Penang’s Shangri-La properties bring fun into meetings

January 23, 2018

Sister properties Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa and Golden Sands Resort in Penang have come up with unconventional destination meeting ideas to satisfy a growing demand among corporate clients for meetings with play elements.

Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman, spokesperson for both resorts, said: “We brainstormed ideas on how we can meet and fulfil the meeting dreams of our corporate clients, which cannot be done within a city set up. We are taking advantage of our prime location at Batu Ferringhi to set up a meeting mixing business and pleasure amid nature.”

Sunglasses@Work was the result, where one-of-a-kind meeting ideas and unique set ups transform the usual boardroom sessions, teambuilding activities, and special business meeting events into a fun and memorable experience.

The Sunglasses@Work themes include “Live, Love and Laugh”, with individual activities themed under each word. “Live” is about group activities that promote wellness and physical activity; “Love” is about engaging in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities that bring love to children and individuals with less fortunate backgrounds; “Laugh” is about fun activities.

Activities for Sunglasses@Work include a yoga breakfast at CHI, The Spa’s pavilion, challenges on the slides at the Adventure Zone, an Iron Chef Challenge, a Dine In The Dark dining experience, and an eco treasure hunt.

Suleiman explained that the eco treasure hunt incorporates the latest gadgetry designed by in-house events specialists for a unique teambuilding activity. “It blends CSR initiatives around the resort and the challenge of completing tasks in highly competitive situations,” he said.

He revealed that green meetings are in demand these days, and the resorts offer environmentally-friendly meeting options that incorporate recycled crates and boxes for signages, food stands and snack tables.

“An eco menu incorporating a Rooted in Nature concept is available for such meetings, using organic herbs and spices picked from the resorts’ spice garden and incorporating sustainably-sourced seafood and poultry,” he added.

Singapore: A Perfect Blend of Business and Leisure

By TTG

January 23, 2018

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Brought to you by Singapore Tourism Board

With a vibrant cityscape that is safe, well-connected and technologically advanced, Singapore continues to punch above its weight as a prime destination for international MICE events.

Lure of the Lion City

Singapore continues to outshine its Asian counterparts with its accolade of being the top Asian city to be ranked among the top 10 convention cities in the world by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in 2016.

Steadily maintaining its position as Asia’s Top Meeting City by Union of International Associations Global Rankings 2016, Singapore delivers a bold and fresh landscape of opportunity for MICE events that keeps them fun and exciting for attendees, while delivering international standards for creativity, quality and innovation.

With its stellar reputation as a global business and tourism hub, recognised for its quality infrastructure, safety, stability, connectedness and accessibility, Singapore is a strategic choice for meetings and incentive groups.

Multi-stop destination

Apart from its award-winning meeting venues, Singapore also offers a plethora of fun and unique incentive activities, making it a dream come true for the creative planning of meetings, conferences and incentives in one compact destination.

Sentosa, long known among families and leisure travellers for its sun, sand and sea, has in recent years evolved to become a one-stop MICE destination. Today, the rejuvenated island is home to 21 hotels, over 30 attractions and more than 100 F&B and retail outlets. New attractions include the city’s first 50-metre Bungy Jump in Singapore at AJ Hackett Sentosa.

Resorts World^TM Sentosa (RWS) alone houses six hotels, versatile convention and meeting spaces, as well as the renowned Universal Studios Singapore theme park, which is perfect for the unique combination of meeting and incentive travel groups.

Creative spaces abound in iconic attractions like the Flower Field Hall at Gardens by the Bay which enchants guests with a periodically changing flower field display on one side and a spectacular view of the Marina Bay skyline on the other, bearing testament to Singapore’s standing as a City in a Garden. This indoor space also boasts a ceiling adorned with special LED lights that create a fairyland atmosphere.

For unique encounter with nature, meeting planners can consider the Night Safari’s An Evening in the Wild package which features the attraction’s diverse wildlife. It is designed for events organisers looking for an intimate venue where guests can enjoy a three-course meal in a tepee tent and get up close with the animals at the same time.

Fresh offerings with Passion Made Possible

Discover deeper stories and experiences of Singapore with a variety of new tours which revolve around themes such as food, outdoor adventure and culture.

For instance, delegates can connect with the passionate spirit of Singapore’s new generation of hawkers, who have rejuvenated their offerings while still staying true to their heritage roots, through Wok n Stroll’s “Next Generation Hawker” food tour.

