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.
Delisi reveals Lotus plans for the future at a media event yesterday
Malaysia-based Lotus Asia Tours has unveiled a new integrated team that has been tasked with refocusing and rebranding the DMC, as well as opened a new Singapore office.
Now headed by group CEO Fabio Delisi, Lotus will undertake a rebranding campaign with refreshed products scheduled to be rolled out in 2019, under group director of branding & communications, Silvio Cimenti.
Delisi reveals Lotus’ plans for the future at a media event yesterday
Under the company’s five-year masterplan, which began in 2016, Lotus plans to integrate its products and divisions under a cohesive brand, launch a new B2B online booking platform, and increase the revenue make-up of its meetings and incentives segments to 50 to 60 per cent of its business.
Lotus’ new MICE division will be overseen by group director of product & MICE operations, Gabriele Di Terlizzi.
The new team was introduced to the Singapore trade yesterday, following a similar outreach session in Kuala Lumpur. Lotus will next proceed to Bali to connect with suppliers there, shared Delisi.
He added that Lotus will continue to focus its efforts on the European, Chinese and Singaporean markets. While the DMC also sells Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar, Singapore is the most profitable destination for the company, he revealed.
“We have corporates who will fly all the way from Paris or Rome just to spend 12 days in Singapore. This is why we are investing more in Singapore and we want to do more here. We want to create value for all of our stakeholders with Singapore’s high quality of products,” elaborated Delisi.
New general manager for Singapore and Malaysia, Fadz Abdhan, shared that demands for service have intensified, especially among the more discerning European corporates.
Fadz explained: “They will dress up for dinner, so we cannot just bring them to any street food stall. This is something that we will be working with our suppliers to understand the markets’ needs.”
An example of a large-scale event at SHOW DC Arena
Large-scale events have a new stage in downtown Bangkok with the opening of SHOW DC Arena, said to be the largest outdoor event venue in the Thai capital.
SHOW DC Arena can support a 60,000-pax event with the need for 1,000 car park spaces, a rarity in central Bangkok.
An example of a large-scale event at SHOW DC Arena
The 120 million baht (US$3.7 million) investment sits adjacent to the SHOW DC shopping centre, and bolsters the retail complex’s event offerings which already includes multiple indoor and outdoor event spaces.
Event planners needing more outdoor space can book SHOW DC Arena along with two other venues in the complex, such as the 25,000 pax SHOW DC Oasis and the 5,000 pax SHOW DC Garden.
With the new addition, SHOW DC now offers over 20,000m2 of indoor and 40,000m2 of outdoor event space, all of which can accommodate more than 150,000 people.
Goh Soo Sing, CEO of SHOW DC, said in a statement that demand for large outdoor entertainment space in the centre of Bangkok has been “huge” and enquiries from the events and entertainment industry have been growing.
“Thailand’s events and entertainment industry is a significant economic generator for the country. Through SHOW DC Arena and our additional event spaces at SHOW DC, we are well positioned to support domestic and international event organisers, and will work with organisers and brands to make Thailand a strategic events hub in the region,” he added.
2018 has been a truly eventful year for the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector in Singapore. During the course of this year, we have played host to events that have changed the way the world views us.
In the eyes of the international business community, Singapore is evolving from a modern, safe and well-connected business city, into a go-to MICE destination that inspires imagination – connecting the world to possibilities while serving distinctive experiences.
There are many reasons why Singapore is perfect for MICE
Making history
Singapore is no stranger to high-profile global meetings. A few years back in 2015, the Lion City hosted the meeting between Chinese president Xi Jinping and then-Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou – the first time the leaders of China and Taiwan have met in 70 years.
More recently, history was made when Singapore was chosen to host the DPRK-USA Singapore Summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un – the first time that sitting leaders of the US and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea would meet in person. More than just a meeting, the historic event thrust our city-state into the global spotlight.
The Summit was an event that was unprecedented in so many ways. In a mere 11 days, Singapore’s MICE industry rose to the challenge, working with multiple government agencies and food caterer SATS to successfully deliver the meeting to exacting standards. Beyond hosting the two leaders and their sizeable delegations, over 2,500 journalists from global news outlets arrived to cover the meeting – the largest-ever media contingent to be hosted in Singapore.
As a result, several venues were activated. Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore hosted the US delegation; The St. Regis Singapore housed the North Korean delegation; while Capella Singapore served as the venue for the meeting. Most international media were based at the Formula 1 Pit Building, repurposed for the occasion, while the White House Press Corps camped out at JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach.
