Situated within Galaxy Macau – one of the world’s most spectacular entertainment and leisure destinations – JW Marriott Hotel Macau is redefining the standard of meetings in Asia. The dazzling array of state-of-the-art meeting facilities in these hotels allow you to unleash endless possibilities at your next event, be it an imaginative team-building adventure or a stylish high-profile launch – our hotel let you dictate a bespoke experience where the only limit is your imagination.
With 1,015 luxurious rooms and suites exquisitely styled and furnished, as well as 2,700 sq. m. of flexible meeting space, JW Marriott Hotel Macau is Asia’s largest JW Marriott and the brand’s flagship property in Macau. The ballroom on the ground floor boasts 1,920 sq. m., which can accommodate up to 1,600 guests; while six meeting rooms on the 2nd floor provide intimate spaces for personalized meetings or breakout sessions.
JW Marriott Hotel Macau’s ballrooms are equipped with the latest high-tech facilities to ensure that your conference or social gathering is a success. With our audio and visual equipment, operators can coordinate a flawless event without the hassle. For example, at the JW Marriott Hotel Macau’s Grand Ballroom lighting, colors and other stage effects can be controlled effortlessly and seamlessly with just a click on an iPad.
A medium-scale company planned to organize a team-building activity at the Grand Resort Deck. Due to unexpected bad weather on the day, our MICE team quickly organized an indoor treasure hunt team-building activity in the hotel to accommodate the sudden change.
A corporate training session was hosted in the JW Marriott Hotel Macau’s Grand Ballroom by an international top tier technology brand. To ensure their displayed products were well cared for when the clients were away from the exhibition, our teams carefully locked away the products and stationed our hotel staff to ensure no one could enter the venue during the break time.
One of the world’s most valuable luxury brands organized a meeting at the JW Marriott Hotel Macau’s Ballroom for 200 internal staff. In order to perfectly pair the event with their luxurious brand image, our MICE team carved all the guests’ names on a rectangular-shape cake, with our gourmet expertise.
Although fireworks are generally not allowed in Macau, our MICE team struck out to meet the exceptional needs of our clients and successfully received a fireworks permit from the Macau government.
We specialize in business events of all sizes, with adaptable venues and state-of-the-art facilities. Delicious catering, from coffee breaks to elaborate sit-down meals can be offered to your meeting guests. Start planning your meeting or event with us by contacting our MICE team at (853) 8886 6888 or mhrs.mfmjw.sales@marriott.com
Situated within Galaxy Macau – one of the world’s most spectacular entertainment and leisure destinations – JW Marriott Hotel Macau is redefining the standard of meetings in Asia. The dazzling array of state-of-the-art meeting facilities in these hotels allow you to unleash endless possibilities at your next event, be it an imaginative team-building adventure or a stylish high-profile launch – our hotel let you dictate a bespoke experience where the only limit is your imagination.
With 1,015 luxurious rooms and suites exquisitely styled and furnished, as well as 2,700 sq. m. of flexible meeting space, JW Marriott Hotel Macau is Asia’s largest JW Marriott and the brand’s flagship property in Macau. The ballroom on the ground floor boasts 1,920 sq. m., which can accommodate up to 1,600 guests; while six meeting rooms on the 2nd floor provide intimate spaces for personalized meetings or breakout sessions.
JW Marriott Hotel Macau’s ballrooms are equipped with the latest high-tech facilities to ensure that your conference or social gathering is a success. With our audio and visual equipment, operators can coordinate a flawless event without the hassle. For example, at the JW Marriott Hotel Macau’s Grand Ballroom lighting, colors and other stage effects can be controlled effortlessly and seamlessly with just a click on an iPad.
A medium-scale company planned to organize a team-building activity at the Grand Resort Deck. Due to unexpected bad weather on the day, our MICE team quickly organized an indoor treasure hunt team-building activity in the hotel to accommodate the sudden change.
