Beyond Asia: Etihad Airways, 15th Metabolomics Society conference and Embassy Suites by Hilton Montreal Airport

June 21, 2018

Etihad Airways upgrades its UAE chauffeur services
Etihad Airways has enhanced its chauffeur services in the UAE with the launch of an online booking option.

Customers will now be able to book and manage Etihad’s chauffeur services directly through the airline’s mobile-optimised website without having to call Etihad’s Contact Centre or a travel agent.

Customers can now book and confirm their chauffeur service up to 12 hours prior to their flight’s departure. The new system, created in partnership with Vxceed Technologies, also allows guests to amend or cancel their chauffeur booking.

The new features will enable customers to receive SMS and e-mail confirmation for their scheduled pick-up. Moreover, customers can also connect with their chauffeur prior to being collected. The chauffeur service – operated with Mercedes-Benz E-Class luxury sedans – will facilitate timely pick-up and drop-off for customers, and enable them to provide their live feedback after each trip.

Future system enhancements will enable Etihad Guest members to use their miles to book a private transfer for themselves within the UAE, irrespective of which cabin they are travelling in.

The Hague plays host to Metabolomics Society’s annual conference
The city of The Hague in western Netherlands will be the destination for the 15th Annual Conference of the Metabolomics Society happening next year.

The conference will take place over five days from June 24-28, and will be held at World Forum The Hague, the city’s largest convention centre.

“Metabolomics is a key enabling technology in the life sciences, for the comprehensive characterisation of the small molecule metabolites in biological systems. Its applications are manifold: from personalised medicine, understanding the causes and development of diseases, nutrition and micronutrients, to crop improvement and industrial biotechnology. In the conference we will put a strong emphasis on these applications,” said Thomas Hankemeier, scientific director of the Netherlands Metabolomics Centre and chair of the local organising committee.

The Metabolomics Society is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to the development of metabolism-based research. Its annual meetings gather researchers in the field of metabolomics from all over the world and is the largest metabolomics conference of its kind, filled with scientific programmes, workshops and social networking programmes.

Montreal gets second Embassy Suites
Embassy Suites by Hilton has opened a 162-key property on Montreal near the junction of the St Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers, 15 minutes away from the airport.

Owned and managed by Easton’s Group of Hotels, the hotel features 162 suites decorated in a modern and stylish decor, each equipped with a microwave, mini fridge and wet bar. Guests may upgrade for a higher floor and enjoy faster Wi-Fi and additional in-room amenities, including a bathrobe and a Keurig Coffee machine.

Guests staying at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Montreal Airport can enjoy a free made-to-order breakfast in the morning, and complimentary drinks and appetisers daily at the Evening Reception. Facilities include restaurant West Side Social, fitness centre, business centre, meeting room, and a 24-hour convenience shop located in the lobby.

Priority Pass surpasses 1,200 milestone

By TTGmice

June 21, 2018

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Priority Pass, the airport experiences programme, has announced that its members now have access to more than 1,200 lounges, dining and spa experiences globally.

From June 2017 to June 2018, Priority Pass added 141 new lounges. Alongside the additions to the traditional lounge portfolio, Priority Pass has introduced 34 new dining, spa and relaxation experiences that can be accessed in the same way as lounges.

Priority Pass is welcomed at locations in over 500 cities and 143 countries

In Asia-Pacific, 64 lounges have been added to the network in the region, with noteworthy expansion in Australia. Members can now benefit from the comfort of lounges in Adelaide and Melbourne airports for the first time, and also enjoy access to an additional lounge in Sydney’s Terminal 2.

Forty-eight new lounges have been added across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including a number of new openings in Russia. Highlights include the Kandinsky Lounge at Moscow Sheremetyevo, plus access to the prestigious Primeclass Lounge in the new Muscat International Airport in Oman.

In North America, 27 new lounges have joined, including the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Los Angeles – LAX International Terminal 2, the first Virgin Clubhouse lounge in the Priority Pass programme.

New executive pastry chef joins ICC Sydney’s culinary team

By TTGmice

June 20, 2018

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International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has welcomed a new executive pastry chef, Jerry Lagudas.

Bringing more than 20 years’ experience to the table, Lagudas will be leading eight talented pastry chefs and apprentices. He will also be working hand-in-hand with director of culinary services Lynell Peck, and executive chef Tony Panetta.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Lagudas has worked in world renowned kitchens including Harrod’s London, Atlantis The Palm Dubai and most recently, the Alshaya in Kuwait, where he held the position of executive pastry chef.

