Lanson Place Hospitality Management, the hospitality arm of Wing Tai Properties, has appointed Michael Hobson as CEO.
Prior to joining Lanson Place, Hobson was chief marketing officer of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and has played a pivotal role in their global development and brand efforts over a career spanning 25 years.
Hotel Nikko Bangkok at BTS Thonglor will be opening its doors at 27 Sukhumvit Soi 55 in Thailand next month.
Located within walking distance from the BTS Skytrain Thonglor station, the Japanese luxury hotel boasts 301 guestrooms and suites, including 10 extended stay rooms featuring a kitchenette. Japanese bathrooms are a feature of the guestrooms.
The hotel will have four F&B outlets – Hishou Japanese restaurant, The Oasis all-day dining restaurant, Curve 55 lobby lounge and The Pool Bar. Breakfast choices include an international breakfast at The Oasis, or a full Japanese breakfast at Hishou.
As the group traditionally serves a mostly Japanese clientele with around 90 per cent of the guest profile from the corporate sector, meetings and events will be a major component of Hotel Nikko Bangkok.
Aside from the Fuji Grand Ballroom that can host 1,250 persons cocktail-style, there will also be eight small- and medium-sized function rooms together with an outdoor terrace and balcony which takes the total meeting space to over 1,800m2.
Located in the Seaside Momochi area, the Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk is only three minutes’ walk from the ocean, set in one of Japan’s 100 most beautiful cityscapes. It is also a short walk from Fukuoka’s main sights.
Rooms
There are 670 Hilton Rooms comprising double and twin options, Deluxe Rooms (250), Executive Rooms (64), Panoramic Suites (20) and Other Suites (49).
All guestrooms across the 26th and 29th floors, as well as common spaces on all floors, were renovated in April 2018. The resulting new colour palette of grey and turquoise was chosen to convey the sea surrounding the hotel, while white and green convey the sand and pines that line the local coastline.
My 20m2 Hilton Room (double) boasted a stunning sea view while black-out curtains prevented any light disturbance from the twinkling city lights below. The welcome gift of a Japanese-style two-tier box filled with traditional, seasonal confections was a delightful surprise.
MICE facilities
There are 37 function rooms of various sizes, many of which offer views of the ocean or the cityscape at night.
At 2,440m2, the hotel’s largest conventional hall, Argos, can accommodate 3,500 people. It is equipped with audiovisual equipment and simultaneous interpretation systems, making it popular for international events or mega-sized conferences. Argos can be divided into six smaller spaces.
The Penthouse, on the 34th floor, is home to four function rooms. The Ocean Lounge, Tower Penthouse and Bay Penthouse can each accommodate 40–100 guests for dinner and 30–200 guests in theatre-style. Meanwhile, the exclusive Ocean Penthouse offers an intimate space for small group discussions or dinner while enjoying a 320-degree view of the ocean.
On the first, third and fourth floors, there are 19 banquet rooms.
Other facilities
There are seven F&B options across the hotel: Seala Brasserie & Lounge, Boukairou Chinese Restaurant, Tomozuna Sushi-Kappo, Kinyohtei Teppanyaki, Clouds Bar & Dining, Kawataro Ikizukuri and Matsukoh Ryotei.
Leisure facilities include a fitness centre, pools, a Japanese stone bath and the newly redesigned shopping arcade Seahawk Galleria. Japanese cultural experiences such as kimono dressing and tea ceremony are available.
Service
Staff are knowledgeable about Fukuoka and enthusiastic about getting me to explore more of the city.
Number of rooms 1,053
Contact
Email: fukuoka.reservations@hilton.com
Website: www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/japan/hilton-fukuoka-sea-hawk-FUKHIHI/index.html
Edouard Demptos has joined Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok as general manager.
Prior to his move to Thailand, Demptos was hotel manager at Grand Hyatt Singapore, where he has been since June 2016.
The Frenchman first joined Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in 2004 and has since worked in Morocco, Spain, the Philippines, China and Singapore. He first arrived in Asia in May 2009 as director of F&B at the Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila, and subsequently joined Hyatt on the Bund in April 2011 in the same capacity, before he was later promoted to executive assistant manager F&B and hotel manager.
Fukuoka’s position as a cruise port of call, start-up hub and one of only five global MICE strategic cities in Japan is helping the development of her corporate meeting and incentive offerings.
A total of 326 cruise ships called at Fukuoka in 2017, six times more than that of 2011 and the highest for any port in Japan, according to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The rapid rise in international visitors through cruises has facilitated the development of new dining venues, activities and experiences that are also attractive to culture-hungry incentive groups.
