receive 3,000 bonus points upon sign-up via Ascott’s brand websites. Existing Ascott Online Advantage members will be automatically upgraded to Ascott Star Rewards, and they will enjoy a tier match based on their spending with Ascott in 2018 and receive 5,000 bonus points upon their first completed stay from now till December 31, 2019.
Ascott Star Rewards members will have the flexibility to exchange points with My Tauzia Privilege loyalty programme from June 1, 2019, and this will be extended to other loyalty programmes such as CapitaStar; as well as the donation of points to CapitaLand’s philanthropic arm, CapitaLand Hope Foundation. At a later phase, there are plans to work with partners to allow members to redeem points for shopping, dining and entry to attractions.
Peter Savoff has been appointed the new general manager of Darwin Convention Centre in Australia.
Savoff will fill the role following the recent promotion of previous general manager Janet Hamilton to manage Cairns Convention Centre.
Savoff has more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality sector, and joins the AEG Ogden Family from Anthony John Property Group, where he managed the Emporium Hotel since its opening in 2007.
Proir to that, Savoff served in various roles, such as chief executive for McInnes Wilson Lawyers; marketing director for InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for Queensland, Northern Territory, and Papua New Guinea after many years in senior management; and general manager of IHG Hotels in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Cairns.
American Express Global Business Travel (AMEX GBT) has appointed Gerardo Tejado as general manager of American Express Meetings & Events.
In his new role based in Jersey City, New Jersey, US, Tejado will report to GBT’s executive vice president of global supplier relations, Michael Qualantone.
Gerardo Tejado
Tejado will be focused on prioritising a technology-driven transformation of the attendee experience for clients of American Express Meetings & Events.
Prior to this role, Tejado was vice president and general manager for Latin America and the Caribbean, where he was responsible for doubling the size of the GBT footprint in the region. He also managed the company’s propriety operation in Colombia in 2017.
David Reimer, GBT’s senior vice president and general manager for the Americas, will now oversee the Latin America and the Caribbean team and operation.
Turkey: Mandarin Oriental goes to Istanbul
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced the management of a second luxury hotel in Istanbul. The project, which also features branded residences, is scheduled to open in 2022.
The new development comprises three standalone towers and is located in the Etiler residential area, close to the city’s CBD. One of the towers will house Mandarin Oriental Etiler, Istanbul, and boast 158 guestrooms and suites and 16 serviced apartments. The remaining two towers will house 251 keys under the Residences at Mandarin Oriental brand.
The hotel will have three restaurants and bars, adaptable meeting spaces with outdoor areas and terraces, spa, fitness centre, and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
The Residences at Mandarin Oriental will enjoy direct access to the hotel’s facilities, alongside resident facilities such as two outdoor swimming pools with city skyline views, a fitness centre and six beauty treatment rooms.
Portugal: FIL venue confirms plans for expansion
The Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) in Portugal has unveiled its expansion plans, which will see the exhibition centre tripling its area to around 111,000m2 in 10 years time.
The project’s first phase, to be implemented in 2020, is closing the connection space between the four pavilions and the expansion of Pavilion 4, increasing the exhibition area to 58,000m2. The initial phase of the expansion plan also involves a longitudinal building planned for the four pavilions, a multipurpose structure for exhibitions, meeting rooms and parallel sessions, extending the exhibition area to 78,000m2.
The second phase of this project includes the construction of a new building, which will have an auditorium for 5,000 people, two pavilions, meeting rooms and event support facilities, concluding the expansion to about 111,000m2 of space.
Mexico: Riviera Maya to construct a new convention centre
The Barceló Maya Grand Resort complex has announced plans for a major expansion that includes the opening of one of the largest convention centres in the region, the Barceló Maya Arena, in May 2020.
The convention centre will include over 17,650m2 of customisable multi-purpose space for expos, conventions and events. Additionally, a 316m2 terrace is available for gala receptions. There is also a gazebo near the resort’s infinity pool that offers oceanfront views.