Martens promoted to corporate director of operations at Centara

By TTGmice

June 20, 2018

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Centara Hotels & Resorts has recently promoted David Martens to corporate director of operations Hua Hin, Krabi and Samui.

In this new position, Martens will oversee multiple property’s operations in Hua Hin, Krabi and Samui. He will be responsible for the overall performance of multiple hotels and resorts in the chain, and oversee all activities associated with hotel operations.

The Australian will remain based in Hua Hin and continue as general manager of Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, a role which he assumed in December 2016.

He first joined Centara in March 2012 as general manager of Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas Krabi. In 2014, he was promoted to area general manager and oversaw the Centra Anda Dhevi Resort and Spa, and the opening of Centra by Centara Phu Pano Resort Krabi.

The industry veteran has over 30 years of experience in the hotel industry in various destinations, including Maldives, Egypt, India, Vanuatu and Fiji.

Inspiring Entertainment – part 2

By TTGmice

June 19, 2018

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The show brings fire, light, juggling, acrobatic stunts and dance together on stage for a performance delegates won’t forget.

What’s unique: Luminatrix is a fusion of contemporary dance and modern circus. Performances can be customised to include corporate branding, and can be delivered indoors or outdoors by two to 10 performers.
Great for: Conference opening, gala dinner, annual dinner, company celebration, family day, award ceremony
Contact: Psycusix, Malaysia; psycusix@gmail.com

Jeongdong Theater, based in Seoul and Gyeongju, offers for hire a top traditional dance team, a samulnori (traditional percussion) team and an instrumental team. As well, the theatre opens its space for rental, providing technical prerequisites such as lighting equipment and green rooms for performers.

What’s unique: Event planners can bring a traditional Korean performance exclusively to their delegates at Jeongdong Theatre. Furthermore, the theatre is the founder of successful production brand Miso, which lends artistic flavour to the usual traditional performances.
Great for: Prelude to a keynote presentation, opening/closing ceremony
Contact: Jeongdong Theater, South Korea; jjoonwk@jeongdong.or.kr (Seoul); jys@jeongdong.or.kr (Gyeongju)

Bringing his unique style of close-up magic to events, Magic Howard leaves the audience baffled and thoroughly entertained. As a resident in Thailand, he has performed on British TV and in Las Vegas; he has amazed royalty and Hollywood stars and is now entertaining corporate groups. He can do an hour-long performance or two slots of 30 minutes each, roaming through pre-dinner cocktails or on stage.

What’s unique: Howard’s light-hearted banter is endearing, and he is one of the most professional and entertaining magicians in town.
Great for: Intimate client/partner appreciation dinner, networking party
Contact: PIGS Co, Thailand;
david@pigsdmc.com

The Ultimate Champagne Dinner is a gala dinner that features seven rare vintage champagnes paired with a curated musical programme of opera, jazz, classic vinyl pieces, dances, and Michelin-inspired dishes. The event ideally takes 12 to 16 guests, or up to 32 people, and can be executed in other destinations besides Thailand.

What’s unique: The idea, dreamt up by Athikom Jeerapairotekun, managing director of Thailand-based Premier Incoming Group Services – PIGS Co, is designed to be an experience for companies looking to impress the crème de la crème of their business partners.

Regarded as the Rolls Royce of dinners, the experience is best delivered in a fabulous venue, and PIGS Co is able to recommend unique and exclusive options such as Nai Lert Heritage Home in central Bangkok, The Slate in Phuket, 137 Pillars, or Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai.
Great for: Intimate client/partner appreciation dinners
Contact: PIGS Co, Thailand; david@pigsdmc.com

This visually stunning performance is delivered by female drummers on LED water drums. Water splashes as the energetic routine gains intensity. The performance can feature up to 15 drummers, and the length of the show can vary according to the planner’s requirement.

What’s unique: All aspects of the performance can be customised, from the music (cultural to futuristic sound tracks) to the costumes, to be aligned to the theme of the event.
Great for: Gala dinner, accompanying act for an arriving VIP, product launch
Contact: Hyperactive Entertainment, Malaysia; info@hyperactiveentertainment.com.my

A comedic operatic performance that keeps revealing surprises, the act begins with two professional wine guides who introduce themselves as sommeliers.

