Swiftly extinguishing concerns event planners have about reduced perks following Marriott International’s acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, the former has debuted a joint meeting offer in Asia-Pacific that applies across its three loyalty programmes: Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG).
Peggy Fang Roe, chief sales & marketing officer, Asia Pacific, Marriott International, said: “We want to invite our members to celebrate with us as we unlock a world of destinations and opportunities with our new combined portfolio… With this offer, we bring more options and consistent benefits to all members across three loyalty programmes.”
Members can now choose from over 500 hotels across 19 brands and 20 countries in Asia-Pacific,she added.
From November 7 to December 31, 2016, members who book a meeting or event at a property in Asia-Pacific for use by December 31, 2017 can receive benefits including five per cent off master-billed rooms, double loyalty points on eligible revenue and a complimentary hour-long reception.
They can earn loyalty points in the currency of the loyalty programmes that the hotel is part of, and have the points transferred to another programme they desire a redemption from.
Customers can link accounts and receive Elite Status Match and reciprocal benefits, points transfers and access to money-can’t-buy events and experience.
While this is a limited-time offer, it sure heralds more attractive arrangements for meeting planners to come.
Corporate end-users dream up an event they would do should there be no budget limitations or space restrictions
Culzean castle, Ayrshire, Scotland
“I would love to do an event in a castle in Europe. I want a unconventional and personalised event tailored specifically to the needs of my group that can really engage my participants. If agents can cater to leisure travellers this way, so can event planners for corporates. – Daisy Widiari, regional travel buyer Asia Pacific, Dupont Agricultural Products Indonesia
Vacationers enjoying the sun on Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach
“An event in Finland feels like a dream for us. We will be able to carry out product launches and events in exotic and creative settings such as in a life-size snow globe and even get Santa Claus to be our special guest. – Amor Gilos, manager of global procurement, Convergys
Santa Claus office in The Santa Park, Finland
“I always wonder what we can do better to please these souls who work their guts out for the company and rejoice in everything it achieves.
If I had a magic wand in hand, I would have our hardworking and fun-loving folks be rewarded with overseas incentive trips instead of domestic ones.
I would love for Australia to be the next destination. (Attractions), airlines and events teams would entertain them and ensure they have the best. – Geetha Arekal, regional travel head, APAC, Unilever Industries
Australia
“The Swiss Alps provides such a memorable and scenic background for any event. We can execute luxurious gala dinners and events, and pamper our staff to make them feel like VIPs. – Shekhar Gupta, regional manager, indirect procurement, NXP Semiconductors
THE ART OF HAVING FUN
Our panelists in this editorial roundtable sweep away the misconception that business events are staid and boring, and offer examples of what can be done to bring business and fun together effectively. By Karen Yue
TTGShould business events be fun?
DC Having fun is a critical component of all the programmes we deliver. We define fun as a build-up of emotional and intellectual engagements that allow people to let their guard down, allow humour through the chinks of their corporate armour, and ultimately allow genuine relationships and trust to be formed.
In fact, beyond the intellectual input of every successful event, what people remember most are the emotions engendered during that event.
MB Absolutely! By creating a dynamic atmosphere, you can automatically encourage creativity, collaboration and engagement. Bringing a sense of fun to an event is, I think, the perfect way to foster better networking, new ideas and great memories.
ADYes. Mood, ambience and the ‘fun factor’ play important roles in setting the right tone, so that the event and its core messages become memorable.
MO It has to! With the world evolving so rapidly, the way business events are (executed) three, five, 10 years ago is obsolete. More events are starting to get innovative in their approach. Clients have come to realise that one of the key ways to drive idea generation is by approaching the same core business in a different manner.
TTGHow can serious business content and fun co-exist?
DC Serious messages can be worked into fun activities. For instance, popping balloons with negative messages written on them help remind people that the power to dispel that negativity or overcome that challenge lies literally at their fingertips.
