Global Hotel Solutions provider HRS has announced the move of senior vice president Lukasz Dabrowski from Germany to Tokyo to lead the company’s growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
Dabrowski has been with HRS for nearly a decade, serving in regional and global roles from offices in Europe. With this move to Japan, he is now responsible for developing business opportunities among hotel partners and corporations in HRS’ most important growth region.
Lukasz Dabrowski
Beyond his everyday executive role, Dabrowski is also a member of HRS’ executive board, having served in that role since 2015. He has led HRS’ hotel sourcing team for five years.
A member of the GBTA (Global Business Travel Association) Industry Advisory Council since 2016, Dabrowski is an international travel and hospitality industry expert with more than 20 years of experience, including a lengthy term as an executive with Marriott.
Dabrowski reports directly to HRS Group’s CEO Tobias Ragge.
From left: Talley Management Group's Gregg Talley; ICCA's Esmaré Steinhofel, Nina Freysen-Pretorius, Senthil Gopinath, and Sina Buente
From left: Talley Management Group’s Gregg Talley; ICCA’s Esmaré Steinhofel, Nina Freysen-Pretorius, Senthil Gopinath, and Sina Buente
South Africa: ICCA unveils more about upcoming association meetings programme
The upcoming ICCA Association Meetings Programme (AMP) 2019 will be themed Inspiration to go further.
Taking place in Durban, South Africa from June 18-20, has been designed to bring ICCA members and association executives from all over the world together for open exchange through small-scale networking and interactive global knowledge transfer about bidding, designing, organising and promoting international association meetings.
The theme was chosen to communicate the AMP’s aim of providing all delegates with, through personalised ROI, the tools and expertise to be more effective in winning association meetings business.
Education sessions will take an interactive, practical approach to knowledge transfer. Topics will include the future of associations; legacy of events; the do’s and don’ts of international collaboration and partnerships; reinventing digital marketing strategy; and experiential meeting design.
Delegates at the AMP will have access to the association meetings expertise of a global faculty, made up of senior-level figures from both supplier organisations and international associations such as Genevieve Leclerc, managing director of the International Society of Limnology; and ICCA board member Gregg Talley.
ICCA is increasing its advocacy and educational activities in the African region throughout 2019. This year’s edition of the AMP marks the first time the event is being held in the African region and the first time ICCA is returning with an international meeting since the 43rd ICCA Congress in Cape Town in 2004.
Ireland: Belfast launches largest-ever dedicated business tourism campaign
Belfast’s official tourism marketing agency, Visit Belfast, has launched a brand new marketing campaign – Belfast Makes Sense – designed to accelerate the volume of inbound business conferences and events taking place in the city.
Focused on Great Britain and international markets, the digital-led campaign is the largest dedicated business tourism marketing initiative ever undertaken by the city, incorporating a new website, video content, targeted advertising and public relations to support ambitious sales growth.
The year-long campaign will also feature a range of high-profile conference and event organisers, and testimonials from previous clients. It was developed by Visit Belfast with 13 major partners from the city’s tourism industry.
Visit Belfast’s chief executive, Gerry Lennon, said in a statement: “With a record 100 conferences secured since April and more than 150,000 delegate arrivals in the last five years alone, I’m excited that this collaborative, industry-led campaign will help in ensuring that our story and our strengths are widely shared.
“In addition, with new hotel developments worth more than £150 million (US$196 million) added in recent years, Belfast’s business tourism sector is well placed for further growth.”
US: government meeting professionals head to St Louis in 2020
The US Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) has announced that its 38th National Education Conference (NEC) will take place in St Louis, Missouri.
Held from May 19-21, 2020, the event will take place at the Cervantes Convention Center at America’s Center.
The society’s goal is to prepare new and seasoned government meeting professionals with best practices and connections they need to succeed in the field. Risk management, such as responding to government shutdowns, natural disasters and medical emergencies, is one of the nine core competencies that will be addressed at the conference.
