Airbnb has promoted Mike Orgill as general manager of South-east Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Mike Orgill
Orgill will report to Siew Kum Hong, Airbnb’s Asia-Pacific’s regional director, and will continue to support Airbnb’s public policy efforts in the interim until a new Asia-Pacific director of public policy is appointed.
He brings a wealth of experience to the table. Before joining Airbnb, Orgill led Google’s public policy efforts for emerging markets in Asia. He was also previously at the US-ASEAN Business Council in Washington DC.
The sister property of Six Senses Duxton, Six Senses Maxwell, has opened in Singapore’s Chinatown district.
Six Senses Maxwell is the second of two heritage buildings that together form Six Senses Singapore, and is located a five-minute walking distance away.
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Housed in a colonial-style 19th century heritage building, Six Senses Maxwell offers 120 guestrooms and suites across seven room categories. Interiors were designed by French architect and designer Jacques Garcia.
Amenities on-site include five F&B concepts, from the classic European-style brasserie, Murray Terrace, Cook & Tras, a social library restaurant and bar influenced by heritage Straits cuisine. Four of the F&B venues are located on the ground floor, while the building rooftop features Max’s Edible Garden, alongside a 25m-long rooftop pool and gym.
On the wellness front, Six Senses Spa Pods will open in early-2019, and will offer guests massages, facials, and beauty treatments. There will also be yoga classes and personal trainers on-site.
The property offers guests neighbourhood experiences such as the MacRitchie Treetops Walk, Botanic Gardens Exploration Tour, Civic District Discovery Walk, and a Black & White Iconic Heritage Homes Tour.
Musa Yusof, a familiar face to travel industry players in Malaysia, has been appointed the new director-general of Tourism Malaysia effective December 3, succeeding Mirza Mohammad Taiyab who recently retired.
Prior to his appointment, Musa was Tourism Malaysia’s senior director, international promotion division (Asia/Africa). He joined Tourism Malaysia (then known as Tourist Development Corporation of Malaysia) on July 7, 1990, as assistant director of enforcement & facilitation division. Since then, he has taken on several key positions including as special officer (tourism) to the then culture, arts & tourism minister Sabbaruddin Chik in 1997 to 1998. Musa was also the director of Tourism Malaysia Paris office from 1998 until 2003.
Musa Yusof
His experience in Tourism Malaysia includes market development, corporate, international promotion, promotional support and domestic marketing.
Travel trade players interviewed welcomed the appointment, pointing to Musa’s high level of involvement with and support for industry efforts over the years.
KL Tan, president, The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), said: “With his years of experience in Tourism Malaysia, Musa’s appointment augurs well for the tourism industry in the country, especially in marketing, international promotions and local market segmentation.
“My first engagement with Musa was some 10 years ago during his tenure as the director of domestic marketing division. He has been very supportive of MATTA’s promotion activities such as B2B events and overseas sales missions and also MATTA Fairs. Our recent overseas sales missions to China and India would not have been a resounding success without the full support of Musa.”
“I find him eager to work closely with industry players in making Malaysia the preferred travel destination. His encouragement and continuous support over the years has led to driving our nation’s tourism industry forward.”
Musa is also no stranger to another tourism industry association in the country. Uzaidi Udanis, president, Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, said MITA has been working closely with Musa on the Chinese inbound market in his role as senior director, international promotion division (Asia/Africa).
“With his support and leadership, Malaysia has been able to increase the number of tourist arrivals from China despite the many challenges and stiff competition from other destinations,” he remarked. “I hope he will encourage and endorse more industry-led initiatives and help relook marketing plans and strategies together with MITA.”
Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners’ (MAHO) executive director, Shaharuddin M Saaid, who has known Musa for more than 15 years in his various positions in Tourism Malaysia, too noted the new director-general’s support for tourism industry players.
“I have full confidence that with his long and vast experience, he will undertake and carry on the remarkable job which Mirza had left behind,” Shaharuddin said.
Likewise, Syed Razif Al-Yahya, group managing director of Sutra Travel & Tourism Management Group, pointed out that Musa “mixes well with industry players”.
“He is experienced and knowledgeable about the industry, and understands the travel trade’s issues and challenges. He is the right person for the job, as he has the capability to lead the organisation and take the industry forward.”