It soon becomes evident that the male guide is clueless about wine and goes on to compare a woman in the audience to a silky smooth Chardonnay, just before bursting into a song about how all women are like wine. The female responds with Carmen’s Habanera, but with a humorous English translation about men. She then bumps into an ex-lover in the audience and the fun continues, including an appearance by “Pavarotti” to inject further frivolity.

What’s unique: This flexible act combines high brow opera with tongue-in-cheek comedy, a stint of acrobatics and enough twists and turns that gives it a broad appeal, not just for opera lovers.
The show can be modified to suit both high-tech staged environments to more casual settings. This act cannot be duplicated because it is highly dependent on the chemistry of husband and wife duo Jon and Rebecca Bode.
Great for: Gala dinner, intimate staff party, ice-breaker, pre-dinner event or just before dessert
Contact: Extraordinary Acts, Australia; info@extraordinaryacts.com.au

Joseph Erwin Valerio uses his hands to draw on a flat glass covered with the finest sand imported from the UAE. His sandpaintings always weave stories and are themed, and can be customised to deliver the client’s message. Music can be incorporated to make the performance even more interesting.

What’s unique: Joseph, who has no formal training in painting and drawing but catapulted to fame on a TV reality show for talented Filipinos, realised his talent while sifting through dirt and sand when his home was destroyed by a typhoon in 2009.
Great for: Opening/closing ceremony, gala dinner, VIP product launch
Contact: josephtheartist@yahoo.com; (63) 09364140025; (63) 09179548275

Catch up with Yoshifumi Kitamura

By Julian Ryall

June 19, 2018

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How did it all begin for you in business events?
My first event was the AMCP (International Conference on Advanced Multimedia Contents Processing) back in 1998, but it was not until the 2003 symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology that I served as the chair of an event.

Ever since, I have tried to organise every event to be better in every way from the last one. It is difficult, but that is always my aim – and an enjoyable challenge.

What’s keeping you busy now?
The 11^th ACM SIGGRAPH Asia Conference, the annual regional meeting of the Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, which is scheduled to be held in Tokyo over four days in December.

I served as conference chairman the last time the pan-Asia event was in Japan, in Kobe in 2015.

How will this year’s event differ from the last edition in Kobe, three years ago?
When I organised the event in 2015, it was only the second time it had been held in Japan, but it was a huge success and attracted more than 7,000 professional delegates – the largest number in the history of the event.

I was the conference chairman in 2015, when the conference had the largest-ever amount of content, including presentations, demonstrations and so on.

This time, I am a member of the advisory group. But I am confident that the 2018 convention will be the biggest and best ever. I anticipate at least 10,000 professional delegates.

How will SIGGRAPH Asia Conference 2018 assist researchers in this area in moving forward?
I see my role as being the bridge between the research community in this professional area in Japan, and the wider international community.

Often, the Japanese research community is less vocal in comparison to their international counterparts so I see the event as an opportunity to bring the two together and develop international relationships.

What is the hardest part about convincing organisations to hold their events in Japan?
My priority has to be doing the best for the research communities and providing them with the very best conference experience, and a big part of that lies in convincing both sides that I am reliable and can provide what we promise.

We need high-quality presentations and workshops that are delivered by the best researchers in the best locations and facilities.

It is also important to ensure that participants are of a high quality in their field, and I think this is another strength of Japan.

We are fortunate because Japan has a good reputation for being able to deliver these sort of events.

Japan is safe, it has established industries and a strong national economy, plus a track record in research and developments and academia. We are also lucky because a lot of people are personally interested in coming to Japan.

What trends are you seeing in the international conferences sector?
I would have to say that there has been a clear turn away from the US as a destination for hosting conferences.

Events like SIGGRAPH Asia and SIGCHI (Special Interest Group Computer Human Interaction’s Conference on Human Factors in Computing System), for example, inherently place importance on diversity in the people who are attending because we have to assume variety in the users of computers and machines.

Ensuring diversity among the delegates has become more difficult in the US now.

But do organisations have concerns about coming to Japan for their events?
Cost is often a concern, but we work closely with the national and local governments to see what subsidies and other forms of support are available. But yes, this can be a challenge when other cities in the region are able to offer more generous support.

