Absolute Hotel Services (AHS) Group has appointed Yaowanarth Phothiprom as general manager of U Zenmaya Phuket.
Yaowanarth first joined the company in 2017 as general manager at Eastin Residences Muscat in Oman.
Prior to joining AHS, the seasoned hotelier spent over two decades working with properties such as Dusit Thani Maldives, Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa, The Sukhothai Bangkok and Chikusenso Mt Zao Resort & Spa in Japan’s Miyagi Prefecture.
Celebrity Cruises is looking to grow its MICE business in Asia, leveraging its US$500-million fleet-wide modernisation alongside pioneering unique onboard experiences to court more corporate groups.
Currently, business groups only account for less than 10 per cent of Celebrity’s overall business, a percentage that associate vice president for corporate meetings, incentives and charter sales, Lisa Vogt, believes still has “much room to growth”.
Vogt said: “Our penetration in Asia is still low, but we have seen the dividends after investing effort and time to attract incentives in recent years. For instance, a direct selling company from Hong Kong booked an Alaska cruise for 600 staff this June 2019.”
She added that there are many companies in Asia already conducting incentives on land, and urges corporate groups to “open their minds” to try cruising incentives because they are convenient and immersive experiences.
Corporate groups hailing from China and Hong Kong typically prefer shorter programmes such as a seven-night itinerary to the Caribbean or Alaska, but Vogt foresees that destinations like Ireland and Scandinavia will soon rise in popularity.
Celebrity Cruises has also lined nine vessels up for upgrades between 2019 and 2023. The US$500 million modernisation exercise will see event spaces being revolutionised and reimagined across the entire fleet, all in all making the ships more attractive for the corporate segment.
“We are updating entire areas, from furnishings and decor to technology. In terms of entertainment, we teamed up with American Ballet to offer classical ballet dancing experience at sea. This is unprecedented in cruise industry and we are the first cruise company to launch this. It’s more than a performance; ballet classes are conducted on board and it’s great for team activities, enrichment and education,” Vogt elaborated.
CWT Solutions Group forecasts global average ticket prices (ATP) for air bookings will drop to around US$673 by April, down just over 4% from February levels, as published fares correct from the sharp increase seen in the first two months of the year.
These findings were published in the third edition of its bi-monthly Air Trends Report, which uses a proprietary algorithm to predict changes.
The global ATP climbed approximately 6% month-on-month in January, and then a further 3% in February, to reach US$702. This was largely the result of airlines across the globe implementing new commercial policies and revenue management models, which pushed up airfares.
“We foresee a continued upward trend in the average ticket price through 2019,” said Christophe Renard, vice president of CWT Solutions Group. “One of the reasons is that more airlines are looking to adopt IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) standard as a means to generate greater ancillary revenues such as seat selection and baggage fees. Post-booking price tracking tools can be an effective way for companies to optimise the cost of expensive tickets before upcoming departures.”
Meanwhile, the usage of Online Booking Tools (OBTs) remains on upward trend as main OBT providers continue to improve the user experience, especially on mobile apps. Efforts are also being made to improve the content available through these channels. At the same time, corporate travel management teams are encouraging their travellers to book through OBTs and mobile apps.
OBT usage was stable at around 48% globally in January and February, after a 6% increase from October to December. It is forecast to rise again in March and April, with more than 50% of all bookings expected to be made through OBTs for the first time ever.
The report also predicts that travellers’ advance purchase behaviour will worsen in over the next two months. Stricter enforcement of travel policies as a result of year-end budget considerations and belt-tightening saw improved advance purchase behaviour in December, and this carried over to January and February – with around 47% of tickets booked more than 14 days prior to departure. With companies now relaxing travel restrictions, this is expected fall to 43% in March and April.
“In order to keep a handle on costs, travel managers are advised to stress the importance of booking in advance, either as a message displayed on the OBT or through targeted communications to individual travellers,” said Renard. “It’s also important to ensure that OBTs are properly set up to reflect the organisation’s travel policy, or to configure these tools with bespoke settings for each market.”
Melbourne has been named the host city for the 2023 Rotary International Convention, which is expected to draw thousands of visitors.
The convention is the most valuable conference ever won for the state, and is expected to attract 20,000 Rotary members from over 200 countries worldwide. Convention events will be hosted across two venues – Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne & Olympic Parks.
Aside from injecting A$88 million (US$62 million) into the Victoria state economy, the convention is expected to create millions of dollars in economic spinoffs, including the most significant room block in Melbourne’s history to guarantee high occupancy levels for up to 50 properties in the city during the off-peak winter season.
Australian minister for trade, tourism and investment Simon Birmingham said: “Over the course of the four-day event, an extra 20,000 visitors will be filling up Melbourne’s hotel rooms, local restaurants and also driving visitation to the city’s key venues and attractions.
“Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund is helping to bring significant international events like this one to Australia. Importantly, these events often attract the type of visitors that extend their stay to regional parts of Australia and are also more likely to return for a holiday in the future.”
The bid was led by Melbourne Convention Bureau, and is supported by the Victorian and Australian Governments.
More than 50 of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s (the Centre) team members recently celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) with a stroll in the park and a casual high tea session.
