Pattaya city's skyline; Pattaya falls under Chonburi Province
Thailand has unveiled plans for a new convention centre on the country’s eastern coast which will help draw events related to high-tech industries.
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya shared that the bureau is conducting a feasibility study for the new-build, which will be located in one of three provinces: Rayong, Chonburi or Chachoengsao.
Pattaya city’s skyline; Pattaya falls under Chonburi Province
Subject to government approval, the future convention centre is scheduled for a March 2020 completion. It will complement two other large convention venues in nearby Pattaya – Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH) at Royal Cliff Beach Hotel and Nong Nooch Garden.
The construction of the convention centre is in line with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) initiative, aimed at transforming the region into a high-tech production base. Presently, the eastern coastal region is developing an aerospace metropolis that comprises U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport as well as aviation related businesses.
Among TCEB’s proposals for the eastern coast to the government is the launch of a regular air show in Thailand in 2023 or 2024 to “boost the area’s reputation as an aero metropolis”, revealed Chiruit.
TCEB is also working on establishing the first TCEB branch and an ASEAN MICE Institute in the region.
The symposium will have an impact on Hear and Say, the paediatric hearing healthcare sector, and Brisbane (pictured) as a city.
A US-headquartered paediatric health symposium has chosen Brisbane as its first-ever Asia-Pacific host city, with 500 global experts set to meet in the city come March 2021.
The successful bid for the AG Bell Global Listening and Spoken Language Symposium was led by economic development board Brisbane Marketing in partnership with Hear and Say, a local non-for-profit providing early intervention services for children with hearing loss.
The symposium will have an impact on Hear and Say, the paediatric hearing healthcare sector, and Brisbane (pictured) as a city.
Hear and Say’s clinical director, Emma Rushbrooke, was one of the first recipients of the Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant. She used the grant to attend the symposium in 2018 and worked with Brisbane Marketing to advocate for Brisbane as a future host city.
Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner shared in a statement that the three-day symposium would highlight Brisbane and Australia’s world-leading expertise in paediatric hearing and healthcare research while generating over A$890,000 (US$626,204) for the local economy.
“Business events generate an average A$250 million for Brisbane’s economy annually, and each conference that comes to our city facilitates knowledge exchange, partnerships and boosts the local tourism, hospitality and service sectors,” Schrinner said.
“Teaming up with professionals like Rushbrooke to attract international conferences is precisely why the Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant was established and it’s pleasing to see another conference secured through the programme,” he added.
“This conference will significantly boost Hear and Say’s profile, enhancing our reputation as specialists on an international scale, and showcasing our Brisbane HQ as a centre of excellence for paediatric hearing healthcare, research and training,” Rushbrooke said in a statement.
insights into the state of the business travel industry in Asia Pacific (APAC) and key technology trends
Business travel makes business happen.
Today, travellers want choice, price transparency and personalisation. At the same time, corporations want better value from travel spend.
Business travel agencies must adapt to this evolving environment, delivering a service that helps their customers and travellers get the most out of business travel. Business travel agencies need to help corporations by looking at two priorities: the needs of the corporations themselves and the needs of the business traveller.
To succeed, business travel agencies must have a strong technology backbone, be at the forefront of innovation, understand the changing needs of their customers, and move quickly to meet them.
We spoke to several industry leaders to understand which technology trends they think will have a significant impact on the sector.
What is the state of the business travel industry in Asia-Pacific (APAC) and what are the key technology trends?
Customising business travel
Just like personal travel, business travellers want personalised journeys as part of their overall package. Business travel agencies must equip travellers with access to the information and tools that help them enjoy stress-free and efficient journeys, from booking and beyond.
As content is aggregated, business travel agencies will be able to offer more choice to the individual travellers’ profile and allow corporations to control what the traveller sees. This will create a tailored experience right from booking, through to trip, and manage costs for the corporation.