Attendees will earn at least eight education contact hours that include multiple blocks of specific training toward their Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) certification.
Founded in 1981, SGMP is the only national organisation in the US dedicated exclusively to individuals who plan and execute government meetings. The society has 2,000 plus members in 21 chapters across the country.
The 2019 NEC will be held in Detroit, Michigan from June 25-27.
LN Garden Hotel Nansha boasts a strategic location at the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the southernmost district about an hour’s drive from the city centre of Guangzhou.
Designed by Croatian studio 3LHD, the property is home to 365 rooms and suites, some of which offering balconies with views of the surrounding mountains, gardens and waters.
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Opportunities for recreation and relaxation include a heated indoor swimming pool, outdoor pool and fully-equipped gymnasium. For outdoor activities, guests can ride along the waterfront cycling trail, try their hand at the hotel’s 36-hole golf course, cruise the shoreline, or visit the Thean Hou Temple, Sunflower Garden and Nansha Wetland.
There are three F&B options on-site: Chinese restaurant Peach Blossom, international buffet restaurant Café Flora and barbecue specialities at Grill.
For large-scale events, event planners can consider LN Garden Hotel Nansha’s Grand Ballroom – a 2,000m2 pillarless banquet area featuring a full-length glass wall with views of the surrounding landscape.
The hotel also has seven meeting rooms of various sizes, as well as a 1,000m2 lawn facing the sea, making it the perfect place for a bespoke cocktail parties for corporate clients.
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport are just a 60- and 90-minute drive away respectively, while the ferry terminal is a mere 10-minute drive away for those looking to take a 75-minute ferry ride to Hong Kong.
Keen to draw more corporate groups from Singapore, a contingent of industry stakeholders – comprising government officials, tour operators and suppliers – from Swan Valley near Perth, Western Australia descended in Singapore last week for a media and industry outreach event.
The B2B event in Singapore, dubbed Swan Valley Unearthed, was also timed to coincide with the release of five new tourist trails in the area: Fresh Seasonal Produce; Fine Wine; Wine and Art Off the Beaten Track; Kids in the Valley; and Bushtucker and Beyond. This is in addition to the Sweet Temptations, and Cider and Ale trails launched last year.
Swan Valley Trails
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Fine Wine Trail
Wine and Art Off the Beaten Track
Cider & Ale Trail
Bushtucker and Beyond Trail
Fresh Seasonal Produce Trail
Simon Er, general manager business events & marketing, Global Travel, told TTGmice:
“These trails are new ideas for incentive groups, and are different from the usual routine of tours to Australia. Events like this would help provide us with more ideas we can explore with our clients.”
When asked if corporate travellers would be keen on exploring regional destinations, Er noted: “Australia and New Zealand are making a comeback. In Australia, we see more requests for Perth – because of its proximity to Singapore – than Gold Coast, Melbourne or Sydney.”
Breana Lawrie, co-owner of d’Vine Wine Tours, said: “We have a half-day tour that’s great for business travellers, and we can create customised private charters for groups. Unfortunately we don’t see many corporate groups from Singapore yet.”
Corporate groups that d’Vine Wine Tours handles hail mainly from Australia, but her top leisure clients from Asia are Singapore, a market that Lawrie believes has “room for growth”.
Similarly for Edoardo Lissoni, spokesperson of Mondo Nougat, Singapore’s leisure tourists are already a good customer base for the nougat maker.
“We’ll like to improve the corporate group segment – we don’t get too many of that now – and that’s why we created a nougat masterclass. This class targets corporate groups as it is a great teambuilding activity,” he said.
Mondo Nougat also officially launched their Nougat Masterclass at the Swan Valley Unearthed event. Lissoni added that the company will offer classes for the next 12 months, before the company gauges its viability and popularity.
