Asia/Singapore Monday, 12th January 2026
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GLION Museum, Japan

By Julian Ryall
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Glion Museum
Glion Museum

Concept
Occupying a network of refurbished red-brick warehouses dating from 1923, the GLION Museum is the largest collection of classic vehicles in the Kansai region. It houses more than 250 famous cars and motorbikes from around the world, including a 1926 Model-T Ford, a 1929 Rolls Royce Phantom II and a Studebaker that rolled off the production line in 1928.

The museum is divided into four halls, with one given over entirely to world-famous Japanese vehicles, such as the 1973 Nissan Skyline and the 1970 Mazda Cosmo Sport. Displayed in one corner of the museum are Japanese motorbikes that have graced the world’s roads. The museum also includes a showroom where anyone with some spare yen can splash out on a classic Corvette Stingray, Triumph TR3 or a 1965 Nissan Fairlady.

MICE application
The venue offers a number of possibilities for events.

One of the former warehouse buildings today stands as a stylish steakhouse with room for 80 people (table seating) and wall booths upholstered in dark leather. Black-and-white pictures of vehicles from the golden age of motoring cover the walls and meals are served by waiters in bow ties and white gloves. The restaurant can also be converted to cater to groups of up to 400 people for standing receptions and buffets.

The spacious Cafe 1923 occupies another building and can be hired for events for as many as 200 guests, while showrooms offer a stunning walk-through space for receptions.
The museum is also able to host outdoors events, with the broad road that runs between the parallel warehouse buildings decorated with classic cars and ideal for music events or evening cocktail receptions.

Address
Kaigan-dori, 2-6-39, Minato-ku, Osaka, Japan 552-0022
Contact
Tel: (81) 6 6573 3006
Website: https://osaka-info.jp/en/page/mice-glion-museum

JNTO offers “matchmaking” service for associations

By Julian Ryall
0
Etsuko Kawasaki

A new campaign and English-language website will be leading Japan National Tourism Organization’s (JNTO) push to attract more association events.

A new campaign for the “New ideas start here” initiative was launched in December to drive branding recognition both at home and abroad, said Etsuko Kawasaki, executive director of the Japan Convention Bureau.

Kawasaki: broad aim to link associations with appropriate cities with relevant industries

The campaign will be ramped up from the start of the fiscal year, in April, with the release of a new English-language website and promotional videos targeted at the associations market, detailing why organisations take their meetings to Japan.

“We have conducted our own research and it is clear that Japan is able to attract a large number of events involving the medical, scientific and industrial sectors, so we are focusing on these areas for our associations campaign,” she told TTGmice.

Kawasaki added that the national government is very enthusiastic about developing unique venues for networking events and for the business events market. Local governments have also begun to follow suit.

Twelve cities across Japan have been designated Global Cities as they meet all the requirements for association events, including accommodation, infrastructure and events. The remaining 40 cities with international convention status are more suited to smaller events and associations that are more modest in size are being channelled towards those locations.

Japanese cities are encouraged to play to their industries’ strengths. The city of Kitakyushu, for example, is strong in recycling industries and companies that develop environment-friendly technologies, and is open to working with associations in the same sector.

“Each city has something unique and special. We are encouraging them to make the most of those cultural assets,” she said.

“We want to link appropriate cities with the appropriate associations. It is almost as if we are providing a matchmaking service,” Kawasaki concluded.

Showtime Event expands offering for business events

By Adelaine Ng
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Brad Dabbs at AIME 2018. Photo credit: Adelaine Ng

Melbourne’s Showtime Event Group (SEG) plans to secure at least four more properties for exclusive catering within a year as it expands its operations to meet the demands of business event clients.

The company, formerly known as Showtime Events Centre, was re-launched as SEG at the hosted buyers welcome for AIME 2018 held at the Old Melbourne Gaol, which was its first event as the new exclusive venue caterers for the historic jail and Old Magistrates Court.

Brad Dabbs at AIME 2018. Photo credit: Adelaine Ng

SEG’s managing director Brad Dabbs says he’s been looking at the ongoing changes in the inbound business incentive programs, with smaller groups that have a greater focus on sampling local culture and more innovative events.

“We are also investing greatly in our external catering operations to activate Melbourne’s iconic public spaces and I shall be taking these new products on the road,” he added.

SEG is also looking at getting access to “big time” events like the Grand Prix and Australian Open.

“We want to become the major player in the meetings industry in Melbourne. Conferencing with a difference is where we’re all heading, which is fantastic,” Dabbs told TTGmice.

The company is one of five strategic partners for the Melbourne Convention Bureau, which means it effectively has a representative in Asia.

