Vietnam readies to host ATF 2019 in Halong Bay

January 30, 2018

Preparations are well underway for Vietnam to host ATF 2019 in Halong Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Vietnam’s minister of culture, sports and tourism, Nguyen Ngoc Thien, told TTGmice: “The people of Quang Ninh province are ready to welcome delegates and guests.”

ATF will be rotated to Vietnam next year; boats sailing in Halong Bay pictured

Planning for the event has been ongoing since 2009, with a swathe of new products created in the province to host delegates and guests.

This includes Quang Ninh Exhibition of Planning and Expo Centre, which will host the event and features 21,000m² of floor space.

Nguyen added that the highway connecting the capital of Hanoi with the province, which is home to World Heritage Site Halong Bay, is slated to be finished ahead of ATF, cutting transport times from about four hours to 1.5.

And, as previously reported by TTG Asia, Van Don International Airport is slated to welcome its first flights ahead of ATF.

Hopes are also high that Vietnam will reap the rewards of hosting the event, with it showcasing to ASEAN that it is capable of putting on large-scale conferences in a destination he described as “very active”.

He said: “By organising ATF, we hope to increase connectivity and flights between Vietnam and the ASEAN member states, and aim to drive sustainable tourism.”

Nguyen also predicts a rise in domestic and intraregional tourism in the wake of the event.

“The tourism industry will be further and wider promoted, and (travellers from) ASEAN countries will visit Vietnam more and more,” he said. “It will also help to promote further the image of our country, the people and culture, and Vietnam will be known more to friends and tourists across the world.”

After Vietnam, Brunei will be the host of ATF 2020 as the annual tourism event rotates around the ASEAN 10 member countries according to alphabetical order.

Ascott plans to double its global portfolio in half a decade

By TTGmice

January 30, 2018

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Ascott-Riverside-Garden-Beijing,-one-of-the-recently-opened-property-in-China.-Started-operations-in-Oct-2017 — The Ascott Riverside Garden Beijing; it started operations in October 2017

Serviced residence specialist, Ascott, is aiming for a portfolio of 160,000 units globally by 2023, twice its current inventory.

Ascott has clinched contracts to manage four properties with 1,200 units in new cities such as Malacca in Malaysia, and Davao in the Philippines, while deepening its presence in Guangzhou in China and Cebu in the Philippines.

The Ascott Riverside Garden Beijing; it started operations in October 2017

Its Somerset property in Malacca, Ascott’s largest property to date, will benefit from an upcoming free economic zone and sea port. Meanwhile, its foray into Davao will anchor Ascott in the Philippines’ third fastest-growing economy which also serves as the economic and tourism hub of Southern Philippines. As well, Ascott’s fifth property under its lyf brand will be in Cebu.

Kevin Goh, Ascott’s CEO, said in a statement: “With the global economic upswing and international travel arrivals hitting a new high, we are confident of exceeding 80,000 units this year.

“We will also grow our franchise business, particularly through our Citadines and Quest brands, and form strategic alliances with leading companies that have a pipeline of properties for us to manage. We will focus on key gateway cities in our two biggest markets, China and South-east Asia, as well as markets such as Australia, Europe, Japan, South Korea and the US,” he added.

With these new additions, Ascott currently has more than 160 properties with about 30,000 units under development worldwide. About 35 of these properties with more than 6,500 units are scheduled to open this year, half of which are in China, and a quarter in South-east Asia.

The new management contracts have increased Ascott’s portfolio in South-east Asia to about 23,000 units in 111 properties across 34 cities. Its newly secured properties in Guangzhou has also strengthened Ascott’s foothold in China with over 20,000 units in about 110 properties across 31 cities.

Conrad Centennial Singapore hires business development director

By TTGmice

January 30, 2018

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Conrad Centennial Singapore has appointed Timothy Tan as director of business development.

Reporting to Heinrich Grafe, the hotel’s general manager, Tan will lead efforts to increase revenue, individual and group reservations as well as event sales through new business and the expansion of existing partnerships.

Prior to joining Conrad, he was director of sales for Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central and The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central.

Tan has garnered two decades of experience in the travel and tourism industry, having worked with major hotel companies and tour operators – such as Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific, and HPL Hotels & Resorts – in Singapore and Australia.

In 2012, he also served as a member of the regional council of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).

TCEB leads business events push at ATF

By Karen Yue

January 25, 2018

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With ASEAN Tourism Forum taking place on home ground this year, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has taken the opportunity to elevate its yearly effort to connect South-east Asia’s business events stakeholders by launching the ASEAN MICE Conference.

The one-day event took place yesterday at Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai, and featured prominent speakers from across Thailand and beyond who shared intelligence, ideas, perspectives and projections of business events development across the South-east Asia region.

