Gavin Weightman has taken the helm of Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore as general manager.
The Australian native is a seasoned hotelier who brings over two decades of extensive hospitality experience to the role.
Gavin Weightman
Weightman was most recently general manager of Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu, and previously held roles in Shangri-La hotels and resorts around the world, including Fiji, Australia and Malaysia.
He is supported by Nick Flynn who recently assumed his role as resident manager of Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, in early 2019.
Flynn was in a similar role at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang and previously helmed the kitchen, and F&B departments in various hotels in Australia, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
The Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association (IECA) is gearing up for the Indonesia Business Event Forum this July, an event that will be used to enhance the partnership of the association with both government and foreign counterparts as well as develop destinations for business events.
The Forum is slated to take place on July 19 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), and will see 683 IECA members in attendance.
Andreas: aims to foster closer working relationship with stakeholders with the help of data
Hosea Andreas Runkat, chairman of IECA, shared that the forum will touch on the “importance of data related to various exhibitions held by members”.
IECA exhibitions help to develop Indonesia’s tourism sector because they attract foreign tourists – either as a participant or buyer – to the country, said Andreas, but the data has never been documented properly.
Andreas is particularly interested in the number of guests and their expenditure at the exhibitions. As such, the Forum will require participants to record and report such data to the association. IECA will make sense of the information and share it with the public and the government, in hopes of conveying the value of the exhibition sector.
“The data will enable us to formulate strategies to develop MICE destinations, especially those outside Jakarta. With this data, we can also project the number of international arrivals we can attract to the country through upcoming exhibitions,” Andreas elaborated.
As of May 2019, IECA has held 311 exhibitions. For the whole of 2018, there were 381 exhibitions held, up from 366 in 2017.
Andreas is optimistic that the data will strengthen the association’s position during talks with the government. He believes that foreign participation will grow in tandem with government support.
For this reason, IECA has invited local governors and ministries – such as Tourism Ministry, Trade Ministry and National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) – to attend the Forum.
“We have also invited East Java vice governor Emil Elestianto Dardak and West Java governor Ridwan Kami., as Surabaya and Bandung are some of the destinations prioritised by the tourism ministry to be developed (for business events),” said IECA executive director Wini Yoniton.
Also on the invite list are foreign exhibition associations, with representatives potentially coming in as speakers. They include Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).
Phuket (pictured) promises to enhance any corporate event with cultural discoveries, shopping trips, CSR activities, sightseeing excursions and offshore adventures
The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the Phuket Hotels Association (PHA) have come together to unveil a Business Meets Beach campaign, following the signing of an MoU earlier this year.
The initiative will see the association’s 70 member hotels join forces with TCEB to promote Phuket as a premier MICE destination.
Phuket (pictured) promises to enhance any corporate event with cultural discoveries, shopping trips, CSR activities, sightseeing excursions and offshore adventures
As part of the Business Meets Beach campaign, a new promotion has also been launched. Under the Stay Free initiative, 19 hotels across the island will offer a third night completely free, plus a complimentary cocktail reception.
Running from now until October 31, 2019, this offer is valid for groups of 40 delegates or more. Other terms and conditions apply.
The Business Meets Beach campaign will be promoted through cooperative marketing activities, social media updates and fam trips for the trade and media throughout 2019 and 2020.
Building on the success of destination promotions undertaken by TCEB and the Tourism Authority Thailand (TAT), the overall aim of Phuket Hotels Association’s campaign is to double visitor of the island’s MICE expenditure by 2020, while also maximising the benefits to its members and the Phuket economy.
“With its rare combination of stunning scenery and outstanding indoor and al fresco MICE venues, Phuket has everything that professional planners could wish for. But the island is more than simply a venue for meetings and events; it is a giant canvas on which guests can paint their own stories, themed on Phuket’s rich local culture and heritage. This is what makes our island truly special,” said Anthony Lark, president of the Phuket Hotels Association.
“Phuket is home to many outstanding hotels, each of which has its own distinct selling points for the MICE sector. It is also worth remembering that every meeting delegate is also a potential FIT guest who could return with their own family. So by working together and showcasing Phuket’s many attractions, we can create a prosperous future not only for the MICE sector, but for the island’s wider tourism industry,” he added.
Myanmar’s temple city Bagan awarded UNESCO World Heritage status
Myanmar’s ancient capital of Bagan and India’s fortified city of Jaipur are among the Asian landmarks that are now recognised as UNESCO world heritage site, declared the 43rd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Bagan’s inscription comes nearly a quarter of a century after the temples complex was first nominated for listing, Reuters reported.
Myanmar’s temple city Bagan awarded UNESCO World Heritage status
The decision recognises the heritage significance of the site – which includes more than 3,500 stupas, temples, monasteries and other structures built between the 11th and 13th centuries.
Bagan had first been nominated as a World Heritage Site in 1995, but this was later rejected as the military junta in power then was accused of ignoring experts’ advice on restoration efforts, according to the Reuters article.
Myanmar renewed efforts to list the site since a transition from military rule began in 2011.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites recommended the listing, noting that Myanmar had adopted a new heritage law and had formed plans to reduce the impact of hotels and tourism developments around the temple.
With its successful inscription, Jaipur – also known as the Pink City – is now the second Indian city to be featured on the prestigious list after old Ahmedabad.
Founded in the 18th century by Sawai Jai Singh II, the fortified commercial city Jaipur was built according to a grid plan and was painted uniformly in a distinctive terracotta hue.