A novel way to explore Singapore’s first heritage town, Joo Chiat, is in a vintage Vespa sidecar. Zip along with Sideways “Joo Chiat + Katong Vespa Tour” to uncover hidden gems, time-honoured visual arts and crafts, and Singapore’s famed hawker delights in this colourful enclave.

Planning events with industry support

The possibilities go on and on for meetings and incentive travel planners with the enhanced Singapore MICE Advantage Programme (SMAP).

The Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau^TM (SECB), Changi Airport Group and Singapore Airlines have enhanced their Singapore MICE Advantage Programme (SMAP) with new partners – luxury airport terminal JetQuay and ride-sharing giant Uber – to offer more benefits for event organisers.

With SMAP’s new and improved benefits, qualified events can enjoy features such as customised support through SECB’s Business Events in Singapore (BEiS) Scheme; exceptional fares to Singapore offered by Singapore Airlines and its subsidiaries SilkAir and Scoot from more than 130 destinations in over 30 countries; complimentary welcome desk to greet participants, plus shopping and dining vouchers for attendees to use throughout Changi Airport; arrival into JetQuay, Asia’s first standalone luxury airport facility for VIP delegates and 10-percent discount on intra-city rides for all attendees, up to a maximum of 2,500 rides per event on Uber services.

For full details on the Singapore MICE Advantage Programme (SMAP), download the brochure, visit the website or email secb@stb.gov.sg

GM named for soon-to-open Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing

By TTGmice

January 22, 2018

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Till Martin has been appointed to helm Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing, which is scheduled to debut in 2Q2018, as general manager since November 2016.

Hailing from Germany, Martin’s hospitality career with Hyatt Corporation began more than 20 years ago. The Hyatt veteran boasts experience working in various positions across the company’s properties in Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia.

He was most recently the hotel manager of Grand Hyatt Beijing, and prior to that was previously executive assistant manager – F&B at Grand Hyatt Seoul and Grand Hyatt Dubai respectively.

Mövenpick Hotel Colombo names GM

By TTGmice

January 22, 2018

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George Koumendakos has taken up his first appointment in Sri Lanka as general manager of Mövenpick Hotel Colombo.

The hospitality veteran, with over three decades of experience across North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa and Asia, was most recently the general manager of Crowne Plaza Dubai-Deira in the UAE.

The Dutch hotelier started his career as a trainee in 1986 at the Amsterdam Hilton, after which he worked for companies such as Hilton, Marriott, Banyan Tree and InterContinental Hotel Group where he remained for around 20 years.

Business events get new support from Northern Territory

By TTGmice

January 18, 2018

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Kakadu-National-Park,-Northern-Territory,-Australia — Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Australia’s Northern Territory has launched the new Northern Territory Business Events Support Fund (NTBESF) to encourage conference planners to consider the destination for their business events.

Andrew Hopper, acting deputy CEO of the Department of Tourism and Culture, indicated that the financial assistance for qualified events was designed to complement the local government’s Buy Local policy, with funding steered towards elements requiring involvement by local NT businesses.

“This may range from the appointment of a local PCO or DMC through to covering costs for a local keynote speaker, a welcome function, gala dinner or perhaps a technical touring component in any of our key business event destinations which include Darwin, Alice Springs and Uluru,” he said in a statement.

Support will also be weighted towards business events aligned with the Territory’s economic and social strengths which include health, agribusiness, land management, mining, renewable energy, education and defence.

Hopper indicated that this new scheme would not only assist the Northern Territory to increase its share of the keenly sought after “business events pie” but would provide planners with invaluable support to consider vibrant and interesting destinations away from the usual Eastern Seaboard capital city rotations.

Organisations can apply for financial assistance of A$100 (US$80) per delegate up to a maximum of A$50,000 per event.

MACEOS develops programmes for aspiring MICE professionals

By S Puvaneswary

January 18, 2018

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The Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) has developed programmes for young professionals new to the exhibitions, conference and event management fields, in order to upgrade the level of professionalism in the industry.

The three-day courses will start this year and is meant for those with one or two years’ of work experience, shared Kenneth Fong, education & training committee chairperson at MACEOS.

Fong further shared that MACEOS, together with Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau and 13 universities in Malaysia, are part of the Business Events Academic Council, where the council is encouraging local universities to introduce more modules in both diploma and degree courses that relate to event management.

“Some universities are dishing out wedding planning as a topic. This is unsuitable for the business events industry and is not equipping students with the relevant knowledge,” pointed out Fong.

