Asia/Singapore Friday, 8th May 2026
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Trump-Kim summit raises Vietnam’s profile for large-scale events

By Marissa Carruthers
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Just as how Singapore has benefited from the immense global exposure as the host of the historic meeting between US president Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June 2018, Vietnam’s travel and tourism players are predicting a boom in business as all eyes turn to the Vietnamese capital for the second Trump-Kim summit on Wednesday and Thursday (February 27 and 28).

The Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi is a reflection of Vietnam’s ability to host large-scale events, say industry stakeholders

Jeff Redl, managing director of Diethelm Travel Vietnam, said: “Like APEC 2017 in Danang, it will prove to worldwide MICE and event specialists that Vietnam is able to organise important and large-scale events.”

Linh Le, group managing director of ASIA DMC, also welcomed the meeting, saying it will push Vietnam’s image on the international stage. Said Le: “(The meeting) shall position Hanoi as having the potential for important meetings and events in the future. Vietnam’s capital is becoming a wider-known destination for world events.”

Pham Ha, founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Vietnam, predicts a spike in US visitors following the historic event. And with Vietnamese carriers recently given the green light by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly to the US, non-stop connections are imminent.

Ha added: “If airlines fly direct to and from the US, we will receive more bookings from there. We expect more MICE and leisure visits to Vietnam after the meetings between the two presidents in our capital.”

Redl said the signing of an agreement would cement Hanoi at the centre of the ground-breaking moment. “I cannot imagine how positive it will be if both parties finalise and sign an agreement. It will be awesome for the entire world and historic for Hanoi.”

At the same time, Khiri Travel is using the summit as a tool to promote attractions in Hanoi. It has issued eight recommended Hanoi activities to help Trump and Kim unwind after their meeting, including a visit to the Bun Cha restaurant in Le Van Huu street where president Obama and Anthony Bourdain had noodles and beer.

Meanwhile, as the country gears up for the high-profile meeting, delays are being reported for receiving visa-on-arrivals at Hanoi Airport and are expected to continue until March 2.

Hilton launches new Signia brand for meetings and events

By TTGmice
0

Hilton has unveiled a new meetings-and-events-focused brand, Signia Hilton, a portfolio of hotels that it says will “transform the industry for meeting professionals and sophisticated business travellers by infusing state-of-the-art technology and design into every aspect of the guest experience”.

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The new global events and meetings brand will comprise a curated portfolio of hotels in top urban and resort locales, including Signia Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, Signia Hilton Atlanta and Signia Hilton Indianapolis.

With a minimum of 500 guest rooms and 7m2 per key of flexible meetings and events space, each Signia Hilton will place state-of-the-art technology, signature dining, design-forward guest rooms and premium wellness amenities at its focus.

Each hotel under the new brand will feature “impressive arrivals”, “unmatched lobby experiences”, modern guest rooms offering innovative technology, a destination bar, a signature restaurant and premium wellness experiences.

Meetings and events spaces are expected to be the signature showpiece of each Signia Hilton. Large ballrooms and pre-function areas will feature smart design paired with the newest technologies, while small to mid-size meeting rooms will feature unique design and technology to spark new ideas and optimise work and collaboration.

Commenting on the birth of the new brand, David Marr, senior vice president and global head, full service brands, Hilton, said: “Signia Hilton grew from feedback from top meeting professionals, owners, developers and guests. After countless hours of collaboration, together, we created Signia Hilton, a brand that will resonate with travellers, ‘wow’ meeting professionals and set a new, elevated standard for the meetings and events industry.”

Signia Hilton guests will enjoy benefits of Hilton Honors guest loyalty programme.

Amex M&E partners events tech companies to bolster meeting support

By TTGmice
0

American Express Meetings & Events (Amex M&E), a division of American Express Global Business Travel, has expanded its attendee engagement portfolio through new partnerships with mobile event tool, Attendify, and the world’s first event marketing automation platform, Splash.

The new partnerships will enable clients to have access to a more robust suite of solutions to improve attendee engagement, said Linda McNairy, global vice president, Amex M&E.

The new partnerships are a boost to Amex M&E’s attendee engagement portfolio

Attendify offers technology solutions to Amex M&E customers with simpler meeting needs, including an intuitive app creator and a data analytics platform that enables meaningful engagement with attendees. Through these apps, attendees can access agendas and presentations, speaker and sponsor information, and more. These meeting apps are customisable, simple to build and easy to use.

