Saudi Arabia has set its sights high on becoming a major tourism hub that connects Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
At the Arabian Travel Market, the kingdom laid out its ambitious Vision 2030 masterplan, which aims to reposition the country on the global tourism stage.
The Red Sea Project is an upcoming tourism development in Saudi Arabia
John Davis, CEO of Colliers International MENA, said: “Saudi Arabia wants to be the heart of the Arabian Islamic world; a global powerhouse and a hub that connects Europe, Asia and Africa.”
In the next 11 years, the Kingdom plans to pump US$36 billion into the country’s roads, airports, railways and sea ports.
Several multi-billion-dollar projects are also in the pipeline, including a US$500 billion mega leisure and business development, NEOM. This will comprise 12 small cities, with lifestyle and tourist products, luxury hotels and villas on a 460km stretch of the Red Sea. It will operate solely on wind and solar power and leverage robotics to perform functions such as logistics and security. The first phase is slated for completion by 2020.
The Red Sea project is set to be the Middle East’s first fully-integrated luxury mixed use destination. It will comprise 50 islands dotted in the water, with the first phase of 14 luxury hotels boasting 3,000 hotel keys set to open by 2022.
Badr Al Badr, CEO of Dur Hospitality, said: “We have been in the industry for 42 years and we’ve never seen anything like this, the tourism sector is being totally revamped. The country is opening up to visitors, whether religious or general tourism. There are a lot of investment opportunities to be taken advantage of.”
Visa restrictions have been loosened, with an e-visa scheme set to launch in the coming months, and airport expansions and the construction of new terminals are ongoing. The easing of leisure and entertainment laws have seen a target set of having 2,500 movie screens spread across 350 theatres by 2030.
However, Badr predicts it will be the country’s business events market that shines in the near future. By 2020, Saudi Arabia will invest US$1.6 billion into facilities, with a swathe of shows already planned, including hosting G20.
Said Badr: “The biggest growth will be the MICE sector. That will really pick up in Saudi Arabia in the next few years, followed by general tourism.”
Gurugram-headquartered Corporate Alliance Group, a corporate business travel company, announced that it has acquired an 80 per cent stake in Meet 2 Travel (M2T) for an undisclosed amount.
As a result of this acquisition, Corporate Alliance Group has now entered the B2B and B2C exhibition and show space. M2T is now now a part of a newly created entity – YESPIRED – which will be headed by industry veteran and its original founder Vineet Gopal as CEO.
Kumria: the exhibition sector is new ground for Corporate Alliance Group
Gopal will continue to hold a 20 per cent stake in M2T. As per the acquisition, Gopal’s other two companies Representation World and Venuvi have also been merged with YESPIRED.
“We are now entering a new domain of representation and exhibition businesses with the formation of YESPIRED. We will begin with our maiden M2T consumer-focused show in September. It will be held at the Pacific Mall Tagore Garden in New Delhi, and we are expecting participation from travel consultants, tourism boards, airlines and consumer companies,” said Kapil Kumria, chief managing director, Corporate Alliance Group.
“We are looking at vertical representation, by leveraging our association with different hotels and destinations. We want to introduce some new destinations to the Indian market. As far as our exhibitions are concerned, we will be looking at offering customised solutions as per the need of different cities,” added Kumria.
Gopal added that the aim will be to organise about 10 to 12 B2B and B2C exhibitions pan India within a year.
“Under the aegis of Venuevi, we have also tied up with a two-hectare farmhouse which will be converted in an event venue. We are also partnering with other independent spaces to offer venues for corporate events,” shared Gopal.
Barun Gupta, vice president, sales strategy, business development & partnerships, India, Corporate Alliance Group, concluded: “This acquisition is start of new phase at Corporate Alliance Group, and we are planning and shortlisting other acquisitions in South Asia and South-east Asia in the near future.”
Tourism Australia has announced that its managing director, John O’Sullivan, is leaving the organisation to take up a new role as CEO and executive director of the ASX-listed company, Experience Co.
He will leave the organisation in June, handing the baton over to Tourism Australia’s executive general manager international, Phillipa Harrison, who will act as interim managing director until a permanent replacement is found. A search to find O’Sullivan’s successor is underway.
