CWT Meetings & Events, Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s meeting & events division, has appointed Sam Lay as senior director for Asia Pacific.
He will report to Cindy Fisher, senior vice president and global head, CWT Meetings & Events.
Sam Lay
Based in Singapore, Lay will lead a team of meetings and events (M&E) specialists across key markets in Asia Pacific. He will be responsible for expanding CWT Meetings & Events’ business in this region by creating engaging and memorable events for clients, while helping them maximise the return on investment on their M&E spend.
Lay brings more than 17 years of experience in the M&E industry, having worked at organisations including the Singapore Tourism Board, and Suntec International. Prior to joining CWT Meetings & Events, Lay was senior director for greater China at BCD Meetings & Events.
Marriott Hotels has opened the Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse in Thailand’s capital city.
Located on Surawong Road, the new-build property comprises of 197 well-appointed guestrooms and 106 deluxe suites across 32 storeys. Facilities on the property include four dining options, the Quan Spa, fitness centre, as well as an outdoor infinity pool.
Deluxe Room
Event planners can make use of the property’s 1,555m2 of versatile event space spread across two ballrooms, nine meeting rooms, a colonial-style courtyard and an outdoor garden. Each venue is equipped with the latest audiovisual technology, and the hotel’s event team will be able to help with any type of function.
After nearly three years of deliberation on a suitable global destination marketing campaign, Sri Lanka will finally roll out the first phase of a multi-year campaign worth US$45 million by end-April.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) managing director, Sutheash Balasubramanian, said the campaign will kick off on CNN’s multiple platforms. Other mass media channels CCTV (China), NDTV (India) and Al-Jazeera (the Middle East) will also to be used.
SLTPB is finally ready to launch a tourism campaign that has been delayed time and again; traditional stilt fishermen at sunset near Galle pictured
This will be followed by a six-month long digital marketing campaign, starting from end-May, targeting China, India, the UK, Germany and France.
Once the digital campaign tapers off, a US$41 million global marketing campaign will take over, under a three-year programme later in 2018.
Destination promotion efforts also include appointing special representatives from key markets to coordinate global promotional activities, and at press time calls for proposals are underway.
Sri Lanka is targeting 2.2 million to 2.3 million arrivals this year, up from 2.1 million in 2017.
The global destination marketing campaign will comprise a MICE angle, according to Achini Dandunnage, senior manager, Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau. Promotion efforts will be aimed at incentive houses and PCOs, while special destination famils will be arranged.
Malaysia is set to host the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress (APAO) 2021 from March 4-7, 2021, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The joint bid was put forth by Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and Malaysian Society of Ophthalmologist (MSO) in Hong Kong on February 11.
Zulkefli: winning the congress allows the country to showcase its credibility as a business events hub and is platform for local experts to gain valuable insights
A total of 4,500 delegates are expected to attend the four-day congress, which will discuss the latest advancements in the field that will greatly benefit the medical sector and the general public.
The annual APAO Congress is the largest and most prestigious Ophthalmology conference in the Asia Pacific region.
“We are thrilled to form a strong partnership with MSO to host this engaging and important congress, convening highly-regarded delegates comprising of ophthalmologists, professors, researchers and healthcare practitioners.
“APAO 2021 is projected to boost Malaysian economy by RM67.9 million (US$17.6 million) in estimated economic impact and maximise Malaysia’s growth potential as a knowledge and creative economy,” Zulkefli Sharif, CEO of MyCEB, said in a statement.
G Hotel Gurney in Penang is reporting a 20 per cent year-to-date increase in the meetings and conference segment this year, thanks to its recent refurbishment and participation in Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s Industry Partner Programme.
During the RM35 million (US$8.9 million) refurbishment which was completed in July 2017, the hotel upgraded its meeting facilities which now sport improved Wi-Fi speed, better sound systems, mood lighting and an LED screen backdrop in the grand ballroom. Aside from the ballroom which can accommodate up to 700 people theatre-style, the hotel also has 10 function rooms fitted with large glass windows that allow in natural daylight.