A corporate training session was hosted in the JW Marriott Hotel Macau’s Grand Ballroom by an international top tier technology brand. To ensure their displayed products were well cared for when the clients were away from the exhibition, our teams carefully locked away the products and stationed our hotel staff to ensure no one could enter the venue during the break time.
One of the world’s most valuable luxury brands organized a meeting at the JW Marriott Hotel Macau’s Ballroom for 200 internal staff. In order to perfectly pair the event with their luxurious brand image, our MICE team carved all the guests’ names on a rectangular-shape cake, with our gourmet expertise.
Although fireworks are generally not allowed in Macau, our MICE team struck out to meet the exceptional needs of our clients and successfully received a fireworks permit from the Macau government.
We specialize in business events of all sizes, with adaptable venues and state-of-the-art facilities. Delicious catering, from coffee breaks to elaborate sit-down meals can be offered to your meeting guests. Start planning your meeting or event with us by contacting our MICE team at (853) 8886 6888 or mhrs.mfmjw.sales@marriott.com
Simon Manning has been promoted to senior vice president, chief sales and marketing officer of Langham Hospitality Group, from his previous position as vice president, sales and marketing.
Muhammad Alan Yuslan is now general manager of Cachet Resort Dewa Phuket. He possesses more than 16 years of international hospitality management experience.
Raffles Hotel Singapore has appointed Christian Westbeld as its general manager. Westbeld brings with him nearly 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry spanning Germany, Bangkok, Manila, Dubai, Singapore, Beijing and more.
Andrew Donadel is now general manager of Pan Pacific Orchard. He began his career with the company as the general manager of Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road, Singapore and Parkroyal Serviced Suites, Singapore. He was most recently with Parkroyal Saigon.
You are TCEB’s new president but you aren’t new at all to the organisation. How will this make you a special leader?
I’ve been in this industry for a long time. I started with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and was among the pioneer team at TCEB (he started in 2004 as senior manager, meeting & incentive department, and rose through the ranks).
Most of the past presidents were people from outside of the industry. I don’t mean that they weren’t right for us. I’ve learnt much from them but I also had the chance to see where the problems were for us, the challenges they faced then.
I eventually chose to run for presidency because I’ve fallen too much in love with Thailand’s business events industry, and I have ideas to strengthen it.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya
What are your ideas?
Before I answer that, let me show you some numbers.
Over the last decade, Thailand has made approximately 150 billion baht (US$4.5 billion) in revenue from the business events industry, both domestic and international. The business events industry created 164,000 jobs and brought the government around 10.5 billion baht in taxes.
Tourism and business events grow at different pace. Business events growth follows the country’s investments and trade. It boosts tourism performance, but the two are not the same.
The problem for us is that many people still see business events and tourism as one and the same. I’ve been trying to explain their difference to both the government and the private sector. Even the UNWTO defines business events as a component of tourism, which (deepens) the misunderstanding.
The top-level people in the government needs to understand the definition of business events in order to give it the right attention and support for development.
Are you making progress?
Well, we have succeeded in seating TCEB right under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) which bodes well for business events related policies. Our deputy prime minister is a strong advocate. He spoke up for us in parliament last month (July), insisting that TCEB must sit under the PMO.
So what’s next for you?
Many, but the top two things on my agenda are the creation of a stronger marketing division and greater support for destination development and domestic trade.
For the first, I’m pushing for budget in FY2018 to create and support a division that brings together under one roof digital and traditional marketing roles that are currently in different departments in TCEB. This will allow a more coordinated approach to TCEB’s marketing efforts.
This division will also be supported by researchers and innovators. For example, I hope to develop an internal application that allows our staff to easily identify suitable event venues in the country. I also hope to invest in technology that allows us to more accurately measure our performance at trade events.
Still on the topic of marketing, TCEB will adopt a very targeted approach. You will see us engaging targeted groups through events, such as what we have done with PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) for the 2017 PCMA Global Professionals Conference (August 28-31, where select chief executives of international trade associations were in attendance). We’ve stopped participation in general trade shows like AIME. We will be more selective in where we go.