John O’Sullivan makes decision to leave Tourism Australia
O’Sullivan, who joined Tourism Australia in March 2014, said the time was right to step down after five years in a leadership role of promoting Australia to the world.
“It’s with mixed emotions that I now move on, but I feel I’m leaving the organisation in a really good position. Australian tourism is performing well, with international arrivals and spending both at record levels. We’ve reshaped our marketing narrative. Our Tourism 2020 journey is nearly complete, with the A$115 billion target set back in 2009 already achieved, and I firmly believe Tourism Australia is driving the right strategy to take the industry to new levels,” he said.
Tourism Australia chairman, Bob East commented: “Tourism Australia and the Australian tourism industry have gone from strength to strength under John’s stewardship. From the beginning, John has set a clear direction for Tourism Australia – value over volume – and has systematically set about executing that strategy.
“Targeting high yielding travellers who stay longer, do more and spend more when they come Down Under has become a mantra for the tourism industry, helping deliver record spending and tangible results for thousands of Australian tourism businesses,” he added.
Tourism Australia has also confirmed that it will be promoting Susan Coghill into the role of chief marketing officer, replacing Lisa Ronson who left the organisation in March.
Coghill is currently general manager creative, content and campaigns, where she has helped develop Tourism Australia’s recent Dundee, Undiscover Australia and Australia Inc campaigns, as well as oversee the appointment of new global creative agency, M&C Saatchi.
In a study collaboratively commissioned by Hilton, NYC & Company and PCMA Foundation, it was found that half of all delegates attending large-scale, urban conventions are circumventing the established room-reservation process and booking accommodations on their own.
The Room Block of the Future study came about as the three organisations sought to better understand room booking behaviours within the business events industry, with the hope of developing a delivery system that better suits planner and attendee needs in an ever-evolving meetings landscape.
PCMA Convening Leaders in Pittsburgh
Kalibri Labs and Prism Advisory Group were lead research consultants on the project and identified the behaviours and motivations that are driving this decision-making. They jointly analysed more than two million anonymous hotel and Airbnb guest records from conventions held in Houston, New York City and San Diego between 2015 and 2018, in addition to surveying a sample of US business travellers who have attended a city-wide convention.
According to partner at Kalibri Labs, Mark Lomanno: “One of the more surprising findings from the research was the fact that almost 25% of attendees at large city-wide conventions actually booked their accommodations at the hotels specified in the room block, but did not go through the traditional room reservation process resulting in them not being recognised in the room block. Clearly, this segment of attendees room booking priorities were not being met by the existing process.”
Elaine Hendricks, partner at Prism Advisory Group, added: “It was very unexpected to learn from the survey of city-wide attendees just how much it bothers them to lose control of their hotel-booking process — being generally unable to do the things they normally do in hotel bookings, such as accessing their loyalty benefits. It’s this desire for control that creates frustration and prompts a quarter of them to make transient bookings in convention hotels to get what they want.”
“Partnering with PCMA Foundation and NYC & Company on this project was a natural collaboration as we are all committed to innovating within the room block space and know true innovation will only occur after understanding the buying behaviours and needs of the guest or conference attendee. We all recognise the meetings industry is rapidly evolving and that it’s crucial to adapt to changing customer preferences to maintain relevance,” said Frank Passanante, senior vice president, Hilton Worldwide sales, Americas.
Research findings could profoundly shift how cities, hospitality organisations and business events professionals organise meetings and conferences.
“The results of ‘Room Block of the Future’ reflect a shift in the industry that CVB’s must adapt to,” said Jerry Cito, executive vice president, convention development at NYC & Company. “The findings will help NYC & Company educate planners and suppliers on the need for flexibility, pricing transparency and potential development of a cross-loyalty programme.”
In addition, hospitality loyalty programmes, cost, room preferences and age are significant factors in booking behaviours and consumer trends, the study found.
A common attendee misperception — affecting booking patterns across different sizes and types of conferences — is that hotel rooms within the block are more expensive. However, the research proves that in a majority of cases (66%), rooms within the block are more affordable.
Room variety, or lack thereof, is another factor affecting booking patterns. Among many business travellers, a perceived rigidness and the inability to choose a preferred room type played a role.
Overall, younger attendees (59%) are more likely to use alternative accommodations.
