One of the possible locations in Sunway Lagoon where a themed dinner can be held
Sunway Lagoon is looking towards India and China as new possible targets for business events groups, to complement their existing corporate markets from Malaysia and Singapore.
Michelle Gregory, director of marketing at Sunway Lagoon, explained: “Both India and China have huge potential as they are both medium-haul markets with direct flights to both main and secondary cities. According to their budgets, corporate companies also have a choice of full-service and low-cost carriers that travel directly to Kuala Lumpur.”
One of the possible locations in Sunway Lagoon where a themed dinner can be held
Tapping into these two new markets will also help the company increase its marketshare of business events, which currently stands at 25 per cent of the business mix.
In order to do so, Sunway Lagoon will be participating in key trade shows to increase market awareness about its product offerings and what it can do to create “wow” and memorable events. A greater emphasis has also been placed on being featured in leading travel trade publications in Asia specialising in business events, as well as being included in the brochures of both Chinese and Indian outbound agents.
This year, Sunway Lagoon also plans to increase the number of sales visits to outbound agents from China, and business events planners in first- and second-tier cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Guilin, Chongqing and Shenzhen.
An online marketing strategy is also being developed, to complement existing marketing activities. This includes developing an online MCE database, producing digital sales and marketing tools, and conducting digital-based marketing and public relations activities.
Sunway Lagoon has also developed a number of in-park shows and performances that are suitable for themed dinners.
Gregory shared: “The themed dinners are part of our efforts to upscale themed dinners and make them more elaborate and luxurious.”
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has launched Voco, its new upscale hotel brand, alongside a first signing in Australia.
The new brand will focus primarily on conversion opportunities and work with individually and locally-branded hotels to leverage IHG’s systems which includes revenue management and technology capabilities, and will be part of the IHG Rewards Club loyalty programme.
The first Voco has been signed in Surfers Paradise, Australia
The roll-out of Voco will begin in IHG’s Europe, Middle East, Asia & Africa regions, with plans to take it to the Americas and Greater China over time.
The first signing will be the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, Australia, and is due to open under the Voco flag late this year. The 388-room hotel offers guests two swimming pools and 800m2 of meeting space.
As well, IHG announced last month it was adding 13 UK hotels to its portfolio after signing a deal with Convivio (formerly Foncière des Régions). A number of these properties will join the Voco brand in coming months.
How a Voco property might look like from the inside
Voco – inspired by the meaning ‘to invite’ or to ‘come together’ in Latin – will focus primarily on conversion opportunities and strengthen IHG’s offer in the US$40 billion upscale segment, which is expected to grow by a further US$20 billion by 2025. Voco is also expected to open more than 200 hotels in urban and leisure locations over the next 10 years.
IHG said it had identified three “critical moments on the guest journey” through “deep customer insight where Voco can create a compelling guest experience that will differentiate the brand.”
These are Come on in – targeting guests at the beginning of their stay with a “swift and simple check-in” and “unexpected, locally-influenced treat”; Me time – IHG will invest in bedding, bathroom amenities, smart TVs and connectivity; and Voco life – communal spaces that “work for different moments of the day.”
Keith Barr, CEO of IHG, said in a statement: “We’ve talked about the significant growth opportunity we see for IHG in upscale and Voco will help us deliver against this. With Voco, the recent addition of Regent Hotels & Resorts in the luxury space, the launch of Avid hotels in the Americas, and the work we’re doing to enhance our existing brand portfolio, we’re making great progress with our ambitious plans to accelerate growth.”
Tahnya Butterfield speaking at a media event. Photo credit: Jensen Chua
Tahnya Butterfield speaking at a media event. Photo credit: Jensen Chua
What inspired the birth of NOSHtrekker?
The idea for NOSHtrekker was conceived from my own experience as a traveller. I was asking questions like “What if the souvenirs you take home from your travels are memories of time spent with local people and delicious food — instead of gifts like magnets and keychains?”
I had a strong desire to change the way travellers connect with cultures and experience a place. I talked to many people who then started referring me to others who eventually became our first Hosts.
How does NOSHtrekker select and qualify the experiences it offers?