For the second, TCEB will appoint area managers in emerging Thai destinations like Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai to develop (small trade shows) that will grow the destination for business events as well as advance local businesses. These managers will not just be an events expert; they must have the mind of an economist, to be able to see how jobs could be created for the locals.
Why the focus on domestic shows?
While TCEB’s main responsibility is to bring in international business events and delegates, we must never forget the importance of inclusive growth. We need to also help develop domestic enterprises, so we can all share in the benefits.
Can you give me an example of how TCEB will do this?
The Lanna Expo (an annual trade show that focuses on products and services originating from the Northern Thai provinces) has been ongoing for seven years and is an excellent example of what TCEB intends to do.
In the first four years of the show, exhibitors displayed home-made sausages next to coffee beans and home-spun cloth. The fifth year TCEB stepped in and we helped them hire an organiser who guided the show towards a better structure, such that there was a component each for food, clothing and spa, among others. The structure then was still B2C.
The sixth year we started to host members of the different Thai chambers of commerce as well as traders from Myanmar and Laos. This led to a start in B2B focus.
This year, we are pouring four million baht into research to boost the show’s B2B focus.
Isn’t that the job of a national or city-level economic development board?
For the Lanna Expo, TCEB works closely with Chiang Mai’s Ministry of Commerce. We have to take the lead because the ministry isn’t able to bring the show’s focus beyond the domestic market, to acquire the foreign buyer presence, and to push domestic trade shows and the local trade they support into the international marketplace.
We are only there to help, not to step on anyone’s toes. We want Lanna Expo to become an independent international trade show.
The private sector must first have the will to head in this direction and the local chamber of commerce must want to go global. TCEB can only play a supporting role.
TCEB has just started a trade show in Chiang Mai that focuses on coffee and bakery, and our wish is for it to thrive and expand, and eventually gain independence. TCEB can then let go and allow it to further grow on its own, or through an international show organiser should one buys it over.
What sort of industries will TCEB be keen on?
TCEB isn’t just interested in supporting OTOP (One Tambon One Product, a local entrepreneurship sustainability programme) type of initiatives. We would like to also grow a local ceramic trade show, a silk trade show, an automation trade show or any trade show for industries aligned with the Thailand 4.0 policy (an economic model launched in 2016 to develop Thailand into a value-based, smart economy).
And that is why we need an area manager who can look at his region and project where the economic growth potential is for the local people and local businesses.
Does Thailand have sufficient professional trade show players of international standards to allow your vision to come true?
No, not beyond Bangkok. But beyond Bangkok, local players are working very hard to scale up their service standards and expertise in event management. They still need a lot of support from TCEB.
Khun Nichapa (Yoswee, director, MICE capabilities, TCEB) has made good progress, but we still need to do more.
Do you mean conducting more training and accreditation workshops?
Not just that, TCEB needs to give local PCOs a chance. We will try our best not to use PCOs from Bangkok when we have an event in, say, Chiang Mai.
It is easier for TCEB to take the lead in this approach than to convince international planners to engage a local PCO they’ve not heard of. TCEB will be the one to help build the expertise of local PCOs.
There are increasingly more city-level PCOs, which is good. Also, we need to trust that they can do a good job and leave them to think on their own.
The president’s four directions:
Growing in parallel with the development of the country, which focuses on keeping the current market and finding new markets by placing MICE in parallel with the development of the country’s economy, pulling the MICE industry into other target industries, such as those covered by Thailand 4.0, as well as into special economic areas.
Growing in a high potential market, focusing on the regions that have high growth and strong connection with the development of Thailand’s economy, such as ASEAN, Greater Mekong Subregion, East Asia/South Asia and Australia/New Zealand.
Growing with equality, by increasing the opportunities for the MICE industry growth in provinces that have potential, such as Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Pattaya/Chonburi and Songkhla.
Growing strongly, which involves the development of the internal system to meet the needs of the market, developing the organisation and regulations to better support the industry in the future.”