The best way to overcome that is to guarantee the quality of the event, the participants, the venues, the accommodation and the entertainment. And I think that the number and scale of events coming to Japan in recent years speaks to our success in that area.

How can Japan continue to grow its events sector?
The most important thing is to always deliver something new and different. It has to be interesting, entertaining and capture the imagination – and we really cannot afford to fail.

If one event is a success, then word-of-mouth recommendations will sell it for the next event.

In December, SIGGRAPH Asia will be the best event in the history of the conference and that naturally raises expectations for the next one, so we have to keep pushing ahead in order for people keep coming back.

Songdo Convensia resolves space crunch with new facilities

By Karen Yue

June 19, 2018

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The 10-year-old Songdo Convensia in Incheon’s smart city will complete its phase two expansion this July, doubling its size and event capacity.

To come are two new exhibition halls adjoining two current ones, thus allowing Songdo Convensia to accommodate 900 booths, up from the current 450; a Grand Ballroom for up to 3,000 guests; and 12 new conference rooms.

Songdo Convensia will soon have its exhibition space upsized

Jeon Jae Ok, convention team manager with Incheon Tourism Organization and Songdo Convensia, told TTGmice that Songdo Convensia has been in urgent need of more exhibition and meeting spaces as demand expanded beyond the initial core market.

“When Songdo Convensia first opened in 2008, most of the demand for our spaces came from China. We had a lot of tradeshows and conferences from China, hosted by companies keen on penetrating the South Korea market. But we ran out of meeting space quickly and could not contain them all. The 23 meeting rooms we have are just not enough,” said Jeon.

“In recent years, we have also started to see demand from the US and Australia overtaking that of the Chinese, with organisers coming here to conduct trade events that are a mix of exhibitions and meetings. This pushed us towards the expansion of our facility.”

Jeon shared that the space crunch at Songdo Convensia led to “a lot of missed opportunities”, as events that could not be accommodated at the centre had gone to other venues or destinations.

“In Incheon, the other alternative for large-scale events is Paradise City which can take around 2,000 pax in its function rooms,” he said, but added that Paradise City is a high-end resort so not all trade events could afford it.

With the opening of the additional facilities just a month away, Joen said interest among show organisers is high and enquiries for large-scale events are streaming in.

“This expansion will be beneficial for Songdo and Incheon in general,” he remarked, adding that there are more than enough hotel accommodation in Songdo city to support large-scale events.

He said there are 1,800 to 1,900 guestrooms within walking distance of Songdo Convensia, most of which belong to four- and five-star hotels.

Coex show growth stagnates with space limitation

By Karen Yue

June 19, 2018

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201-203(아셈볼룸)_03 — One of the newly-renovated spaces on level two of Coex

Coex, the largest convention and exhibition centre in South Korea’s capital city is close to hitting full occupancy, with only one or two free days in between exhibitions.

In an interview with TTGmice, MJ Cho, manager of COEX’s venue sales team, said the venue is “fully booked and cannot grow beyond the 2,500 shows we do here annually”.

One of the newly-renovated spaces on level two of Coex

Coex’s long term solution is its Jamsil expansion which will occupy approximately 720,000m² of land between Coex and the Jamsil Sports Complex. According to earlier local news reports, the expansion will take over land vacated by the Korea Electric Power Corp and other public organisations.

Cho shared that the future Coex Center Jamsil will house a new convention centre, hotels, and shopping and entertainment facilities. The renovated Jamsil Sports Complex will also be able to support large-scale business events.

However, with Coex Center Jamsil expected to only be ready in 2030, Coex’s current solution for the space crunch is to “work with customers to find alternative event dates or to offer a mix of spaces that can fit their needs”.

She shared that occasional events that cannot be accommodated at Coex are directed to aT Center, which is also owned by Coex.

“While it is much smaller than Coex, aT Center can provide some relief for shows that need more space than what is available at Coex,” she explained.

Cho also revealed that her team has devised a ranking system to determine which bookings to accept and reject.

A newly-renovated room sports a square instead of a round format

“We look at the number of times the show has been held in Coex, its size, its history, etc, to make that decision. Simply put, shows loyal to Coex get priority. However, international exhitions and conventions overtake them all, especially if the events are beneficial to the national economy,” she added.

Another immediate solution to the space crunch is the renovation of all its meeting rooms on level two, turning them into a more popular square space from its previous round shape.

