The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) has released its second ranking of the world’s most sustainable cities for business events.
The top 10 performers with the highest overall scores were all from Europe, with Gothenburg in Sweden taking the lead with a score of 92 out of a possible 100 points.
The cities with the 10 highest overall scores
The 2017 results were announced at the recent ICCA Congress, with the Overall Leadership Award going to Gothenburg, who also won the Innovation Award for her pioneering app which facilitates greater accessibility for events.
Glasgow was recognised with the Most Improved Award for her sterling achievement in engaging stakeholders through her People Make Glasgow Greener campaign and for driving sustainability performance in the last year.
(From Left) ICCA’s Nina Freysen-Pretorius; Gothenburg Convention Bureau’s Annika Hallman; Glasglow Convention Bureau’s Aileen Crawford; and ICCA’s Martin Sirk
Overall, destinations with a sustainability strategy for the business events sector increased by 25 per cent, average CVB sustainability performance rose by 11 per cent, with destinations such as Oslo (2), Aarhus (21) and Malmö (9) increasing their overall performance by more than 20 per cent.
Meanwhile, five Asia-Pacific cities made the list: Melbourne, Australia (12); Sydney, Australia (15); Sapporo, Japan (18); Kyoto, Japan (19); and Goyang, South Korea (28).
The GDS-Index is a collaborative platform that promotes the sustainable growth of international meeting destinations through knowledge sharing, capacity building, and benchmarking across four key areas: city environmental strategy and infrastructure; city social sustainability performance; industry supplier support (restaurants, hotels and convention centres); and Convention Bureau strategy and initiatives.
A new book, The Power of Conferences: stories of serendipity, innovation and driving social change, launched earlier this week, explores the long-term impacts of conferences through the stories of 10 prominent Australians who are synonymous with such breakthroughs.
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have joined forces to undertake this groundbreaking research, which demonstrates the vital role that conferences have played in some of the most significant global discoveries of the last 50 years.
The book includes stories from Nobel Laureates Barry Marshall and Brian Schmidt, as well as a host of other Australian luminaries.
For instance, professor Ian Frazer AC talks about the role conferences played in his discovery of the HPV vaccine, which is saving millions of women from HPV-related cancer – and may eradicate it within a generation.
Meanwhile for professor Martin Green, conferences played an integral part in helping him and his team ‘outpace’ NASA and COMSAT in the global race to create a solar cell with 20 per cent efficiency – and more recently go on to achieve an unequalled efficiency level of 40 per cent.
As well, professor Tom Calma and member of parliament Linda Burney describe how conferences have been instrumental in transforming educational opportunities and outcomes for indigenous children and young people in Australia.
Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO of BESydney, pointed out the stories demonstrate exactly how important conferences are.
She said: “These stories show why it’s vital to take the long view when thinking about conferences, and the impact they have. All the individuals in this book have helped to change the face of health, science and society, and each one has used conferences in some way to do that.”
The book was authored by international experts in the value of business events, associate professors Deborah Edwards and Carmel Foley, together with writer Cheryl Malone.
The Power of Conferences is available for download from the UTS ePress website here.
Louvre Abu Dhabi throws open its doors
Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has opened in the UAE capital. It is the first museum of its kind in the Arab world: a universal museum that focuses on shared human stories across civilisations and cultures.
On display will be the museum’s important collection of artworks, artefacts and loans from France’s top museums. These span the entirety of human existence: from prehistorical objects to commissioned contemporary artworks, highlighting universal themes and ideas and marking a departure from traditional museography that often separates according to origin. In addition to the galleries, the museum will include exhibitions, a Children’s Museum, a restaurant, a boutique and a café.
The inaugural special exhibition, From One Louvre to Another: opening a museum for everyone, opens on December 21, 2017, and traces the history of Musée du Louvre in Paris.
How about a meeting on a city beach in Amsterdam?
The newly renovated Strandzuid city beach venue, situated between RAI Amsterdam and the Beatrix Park, has re-opened, where the wooden pavilions have been replaced by a new and permanent building.
The new Strandzuid enhances its position as an event location that can be used as a standalone venue or supplement to the RAI Amsterdam’s facilities. The Restaurant has a capacity of 300 seats. Other facilities includes The Boat House, The Beach House, The Jetty Bar, The Beach Bar and Playground.