The Room Block of the Future study is just one of the many research projects supported by PCMA Foundation, which is committed to empowering individuals and advancing innovations that fuel the future of business events.
“Through the generous support of PCMA members and partners, the Foundation has provided more than US$800,000 over the past four years to fund education and research projects to help advance the business events industry,” said Meredith Rollins, PCMA Foundation’s executive director.
“Part of our mission is to collaborate with industry partners, thought leaders, and academics to challenge current thinking and models; and all of the organisations that aligned to fund and execute this Room Block project is a great example of the value that can be created when we work together.
CWT Meetings & Events (CWT M&E) has appointed Petrina Goh as its new director for Singapore.
Goh is responsible for growing CWT M&E’s business in this market, and create highly participative, digital and data-driven M&E experiences for clients.
Goh has over a decade of experience in the meeting & events and hospitality industries. She joined CWT M&E in 2015 as a business development executive, and in 2017 was promoted to the role of senior business development manager.
Pullman has opened its first property in North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, located within a mixed-use complex in Baotou’s CBD.
Each of its 263 Mongolian-inspired guestrooms and suites proffer views of either the Saihantala Ecological Park, or garden, while leisure facilities include a gym, indoor swimming pool, and spa.
Pullman Baotou
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Guestroom
Steakhouse
There are several F&B options on-site – the Les Champs-Elysées Lobby Bar; Bordeaux House with its sharing dishes; Silk Pavilion with its Huaiyang and fusion cuisine; and the all-day-diner Le Fontainebleau restaurant.
Event planners may choose from Pullman Baotou’s nine meeting spaces, which include the 1,400m2 grand ballroom for 1,200 pax theatre-style or 720 in a banquet setting. Adjacent to the grand ballroom is an outdoor terrace suitable for evening cocktails, or pre/post-function mingles.
In addition, Silk Pavilion restaurant has 10 private rooms that can cater to business luncheons.
Pullman Baotou stands adjacent to Baotou Municipal Government, International Convention and Exhibition Center, and Olympic Sports Centre Stadium. It is a 20-minute drive to the airport and the city’s train station, as well as Baotou’s historic downtown.
Located within Jewel Changi Airport on the topmost floor, Cloud9 Piazza is an ideal space for Changi Airport Group’s (CAG) airport community and travel industry partners to hold aviation-related, community and experiential events.
The naturally-lit area can host between 200 to 500 people, depending on event layout, requirements and setting. CAG will work with these companies and their event organisers to co-create events at Jewel.
Changi Airline Awards night
The first event held at the Cloud9 Event Piazza was the Changi Airline Awards on April 25, and upcoming events include a travel retail charity event, The Moodie Davitt Report 2019 Duty Calls Charity Dinner on May 11.
During events, the public continue to be able to access the eateries on level 5 and the Canopy Park attractions.
For more information, email cloud9piazza@changiairport.com.
Karan Berry has been appointed general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Taipei.
Born in New Delhi, Berry possesses more than 22 years of experience in the hospitality industry and hotel operations.
He previously served as general manager at The Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place, Jakarta before joining Mandarin Oriental, Taipei. Prior to that, he was general manager of JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta, and has also spent time at several Oberoi Group hotels.
W Brisbane
An unapologetic nod to ‘Brisvegas’, the 312-key W Brisbane marked the re-entry of the W brand in Australia after a 13-year hiatus when it opened in June 2018.
Expect the unexpected with decor colours that pack a punch, a pool dominated by zebra patterns and spa beds that glow. It is full of fun and thoughtful details with motion-sensitive neon room numbers that change colour as you pass by and a concierge reachable by WhatsApp. The Extreme Wow Suite showcases a limitless panoramic vista of the Brisbane River and mountains.
The hotel also boasts 1,100m2 of event space, including the 595m2 Great Room with a starry night ceiling, reminiscent of a Queensland outback evening full of stars. The statement lighting and four-metre LED wall panels are perfect for presentations. The W also offers a versatile Studios and Strategy Room with river views and floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing natural light to flow in.
United Places Botanic Gardens
Billed as a new concept in luxury boutique accommodation, United Places is designed to combine the idea of a hotel and a home. There are just 12 suites boasting spacious and opulent rooms with premium amenities and a personalised concierge service.
