WTC Seoul Trade Tower and Coex Convention & Exhibition Center in Gangnam district, Seoul city
South Korea’s MICE Bureau has introduced a fresh tagline for each of its two divisions – Conventions and Corporate Meetings & Incentives.
For Conventions, the new message is Stay Connected for Your Success, while for Corporate Meetings & Incentives, the new communication message is Light Up Your Passion.
WTC Seoul Trade Tower and Coex Convention & Exhibition Center in Gangnam district, Seoul city
Stay Connected for Your Success, the Conventions tagline, summarises South Korea’s three key strengths in the international conference division: Convenient, Advanced, and Network. Convenient describes the country’s accessibility and excellent MICE and IT infrastructure, Advanced describes South Korea’s ability to lead cutting-edge trends, technology and tradition, while Network describes the country’s unlimited opportunities for industrial development and networking.
Light Up Your Passion, the message for the Corporate Meetings & Incentives division, came about after the analysis of South Korea’s three key strengths as a meetings and incentives destination.
The three key strengths are Intriguing, Innovation and Convenient. Intriguing stems from the country’s intrigue as a cultural powerhouse, with unique assets such as Hallyu and a rich traditional culture. Next, Innovation describes South Korea’s ability to combine ideas with cutting-edge technology to improve productivity, knowledge and experience, while Convenient once again highlights South Korea’s easy access and excellent MICE and IT infrastructure.
These new taglines Stay Connected for Your Success and Light Up Your Passion will soon be included in various media outlets including print advertisements and press kits.
Korea MICE Bureau anticipates that these new messages will help strength the country’s image as a country of new opportunities, as well as a country of traditional, cultural intrigue, while helping target audiences better understand the South Korean MICE industry and its slogan – Korea, Beyond Meetings.
US-based business information company Skift will organise its inaugural Asia forum on May 27, 2019 in Singapore at the Equarius Hotel at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).
Held in Equarius Hotel’s newly-refurbished ballroom, Skift Asia Forum 2019 will feature TED-style talks and Q&A with the business leaders and creative thinkers in the travel trade industry. Top-level speakers confirmed include CEO of Rosewood Hotel Group Sonia Cheng; CEO of Singapore Airlines Goh Choon Phong; Richard Holden, vice president product management, travel of Google; and CEO of Agoda John Wroughton Brown.
In addition, the day-long conference will explore strategic, marketing and technology trends emerging in and coming from Asia-Pacific countries. Skift will pay special attention to digital disruptions in communications and transportation, and how these innovations will transform customer experience globally and across every travel industry sector.
There will also be an opening reception the evening before at the floor-to-ceiling Ocean Gallery at the S.E.A. Aquarium.
Rooms
The sister property of Yotel Singapore is situated on Level 4 of Jewel Changi Airport, the newest lifestyle destination in Singapore. YotelAir is easily-accessible and linked to Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and a short bus ride away from Terminal 4.
YotelAir Singapore Changi Airport
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Family Cabin
Lift area
Check-in area
Premium Queen
YotelAir Singapore Changi Airport offers 130 cabins, most of which are classified under Premium Queen Cabins. These are ideal for business travellers, as well as couples. Out of the 130, there are also four Family Cabins that can sleep up till four, as well as two cabins for guests with accessibility requirements.
I stayed overnight in a 10m2 Premium Queen Cabin, which had an en-suite bathroom with rainshower, a flatscreen TV, a small pull-out workstation, and free, speedy Wi-Fi.
The best part of the cabin was the gel memory foam mattress, and I slept well, and got up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated the following day. A note to travellers, please remember to set your alarms, as all of YotelAir’s cabins do not have windows, making it difficult to tell the time of day.
I liked having multiple power points, two of which are USB-only, to keep several of my gadgets juiced up. The small space was also optimised, where the table and chair folded away neatly. Note that once the table is open, the toilet cannot be accessed until the table is folded away. I’m also glad I didn’t feel squashed in the square-sized rainshower.
There is a small space to stow luggage beneath the bed, but I think that for travellers with more than one large suitcase or two medium-sized suitcases would have almost no space to move about.
