TTGmice will be taking a break for the public holiday next Tuesday.
News will resume on May 31, 2018.
Here’s wishing all our readers a happy Vesak Day!
TMG and Plan it! India announce new business venture
US-based Talley Management Group (TMG), a full-service association management company, and India-based DMC and Plan it! Meetings & Conferences India have jointly launched Vraata – Excellence in Association Management.
The two companies will work closely to enhance and expand association management services available to new or existing Indian associations and global organisations wishing to grow the Indian market.
“This partnership is one that will change the association management industry here in India,” said Anuj Wadhwa, chief operating officer of Plan it! and Vraata’s chief operating officer India.
“Sharing ideas and best practices from TMG with the local knowledge provided by Plan it! will allow both firms to provide all of their clients, regardless of where in the world they are, with the services and solutions they need to excel in India.”
On what Vraata’s first steps will be, Anuj said: “Our immediate plans include working with groups and individuals that have already shown interest in Vraata’s services. From there, we will continue to market our brand within the India sub-continent, North America and globally.”
He added that the goals set out for Vraata this year include branding recognition, engagement at key industry events both around the globe and domestically in India, as well as building Vraata’s client portfolio.
When asked why TMG chose India to extend its reach, Gregg H Talley, Vraata’s managing director USA, and TMG’s president and CEO, revealed to TTGmice that “two key points”.
“We are looking at the opportunities – not necessarily today, but where the opportunities are going to be in the future. India has the second largest population in the globe, a young educated workforce, a growing middle class and global corporate focus. These elements combined make for a perfect environment for associations delivering community building, continuing education, networking, professional development forums and business connections,” Talley elaborated.
Secondly, Talley pointed to the existing trust and respect between the two companies and that both “shared the same values and business ethics”, and that this was “invaluable”.
Evenesis adds location-based app to its arsenal of events tech solutions
Malaysia-based event technology company Evenesis has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dutch start-up Caught for the exclusive right to operate the latter’s location-based app in Malaysia.
The customisable Caught app can be used for various event purposes, such as a tool in a corporate teambuilding activity for participants to complete tasks at different stations, or to take participants on a sightseeing trip.
Anitha Krishnan, Evenesis’ sales and marketing vice president, told TTGmice at IMEX Frankfurt that her company was drawn to Caught as “we wanted to do something different from the rest of the market.”
She elaborated on the uses of the app: “It allows the user to experience (a destination) first-hand. For instance, teambuilding participants may be instructed to take a selfie with a man in a pink shirt at Central Market.”
Using the app for such an activity also gives participants a chance to interact with locals, she opined.
Another benefit of Caught, according to Anitha, its that it uses GPS, which allows the app admin or the event planner to know the location of participants, which provides an element of safety.
For Caught, the MoU with Evenesis will allow the company to extend its reach beyond home ground.
Mark Naus, Caught’s co-founder, said: “We’re a start-up from Europe with just three people. You cannot reach the world with just three people. This is a win-win situation as it’ll be an addition to Evenesis’ portfolio, while for us it’ll be a new market we can reach.”
He added that although Caught is a product geared towards DMCs, tourism boards will be able to avail the technology as well, for example, to create a nature walking trail. The app can also be used by corporate companies, all the way up to large-scale exhibitions.
Aside from providing Caught to its corporate event clients, Evenesis will also help with the execution of itinerary and requirements, with client given full control of the app. The app can be downloaded directly to a participant’s device, where downloads are then charged by device.
“If everything goes well, we will expand it to Indonesia as we also have a branch there. We’ll look at the take-up rate before we decide on the next steps,” Anitha concluded.
Business events stable in aftermath of Surabaya blast
The business events industry in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second biggest business city after Jakarta, reported minimum impact on business following bomb blast on May 13.
Effi Setiabudi, chairman of the Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association (ASPERAPI), told TTGmice: “We see no impact on the exhibition business. There were no B2B exhibitions when the blast took place, save for a couple of consumer shows.”