Reginald T Pereira, president and CEO, Aariana Hospitality International, expects Musa’s experience at the international level will help the destination attract more arrivals to Malaysia, especially from Europe.
Taiwan’s Kaohsiung, host city for ICCA Congress 2020, is forming alliances with its Asian neighbours to develop twin destination tours and attract association executives.
Hong Kong has agreed to create pre- and post-tours combining Hong Kong and Taiwan, revealed Jason Yeh, ICCA board member and CEO of Taiwan’s GIS Group.
Kaohsiung city at night
Yokohama in Japan has agreed to bring in more Japanese association executives, while the Philippine Council for the Advancement of Association Executives and other ICCA colleagues outside Taiwan are also open to help, Yeh added.
And in preparation for the high profile event which will bring the world’s leaders in the meetings business to the port city, Yeh said Kaohsiung is also liaising with other Taiwanese cities including Taipei, Taichung and Tainan to engage as volunteers and make their facilities easier and friendlier to foreigners.
Kaohsiung won the bid to host ICCA Congress 2020 in part due to its compelling story of re-inventing itself through the power of meetings and designing creative concepts that will help ICCA engage more effectively with associations based in Asia-Pacific.
Pattaya’s host city status comes as Thailand works to position the destination as a MICE-friendly city
PATA Destination Marketing Forum (PDMF) 2019 is set to take place in Pattaya, Thailand, from November 27 to 29, PATA CEO Mario Hardy announced at the conclusion of this year’s edition in Khon Kaen.
PDMF 2019 will be hosted by the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) with the support of Pattaya City.
Pattaya’s host city status comes as Thailand works to position the destination as a MICE-friendly city
All parties agreed that the event will contribute to the city’s maturity as a business events destination.
Said Hardy: “With plans for the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), Pattaya is looking to reimagine itself as an international MICE City. Our aim for the event is to help understand their challenges and opportunities in reaching these goals.”
Supawan Teerarat, TCEB senior vice president – strategic business development & innovation, said the city has “strong potential and readiness to host international conventions to world-class standards”.
From left: Khon Kaen province governor Somsak Changtragul; PATA’s Mario Hardy; Pattaya’s deputy secretary Sutham Phetchgeat; TAT’s Srisuda Wanaphinyosak; TCEB’s Supawan Teerarat; and Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration’s Watcharee Churugsa
“The event will contribute greatly to raising visibility and awareness of Pattaya City and other regional MICE cities as international MICE destinations,” added Supawan.
In addition to enhancing the city’s business events status, Srisuda Wanaphinyosak, TAT deputy governor for international marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and the Americas), said that the selection of Pattaya as the next PDMF host city is an opportunity to position it as a high-end destination with its convenient accessibility, new luxury accommodations and activities.
“Also, it supports the TAT Hub and Hook Strategy, with Pattaya as the region’s leading travel hub and hook to lesser known destinations in the East, such as Rayong, Chantaburi, Trat and eastern islands through tourism activities, fruits & foods, as well as, local experiences,” she added.
Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa has rolled out a customised teambuilding package combining physical activities and mental challenges, parked under the banner Collabor8. In total, there are eight teambuilding options that can be conducted indoors or outdoors.
The Shangri-La team at the launch of Collabor8. Photo: Rosa Ocampo
The launch was in response to “a lot of enquiries we get (for) two-in-one events – corporate incentives that have been merged with teambuilding activities and strategic planning,” explained business development manager Janine Medina-Cue.
“By investing in the group’s travel, companies extend their itineraries so that they can kill two birds with one stone,” Medina-Cue told TTGmice, noting that with the October 26 reopening of Boracay and positive results from its clean-up and rehabilitation, “there has definitely been an increase in curiosity and enquiries from MICE groups”.
She explained that Collabor8 is a three-step winning formula beginning with what the team would like to achieve, followed by eight adventures to choose from, topped off by a team celebration for a winning finish.
The eight adventure options include a QR code experiential tour and mini challenges from taking a selfie photo and uploading online for the Biggest Influencer challenge, to a mystery escape room for the Codebreaker challenge.
Collabor8 was mainly inspired by the various activities that can be done within the large Shangri-La’s Boracay resort. “We injected a storyline to tie everything together and to give team builders the personas they need to step into particular roles and achieve the team’s desired goal,” Medina-Cue shared.