The popular waterfront area, incorporating Chuo and Hakata wharves, is undergoing extensive redevelopment as part of the 9th Fukuoka City Master Plan.
Highlights include a MICE vibrancy zone that will be home to new venues. Existing facilities and services will be revitalised. The goal is to have all event venues, lodgings, restaurants and other services “within walking distance,” detailed the plan.
Meanwhile, Fukuoka’s reputation as a city for entrepreneurs and business innovators is boosting its appeal for corporate groups seeking learning opportunities. The city is Japan’s only special economic zone, which has fuelled innovation, attracted entrepreneurs and stimulated new business opportunities.
Understanding the value of this, Fukuoka Convention and Visitors Bureau (FCVB) provides information on the city’s industries and universities, and connects innovators with business event attendees.
Companies utilising these connections want their incentive winners to learn about Japanese business practices, be inspired about entrepreneurship, or gain an understanding of Japanese culture.
An agent with a nationwide Japanese travel firm told TTGmice that recent years have brought increased bookings from foreign companies with branch offices in Japan, particularly in the areas of finance, automotive and video game development.
The FCVB is taking an increasingly tailored approach, working to connect corporate groups with the people it needs to make business events successful in the city. It also supports teambuilding activities created by local organisations.
“We have our set menu of incentive activities, which include experiences such as fruit picking, taiko drum lessons, sushi making classes, and Hakata doll painting. However, we try to meet each incentive group’s needs,” explained Kenny Macphie of the FCVB.
This year, the bureau connected an incentive group seeking kendo classes with Kyushu University’s kendo club, and arranged a visit to a local elementary school for an incentive group eager to learn about the Japanese school system.
There has also been demand for sports matches with local baseball and rugby teams, which is expected to increase in the lead up to Japan’s hosting of the Rugby World Cup in 2019. Fukuoka will host the training camps of Italy and the US, as well as tournament matches.
The travel agent also noted a growing demand for events and experiences at unique venues such as museums and shopping centres – requests that the FCVB is working to fulfil.
In November, a 200-pax incentive group visited the city’s retro shopping street Nakasukawabata Shotengai for a new teambuilding activity facilitated by the FCVB.
Participants were challenged to complete tasks such as hanging up a wooden wishing card at a shrine, making an origami figure, and finding a shop whose staff could dress them in yukata.
Macphie noted that 2017 brought 8,000 registered incentive pax to the city, with the largest proportion from Singapore and Taiwan.
As the North Asian markets of China, Taiwan and South Korea are mature for Fukuoka, industry players agree that South-east Asia is the next big market to watch.
Toshihiro Suzuki of Kinki Nippon Tourist expects a boom in incentive bookings from both South-east Asia.
According to Macphie, the FCBV is receiving more enquiries from Vietnam and the Philippines.
Louis T Collection has appointed Chaivaree Chitrakorn as general manager of Mantra Samui Resort in Koh Samui.
Her second posting with the hospitality management company, Chaivaree joined Louis T Collection in June 2017 as hotel manager for Hotel Bocage, a six-room boutique hotel in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin.
The Thai national spent most of her career – as an attendance management executive – with Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong, before relocating back to her homeland in 2017 to join Louis T Collection.
Brought to you by Conrad Centennial Singapore
Planning your next event? Conrad Centennial Singapore is the perfect place to host unique events and gatherings of all sizes.
Breath-taking banqueting rooms are all part of the surroundings at Conrad Centennial Singapore.
The Pavilion, which is the latest addition to the hotel’s selection of event spaces, is a sophisticated glass-enclosed ballroom that overlooks the hotel’s relaxing outdoor pool. Accommodating up to 160 guests in theatre seating, the airy and open interiors of The Pavilion features not only high ceilings, but also offers a sense of luxury amidst the city’s dynamic landscape.
The elegant yet versatile ballroom provides an extensive area, catering up to a maximum of 700 guests for a Gala Reception. The ballroom can also be further partitioned according to the guests’ needs.
For more intimate gatherings or break-out rooms, choose from a host of smaller salons, located adjacent to the ballroom.
There are also thirteen newly refurbished guest rooms on level six that can be converted to breakout meeting rooms. A round table for 10 persons can be placed in each of the rooms.
The hotel has also recently completed the full refurbishment of its 511 guest rooms and suites. The new design features the use of natural materials throughout the room, exuding a smart, polished and refreshed look. For guests staying in the Executive rooms and suites, they can be pampered by the luxury of choices and personalisation options our hotel offers. Guests are entitled to an unprecedented access to both the hotel’s newly renovated lounges. The Executive Lounge on Level 31 has an exclusive residential ambience, accompanied by sweeping views of the Civic district and the Marina Bay whilst the second lounge, the Lounge by the Pool, is perfect for families with its strategic location next to the swimming pool.
