Sky Kingdom is a cluster of uniquely themed, world-class venues
Sky Kingdom is a cluster of uniquely themed, world-class venues
AccorHotels’ new and massive – 1,700 guestrooms and serviced residence across four hotel brands – hotel complex, Seoul Dragon City, launched its entertainment central, Sky Kingdom on November 22.
Said to be the world’s first four-storey sky bridge that houses a cluster of uniquely themed, world-class lounges, Sky Kingdom occupies levels 31 to 34 of the towering Seoul Dragon City in Yongsan District.
There are five themed lounges in all. One of them, King’s Vacation on the 31st floor bears a sleek, European design and boasts a glass-bottom dance floor that casts one’s eye onto the traffic down below. One floor up and connected by stairs, is the elegant Queen’s Garden which comes with cosy and private semi-circular booths that are perfect for small-sized gatherings. Another venue worth keeping an eye out for is the Sky Beach on level 34, a spacious venue that brings to mind the sprawling open decks of modern cruise ships.
According to Jerome Stubert, cluster general manager of Seoul Dragon City, each of the five themed lounges could accommodate parties of 30 to 40 people, depending on the desired layout, or more when combined. Seoul Dragon City will be using these venues to organise fun events and welcome business event planners who desire unique settings for their social and business gatherings.
Hanoi’s latest attraction is a stage performance that harnesses the beauty of nature and ropes in both professional and amateur actors to tell a series of tales about countryside life in Vietnam, from the rise of Vietnamese Buddhism to the complexities of the feudal education system.
Named The Quintessence of Tonkin, the performance is played on the outskirts of Hanoi on a stage that sits just below the surface of a lake and with the mountains and Chua Thay, one of the country’s oldest Buddhist pagodas, as backdrop. The cast pulls in 100 professional performers and 150 real farmers.
Performance-art technicians devised a world-class sound and lighting system for the cutting-edge production, but traditional instruments — such as wooden drums and brass gongs — figure prominently in the sensory experience, as well.
Hoang Nhat Nam, the show’s director, draws attention to the farmers who took a year to master the art of acting.
“These farmers know rural life better than anyone,” said Nam. “It is their story, so I wanted them to be the ones to tell it. It’s more authentic that way.”
Perfect for corporate groups, the 2,500-seat amphitheater welcomes partial bookings of the Silver, Gold and Platinum sections or full venue hire. Planners choose the latter can also arrange for delegates to meet with the producer and cast.
Special group rates are available.
For an extra special touch, elevate the experience with a dinner party set up on stage, on a stretch of private beach within Baara Land Resort, an easy five-minute walk from the show venue, or at a restaurant. Choose to feast on Vietnamese and international dishes on a buffet line or from a set menu. Dinner is priced from US$25 per person, excluding drinks.
Seoul Central Masjid is
Korea’s first permanent mosque and the only mosque in Seoul
Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) is taking steps to ensure Muslim and Indian vegetarian travellers are well taken care of as the city starts to look more seriously at growing business event arrivals from Malaysia, Indonesia and India – source markets seen to bear great growth potential.
Seoul Tourism Organization, Tourism and MICE Division, executive director, Joon Lee, told TTGmice that Indonesia, especially, shows great promise.
Seoul Central Masjid is Korea’s first permanent mosque and the only mosque in Seoul
“About 100 employees of AXA Indonesia (an insurance company) visited Seoul as part of an incentive trip in April, and the activity gained wide publicity as well as the attention of our mayor, who joined the delegates for a bicycle ride along the Hangang river,” Lee shared.
“This illustrates the high-level recognition and support Seoul authorities give to incoming business event groups.”
Bearing in mind that Islam is the dominant religion of Malaysia and Indonesia, STO created the eight-page Muslim Tourists Guide. It is available online (www.miceseoul.com/tool-kits/) and can be downloaded in PDF. It lists 84 Muslim-friendly restaurants (classified under four categories – Halal-certified, self-certified, Muslim-friendly, pork-free), locations of prayer rooms, details of Seoul Central Masjid, service provided to Muslims at major hotels, and details of Muslim-friendly medical institutions.
“Religious considerations are also paid to Indians, as some of them have special dietary needs too. We are making sure Seoul has restaurants and caterers that offer vegetarian meals,” Lee said, adding that temple vegetarian cuisine could be an appealing option for this segment of Indian visitors.
According to Jin Hyeok Park, director of Seoul Convention Bureau, in-market destination promotion has always included messages that convey the city’s Muslim- and Indian-friendly environment for visitors.