Splash empowers event planners to seamlessly launch, promote, and scale sophisticated event programmes through consolidated attendee management and customised event marketing. They can maximise the ROI of their events by driving the right people to them easily with Splash’s smart guest lists, responsive event pages and emails, and on-site check-in functionality. Splash also enables planners to capture real-time data and translate it into actionable insights.

Both Attendify and Splash are available now and join DoubleDutch as key solutions within the Meetings Marketplace, a vetted collection of Amex M&E’s technology solutions.

Brisbane lands symposium for an emerging science

By TTGmice
0

Brisbane will welcome researchers from across the globe involved in the emerging science of peptides, considered an important field for future drugs for reasons of potency, safety and specificity.

Brisbane scientists Christina Schroeder and Johan Rosengren from the University of Queensland were the main drivers behind the successful bid to bring the International Peptide Symposium to Brisbane in 2021, working in collaboration with the team at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Marketing and Tourism & Events Queensland.

The five-day peptides symposium is expected to deliver an economic boost of over US$1.4 million to Brisbane

A first-time event for Brisbane, the five-day symposium is expected to attract more than 600 delegates from the UK, Europe, America, Asia and Australia. Lord mayor Graham Quirk, added that the symposium will deliver an economic boost of over A$2 million (US$1.4 million) and showcase Brisbane’s local expertise and facilitate collaboration in the field.

Peptides are a key area of research growth in Australia, particularly with advances in research in drug design and agricultural applications, with the University of Queensland leading the way.

Co-chair of the Australian Bid Committee, University of Queensland scientist, Johan Rosengren, shred that the symposium will cover a range of topics in peptide science, attracting the world’s leading researchers and scientists in the field.

“The field of peptide science has rapidly matured in Australia with the sector outstripping other types of drug research, with scientists in Brisbane leading the way, focussing on the areas of bio pesticides and drug design.”

Rosengren said key factors in the selection of Brisbane to host the symposium include a combination of the city’s world leading science, the venue in the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, and an attractive and appealing destination with easy international access.

BCEC general manager, Bob O’Keeffe pointed out that the centre, located in the heart of Brisbane’s Knowledge Corridor, surrounded by universities, hospitals and research centres, has a strong reputation for hosting and attracting key sector scientific meetings.

The Queensland government supports the event through Tourism & Events Queensland’s Business Events Acquisition and Leveraging Fund.

“Using events as a platform to showcase our state’s unique tourism experiences is a clear strategy of the Queensland Government, and we are proud to support events like this which drive visitation, support local jobs and generate significant economic benefits,” commented Queensland tourism industry development minister Kate Jones.

Travelport and BCD Travel continue partnership

By TTGmice
0

Travelport has renewed its long-standing partnership with BCD Travel, which will see the duo continue to collaborate on the latter’s digital traveller engagement solution, TripSource.

Travelport and BCD Travel continue to collaborate on Tripsource, a digital traveller engagement solution

A key digital partner for BCD Travel since 2013, Travelport Digital has collaborated with the TMC to develop TripSource and expand upon the platform’s early iteration as an itinerary management app which allows corporate travellers to shop, book, manage policy guidance and stay organised.

The platform also uses real-time messaging capabilities to provide travel updates such as flight delays, gate changes, risk alerts and policy reminders as well as company specific information to offer seamless, well-informed experience for travellers.

TripSource has been downloaded almost 1.5 million times and has an average app store rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Sheraton Grand Danang Resort promotes new meetings deal

By TTGmice
0

Sheraton Grand Danang Resort has rolled out the Signature Meetings Package, offering welcome drinks, themed coffee break (Garden to Table, Go Local, Energizer, Kitchen, or Grab and Go), signature lunch (Asian/Vietnamese/Western menu), smart audio visual equipment, smart meeting amenities, and unlimited tea and coffee.

A full-day meeting package will cost US$65++ per person while a half-day meeting package is priced at US$55++ per person.

For more information about or booking of these packages, email danang.sales2@sheraton.com or call +84 236 3988 999.