Also in the works is the adults-only, all-inclusive Barceló Maya Riviera resort, which is set to open this December. The complex currently comprises several resorts: Barceló Maya Palace, Barceló Maya Beach, Barceló Maya Caribe, Barceló Maya Colonial and Barceló Maya Tropical.
The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, located on the southern tip of the Malaysian Peninsula in Johor, has opened with 275 rooms.
In every guestroom, amenities such as the signature Heavenly Bed, and Sleep Well Lavender Balm will be provided. Guests staying in the Westin Club rooms and suites will have access to the Westin Club Lounge.
King Premier Seaview Guestroom
There are several F&B options including all-day dining Seasonal Tastes; Italian restaurant Prego; a beach bar; and the Mix Lounge on the lobby.
Recreational facilities include the Heavenly Spa by Westin complete with hydrothermal pools, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness studio. The RunWestin programme is also available at the property, led by the resort’s Run Concierge as well as Westin Gear Lending with New Balance.
Adjacent to the resort is the Desaru Coast Conference Centre, managed by The Westin Desaru Coast Resort. The venue has a total of 1,252m2 of fully-equipped event space with the capacity to host almost 1,400 guests. The showpiece of the conference centre is a grand ballroom, which can be divided into four smaller event and pre-function spaces. There are outdoor venues by the beach available as well.
The Westin Desaru Coast Resort is part of the Desaru Coast development, an integrated holiday and event destination featuring an adventure waterpark, a conference centre, as well as two championship-level golf courses.
Shinta Mani Hotels has appointed Janet Chan as group director of sales & marketing.
Based in Bangkok, Chan will oversee sales and marketing for the four Shinta Mani Hotels in Cambodia including the Bensley Collection properties; Bensley Collection – Shinta Mani Siem Reap and Bensley Collection – Shinta Mani Wild.
Chan brings 20 years’ experience to her role with an extensive background in luxury travel. She began her career in retail travel and entered the luxury sector with Small Luxury Hotels of the World in Sydney. Three years later she joined Preferred Hotel Group as manager, brand development for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.
Since 2010, she has held a number of senior sales and marketing roles in luxury hotels including Hotel de la Paix Siem Reap and Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Cambodia, VOMO Island Fiji and Raffles Beijing Hotel.
Prior to joining Shinta Mani Hotels, she was most recently director of luxury sales North Asia for Accor’s luxury brands.
As Germany has been receiving an increasing volume of longhaul business travel out of Asia, the state of Saxony is now mobilising its wealth of historical sites and resources in its automobile industry to draw Asian corporates.
In 2017, business arrivals from Asia to Saxony posted double-figure increases. Mainland China and Hong Kong accounted for 48,700 visitors in 2017 as the state’s top Asian source market, with a year-on-year jump of 38 per cent. Japan and Korea placed second and third.
Dresden Skyline at night. Photo by Sebastian Rose
This “promising market” has brought with it “big demand for different (business) functions”, explained Dorothea Schäffler, international marketing, Tourism Marketing Company of Saxony.
These developments have been especially prominent in the cities of Dresden and Leipzig, where business tourism has become crucial to increasing international visitors’ overnight stays as well as F&B expenditure, observed Schäffler. In 2017, Leipzig reached a record 3.2 million international overnight stays.
As a result, both cities have seen more historical sites – such as castles and museums – branching out “beyond their primary purpose” to host functions and banquets.
Saxony’s vibrant automotive industry has also made it a prime destination for corporate enthusiasts and incentive experiences. Schäffler shared with TTGmice that more groups have been spicing up their incentive or meeting programmes with unique activities such as test-driving sports cars at Leipzig’s Porsche circuits, and touring the iconic Volkswagen Transparent Factory in Dresden.
Encouraged by these burgeoning developments, the Dresden Convention Bureau is channelling efforts toward growing the Chinese business segment. In 2017 and 2018, the bureau partnered with the German Convention Bureau on a WeChat campaign to reach Chinese planners. In April 2019, Dresden will conduct a China Summit marketing event and possibly hold a roadshow or exhibition in China.