Moderator Surapit Promsit; Tourism Promotion Bureau, Pattaya’s Onvara Karapin; Chiang Mai University’s Pairach Piboonrungroj; and Khon Kaen Think Tank’s Channarong Buristrakul speaking at one of the panel sessions

Speakers included notable individuals such as Paul Vallee, managing director of BestCities Global Alliance; Pairach Piboonrungroj, director of MICE Excellence Centre, Faculty of Economics, Chiang Mai University; Amelia Roziman, chief operating officer of Sarawak Convention Bureau; and Yungho Park, executive director of Gyeongju Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Supawan Teerarat, senior vice president, strategic business development & innovation with TCEB, said the programme content was carefully curated to offer attendees “valuable learning opportunities and a global perspective” on how their country and the region in general can grow as a destination for business events.

Prior to the debut of ASEAN MICE Conference, TCEB organised an annual networking event in Thailand that brought together NTO officers and business events stakeholders from across the region.

“We’ve been doing that since 2014, but it is a small gathering. When Thailand started planning for ATF 2018, TCEB approached the Ministry of Tourism and Sports though minister Kobkarn (Wattanavrangkul, the former minister) and asked if we could do more for the business events community. The conference was hence born,” explained Supawan.

She added that it was imperative to facilitate deeper conversations among ASEAN members on the development of the region’s business events capability because “there are countries that are not as active as others in attracting business events (and they can benefit from knowledge and best practices shared by) the forerunners, the strong and leading destinations”.

The programme also brought in CVB heads of successful second- and third-tier cities in Asia for this purpose of learning from the best.

“We want to convey the critical message that it is not only the capital cities that can welcome business events. Second- and third-tier cities can too, as long as the infrastructure and community are ready,” she said.

When asked by TTGmice if the conference would be hosted at future editions of ATF, Supawan said: “We have not started that discussion, and on whether TCEB would support (future editions). But we certainly hope something will happen and that the conference will be continued, at least in cities that are strong in business events.”

Early 2018 incentive fulfilment for Seoul

By TTGmice

January 25, 2018

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Tourists-hanbok-Gyeongbokgung-Palace — Tourists wearing hanbok and taking photos at Gyeongbokgung Palace

Two major companies from Malaysia and Indonesia will bring a total of 2,700 employees to the South Korean capital, the first two to do so in the new year.

Sahajida Hai-O, a marketing specialist in Malaysia, sent 1,200 employees in January, while Indonesia-based Tupperware will send 1,500 employees in March.

Tourists wearing hanbok and taking photos at Gyeongbokgung Palace

The Malaysian group arrived in eight groups from January 15-22, with delegates touring Gyeongbokgung Palace while dressed in Korean traditional clothes and visiting Seoul N Tower, Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong shopping district and other major tourist attractions.

The Indonesian group will visit Seoul in March and have signed up for a K-pop experience programme and a sight-seeing tour of Bukchon Hanok Village, Dongdaemun Market, Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Folk Museum.

Seoul Tourism Organization and the city of Seoul supports foreign groups that visit Seoul by providing between 20,000 won (US$18) and 30,000 won per foreign visitor, on the condition that they stay in the city for at least two consecutive nights and up to a 100 days.

HRS opens office in Bengaluru

By TTGmice

January 25, 2018

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End-to-end hotel solutions provider HRS has opened a new office in Bengaluru.

The new Bengaluru office and the growing team are part of HRS’ strategy for business expansion in India, recognised as the fastest growing economy of the world and among the world’s top 10 business travel markets.

India is one of the top 10 business travel markets in the world

“HRS’ business in India has significantly grown since its market entry two years ago. HRS is the exclusive hotel service provider to several large local and multinational companies offering them services including intelligent sourcing, online booking portal and mobile App technology,” said Santosh Kumar, HRS India’s managing director.

HRS is also focused on the supply side of significantly increasing the overall hotel coverage across all categories in Tier 1 to Tier 3 cities.

The Bangalore office is the third office HRS has launched in India after another two in Mumbai and New Delhi respectively.

Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai leverages on its outdoor spaces

By Pamela Chow

January 25, 2018

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To court more business events and meetings, Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai is getting creative with themed events for its corporate clients, which currently forms 20 per cent of its business.

“The plan is to leverage on our outdoor venues – we have beautiful gardens with different areas suitable for any type of events. We are looking at making them more conducive for themed events, cocktail events, outdoor meetings and teambuilding activities,” Gabriele Lombardo, general manager of Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai, told TTGmice.

Lombardo: a larger international airport will help influx of visitors

He added: “We’re introducing new themed coffee breaks that are more engaging, with live stations, cultural activities like umbrella painting and food with the name of the guest carved in.”

These developments come as the hotel reports greater volumes of business guests from Asian countries other than China – which recently made up some 40 per cent. Thanks to new flight routes, the property is now seeing more business events groups from Taiwan and South Korea as well as from Doha outside of Asia.