Transparency at every touch point
The travel industry will start to embrace a ‘blockchain principle’, showing every single transaction in business travel (e.g. buyer, fleet operator, vehicle, driver, rider, location, routes, feedback, pricing etc.). This will mean business travel agencies will have insight into corporate travellers’ complete journeys – this data will be vital in creating a tailored experience. It also means that corporations will have a record of every journey and be able to use this data for reporting, forecasting and identifying trends.
Michael Chase-Smith, executive director at Orbit World Travel, commented: “Some of the booking platforms that we use through the global distribution system and traditional online booking tools will change over time, it’s starting to happen now. How it’s going to look in five years’ time, I’m not exactly sure, but I do know there will be a travel environment of more open booking channels. The trick will be managing the access to these new booking channels and the change in workflow processes in a way that ensures how travellers shop, book and play is streamlined and simplified.”
Millennials capitalise on the bleisure trip
Expedia Group Media Solutions predicts that 60% of business trips morph into ‘bleisure’ (business with leisure) trips and with millennials making up a growing share of the workforce, a lot of the b-leisure travel spend will be done by this demographic. Agencies that make bleisure a possibility for this generation will be harnessing this pool of potential profit by understanding and accommodating their needs. To remain competitive, business travel agencies need to work with corporations on creating business travel trips that appeal to a wide range of traveller expectations e.g. flexibility on dates and travel preferences.
Mobile first
Mobile technology is important in all types of travel agencies, but even more so for business travel. With hectic and time-sensitive schedules, travellers want to be able to communicate issues and manage travel plans at the touch of their fingertips. This requires the business travel agencies’ mobile platform to be fully optimised and connected. Mobile makes personalisation easier through mobile apps, gathering and using data, and sending targeted information.
Jitender Arora, co-Founder, MindYourFleet, added: “Technology is the only pill that will save business travel agencies from extinction. Technology brings in both cost efficiencies (discovery and operating costs) and opportunities to enhance revenues. Business travel agencies need to foster the culture of innovation and accept technology before their competitor does.”
Greater aggregation across the industry
As travel content becomes aggregated and centralised, business travel agencies will be able to access content more efficiently, without changing platforms. This ability will increase further with NDC, because it will give business travel agencies access to the individual’s profile (including needs and preferences), and allow them to control what the traveller sees, creating a tailored experience from inspiration to trip.
Renaud Nicolle, vice president business travel APAC, travel channels, Amadeus, said: “At the moment business travel agencies have to navigate their way through mountains of fragmented content across several platforms. But as part of Amadeus’ evolution from a global distribution system to a Live Travel Space, we’ll be able to offer one platform of choice with huge amounts of content for travel distributors and providers. It will transform how business travel agencies work and allow comparisons and bookings to happen in a uniform and transparent way.”
A whitepaper on the Future of Business Travel is also available and can be downloaded here.
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Thai Hotels Association (THA) have turned to the power of music to send a friendly yet serious message to the MICE industry in Thailand to ‘Say No’ to plastic.
The classic ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ has been given the Sound of Sustainability #SOS treatment, with rewritten lyrics and reworked music.
From left: THA’s Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi and TCEB’s Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya
Lending their voices to the initiative in a stirring duet are ‘recording artists’ Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, TCEB president, and Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, THA chairperson – environmental committee.
“The song is a light-hearted recording with the lyrics adapted for a serious shout-out to hotel owners, general managers, business event professionals and all in the MICE industry to switch from single-use plastics to other, sustainable choices,” said Chiruit.
More and more initiatives to combat the use of plastic in Thailand’s MICE sector and the broader tourism industry have been implemented in the past few years.
This includes a smoking ban that has been in place at many Thai beaches since November 2017, while national parks and zoos nationwide now ban plastic bags and other single-use plastics. The Pollution Control Department and Thai bottled water producers have cut the use of bottle cap seals, with the aim of eliminating them altogether within 2019.
