Hyatt Regency Zhenjiang opens in eastern China

July 31, 2018

Hyatt_Regency_Zhenjiang_Standard_Room — Standard Room

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened the Hyatt Regency Zhenjiang in East China’s Jiangsu province.

Set atop the East Tower of Suning Plaza – the highest skyscraper in Zhenjiang – the hotel will span the 59^th to 76^th floors and have 318 guestrooms, including 20 suites. Each guestroom will offer panoramic vistas of the Yangtze River or Nanshan Scenic Area through floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as in-room comforts such as free Wi-Fi, a 65-inch Smart TV, spacious working area, and a Nespresso coffee machine in suites.

Facilities include a rooftop helipad, four F&B options, a 25m-long indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam rooms, 24-hour gym, and yoga studio.

For events and functions, the hotel features more than 1,530m² of space comprising the pillarfree 880m² Regency Ballroom on the fifth floor which can accommodate up to 900 guests for a cocktail event or 450 guests for a banquet. There are also seven multifunctional meeting rooms on the fifth and sixth floors.

Located at the heart of the Da Shi Kou central business district, Hyatt Regency Zhenjiang is conveniently accessible to shopping, entertainment venues and famous tourism sites, including Xijindu Ancient Street, Beigushan Park, Zhenjiang China Vinegar Culture Museum and Nanshan Scenic Area.

The hotel is just 12 minutes from Zhenjiang Railway Station, 90 minutes from Nanjing Lukou International Airport and a 30-minute drive to the neighbouring city of Yangzhou via the Runyang Bridge.

TTG’s Michael Chow retires, Pierre Quek steps into new role

By TTGmice

July 31, 2018

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Michael Chow is stepping into an advisory role as publisher emeritus following his retirement after 30 years with TTG Asia Media.

While Chow’s position will not be replaced, the company has appointed Pierre Quek publisher of its TTG Asia Publishing division.

The appointments are effective tomorrow. Based in Singapore, Quek leads the group’s team of business managers overseeing advertising sales across its portfolio of integrated publication platforms including print, digital, in addition to new formats such as video solutions and social tech introduced in recent months.

The division has also re-structured its business development team by industry and geography verticals to better serve clients and the marketplace.

Quek works alongside Hong Kong-based Chimmy Tsui, who continues to drive the group’s efforts in the Greater China market as publisher of the group’s Chinese titles, namely TTG China and TTG-BTmice China.

The company’s roots are in TTG Asia Publishing, established in 1974 with the launch of the flagship title, TTG Asia. It now publishes other leading travel industry publications, including TTGmice, TTGassociations, TTG Asia Luxury, TTG India TTG China, TTG-BTmice China and TTG Show Dailies, led by an award-winning team of editors and the largest network of travel trade reporters in the region.

“Since its inception in 1974, TTG Travel Trade Publishing has evolved alongside the ever-changing and often challenging travel and media landscape. Michael’s business acumen, tenacity and passion for his work and clients over the last 30 years were instrumental in building the group to the leadership position it enjoys today.

“We are excited about our future prospects and believe that the present team will build upon Michael’s achievements,” said Darren Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media.

The other three divisions of TTG Asia Media are TTG Maps & Guides Publishing, TTG Events and TTG Global Commerce.

Como Hotels and Resorts appoints new cluster DOSM Maldives

By TTGmice

July 31, 2018

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Singapore-based luxury hotel group, Como Hotels and Resorts, has appointed Fadzlon Bakar as cluster director of sales and marketing for the Maldives.

Fadzlon’s experience in the luxury travel industry includes three years with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, and 16 years with Four Seasons. She left Four Seasons to look after Alila Villas Soori in West Bali, which underwent a rebranding to become The Soori Bali.

Christopher James joins Ovolo Hotels as GM sales Australia

By TTGmice

July 31, 2018

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Ovolo Hotels has appointed Christopher James as its general manager of sales, Australia, managing sales across the Australian hotel portfolio.

His hospitality career spans more than a decade, and his previous appointments include assistant director of global sales (corporate and entertainment) at The Langham Hospitality Group, and business development manager at AccorHotels.

Michael Ayling takes reins at Blue Tree Phuket

By TTGmice

July 31, 2018

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Upcoming family entertainment complex Blue Tree Phuket in Thailand has appointed Michael Ayling as general manager.

Ayling has been working in a consulting capacity on the project for the past 24 months, but has now taken the reins to lead the development as it prepares for its public opening early next year.

The UK-born industry professional brings a wealth of experience to the role, including 12 years at Laguna Resorts & Hotels.

While working for Laguna Resorts & Hotels, Ayling oversaw the operations of eight different hotels and a golf course, in addition to property development, construction, marketing and sales operations for over 400 residences.