Concept
Goa Nights is spread over two storeys, where the main dining area is on the second floor. There is also a small balcony, offering a fantastic view of Taipa Village. Meanwhile, on the ground floor is the bar and for music-going patrons. Overall, the vibe was laid-back.
The design of the restaurant was a team effort spearheaded by owner Gagan Sethi and his family. For example, the mural of a holy man across the bar on the ground floor was painted by his wife. The family used reclaimed wood where possible, where the furniture was made from recycled timber from Indonesia.
Food supplies and spices are imported from India to ensure authenticity. Guests are spoilt for choice thanks to an extensive menu that reflects seasonal dishes. Vegan and vegetarian food is readily available. There is also a wide selection of bar snacks and small plates that can be paired with the restaurant’s signature cocktails.
One of the small plates that would go well with a cocktail
I dug into lamb chops that was marinated with special secret spices, and served on a bed of spinach potato puree. The dish was preceded by a complimentary serving of dhi puri chaat, a traditional street food from India that comprised a deep-fried semolina ball filled with potatoes, and served with tamarind chutney, mint chutney and yoghurt, as well as potato vermicelli as garnish.
Guests who enjoy their tipple will delight to know that acclaimed bartender and mixologist Chetan Gangan is behind the bar. He has crafted nine cocktails inspired by Vasco da Gama’s – a voyager who travelled from Portugal to India – journey. The nine cocktails are associated with the nine cities on the route, and the menu indicates strength and taste of each.
MICE application
Goa Nights is suitable for intimate functions and welcomes corporate buyouts. The ground floor can host 15 guests, while the second floor seats 19.
The second floor of the restaurant
Teambuilding activities, as well as wine tasting or cocktail classes can be arranged. But without audiovisual facilities on-site, planners will have to supply their own.
Service
The staff at the bar were friendly, while the kitchen was prompt and efficient. However, the service staff could be armed with better knowledge about the food served. When I asked several questions about a dish, the service staff had to check with the kitchen before replying.
The Lighthouse shines bright in Tel Aviv
The Lighthouse has opened within an iconic Brutalist office tower built in the 1970s in central Tel Aviv, Israel. There are 160 rooms available ranging in size from 22m2 to 27m2, some of which also offer sweeping views of the White City and Mediterranean Sea. Out of the 160 keys, there are 12 terrace rooms that boast private balconies and outdoor jacuzzis.
Facilities include two cocktail bars, two pools, a full-service gym/spa, The Lighthouse restaurant, a rooftop lounge on the 18th floor, and a lower-level conference/banqueting centre that can accommodate up to 400 people.
IAPCO expands outreach in Africa
A destination partnership agreement between the Rwanda Convention Bureau and IAPCO (the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers) has been signed.
Strategically, IAPCO is focusing on expanding its outreach in Africa, having previously established destination partnerships in Europe, North America, Asia, Middle East, Latin America and Australasia. Rwanda completes IAPCO’s stable of regionally exclusive global partnerships, and together they will be able to create high quality platforms for the exchange of knowledge, business and cultural understanding,
IAPCO, with 130 company members across 41 countries, representing more than 7,500 professional congress organisers and meeting professionals, has the potential to bring major international association business to the city and region.
New addition to the Fairgrounds, Syracuse
New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse has opened a brand-new event space, completing its second phase of the revitalisation.
The US$63 million facility, which comes with the renovated Orange parking lot, boasts more than 10,200m2 of clear-span floor space and 4,000 retractable seats. It is expected to attract major shows and special events, many of which were previously unable to come to upstate New York due to the lack of suitable space.
With this latest opening, the total available indoor space on the Fairgrounds now stands at more than 41,800m2.
Split underwater shot of couple snorkelling off an island
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Hilton has appointed Veronique Sirault as cluster general manager of three hotels in Myanmar – Hilton Nay Pyi Taw, Hilton Ngapali Resort & Spa and Hilton Mandalay.
With 17 years of experience under her belt, the seasoned hospitality professional will be responsible for the growth and operations of Hilton’s properties in Myanmar. She will also provide support and oversight to the Hilton Vocational Training Center in Nay Pyi Taw.
Sirault began her hospitality experience in the F&B and rooms division in her native Belgium. From there, her career has taken her across the globe, from Europe – where she was based in the UK and Germany – and to Asia where she worked across China and India. Before moving to Myanmar, she spent nearly a decade in Thailand.
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.
