Local thespians who were part of the Crazy Rich Asians movie. Photo credit: STB
The premiere of the movie Crazy Rich Asians, adapted from the satirical novel by Singaporean–American author Kevin Kwan about the upper echelons of Singapore, has sparked a boost in unique tours and destination promotions for the country.
The movie features an all-Asian cast and portrays scenes in Singapore’s luxurious spaces, as well as down-to-earth neighbourhoods.
Local thespians who were part of the Crazy Rich Asians movie. Photo credit: STB
It serves “to get the conversation going about the real Singapore and pique interest in visiting the country”, said Lynette Pang, assistant chief executive, marketing group, Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
She continued: “(It) is not just about the opulence and luxury showcased in the film, but Singapore’s actual richness in terms of our diversity, as well as the depth and breadth of experiences for both locals and visitors.”
To capitalise on this, trade players have also stepped in to craft unique tours that bring Crazy Rich Asian experiences to reality.
Indus Travels now offers a 12-day Crazy Rich Singapore Culture & Thailand Beaches itinerary that spends four days touring the city’s historic sights, traditional cuisine and natural wonders.
Meanwhile, Wok ‘n’ Stroll has launched the Crazy Rich Asians – Behind the Scenes Food Tour that treats participants to food mentioned in the novel and movie, such as carrot cake, roti prata and Malay cakes at venues like Newton Hawker Centre and Joo Chiat. The three-hour night tour, which provides a shuttle bus for its participants, will also visit more upscale venues like Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant New Ubin Seafood at CHIJMES and a bar on Keong Saik Road.
“When I first read the book, I knew that must have a food tour about Crazy Rich Asians. Now it’s a 3D experience – there’s the book, the movie and the tour,” said Wok ‘n’ Stroll founder and CEO Karni Tomer.
The tour, which begins its first run this weekend, has already garnered October bookings, revealed Tomer. She added that the tour – which can accommodate up to 13 pax – is “very suitable for corporate groups”. The agency will market the tour through STB.
“When business travellers come to Singapore, they have about three hours (of free time) before their conferences for the whole day. We wanted to give the audience an experience of being a crazy-rich Asian for one evening,” she said.
Sarawak Convention Bureau’s (SCB) use of technology to further enhance delegate experience at business events was evident at the recent Business Events Tribal Meet (TriBE 2018), a homegrown conference to further develop the local meetings, incentives, conference and exhibition industry.
For instance, the delegate registration and check-in process deployed a facial recognition software technology by SCB’s official Event Technology and Solutions Provider Partner, Evenesis.
SCB brings technology into the business of business events
The use of facial scans slashed waiting time drastically, as much of the process was done ahead of the event. Prior to the conference, delegates were asked to upload photographs of themselves as part of the online registration process and these images were used as identification on the day of the event.
Evenesis’ CEO and founder, Yusno Yunos, said this was the first time the facial recognition technology was used in Malaysia. The software was earlier launched at AIME in Melbourne, Australia.
SCB also launched its first 360 Degree Interactive Virtual Reality (VR) Video at the event. This 2.5-minute-long VR video showed locations in Sarawak such as Kuching, Bintulu, Miri and Sibu, as well as the meeting facilities at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, the only international convention centre in Kuching. This software was developed by the bid team, and it can be customised for event bids, revealed Jamie Wang, head of bids at SCB.
Amelia Roziman, chief operating officer at SCB, added that the VR use was not limited to event bids, as it will also be used at trade events the SCB participates in, at roadshows, or during marketing campaigns.
Also at TriBE 2018, the BESarawak Alliance (BESA) – a platform dedicated to strengthen ties between the bureau, ministries and their agencies, and the private sector – was launched. This platform will help to strengthen Sarawak’s position when bidding for regional and international business events, as well as help to develop Sarawak’s core industries.
Chief minister of Sarawak, Abang Johari Tun Openg has also appointed three Sarawak ministries and two agencies as BESA ambassadors. They are the Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development; Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth & Sports; Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development; Sarawak Multimedia Authority and Sarawak Centre for Performance Excellence.
