InterContinental Hong Kong to shift events, staff around during renovation closure

August 11, 2017

InterContinental Hong Kong will close for major renovations for 12 to 16 months, starting from 1H2019, a massive undertaking that will see regular corporate clients being redirected to sister properties under the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and staff deployed for other duties and activities.

The total transformation, led by Tokyo-based design studio Curiosity Inc., will span all guestrooms and suites, all public areas, restaurants and event venues, and will include a redesign of the building façade.

The building, long part of Hong Kong’s landscape, will soon get a facelift

Claus Pedersen, general manager, InterContinental Hong Kong, told TTGmice: “We will redirect regular corporate clients to our sister IHG properties in Hong Kong over the renovation period.”

However, Pedersen added that inconveniences to regular events would be minimal, as InterContinental Hong Kong’s restaurants and event venues – including the ballroom and harbourview function rooms – were anticipated to reopen in the evenings from late summer 2019, just after six months of renovations.

As well, Yan Toh Heen, the hotel’s two-Michelin-star Cantonese restaurant, will remain open for dinner throughout the renovation.

When asked about the hotel closure’s impact on staff, Pedersen said the hotel is “committed to keeping our staff fully engaged in a variety of activities”.

“Some will be redeployed among our sister IHG properties. We will offer staff continuous training and development programmes. Employees will also be involved in the community,” he revealed.

“For over three decades our hotel has enjoyed a loyal following of guests not only because of our acclaimed dining, accommodations and harbour views, but also because of the outstanding service by our dedicated employees. As such, our employees will be part of our exciting renovation journey, so that we can maintain the exceptionally high service levels of our hotel and Michelin restaurants,” he added.

Dorsett Kuala Lumpur predicts growth in business events, FITs

By S Puvaneswary

August 11, 2017

0

Dorsett Kuala Lumpur has forecasted a five per cent year-on-year growth for its corporate meetings segment, and a 10 per cent year-on-year growth in FITs for the present financial year ending March 2018.

This prediction comes off the back of the property’s three-year renovation. The RM40 million (US$9.3 million) refurbishment saw the transformation of the hotel’s meeting spaces, 322 guestrooms and all-day dining restaurant.

Dorsett Kuala Lumpur’s meeting spaces have been transformed

Adele Ang, the hotel’s general manager, revealed that the ballroom and four meeting rooms are now bathed in natural daylight, and feature built-in LCD projectors and motorised screens. A centralised coffee break area has been added on level two, where all meeting spaces are located.

Meanwhile, all-day restaurant Checkers Café has been made more expansive and airy, while the buffet counters now feature live cooking stations.

Ang told TTGmice: “Our offerings will appeal to corporate clients and meeting planners looking for good value, service and location. But challenges exist. Among them will be to win back corporate clients which we had lost during the three-year period of renovations which commenced in June 2014.”

Her strategies to grow the corporate meetings segment – which currently contribute half of the business mix – include strengthening the sales team with new personnel experienced in corporate sales; introducing twice monthly networking events for existing corporate clients and potential new clients called Dorsett Hour; and improving Internet connectivity to 80mbps by end-August.

Adelaide wins hosting rights for WIPCE 2020

By TTGmice

August 11, 2017

0

Come 2020, Adelaide will play host to triennial World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE).

The conference will bring together Indigenous education experts, practitioners, and scholars from across the globe to share strategies and developments for culturally grounded Indigenous education. It will also give Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the opportunity to celebrate their place in the world as the oldest living culture of humanity.

Adelaide Convention Bureau works closely with local experts to identify and bid for renowned conferences

The 3,000 delegate event lasting several days will add A$13.2 million (US$10.5 million) to the state’s visitor economy, provide hotels with 17,872 bed nights, and create 119 jobs.

WIPCE was won for Adelaide following a bid by the Adelaide Convention Bureau working in collaboration with Peter Buckskin, dean of aboriginal engagement and strategic projects, from the University of South Australia, with support from the minister for aboriginal affairs and reconciliation Kyam Maher.

Damien Kitto, CEO, Adelaide Convention Bureau, said in a statement: “Winning this event is another example of the Bureau working with local experts to identify and bid for highly regarded international conferences. The soon-to-be-opened phase two of the Adelaide Convention Centre redevelopment has enabled us to bid for these large size events that were once beyond our reach.”

Global chefs to cook up a storm in KL next year

By S Puvaneswary

August 11, 2017

0

In July 2018, chefs from 105 countries will convene in Kulala Lumpur for the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2018 to address food trends and share thoughts on food culture from around the world.

Organised by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs), the four-day event, themed Asia on a Plate, will begin on July 11. It is expected to attract over 1,000 attendees and generate an estimated RM11 million (US$2.6 million) in economic impact.