MB The key is to make sure the topic of discussion and/or event objective is firmly at the heart of all activities.
A great example of this is at AIPC’s 2014 International Conference of Convention Centres in Berlin, attended by the general managers and CEOs of over 180 convention centres globally.
After learning about the latest trends in convention centre designs, the speakers (a group of architects) encouraged us to put what we had learnt into practice, and took us through an activity which saw a wide mix of attendees grouped together to design their own convention centres.
It was a highly entertaining activity that helped cement key objectives and trends in our minds as we tried to incorporate them into our designs.
DTWe’ve had very effective business events in partnership with SmallWorld, a Macau-based DMC which introduced us to Corporate Drumming from Human Rhythms. Corporate Drumming is fun and energising, and the perfect ice-breaker to open a conference with. Adding fun to a business event, particularly at the start, can get delegates to loosen up…and set the tone for the event.
ADThe line drawn between business and play must be clear. To create fun in an event, you usually plan a teambuilding and a closing function or gala dinner with an after-party. These events are separate from the core meetings.
TTGWhat factors are driving this need for content at business events to be delivered in a more creative and fun manner?
MB The expectations of delegates are high and technology advancements mean clients are continually looking to improve their events and make an impact. Growing competition between meetings for attendees, changes in client demographics, availability of resources to create fresh and stimulating events, and new methodologies are all creating an environment of change and innovative thinking.
ADThere is a greater demand for a more creative and fun event delivery even at traditionally solemn events. Most large conferences conduct surveys that rate a participant’s experience. Imagine running a high profile meeting or an influential incentive programme that garners only a mediocre rating. This may impact the company’s image negatively. No prominent company can afford this in our highly competitive world.
MO The mix of different generations of participants in a single meeting means mindset, expectations and experience (preferences) are all different. There is a need to adjust and engage every attendee in unique and creative ways.
TTG How do you think this growing demand for fun and creative events will impact event players?
MB It’s a great opportunity to increase diversification and collaboration between event agencies, planners and suppliers. By working more closely together with a shared goal, we can ensure we, as a host destination, provide a more efficient service for the client. This in turn will help foster loyalty and ongoing business from planners.
DTThe more creative we are, the more business we will drive to our venues. The demand also encourages us to think differently and push our boundaries. It ensures we stay relevant in the marketplace and keep up with the trends.
ADThe core services of a hotel will remain, but more services will be outsourced due to specific client requests. This means more coordination is required as more stakeholders are involved. However, working with many providers presents a variety of options for our clients (and that in turn creates) visual references for future, potential clients.
MO Event agencies and hotels must stay ahead of trends and realign their mindset with savvy clients.
TTGAnd how are you responding to this growing demand?
DC Aonia’s success in meeting client needs is derived from not having pre-conceived notions in solutioning, understanding the profile of our clients in customising the most suitable programmes, and then working with specialists worldwide to fulfil the activities and fantasies that ultimately lead to fun.
MB The unique integrated precinct and our service model at ICC Sydney means we can cater for all kinds of events, utilising world leading technical and production facilities that are all underpinned by a powerful 10Gbps optical fibre backbone.
The exceptional flexibility of the venue and its spaces also allow us to develop bespoke solutions, both big and small. From the set-up and branding to F&B, we can deliver a fully customised and immersive experience.
Alongside this, ICC Sydney has a great pool of original and inventive minds from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to collaboratively draw on different experiences…to enhance our clients’ experience. Our customer-focused team then brings these creative ideas to clients, working shoulder to shoulder with them every step of the way to ensure we cater to their specific needs.
DTSheraton Grand Macao Hotel and The St. Regis Macao are constantly exploring new opportunities to design experiences that stand out. Macao may be small, but it is diverse. The heritage sites on the Macau peninsula set the perfect stage for events and for an entirely different experience.
One of our corporate groups recently split into teams and competed in an outdoor adventure quiz. After that, they enjoyed a Portuguese dinner by the beach.