Chew Chang Guan, general manager, government & industry relations at SCB said the immediate task of the bureau was to set up meetings with the three ministries and two agencies to discuss areas for further collaboration.
To date, the bureau has attracted a total of 30 business events, which are slated to be held in Sarawak over the next three years.
An increasing amount of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) is being pumped into HRS’ solutions for the hotel value chain, as the company responds to increasing demand for these technologies in the marketplace.
Tobias Ragge, CEO of HRS, told TTGmice: “We’re using a lot of AI in terms of the procurement of hotels, sourcing appropriate alternatives for programmes, and the display logic of booking tools for a corporate traveller based on personal and corporate preferences.
Ragge: trying to create a better solution with the help of technology
“We’re even able now to filter out fraudulent rates, so any time a hotel sends back wrong negotiated rates, we can filter these out of the shopping channels used by travellers.”
Kimi Jiang, vice president Asia Pacific, HRS, added that the solutions are “localised and fine-tuned” for every market in Asia-Pacific in order “to provide for the differing needs of local demand”.
Different target markets in this region include Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Japan and South Korea, and these countries are offered solutions with “an Asian flavour” from the R&D facility in Shanghai, explained Jiang.
Data is also currently helping HRS formulate even better solutions for the corporate travel management space, shared Ragge.
He said: “We’re trying to figure out, with all this data, why the (business) traveller sometimes is not choosing what is proposed by the company. We’re trying to create a better solution, and this is where data comes into play.”
Although reception to new technologies has been welcoming, certain countries are still slow to adopt certain payment formats such as virtual credit cards, said Jiang.
To ensure companies in these areas don’t lose out on data collection, HRS has stepped in to help build up specialised solutions. For example, in China where payment through WeChat and Alipay is the norm, HRS has developed “localised payment solutions” to help hospitality players cater to both global and domestic travellers, and gain insight from traveller data.
Ragge observed: “In general, as long as technology serves a purpose and makes things better, everybody enjoys it. The corporate (planner) doesn’t need to understand the complexities of AI behind the solution, but he can be amazed by the results of the data crunching. The beauty of the sourcing exercise is we identify corporate needs and try to find the right properties with AI.”
For example, a hotel booking tool may be able to shorten a half-day’s search for suitable accommodation to “a minute”, explained Ragge.
JTB Corporation’s Asia Pacific Headquarters (JTB APHQ) will make their exhibition debut at IT&CMA 2018, and is set to engage with buyers and media through a hosted luncheon and Association Day destination presentation.
JTB Thailand and Kobe Convention Bureau will also exhibit alongside JTB APHQ, in a bid to showcase the country’s business events capabilities and PCO services.
A JTB travel agency office in Kyoto, Japan
By hosting a targeted networking luncheon and destination presentation for associations at IT&CMA 2018, JTB is eager to display these competencies.
Mizuho Hara, manager for events & promotions at JTB APHQ, shared: “We already have a well-established MICE programme and network in Japan and wish to raise the awareness of our MICE and DMC solutions to the Asia-Pacific market. Leveraging on the luncheon and presentation will allow us to connect with our target audience within exclusive settings.”
JTB serves Japan’s tourism industry with offices in all 47 prefectures in Japan and from over 1,100 offices in 38 countries, with the group’s global corporate business faction functioning as a leading DMC and PCO for MICE and Business Travel Management in Asia.
IT&CMA 2018 will be held from September 18-20, 2018 at the Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld. It is co-located with the CTW Asia-Pacific – The Leading Corporate Travel Management Conference for the Asia-Pacific.
A rendering of the upcoming lounge at Brisbane International Airport
Australia’s flagship carrier Qantas has announced that it’ll be extending its global lounge improvement programme.
The multi-million dollar programme will see the national carrier upgrade six lounges in Auckland, Brisbane, Hobart, Sydney, Tamworth and Tokyo.