New Alila opens in Jakarta CBD

By TTGmice
0

Alila SCBD Jakarta has opened next to the Indonesia Stock Exchange, featuring a striking façade with its irregular, boot-like architecture comprising a long podium and a diamond-shaped tower.

Alila SCBD Jakarta
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The five-star property boasts 227 studios and suites, as well as recreational facilities such as a spa, outdoor swimming pool and gym. There are several F&B options ranging from the New-York style Vong Kitchen to 24-hour Le Burger, both by Michelin-starred Jean-Georges Vongerichten and son Cedric, as well as Hakkasan specialty restaurants by the Hakkasan Group.

For events and meetings, there are 13 event studios on-site as well.

The minimalist property features original art works, including the Orbital of Joy, a large wall-mounted artwork by Yogyakarta-based art duo Indieguerillas outside the entrance to the hotel; and a dramatic art installation titled Birds, Bats and Butterflies, created by Australian-born architect and artist Richard Hassell, inside the large living room-styled lobby.

Outlook 2019: Trends to watch

By TTGmice
0

Incentive travel

Rajeev Kohli
SITE president 2016 and 2017, joint managing director,
Creative Travel India

Budget increases
SITE partnered with the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and Financial and Insurance Conference Professionals (FICP) in 2018 to deliver the first-ever Incentive Travel Industry Index representing the views of more than 1,000 senior incentive travel professionals in 86 countries.

Fifty-four per cent of buyers predict the per person median in 2019 will be US$4,000 – same as last year – but $1,000 more than the 2016 figure. Per person average for corporate buyers is US$8,151 and per person average for agencies is US$5,193. Some companies are reporting per person investments of as much as $50,000.

Rise in the number of qualifiers
Globally 65 per cent of all buyers are increasing the number of qualifiers – 58 per cent in US, 67 per cent in the EU and 73 per cent in Asia. Incentive houses reported a 71 per cent increase in 2018 compared to 54 per cent in 2017.

Inclusion in incentive travel programmes
Eighty-six per cent of buyers highlighted wellness – yoga, healthy meals, etc – and wellness at 86 per cent trumps corporate social responsibility (CSR) at 74 per cent. CSR has fallen out of favour, in particular with corporate buyers, down from 94 per cent in 2017 to 73 per cent in 2018).

Association meetings

Noor Ahmad Hamid
Regional director, Asia-Pacific, ICCA

Greater love for legacy
We see more and more international associations making “legacy” a central part of their thinking and activities. Creating a lasting legacy has become pivotal to their strategy, as many associations begin to look beyond traditional planning.

Shift in role of meetings industry
Meetings once conceived as being “part of tourism” are now seen as delivering “economic and societal impact”.

New focus of international associations
They include knowledge or skill transfer in developing countries, building the local community, advocating issues of relevance or advancing future intellectual leaders to leave a lasting positive impact on the destinations they visit.

This is the primary reason why ICCA has collaborated with BestCities Global Alliance to launch the Incredible Impacts Programme with the value of meetings tagged in areas such as legacy development, sustainability and accessibility. Launched in 2017, Incredible Impacts grants are awarded to associations who strive to ensure their events make a difference.

Corporate travel

Benson Tang
Regional director,
Asia Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)

The power of technology
Harnessing technology – artificial intelligence, chatbots, blockchain, etc – to manage corporate travel is on the radar for travel managers to consider in 2019.

The rise of millennials
By 2020, millennials will comprise half of the global workforce and are forecast to account for almost 50 per cent of corporate travel spend. To enhance the centricity of these travellers will be paramount in 2019.

Rising trade tensions
According to the International Monetary Fund, disputes between the US and the rest of the world could cost the global economy US$430 billion. With the US “especially vulnerable” to escalating tariffs, this could affect corporate travel expenditure in 2019.

Exhibitions

Mark Cochrane
Regional manager,
Asia-Pacific, UFI The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry

Mergers and acquisition
Following Informa’s acquisition of UBM and private equity firm, Blackstone’s acquisition of Global Sources, Clarion and PennWell, 2019 should be a year of more deals both big and small.

Mega venues
NECC (National Exhibition and Convention Center) opened in Shanghai in 2015 adding 400,000m2 to the market there. In 2019, Shenzhen World will boost that city’s capacity by an incredible 500,000m2. India is also, finally, adding significant capacity in Mumbai and Delhi. Big venues usually unlock big growth in exhibitions.