There are many people who enjoy cooking for others but finding someone who is an excellent cook and be a docent of culture, heritage, wellness, sport or industry, while having what we call sharp “service eyes” is an absolute art.
Our Hosts are unique in that respect, and we find each other through word of mouth. Our closely-knit community and network of advocates have a really good idea of what kind of people and what types of food we are looking for, and they are always on a lookout on our behalf.
Once a Host is identified, we evaluate them on three criteria: demand, in-person evaluations and standard criteria. We consult with our travel partners to get feedback on marketability, undertake interviews and personality assessments, and run the Host experience through a proprietary process that validates and articulates if that person and experience is right for our customers. This qualifying process is something we continually refine as we learn more about our clients and our business.
NOSHtrekker is offering its experiences for corporate groups through Pacific World. Why not go at it independently? Moreover, why Pacific World?
Our business strategy is greatly influenced by the professional experience of our founding team. In our previous careers, Sarah (the co-founder) and I have worked with both startups and global corporations, developing strategies and brands. Early in the business, we decided to identify and play to our strengths and complement our offering with likeminded partners like Pacific World who have great logistical capability.
The principles on which we select partners is the same as how we select our Hosts. It starts with great people who share similar values and have a common vision. We work incredibly well with Pacific World because they understand what we are trying to achieve with our experiences – to give people an authentic, transformational experience through food and storytelling. They also know why we do what we do, and positively impacting lives rings true for them too.
At the end of the day, guests need to know they have learnt something, shifted their perspective, and (know that) their curiosity to try something different has paid off.
I love the first line in NOSHtrekker’s introduction: “NOSHtrekker is changing the way travellers collect souvenirs and memories by connecting cultures through delicious, home-cooked food, the incredible people who eat and make it, and the local stories they tell.”
Do you think what NOSHtrekker does can also change the way business event attendees connect with one another and with the destination they meet in?
Storytelling is the most impactful way to share ideas, while food is a conduit to creating conversation. Together, they have the potential to create shared memories and context for engagement that might not exist readily, particularly in a corporate setting.
It’s our goal for every guest to leave our experiences transformed in some way. This can be through the food, the Host story, or even by simply receiving warm hospitality from people of different cultures.
Your experiences are now available in Singapore and the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. Where else next, and what can event planners look forward to?
We’ll be introducing new in-home dining experiences in Cairns and Darwin and venturing into Genoa, Italy, Thailand and Malaysia. We hope to deliver to event planners better experiences in the form of higher standards of service quality, stronger stories and more fabulous food.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts opens third European outpost
Raffles Europejski Warsaw has opened in Poland, in a neo-renaissance palace dating back to 1857. Painstakingly restored to its pre-war glory, the hotel now feature 106 rooms and suites with blackened oak floors, contemporary Polish art, and sleek marble-clad bathrooms with Art Deco touches.
Aside from the four F&B venues, Raffles Europejski Warsaw also features a corner library, Raffles Spa with six treatment rooms, a 24-hour gym, and an upstream indoor swimming pool.
United unveils exclusive Private Suite in LAX
United Airlines and The Private Suite have partnered to offer the airline’s customers access to a newly-built, private terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The United-branded lounge at the new terminal includes individual suites and restrooms, and features a full bar and top-tier food service.
Customers who purchase access will enjoy private and personalised check-in and baggage handling, as well as private screening by Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. United customers using the new terminal will also be driven across the airfield in BMW 7-Series sedans directly to their aircraft.
Access to The Private Suite will be included in certain business-class fares, for customers flying to or from New York/Newark; Aspen, Colorado; Hawaii; London Heathrow; Los Cabos, Mexico; Melbourne and Sydney, Australia; Shanghai; Singapore; and Tokyo Narita.
The Private Suite experience will initially be available through select corporate travel booking desks and travel agents, and later available for purchase on united.com or through the United app as part of a premium-cabin ticket fare.
OCEC increases size with completion of second phase
The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) has launched its convention centre, where the completed second phase of development complements five existing exhibition halls and 10 hospitality suites.
The centre now offers two ballrooms (including the largest ballroom in Oman), a 456 tiered-seat theatre, and 22 meeting rooms. The Junior Ballroom can accommodate 540 guests for a banquet or 1,000 guests theatre-style, while the Grand Ballroom can seat 1,200 people or be split into seven breakout areas for a convention.