Herry Siswanto, chairman of the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Associations (IHRA) East Java chapter, said: “For two days (May 13-14), six hotels had reported 10 FIT cancellations. But for business events, there was none. It was probably because the incident took place on Sunday, when there were not many business activities. Having said that, there were also no cancellations on the following Monday, so all’s normal.”
Budiono, director of Debindo Mitra Tama, told TTGmice that the company had two consumer exhibitions during the weekend of the tragedy – Hasanah Griya Expo 2018 and Batik Bordir & Aksesoris 2018, both at the Grand City Mall Surabaya.
To calm “panicking exhibitors, some of whom were ready to close their booths”, Budiono said his team worked with the local police to ensure the safety of exhibition participants.
While the shows went on, Budiono said visitorship was “below our expectation”.
He expects numbers to return to normal for his next exhibition in August.
“The security force was quite swift in its response. The East Java governor and mayor of Surabaya also gave their assurance to companies that the situation in Surabaya is safe. The steps taken by the government are appropriate and wise enough (to win back the confidence of businessmen,” he concluded.
ICC Sydney generates A$785 million for the state in its first year
International Convention Centre Sydney’s (ICC Sydney) Feeding Your Performance (FYP) programme contributed a total of A$8.3 million (US$6.2 million) to the New South Wales (NSW) economy last year, through its food and wine purchases, as released in a report by the University of Technology Sydney.
This represents a direct investment of more than A$4.3 million in a network of more than 85 NSW producers and farmers. Overall, delegates attending events at ICC Sydney generated A$785 million in direct expenditure for the state in its first year of operation.
ICC Sydney’s FYP programme strives to feed the performance of ICC Sydney delegates and visitors, team members, and the local economy, through a New South Wales-focused supply chain, a progressive sustainability approach and an industry-first Legacy Program.
The venue’s CEO, Geoff Donaghy believes it is vitally important that convention centres measure the full impact they have on their supply chain.
“We are immensely proud to be looking beyond the borders of Sydney to feed the business performance of our suppliers, as well as the communities in which they’re located.
“As urbanisation increases, cities and their convention centres have a role to play in supporting the regional areas that feed them and support their event delivery. If our success is underpinned by delivering restaurant-quality produce, then we have an important role to play in supporting the supply chain that enables this.”
Donaghy added in the years to come, ICC Sydney will be continuously improving themselves, supporting further investment in agritourism, building job opportunities and facilitating growth within our network of suppliers and beyond.
Clearer details out on Dusit Thani’s Singapore venture
Five years after Laguna Hospitality and Dusit International announced a joint venture to bring the Dusit Thani brand to Singapore, a projected opening date is finally in view, along with more details of the hotel’s hardware.
Speaking to TTGmice last Friday afternoon, general manager Eric Piatti revealed that Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore is on track for an opening in early-2019, with all public facilities ready for guests by then.
The five-star hotel, an extension of the renowned and exclusive Laguna National Golf and Country Club in Singapore’s east, will sport a sleek, futuristic design. There will be 198 guestrooms and suites across six levels, eight luxurious two- and three-room villas to be called Golf Chalets as well as extensive dining and recreational facilities. Guests can look forward to five F&B venues, three resort pools, three tennis courts, a fitness club and a driving range.
A 650-seat pillarless ballroom, three meeting rooms, a 20-seat boardroom and two event lawns overlooking the pristine golf courses are also confirmed for Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore.
Piatti expects the hotel to draw a mix of leisure and corporate bookings but has resisted projecting which of the two would be a dominant contributor of business.
For the leisure segment, Piatti expects the hotel to attract longer staying tourists who prefer accommodation away from the busy city centre as well as staycationers – Singapore residents in search of a local vacation.
“The east coast of Singapore is a bit of a new destination and offers visitors a different view of Singapore. Here, one gets a more local angle. You can explore East Coast Park, (the heritage enclave of) Katong and the residential districts,” he said.