AAE does more to engage Indian association executives

By Rohit Kaul

January 18, 2018

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The Association of Association Executives (AAE) is strengthening its member base in India by launching an India-specific website and converting its Association Leaders Forum to an annual affair.

“There are two ways that association executives can be part of AAE, one is through subscription, while the other is through a membership. As a member you have to be more involved, as you are on an intelligence panel and need to answer surveys,” explained Damian Hutt, executive director of AAE.

Ashok Gupta talking about the vital importance of professionals giving back to society at the recent forum

AAE currently has 90 members and 6,000 subscribers in the country.

At present, AAE has one global website, and is planning to launch an India-specific website for association executives in June 2018. The association will have India-based staff to ensure that the website has the right content to engage the local member base.

As well, AAE organised its second Association Leaders’ Forum in New Delhi in partnership with KW Conferences last month, where 22 representatives from different Indian associations participated.

Hutt shared: “We are keen to convert our Association Leaders Forum into an annual conference. This year, we plan to do (it as) a two-day event and are thinking about organising different sessions for trade associations and individual member organisations.”

He pointed out that AAE has learnt a lot about the different challenges faced by associations in India through the annual forum.

“The whole idea of Association Leaders’ Forum is to have very small working groups where you are addressing associations, societies and federations, focusing on some of the challenges they face in terms of driving membership, and keeping them engaged. The event also focuses on conference development, and how to get more attendees at a time when there are multiple meetings happening in metro cities,” said Monimita Sarkar, managing director, KW Conferences.

Other aspects the forum covered included sponsorship development, a need for more collaboration and partnership between associations, and ensuring exhibitor sales in a price-conscious market.

Didier Scaillet named SITE’s new CEO

By TTGmice

January 18, 2018

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The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) has appointed Didier Scaillet as its new CEO, serving both SITE and the SITE Foundation.

Scaillet’s responsibilities include driving SITE’s 2020 vision forward to grow its chapter network, increasing membership, and raising awareness of the human and economic impact of the incentive industry on the global economy.

He will assume the role on February 1, taking over from Kevin Hinton. The Belgium native will be relocating to the US, and will report directly to the presidents of the SITE International Board of Directors and SITE Foundation Board of Trustees.

A MICE industry veteran, Scaillet brings to SITE extended global experience and a deep understanding of association management.

Most recently, Scaillet was vice-president business development for Cruise Lines International Association. He started his career working for one of the first association management companies in Europe, quickly becoming a business partner. For 18 years he held various roles with Meeting Professionals International; as director of European operations, vice-president of global development and chief development officer for MPI and the MPI Foundation.

Scaillet has also engaged and served on various industry forums and organisations such as Joint Meetings Industry Council, Events Industry Council, Canadian Tourism Commission, and United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Sri Lanka

By Karen Yue

January 18, 2018

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It is easy to see why the property is a big hit with holidaymakers, and why high-end incentive planners should take note.

Room The sprawling Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort offers 152 keys – 120 guestrooms in blocks close to the main hotel building where most guest facilities are located, and 32 private pool villas strew generously across a lush and serene landscape.

I spent three nights in a garden view pool villa, number 616, which sits at the top of a slope. My immediate neighbours were a peacock and a peahen that loved to strut up and down that slope and hop on my roof. I woke up one morning to one of them screeching, something that delighted the city girl in me.

My 64m² villa is furnished with a king bed, a daybed, a spacious work desk, and comes with a massive bathroom with a rain shower, an oval bathtub, twin vanities and a walk-in wardrobe. The pool deck offers two sun lounges.

Meeting facilities The resort only has a 12-seat boardroom in the main hotel building. But what it lacks in function rooms, it makes up with three beautiful restaurants that are flexible with full venue hire for private dining parties as well as several spaces that are perfect for crafting memorable social events.

All-day-dining Journeys serves international cuisine, and I find its Sri Lankan and Middle Eastern dishes especially good.

Beachside Verele, shaped like two cocoons, specialises in Japanese-Sri Lankan teppanyaki cuisine. The stylish interior and isolated location make Verele an attractive venue buyout option for social events.

Il Mare Italian restaurant is my favourite place to be. Sitting atop a cliff, with waves crashing into a a dramatic, rocky coastline below, the restaurant makes a delightful place for a sunset cocktail party and later an elegant dinner under the stars.