Copenhagen secures another wind energy congress
Copenhagen will be hosting the inaugural WindEurope Summit for both onshore and offshore wind energy in 2021, a win that comes six months after the city won the bid to host the world’s largest Offshore Wind Energy 2019 conference and exhibition.
To be held at Scandinavia’s largest congress venue, Bella Center Copenhagen, WindEurope Summit is expected to attract around 10,000 delegates from across Europe.
Denmark was the first country to install offshore wind turbines and the country continues to be a driving force in the development of cutting edge wind energy technology. With a wind industry that is globally recognised, the country provides an ideal platform for the global wind industry to come together to discuss and exchange knowledge.
Events Travel Asia has launched Journey To Asia, a boutique experience by Events Travel Asia Group, where the event and incentive agency will manage meeting and incentive bookings under 70 participants travelling to selected Asian destinations.
Journey To Asia is set to welcome its first group of customers for a three-day experience into Thailand come January 2018.
(From left) Max Boontawee Jantasuwan and Jeff Fongmool
The agency is headed by Jeff Fongmool and Max Boontawee Jantasuwan, both of whom have collaborated for more than five years under the Events Travel Asia brand, and is a direct response to current market demand for small-sized, more intimate events.
Max, founding CEO of Events Travel Asia Group, said in a media statement that Journey To Asia will leverage his and Jeff’s experience in managing boutique events.
“Jeff is known for his eye-for-detail and talent in creating memorable moments,” remarked Max.
Aside from Journey To Asia, Events Travel Asia Group comprises meeting and incentive agency Events Travel Asia, E-Transportation Co, and joint-venture Phu Bao Destination and Events. The company has handled over 65,000 participants and visitors since its founding in 2013.
Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort in Selangor, Malaysia, which has been predominantly leisure focused since its opening in 2014, is now looking to grow their business events segment through the launch of new packages.
The resort recently developed an all-inclusive residential meeting package, and is in the midst of curating wellness packages, which will include customised exercise programmes and healthy meal options.
Choa: concrete plans to grow business pie
“We are targeting to launch these in 1Q2018,” said Vivian Choa, director of sales and marketing at Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort.
Choa revealed that the property hopes to grow business events by 13 per cent next year, and will do so by strengthening partnerships with key business event planners.
Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort has 315 rooms and water villas, and more than 2,130m2 of event space which includes two pillarless ballrooms. When combined, the ballrooms can accommodate up to 1,100 people in a theatre-setting or 800 people banquet-style.
Ballroom
There are also six meeting rooms, and Choa pointed out that the resort’s business centre, relaxation lounge and villas can also be converted into breakout spaces if needed.
She said: “All of our meetings and pre-function spaces are in one area, which makes it convenient for meeting organisers to manage the flow of the event. Our secluded location is also ideal to keep meeting delegates engaged and focused with no outside distractions.”
Choa further shared that the hotel’s key focus markets are China, India, Taiwan and Singapore.
HRS will roll out its Meetago solution for small meetings in South-east Asia by the end of this year.
Beyond cost savings, corporations will gain from simplified processes and transparent reporting in this meetings expense category. Online software that standardises steps for small meeting planners has driven the growth of the service in Europe and Asia over the past two years, where companies have recorded savings of up to 17 per cent on their small meeting programmes after implementing Meetago.
HRS’ Meetago moves into the South-east Asian meeting space
In addition to online meetings RFP functionality, Meetago’s global network of support staff, offers corporate clients local expertise for managing small gatherings. Meetago works with a company’s procurement strategy, including leading online booking engines, to ensure smooth data flow and efficient connectivity.
HRS initially invested in Meetago in January 2015, expanding the reach of the small meetings solution to its clients beyond Europe and adding HRS’s extensive hotel inventory to the solution.
Meetago’s transactions from HRS clients have cumulatively doubled each quarter since then, and the solution is now used in 18 countries. All of the content from HRS’ network of 350,000 hotels, including corporate rates from 210,000+ business-grade independent properties, are available to corporate clients using Meetago.
Touted as the first new-build internationally-branded hotel Sydney has seen in more than a decade, the recently-opened Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour offers 590 guestrooms including 35 suites.
All of its maritime-inspired rooms come furnished with the Sofitel MyBed, double shower heads, soaking tubs, and boast floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Darling Harbour or the city.