Every room is a ‘suite’, allowing for meetings in the room with living spaces that are separate from the bedroom. United Places is also the only hotel in Victoria with a two-hatted restaurant, Matilda, where one floor can be transformed into a meeting space for up to 80 people. And yes, it serves in-room dining.
Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel
The 471-room Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel is the park’s first hotel since it opened in 1977. The first-ever city resort hotel in Hong Kong offers a full suite of resort and business facilities with nature-themed decor, a 16m-high aquarium in the main lobby, a large lagoon pool, and four dining spaces.
For business events, the hotel offers more than 2,000m2 of meetings space across nine function venues, as well as outdoor spaces. A 1,200m2 pillar-free grand ballroom can cater for 960 guests banquet style, and up to 1,200 guests for a cocktail reception.
Rosewood Hong Kong With 322 rooms and 91 suites, Rosewood Hong Kong has made its first foray into the city. Standing on the Kowloon waterfront and overlooking Victoria Harbour, this ultra-luxury property is situated within the Victoria Dockside arts, design and conceptual retail district.
Guestrooms here start at 53m2, while suites start at 92m2 making them among the largest in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the 1,000m2 Harbour House and The Garden House suites feature wraparound Victoria Harbour views from their private sky terraces on the 57th floor.
For events of all sizes, the hotel offers 3,200m2 of meetings space which includes a 1,000m2 ballroom; a 300m2 Pavilion Hall with floor-to-ceiling windows; and The Orangery, a private garden with gorgeous views overlooking the harbour.
ITC Grand Goa
ITC Grand Goa further reinforces ITC Hotels’ exclusive partnership with The Luxury Collection brand in India. This 252-key village-styled resort is set amid 18.2 hectares of lush landscape, with direct access to the pristine Arossim beach in Cansaulim, South Goa.
Each of its rooms and suites feature private outdoor spaces in the form of a balcony or patio providing picturesque views of the Arabian Sea, landscaped gardens, lagoons or the multi-level swimming pool.
The hotel offers perfect outdoor spaces with the Seaside Lawns for 500 people; the Forest, a tropical garden for 350 people; the Boathouse overlooking shimmering lagoons for 25 people and private beachfronts. Indoors, the hotel features the Salcete Ballroom that seats up to 370 and can be divided into three separate sections. It also offers the Benaulim for smaller meetings of 30 people; and the Cansaulim Room for informal networking events for up to 40.
The Middle House
Located in the heart of Shanghai’s Jing’an district, The Middle House is Swire Hotels’ latest addition to The House Collective group of hotels.
The 111 modern studios range from 50m2 to 100m2 in size, with interiors designed by Piero Lissoni, who blends his minimalist style with classic Shanghainese elements. For intimate events, there is also the 110m2 Gallery Suite that comes with its own private terrace, separate bedroom and living room.
For larger events, the Penthouse, occupying an impressive 660m2 on the 14th floor, features an inviting living area perfect for entertaining, and outdoor terraces with views overlooking Nanjing Road West. The Penthouse even boasts an outdoor area, and its own 208m2 indoor room that can be converted further into two smaller spaces for more intimate events. It can hold up to 200 people for a cocktail party.
InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland As the world’s first underground hotel, the 336-key InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is an 18-storey resort that is built into the wall of a once-abandoned quarry in the Sheshan Mountain Range.
Sixteen floors are underground and two floors are submerged underwater into a 33m-deep aquarium, where guests can watch marine life and enjoy round-the-clock butler service.
Event planners will find the 900m2 Wonderland Grand Ballroom impressive. The space is divisible into three function rooms, features sky lighting and can accommodate drive-in displays. The light and water theatrics are spectacular, and can be customised for events.
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel
Taking over the heritage icon Capitol Theatre, The Capitol Kempinski Hotel marks Kempinski’s debut in Singapore, presenting 157 keys and a collection of luxurious meeting and ballroom spaces.
Intimate gatherings or board meetings of up to 20 can be hosted in one of the elegant meeting rooms or The Private Dining Room, which affords high ceilings, natural daylight, an integrated LED screen and a chef’s table for the option of a bespoke dining experience.
Larger events of up to 220 guests can be hosted in the event salon, which is equipped with state-of-the-art conference technology; in the open show kitchen; or even in the directly linked Capitol Theatre next door, whose multi-functional space features a rotational floor system.