The hotel offers a total of 12 indoor and outdoor event spaces
Annie Wong, the hotel’s marketing and communications manager, told TTGmice that the 312-key hotel is seeing increased demand for the business events sector from Singapore, Hong Kong, China, India and the UK.
Meanwhile, local demand is driven by companies based in Penang, predominantly from the pharmaceutical, oil and gas, financial institutions and insurance companies.
Wong shared: “Many companies are looking for venues to hold their teambuilding, workshops and product launches. We are a good option because of our location in the heart of the city, and (the hotel is) also within walking distance to Gurney Drive, famed for its large variety of local street food.”
Moving forward, G Hotel Gurney is looking into setting up live action stations during coffee breaks, as well as offering a reward scheme to companies that hold events there.
Wong also believes that the hotel’s good performance is a result of its participation in PCEB’s Industry Partner Programme which allows it to further tap into the events segment.
“The programme provides opportunities for us to attend roadshows organised by PCEB as well as build a stronger network with local and international media organisations,” shared Wong.
Companies that are members of Singapore Airlines (SIA) HighFlyer programme in Singapore and Australia can now earn HighFlyer points when flying on Lufthansa- and SWISS-operated flights ticketed by Singapore Airlines on eligible sectors.
Points will be awarded for tickets issued by SIA or Silkair, for travel between Singapore, Australia, Germany, and Switzerland.
This partnership is part of the joint venture agreement signed by the two airline groups in November 2015, which aims to deepen cooperation in key markets in Europe, South-east Asia and Australia.
The HighFlyer programme was launched on June 2, 2017
Both Lufthansa and SWISS are the first partner airlines to participate in the programme.
“We are constantly looking to reward our corporates when they fly with us, and we will continue to expand our choice of airline rewards for our HighFlyer members,” said Singapore Airlines’ senior vice president sales and marketing, Campbell Wilson, in a statement.
The HighFlyer Programme, designed primarily for small- and medium-sized enterprises, allows companies to earn five HighFlyer points for every S$1 (US$0.76) spent on tickets booked through Singapore Airlines’ corporate booking platform or an appointed travel agent. These points can be used as full payment, or part payment with a cash top-up, for tickets, upgrades and selected ancillaries used by employees of HighFlyer Programme participants.
A Marriott stay fit for a king
Marriott Hotels has made its debut steps from the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, as the company has taken over the management and rebranded Mena House, a historic 130-year-old palace.
Marriott Mena House, Cairo, is set amid 16 hectares of gardens, and offers 331 rooms and suites with views of the Giza Pyramids and its surrounds.
Restaurants on-site include all-day dining venue 139 Pavilion, and Italian restaurant Alfredo, while recreational facilities include an outdoor heated pool, health club, and spa. For events, the hotel also offers 1,400m2 of indoor meeting venues and 8,700m2 of outdoor spaces.
UNICEO to debut congress for event heads
The United Networks of International Corporate Events Organizers (UNICEO) will launch the UNICEO Congress this June in Budapest, Hungary.
The event from June 28-29 will gather 250 UNICEO members and peers handling corporate and association events, and have them discuss and debate four key topics relating to events of the future. The four key topics are Innovation/Technology, Leadership, Engagement, and Measurement/ROI, and each will feature conference sessions and activities.
Prominent keynote speakers include Microsoft’s general manager for global
communications strategy, Bob Bejan; Cisco’s CMO/head of events, Gerd De Bruycker; and Schneider Electric’s vice president experience marketing, Bjorn Wigforss.
Oman visas on arrival go electronic
Effective March 21, 2018, visas on arrival to Oman will only be granted electronically via https://evisa.rop.gov.om, and there will be no more hand-processed visas at the airport.
Last year, Oman relaxed its visa rules to attract more tourists by granting visas on arrival for the citizens of India, China and Russia who reside in or who hold an entry visa to one of these countries – the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Schengen States.
Lokananta is one of Indonesia’s oldest record labels and the only state-owned record label company in the country. Established in 1956, its primary function initially was to transcript the broadcast material for the National Radio Station (RRI) headquarters, and reproduce them into vinyl records that were distributed to RRI stations around the country.
Later on, the company produced record labels for Indonesian artists and traditional folk songs in vinyl, before moving on to cassettes.