With the new areas spanning 4,576m2, the total current event space has now reached 48,632m2. In a few months’ time, the final phase, a 3,200-seater theatre, will open its doors for its first performance.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has launched a new global initiative, Mindful Meetings by Mandarin Oriental.
Mindful Meetings will be designed to enhance and energise meetings and conferences with creative solutions based on five key dimensions of wellness: nourishment, movement, stillness, connections and well-being.
A Mindful Meeting yoga session
Examples of wellness enhancements include healthy and energising menu choices, yoga sessions, guided meditations, digital wellness and jet lag tips, massage and movement breaks, custom spa events, expert health talks and group exercise activities. All options can be customised and made available for participants either in or out of the meeting room.
Emily Snyder, the group’s vice president of global sales, shared: “Our aim is to support meeting planners by providing a unique offering, that will ensure all participants leave a Mindful Meeting feeling refreshed, motivated and ready to implement new ideas, information and connections.”
To celebrate the launch, a ‘Mindful Meetings Promotion’ is available for every new event or group booking made between June 6 and September 30, 2018 at all Mandarin Oriental destinations worldwide.
By inserting the term ‘Mindful Meetings Promotion’ in the initial meeting request, meeting bookers can select one of the following benefits – energiser welcome shots upon arrival for all participants; a 30-minute guided wellness activity such as meditation, yoga for participants in the meeting space (only available if the event includes a pre-booked meeting space); and a mindful in-room amenity for all participants.
Fraser Place Binhai Tianjin, Frasers Hospitality’s second property in the port city in north-eastern China, has opened.
The serviced apartment offers 224 keys, in several configurations ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments, as well as smart meeting facilities and function rooms.
The pool at Fraser Place Binhai Tianjin
Other facilities include an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby bar, a swimming pool and a gym. Guests will also enjoy complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, 24/7 room service and a free shuttle service.
Fraser Place Binhai Tianjin is centrally located in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), close to the TEDA MSD shopping centre and the BMT station.
Having noted a 10 per cent growth in the number of room nights booked by Chinese travellers from FY2016 to FY2017 across its global portfolio of properties, Frasers Hospitality is strengthening its presence in China and leveraging the opportunities of China’s burgeoning domestic tourism market. Chinese travellers also account for almost half of the guests in the country, signifying China’s booming domestic travel market that is ripe for more expansion within the country.
“China is key to our future growth as it currently represents a quarter of our portfolio. The opening of Fraser Place Binhai Tianjin is significant as it underlines our ambitions to grow our presence in China. In addition to entering new Chinese cities, we are also building on our presence in cities that we already operate in so that we may better provide travellers with more options that cater to their needs,” Choe Peng Sum, Frasers Hospitality’s CEO, said in a statement.
Frasers Hospitality currently has 16 properties in 11 cities across China, with another 16 properties in the pipeline.
Event brief
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) conducts a regular conference in Asia for regional representatives, with the aim of providing them with university updates and training.
For 2017, QUT decided to rotate the event to Penang for the first time. QUT contacted event organiser, Penang Tour Buddy, in January 2017, to handle hotel arrangements, the conference programme, a four-hour heritage tour of George Town, the gala dinner and souvenirs for participants.
Heritage walk
Challenges
The first hiccup in the event emerged on the morning of May 17 when Alvin Ong, director of Penang Tour Buddy, received a call from the Royal Malaysian Customs Department in Penang informing him that the delegate souvenirs from QUT could not be released until taxes were paid, as they were declared as merchandise. These souvenirs included snacks from Australia, virtual reality (VR) headsets and lip balms.
The next challenge was a limitation of the venue’s bandwidth to support a 10-minute VR video of QUT which participants were expected to stream live and watch together.
Joining the two obstacles was an unhappy trishaw supplier who decided at the last minute to not supply 35 trishaws for the group’s night heritage tour of Penang. The tour required 70 trishaws, which Ong had booked with two suppliers. The disgruntled supplier was upset that the other portion of trishaws were rented from a fellow supplier he was not on good terms with.