Village Hotel at Sentosa Newly opened in April, this latest addition to Far East Hospitality’s Village brand is Sentosa Island’s next big draw for meeting and incentive groups thanks to its more affordable and egalitarian price point.
The 606-key property features outdoor event spaces by the pool and various ballroom spaces from 88m2 to 778m2. These include Village Square – a 330m2 space able to host up to 190 guests in banquet seating – which can be combined with the all-day dining space to form the The Commune (778m2), and accommodate up to 400 banquet guests.
Other remaining venues are located in the carefully restored Events Centre heritage building, which comprises more than 800m2 of flexible spaces for smaller-sized celebrations to mid-scale gatherings.
Hotel Marino Beach Colombo
The 300-key Hotel Marino Beach Colombo is the country’s newest five-star hotel situated in the heart of Sri Lanka.
The hotel’s rooftop is home to an infinity pool and garden that affords panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and city skyline, while all of its rooms and suites feature balconies and range from 35m2 to 137m2 in size.
For events, the hotel boasts the city’s trendiest Banquet Hall featuring the latest technology, a state-of-the-art lighting system, large screens, and a data projector. The banquet hall can cater for 900 people, while the two function rooms – Ruby and Pearl – can cater for smaller group sizes.
Waldorf Astoria Bangkok
Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria debut in South-east Asia is an exercise of sophistication and glamour, backed by renowned names such as Andre Fu, who melded contemporary lines and Thai artisanal touches into the interior décor, while AvroKO has kitted out a trio of dining outlets on levels 55 to 57 – Bull & Bear, The Loft and Champagne Bar – each offering sweeping views that make them ideal for C-suite meetings and gatherings in their private rooms.
Standing across from the Royal Bangkok Sports Club in the Ratchaprasong district, the 171-room hotel is also home to the 730m2 Magnolia Ballroom, whose statement staircase and soaring eight-metre ceiling make the backdrop for events of up to 700 guests.
Amari Pattaya
Fresh out of a major revamp as part of Onyx Hospitality Group’s US$100 million investment for the North Pattaya property, this 45-year-old hotel is a standing testimony of Pattaya’s changing vibes and character in recent years into a more business-oriented destination.
The re-launched 20-storey Amari Ocean Tower now features a 620m2, state-of-the-art ballroom that can accommodate up to 1,000 pax; 297 brand new guestrooms and suites; an upgraded Horizon Club executive lounge and the Amaya Food Gallery – an innovative market-style dining concept inspired by Asian street food – which together with the new midscale 406-room Ozo Hotel and the premium 49-suite Amari Pattaya Ocean Suites wing now offer 752 keys altogether.
Expo 2020 will be presenting a wealth of unique business events activities when it opens in Dubai in October 2020.
The 4.4km2 purpose-built site will feature a range of facilities, including three themed districts, themed pavilions housing exhibitions, performance spaces, galleries, art installations, food and retail options, and outdoor gardens.
Renderings of Expo 2020 Dubai
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The mega-event is estimated to attract 25 million visitors to the jam-packed, six-month programme.
The Dubai Exhibition Centre will form part of the site, boasting 45,000m2 of space that houses a theatre, auditorium, several multipurpose halls, four suites, and 24 meeting rooms.
Gillian Hamburger, senior vice president of commercial at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “This is an incredible opportunity and a wonderful place to have all your business discussions, exhibitions, conferences and then have a great time on the site.”
As well as providing a world-class exhibition centre, the Expo team is working with DMCs to curate a range of incentive programmes that will take place alongside the event – which will see more than 190 countries exhibiting and providing entertainment from across the globe. These programmes will be promoted across Asia.
Said Hamburger: “I can’t think of a better incentive than experiencing the UAE and then taking part in the activities on-site. If you want to create a bespoke, really unique one-of-a-kind incentive for five people or thousands of people, we can do it.”
Options range from privatising the swathe of F&B options, which range from street food through to Michelin-star chefs, entertainment venues that can be reserved, and a programme of Expo-related activities.
Hamburger said: “Incentives are all about curating unique experiences. Expo 2020 is only six months so you can’t say, I’ll do it next year. It’s once and will not be here again.”
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.