The record company experienced its heyday between the 1970s and 1980s, before it took a turn for the worse due to piracy, and followed by the the government regime change in late 1990s.
An activity in session at Lokananta
Concept
The record company has a collection of 5,200 master tapes and 30,000 pieces of LPs, many with historic value, such as the sub-master master tape of the Independence Day Proclamation, the first official recording of the National Anthem, and folk songs.
Visitors to Lokananta will be escorted by a guide who will take them to different rooms in the old colonial house.
The tour starts from where the old machines and equipment are stored, before moving on to the collection room. Next up is the production room where digitalisation of the collection is currently taking place, and where cassette labels – mostly belonging to current indie musicians – are stored. Lastly, the tour moves to the recording and mixing studios.
The mixing studio is home to the Trident 80B analogue mixer, which currently only exists in Lokananta and BBC London. Supported by the quality acoustic in the recording studio, recordings at Lokananta are said to be on par with that of London’s Abbey Road Studio.
MICE application
Groups that visit Lokananta and take the two-hour tour will also get a chance to listen to a couple of songs from the studio’s collection. They can also record their own voices with a minus-one in the recording studio, and receive a master CD as souvenir.
Another programme can include learning the whole recording process, and a lunch or dinner at the semi-open function hall which can seat up to 200 guests or an open-air patio for a smaller group.
The studio is also available for booking during weekends, when it is closed to the public.
Service
Lokananta’s staff are passionate, and it can be seen through how they guide groups. If you’re lucky, you might be brought around by Miftah Zubir, the head of Lokananta, if his schedule permits. The young and enthusiastic chap explains in detail the studio’s storied history, and knows the studio like the back of his hand.
This year, Taiwan is selling its offshore islands as the next big draw for business event planners looking to the peninsula.
Nina Lin, deputy executive director of Meet Taiwan, said: “We are seeing a lot of corporate incentives from China and around the world looking for something special and surprising in their itineraries.”
Industry players in smaller cities motivated to promote themselves; train approaching Taitung’s Duoliang Station (pictured)
This was the impetus for promoting Taiwan’s offshore islands, such as Ludao and Penghu, as well as the coastal highlights of Taitung, said Lin.
In these areas, activities such as cycling, roadtrips and CSR efforts are popular for corporate programmes.
“(Delegates) want to be delighted by the local culture and sights,” commented Lin.
She shared that after Kaohsiung’s “fervent promotions” secured its bid for the 2020 ICCA Congress, other cities in Taiwan – such as Taichung and Taoyuan – have been motivated to rally industry players and will soon launch their own business events campaigns.
Taiwan-based Asia Concentrate Corporation (ACC) and MindMeeting in the Netherlands have formed a 50-50 joint venture to birth Orange Gibbon, a company specialising in meeting design services.
Explaining the motivation behind Orange Gibbon, ACC’s co-founder and owner Pairry Chiang said she hoped to create a more productive output for meetings delivered by ACC.
A session conducted by MindMeeting
She remarked that “most meetings now are conducted only to utilise budgets”, and hopes to change that.
She believes that MindMeeting’s Meeting Design solution will help ACC to “go one step further” in achieving better meetings for clients.
Founded in 2003, MindMeeting specialises in designing international meetings, and has a presence in Spain and India, with plans to expand to Ecuador.
MindMeeting’s co-founder, owner and managing partner, Mike van der Vijver, told TTGmice that he has been to Taiwan several times in recent years to raise awareness about the importance of well-designed meetings and conference programmes through workshops and trainings.
Chiang observed that industry players are sitting up and taking notice.
“IAPCO discussed this in its course last year in Taiwan. ICCA values it too, and has MindMeeting involved in its programme design for the past few years. And in Taiwan we have seen many meetings now changing their format.”
She believes that Taiwan can leverage on the meeting design specialisation to win over more meetings.
“We may not compete with other destinations on (events) hardware, like new buildings and equipment, but we can bring more value to meetings (through) software,” she added.
Orange Gibbon will stage the inaugural Meeting Design Week. The event will feature programmes including meeting design training, conducted in cooperation with universities.
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