Prior to joining Laguna in 2000, he spent more than a decade working in the professional service industry for KPMG, initially at its Oxford, England office before relocating with the firm to Papua New Guinea.

Malaysia’s Business Events Industry Ready To Embrace Change

By Pierre Quek

July 30, 2018

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Brought to you by The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).

Kuala Lumpur, 30 July 2018 – Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) is proud to bring the fourth edition of the Malaysia Business Events Week (MBEW). Taking place from the 12-14 August 2018, MBEW will be held in the state of Pahang, at one of the country’s most iconic resorts development, the Genting International Convention Centre by Resorts World Genting.

A signature initiative of the national bureau, MBEW acts as a dynamic platform for industry stakeholders to converge, communicate and debate issues that impact the future growth and sustainability of the business events industry.

This year, the 4^th MBEW carries the theme ‘Our Future by Design: Embracing Change’. The theme aims to communicate the ability and readiness of Malaysia’s business events landscape to embrace change, given its robustness and well-developed global standard offerings.

Participants will be able to pick the brains of international speakers, including Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner of specialist MICE agency, SoolNua; Tina Altieri, Managing Principal at Media Australasia Xchange (MAX); Effi Setiabudi, Chairman of Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association and Chua Wee Phong, Chairman of Sphere Exhibits Pte Ltd.

Business events industry’s stakeholders including professional conference organisers, event managers, destination management companies, government agencies and other industry players should not miss this instalment of MBEW. Participants can expect to gain insightful trends, strategies to obtain impactful results, new ideas and opportunities to form strategic alliances.

To be part of this dynamic event, prices are categorised:

Category	Prices (RM)
MyCEB Industry Partners/MACEOS members	RM 848.00 nett
Non-members	RM 1,060.00 nett
Associations/Academicians	RM 318.00 nett

* For every three (03) full paying delegates, a fourth delegate is complimentary.

For more information on MBEW, visit www.mbew.com.my or email mbewsec@myceb.com.my.

Izad Ismail Abdullah
Manager, PR & Communications and Digital
Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)
T: +603 2264 3058 M: +6019-3149606
E: izad@myceb.com.my W: www.myceb.com.my #myceb

About MyCEB

MyCEB was established in 2009 by Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia to further strengthen Malaysia’s business tourism brand and position for the international business events market. A non-profit organisation, MyCEB serves as a central hub to assist meeting and event planners to bid for and stage international business events in Malaysia and act as a conduit for national product development. MyCEB’s goal is to improve its rankings as an international meetings destination within International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and to grow business tourism arrivals to Malaysia.

In December 2016, MyCEB mapped out the way forward for Malaysia in business events with the launch of ‘Malaysia’s Business Events Roadmap: Charting Malaysia’s Journey to 2020 and Beyond’. In helping to power Malaysia’s knowledge and creative economy, the business events roadmap will lay the groundwork, set up and manage the platforms for collaboration and support the development of strong local hosts.

Malaysia Major Events, previously known as International Events Unit (IEU) is another division of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB). It focuses on identifying and supporting major event bids for sports, arts, lifestyle and entertainment events. It also assists home grown and home hosted events as well as other cluster events that strengthen Malaysia’s global appeal as an international avenue for major events.

For more information, please visit www.myceb.com.my and follow us on www.facebook.com/MyCEB, Twitter (@MyCEB) and Instagram/MyCEB

Innovative incentives powerful for talent retention and acquisition

By Pamela Chow

July 26, 2018

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Corporate incentive trips are growing as a pull for talent retention and acquisition, opening avenues for planners and suppliers to introduce more innovative products.

This information was revealed in a joint survey by the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB).

The appeal of incentive trips has grown, especially with baby boomers

Focusing on how the Asian incentives market is impacting business events, the survey’s initial findings showed that in some 65 per cent of cases, the attractiveness of company trips has even overtaken financial incentives, said Karen Bolinger, CEO of MCB, who was speaking at the Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) 2018 on Tuesday.

Additionally, incentive travel beyond Asia is expected to increase by 50 per cent, and companies are using these trips to motivate, attract and retain staff, shared Sherrif Karamat, president & CEO, PCMA.

As a result, trip planners now demand more innovative and out-of-the-box experiences from their suppliers. Karamat observed: “In the Asian market, the ‘been there, done that’ idea is very present.

PCMA’s Sherrif Karamat and MCB’s Karen Bolinger speaking at SMF

“This presents a huge opportunity for destinations that are not as well known (yet) to create unique experiences. Established destinations – such as Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore and London – must also reinvent to introduce new experiences, (and not just offer) the same old ones.”

These experiences should also be “value for money”, Karamat pointed out. The survey also showed that a total of 59 per cent of companies anticipate a decrease or no change in incentive budget.