A rendering of the upcoming lounge at Brisbane Airport
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce shared that the extended lounge programme would be across international, domestic and regional airports.
He added: “Over the past few years we’ve been steadily renewing lounges right across our network… As the demand for premium travel increases, we’re responding with more space in our lounges, more dining options and designs that reflect the destination.”
The lounge locations are:
Sydney – The flagship Sydney International First lounge will be refreshed and expanded by 15 per cent.
Auckland – The First and Business Lounges in Auckland will be redesigned into a single lounge based on the format of Qantas’ international lounges in London and Hong Kong. Regional inspiration from New Zealand will be incorporated throughout.
Tokyo – The Narita lounge will be refreshed with a new design and improved dining options.
Brisbane – The Brisbane International Lounge will be expanded to cater for an additional 100 guests and completed in early 2019.
Hobart and Tamworth – Both lounges will be completely redesigned with more space and seating.
These announcements are in addition to lounge upgrades currently underway in Melbourne and Sydney. The first phase of the redesigned Melbourne Domestic Business Lounge opened last week, and once complete will feature a Spice Bar serving freshly made Asian street food. Both lounges will be completed by November this year. Qantas is also building a new Sydney International Business Lounge with 35 per cent more seating.
The Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park has opened in Chippendale, an up-and-coming suburb in the Australian city.
The downtown Sydney hotel was designed by award-winning British architectural firm, Foster + Partners, and is situated in the Eastern Tower of the Central Park Development on the corner of Abercrombie and Broadway. It features 297 guestrooms, including two luxury suites.
Contemporary cuisine can be had at the Central Quarter restaurant, with direct access off Broadway, outdoor dining and an open kitchen. Also at street level, Malt Bar will offer a selection of craft beers, spirits and wines.
Other amenities include a fitness centre, and 553m2 of function space comprising flexible rooms and an elevated outdoor terrace.
Shinta Mani Hotels has appointed Patricia Yeo as corporate chef.
Yeo will be responsible for overseeing strategic planning and implementation of all culinary matters for the three existing Shinta Mani properties in Siem Reap, as well as the Bensley Collection – Shinta Mani Wild, a luxury tented camp opening in on November 1, 2018.
In addition, she will assume the role of executive chef at Shinta Mani’s first managed property, Treeline Urban Resort in Siem Reap, opening in November 2018.
Prior to joining Shinta Mani Hotels, she was executive chef, and food and beverage director, at Avani Luang Prabang in Laos. In February 2016, Yeo was appointed executive chef at Six Senses Zighy Bay.
In total, the Malaysian has three decades of global culinary experience which comprises being a restaurateur and culinary director for the Big Bowl Division of Lettuce Entertain You.
Steven Black has joined Como Point Yamu in Phuket as executive chef, and will lead the culinary offerings of the resort.
Before joining Como Point Yamu, Black was in the kitchen of Wildflower – the rooftop restaurant at Como The Treasury in Perth.
Since starting his hospitality career in 1982, the Australian has worked in several top restaurants across Europe, and was the co-owner and former chef of London’s Berkeley Square Restaurant, which earned a Michelin Star. He was also awarded a Michelin Star during his time as executive chef at Eastwell Manor Hotel in Kent, England.
Onyx Hospitality Group has appointed Phan Ing Pai as vice president, operations – Greater China. Based in Shanghai, Phan will report to Gina Wo, senior vice president & head of Greater China.
He will be responsible for leading the operations team in the Greater China region, providing support to all operational properties across the region and ensuring all properties are in line with the group’s established operational standards. Phan will also work closely with the sales & marketing team by offering commercial support to the property teams, ensuring optimum hotel performance and business returns.
Prior to joining Onyx, Phan was area general manager, North China for Frasers Hospitality.
He has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality and serviced apartments industries and a deep understanding of the Chinese market. Phan has spent the past 14 years in China, where he also held senior level positions with Swiss-Belhotel International.
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is turning to business events from Asia to help it achieve its target of 10 million tourists by 2021.