“Asia is really important to me, especially the incentive market. I’ve been to China for the past two years with Tourism Australia for Business Events week and I’m planning on going again this year. My first year was a real eye-opener for me to get to know who you’re dealing with and different cultural beliefs,” he continued.

Dabbs believes it’s important to both follow the trends but also challenge them.

“There are certain things you just have to follow but to position yourself as a leader in the industry you need to set the trend as well. Some people questioned our decision to use the Old Melbourne Gaol to host events, for example, and thought we were crazy. My answer is that it’s not crazy, it’s different and people will see that in the future. Bookings for the Gaol are skyrocketing and people love it,” he said.

SEG’s venues include art galleries, distilleries, exhibition spaces, warehouses and yacht clubs, catering from five to 5,000 people.

Royal Caribbean Cruises wants more Malaysian corporate groups onboard

By S Puvaneswary
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While Malaysia was the fastest growing market for Royal Caribbean Cruises for all of Asia last year, much of the country’s meetings and incentive segment has yet to be attracted to cruising.

Sean Treacy, Royal Caribbean Cruises’ managing director, Asia Pacific, revealed that in 2017, the Malaysian market saw more than a double percentage-point growth over 2016. However, most guests were FITs and affinity groups.

Treacy: much room for growth for Malaysia’s MICE groups 

This is because there is a low awareness from corporate companies, where they don’t think of cruising as an option for incentive trips and corporate meetings. The segment is still small, as compared to more developed meetings and incentives markets like Indonesia, India and Vietnam.

To grow the business events segment out of Malaysia and Asia-Pacific in general, Royal Caribbean has developed meetings and incentives brochures for its preferred sales agents to show corporate clients.

Another new initiative was inviting select Malaysia-based agents specialising in business events to visit cruise liners when they called at Penang or Port Klang to showcase the ships’ facilities and what could be done onboard for corporate incentives.

Treacy added that staff from the MICE department from Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Miami corporate office were also in Malaysia last month to conduct sales calls for preferred sales agents in Kuala Lumpur, as well as provide appropriate training on how to sell cruises to corporate companies and further entice them on the benefits of cruising versus a land-based holiday. This is the first time that personnel from MICE department have travelled to Malaysia to conduct such agent training.

“We are also exploring the option of having sales resource people based in Kuala Lumpur who are focused on developing the business events segment. They will be reporting to our office in Singapore,” Treacy shared.

Content, social-worthiness are what draws event attendees: UFI conference speakers

By S Puvaneswary
0

Driving traffic to their event is the main concern of event organisers, and making admissions free may not necessarily translate to a higher turnout, revealed speakers at the recent UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2018 in Kuala Lumpur.

Event organisers stand a higher chance of driving traffic to the event by ensuring attendees feel invested in the event, and the content is relevant to their needs and offers some kind of value to them, opined Atul Todi, co-founder & CEO of 10times. 10times is an India-based online platform which serves as a database of events and as a marketing tool for organisers and venues.

Attendees have to feel invested in an event, regardless of whether they are drawn by trends and reviews, or influenced by the content

Based on a survey done by 10times in 2017, first-time millennial attendees are more attracted to trends and reviews posted by third-party sources on social sites, as compared with first-time Gen X attendees who are more influenced by content and insights posted by the exhibitor.

The survey also revealed that engaging millennial influencers show the highest promise as they will share and tweet about the event and influence at least 10 people, as compared with Gen X who may influence their close circle and influence two to five people.

Talk2 Media & Events’ managing director, Matt Pearce – who organises the Fitness Show and the Good Food & Wine show both in Australia – revealed that running a consumer show could be more challenging than a trade event as there is no compelling reason for consumers to buy an admission ticket in advance.

This makes it difficult for organisers to estimate how many people will eventually turn up to the show. Pearce added that while leisure shows reach a broader audience, the challenge is competing for time and attention of potential event goers.

To attract them to an event, one has to have curated content with an added element of fun and entertainment because one of the top reasons for attending a consumer show is to have “a good day out”, Pearce shared.

AccorHotels takes over management of Pasig City hotel

By TTGmice
0

AccorHotels has announced the management of Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila, in partnership with Quantuvis Resources Corporation.

Located in Pasig City, the 230-room Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila Managed by AccorHotels features a one-, two- and three-bedroom suites with a fully-equipped kitchenette, and laundry area with a washer and dryer.

The property offers a range of leisure facilities including a gym, an outdoor pool and spa. Dining outlets include the Nostalgia Dining Lounge, which serves cross-continental cuisine with Asian-inspired dishes, and Nostalgia Bar Lounge offering a range of cocktails, wine and finger food.

For events and meetings, the hotel features two state-of-the-art ballrooms that can each accommodate up to 200 guests. The ballrooms can also be divided into that six meeting rooms for teambuilding sessions.