The centre also themed its activities, including specially crafted F&B and décor, to match the 2019 IWD theme #BalanceforBetter. All digital screens around the venue also displayed a celebratory message marking IWD.
Angeline van den Broecke, the centre’s director of global business development & marketing, said: “#BalanceforBetter is a very appropriate theme this year as there is such a universal need for more active adoption of gender balance and for us to acknowledge initiatives that have brought important issues to the fore such as #MeToo and #TimesUp.
“We all need to find ways to assist in contributing to awareness and education on equality, in the workplace, and in social and domestic environments.”
Currently, the centre employs 119 women (38 per cent of the total organisation), of which 80 (67 per cent) hold executive to senior managerial positions despite residing in an industry that is often perceived as male dominated.
Portugal: Six Senses Douro Valley adds event spaces
Six Senses will be introducing event spaces and new accommodation – seven suites and three guestrooms – to its property in Douro Valley Portugal.
The space in which the new meeting rooms are being created offers a vineyard view, and can accommodate groups from 20 to 70 people. Its walls will have ‘writable’ sections to enhance fun at interactive meetings, and all rooms will be equipped with the latest technology.
A dramatic feature is the indoor-outdoor adjoining room for pre-function or break-out sessions. With a massive open skylight and a full height living wall, the multi-functional space can transform from a quiet lounge into a meeting venue.
The new 10 rooms on the ground floor have generous outside areas with comfortable seating plus hot tubs in the bathrooms. Two of the current guestrooms on level six will have private wooden bridges leading to secret gardens with seating and hot tubs.
The additions will be ready by July 2019.
Dubai: AIM Group International opens a new office
AIM Group International has set up shop in Dubai, with the intention of developing the meetings market in the UAE with a focus on Expo Dubai 2020.
The Dubai office is managed by Mariano Genzone, regional manager of Middle East & Africa, who has been based in Dubai for more than eight years, with experience in destination management and corporate consulting and training.
As a DMC, the Dubai team expects to support clients with innovative and effective solutions for their growth through training projects and the organisation of meetings and events.
With this new Dubai office, AIM Group’s international network now comprises 17 offices.
US: Area15 to open in December
Area15, Las Vegas’ upcoming immersive entertainment, retail and dining destination, is gearing up for an opening in December.
Located just seven minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, the complex will offer numerous flexible indoor and outdoor event spaces spanning more than 3,700m2.
This includes the outdoor 2,972m2 Sectar I, which can hold up to 4,500 people and boasts a three-metre-high perimeter wall for privacy; and the 177m2 Sectar V, a circular bamboo volcano structure that can hold up to 200.
Spaces are open for bookings beginning in January 2020.
Indonesia-based hospitality management company Archipelago International has opened the doors to its first Harper-branded hotel in Sumatra.
Harper Palembang features 163 rooms, alongside facilities such as two F&B venues, a lounge and a swimming pool. For events, the hotel is also home to five medium-sized multifunction rooms, as well as one of the largest ballrooms in the area, which can accommodate up to 1,500 guests.
Located in the city centre, Harper Palembang stands 30 minutes from the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport. The property joins Archipelago’s two other hotels in the area, the Aston Palembang Hotel & Conference Center and favehotel Palembang.
China’s main gateway cities continue to dominate the ranks for Asia-Pacific international meetings and the formation of a Ministry of Culture and Tourism in March 2018 is expected to boost the country’s prospects, including second-tier locations.
There are also signs that China’s “national image” will get a shot-in-the arm with news that a new marketing campaign will be launched in 2019 and more would be done to foster cooperation between the public and private sectors to promote culture, tourism and trade.
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Commercial Sub-council has already stepped up activities with the ministry, according to Jack Yao, secretary general, and vice president, China Business Event Federation.
Yao said: “For the first time CCPIT is cooperating with the new ministry and the private sector to identify and create business opportunities centred around culture.”
While it would be difficult for China to form a centralised convention and visitor bureau like some other Asian countries, Yao, who has also been named second vice president, Asia Marketing Federation, said the government is paying more attention to develop and promote a “national image” with the launch of the new marketing campaign.
Welcoming the news, Sarah Keenlyside, founder and CEO of The Bespoke Travel Company, said more destination marketing support is definitely needed, especially if China wants to spread business to second- and third-tier cities.
Like others in the private sector, Keenlyside said the DMC, which was set up about 10 years ago, has had to rely on its own resources, adding that China can borrow from the many successful examples of what CVBs in Asia have and are doing.
“China is one of the safest countries to visit or do business in, and the wonderful culture and other positives should be played up,” she said, adding that negative stories also needed to be better addressed.
She hopes the new ministry can also consider a “less of a one-size-fits-all approach in dealing with travel companies” and to cut down on paperwork.
A meetings and incentive veteran commented that China is no longer a “cheap” destination and more needed to be done to value-add by applying technology to create “smart travel” and to provide more meaningful and in-depth experiences for event attendees.
The managing director, who had requested anonymity, added: “For SMEs (travel and event agencies) to survive, we need to know early if city or provincial government support will be given, or else it will be difficult for us to cap costs.”