This was a crisis as there were only two trishaw suppliers in Penang, where each supplier could supply only 30 to 40 trishaws.
Solution
To tackle the souvenirs hold-up, Ong drove immediately to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department. He paid the required taxes and got most of the souvenirs released. These, coupled with famous Penang flaky pastry biscuit, tau sar pneah, courtesy of Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau, ensured that all participants received an attractive goody bag.
Ong resolved the Internet bandwidth challenge by renting a number of 4G dongles from a communications provider in Kuala Lumpur. The dongles were turned into Wi-Fi hotspots, allowing up to nine users to access the Internet at a time.
To address the shortage of trishaws, Ong altered the heritage programme, which featured a walking tour and a trishaw ride. Instead of going for the tour as a group and seeing the sights together, he split participants into two teams. While one did the walking tour, the other went for the trishaw ride. Later, both teams switched around so everyone had a chance to experience both elements.
Key takeaways
Ong believes that it is important to stay calm, even under pressure. “There will always be unforeseen challenges along the way, no matter how well you plan,” he remarked.
When dealing first-time vendors, like the trishaw supplier, there must be a back-up plan in place in the event that they fail to deliver.
Event: Queensland University of Technology Let’s Get Real:
QUT Showcase Organiser: Queensland University of Technology Groundhandler: Penang Tour Buddy Venue: Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang Date: May 18 and 19, 2017 Number of participants: 150
The Okura Prestige Bangkok has appointed Alvaro Roa as executive chef.
The Spaniard joins the team at The Okura Prestige Bangkok from The Peninsula Hotel Bangkok where he worked for two years as executive sous chef.
Chef Roa’s career began in Europe and he has spent almost 16 years honing his culinary skills at leading establishments in Ireland, the UK, Spain, Mexico, Chile, the UAE and China.
His culinary journey has included stints at Park Hyatt Villa Magna Madrid, Spain, Grand Hyatt Santiago, Chile, and Kempinski Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, prior to his move to the Far East as chef de cuisine at Calypso restaurant at Shangri-La Jing-An, Shanghai.
With a stunning curtain of water cascading from the ceiling, this act can be synchronised with elegant dancers, a solo aerial dancer within the waterfall, or a vocalist or musician in tune with the flowing droplets. The Digital Water Curtain combines digital and water effects, and can be featured as an installation piece, or as part of a bespoke performance.
Digital Water Curtain
What’s unique:The performance is dramatic and injects an element of surprise into the event experience. Great for: Opening/closing ceremony, gala dinner, VIP product launch Contact: Wildfire Entertainment, Singapore; email@wildfire.sg
Dressed in vibrant kimono and obi belts, the Geisha Dance Troupe incorporates traditional Japanese and modern dance, as well as everything in between. The act transitions seamlessly from traditional moves accompanied by shamisen and taiko drums to contemporary steps driven by bass, pop and dance hits. The robotic routine of pop animation dance fuses ancient and futuristic Japan, as well as essences of the country’s manga culture.
Geisha Troupe (Photo courtesy of Scarlett Entertainment)
What’s unique: The act leaves the audience in constant wonder and surprise about the moves that will come next. The audience can experience not only Japan’s rich cultural heritage but also its balance of old and new. Interactions with the audience through humour are also engaging. Great for: Opening ceremonies, awards dinners, high-end product launches Contact: Scarlett Entertainment; becky@scarlettentertainment.com
Japanese light painter Jinpei uses his original technique of swooping arcs of light on a wall-sized canvas in complete darkness to create “paintings.” From the “brushstroke” of each light, figures, landscapes and even symbolic imagery is layered on the canvas. The result is a living picture; one light fades and another is created, leaving the audience in a waking dream world. The technique is soon to mark 30 years of popularity, having been developed in 1989.
Light Painting (Photo courtesy of Scarlett Entertainment)
What’s unique: This form of painting inspires creativity in the audience as well as a sense of serenity and thoughtfulness. Great for: Opening ceremony, awards dinner, high-end product launch Contact: Scarlett Entertainment; becky@scarlettentertainment.com
Grand Opera Thailand was established in 2011 by British operatic impresario, Stefan Sanchez, who has been grooming Thailand’s young opera singers and launching them on international careers. The professional opera company has under its wings several groups and individual singers, allowing event planners to pick the one best suited for their event.