He elaborated: “You can come to the Mondo Nougat factory in Swan Valley to conduct the masterclass, or we can do it off-site at a client’s hotel. Class sizes vary from 10 to 30 people. Everything is provided, and prices (per pax) vary according to flavours and ingredients. Nowadays, it’s not just about selling a product. It’s about making an experience memorable, something our clients cannot find anywhere else.”
Overall, Singaporean travellers to Western Australia in 2018 were up 20 per cent as compared to 2017, and are the second top Asian source market for the state. In addition, Singaporeans to Western Australia spent more than any other nationality, at A$50 (US$37) more per day per person.
Meeting planners having discussions with Marriott representatives from throughout the Indonesian archipelago
Marriott International launched its first B2B business event in Jakarta on April 4, in conjunction with Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID).
As many as 248 Jakarta-based meeting planners were invited to network, discuss opportunities and learn together with 30 Marriott hotel partners, primarily hailing from Bali and Jakarta, as well as also other destinations like Yogyakarta, Bintan, Manado and Lombok .
Meeting planners having discussions with Marriott representatives at GMID
John Wooley, general manager of Courtyard by Marriott Bali Seminyak Resort, and chairman of GMID Event 2019, said: “The purpose of this event is to celebrate the importance of the meeting industry for us hoteliers, (and to offer an) educational component through a presentation (on business events trends) from a MICE expert, and getting some business for our hotels.
“Around the world there is a function like this (every April 4), but a few months ago, we realised that nothing was being planned in Jakarta (in celebration of GMID). The city is an extremely important venue for Marriott so we decided to pull this event together,” he elaborated, adding that there are plans to make this an annual event.
Wooley further shared that the corporate segment is very important for the Marriott group. “In our hotel, which is small (compared to other Marriott properties), meetings contributes 20 per cent of our business,” he said.
Depending on the size of individual venues, cities and locations, corporate events can range between 14 to 40 per cent of business for Marriott properties.
Arun Kumar, general manager of The Westin Jakarta, added: “Marriott is committed to highlighting Indonesia as a destination for MICE with 48 open hotels (from Medan in the north, down south to Lombok), and another 34 (in the pipeline).”
He added that Marriott’s continued expansion in Indonesia, to locations like Belitung, Balikpapan and Labuan Bajo will “give more options to our clients to hold events in Indonesia”.
As part of selling Indonesia, Marriott’s global sales in Malaysia will be organising a Bali-Focus Week later this month, where 12 to 15 hotels in Bali will meet with customers and hold networking sessions.
During GMID 2019, Marriott also introduced Triple Perks+, a global initiative that enables customers to enjoy three value-added bonuses for every event booked, according to Puspa Rianti, director of Sales and Marketing, The Stones Legian Bali, a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel.
In Indonesia specifically the hotel group is offering additional benefits with an enhanced Triple Perks+ initiative, which allows customers to choose additional two benefits off the available perks by confirming their meetings or events.
This partnership with Amadeus gives Agoda access to the global travel agent market and specifically the business travel sector
A new partnership between Amadeus and Agoda will give travel agents access to pre-paid hotel content from 150,000 properties globally, a move expected to especially benefit business travel agents.
Travel agents all over the world will now be able to view Agoda’s content – available at the same price as Agoda’s website – compare it to other content through a single screen, and make bookings in one PNR combining other trip content.
This partnership with Amadeus gives Agoda access to the lucrative business travel sector
Christian Lukey, head of hotels, mobility & insurance, Asia Pacific, Amadeus, said: “This is our first partnership with a B2C company in Asia, and an important one because it will enable travel agents to offer a (more) competitive and seamless service, while reducing costs and increasing efficiency.”
Access to the breadth of hotel content will be especially important for business travel agents. Efficiencies include the pre-paid nature of Agoda’s content on Amadeus, a sound option for employees without a company credit card, and combining the content on a single PNR with the employee’s other travel arrangements.
The major benefit, however, is the potential of reducing deviation from corporate policy.
“Every employer knows the frustration of having their employees book travel outside of the corporate policy – it’s hard to track, adds costs and makes it impossible for the employer to provide proper duty of care,” Amadeus said in a statement.