Offering a casual setting, the Lounge by the pool is the ideal spot for lounging and enjoying a relaxed afternoon, away from the hectic city life.
For more information about the accommodation and banquet facilities or to arrange for a visit, please email sinci_salesadm@conradhotels.com or call +65 6334 8888.
Nancy Chan will take up the role of managing director at Uniplan Hong Kong as of January 2, 2019.
With an aim to foster Uniplan’s business development in Hong Kong and the South China region, Chan will further enhance Uniplan’s offerings from strategic marketing consulting to design and the implementation of brand experiences.
With over 20 years of experience, Chan is a seasoned senior executive with diverse background in exhibition, event, telecommunications and manufacturing industries. She carries in-depth understanding of the MICE industry having held various positions in the industry’s value chain. Her career has taken her to work and live in the UK, Hong Kong and China.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has appointed Brenden van Blerk as general manager of voco Gold Coast, the world’s first voco property.
The veteran has been part of the hospitality industry for more than 22 years. Van Blerk’s IHG journey began in 2013 as the room division manager at the Holiday Inn Sydney Airport, before moving on to becoming the operations manager at the Holiday Inn Old Sydney.
He was then made general manager of the Holiday Inn Potts Point Sydney, before moving to voco Gold Coast in the same capacity.
Prior to joining IHG, Brenden spent 10 years in the US market working with brands like Hilton, Marriott and Starwood in a diverse array of hotel styles, markets and hotel phases such as opening, conversion and renovation.
Despite the business events industry boom across Asia and the growing need for talented individuals to join the workforce, few schools in the region offer dedicated degrees or diplomas in business events management.
This, coupled with the vast study choices in non-hospitality/tourism track available in universities and colleges across the region, has made the talent crunch in the business events industry even more pronounced.
Here in Asia, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University is one of the more proactive educational institutes in offering specialist courses in business events. Its School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) offers a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Tourism and Events Management and even a Master’s degree in International Tourism and Convention Management.
Kaye Chon, SHTM’s dean, said the School works closely with the industry to develop relevant programmes to groom the next generation of convention and event managers.
“We are mindful of Hong Kong’s push to strengthen its leading position in the market. With the spread of convention and event management as a specialist field, SHTM is committed to nurturing passionate and pioneering professionals to satisfy industry demand.”
Undergraduates apply what they have learnt from the classroom in a real-life work environment. They spend two semesters organising an international conference and complete internships with tourism/events organisations, such as the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The SHTM Event Society, founded by students, has a mentorship programme in cooperation with various event associations, where mentors help participants gain insight into and experience in business events. Networking with event industry leaders introduces contacts for their future careers.
At the postgraduate level, students learn industry best practices, management skills and research, taking them from theory to practice for a competitive advantage. The flexible delivery and modes of study allow students to complete their studies in just one year to fast-track their careers. The programme also caters to people already in the field who wish to advance their knowledge without giving up their jobs.
Over in Malaysia and Singapore, the respective associations of convention and exhibition organisers and suppliers – MACEOS and SACEOS, respectively – collaborate with tertiary institutes offering event management courses and liaise with industry members to provide internship opportunities to students.
“SACEOS has established arrangements and forged partnerships with several local and privately-run institutes and universities on business event certification and development to grow the pool of business event talent and develop relevant, future-ready competencies of industry professionals,” said its executive director, Bita Seow.
At the School of Hospitality in Republic Polytechnic Singapore, the Diploma in Integrated Events Management (DIEM) focuses on learning by doing.
DIEM programme chair, Lynn Yue, said: “Our Industry Immersion Programme (IIP) provides students opportunities to intern with established local and international hospitality providers and pick up valuable work experience over a 24-month period. Some students even get internships overseas.
“The IIP responds directly to employers’ needs for capable hospitality employees by improving the talent pool in advance. Organisations can hire seasoned individuals who will be able to jump straight into a career (from graduation).”
Sample data from the annual Singapore Ministry of Education graduate employment survey shows that about 65 per cent of DIEM graduates move on to pursue a degree programme, some after a few years of work.
As well, the government-supported SkillsFuture study awards encourage continuing education. Events students can pursue an Earn and Learn Programme conducted by Singapore’s Temasek Polytechnic.
However, with fewer than 25 industry vacancies per year in the city-state for some 700 potential graduates from qualifying institutes, this suggests that the majority will have to seek employment in the wider hospitality sector or head overseas.
Yue estimated that about 30 per cent of DIEM graduates stay on in Singapore’s hospitality industry, though not all may be employed in business event companies. “The local MICE sectors rely more on freelance project managers and contractors,” she explained.
