BCD Meetings & Events (BCD M&E) has appointed Sanjay Seth as its new managing director, Asia Pacific, effective January 1.
Currently director, Singapore & regional accounts, APAC, Seth will replace BCD M&E Asia Pacific’s current managing director, Lisa Hopkins, as she moves into her new role as vice president, APAC industry relations & global network in January.
Sanjay Seth
Working closely with Hopkins, Seth will begin the region’s transition planning immediately. He will work with the region to further develop a strategy focusing on growing Asia-Pacific, which includes developing local teams and offering expanded services to BCD M&E’s customers.
Prior to joining BCD M&E 17 months ago, Seth founded Truth Serum 317 in 2015 and helped clients, like Abbott Diabetes Care, with design thinking and business transformation.
Prior to that, he was managing partner for Singapore-based Squake, where his team delivered strategy and creative development for clients, including Bacardi Martini, Diageo, Chrysler South East Asia and Standard Chartered.
What is your outlook for Asia’s business meetings and incentive market in 2019?
Asian markets continue to evolve as its feeder markets grow. Thailand has always been a big market for incentives and meetings, and I see this continuing for the foreseeable future. At Mantra Samui Resort, we are seeing interest from clients looking for an incentive trip that incorporates wellness.
Sri Lanka, where we have three hotels, is also seeing growth (in incentives and meetings), especially from the large international corporates.
What are your key markets for next year?
Mantra Samui will continue to focus on China and South-east Asia, where it receives most of its business due to airlift restrictions into Samui.
Sri Lanka will continue to focus on its key feeder markets India, China and South-east Asia. We also see opportunities from the US, the UK and Europe.
As for Perth, we see opportunities from Australia’s domestic meetings and incentives segments, as well as from South-east Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Samui faces airlift restrictions. How has this affected business volume?
Koh Samui has been seeing a decline (in arrivals) in 2018, which is primarily due to the restricted airlift caused by the local airport and its inability to receive large aircraft. But we hope to see new routes and more partnerships coming through the airport in 2019.
Is the company facing local challenges in other destinations as well?
Sri Lanka is a destination that weathers well no matter the situation. We have not seen any decline, even with the recent political instability that the country is facing. I foresee that Sri Lanka will continue to grow.
How about Perth? You will be opening Quay Perth soon, with the provision of a co-work space.
Quay Perth is an exciting property with almost all the large corporate companies located within a short walk of the hotel. Perth also has a lot of transient corporate clients visiting regularly for business from other cities, and at Quay Perth, we see the opportunity to host these clients looking for a base to work from for a day or two each month.
Our co-working space will be the first within a hotel in the city. We are excited to have the addition where we see our clients utilising the space not only for working, but for networking and entertaining. Working from cafes is very much a part of the Australian way of life so adding a co-work space that offers that vibrant surrounding – but with a business and networking focus – should resonate well.
Are you working on bringing this integration of hospitality and workspace into Asia as well?
We see a great opportunity to continue rolling out our co-working space where it makes sense. For example, in Koh Samui, we see many expats spending a lot of time on the island and looking for a place to work and relax, so we believe that this concept will be an area of growth.
Rooms
The hotel offers 196 keys across five categories.
I spent three nights in the lead-in category room and found its 30m2 space more than ample for my needs as a business traveller. The king-size bed was more firm than soft, which worked out great for me as a person with back problems.
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Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre
Lobby
Avani Room
Courtyard
Convention centre theatre set-up
Convention centre u-shape set-up
There was a desk with a lamp, and in-room Wi-Fi was speedy. Ample power points were dotted all over the room to ensure my devices never ran out of juice. I also liked that I could control the lights from my bedside. My bathroom featured a rain shower, as well as a handheld shower head. Water pressure was strong, and the hot water temperature was constant.
The property is located around a 10-minute-drive from the town centre, and because of this, its surroundings were peaceful and quiet.
MICE facilities
The best part of this hotel was its location, as it is directly connected to the Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre. I could walk from my room and be seated in the conference hall in a mere five minutes.
The convention centre bills itself as one of Khon Kaen’s largest meeting venues with space for up to 2,000 guests. In total, it boasts more than 4,000m2 of venue space across eight function rooms.
While attending the conference was convenient and meant that I didn’t have to get up extra early, I personally wished that the hotel was a little nearer to the centre of town and its night markets. However, even though Khon Kaen is one of the less-popular Thai cities, Grab was surprisingly an easy way to get around, and I could easily find a car to take me to CentralPlaza Khon Kaen or a night market nearby.
Other facilities
The property has an infinity pool that overlooks a calming field of green. It would have been a perfect place to unwind, but unfortunately, my packed PATA Destination Marketing Forum schedule meant that I had no time to vegetate by the poolside. Other recreational facilities include a gym and a spa.
F&B options include the dim sum restaurant Ju Fang, as well as all-day-dining restaurant The Globe, where buffet breakfasts were served every morning.
Service
Excellent. All staff I came in contact with were courteous and extremely eager to help, plus they always did it with a smile. It’s nice to always feel the warmth of Thai hospitality whenever I’m in the country.
Also, when my housekeeper realised that I finished the two provided glass bottles of water on the first night, she thoughtfully added a third bottle from the second night onwards.
Ascott’s latest opening, the Ascott Sudirman Jakarta, is part of Ciputra World 2, an integrated development that also comprises a Grade A office tower and retail mall.
The 43-storey serviced residence offers business travellers 192 units, ranging from studio, one-, to three-bedroom apartments. Each apartment comes with a fully-equipped kitchen, living room and dining area, bathrooms with bathtub and rain shower. There is also complimentary wireless Internet access, LED smart television with home entertainment system, washing machine and dryer.
Studio
Guests can enjoy a range of lifestyle facilities including a swimming pool with a view of the city skyline on the 30th floor, games room, library, residents’ lounge, all-day dining restaurant, gymnasium with steam and sauna facilities, yoga corner, outdoor tennis court, business centre and meeting rooms.
Ascott Sudirman Jakarta is situated within a 45-minute drive from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and a 35-minute drive from the Gambir Train Station.
Ascott has more than 130 serviced residences and business hotels with close to 22,000 units across 39 cities in Indonesia.
Gregory Gubiani has been appointed as the new general manager of The Westin Kuala Lumpur.
Prior to his move to Westin, Gubiani helmed the Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral from 2015 to 2018.
The French national has over 14 years of hospitality experience, starting his career as a resort host in an international five-star luxury resort in Maldives before becoming a front office manager in French Polynesia.
From there, he then joined Starwood Hotels and Resorts as front office manager at Le Méridien Nouméa, New Caledonia and then to The Westin Melbourne, where he was executive assistant manager in charge of rooms.
He then moved to South-east Asia in 2011 to step into the hotel manager role at Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur before opening Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran, Indonesia as its general manager.
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.
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