South-east Asia’s potential
The exhibition markets in the region from the large (in Thailand) to the small (in Cambodia and Vietnam) have been posting significant growth for more than three years. We expect that to continue in 2019 and beyond.

Asian demand growth brings ‘massive potential’ in corporate incentive travel

By Adelaine Ng
0
From left: PCMA CEO and president Sherrif Karamat and Melbourne Convention Bureau CEO Karen Bolinger talking about the research at AIME (Photo: Adelaine Ng)

Corporate incentive travel (CIT) is rising in popularity among corporations in Asia, and the region is rising as a key player of the sector, a research commissioned by the Melbourne Convention Bureau and the PCMA Foundation has found.

“CIT is becoming increasingly important to corporations in Asia, particularly as a tool for acquiring and retaining talented staff rather than just paying cash bonuses,” said PCMA CEO and president Sherrif Karamat at AIME 2019.

From left: PCMA CEO and president Sherrif Karamat and Melbourne Convention Bureau CEO Karen Bolinger talking about the research at AIME (Photo: Adelaine Ng)

In addition, the research also found that the CIT sector is looking to source unusual destinations, and is eyeing secondary or third-tier cities as potential incentive travel locations.

Melbourne Convention Bureau’s CEO Karen Bolinger told TTGmice that regional areas and some Asian cities will have a steeper learning curve to ready themselves for the sector’s growth, but relayed that “they’re learning fast as they go”.

The report projects that with Asian travel expected to grow to US$1.2 trillion by 2026 and the CIT sector growing substantially within that, a new revenue opportunity with “massive potential” is presented for those who can tailor their offerings.

In order to better capture the expanding market, local destination bureaus should work with business events suppliers to create ‘wow’ experiences.

“Many corporations today engage professional CIT planners to book and plan these trips, and these planners play an important role in the supply chain,” Karamat added.

Bolinger shared that in her city’s case, it’s all about taking common tourist experiences to the next level.

“For example, people can go on a street art tour and they’ll say that’s nice, but anyone can do that. Nowadays, incentive travellers want to roll their sleeves up, immerse themselves and want bragging rights,” she elaborated.

“So instead we (can organise) a street art tour with an actual street artist, who then takes you back to one of the warehouses, and you get cans of paint to create your own street art.”

AEG Ogden makes two key promotions after winning operating rights to Te Pae Christchurch

By Adelaine Ng
0
Hamilton

Venue operator AEG Ogden Group has revealed that it is promoting two general managers, coming shortly after the group’s announcement that it has been appointed operator for the upcoming Te Pae Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Speaking at AIME 2019 on Tuesday afternoon, AEG Ogden’s director of convention centres, Geoff Donaghy, announced that Cairns Convention Centre (CCC) general manager Ross Steele will manage the Te Pae Christchurch, which is on track for a October 2020 opening.

Hamilton moving into Steele’s vacated role in Cairns (Photo: Adelaine Ng)

Hours later, it was announced that Darwin Convention Centre’s general manager Janet Hamilton will move into Steele’s vacated role in Cairns.

Both Steele and Hamilton have impressive records in the industry, with the Association of International Congress Centres ranking CCC number one in the world under his watch; and Hamilton breaking records in terms of number of market bids and delegate numbers attending conferences in Darwin.

Both Steele and Hamilton told TTGmice that they will continue courting the Asian market in their new roles.

“In my previous appointment with Cairns we’ve been in Asia a lot, so I see that as a real opportunity for Christchurch to work especially with the association and incentive market in Asia in the long term,” said Steele.

Prior to the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011, Christchurch claimed 40 per cent of the Australasian events market for New Zealand, and the city is keen to regain its foothold in hosting conferences in the country.

Meanwhile, Hamilton says her successor, who is yet to be announced, will still need to work on changing Asia’s perception of Darwin.

“We’re the closest (Australian) city to Asia, so it’s actually (all about) getting that brand awareness out there for the territory,” she said.

Hamilton also revealed to TTGmice that Darwin has embarked on a research project into Asia focusing first on Singapore, which will see a delegation of potential clients visit the Australian city later this year. “And then we’ll broaden that as we continue our research and relationships,” she said.

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