On-site, we feel that technology plays a big part and we are constantly exploring ways to utilise our digital channels as well as mobile and wireless solutions to provide a differentiated experience for our guests.
ADWe are developing a variety of options for teambuilding programmes that can be conducted indoors and out. We are also expanding our database of special service providers (for events).
MO We have incorporated (W Singapore’s) passion points – Fashion, Music, Design and Fuel (healthy living) – into events held here. For example, a meeting can start with a morning Strala Yoga class and end with a cocktail session at Woobar. We can arrange for a two-hour yacht cruise out to the Southern Islands, coupled with curated cocktails and canapés, for more intimate groups. It helps that we are the only hotel that offers a marina view and groups can brainstorm under a cosy ‘thinking tree’ (a tree-like table structure in Studio 1 and 2).
TTGDoes hosting a creative, fun and effective business event always mean a pricey undertaking?
DC The wow factor can sometimes come with a price tag. However, there are certainly affordable means.
MB What’s enjoyable is not necessarily expensive. It’s about finding a solution given budget parameters. At ICC Sydney we appreciate that each client has different requirements, and we work hard to deliver creative options within all budgets.
DTNo. One case in point is the Guinness World Records attempt by Nuskin in 2013 in the Kashgar Ballroom at Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel. The group broke the world record at that time for having 5,000 people sit on a single chair.
ADBudgets are definitely important but we can unleash our creativity to maximise our resources.
MO At times, creative events require set-up and equipment that are not common and these may need additional sourcing and procurement, driving up costs. Having said that, the team at W Singapore is adaptable and can adjust costs according to clients’ needs.
TTGWhat is your one top tip on bringing the right level of creativity and fun into a business event?
MB Establish ‘Clarity of Vision’ for every event by knowing what needs to be achieved from both the client side and the venue, and work collaboratively to create a different world – or at least, a concept that brings people together in an inspiring destination and helps them step away from their everyday environment. This is key to sparking that creativity and engagement factor that all business event planners are looking for.
DTKnow your audience and tailor fun to the right age, gender and business topic. There are many ways to add a bright spark to meetings without losing sight of business objectives. You just have to keep an open mind and think out of the box!
ADVisualise the experience from a guest’s perspective from arrival to departure. If it looks and feels great, we are definitely on the right track.
MO Think from outside of the box instead of out of the box.
CREATIVELY CHALLENGED
Event organisers reveal the most creative business event idea they had this year and how they were executed to leave a lasting impression
Francis Chong Managing director, Apxara Travel & Events, Malaysia
Francis Chong
The main attraction was a custom-built children’s treehouse that we constructed using reclaimed wood. Children were allowed to play in the treehouse during the day. When night fell, it was transformed into a canvas for projection mapping that relayed a story on Mother Earth.When EcoWorld Development asked us to pitch for their World Environmental Day event as part of their marketing efforts, we jumped at the opportunity. We developed an event concept that combined visual elements using light, projection and art. To elevate the message of Mother Earth’s call for action, we made sure we practiced what we preached by adopting elements of reusing and recycling in everything that we built.
Other interactive activities during the event included an upcycled playground and an electric playground that used human energy to generate power and light.Students from the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology Cyberjaya and The One Academy Penang also participated by designing art pieces for an art exhibition that celebrated upcycling.
Love-Mother-Earth workshops were a part of the educational efforts as well and participants took home a gift to remind them of their role in conserving the environment.
The event was run across eight locations in three states simultaneously over two weekends. This made it the largest-scale projection mapping operation in Malaysia thus far.
Jarrod Stenhouse
Managing director,
Destination Asia, Japan
Spectacular robot performances brought to live in Hilton Tokyo
An Australian financial company wanted an event that was different but still uniquely Japanese for around 400 people. We suggested the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. However, it had a capacity of just 172.
Hence, we arranged the Robot Restaurant’s first-ever off-site robot event at the Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku in June, with five-metre tall robots dancing and performing, with lights, music and everything else that made the show so spectacular.