Neighbouring Leipzig supports business event planners through Leipzig Tourism and Marketing, which provides information about event and dining venues, transport and interpretation services as well as other supporting programmes.
Leipzig has also created Feel the spirit… do-it-at-leipzig.de, a congress initiative designed to present Leipzig as the place to meet in a matter of a few clicks through this virtual site inspection. This is a network of some 50 industry partners – including congress and event venues, conference hotels, service agencies, local PCOs and logistics partners – available on a service portal. A 360-degree Virtual Site Inspection is also available on the site offering panoramic views of Leipzig’s venues.
Volker Bremer, CEO of Leipzig Tourism and Marketing, credited this initiative, as well as the success of large-scale events like the Chaos Communication Congress, for helping Leipzig reach three million international overnight stays in 2017.
In 2019, Leipzig will expand its range of international events, including the LINC Asia-Pacific congress in March, and the ITF International Transport Forum in May.
Leipzig Tourism and Marketing’s head of MICE department, Hiskia Wiesner, said: “We have a strong cooperation with the German Convention Bureau and its representative based in Beijing, as China is our most important business market in Asia. We are planning promotional activities such as participating in a roadshow, as well as public relations about Leipzig as a conference and MICE destination via newsletters and WeChat.”
Aerial view of sunrise over the Kuningan business district of Jakarta in Indonesia capital city
Alcor MICE – the owner of The Kasablanka Hall – has joined arms with nine neighbouring hotels and a transportation supplier to form an alliance to attract more business events to the Kuningan district in Jakarta.
Named Kuningan MICE Alliance, the alliance is banking on its Golden Triangle location advantage. In the Kuningan district, there are 2,300 available keys across three-, four- and five-star hotels; a 14,000m2 event space; and an entertainment complex, all of which Jim Tehusijarana, director of Alcor Prime (holding company of Alcor MICE) believes will appeal to associations and large conferences.
Aerial view of sunrise over the Kuningan business district of Jakarta in Indonesia capital city
The nine hotels are Gran Melia Jakarta, The Grove Suites by Grand Aston, Wyndham Casablanca Jakarta, Manhattan Hotel Jakarta, Aston Rasuna, Puri Casablanca, JS Luwansa Hotel and Convention Center, Pomelotel Patra Kuningan – Jakarta and Royal Kuningan.
“Unlike other areas in Jakarta, business event facilities in Kuningan district are in close proximity and within walking distance (of each other). Instead of competing, (we decided to) collaborate to develop Kuningan district (into a competitive) business event destination,” said Jim.
Jim added that the alliance plays to the complementary strengths of members. For example, Alcor MICE has no hotel rooms but owns the district’s largest function venue in The Kasablanka Hall, which can accommodate up to 5,000 pax in cocktail style and 2,000 in classroom style. Hotels, meanwhile, have limited meeting spaces with capacity varying between 50 to 1,000 people.
The Kuningan MICE Alliance will conduct a series of roadshows directed at companies and government institutions. The alliance held a recent gathering to promote the destination among event organisers.
Jim said: “We have a short- and long-term strategy. The domestic (corporate groups) is our main focus market, while neighbouring countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand will be the next priority.”
As part of a marketing campaign, Kuningan MICE Alliance is offering packages with special rates for planners or corporate looking to hold events in the Kuningan area. The customisable package includes venue rental, hotel rooms, F&B and transportation.
Panca Sarungu, senior advisor for business development of Alcor MICE explained: “Package prices start from 1.2 million rupiah and go up to 1.8 million rupiah (US$128) per pax. These special rates only apply to events with a minimum of 1,500 pax.”
Achmad Tantowi, director of sales and marketing of The Grove Suites by Grand Aston, said: “Kuningan MICE Alliance is a one-stop shop. Organisers do not need to get in touch with each supplier individually, (and have the alliance as just one point of contact).”
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.