Other Asian sites added to the UNESCO world heritage list include the Dutch colonial-era Ombilin coal mining heritage site of Sawahlunto in Indonesia, the Mozu-Furuichi group of ancient mounded tombs in Japan,the Plain of Jars in Laos, and the archeological ruins of Liangzhu city in China.
TCEB's Kanokporn Damrongkul (centre), with partners at the China Business Forum
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has launched the new 360 Degree Exhibition Success to incentivise exhibition organisers, exhibitors and trade visitors from China.
The new campaign comprises three key elements:
A Bidding Fund Programme element designed to help organisers launch international exhibitions in Thailand, by providing market support and access to industries.
The Exhibiz in Market element is designed to grow new business by giving the national pavilion leader a business platform at exhibitions in Thailand.
The final ASEAN+6 Privilege element assists business missions in bringing trade visitors from ASEAN+6 countries, including China, to Thailand for business meetings during exhibitions held in the Kingdom.
TCEB’s Kanokporn Damrongkul (centre), with partners at the China Business Forum
Kanokporn Damrongkul, TCEB’s director of exhibitions department, said in a statement: “TCEB continues to strengthen our partnership with China and our commitment to promoting sustainable growth of the exhibition industry that benefits both Thailand and the region as a whole. We are optimistic that we can achieve more than 10 per cent growth in terms of exhibitions from China in 2019.”
In 2018, Chinese MICE travellers heading to Thailand grew 40 per cent, making China Thailand’s top source market for the fifth consecutive year.
For exhibitions, China is Thailand’s top source market as well, growing from only 16,000 participants in 2013 to 46,000 participants during 2018, a jump of 187 per cent.
The ICC Sydney Theatre has capacity for some 9,000 guests
First State Super, Australia’s largest industry funds, has secured the naming rights to the ICC Sydney Theatre for a 10-year term since July 8.
The move was announced in a press release, with the new name being confirmed as the First State Super Theatre. There will be no change to the management of the theatre, with the ICC Sydney team still in place as it transitions to a new brand.
The ICC Sydney Theatre has capacity for some 9,000 guests
ICC Sydney chief executive Geoff Donaghy said in a statement: “We are excited to partner with First State Super, an existing equity partner in the ICC Sydney project, to grow and amplify the current and ongoing success of the theatre as one of Sydney’s premier live entertainment venues.”
First State Super provides superannuation, advice and retirement solutions to over 767,000 members around Australia including New South Wales public sector employees and their families.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will invest more than S$50 million (US$37 million) in a major revamp of its SilverKris and KrisFlyer Gold Lounges at Changi Airport Terminal 3 (T3).
Renovations will commence in August 2019 and are expected to be completed by mid-2021.
Artist impression of the refurbished lounge (Credit: HBA)
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The project, overseen by hospitality designers Hirsch Bedner Associates, will see an overall 30 per cent increase in space and total customer capacity for the T3 lounges.
Suites and first class customers can look forward to a brand-new Private Room and First Class Lounge. The First Class Lounge will continue to feature a flagship bar, while The Private Room will boast a full-service fine dining section within the lounge.
The Business Class Lounge will be expanded and feature four distinct zones. Customers with a short transit can have a light snack in a relaxed café setting, while those with more time may explore a full selection of Asian and international cuisines in the dining hall, including live stations offering local delights.
A highlight of the new Business Class Lounge will be a full service bar that doubles up as a self-service breakfast station in the mornings. Productivity pods will be available for customers who need a corner to work, and there will also be a rest area with chaise lounges for customers to catch some shut-eye.
The KrisFlyer Gold Lounge will also double in capacity and include dedicated working spaces, as well as larger al fresco seating and dining areas. It will also be equipped with restrooms and showers.
The construction process will be carried out over four phases, during which the lounges will be progressively renovated in sections, starting with the Business Class Lounge, followed by the First Class Lounge and The Private Room, and finally the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge. Customers, in the meantime, will be invited to temporary lounges.
Hilton Malaysia has unveiled its newest meeting package, Changing the Way People Meet, which reinforces the brand’s signature Meet with Purpose Concept.
On top of discounts and complimentary rooms plus upgrades, two categories (Deluxe and Executive) of value-added benefits are available based on event spend. These include 3x Hilton Honor Points, airport limousine transfers, cocktail receptions and more.
Participating hotels are Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Hilton Petaling Jaya, Hilton Kota Kinabalu, Hilton Kuching, DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur, DoubleTree by Hilton Melaka, DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang, and Hilton Garden Inn Puchong.
Booking dates are open from now until September 30, 2019, for event materialisation from now until December 31, 2019.
Amadeus has appointed Nadia Yahiaoui to head Corporations for Asia Pacific.
In her new role, she will focus on increasing Amadeus’ regional footprint by helping Asia-Pacific-based corporations better manage business travel and expense. She will be based in Singapore and report to Arlene Coyle, senior vice president commercial, corporations, travel channels.
Prior to this role, Yahiaou was leading a team in Asia-Pacific whose role is to retain and develop Amadeus’ business relationships with global TMCs. She has also held several global and regional management positions in Amadeus, both in airlines and the travel management companies segments.
Yeoh Soo Hin has been appointed as the pre-opening general manager of 8 Conlay Kempinski Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
He was previously the vice president of finance for Kempinski Asia.
Set to open in 2021 with 260 rooms and 300 suites, the hotel is part of 8 Conlay, an integrated development by lifestyle property developer KSK Land, located between the KLCC area and Golden Triangle. It is currently under construction and will have a four-storey lifestyle retail podium, as well as two towers of branded serviced residences called YOO8 serviced by Kempinski.
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
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