The challenge was to recreate the original in a completely different venue which we did, and the client absolutely loved it. We have been proposing it to larger groups ever since that first event, although cost can be a factor.
Angel Ramos Bognot President and ultra business event creator, Afro-Asian World Events, Philippines
Angel Ramos Bognot
The Tourism Business Exchange Pilipinas 2016 held in Clark in November used decor, food, programmes and activities for that feel-good experience, positive vibes, might, power and strength to attract good business.
The stage was designed like a runway, patterned after the Congress of America so that motivational speakers could better interact with the audience.
An afternoon tea entertainment included Pokemon catching people instead of the usual phone user trying to catch Pokemon.
Afterwards, the gala dinner, themed Blue Angels, featured all things blue. Every participant was given a pair of blue wings to wear; the live band sang angel-themed songs; and there was even a Victoria Secret-esque fashion show where male and female models strutted down the runway with wire wings on their backs.
Peter King Chief executive, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
In June, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre hosted the Hair Expo Australia 2016 for 5,000 delegates, with the challenge to create a closing reception and gala dinner that was both decadent and opulent – a luxurious theme for a luxurious industry.
The Great Gatsby theme was chosen and the F&B offering was the centrepiece that came complete with ice sculptures and carvings, champagne towers and an edible dessert forest. The menu alone took three months of development and over 60 hours of preparation.
Lawrence Chan General manager, Red Antz Event, Malaysia
As part of an incentive initiative to appreciate and reward team members and trade partners, multinational chemicals manufacturing corporation BASF held a red carpet event in January 2016 at the JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur.
Themed Ring of Glory to signify pride, triumph and victory, the main highlight of the event was a raised boxing ring, positioned at the very tip of the stage runway.
Actual boxing matches took place while 600 guests partook in an eight-course banquet.
Fringe activities included street mentalists performing tricks and illusions, and there were photo opportunities with walkabout boxers.
Marisa Nallana President, Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp
The month-long nationwide gastronomic festival Flavors of the Philippines, organised in April by the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, challenged our creativity due to its length, breadth, and components such as the Madrid Fusion Manila, food-related cultural activities, gourmet markets and bazaars, roving food trucks, and bar crawls.
These components, in terms of visual appeal, themes and diversity of Philippines’ flavours took pains to uncover traditional and modern cooking techniques, common and unusual food ingredients and the variety of regional gustatory experiences in the country.
For the second year of Madrid Fusion Manila, we invited chefs from around the world and its component, International Gastronomy Congress, was creative in tackling the history of Filipino food, including the impact of the Galleon trade and the influence of the West.
James Kent Sales and marketing manager, The J Team DMC, Japan
Robot football match for a tech event
We had an MNC client in the technology sector who asking for something that was very Japanese, very different and a little techy for an event. (To fulfil that) we arranged a competition in which the group was divided into two teams and tasked with putting a robot together.
We upped the challenge by getting the teams to take part in a football match to see who could score the most penalty goals against their rival’s robot.
We arranged for the half-day event to take place in Tokyo’s Akihabara district – famous for technology and gadget shops – but it was tricky to find the right space to hold the event.
The other issue was that it was expensive as these robot kits are very advanced and expensive. For that reason, we won’t be able to do something like this very often, but the client said it was just what they had hoped for.
Rob Nelson General manager,
Brisbane Convention Bureau
Colour was the theme for Brisbane Convention Bureau’s business events showcase this year, Brisbane Pop-Up, to inspire planners to “add some colour to their events”.
Executed by the bureau and The Styled Group, colour infiltrated each event element including a kaleidoscope that was projected onto the dome of Brisbane City Hall by Staging Connections and the major prize drawn by air cannons. Suppliers stands featured their own interpretation of the theme, with Stamford Plaza Hotel Brisbane winning Best Hotel Stand for its two staff members dressed in colourful inflatable suits.