Superior Suite with Harbour View
Meanwhile, suites feature extras such as an in-bathroom television, double shower heads and luxurious soaking tubs. Guests staying in Club Sofitel rooms and suites from levels 28 to 34 will have access to the Club Millesime Lounge on the rooftop.
The five-star property is located just opposite the International Convention Centre, but possesses its own event facilities as well. There are nine flexible meeting spaces, and a 450-pax Magnifique Ballroom.
Swimming pool on the fourth floor
Recreational facilities include a 20m-long infinity pool, and gym. Aside from French-inspired rotisserie and grill Atelier by Sofitel, there are three bars: The Champagne Bar, the largest Champagne bar in Sydney, offering 20 different types of champagnes; Esprit Noir lobby bar, and Le Rivage Pool Bar.
The recently-opened Skye Hotel Suites Parramatta in Australia, Crown Group’s first luxury hotel brand, has unveiled its collection of event facilities, as well as new meeting packages.
The property features 924m2 of event space, which includes three conference rooms, a boardroom, and an outdoor garden. The conference rooms can be combined into one larger room of 274m2 to accommodate more than 100 delegates, while the boardroom can hold up to eight people.
When breaking ground for the V by Crown Group development, Crown Group discovered archaeological remains integral to Parramatta’s historical and cultural past, including an 1840s house, underlying convict hut, wheelwright’s workshop and the cellar of the Wheat Sheaf Hotel. These have been preserved for public display and sheltered with a canopy, and functions as an event space that can hold up to 60 people.
To assist with planning, Skye Hotel Suites also offers a dedicated and experienced meeting planner.
Skye Hotel Suites Parramatta is offering a meeting package starting at A$70 (US$53) per person per day (minimum numbers apply). It includes conference room hire, arrival tea and coffee, morning tea, working-style lunch, afternoon tea, and equipment such as a whiteboard, and conference pads and pens.
Room Andaz Singapore’s design is the brainchild of interior architect André Fu (of The Upper House in Hong Kong), who was inspired by the vibrant alleys and shophouses in the neighbouring Kampong Glam district. There are 342 rooms and suites across four configurations, and they are all located from levels 26 to 37 of the DUO mixed-used development.
At point of writing, Andaz Singapore is only 70 per cent open, as the Large Suites and Presidential Suite were not yet ready.
Andaz Suite King; photo credit: Rachel AJ Lee
I stayed in the spacious 76m2 Andaz Suite King which had a bedroom and separate living room. The king-sized bed had the best seat in the house, as the bedroom was flooded with natural light – thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows – and opened out to panoramic views of the harbour and city skyline.
Both spaces were painted with warm russet and mustard tones, and each came with faux shophouse doors and furnished with its own 55-inch flatscreen TV. The living room was where the plush grey sofa, minibar and Nespresso coffeemaker could be found. I was delighted to know that all in-house guests could enjoy all non-alcoholic drinks and snacks in the minibar!
Meanwhile, the bathroom had double sinks, a bathtub with a view, and a rainshower. There were also two separate toilets, as well as a massive closet – which I thought was generous but unnecessary.
Previously, Olivier Lenior, the hotel’s general manager, indicated that the main segment Andaz Singapore was targeting were bleisure travellers.
If I were a business traveller, it would be an absolute joy to return to this calm and comfy space I were to call home for a few days. I loved how the blueprint of a shophouse is cleverly incorporated within the luxurious suite, where the fluid space seemed to have no dead end. My only gripe was that the complimentary Wi-Fi was spotty in certain areas of the suite.
MICE facilities Andaz Singapore’s event and meetings portfolio include The Glasshouse ballroom, Garden Studio, and two smaller meeting rooms.
The 537m2 Glasshouse boasts a 6.5m-high ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, allowing for an abundance of natural daylight. It comes with its own foyer and is the hotel’s main function venue which takes up to 320 pax banquet-style or 500 pax in a standing reception.
The second largest space is the Garden Studio, which comes with its own patio perfect for pre-dinner drinks or even a barbecue grill. This facility can take up to 120 pax banquet-style, or 220 for standing receptions.
The last two smaller meeting rooms can accommodate 40 pax each, and come with a co-sharing kitchen that can be individually booked.
Mr Stork; photo credit: Rachel AJ Lee
Event planners who wish to book rooftop bar Mr Stork must also secure a back-up location downstairs in case of bad weather. Offering a bird’s-eye view of Singapore from all angles, Mr Stork can accommodate 200 pax cocktail-style and features high tables and tepees.