His wish list for the new ministry includes establishing a consistent industry standard of service across China.
He explained: “Industry standards are still not uniform in China and the availability of English-speaking staff to be able to attract more international events and business assistance for smaller companies are some of the issues I hope the new ministry will address.”
Exhibition organisers are missing out on opportunities to expand regular events and mount bigger events in the absence of large-scale venues in the Philippines.
One glaring example is the Philippine Garment Industry & Fabric Expo, which is unable to double its exhibition space to two halls this year as a result of the lack of space at SMX Convention Center Manila.
“It limits us because we cannot expand to 100 booths,” the organiser, Marisa Nallana, president of PETCO, told TTGmice. She added that the lack of large-scale venues also pose a problem for foreign event organisers who want to bring big fairs into the country.
Afro-Asian World Events’ owner Angel Ramos Bognot pointed out that as exhibition centres in Manila at this time are already fully booked for the year, the country is missing out on big exhibitions.
Bognot cited an example: “World Trade Center Manila cannot give me a date (for my event) this year (and only accept a 2020 date) because all of their regular exhibitions are already booked (with them).”
In comparison to mega venues overseas, Philippines’ venues are small. Its three largest venues – SMX Manila, World Trade Center Metro Manila and the Philippine International Convention Center – have a combined event space of just 30,000m2.
This pales in comparison to other exhibition venues of formidable sizes built in South-east Asia in recent years, such as the 70,100m2 Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center; the 68,100m2 Jakarta International Exhibition and Congress Centre; and 48,000m2 Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Center in Kuala Lumpur.
In addition, upcoming mega venues include the 22,600m2 Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (its 11,000m2 expansion will open later this year); and the 60,000m2 Aichi International Convention Centre to open in September 2019; among others in India, China and Japan.
Acknowledging that events venues are small and “already operating on full capacity”, the Philippine MICE Roadmap launched last year has proposed “the construction of 10 exhibition halls with combined capacities of at least 100,000m2 in the long term”.
Mitch Ballesteros, Ex-Link Events’ CEO, suggested that since events organisers and exhibitors constantly need venues and rentals keep on escalating every year, industry associations could form a new group to help address the issue and come up with an alternative space.
For example, she shared that collectively, the industry can use crowdsourcing as a way to address the lack of venue space, instead of relying too much on developers, and being too comfortable in venues that are part of mixed-used developments.
Singapore will play host to a sizeable number of business events from 2019 and beyond, with several of these events secured being inaugural editions.
This comes on the back of a strong performance of the BTMICE industry in 2018. From January to September 2018 (year-to-date 3Q2018), tourism receipts from the BTMICE sector rose by 10 per cent to hit S$3.4 billion (US$2.5 billion), compared to the same period in 2017. This was driven by growth in BTMICE visitor arrivals, which also rose 14 per cent year-on-year for the same period, to hit two million arrivals.
Melissa Ow, deputy chief executive, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said: “High-profile events in 2018 that garnered strong global interest, such as the DPRK-USA Singapore Summit and the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, have helped increase awareness of Singapore’s business events industry.”
In particular, there were more business events from the Professional Services, Technology and F&B clusters, “clusters are aligned to Singapore’s key economic sectors”, said Ow.
On the Professional services front, Singapore is set to host, for the first time, the Baker Tilly International Global Tax Conference 2019 & Baker Tilly International World Conference 2019, as well as the Kaspersky Security Analyst Summit 2019. In addition, Singapore has also secured the KPMG Asia Pacific Tax Summit 2019, INSOL 2019, Understanding Risk 2020, 18th Asia Pacific Life Insurance Congress 2021 and Asian Patent Attorneys Association General Assembly and Council Meetings 2022. Collectively, these events are expected to draw close to 10,500 foreign delegates to Singapore.
In the technology sector, American technology heavyweight Oracle will be bringing the Oracle OpenWorld Asia 2019 to Asia for the first time, with Singapore being chosen as the convention’s host city. And for the second year running, Ingram Micro will hold its Ingram Micro One APAC 2019 regional conference in Singapore in 2019.
The Lion City has also secured SAP Field Kick-Off Meeting 2020 and 2021, SAP’s annual premier regional field sales event. Close to 6,000 international delegates are expected to arrive into Singapore through these business events secured in the Technology sector.
Besides existing F&B business events such as Speciality and Fine Food Asia, Food Japan and Vitafoods Asia, Singapore will also be hosting debut editions of the Southeast Asia Café Expo and Equip&Dine Asia 2019 (a collaboration with EquipHotel Paris). The Global Restaurant Leadership Conference 2019, which has re-located from Dubai, will also hold their highly successful C-suite level, thought leadership event for the first time in Singapore this year. These two events combined are expected to attract more than 3,500 international visitors.
In the F&B cluster, an event of particular note taking place is the Food&HotelAsia – HoReCa and F&B 2020, billed as Asia’s largest international trade and networking event for the food and hospitality industry. For the first time, Food&Hotel Asia (FHA) will expand their show into two dedicated events: FHA-HoReCa and FHA-F&B – in 2020. With the expansion, these two events are expected to bring in over 45,000 international delegates to the island nation