Singapore is another market with strong potential, said Lombardo, held back only by the lack of more direct flights.

He pointed out that Chiang Mai can also benefit from an expanded international airport to accommodate the droves of incoming visitors as the city grows in popularity.

Lombardo shared that the Chiang Mai chapter of the Thai Hotels Association has given feedback to the Chiang Mai International Airport, and TTGmice understands it may be given a new and bigger site in two years.

The Park Lane Hong Kong, a Pullman Hotel, Hong Kong

By Prudence Lui

January 25, 2018

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Room I stayed in a 34m² premium deluxe executive room with an unobstructed view of Victoria Park – known as the green lung of Causeway Bay – and the harbour.

On top of an ultra-chic contemporary redesign, rooms have also been given new designer furniture that make the rooms seem more spacious. Other enhancements include boosted Internet connectivity, supply of sockets, free mobile phone usage with 4G data and Wi-Fi hotspot sharing. There is even a yoga mat included for in-room use.

Meeting facilities A popular business events venue, the hotel provides 13 function rooms on floors 26-28. They can be partitioned into smaller units to suit different group sizes. The refurbished Park Lane Room on the 27^th floor, for example, can be divided into five rooms, ranging from 52m² to 90m².

Meanwhile, the Harbour and Windsor rooms on the 28^th floor offer a total of 213m² and can hold 160 pax cocktail-style. I was particularly impressed by the access to an adjacent 350m² rooftop garden from where guests can have dramatic city and harbour views. One downside is that the lift only reaches the 27^th floor, which means guests must take the stairs to get to this beautiful venue.

Nevertheless, the al fresco roof garden has become a hotspot for cocktails, product launches, dinners and even weddings.

All 13 function rooms are equipped with high speed Internet access, built-in LCD projector and one-stop-shop events services.

Other facilities The hotel features three newly refurbished dining outlets – a café, lobby lounge and restaurant & bar, none of which can be booked for private functions. Other facilities include an executive lounge, a business centre and a gym.

Room count 832
Star rating Five
Contact sales-corporate@parklane.com.hk

Photo of the day: Jacques Arnoux receives SITE recognition

By TTGmice

January 25, 2018

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Industry veteran and icon, Jacques Arnoux of Faces of Asia, was presented with the Richard Ross Past Presidents’ Award for Outstanding Service to the Incentive Travel Industry at the SITE Global Conference in Rome this month.

Arnoux, who has been involved in the industry in Asia for the past 30 years, was recognised for embodying the ideals and impact of this award’s namesake, and for demonstrating integrity, honesty, and faith in others, with notable contributions and long-term service to the incentive travel and motivational events industry.

From left: Kevin Hinton, Annamaria Ruffini, Jacques Arnoux, Rajeev Kohli

The award, created in memory of SITE’s past president and long-time member Richard Ross, who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City, recognises an individual or organisation that has furthered the vision, ideals and ethics of SITE.

Beyond Asia: Oaks Beirut, UFI Latin America, and Eurexpo Lyon

By TTGmice

January 25, 2018

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Minor Hotels to debut Oaks brand in Lebanon
Minor Hotels will debut its Oaks brand in Lebanon in mid-2018 with the opening of the 110-key Oaks Beirut.

The property will provide modern guestrooms and suites, with facilities including an all-day dining restaurant, a Lounge Bar & café, a rooftop pool and bar, plus dedicated conference facilities.

It will be located in Sodeco, a commercial area of Beirut, approximately five minutes’ drive from the central downtown area, and 15 minutes from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.

UFI strengthens Latin American presence
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has opened a regional office in Bogota, Colombia.

The new office is located at Corferias venue, and will serve the growing number of UFI members across Latin America. It will also be the base for collaborations with national and region industry associations. The position of the UFI Regional Manager for Latin America will be filled by Ana Maria Arango.

Since it was established in 2014 at the UFI Global Congress in Bogota under the leadership of then UFI President Andrés López Valderrama, UFI’s Latin America Chapter has grown from 17 to more than 40 members.

New hall for Eurexpo Lyon
Eurexpo Lyon, France, is building a new 9,400m² exhibition hall to support the growth of its leading trade fairs and shows.

Designed by the AIA Architectes agency, the new Hall 7 will give Eurexpo Lyon a total exhibition area of 140,000m². It is managed by GL events.

Vietnam readies to host ATF 2019 in Halong Bay

Ascott plans to double its global portfolio in half a decade

Conrad Centennial Singapore hires business development director

TCEB leads business events push at ATF

Early 2018 incentive fulfilment for Seoul

HRS opens office in Bengaluru

Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai leverages on its outdoor spaces

The Park Lane Hong Kong, a Pullman Hotel, Hong Kong

Photo of the day: Jacques Arnoux receives SITE recognition

Beyond Asia: Oaks Beirut, UFI Latin America, and Eurexpo Lyon

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