This April the Thai cabinet approved a 2018-2030 roadmap to tackle plastic waste, which includes the goals of ridding Thailand of three types of plastic – microbeads, cap seals and oxo-degradable plastics – within 2019 and of four other types of plastics – plastic bags, foam boxes, single-use plastic cups and plastic straws – within 2022.
(Clockwise from back) Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau's Sonto Mayise; ICCA's Sina Buente; Congress Centrum Alpbach's Thomas Kahn; Convention Service Innsbruck's Alexandra Einwaller; ICCA's James Rees; and Convention Bureau Tirol's Christina Moser
(Clockwise from back) Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau’s Sonto Mayise; ICCA’s Sina Buente; Congress Centrum Alpbach’s Thomas Kahn; Convention Service Innsbruck’s Alexandra Einwaller; ICCA’s James Rees; and Convention Bureau Tirol’s Christina Moser
ICCA picks Tirol for 2020 Association Meetings Programme
ICCA will be heading to the Tirol region of Austria next year for the fifth edition of the ICCA Association Meetings Programme (AMP).
It will be held from June 29 to July 1, 2020, and will be jointly hosted by the cities of Innsbruck and Alpbach.
An ICCA flagship event, the AMP is designed to bring ICCA members and association executives from all over the world together for open exchange through small-scale networking and interactive knowledge transfer about bidding, designing, organising and promoting international association meetings.
The four hosts of the ICCA AMP 2020 are Convention Bureau Tirol, Convention Service Innsbruck, Congress Messe Innsbruck, and Congress Centrum Alpbach.
Senthil Gopinath, ICCA’s CEO, said in a statement: “ICCA has been organising the AMP in different parts of the world, and I am glad that we are coming to Austria as we bring the event back to Europe. We have done in-depth research into how the AMP will build the knowledge economy in each host city, and next year will offer an exciting programme.”
AMEX GBT deepens German reach with DER Business Travel acquisition
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) is set to acquire DER Business Travel (DER), the corporate travel arm of the DER Touristik Group, with the move granting the former a deeper reach into Germany’s small- and mid-sized clients sector.
The acquisition is conditioned on receipt of antitrust approvals and is expected to close in 3Q2019.
A GBT spokesperson told TTGmice that both companies will continue to operate business as usual after the deal closes, and there will be no changes to how clients are serviced. However, both companies stand to gain from each other’s strengths.
“Clients will benefit from the local servicing experience that caters to their needs, while also having access to GBT technology and products. DER clients can also use GBT’s global expertise and experience to expand their travel programmes outside of Germany,” explained the spokesperson.
Elyes Mrad, GBT’s senior vice president and managing director, International, said in a statement that “the acquisition is a great opportunity for everyone involved”.
Also commenting on the move, Mark Tantz, DER managing director, said: “GBT and DER are both people-driven organisations with a passion for providing the best technology and service to clients. With GBT’s scale and proprietary tech stack and our expertise and relationships in Germany, this is a real opportunity to offer a new, collective value proposition to German businesses.”
DER’s corporate travel business is headquartered in Frankfurt and operates in 42 locations across Germany with approximately 600 employees.
When the deal closes, DER employees will join approximately 17,400 GBT employees. DER leadership teams across operations, commercial, process management and online solutions will report into the GBT market lead for those functions, noted the GBT spokesperson.
The organisation within Germany is led by Florian Storp, vice president of Central Europe. – Karen Yue
Dubai tourists to get free SIM cards
Tourists above 18 years can now obtain a free Sim card from telecommunications provider Du when visiting Dubai, thanks to a new initiative by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
The SIM card will be valid for one month, and offers three minutes of talk time and 20MB of free data. Travellers with transit visas visit visas, visas on arrival and GCC citizens arriving at Dubai International Airport are able to take advantage of the complimentary service.
Royal Park Hotels has appointed Hiroko Seki as the general manager of The Royal Park Canvas – Ginza 8, becoming the first-ever female general manager in the history of the Japan-headquartered hospitality group.