Worldchefs Congress & Expo will head to KL in 2018

Speaking at a press conference, Zulkefli Sharif, CEO of Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), described the congress as the ideal platform for Malaysia to further showcase its unique cuisine influences and expertise to the world.

He added: “Worldchefs Congress & Expo perfectly highlights Malaysia’s exceptional appeal as a global food destination. We hope our local chefs will take this enticing opportunity to network with like-minded industry players, gain insights and ideas on the latest food technology and trends, as well as share best practices with their counterparts from all over the world.”

Previously held in European and Nordic countries, Malaysia is the second country in South-east Asia to host this congress. It was last in this region in 1990, in Singapore where some 700 delegates were in attendance.

The congress bid placed by MyCEB and local organiser Professional Culinaire Association was announced to be a successful one at the 2014 Worldchefs Congress in Stavanger, Norway.

New association launched to feed growing appetite for food tours

By Pamela Chow

August 8, 2017

0

As the appetite for culinary tourism increases worldwide, operators can now turn to The Independent Food Tour Association (TIFTA) for support and referrals.

TIFTA was launched by eight founding members in Asia, including SingaBites, Food Tour Malaysia, Oishii Tokyo, Taste of Thailand Food Tours, Saigon Street Eats, Lost Plate Food Tours, Eating Adventures Food Tours and Queenie’s Food Tours.

Demand for food tours on the rise; food lovers in Hong Kong pictured (photo credit: Eating Adventures Food Tours)

James Pelham, co-founder of TIFTA and founder and chief taster of Singapore-based Singabites, said: “The food tour sector is constantly growing and becoming more and more popular. By starting TIFTA, we want to make it easier for food travellers to find the best tours as well as create a community where we can all help each other grow.”

Pelham envisions TIFTA as a platform that travellers can use to find reliable and high-quality food tours around the world. The association is now concentrating its efforts in Asia with the goal of recruiting 30 tours by the end of 2017.

The association accepts only operators that are “locally run and use local vendors during their tours thus putting money back into local food communities”, Pelham told TTG Asia.

“We don’t accept members who are owned by big agencies or government organisations. We want to help the small guys,” he elaborated.

TIFTA will also consider customer and peer reviews as part of its recruiting process, said Pelham, and will “keep (members’) standards high” by monitoring reviews and changes in company activity.

The corporate travel segment is also on the plate for the association’s expansion. “With our contacts across the region, we could definitely help corporate event planners,” said Pelham. “Food is one thing that everyone can agree is a good reason to get out of the office and have fun.”

Malaysia wins right to host three major conferences

By TTGmice

August 8, 2017

0

In 1H2017, Malaysia has secured three conferences in total, expected to expected to generate a collective economic impact of RM32.7 million (US$7.6 million).

The conferences are World Tunnel Congress 2020 in conjunction with the 46^th International Tunneling and Underground Space Association General Assembly; the 17^th World Congress for Endoscopic Surgery of the Skull Base and Brain 2020 and the Congress of the International Board on Books for Young People 2022.

Positioning Malaysia as top-of-the mid country of choice for business events; Kuala Lumpur pictured

These bids were won with the collaborative effort and support of the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).

Zulkifli Sharif, CEO of MyCEB, said: “Between August and December 2017, Malaysia will also play host to five international conferences and exhibitions that will generate an estimated economic impact of RM46.9 million with around 6,000 delegates.”

The five, secured in earlier years, are the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare: Asia 2017 (August 24-26); the IWA-ASPIRE Conference and Exhibition 2017 (September 10-14); the World Congress of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) (October 4-8); the 18^th Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention & Exhibition (October 25-27); and the 11^th Asia Pacific Vitreo-Retina Society Congress 2017 (10 December 7-10).

The upcoming FIATA World Congress 2017 in Kuala Lumpur will coincide with the expected implementation of the logistics and trade facilitation masterplan by the Ministry of Transport Malaysia, designed to improve the efficiency of transport and trade facilitation, and elevate Malaysia to become the preferred logistics gateway to Asia.

Ho Yoke Ping, general manager – business events, MyCEB revealed: “FIATA 2017 is also expected to generate RM11.5 million in economic impact for the country. The four-day conference is expected to attract 1,200 participants, of which 60 percent are international participants.”

Rural and regional NSW get funding to woo business events

By TTGmice

August 8, 2017

0

The New South Wales (NSW) government has launched a A$6 million (US$4.8 million) NSW Regional Conferencing Strategy & Action Plan, aimed at driving more conventions, meetings and business events into the rural and regional areas.