Citing research from American Express Global Business Travel, Amadeus said the top reasons why employees book travel outside of their company’s travel policy has to do with the location of their accommodation – to stay in the same hotel as the client, to be closer to the meeting/event location, or to stay in a safer location.
To encourage more employees to stay within policy, employers need to ensure their corporate travel provider has good accommodation options.
For Agoda, growth prospects in the business travel sector make the partnership with Amadeus an appealing one. Ernst Hemmer, senior director for Agoda said: “This partnership gives Agoda access to the global travel agent market and specifically the business travel sector, which is forecast to grow 5.8 per cent annually to reach US$1.6 trillion in 2020.”
Penang has been selected as the host city for the inaugural ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter Summit 2019, set to take place from December 5-6.
The ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter Summit will be organised by the ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter and co-hosted by Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) and Anderes Fourdy, a Malaysia-based PCO.
Penang aims to create a lasting impression with its multi-experience liveliness-in-a-city and warm hospitality
It will be held at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre in conjunction with the fourth edition of BE @ Penang, co-organised by PCEB and Anderes Fourdy.
Initiated by ICCA Asia Pacific members, this event aims to bring ICCA’s Asia-Pacific members together for knowledge sharing, networking and explore possibilities for partnership and business opportunities among themselves and within the region.
The bid by Penang was supported by the members of ICCA in Malaysia and key industry partners of PCEB. Further information on the ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter Summit 2019 will be announced at IMEX Frankfurt next month.
The other 11 cities which submitted their proposals to host the summit were Bandung, Bangkok, Colombo, Haikou, Huzhou, Incheon, Manila, Quy Nhon, Singapore, Xiamen and Yokohama.
The chapter will call for bids to host 2020 summit later this year.
A rendering of the how the newly-refurbished ballroom will look like
Plaza Hotel Kuala Lumpur has been rebranded to Plaza Grand Hotel Kuala Lumpur since earlier this month, following a change in hotel management to Kenny Rich Properties.
The 158-key property is currently undergoing its first major refurbishment since its opening in 1981, a revamp to the tune of RM1.2 million (US$294,300).
A rendering of the how the newly-refurbished ballroom will look like
AB How, the property’s general manager, revealed that the refurbishment of the ballroom is expected to be completed in May, with two floors of guestrooms completed next in July, and two meeting rooms by the end of the year.
With the revamp, How is also keen on increasing the hotel’s share of regional meeting business, in particular from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. A majority of corporate events the Plaza Grand Hotel Kuala Lumpur currently handles are from the domestic market.
She said: “The hotel used to get a lot of Singapore leisure traffic in its early days, but this has reduced due to increased competition from other properties. We will increase marketing efforts for these markets.”
Among the hotel’s greatest selling points, according to How, is its value-for-money meeting packages. A full day meeting package costs RM90 nett (US$22), inclusive of one lunch and two tea breaks.
Another asset is the hotel’s accessible location, situated within walking distance to the Sultan Ismail STAR LRT station and Medan Tuanku Monorail station, and a 10- to 15-minute drive to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Upcoming developments slated for Sentosa Island are poised to mould Singapore into a stronger magnet for meetings, conferences and incentives, as the island prepares to welcome new facilities catering to the mid-tier business segment.
The first of these developments are three mid-range hotels operated by Far East Hospitality (FEH). They are Village Hotel at Sentosa, offering 606 rooms; as well as The Outpost Hotel with 193 keys, which features a stylish adults-only colonial island concept.
Aerial view of RWS area in Sentosa
In 3Q2019, the old-school luxury-styled Barracks Hotel will accompany its sibling properties along Artillery Avenue, bringing 40 rooms within a conserved colonial building. These three properties will raise Sentosa’s total room count to more than 4,000.
With the entry of FEH’s more affordable accommodation options, Sentosa is expected to gain points with the business events segment.