Seki has more than 16 years of hospitality experience under her belt, having worked in overseas properties such as Hanoi Daewoo Hotel in Vietnam and Mandarin Orchard Singapore.
In 2012 she returned to Japan and was employed at Royal Park Shiodome Tower as front receptionist, where she worked her way up to vice general manager accommodation in 2016.
In recent years, MICE events around the world have been leaning towards the usage of distinct places where people can feel the natural and cultural appeal of a city itself rather than a place that merely acts as a venue for meetings and social events.
Here are some of the adaptive reused buildings in Korea that have been given new life as dining cum social spaces.
F1963 is a repurposed cultural complex from an old wire factory. One of the eye-catching tenants is Terarosa Coffee where many locals gather to enjoy their cuppa with closed friends. Patrons can also chill out at the Praha993, a Czech brewery and pub within the complex. Their Sukcheon Hall is a great option for small scale events and exhibitions and the Courtyard is also available for venue hiring too.
Beyond Garage is the first cultural space complex in Busan. There was no historical record of the building, it was believed built in the 60s or 70s meant for rice storage and was later modified to store manufactured paper products.
Many locals have used the venue for public and private events such as flea markets, concerts, and weddings. Some brands such as FILA and Adidas have used the space for their branding events.
Munhwa Gonggam Sujeong
Nestled in a residential district near Busanjin Station, Munhwa Gonggam Sujeong’ or literally Culture Space Sujeong was originally built in 1943, as the home of colonial Japanese railroad administrators. The two-storey wooden building is considered one of the city’s best-preserved pieces of architecture from the period.
With its wooden aisles, tatami-covered floors and recessed alcoves, it is characteristic of shoin-zukuri, a style of Japanese residential architecture derived from the homes of warriors and Buddhist monks. The property also boasts some lovely Japanese-style gardens, and is maintained by preservationist group National Trust for Cultural Heritage No.330 in 2007.
Visitors one can enjoy a selection of traditional Korean teas, including favourites such as nokcha (green tea), daechucha (jujube tea) and maesilcha (plum tea).
Choryang 845 is one of the instagram-worthy hotspots in Korea. An old factory turned restaurant cum café serves Korean cuisine with fresh seasonal ingredients procured daily at local markets in Busan. As the restaurant is located uphill, patrons can enjoy the magnificent view of the city while dining in.
Brown Hand Café is another Instagram hotspot in Busan. Built in 1922, this red building was an originally the site of Baekje Hospital, the city’s first modern medical centre. Through the years, the building was occupied as a Chinese restaurant, military barracks, police station and even as a consulate for the Republic of China.
The famous furniture manufacturer, Brown Hands took over the building in 2015 and converted the building into a “design café”. Patrons can enjoy their downtime whilst admiring some of their furniture accessories installed within.
Gemstone is one of the popular cafés in the Busan neighbourhood. It was an abandoned swimming complex. Every corner is retrofitted into different sections; patrons can enjoy their day in the “pool” or have small discussions within their locker rooms. The café has hosted many social events such as fan meetings, public talks, fashion shows and concerts since its opening. The venue is opened for private event up to 200 pax.
Incheon
Joyang Bangjik
Joyang Bangjik (liternally translated as Joyang Textile Factory Cafe) is one of the hotspots for weekend hangout in Korea now. Originally a textile factory that produced artificial fabrics in 1930s, the factory is now a repurposed cafe cum art gallery. The museum-like art pieces and antiques are spotted within this cool cafe complex. There is also a small experience room next to the complex that showcases some of the sewing tools and machines used in the 1800s. Ganghwa Island is about an hour drive away from Seoul downtown or from Incheon International Airport. The easiest way to travel to the Joyang Bangjik will be by taxi or car.
Occupying the original steel factory in Bupyeong District of Incheon, the owner started out by selling vintage furniture and subsequently added the café. The café is decorated with rare furniture and interior props imported from the world, thus accentuating the unique characteristics of space. It is also a popular venue for music video and fashion shoots. The café is also available for private hire for up to 80 pax.