“Round rooms are good to look at but difficult to use. Ever since we’ve relaunched the square meeting rooms, demand and bookings have risen,” she said.

Also new to the meeting rooms are fingerprint door locks which let registered organisers in, and in-room cameras that allow people outside to see what’s happening behind closed doors, thereby minimising disruptions.

ADEX innovates and thinks of new ideas to keep visitors interested

By Caroline Boey

June 19, 2018

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ADEX_free_dive_try-outs — ADEX's free dive try outs

Following the success of ADEX (Asia Dive Expo) 2017 – which was named the Best Exhibition Organiser at the May 8 Singapore Tourism Awards 2018 – Asian Geographic Magazines continues to raise the bar for the niche event, the largest and longest-running in the region.

Among the innovations introduced in 2017 was the creation of an event app equipped to handle payments, the streamlining of information to enhance convenience for visitors and exhibitors, and offering water sports activities for visitors to try out.

Karter Lee, Asian Geographic Magazines’ events and marketing manager, said a 10 x 6 x 1.3 metres swimming pool and a 6 x 2.4 metres waist-high diving tank were constructed at the Suntec Singapore venue for visitors to try out activities such as stand-up paddling, kayaking, scuba diving, and underwater rugby and hockey.

Aside from the cost, Lee commented it was a transport, engineering and manpower challenge to set up and maintain the swimming pool, which was a bigger investment compared to developing the event app.

“We talked to the venue operator – whom we have worked with for many years since 1995 – and their engineers, and they were very supportive.

“It took 12 hours to fill the 60m³ swimming pool, or the equivalent of 60,000 one-litre water bottles, and the 10-man team had to work overnight.”

ADEX debuted the Mermaid Festival this year

This year, ADEX decided to introduce the Mermaid Festival, where “mermaid participants” demonstrated acrobatic manoeuvres at its 2018 edition in April, and visitors could sign up for a mermaid swimming course.

Lee noted: “We added 2,000m² of space in 2018 to become 10,000m² . There was a 10 per cent increase in visitors and a 20 per cent increase in the number of exhibitors, including new countries and destinations such as Taiwan, Terengganu, Jeju and Fiji.”

Royal Caribbean to buy majority stake in Silversea Cruises

By TTGmice

June 19, 2018

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Silversea-RCI — From left: Silversea’s Manfredi Lefebvre and Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Richard D. Fain

Royal Caribbean Cruises announced last Thursday that it would buy a 66.7 per cent stake in privately-owned Silversea Cruises for about US$1 billion to add ultra-luxury and expedition cruises to its fleet.

“Silversea is a the acknowledged leader in luxury and expedition cruising, two key markets that are poised for growth. Uniting our two companies presents an extraordinary opportunity to expand vacation options for guests and create revenue in strategic growth areas,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, in a statement.

From left: Silversea’s Manfredi Lefebvre and Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Richard D. Fain

The strategic rationale for the partnership includes driving long-term capacity growth in the burgeoning luxury and expedition markets at a much larger scale than what Silversea would achieve independently.

It also allows Royal Caribbean to diversify its portfolio and increase its expedition offerings. The partnership will also leverage on the global footprint of both companies to generate demand and increase vacation and destination options for guests.

Fain added: “We are proud to welcome aboard Manfredi Lefebvre, a visionary leader whose high standards and history of innovation we deeply respect. Manfredi will remain executive chairman of Silversea, continuing to lead its strategy long term.”

In addition, Lefebvre and Fain have also confirmed that Silversea’s CEO Roberto Martinoli will continue in his role, working with the existing Silversea management team.

Including debt, the deal is valued at US$2 billion. Royal Caribbean said it plans to finance the purchase through debt.

The closing is expected to be completed later in the year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Beyond Asia: Etihad Airways, 15th Metabolomics Society conference and Embassy Suites by Hilton Montreal Airport

Priority Pass surpasses 1,200 milestone

New executive pastry chef joins ICC Sydney’s culinary team

Martens promoted to corporate director of operations at Centara

Inspiring Entertainment – part 2

Catch up with Yoshifumi Kitamura

Songdo Convensia resolves space crunch with new facilities

Coex show growth stagnates with space limitation

ADEX innovates and thinks of new ideas to keep visitors interested

Royal Caribbean to buy majority stake in Silversea Cruises

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