Asia/Singapore Sunday, 26th April 2026
Page 792

Pacific World dishes out hot nosh

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Something delicious is cooking at Pacific World – a new partnership with NOSHtrekker, a cultural food experience company that connects cultures and people through local cuisine and storytelling.

Founded in 2015 and currently available in Singapore and New South Wales, Australia, NOSHtrekker creates unique and authentic food memories in the homes of locals called NOSH Hosts. The homes are destinations in themselves, offering an intimate look into the local culture through delicious home-cooked food and engaging storytelling.

Together, Pacific World and NOSHtrekker will develop unique itineraries for events and incentives that focus on four areas of interest: heritage, arts, culture and wellness. Participants will immerse themselves in topics like culture, architecture, or sustainability, meet locals with interesting stories to tell and taste food that helps to tell the story.

“Pacific World and NOSHtrekker share a common vision to give people a fresh perspective of a destination, one that creates emotional and long-lasting connections through meaningful moments,” said Selina Chavry, global managing director at Pacific World.
“Our partnership with NOSHtrekker creates a wholly unique product for incentives and events to discover a place through the eyes and tastes of locals.”

Tahnya Butterfield, co-founder and chief experience designer at NOSHtrekker, added: “We are changing the way people travel by creating memories based on connecting cultures through delicious, authentic food prepared and served by locals with a story to tell.

Our curated food experiences are rich in quality and culture, and offer an intimate look into the lives of the people who make a country.”

ICCA plays a youthful tune

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Noor: creating content that would resonate with youth

The growing presence of millennials in the meetings industry has prompted ICCA to create special programmes that will appeal to this segment of attendees who come with unique event preferences.

In an interview with TTGmice at the ongoing IT&CM China Noor Ahmad Hamid, regional director (Asia Pacific) of ICCA, described the millennial attendee: “They do not like lengthy sessions and one-way communication. They want content to be delivered in a more interactive and creative manner. They want to be more involved and engaged (in the creation and execution of a programme).”

Noor: creating content that would resonate with youth

Noor remarked that understanding these preferences are “important because we have to provide content that is also appealing to the younger generation”.

To capture the younger audience, ICCA has started to include sessions built for millennials during its annual ICCA Congress.

“At our congress in Prague last year, we ran a session for the millennials, and as part of it we got them to come up with things they wanted to see at their session in the future. This gives them a chance to design their event. Their ideas will be incorporated into the ICCA Congress this year in Dubai.”

But ICCA isn’t new to catering meeting content to the industry’s future leaders. It has been organising the Forum for Young Professionals in Barcelona for a decade and the International Meetings Seminar for six years.

“The Forum for Young Professionals features (the usual things, such as having) speakers and panelists who address hot topics in the business. But what’s unique is the numerous workshops and round-table discussions that encourage participation. This format works well for millennials,” he said.

When asked if these preferences are unique to the millennials, Noor said “content has to be dynamic for all ages”.

He also reckons that preferences are similar across millennials from around the world.
“Asian millennials would want content that is meaty, interactive and inspiring as much as their peers in the West. However, we have noticed that Asian participants tended to be a little less interactive.

“This is rapidly changing though. At our International Meetings Seminar in Melbourne last month, which drew participation from Australians and Asians, we had a very engaged audience,” Noor shared.

Noor pointed out that changes to ICCA event formats will not alienate delegates of other age groups.

“While 70 per cent of our events team is made up of millennials, we have an advisory group that comprises both very experienced industry players and millennials. This structure allows our content to satisfy participants of all ages,” he remarked.

Mega events choose to stick with Hong Kong

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Wong: major events returning to Hong Kong a sign of the city's business events capabilities

Despite strong competition from other Asian destinations, Hong Kong has managed to both attract and retain some mega events thanks to its extensive event facilities, and new offers through its Hong Kong Rewards! support programme.

The line-up for this year includes the first-ever Unicity Global Leadership and Innovation Conference 2018 (10,000 pax), Nu Skin Greater China Regional Convention 2018 in June (20,000 pax), 2018 NHT Global Ambassador Academy (6,000 pax), and the 20th Jeunesse Global University (11,600 pax). In total, these mega-sized events will welcome over 45,000 delegates to Hong Kong.

Wong: major events returning to Hong Kong a sign of the city’s business events capabilities

Hong Kong Tourism Board’s general manager, MICE and cruise division, Kenneth Wong, told TTGmice: “Both Nu Skin and Jeunesse rotate their events but we managed to retain them this year. We are able to do so because of excellent venues here in Hong Kong, like AsiaWorld-Expo.

“Moreover, we don’t just provide funding support but also work very closely with (the event organiser), such as by offering brand visibility and local experiences such as (tours in) Old Town Central.”

In addition, new offers – such as a complimentary combo meal from Ocean Park Hong Kong and hotel cocktail reception in one of Hong Kong Disneyland’s three hotels – have been added to the 2018/2019 Hong Kong Rewards! programme.