For the corporate segment, he believes the hotel’s proximity to Changi Airport, Singapore Expo Convention & Exhibition Centre, Changi Business Park and the aviation hub will earn it many business travellers and business events.
While the hotel has yet to kick off its marketing efforts towards end-consumers and the trade, interest has started to emerge, in particular around business event and wedding possibilities.
SilkAir to be merged into SIA after cabin upgrades
A year into its three-year transformation programme, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced that its regional wing SilkAir will be merged under SIA after undergoing cabin upgrades amounting to about S$100 million (US$74.5 million).
To ensure closer product and service consistency across the SIA Group’s full-service network, SilkAir will have its cabins upgraded to include new lie-flat seats in Business Class, and seat-back in-flight entertainment systems in both Business Class and Economy Class.
Aircraft cabin upgrades are expected to start in 2020, with SIA citing “lead times” required by seat suppliers.
SIA said the merger will take place after “a sufficient number of aircraft” have been fitted with the new cabin products.
Consistent with ongoing efforts to optimise the group’s network, there will also be transfers of routes and aircraft between the different airlines in the portfolio.
The development is expected to “provide more growth opportunities and prepare the group for an even stronger future”, according to SIA CEO, Goh Choon Phong.
SilkAir is the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, operating a fleet of 11 Airbus A320-family aircraft and 22 Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft. It is currently transitioning to an all-737 fleet, and serves 49 destinations in 16 countries.
The airline launched in 1989 as Tradewinds the Airline, initially focusing on holiday destinations in South-east Asia, before being renamed SilkAir in 1992. It expanded across Asia in subsequent years, evolving from a holiday resort airline to a full-fledged, full-service regional carrier.
WorldHotels’ reveals three overarching MICE trends for the year
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) is an important component of the hospitality and tourism industry, and drives economic development in many destinations. Generating millions in revenue annually, this dynamic sector is evolving at a tremendous pace.
Here are some of the observed trends for 2018, provided by WorldHotels.
Virtual assistants and event apps are on the rise, among others
Gone are the days where venues are only expected to be equipped with high speed internet connection and an overhead projector. Technology, such as virtual assistants and artificial intelligence, positively impact guest experiences. The provision of virtual and augmented reality, web casting, live streaming and video conferencing is becoming increasingly important for venues to stay at the top of the game. Availability of mobile applications is also seen as a key feature, easing event registrations and offering a mode of communication, both before and after the events.
Ganessan Suppiah, WorldHotels’ regional vice president of sales, Asia Pacific, shared: “Technology helps to personalise experiences; it does not replace human interaction, but enhances it.”
Ganessan also sees an increase in virtual event attendance. Venues need to provide opportunities, for online attendance and intervention, to allow participation from within and beyond the event space. Virtual reality and 360-degree images on YouTube, Facebook and Periscope are becoming increasingly important for event promotions.
In addition, while the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – which is coming into force this month – will present some challenges, there will also be opportunities to improve data quality and transparency.
Organisers’ preferences towards business meetings that offer authentic experiences
A lot of organisers now look for venues that provide tranquil settings, giving rise to a demand of business meetings at locations that lie closer to nature. “Go local” is another growing trend – guests desire to be immersed in local culture; authentic travel experiences are highly sought-after.
Events are required to be more experiential as organisers yearn for unique, tailor-made experiences instead of a cookier-cutter approach; having flexible meeting spaces is near the top of every participant’s wishlist.
“Meetings should not be dull. Spa treatments, teambuilding exercises, cocktail courses… Venues that provide fun activities, alongside the serious business focus, will help to attract clients,” said Anke Ebinger, director of sales Central Europe, WorldHotels.
Engaging with a younger audience: interactivity and relevance
There is a growing need for organisers to create more interaction and involvement from the audience. Younger generations may not fancy traditional speakers; people prefer engagement to instruction. Interactive elements, greater collaboration among people and information exchange sessions are now more critical.