Bolinger advised: “This is a generation of globetrotting baby boomers who are tech-savvy and affluent. They want experiences that money can’t buy. Their expectations are high, and they’re not taking the stock standards like Harbour Bridge and Opera House. It’s important to think about what locals do every day that is undiscovered by visitors. Give them something to talk about.”

For example, instead of merely looking at street art, a recent incentive group in Melbourne was involved in creating public street art that in turn drew crowds, said Bolinger.

Hotel Indigo to make New Zealand debut with Auckland opening

By TTGmice

July 26, 2018

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Come 2021, the City of Sails will soon be home to New Zealand’s first Hotel Indigo.

The 225-room Hotel Indigo Auckland will be part of a mixed-use development in a coveted Auckland Central location and its design will be inspired by the local scene.

The hotel will feature its own all-day dining and bar, meeting space and gym, and a majority of rooms will offer stunning views of the city and Auckland’s harbour.

Hotel Indigo Auckland will also provide convenient access to Sky Tower, the new NZ International Convention Centre, Sky City Casino, CBD office buildings, and entertainment precinct of Britomart and Viaduct.

Crowdsourcing gets in the events spotlight

By Pamela Chow

July 26, 2018

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Crowdsourcing from event delegates is fast becoming a viable method of building effective business events, said industry speakers at the Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) 2018 on Tuesday.

Experts also emphasised the importance of building a community spirit among event attendees, and the need to offer more relevant content and formats based on participants’ input.

Auckland Tourism’s Steve Armitage speaking at the SMF

This will “bring people together and give them a common purpose, and they become so invested in it that they want to see it work”, explained Steve Armitage, general manager – destination of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development.

Auckland Tourism has adopted crowdsourcing as a way to develop awareness of the city as a tourism destination. This method has given the city a “strong platform to tell its story”, described Armitage, who espoused it as “a smart way of generating publicity and the profile” of events companies.

“You have to ensure that the engaged communities can see themselves in the end-product. Initially, we had sceptics, but when the momentum had been started, people wanted to be a part of it, because it has resonance and the community (is driven by) purpose,” he said.

He further advised that crowdsourcing should involve not just industry leaders, but also influential figures and the wider community of participants – especially in key markets – who can benefit from the project.

Epi Ludvik, founder & CEO, Crowdsourcing Week, cautioned companies against adopting it for “just a marketing story”.

He remarked: “We’re moving towards immersing the user. Everyone (should have) the opportunity to get something in return.”

Pavilion and Banyan Tree hotels to work in tandem to pull in more MICE events

By S Puvaneswary

July 26, 2018

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Pavilion_Hotel_KL_ballroom_(2) — Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur's ballroom

Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur, which opened on July 1, and Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur Managed by Banyan Tree, soon to open in 4Q2018, will be working in tandem to capture a larger share of the business events segment in Malaysia.

Shereen Chow, director of sales & marketing of both properties, said the opening of Pavilion Hotel with its larger meetings facilities will be an added advantage, as the former will only be able to accommodate bigger group sizes as Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur only has three boardrooms and 55 guestrooms and suites.

This is in comparison to the upcoming Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur Managed by Banyan Tree which will boast 325 rooms, including 26 suites. The hotel will be located on the upper floors of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur Mall from Levels 7 to 18, and just across the road from Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur.

Pavilion Hotel’s meeting facilities, all located on level 7, will comprise a ballroom which can seat 800 people in a theatre seating or 400 people in banquet seating. It will also boast five meeting rooms with natural sunlight, as well as a crescent-shaped function area that also serves as a foyer area for the ballroom.

Chow added that the available facilities in the two properties complement one another and will provide greater choice offerings to delegates. Moreover, both properties will be managed by a centralised events team that will see through an event from conceptualisation to materialisation.

She cited an example: “VIPs can be housed at the luxury, five-star Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur while other delegates stay at the upscale, and also five-star Pavilion Hotel. In total, the two properties have seven dining venues with cross-signing facilities, which will provide organisers with options for dine around events.

Chow added that Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur has the distinction of having the highest hotel rooftop bar in the capital – Vertigo on Level 59, which is “ideal for holding welcome cocktail receptions and product launches for up to 160 people”. Vertigo can also be used for teambuilding events such as cocktail-making and cooking.

Hyatt Regency Zhenjiang opens in eastern China

TTG’s Michael Chow retires, Pierre Quek steps into new role

Como Hotels and Resorts appoints new cluster DOSM Maldives

Christopher James joins Ovolo Hotels as GM sales Australia

Michael Ayling takes reins at Blue Tree Phuket

Malaysia’s Business Events Industry Ready To Embrace Change

Innovative incentives powerful for talent retention and acquisition

Hotel Indigo to make New Zealand debut with Auckland opening

Crowdsourcing gets in the events spotlight

Pavilion and Banyan Tree hotels to work in tandem to pull in more MICE events

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