Market-specific perks are also offered. For instance, Thai groups can enjoy the Good Fortune Hong Kong perk which dishes out free fengshui tips and lucky charms to event delegates.

Event organisers also enjoy support from Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK) which works closely with appointed event venues and provides assistance throughout the event life cycle, from the bidding stage through to the completion of the event.

In 2017, Hong Kong saw a 1.9 per cent growth in overnight corporate traveller arrivals, while the meeting and incentive segment recorded a double-digit 14.1 per cent growth.
MEHK also expects the direct selling sector and key business events markets such as South Korea and Indonesia to achieve promising growth this year.

Khon Kaen positions itself as events gateway to South China and Indochina

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Thailand's fifth MICE city

Khon Kaen in North-east Thailand, and the country’s 5th Official MICE City, wants to host more meetings and exhibitions from South China and Indochina due to its close proximity to both areas.

The region is the primary focus of the government’s East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) scheme, which plans to connect Thailand (through Khon Kaen) with its four neighbouring countries – China, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, a Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) spokesperson told TTGmice.

Thailand’s fifth MICE city

To cement its presence on the meetings and incentives stage, a new convention centre, Khon Kaen International Convention and Exhibition center (KICE), opened at the end of January. It is the largest convention venue in the province and third largest in the country, boasting around 15,000m2 of space.

Since then, events that have taken place in the city include the 12th APEC Khon Kaen International Symposium, 5th Asian Academic Society International Conference, 13th Asian Congress on Biotechnology 2017, and 5th International Conference on Government Performance Management and Leadership.

However, the TCEB spokesperson acknowledged that in terms of hosting international or regional association meetings, Khon Kaen lags behind other regional cities, although it has the capacity to host more meetings in its specialist industries such as logistics, silk, agro processing (rice, sugar cane and rubber), and certain medical fields.

Future infrastructure upgrades include the airport, where a feasibility study for a planned expansion is underway, with the aim of upgrading Khon Kaen airport’s terminal space to accommodate international flights.

Khon Kaen will also be the first city outside of Bangkok to have a light rail transit system. This is planned for end-2019.

Other accessibility improvements include the upcoming high-speed train service to Nong Khai in north-east Thailand, that will also connect with China’s Kunming and Vientiane in Laos.

CWT sees more opportunities outside Chinese tier-one cities

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Zhong expects international travel for companies involved in BRI projects to rise in coming years

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the rise of China’s second- and third-tier cities are presenting new business opportunities for Carlson Wagonlit Travel China.

Zhong expects international travel for companies involved in BRI projects to rise in coming years

Albert Zhong, general manager, China, said the market is getting to the point where more private-owned companies and state-owned enterprises are open to appointing international TMCs, adopting a multi-vendor model, and integrating their respective system capabilities.

“This development started about three years ago. Their estimated domestic and international air travel spend can be between US$300 and US$500 million annually, and when you add in hotel spend, the figure can be doubled,” he said.

“From a traffic perspective, 60 per cent of transactions are domestic and the rest international,” he observed, adding that international travel for companies involved in BRI projects “will increase significantly in the next few years”.

“With more and more business penetration in tier-two and three cities like Chengdu, Dalian, Shenzhen and Nanjing, there will be more opportunities”, citing the example of one manufacturing customer who has a network of 70 offices across the country.

Zhong opined that corporate travel demand will be dominated by Chinese companies five years from now. “Our business mix now is between 10 to 15 per cent Chinese companies and we will need to develop local capabilities to serve the (increasing market share) of customers.”

Malaysia’s electricity board brings power conference to KLCC

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The conference to take place at KLCC

The Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry (CEPSI) 2018 will take place in Kuala Lumpur Conference Centre this September, hosted by the National Electricity Board (TNB).

More than 1,500 delegates – comprising CEOs, senior executives, engineers, government officials and experts in the electric and power sectors from around the world – are expected to attend.

The conference to take place at KLCC

CEPSI is held every two years by the Association of the Electricity Supply Industry of East Asia and the Western Pacific (AESIEAP). In its 22nd edition, this year’s conference will bear the theme, “Reimagining Utility of the Future”.

“The theme will address some interesting topics that include mega trends, sustainability, energy trilemma, digitalisation and smarter future,” said Azman Mohd, TNB president/CEO and president of AESIEAP (2017-2018).

“This conference will be the ideal gathering for utility stakeholders to share their thoughts and ideas, hear from visionaries and learn from some of the best minds in the industry.”

TNB, which holds AESIEAP chairmanship from 2017 to 2018, last hosted the conference in 1996.

Beyond Asia: Huone Kamppi, Swiss-Belinn Muscat and more

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Huone's new caravan-themed venue
Huone’s new caravan-themed venue

Huone brings creative spaces to third location
Huone International is expecting to introduce its third creative meeting venue, which will open in Helsinki’s Kamppi region this fall, after previously launching in Jätkäsaari district of Helsinki and in Singapore.