Anke also noticed that younger generations (Gen Y and Z) are more conscious of their well-being and health. People are opting for fresh and healthy food, instead of sweet pastries, with a strong emphasis on “brain food”.
Catering is no longer solely a venue facility, but is being regarded as a platform to impress guests. Organisers are expecting creative food showcases with novel concepts, especially when they are content-worthy for social media feeds.
Former Lanson Place CEO Marc Hediger joins Dusit
Dusit International has appointed Marc Hediger as senior vice president – development to oversee the development team’s global operations except China.
Prior to joining Dusit, Hediger was CEO of Lanson Place Hospitality Management in Hong Kong.
The Swiss national brings more than 30 years of years of development and operational experience to the table, having worked as general manager for Hyatt Hotels, spent eight years as senior vice president and director of development Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts in Hong Kong, as well as two years as senior vice president – property development – for New World Hospitality, also in Hong Kong.
Sail off into the sunset
Event brief
All staff members at TTG Asia Media Singapore office were recently given the chance to sail onboard the 150,000-tonne Genting Dream cruise ship over the course of a weekend.
The relatively-new boat – completed in October 2016 – is able to carry 3,400 guests and 2,000 crew. Facilities include spas, 35 F&B options, several pools, six water slides, a rope-climbing course, a mini golf area, and bowling alley. Other unique elements include the first Zouk nightclub at sea, as well as the first Johnnie Walker Bar on a ship.
For meeting organisers or corporate events, there are numerous spaces to choose from. For example, cocktail events can be held in the 495m2 Palm Court, conferences can be conducted in the 999-seater Zodiac Theatre, while the SportsPlex facility can be used for outdoor teambuilding activities.
Challenges
A teambuilding activity was created for all staff members, and to ensure everyone would participate, a complete-the-activity sheet was given to us, where a stamp would be received for every activity we completed. We were split into five groups based on department, and had to do varied tasks together.
We were also a fairly large group, which meant that boarding and disembarking could potentially be messy, take a long time, and difficult to manage.
Another challenge was to ensure everyone was kept in the loop in case of last minute venue changes, or in the case of emergencies.
Solution
Our teambuilding activities included an hour-long Bollyrobics Dance Fitness class, Bubble Football, and Laughter Yoga, and it was heartening to see almost everyone participating enthusiastically. This allowed us to build camaraderie as we laughed, bounced and pranced our way through the various activities.
To further motivate us, Dream Cruises also sponsored prizes such as travel adaptors and suitcase organisers, that were presented upon the quickest completion of the activity card.
To ensure everyone was on the same page and we could contact each other, Dream Cruises provided the group with complimentary Wi-Fi. This allowed announcements and reminders to be sent out to all participants.
Photos could also be conveniently sent across, where we could easily relieve our uproarious antics.
The itinerary ensured that the group was constantly kept entertained, though I felt Dream Cruises did not have to fret one bit as there was an extensive list of activities and entertainment to go around. Aside from scheduled activities like archery and poolside games, there were musical performances such as Voyage of a Lover’s Dream, and a Latin ballroom dance show. In fact, our schedule was so packed, free time was hard to come by!
Boarding was surprisingly smooth, and after a 20-minute wait at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre, the crew handed us our passports and room keys, and we could immediately board the ship, leave our luggage in our cabins before we went exploring.
Checking out was also done efficiently – where our passports could be collected and bills settled the night before – and fuss-free. The group had to simply gather in one of the ship’s restaurants, and when it came to our turn to disembark, we were ushered to an exit where we had our key cards checked once more, before being allowed to cross the gangplank.
Event: TTG Cruise Away 2018
Organiser: Dream Cruises
Venue: Genting Dream
Date: February 9-11, 2018
Number of participants: 42
Reviews
Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
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Amari Bangkok
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