Alila Solo, Indonesia

By Mimi Hudoyo
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Deluxe Room

Rooms The hotel has 255 rooms and suites spread across 22 floors of the 30-storey building. The property is built in such a way that even lower room categories offer stunning views of the city and beyond.

My deluxe room was 40m2 in size, and had a contemporary design with a touch of Javanese elements – such as the leather puppet painting and batik-inspired ornaments. The white and beige colour palettes, lavish bed, and spacious marble-clad bathroom made the room look elegant and welcoming.

Deluxe Room

My room also sported fast Wi-Fi, a 48-inch IPTV, separate work space, and numerous international sockets, all of which would meet the needs of corporate travellers.

MICE Facilities The hotel’s ballroom and meeting facilities are located on levels two, three and five, with a separate access and reception area from the hotel’s main entrance.

Alila Solo has two ballrooms which can be combined to accommodate up to 3,500 guests, making it the largest ballroom in the city. The ballroom has a ceiling height of 13 meters, and is equipped with pendant LED lights with 61 colours. The latest technology support also allows meetings to be paperless and enable a tele-conference to run smoothly, as attested by one recently-held health-related conference.

There are 14 other function rooms as well. When combined, the property boasts the largest meeting facilities in the city.

Banquet and meeting facilities are minimalist in design, making it easier for event planners to decorate them to suit different needs. The ballrooms and meeting room’s foyer are rather spacious, and can be become venues for cocktails themselves.

Agra’s private room

Other Facilities The hotel has a kids’ club, gym, pool spa, and three F&B venues.

EPICE, the main restaurant on the lobby level serves a sumptuous buffet breakfast with local and international cuisines, and an a la carte menu during lunch and dinner.

Located by the pool on Level 6, Largo provides light bites, with a butler service featuring a pass-around Alila Living suncare line, daily snacks and free cleaning of sunglasses.

Agra, the rooftop bar with indoor and terrace seating area offers finger food and live DJs on weekends.

Room count 255
Star rating Five
Contact www.alilahotels.com/solo

Sedona Suites opens in HCMC

By TTGmice
0
Living room in a three-bedroom apartment

Sedona Suites Ho Chi Minh City’s Grand Tower has commenced operations at the Saigon Centre mixed-use development. Located in the heart of HCMC’s CBD in District 1 along Le Loi Boulevard, the Grand Tower offers 195 luxury serviced suites housed within levels 28 to 42 of Saigon Centre Tower 2.

Suites are available in different configurations such as studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom. The suites also feature feature fully-equipped kitchens, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows which allow for city views.

Living room in a three-bedroom apartment

Guests will have access to amenities such as 24-hour concierge and security, laundry and dry-cleaning services, room service and airport transfers.

Additional facilities include a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, residents lounge and access to the California Centuryon fitness centre located on level six. Guests will also be able to enjoy the facilities at KLOUD, Keppel Land’s new generation serviced co-office located on level 21, at preferential rates.

Sky28, located on level 28 of the Grand Tower, offers tantalising contemporary-style South-East Asian and Vietnamese cuisine coupled with awe-inspiring views of the city skyline.

Host corporate events at this award-winning Bangkok restaurant

By TTGmice
0
Tables Grill's Chamber private dining space

Tables Grill at Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok has recently received a Michelin Plates-award and has been listed in the first edition of the Michelin Bangkok guide book.

To plan a private event or corporate meeting, Tables Grill offers three different areas – the main space can accommodate up to 100 guests; private room Chamber can accommodate up to 12 for a more intimate reception; while the light-filled Cellar can fit up to 32 guests.

Tables Grill’s Chamber private dining space

For more information, please contact the hotel’s event specialist team at +662 254 1234 or email events.bangh@hyatt.com.

Merainer joins Rosewood as VP of development in APAC

By TTGmice
0

Luxury hospitality company Rosewood Hotel Group has appointed Noel Merainer as vice president – development, Asia-Pacific to lead the group’s expansion in the region.

In his new role, he will be responsible for the development of the company’s four distinct brands, including ultra-luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, deluxe New World Hotels & Resorts, neighbourhood lifestyle pentahotels, and the newly launched business and lifestyle hotel brand KHOS.

Merainer has 17 years of experience in the hospitality sector, having held various positions at Marriott International for eight years including vice president, development planning and feasibility for Asia-Pacific. He was also regional director of revenue management at Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, following six years in operations with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts.

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTGmice | Robin Mack to lead Tourism Australia as MD
TTGmice | Momentus Hotel Alexandra names new commercial director
TTGmice | Zeeshan Ghazi joins UFI as sustainable development coordinator