Elsewhere, there is El Vino wine cellar, the Poolside Bar and The Lobby Lounge. In terms of unique spaces, some of the options available to planners include a lawn on top of a cliff, next to the elegant Il Mare Italian restaurant; a quiet beachfront, and the spacious pool deck at the hotel’s main building.

Other facilities The resort offers a regular calendar of activities to keep guests busy and these can easily be adopted for corporate incentive and teambuilding groups.

Go on a nature walk with an in-house naturalist to see the resort’s wild but friendly residents (I’ve spotted peacocks, Indian palm squirrels, a rabbit, a monitor lizard and a family of purple-faced leaf monkeys), and herb and spice gardens. Or be awed by the nimble coconut guru who, despite his advanced age, zips up a coconut tree faster than I can run for the bus. Also, Spice Spoons offers cooking demonstrations and classes that are great for small-sized groups.

Much consideration is also paid to guests’ wellness here. There are daily meditation, Hatha yoga and taichi sessions, as well as a spa with Ayurvedic treatments overseen by an in-house Ayurvedic doctor, tennis and badminton courts, a 24-hour gym and a two-deck swimming pool. These will make great additions to a corporate incentive and teambuilding programme.

Service Villa guests can walk to and fro between the facilities, but should their legs tire, resort staff will happily zip them around in buggies. Another perk for villa guests is access to a personal butler who, at a phone call or WhatsApp text message, will deliver on their desires. My butler Isuru was so reliable, and was able to whisk me off in his buggy on an informative site inspection the moment I asked.

Overall, service is quick and of world-class, five-star standard. I must also commend Manju, for being more than just a chauffeur when he was tasked to drive me to two tourist attractions before dropping me off at the next resort on my travel itinerary. He made a few stops along the way to point out unique landmarks such as the last remaining directional sign post left behind by Sri Lanka’s former Dutch masters, and to tell me about local folklores and a traditional blessing routine locals often made at a temple of god Vishnu in Dondra.

Room count 120 guestrooms and 32 private pool villas
Star rating Five
Contact
Email: reservations.srilanka@anantara.com
Website: https://tangalle.anantara.com/

Beyond Asia: Live! by Loews, InterContinental Ljubljana, and Brähler Convention

By TTGmice

January 18, 2018

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Articles-Live-by-Loews-11-01-17-01 — A rendering of Live! by Loews

Loews develops hotel, event centre in Texas
A new US$150 million flagship hotel, Live! by Loews, will be developed at Texas Live!, the US$250 million world-class dining, entertainment and hospitality destination in Arlington, Texas.

The hotel will feature 302 guestrooms including 26 suites, as well as a number of event spaces such as a terrace and event lawn, and a rooftop terrace with several private event rooms.

The piece de resistance will be the two storey, 3,250m² Grand Event Centre. It will house a grand ballroom with banquet capacity of up to 1,500; an executive boardroom with five additional meeting rooms, and a 140m² outdoor terrace overlooking Johnson Creek and the Entertainment District.

Other hotel facilities will include an outdoor infinity pool; two bars; a Revolver Brewing Brewery, Bar and Tasting room, and a fitness facility.

InterContinental opens in Ljubljana
The capital of Slovenia is now home to a 165-key InterContinental hotel, complete with a presidential suite and a club floor.

Recreational facilities on-site include a swimming pool and fitness centre on the 18th floor. For meetings and events, organisers can make use of restaurant B and bar with its own viewing terrace that can accommodate up to 200 guests, or either of the property’s two conference rooms on the 19^th storey.

Brähler Convention moves to new premises
Brähler Convention has moved to their new premises in the traditional Billevue quarter in Hamburg, Germany, as the company requires more space for its growing team and its increasing rental pool of event technology.

The company is a specialist for the rental of event and conference equipment, and undertakes the complete technical management of events, as well as offers support by experienced specialists on-site.

In addition to its headquarters in Königswinter and the Hamburg branch, it has five other locations in the country – Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt am Main. Internationally, Brähler Convention is represented in 40 countries.

Penang’s Shangri-La properties bring fun into meetings

Singapore: A Perfect Blend of Business and Leisure

GM named for soon-to-open Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing

Mövenpick Hotel Colombo names GM

Business events get new support from Northern Territory

MACEOS develops programmes for aspiring MICE professionals

AAE does more to engage Indian association executives

Didier Scaillet named SITE’s new CEO

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Sri Lanka

Beyond Asia: Live! by Loews, InterContinental Ljubljana, and Brähler Convention

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