Seoul
Baesan Archive Co., Ltd
Opened in November 2017, Baesan Archive is a repurposed café cum event space in the Seongsu-dong district, known for their shoemaking businesses in Seoul. It was originally built as rice mill in the 1970s and the turned into a warehouse in the 1990s. Decorated with edgy art installations, the café has warranted many votes for brand product launches or exhibitions. One of its latest events was the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Launch Party. Baesan Arichive offers 990sqm of event space, over 9 meters height of ceiling on the first floor, the rooftop on the second floor, an ideal venue for small to mid-size events up to 400 persons.
Located near the Seoul World Cup Stadium, the Oil Tank Culture Park was an oil storage site for over 40 years. The five existing tanks were reborn as spaces for performances, exhibits and the like. A newly constructed tank became a community center, while the wide outdoor space that had been the temporary parking lot became a courtyard to host cultural events.
Gwangmyeong Cave is a tourist attraction converted from the Siheung Mine that that produced gold, silver, bronze, zinc and other minerals in 1910s. It was served as a shelter for the locals during the Korean War. It was later used as a storage place for salted shrimps from the Sorae Port in the late 70s till 2010.
The Gwangmyeong City transformed the abandoned cave into a tourist attraction in 2011. It has hosted multiple events including movie screenings, concerts, fashion shows and exhibitions. Besides the in-cave attractions and activities, the Wine Cave offers wine tasting sessions on every Saturday and Sunday, between 12pm and 4pm. The attached cave restaurant Maru de Cave, offers western menus for diners and it is opened to private function hiring for up to 70 pax.
The travel trade in Hokkaido is ramping up efforts to develop Ainu-focused tourism, following the enactment of a Japanese law in April that recognises the Ainu as indigenous people.
National and local governments are now required to promote activities such as tourism to correct social-economic disparities of the Ainu, who have lived for centuries on Japan’s northernmost main island.
Kamuy Lumina is an outdoor multimedia night experience inspired by an Ainu legend
Among those developing new facilities and entertainment offerings is Akan Adventure Tourism. On July 5, it will open Kamuy Lumina, an outdoor multimedia night experience inspired by an Ainu legend, in Akan, an area home to Hokkaido’s largest Ainu settlement. Created by Canada-based multimedia entertainment company, Moment Factory, the show will use technology to transform woodland by displaying nature and Ainu culture in light and sound.
According to Lumina producer Jamie Tobin, Kamuy Lumina is “the first Lumina walk to be produced with any first national people anywhere in the world and the first in a national park”.
“We’re striving to make the Akan area a mecca for adventure and spiritual tourism, working with Ainu people so tourists can come and have a deep connection with the Ainu people,” Shinichi Yamashita, senior executive director of Akan Adventure Tourism, told TTG Asia.
Lake Akan’s 300-seat theatre Ikor, meanwhile, has launched a series of new performances to give audiences a window on Ainu culture, including Lost Kamuy, Ainu Ancient Ceremonial Dance and Iomante Fire Festival.
The Japanese government has recognised the Ainu people of Hokkaido as an indigenous people
Among those interested in the new attractions are school, college and business groups attracted by “the Ainu philosophy of living in harmony with nature and lessons about preserving culture and the environment,” Yamashita added.
The products are expected to boost rising interest in eastern Hokkaido among international visitors as a result of national government initiatives. Akan Mashu National Park is one of only eight national parks selected for promotion to overseas tourists and Kushiro, in Akan, is one of only three model cities chosen to entice overseas tourists to off-the-beaten track areas.
Further development in Hokkaido is also slated, including the opening of a national Ainu museum and park in Shiraoi, near Sapporo, in April 2020.
Te Pae Christchurch is gearing up for its opening in October 2020
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has appointed Germany-headquartered international representation company, Worldwide Convention Specialists (WCS), to support its lead generation activities in Europe in the lead up to its opening in October 2020.