MICE facilities
There are no meeting facilities within the hotel itself. Corporate and private gatherings however, can be arranged at restaurants with private rooms like Violet Oon Singapore, as well as the Cloud9 Piazza on Jewel Changi Airport’s top-most floor.
Other facilities
There are three private shower cabins available for travellers who do not require a bed or have lounge access, as well as a 24/7 gym.
Komyuniti is the 68-seater multifunctional space where travellers can relax with a book, get some work done, and grab a free cup of coffee or tea and snack. A small a la carte menu is also available (chargeable). Open 24/7, Komyuniti faces Jewel Changi Airport’s centrepiece – the HSBC Rain Vortex, a 40m-tall indoor waterfall.
I liked that at YotelAir’s doorstep were more than 80 F&B options – out of Jewel’s over 280 units – for me to choose from, some of which were open until the wee hours of the morning.
Service
I only had to interact once with a staff member, when waiting for him to verify my particulars at check-in.
Verdict
A fantastic option for business travellers who have short turnaround times in Singapore, as well as cramped economy passengers with long layovers and would love to rest in an actual, comfortable bed.
Prices are rather attractive, starting from S$80 (US$59) for four hours and S$25 every subsequent two hours, with flexible check-in and check-out options. Overnight stays start from S$140 per night (until July 31), after which it’ll be S$180 per night.
Number of rooms 130 Contact Email singaporechangi.reservations@yotel.com Website https://www.yotel.com/en/hotels/yotelair-singapore-changi-airport
Bangkok successfully played host to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Power and Energy Society (PES) Generation Transmission and Distribution (GTD) Grand International Conference & Exposition Asia 2019 (IEEE PES GTD ASIA 2019) from March 19-23.
The first time the event was organised outside of the US in more than 40 years of its history, the conference and exhibition featured over 400 exhibiting booths and more than 10,000 visitors from all over the world.
Organised under the theme Big Shift in Power and Energy, the event revolved around three main topics – power generation, transmission and distribution, and renewable energy – and its related engineering and technological fields. There were also many topics on power and energy that links to digitalisation, with many new ideas presented on how digitalisation can be used to manage industries, energy generation and electrical sectors.
Patrick Avery, vice president, power grid automation of G&W Electric Company, said: “Thailand as the host country was excellent and the event was also excellent for our company. Bangkok is a very good meeting destination as it has the infrastructure, all the amenities, vendors, and support facilities to host this important event.
“We got to meet all the major utilities in the area while supporting our Thai customers, the Provincial Electricity Authority and Bangkok’s Metropolitan Electricity Authority.”
Hosting the first IEEE PES GTD ASIA 2019 outside the US was a huge win for Thailand’s MICE sector. TCEB supported the IEEE PES Thailand Chapter in bidding for this event.
Cé La Vi has opened its latest outpost in Taipei, on the 48th floor of the newly-opened Nanshan skyscraper in the Xinyi district.
Dubbed the highest rooftop lounge in Taiwan, the al fresco rooftop bar and restaurant offers a panoramic view of the city and the mountainous Yangmingshan National Park.
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Function spaces within the 1,400m2 Cé La Vi Taipei include a Sky Deck, dining room, lounge and bar, where the centrepiece of the space is a nine-metre-long copper bar. The venue is available for private event hire at NT$800,000 (US$25,943), with a minimum F&B spending of NT$400,000.
The minimum capacity for sit down-dinner is 20 pax in the restaurant area (indoor), and the maximum capacity is 35 pax in restaurant plus open-kitchen bar seats. If an event requires more seating, the outdoor space can also be used. For cocktail-style events, the minimum capacity is 100 pax (for the bar & lounge area) and the maximum is 1,000 pax (for the whole venue).
Cé La Vi also boasts an in-house events planning manager to help corporate groups with varying event needs.
Taipei is the first of several openings planned for the region, with a Shanghai outpost slated to open in the coming summer.
Darren Harding has been appointed as executive chef of Niccolo Chengdu.
Darren Harding
The Australian chef holds over 20 years of culinary experience, spanning five-star hotels in Germany, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand.