You started your career in hospitality as a café waitress at Hyatt Regency Osaka, rising far up today as director of operations. What made you stick with this industry for so long? It was my passion to connect with people and from a young age, I always knew my calling was to be working outside of Japan and travelling the world. I always enjoy interacting with people from all walks of life as I find that a hospitality career experience offers exactly that. I think there aren’t many jobs in the world that would allow me the opportunity to hear incredible personal stories and be part of their memories from all over the world!
Chikako Shimizu
You’ve held a variety of roles. How do you think this has helped you in advancing your career in the hospitality industry?
Hyatt is not only a great place to work, it is also a great place to grow, in terms of career advancement. For every role that I have taken on, the training sessions are often carefully curated to ensure that I am equipped with the right knowledge, skills and attitude in order to deliver my best and move on to greater roles as I progress. Hyatt has crafted a career with and for me that’s based on my interests and strengths. Plus, my superiors have always been (and still are) very encouraging and supportive towards me in my journey – they are like my extended family; distant relatives.
Security is among your responsibilities as director of operations. Is this a responsibility new to you?
The security aspect is indeed new to me and fortunately for me here at Andaz Singapore, I have a stellar team of experienced individuals and I rely on them to perform the jobs they are great at. We have a security manager who has more than 40 years of experience, and he has been an integral part in our pre-opening phase and I am learning so much from him.
Rising from the heart of Taipei’s glitzy Xinyi Shopping District, W Taipei exudes the city’s upbeat and friendly spirit. It sits above the Taipei City Hall Station and is a 10-minute walk to Taipei 101.
Rooms The 405-key hotel is brimming with playful design, from the audio and visual spectacle within its lifts to fun furnishings within its guestrooms.
Entrance of W Taipei
I stayed in the 43m2-large Wonderful Room, which features floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows that afforded me sweeping views of the city and its mountainous horizon.
“Surprise Me”, quips the text on a cupboard door that opens into a mini-bar – which comes with a “mixologist laboratory” for adventurous alcoholic creations – and a tri-fold full-length mirror greets you as you’re done preening in the bathroom.
A magazine rack comes fully stocked with glossies covering travel, fashion and automobile news. For its prime city location, the room is extremely spacious.
Meeting facilities Poised to receive meeting, incentive and familiarisation groups alike, the hotel has 10 meeting spaces spread across levels eight, nine and 11.
The largest venue is the Mega Room on level eight. Measuring 1,039m2, it can seat 950 people in a theatre-setting or 804 guests for banquets. There is also a VIP room on the same floor for a 10-pax reception.
For meeting planners, W Taipei offers two packages: Meetings Couture and the Go Green – Sustainable Meeting Package.
Meetings Couture allows organisers to customise their meeting plans, down to F&B courses and AV equipment.
The Go Green – Sustainable Meeting Package lets environmentally conscious planners design an event with offerings such as energy-efficient digital signage, tailor-made menus using locally sourced produce and exclusive MRT cards for delegates to explore the city with.
Event planners may want to sign their delegates up for the 2017 Wired Plus promotion, which includes complimentary Wi-Fi within the hotel, buffet breakfast, discounted spa services and an in-room white noise machine for restful sleep.
Other facilities Complimentary Internet access is provided throughout the hotel, and complimentary high-speed Internet is extended to Starwood Preferred Guests.
Corporates will appreciate the WIRED Business Centre. Open from 07.00 to 22.00 daily, the centre provides computer stations, high-speed Internet access, printers, copiers, scanners, fax machines, translation services and complimentary printing of boarding passes.
Event planners can take advantage of the hotel’s convenient Whatever/Whenever concierge service, to fulfill almost any demand – be it booking cooking lessons or seats to a concert – at a moment’s notice.
For workout junkies, W Taipei has a 24-hour Fit Gym with steam and sauna, as well as a 25m-long outdoor heated pool.
The staff live up to the brand’s amicable and approachable spirit, and always receive queries and requests with a smile. The SPG Pro counter staff let me circumvent the check-in queue, and I was granted late check-out at a moment’s notice.
Room count 405 Star rating Five Contact www.wtaipei.com
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