To do that, SCTDA is stepping out of the shadows of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the two most popular business event destinations in the UAE, and is emphasising that Sharjah has what it takes to welcome and deliver quality events.
Sharjah Lighting Festival Sunset
“In terms of infrastructure and tourism products, Sharjah is well positioned to cater to international events,” said Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of SCTDA.
Bordering Al Khan Lagoon and covering 128,000m2, the visually-striking Expo Centre Sharjah is one of the most technologically advanced exhibition, conference and event venues in the Middle East. Recent events that took place at the venue include the 44th MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show, SteelFab 2018, International Education Show and Jordanian Consumer Show.
Expo Centre Sharjah recorded a seven per cent increase in the number of visitors during 1Q2017, with a total of 302,474 delegates who attended 12 exhibitions.
Sharjah hotels are doing well too, with an average occupancy rate of 70 per cent from January to June last year. The hotels welcomed 885,000 guests during the period. The performance has inspired Sharjah to look at adding 5,000 hotel rooms to its inventory by 2021.
“With the business events industry in the UAE expected to grow at a rate of seven per cent, Sharjah would benefit from its own share of business event arrivals, especially considering the tourism development taking place in the emirate,” commented Olivier Harnisch, CEO of Emaar Hospitality Group.
The hospitality company is opening three hotels in Sharjah – Address Aljada Sharjah, Vida Aljada Sharjah, and Rove Aljada Sharjah.
Besides new hotels, Sharjah is currently building the Al Tai Exhibition Centre and adding on new tourism products – for instance, a US$27.2 million attraction at the Al Montazah Amusement and Water Park by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, and the Sharjah Beach Development project, a 3.3km stretch that will feature art spaces, landscaped gardens and restaurants – that will appeal to corporate incentive groups.
As well, there are plans to connect the port city of Khor Fakkan through the Hajar Mountains with Sharjah’s central region.
Khalid Jasim opined that good growth will come out of “key Asian markets like India and China” and SCTDA has stepped up participation at business event-focused tradeshows in both markets. Last year, it exhibited at SATTE 2017 in New Delhi and China World Travel Market in Shanghai – both tradeshows are new to the authority. These efforts are supported by promotional campaigns and workshops in Chinese cities like Guangzhou and Chengdu.
He explained that SCTDA’s presence in China and India aims to “educate local stakeholders on our uniqueness as a business events destination”.
“We also see a great opportunity to increase Indian arrivals further by showcasing Sharjah as an incentive destination,” he said.
Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO, Cozmo Travel, sees two factors in favour of Sharjah as an attractive destination for Chinese and Indian groups. “The winter season here is a good time for Indian groups to visit, while the visa-free policy for Chinese nationals is very helpful,” he said.
Kulwant Singh, CEO of Lama Tours, believes that Sharjah can be positioned as “a new, standalone incentive destination” in the UAE for the Indian and Chinese markets but added that the destination needs more five-star hotels to truly attract the high-end incentive segment.
“Most of Sharjah hotels are three- and four-star properties,” he remarked.
Sharjah welcomed 138,000 hotel guests from India last year, a year-on-year growth of 32 per cent, while Chinese hotel guest numbers rose 45 per cent to 126,000.
While India and China are big on SCTDA’s radar, the authority is not discounting arrival potential from other parts of Asia. In fact, it has identified Malaysia and Indonesia as new sources for business events.
“We are looking at ways to reach out to Malaysian and Indonesian planners. At present we are attracting a small number of arrivals.
“These two markets have strong potential as there is a sizeable Muslim population. We will promote Sharjah by showcasing our rich Islamic culture, uniqueness of the destination and its offerings for business events,” said Khalid Jasim.
For now, SCTDA is collecting and understanding market intelligence on Malaysia and Indonesia, and will use data to form the basis of its promotion and marketing engagements.
It is also shortlisting major outbound travel agencies in Malaysia and Indonesia that it can work with closely to boost business event arrivals.
This article was first published on TTGmice August 2018
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