Harding is passionate about creating unique delicacies with ingredients from local cultures, and continues to pursue the introduction of new culinary methods and perspectives.
Event brief
Jointly organised by the Thai Retailers Association, Clarion Events and IMPACT Exhibition Management, and with the support of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, RetailEX ASEAN is an annual event that caters to retailers and brands focusing on the South-east Asian market. For the 2018 edition in September, the event was built on the theme, Transforming the ASEAN Retail Landscape.
Event owner Clarion Events wanted RetailEX ASEAN to go paperless and be environmentally-friendly, as well as allow exhibitors and sponsors to enjoy strong customer acquisition. It engaged Singapore-based computer vision solutions company, AIQ, to develop an event app that would satisfy the two objectives.
The eventual RetailEX ASEAN app, created by AIQ and powered by Artificial Intelligence, allowed attendees to interact with Video and Image Recognition Technology to connect with onsite exhibitors. With the same technology, attendees were able to explore retail possibilities, expectations, behaviour and opportunities in the ever-evolving South-east Asian community.
Challenges
As it was the first time that AIQ was implementing its technology in Bangkok, Thailand, the company’s main challenge was dealing with logistical preparations.
As well, according to AIQ CEO Marcus S Tan, AIQ’s Video and Image Recognition Technology is still being regarded as a disruptive technology that requires time for new users to adopt.
“It was a challenge to convince exhibitors that AIQ’s technology is able to cut down on (printing needs and costs),” Tan recalled.
“All in all, information needed from exhibitors and organisers were not readily provided as many of them needed time to get to know and understand our technology, as well as comprehend the reason behind the information request,” he said.
Solutions
Foreseeing the challenges that AIQ might encounter before and during RetailEX ASEAN, the team worked very closely with Clarion Events to craft an EDM about the mobile app and technology. This was sent to all event participants, calling on them to download and interact with the app ahead of the event.
With the convenience of AIQ’s technology, RetailEX ASEAN also managed to tap on gamification to allow their customers to scan and register for an on-site contest. It was a quick and seamless process of gathering participation for the contest.
Reminders to download and interact with the RetailEX ASEAN app were made via voice announcement in both English and Thai throughout the event.
AIQ also had a booth at the event to showcase its Video and Image Recognition Technology, as well as to reinforce the technology that RetailEX ASEAN app offers.
Bearing in mind that locals attending the exhibition may require language translation, AIQ also hired two Thai translators who stationed themselves at the booth throughout the event to clarify any doubts raised by visitors.
Tan also explained AIQ’s solution in a presentation and provided live demonstrations of how the technology works.
Key takeaways
Tan opined that it was important to work with the organiser to push the adoption of the technology at the event. For instance, posting on social media platforms to encourage participants to download the app before attending the event and educating participants about the technology.
“The understanding of AIQ’s technology is very important, hence the work of publicising and educating participants needs to be done in the local language of communication as well. This will help reduce the likelihood of facing communication breakdowns,” he said.
Tan also found that it was crucial to work closely with clients, so as to help them achieve their objectives with the use of AIQ’s technology.
“There is a need to communicate to them about the benefits of our technology; from kickstarting a pro-green initiative, to allowing for a multichannel, seamless connectivity across events and other brand touch points as well as cost savings.
Overall, the integration of these processes make for a brand experience that is 100 per cent interactive and unforgettable,” Tan surmised.
Event: RetailEX ASEAN 2018 Event owner: Clarion Events Venue: IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand Date: September 19-21, 2018 Number of participants: 3,600 industry players and more than 100 speakers
Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) has appointed Jean-Philippe Jacopin as general manager of Orchard Hotel Singapore.
Jean-Philippe will spearhead the development of MHR’s flagship 656-room property, following a multimillion-dollar transformation including a new lobby, grand deluxe rooms, function and event spaces, and F&B venues.
The hospitality veteran has over three decades of hotel management experience with global luxury hospitality brands in countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Switzerland and UK.