The NSW Regional Conferencing Strategy & Action Plan includes 11 strategic imperatives and 64 actions. Already in place are the establishment of a regional conferencing unit within Destination NSW which works closely with industry and the destination networks to build capacity and increase the number of business events held in regional NSW; the launch of the Meet in Regional NSW website to showcase the array of business event venues and destinations in the region; the development of a toolkit which offers the tools and tips of the trade for regional business event suppliers; and the launch of a pilot NSW regional conferencing development grants programme to provide investment on a matched-dollar-for-dollar basis to attract more conventions, meetings and business events in rural and regional NSW.

John Barilaro: strategy to increase conference industry contribution

An initial investment of A$500,000 has been allocated to this pilot programme.

Deputy premier John Barilaro, minister for tourism, pointed out that the conference industry contributes A$145 million to regional NSW each year.

He added: “Through this strategy, we want to increase that contribution by bringing more conferences and visitors to regional NSW, and in turn boost local economies and create more jobs in our regional communities.”

ibtm brings its Latin America and America editions under one umbrella

By TTGmice

August 8, 2017

0

Ibtm events, part of Reed Travel Exhibitions, has announced that it is merging ibtm latin america and ibtm america to create ibtm americas.

The first ibtm americas will take place in Mexico City from September 5-6, 2018. This allows ibtm americas to capitalise on the growing success of ibtm latin america and the rapid development of the market in that region, while allowing for growth in the North America market.

ibtm combines shows

The expanded show will see an increase of 800 per cent in hosted buyers from North America. Currently ibtm latin america attracts 12 per cent of its exhibiting companies from North America, but the show has been growing year-on-year. In 2016, the event had a 100 per cent increase in exhibitors; with the event set to grow by over 40 per cent in 2017.

Korean expo in September to boost traditional medicine, local biotech industries

By TTGmice

August 8, 2017

0

Jecheon in central South Korea will be hosting the World Korean Medicine-Bio Industry Expo next month.

Themed Recreation of Korean Medicine-Evolve into the Korean Medicine Bio Industry, the event will be held at the Korean Medicine Expo Park, and will begin on September 22, running for 19 days.

Expo to boost global natural product market

The expo will focus on Korean medicine and biotech industries, and comes six years after an inaugural international fair on hanbang (traditional Korean medicine) in 2010.

The exhibition is expected to bring together 800,000 people, including 40,000 foreign tourists, with representatives from 250 South Korean and foreign companies to hold business and export negotiations with more than 3,500 buyers.

Joung Sa-whan, secretary-general of the organising committee, said the exhibition will provide a boost to the global natural product market, closely related with the Korean medicine industry, given that the industries of Korean medicine, biotech and natural products are expected to take the lead in the development of the fourth industrial revolution that is underway worldwide.

The global natural product market, estimated at around 1,000 trillion won (US$890 billion), is forecasted to grow at eight to 10 per cent per annum, Joung added.

The regional government and Jecheon municipality will co-host the exhibition, while 19 government agencies and public institutions, including the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Interior, Culture and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, will play supporting roles.

Panda Hotel releases new meeting package

By TTGmice

August 8, 2017

0

Panda Hotel in Hong Kong has unveiled its all-inclusive Meet & Stay Conference Package.

The package is priced at HK$999 (US$127) per person, and includes a one-night stay in a Deluxe Room, complimentary breakfast, and two coffee breaks. Lunch is also included, and delegates can choose from a Chinese set lunch or international lunch buffet. The package also includes complimentary Wi-Fi, and the use of state-of-the-art audio visual equipment.

Upgrades to the package can also be done. For example, providing all-day coffee and tea will cost an extra HK$39 per person, while a Western set lunch can be arranged for an extra HK$59 per person. It will also cost HK$390 per room per night to upgrade to an executive room.

This package is only applicable to group bookings with a minimum of 20 rooms and above, and valid until December 31, 2017. For bookings with more than 50 guest rooms, a host of extra privileges such as free welcome drinks or a free room upgrade for every 10 paid rooms will be offered.

Panda Hotel has over 900 guestrooms and suites, and facilities onsite include four F&B venues, an outdoor swimming pool, health club, business centre and executive lounge.

InterContinental Hong Kong to shift events, staff around during renovation closure

Dorsett Kuala Lumpur predicts growth in business events, FITs

Adelaide wins hosting rights for WIPCE 2020

Global chefs to cook up a storm in KL next year

New association launched to feed growing appetite for food tours

Malaysia wins right to host three major conferences

Rural and regional NSW get funding to woo business events

ibtm brings its Latin America and America editions under one umbrella

Korean expo in September to boost traditional medicine, local biotech industries

Panda Hotel releases new meeting package

Reviews

Mama Shelter Zurich

Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown

A versatile powerhouse