It is worth noting that Andaz Singapore is so “hyper-local”, so much so that coffee and tea breaks for all meetings and events serve up renowned Swiss rolls from the nearby Rich and Good Cake Shop.
Other local companies Andaz Singapore works with are local label In Good Company for staff uniforms, Tiong Bahru Bakery for freshly-baked bread, and Neh Neh Pop for their signature chendol ice creams.
Other facilities There is an infinity pool on the 25th floor, which proffers a view of the sprawling cityscape below. It is open from 06.00 to 22.00.
Also on the 25th floor is the Sunroom, which essentially acts like a club room, providing complimentary water, tea, coffee and snacks to all in-house guests. From 16.00 to 18.00 daily, guests can also imbibe in complimentary red and white wine, or taste the Andaz Pale Ale crafted by local brewery Red Dot Microbrewery.
For gym rats, there is also a sizeable fitness centre decked out with cardio machines and free weights on the 38th floor; it is open 24 hours.
There are four F&B venues: rooftop bar Mr Stork; steakhouse 665°F (opening December); Pandan cake and sandwich shop; and all-day dining venue Alley on 25. Alley on 25 is actually a diverse collection of five dining concepts split according to their different cooking methods – Auntie’s Wok and Steam, Icehaus, Plancha’Lah!, The Green Oven – and a bar.
Service Staff members I encountered were polite and helpful, and service was impeccable. The hotel is one of my most memorable stays to date.
Some interesting facts about the Russian President’s interests and taste.
#1: Putin was greatly influenced by his paternal grandfather, Spiridon Ivanovich Putin, a skilled cook who worked for Lenin, then Stalin.
Photo: Reuters
“It required sensitive political instincts and nimble balancing… He passed what he learned to a grandson eager to hear such things” writes Katusa in The Colder War. Hence, there are undoubtedly culinary secrets about how and what one of the planet’s most powerful leaders actually eats. It is said that there are top chefs, doctors and even food tasters involved in each dish of Putin’s meals. As he travels a lot, the food he eats on the move is another story.
#2: Putin loves animals, nature and has a well-known passion for active outdoors leisure namely fishing, skiing, horse-riding and swimming.
Photo: Reuters
#3: Not to be outdone, there is undoubtedly over-the-top security involved in the accommodation of the President during overseas visits. Each time he travels, an immensely security plan is set and executed weeks before. About one month before the trip, a team of multi-functioned experts from Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) will be present to thoroughly investigate the area including the hotel Putin plans to stay. They will handle all possible risks and ensure the hotel can be considered “overseas Kremlin Palace” in term of facilities, security, hygiene and service. The chosen premises hence, certainly needs to acquire a long list of luxury standards, service and security.
#4: Recently in mid-November, Vinpearl Da Nang was chosen for Putin’s stay in Vietnam, for the APEC Summit 2017, and those foregoing facts explain.
Image: A deluxe ocean front villa with full panoramic view was chosen for HE President. Each villa has private space facing stunning tropical gardens and one of the six most attractive beaches on the planet, voted by The Forbes.Image: Spacious and refined living room
Nestled in tranquility of the palm trees’ shadow, the villa boasts an open space in harmony with nature, yet ensures absolute privacy and security for the President.
Image: Inside the villa, each room is fully equipped with modern, high standard utilities and amenities; highlighted with Vietnamese contemporary artworks.Image: Major books representing Vietnamese culture and all over the world’s are showcased on the bookshelf.
Image: A state-of-the-art conference room was the place to host important leaders’ meetings.Image: Especially, a tranquil beach line connected with the resort campus has made Vinpearl Da Nang one of the most beautiful destinations in Vietnam.Image: The infinity swimming pool under the tropical canopy is the favorite of most guests.
Vinpearl is the only Vietnamese luxury hospitality brand that was selected to accommodate world leaders and senior delegates during APEC meeting 2017. It is known as the leading Vietnamese hospitality company operating 17 hotels that adds on a total of over 11,000 rooms and 2,000 villas across Vietnam. After the success of accommodating Putin, the resort chain is expected to go through an extensive growth strategy in the upcoming year to compete with market leaders in the region.
Explore the luxury collection of Vinpearl at https://en.vinpearl.com/ and start planning your holiday to Vietnam.
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