For event planners who are constantly looking to create one-of-a-kind experiences for their groups, Hong Kong’s historic destinations are just the place, as the city’s rich culture and heritage have yet to be fully explored.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is looking to tap into this area, having launched the brand new Ultimate MICE Guide to Old Town Central in November last year.
Old Town Central’s You Wu Studio
“(Listings) in the guide have been recommended by top planners from four strategic markets across the region. It’s a useful guide for planners to designate the best spots in the Old Town Central (OTC) cluster, a 100-year-old community which offers a variety of meeting ideas,” a HKTB spokesperson said.
“Hong Kong definitely has a lot to offer in 2019 with its heritage venues,” the spokesperson added.
The OTC cluster is the heart and soul of Hong Kong’s central district. Home to a number of Hong Kong’s cultural landmarks, contemporary street art and exceptional dining, it is a colourful neighbourhood and cultural hub where East-meets-West.
The Ultimate MICE Guide has five categories: multipurpose event venues; dining options designed for different requirements; a scavenger hunt; and a choose your own adventure option with more than 20 locations to match every interest.
Meanwhile, the Authentic Scavenger Hunt in Old Town Central is designed to give delegates the opportunity to learn as much as they can about the OTC cluster. This teambuilding activity features 10 unique checkpoints, and fun-filled ideas that encourage corporate groups to complete competitive challenges while getting acquainted with the neighbourhood’s historical gems and local food.
“Looking ahead, we will work with local trade partners to identify heritage sites and experiences, to craft even more MICE-friendly products and experiences,” the HKTB spokesperson said.
For instance, at the recently opened Tai Kwun arts centre and West Kowloon Xiqu Centre, corporate groups can hold a variety of cultural team bonding experiences, from tea appreciation sessions to enjoying dim sum while watching traditional Chinese opera.”
Operators like Hong Kong A La Carte focus not only on venues, but also on local activities. Alexandra Malandain, its managing director, revealed that corporates want to organise new and unique events for their employees that combine local culture with off-the-beaten-track adventures.
“They want to surprise their colleagues who can be blasé about teambuilding events organised in Hong Kong. We recently organised a champagne cocktail team building event for a large French company in “the middle of nowhere” at a private garden on Lantau Island,” she elaborated.
Initially, the organiser was not keen to host the event in the middle of nowhere, as it would be impossible to drive there.
However, both the client and Hong Kong A La Carte insisted that the uniqueness of the place would make the event a big success.
“Most people taking part in this event had been to Hong Kong numerous times but had no idea Hong Kong’s country side is stunning and worth visiting. The ‘wows’ we heard arriving at the garden after a 40-minute hike was definitely our best reward. We achieved our objectives, which were to show an off-the-beaten-track Hong Kong, and to make people happy at working together as a team,” Malandain shared.
Hong Kong Greeters revealed that while corporates are interested in getting the “local feel” by walking through a city, they still want classic Hong Kong experiences such as a Aqua Luna harbour tour or Victoria Peak and the Peak Tram.
Amy Overy, owner and operator of Hong Kong Greeters, said: “I think the Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan areas should definitely be on the list.
“They have dried seafood and medicine shops, as well as cool co-working places, great restaurants, and the Western market. Operators may consider Kwun Tong or Fotan with their history as industrial centres. Whampoa too has a great food scene and plenty of local culture.”
She said corporate travellers would benefit in the future if HKTB were to understand their needs, and share those needs with supporting businesses who can create appealing itineraries for this segment.
Additionally, Overy opined that the future for corporate clients visiting Hong Kong would fare better by concentrating on particular areas of interest by location, rather than trying to create an entirely brand new experience for groups.
“There is a lot more of Hong Kong’s culture to embrace by walking around specific neighbourhoods, rather than by joining a workshop or doing just one activity,” she posited.
Ovolo has appointed Joanne Sproule as general manager of Ovolo Central in Hong Kong, while Tanya Ritter has been promoted to the hotel manager role at Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour.
From left: Joanne Sproule; Tanya Ritter
Sproule, with her extensive hotel industry experience, joins Ovolo from QT Sydney and QT Bondi where she was director of sales.
Meanwhile, Ritter was previously the operations manager at Ovolo Woolloomooloo.
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.