“Seoul welcomes visitors of all shapes and sizes. One example (of what we have done) is the India MICE Roadshow held in March 2017, jointly hosted with the Korea Tourism Organization, Incheon Tourism Organization and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization. The India MICE Roadshow forms part of efforts by the STO and other regions to promote Seoul and other parts of (South) Korea to India and other Muslim nations as a welcoming environment,” Park explained.
“In addition, as part of our Seoul MICE Alliance private-public framework, we have local DMCs that target the Indian market. We provide them with information on Seoul and its Indian-friendly environment, where applicable,” he added.
Park also revealed that a Tourism Academy is in the plans for 2018 to provide education on business events. Lessons would include “how to take special care of travellers that require certain attention, such as Indian and Muslim individuals”, he said.
Former managing director of Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB), Mike Cannon, has set up his own consultancy business in Kuching, Sarawak to primarily represent organisations based in Australia and New Zealand keen on targeting business event buyers in South-east Asia and North Asia.
Called Mike Cannon Business Events – Asia Pacific (MCBE), the company was set up at the start of this month.
Cannon: a good time to be leading a bespoke, specialised consultancy
Cannon told TTGmice that he has Mandarin-speaking associates to assist him in targeting business event buyers in Singapore, Taiwan and the east coast of China.
MCBE also provides consultancy services for marketing, branding, business development and training for business events.
Since the company was set up, it has secured one client from Australia who is seeking business opportunities from South-east Asian buyers, but is outside the business events target.
“They came to us because of our know-how in the region, and because of the cost saving opportunities we offer being based in Kuching”, Cannon said.
Cannon explained why he decided to embark on this new venture: “Since I stepped down from my role at SCB, I’ve been regularly approached about supporting a number of small- and medium-sized companies in the industry that would benefit from someone with decades of experience.”
Cannon’s previous experience includes running his own Sydney-based DMC, Australian Industry and Farming Tours, for 22 years. He was also a founding board member of the National Tourism Alliance of Australia, and he has served on the board of the Australian Tourism Export Council with two years as chairman. In addition, he was part of The Australian Federal Tourism Minister’s Advisory Council in 2005/ 2006, helping to drive the needs of the Australian convention bureaux and business events sector.
“Suffice to say, I’ve seen it all over the last four decades, as the business events industry has powered on in good times and in bad. This is a wonderful time to be leading a bespoke, specialised consultancy, often in association with Love That Destination’s founder and president, Ross Robinson and research director, Patty Buehler, as well as David Hall of David Hall Consultancy based in Australia,” he added.
Based in Canada, Love That Destination helps corporate and association meeting managers find resources to organise better events, and find the right destination for their event. Meanwhile, Hall was instrumental in establishing SCB.
Allen Tan, managing director of The Habitat Penang Hill (centre) picks up the award from TTG Asia Media's group editor Karen Yue and Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau's CEO Ashwin Gunasekeran
A print advertisement artwork that captured the lush greenery of Penang Hill and a sole canopy walk in the heart of it all won the most number of votes from delegates attending BE@Penang conference last week.
The advertisement, belonging to The Habitat Penang Hill, scored the grand prize of a full-page, full-colour print advertisement space in a regular issue of TTGmice.
Allen Tan, managing director of The Habitat Penang Hill (centre) picks up the award from TTG Asia Media’s group editor Karen Yue (left) and Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s CEO Ashwin Gunasekeran (right)
The Best Business Events Print Advertisement Award was jointly organised by TTGmice and Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau, and was part of the programme for the second edition of the BE@Penang conference.
The first runner-up in this contest was The Light Hotel, Penang.
Rooms
Every room has its own private dip pool and steam room on the balcony. Rooms are spacious, and furnished with two king-sized beds and complimentary high-speed Internet access. The executive pool suite is 81m2 while the premium suite is 90m2 . In comparison, standard hotel rooms in Penang are an average of 37m2 .
Premium Pool Suite
I stayed in the luxurious premium pool suite which had additional features such as a bathtub and a breathtaking sea view from the balcony. I thought that the room was designed with the convenience of guests in mind. For instance, there was a built-in ironing board, two sinks and a spacious area to keep toiletries.
MICE facilities
All meeting facilities are located on the first floor. The largest event space is the ballroom that can fit 450 people in a round-table set up, or 700 people theatre-style. The ballroom is further divisible into four smaller rooms, which gives planners the option of accommodating smaller groups at any one time. There are pillars, but these are on the sides.
In addition, there are four function rooms, three of which have natural daylight and offer spectacular views of the ocean. Regardless, all event spaces come equipped with LCD projectors. There is also a large foyer area which is conducive for networking and coffee breaks.
Penang Ballroom
I like the fact that the meeting facilities are flexible. Should an organiser require more function areas, they have the option to convert the multi-level carpark into an indoor teambuilding area or breakout space.