Grand Opera Thailand Oriental Residence
What’s unique: Grand Opera Thailand’s portfolio of performers is versatile. For a memorable experience, surprise delegates with a flashmob performance at an off-property dining venue. Great for: Gala dinner, cocktail reception, networking party Contact: PIGS Co, Thailand; david@pigsdmc.com
Put a smile on delegates’ faces with this upbeat and comedic performance. Combining oriental martial arts and acrobatics, JUMP is an original production featuring taekwondo, taekgyeon and other high-energy stunts. The story begins as a family scrambles to clean up their home and train under their grandfather, an old-school martial arts trainer. He introduces a mysterious young man into his home, and this sets the family into a series of hilarious and clumsy antics.
JUMP
What’s unique: With its action-packed sequences, JUMP injects good-spirited comic relief after a long day of meetings and activities. Delegates familiar with modern Korean drama series may appreciate its references to family soap operas, while other attendees can still roll with the punches and punch lines. Great for: Incentive programme, team bonding, gala dinner Contact: Yegam Inc, South Korea; ticketmaster@hijump.co.kr
A spectacular fusion of technology, dance and Chinese culture, the LED Monkey King performance commands audiences’ attention with electrifying glow-in-the-dark costumes, precision beats and an amazing choreography.
LED Monkey King
What’s unique: As a beautiful amalgamation of western pop-culture’s Tron: Legacy and eastern classic, LED Monkey King is a glowing sight to behold. Great for:Opening/closing ceremony, gala dinner, as a roving act for delegate interaction Contact: @Dance, Hong Kong; dance@atdance.hk
Arriving guests are directed into a dimly lit area where a female dressed in an elegant lycra costume sits above head height, beckoning guests as they approach. With anticipation in the room heightened from the dramatic first encounter, the lights are dimmed further as patrons fill up the main space, which features high cocktail tables.
Spotlights then reveal the lycra-clad lady as an aerial hoop performer striking an acrobatic pose and then dropping head first to serve champagne. Described as “a bar except the service is upside down,” a host will also be on hand to ensure a smooth service.
Musicland
What’s unique: Few acts command as much attention and intrigue especially at a welcome event. It’s also very social-media worthy, and a unique talking point that adds glam factor to a corporate function. Great for:Welcome event, networking party, gala event, conference dinner, awards event, post-dinner before an event swings into party mode Contact: Musicland, Australia; chad@musicland.net.au
Two heads of important tourism institutions have been replaced; Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress in the northern Matale District, pictured
Sri Lanka last week made two significant decisions impacting on its emerging tourism market, appointing a new head to its state tourism promotion agency and removing the CEO of its loss-making national carrier. Both institutions are key to the country’s tourism promotion with 2.5 million arrivals targetted this year.
Dehan Seneviratne, a veteran marketing and management consultant, has been appointed as chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) on June 4. He replaces Udaya Nanayakkara, who was forced to quit in January 2018 after just six months in the job, due to disagreements over the long-delayed destination marketing campaign with tourism minister John Amaratunga.
Two heads of important tourism institutions have been replaced; Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress in the northern Matale District, pictured
Seneviratne’s appointment comes at a critical time as Sri Lanka’s tourism promotion campaigns finally got underway earlier this month starting with a promotion blitz through CNN.
SriLankan Airlines chairman Ranjit Fernando confirmed to TTGmice that CEO Suren Ratwatte, who has been criticised in the past for extravagant spending, is stepping down in August. “We are interviewing a couple of local and foreign candidates for the post,” Fernando said.
Fernando stated that the 2017/2018 financial year ending March saw a loss of $105 million but that a restructuring plan submitted by Nyras, an aviation consultancy, is underway. There are plans to turn around the loss-making airline in two to three years with “some hard decisions”.
In a circular to staff last week, Fernando said the board of directors has decided to make changes to the structure of the top management team.
“There will be a new chief for the commercial division. Our fully owned subsidiary, the catering company, is led by a part-time CEO. We have already engaged a new CFO, who will assume office shortly. There will also be some minor reallocation of responsibilities in the organisational structure,” he said.
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