Meeting of the minds
This November, Singapore rose to yet another challenge, hosting the inaugural Bloomberg New Economy Forum – which was moved to Singapore with 10 weeks’ notice. Singapore was chosen because of our position as one of the world’s leading international commercial hubs.
Four hundred esteemed global leaders – such as Wang Qishan, China’s vice-president; Hank Paulson, former US Treasury Secretary and chairman of the Paulson Institute; as well as Christine Lagarde, managing director for the International Monetary Fund — joined Michael Bloomberg to discuss important trends shaping tomorrow’s world.
These included innovative technologies like artificial intelligence, the implications of urbanisation on global communities, and ongoing energy transition and geopolitical challenges. Together, the delegates explored and committed to solutions for the new global economy – resulting in the formation of a “SolutionsLab” for leaders and experts to act on key solutions over the next year.
The Singapore experience was being translated both inside the event and outside of it, at the destination level. A full MICE experience had also been planned, enabling delegates to mix both business and leisure, making their visit to Singapore inspiring, fun and highly personalised.
This endeavour was brought to life through the hard work and tireless passion of numerous individuals keen to make the Bloomberg New Economy Forum a success.
At the forum venue, Capella Singapore, about 250 personnel were mobilised across the hotel’s meeting spaces and close to 200 guestrooms were booked. Capella staff oversaw a spectrum of tasks ranging from security and logistics, to guest services and technical support – bringing together the holistic Bloomberg New Economy Forum experience.
Over at Clifford Pier at Fullerton Bay Hotel, almost 200 hotel staff were focused on preparation for the dinner dialogue. The evening’s menu featured gourmet inventions from two prominent local chefs, whose distinctly Singapore dishes clearly displayed their passion for food – chef Malcolm Lee, who helms Candlenut, the world’s only Michelin-star Peranakan restaurant; and chefs Pang Seng Meng and Alexander Pang from New Ubin Seafood, a Michelin Bib Gourmand listed restaurant.
Crazy rich experiences
Having been a part of the MICE industry since 1982, I have always championed the Singapore experience. As a country with access to a plethora of resources, quality meeting and event experiences are only limited by our imagination. This was well underlined by this summer’s Hollywood blockbuster movie Crazy Rich Asians, which showed a side of Singapore that surprised and wowed global audiences.
From the iconic Marina Bay Sands and the awe-inspiring Gardens by the Bay, to the dining options at venues like CHIJMES and Bukit Pasoh in Chinatown, accompanied by our local bars that consistently appear on the World’s 50 Best Bars list – the movie teased with the array of venues and offerings that make the Singapore experience a stand-out – one that is also fun and even sexy!
Indeed, Singapore’s wide range of leisure experiences is a key pillar of our MICE appeal — proving we are not just all business. Our distinctive cultural precincts, fine dining experiences, vibrant arts scene and world-class shopping venues promise something for every meeting attendee and his family. Coupled with our compact size, Singapore easily satisfies the most discerning business traveller’s desire for convenience and leisure.
It is heartening to see how this year has been pivotal in entrenching the fact that Singapore is truly Passion Made Possible: a modern, safe and well-connected business and leisure destination that captivates even the most discerning visitor.
While we have been consistently celebrated for our efficiency, safety and convenience, the recognition of Singapore as the “living lab” for new possibilities is long overdue. There is more to Singapore than meets the eye.
With our hardware, software and “heartware”, we are truly a global playground of future realities – a place where business travellers meet and connect to realise growth, success, passion and possibilities.
Janet Tan-Collis is both president of Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), and CEO of East West Planners.
She has been actively involved in the MICE industry in Asia since 1982, expanding East West Planners with offices in China and Malaysia and growing it from a destination management company to a full-service experiential solutions provider with specialisation in meetings, incentives, conferences and events. Other areas of her work encompasses business tourism development and consultation, working closely with major industry players as well as the Singapore Tourism Board.
She has also been involved in numerous training and speaking engagements locally, regionally and internationally.
She became president of SACEOS in 2013.
Throughout her career, she has won several accolades for the company as well as for herself. She was bestowed the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) 2016 Global Meetings Executive of the Year Recipient, and in 2017, was awarded a lifetime achievement accolade at the Singapore Tourism Awards, organised by the Singapore Tourism Board.
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Janet Tan-Collis is both president of Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), and CEO of East West Planners.