Having recently returned from IMEX Frankfurt, Te Pae Christchurch’s general manager, Ross Steele, is buoyed by the future potential for the city.
Te Pae Christchurch is gearing up for its opening in October 2020
“Our research shows more than 53 per cent of international associations are headquartered in Europe, which is why this region is a significant target market for Te Pae Christchurch.
“Winning a convention is like bidding for the Olympics, with a planning cycle that can be between two to 12 years in advance. So, we need to be in front of every potential client to showcase Christchurch as a future host city contender,” Steele said in a statement.
When it opens next year, Te Pae will have capacity for up to 2,000 delegates for a variety of events. It will feature facilities including a 1,400-seat auditorium, over 3,000m2 of exhibition space and 24 meeting rooms.
AEG Ogden, the venue management company behind Te Pae Christchurch, has had a long association with WCS’ director, Anette Palm.
“Our history shows that associations primarily book events with destinations or venues with whom they have built a mutually beneficial business relationship and when AEG Ogden is involved it gives the client extra confidence during the selection process,” Palm shared.
“With Te Pae Christchurch opening next year, it is an exciting proposition to share with our long-term client base – many of whom organise more than two or three events worldwide, and most importantly, seek venues within the Asia-Pacific region.”
WCS supports convention centres and convention bureaux throughout the world, including Kuala Lumpur, Toronto, Cape Town, Stockholm, Basel and Brussels.
“In collaboration with the country’s academic community leaders, Tourism New Zealand and ChristchurchNZ, we will be working towards raising this position in the years ahead with Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre being a lead catalyst for this growth,” Steele concluded.
Mercer: New solution will help travel agents better their services for their customers
Last Thursday, Sabre Corporation released Sabre Content Services for Lodging, a solution that will power both agency and corporate booking tools, and promises to eliminate the need for intensive manual research.
This came about because a significant amount of travel buyers’ time is “wasted” on manual comparison and booking of properties within company policy, said Kathy Morgan, vice president – NDC, Sabre.
Mercer: New solution will help travel agents better their services for their customers
The new solution simplifies the search process for agents by listing out not just comparable properties and room rates, but also all included ancillaries – such as breakfast and Wi-Fi – as well as room type, loyalty programme availability and whether each property fits the specified company policy.
It allows for a more user-friendly interface that lays out all of these parameters and ancillaries on a single screen, almost similar to consumer-facing booking platforms. This was achieved through integrating traditional GDS content from hoteliers, alongside OTA content from Booking.com, Bedsonline, and Expedia Partner Solutions.
The system currently features more than one million property options, and travel agencies have full flexibility to choose the aggregator content they would like to access. Moreover, in a usability study, Sabre found that such product normalisation can help agents reach a booking decision 30 per cent faster.
“We looked at the pain points and needs of customers on both sides of the network – the ‘demand’ side including TMCs, leisure agencies and corporations and the ‘supply’ side including hoteliers and lodging aggregators,” said Traci Mercer, senior vice president of lodging, ground and sea for Sabre Travel Network.
“The solution that we’ve developed to this long-standing and complex challenge will revolutionise the way travel agents shop for and book hotel content, making it easier and simpler for them to provide the best experience for their travellers.”
The new application programming interface (API) capabilities powering Sabre Content Services for Lodging will soon be incorporated across all Sabre solutions, including Sabre Red 360 and GetThere. Additional API enhancements will be added to Content Services for Lodging in 2020.
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
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
Royal Park Hotels has appointed Hiroko Seki as the general manager of The Royal Park Canvas – Ginza 8, becoming the first-ever female general manager in the history of the Japan-headquartered hospitality group.
Seki has more than 16 years of hospitality experience under her belt, having worked in overseas properties such as Hanoi Daewoo Hotel in Vietnam and Mandarin Orchard Singapore.
In 2012 she returned to Japan and was employed at Royal Park Shiodome Tower as front receptionist, where she worked her way up to vice general manager accommodation in 2016.