Teambuilding events and outdoor dinners are usually held at the beachfront area. As well, The Sky Terrace on level 24 is an alternative dining option for private events, and it offers panoramic views of Teluk Kumbar town and the ocean.
Other facilities
There is the children-friendly space Kidzworld, a karaoke room, spa, large swimming pool and gym.
Service Fantastic. Hotel staff go all out to ensure guests’ needs are met.
Municon reopens after refurbishment
Munich Airport’s hospitality and catering subsidiary Allresto has completed refurbishments to the Municon Conference Center, a meeting facility at the airport.
Municon now has 34 airy, well-lit rooms to choose from, and all the meeting rooms have been equipped with advanced technology and new TV screens. The capacity of the rooms range from four to 180 people. The meeting facility also boasts its own restaurant with a view.
Bologna’s exhibition centre begins redevelopment
The Bologna Exhibition Centre in Italy has embarked on a redevelopment and expansion project, which will increase its exhibition space from 36,000m2 to 140,000m2.
The first phase of the project involves demolition and total reconstruction of pavilions 29 and 30, which will be rebuilt and reopened in time for fairs starting in September 2018.
Expected to be fully completed by 2022, the redevelopment will see hallways being lined with urban spaces such as gardens and F&B outlets, and have natural light streaming in.
Caesars Entertainment to develop conference centre in Las Vegas
The world’s two largest pillarless ballrooms and 28,000m2 of flexible meeting space will be part of a new US$375 million conference centre planned by Caesars Entertainment Corporation in Las Vegas.
Caesars Entertainment plans to develop a 51,000m2 conference centre, to be named Caesars Forum, to meet the increasing demand for group business meetings of all sizes. It will be located east of the Las Vegas Strip with bridge connections to Harrah’s and the LINQ Promenade.
Scheduled to officially open in 2020, Caesars expects to break ground on the new centre early in 2Q2018.
TTGmice will be taking a break from December 18 after a fruitful year. We look forward to coming back stronger on January 9, 2018, and to continue bringing you the most breaking news in the business travel and events trade.
The entire TTG Asia Media team wishes all readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
In 2018, Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) will be introducing a conference ambassador programme to generate international business events leads and international specialised conferences.
The ambassadors will comprise local and international association leaders who have experience in organising conferences or are industry leaders in their field of expertise and strongly believe in Penang as a business events destination.
Ashwin: easier to promote Penang thanks to new longhaul flights
The programme comes off the back of PCEB’s efforts to attract more international, regional and national meetings to the state, especially sectors that coincide with the state’s national status as a hub for education, culture & Ideas, medical sciences, government, social sciences, economics, electronics and engineering.
Aside from the ambassador programme, PCEB will continue to engage with local universities and research institutes when bidding for regional and international conferences and congresses.
Working in Penang’s favour are Qatar Airways’ thrice-weekly flights from Doha to Penang, commencing February 6 next year.
PCEB CEO, Ashwin Gunasekeran, told TTGmice on the sidelines of BE@Penang conference last week that the flights will make the destination more attractive to Europeans and Americans.
Ashwin said: “The flights will make the destination more accessible and attractive, as well as provide another option for longhaul business events delegates who currently travel to Penang through Singapore or Bangkok. It will make it easier to promote the destination when we go to IMEX Frankfurt or IMEX America next year.”
In addition, Ashwin shared that “winning the World Seafood Congress 2019 has helped put Penang on the map” and this win will give confidence to other world associations to work with the destination.
PCEB has also set a target for the number of bids it will make next year, which will see a significant increase from 2017.
Sarita Chintakanond and Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has launched two new mobile applications, Smart BIZ Event and Smart BIZ Organizer, platforms which aim to connect Thailand with event organisers and event attendees globally.
The Smart BIZ Event app targets business events visitors by offering a one-touch registration system and comprehensive event information. Users can receive electronic copies of event materials, such as presentations, event calendars, indoor maps, brochures, and speaker information, by simply scanning QR codes.
(From left) TCEB’s Sarita Chintakanond and Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya launch the two new apps
The Smart BIZ Organizer also offers the QR-code scanning feature to help organisers efficiently check-in and search attendees. As well, the app provides real-time reports and analytics, allowing organisers to know how to improve their business events.
With the new digital tools, Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of TCEB, said his organisation “aims to bring event planning and event organising in Thailand to the next level”.
He elaborated: “The objective to modernise the MICE industry is in line with the bureau’s vision to promote Thailand as a hub for MICE activities in the region. Meanwhile, TCEB expects that the latest applications will attract 10,000 downloads by next year.”
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