FEH’s CEO, Arthur Kiong, said: “Sentosa is a driver of business and is very popular, but it’s interesting that 90 per cent of its 3,200 rooms are in the luxury class. (Our new cluster) caters to families, groups, MICE and niche segments.”
He added that the rooms will be “egalitarian” and “priced effectively”, and that FEH is “working on establishing key partnerships with attractions on Sentosa”.
For the past decade, midscale conventions were largely limited to facilities at Resorts World Sentosa, said Judy Lum, general manager, Diethelm Travel (Singapore).
“Sentosa is a great MICE destination. Greater availability of midscale properties should stabilise hotel pricing on the island, which would in turn be able to attract more events,” predicted Lum.
He said that while Resorts World Sentosa and Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort are popular choices for corporate events, “the hotels in Sentosa are typically priced slightly higher than those in the city”, and that “rates have been rising significantly on the island due to limited availability”.
He added: “We expect that Village Hotel at Sentosa will generate considerable interest for corporate meetings and events, as it will provide a more cost-effective option compared with most of the alternatives which tend to be high-end luxury properties.”
This range of more affordable accommodation will appeal particularly to the European and UK markets, opined Guy Allison, director of procurement, Tour East Holdings. He observed that in recent years, European and UK visitors have eschewed five-star luxury accommodation for three- to four-star boutique hotels.
He remarked: “Sentosa is starting to attract people to stay in Singapore for not just one or two nights, but three or four – maybe even a week. With the new developments, it might even become a destination in itself.”
He also expressed assurance that while Singapore is costlier compared to its neighbours, the country is “becoming more value-for-money”, and more affordable, compared to five years ago.
In the near future, Sentosa will be expanded to provide more leisure and business facilities.
Sentosa Development Corporation’s (SDC) assistant chief executive and chief financial officer, Chin Sak Hin, told TTGmice that in these plans, the nearby Pulau Brani will be “transformed” into a part of Sentosa, “retaining the island charm with new attractions and nature zones”.
“We always say that we are a world-class destination, but this will bring us to another level. We are working closely with other government agencies on planning this whole area, and we are now at the masterplanning stage,” said Chin. SDC is also currently developing the Sentosa 2030 masterplan.
The tides of change are also rolling beyond Sentosa. In October last year, senior minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat announced major rejuvenation plans for the nearby Tanjong Pagar waterfront.
This 1,000 hectare area, which Chee said is “as large as Sentosa island itself”, will be branded the Southern Gateway of Asia.
FEH’s Kiong commented that this development is set to be “the harbinger of very, very exciting developments for Sentosa, as well as the rest of the precinct”.
From left: President James Rees and new CEO Senthil Gopinath
ICCA’s board of directors has appointed Senthil Gopinath as its new CEO, based in the organisation’s head office in Amsterdam.
In his new role, Gopinath’s responsibilities include developing and executing annual business plans, ensuring operational sustainability and careful financial controls, and building ICCA’s global membership and presence with a special focus on developing member services adapted to each of ICCA’s key regions.
From left: President James Rees and new CEO Senthil Gopinath
Gopinath’s meetings travel career spans more than 20 years, of which 18 years spent working within ICCA member organisations. He joined the ICCA team in 2016 as regional director of ICCA Middle East (ME). In that role, he forged new relationships with regional governments and industry partners, and grown ICCA ME membership by more than 80 per cent.
His other career accomplishments include elevating MICE operations for Emirates Group as its head of business development and operations; re-structuring and re-strategising the business model of VFS Global a part of Kuoni Travel Group, where as vice president – South Asia of VFS Global, annual profits grew over 60 per cent in two years.
Gopinath also created an innovative private-public partnership model for the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau as its general manager and CEO, increasing business tourism by 78 per cent and driving a 64 per cent increase in revenue.
His appointment marked the end of a hiring process that began in October 2018 and drew more than 100 applicants for the position. In the past 10 months, Dennis Speet was interim CEO.
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.