Among other rooms, Huone Kamppi will feature a nomad-life inspired Caravan Room with a private garden, and a harbour-inspired Pier Room.

Huone is already seeing its existing venues “booked well in advance”, and anticipates ample demand for the new Kamppi spaces.

Swiss-Belhotel to rise near Muscat airport come 2019
Swiss-Belhotel International will operate the Swiss-Belinn Muscat in Oman, set to open near the Muscat International Airport in 2019.

The result of a management agreement with Al Salaam International Hotel, Swiss-Belinn Muscat will offer 120 standard rooms and 10 varieties of suites. Facilities include an all-day-dining restaurant, flexible meeting and conference venues, gym, Wi-Fi access and 24-hour room service.

UFI announces managerial changes in Paris
UFI has welcomed Monika Fourneaux-Ceskova as marketing and communications manager, replacing Angela Herberholz who will move into her new role of programme manager.

Fourneaux-Ceskova has for the past eight years been responsible for the exhibition and marketing activities of an international broadcast technology solutions provider, Ateme. She is hence familiar with trade shows held in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Rai Amsterdam, Dubai World Trade Center, KoelnMesse and London Olympia, among others.

She has also worked for the Czech Embassy in Paris to provide and deliver national pavilions at trade shows, and was part of the support team at the World Economic Forum Annual Meetings in Davos.

After managing UFI’s marketing and communications activities for the past three years, Herberholz will as programme manager focus on coordinating and supporting the work of the various working committees to aid them in their global development, while also leading and driving projects in UFI’s education programmes.

Hamburg Convention Bureau welcomes new head of conventions
Nele Aumann has taken on the role of head of the Hamburg Convention Bureau’s (HCB) conventions unit. In her new position, she will coordinate the unit’s team of six in charge of marketing Hamburg as a MICE destination in Germany and abroad, and will report directly to HCB’S managing director, Michael Otremba.

Aumann has been with HCB for more than four years, most recently handling associations as well as clients from the fields of medicine, healthcare and life sciences. Prior to joining the HCB, she worked as a sales manager with Hamburg Messe und Congress and as a project coordinator with the congress agency CPO Hanser Service.

HK Disneyland’s ready to spook corporate clients

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Disney villains to spook corporate groups in true Halloween fashion

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) is now accepting bookings for corporate buyout for Halloween.

This year, HKDL is promising a spookier and more fun Halloween party with Jack Skellington and his crew of baddies, along with more Disney villains.

Disney villains to spook corporate groups in true Halloween fashion

Corporate guests can enjoy private access to the entire park for a fright-filled evening with a whole park buyout after the nighttime cavalcade with extended park hours, along with exclusive privileges to entertainment, including private access to Tomorrowland and the exclusive nighttime cavalcade “Villains Night Out! Chapter 3″.

Smaller groups can also enjoy Halloween fun at the park by opting for Corporate Mix-in Nights. Events can be enhanced with customised elements, such as theatre or theme restaurant buyouts for company programmes, or private character greetings with Disney friends.

Last fall, HKDL hosted eight Halloween buyout events, where corporate guests were treated to the wicked fun of Disney Halloween Time. Among these events was Bank of China (Hong Kong)’s (BOCHK) buyout on September 24 for a centenary celebration. More than 25,000 guests, including BOCHK staff and their family members, participated in this event, making this the largest single-day buyout in HKDL history.

Since 2010, HKDL has welcomed about 400,000 guests in almost 50 Halloween park buyouts hosted by about 60 corporations from across Asia, including about 80,000 Halloween buyout goers in 2016 and 2017 each.

GM Jeane Lim takes helm at Parkroyal on Pickering

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Pan Pacific Hotels Group has appointed Jeane Lim as general manager of Parkroyal on Pickering.

Prior to this appointment, Lim was most recently the general manager of Destination Singapore Beach Road.

Her career spans 30 years, where the first 18 was spent with Grand Hyatt Singapore in areas of guest services, business development and sales.

Tan then spent the next 12 years with Millennium Hotels & Resorts in various positions such as director of sales and marketing at Copthorne King’s Hotel, and vice-president global sales Asia.

Simon Dell heads soon-to-launch Mövenpick Asara Resort & Spa Hua Hin

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Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has appointed Simon Dell as general manager of Mövenpick Asara Resort & Spa Hua Hin, a seafront resort opening later this year in Thailand.

Prior to joining Mövenpick, Dell was vice president & area general manager for Onyx North Asia.

During the course of his two-decades-long career, the seasoned hotelier has also served in senior management roles with hotel groups such as InterContinental, Raffles, Swissôtel and The Savoy Group. He has spent the last decade in Asia-Pacific, with several years based in Thailand.

The UK national first moved to Asia in 2007, initially as director of rooms at The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, before moving on to Amari Hotels & Resorts, now part of Onyx Hospitality Group.

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