Olinto Oliveira Director, business development & events, MCI Macau
The most creative event we did in 2016 was an event for Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central, themed Macau Fiesta. It was a casual dinner but the food booths were elaborate recreations of famous Macau icons. We had wine barrel cocktail tables and Portuguese weather rooster table centrepieces which added to the ambience.
Macau landmarks recreated as food booths at MCI Macau’s Macau Fiesta event
Andrew Koh Managing director, Events Architects, Singapore
We executed a Dining by Design – Expect the Unexpected themed party for the launch of a new corporate identity & 2.0 roadmap for Lavish, a dining and catering company based in Singapore. Guests were welcomed with a “pop” of the Singapore Sling. Instead of it being served in a tall glass, it was presented as a sphere with mint granite. Guests were also treated to a sensory overload as the sphere expelled vapour like a dragon through their nostrils once they consumed the mythical pearl, taking them beyond the typical catering experience of chaffing trays, canapé and food stations.
Linda Low Manager of strategic partnership and product marketing, Pacific World Singapore
Our most creative project recently was for the Unilever Investor Relations Conference, during which we had to create four concepts for a few product categories – Refreshment, Food, Haircare and Homecare. The concepts had to offer an immersive experience. For the Food category, we created a lively farmer’s market stocked high with fresh produce and had park benches with yellow cushions placed all around to add to the sustainable-themed atmosphere.
TOURISM CHIEFS RING IN THE NEW YEAR
For these chiefs, tis’ the season to be with loved ones, discover new destinations, retreat into solitary comforts or relish the joy of giving
OUR FAVOURITE TRADE EVENT OF 2016
Team TTG looks back on a fulfiling year and pick out their favourite trade event
The head of Sibos – an annual conference, exhibition and networking event organised by SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) – tells Caroline Boey how the event has evolved and how a host city is picked
How has Sibos evolved into the event it is today and what are the key objectives?
The key objectives of Sibos have not changed since it started in 1978. It is still about bringing the SWIFT community together to connect, debate and collaborate; independent of the region Sibos is held in.
What has drastically changed is the nature of the debates and the number of participants. In 1978, the key topic was the implementation of messaging standards, whereas in 2016, cyber security and distributed ledger technology were the topics of the week when the event was held in Geneva from September 26-29. As for the number of delegates, it has swelled from 300 to well over 8,000.
How is the next region and city decided, and what are the key considerations and must-haves to be on the shortlist?
Sibos applies a three-year rotation cycle, moving from EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) to the Americas to Asia-Pacific. This cycle rotation has been in place for a long time and is unlikely to change in the future.
The executive committee of SWIFT decides on the city selection based on 10 criteria such as strategic fit, availability, connectivity, local transportation, security, etc. One criteria that is becoming increasingly important is the green factor – how green are both the city and the venue under consideration. A must-have for any city is the ability to offer an overall experience. Just having a nice conference and exhibition centre is no longer sufficient. It is about creating a “Sibos-buzz” throughout the city during the event.
In the Asia-Pacific, Hong Kong (1991, 2009), Sydney (1997, 2006, 2018), Singapore (2003, 2015), and Osaka (2012) have been chosen. What must other cities in the region do to get onto Sibos’ radar?
We tend to go back to cities where we have held successful Sibos events previously – especially for the Americas and Asia-Pacific – which explains the “repeats”.
However, we are open to having an initial discussion with any city in the regions which can meet all our criteria. We are currently signed up until 2023, so the next open slot for an Asia-Pacific Sibos is 2024.
Share some examples of wow moments cities delivered when they hosted Sibos.
We have been very fortunate to have had wow moments at every Sibos – although sometimes it was completely out of our control. Looking at special dates, we were in Berlin in 1989 (the fall of the Berlin Wall), in Singapore in 2015 (its 50th birthday) and it will be in Toronto in 2017 (Canada’s 150th birthday). On a different note, we were in Vienna in 2008 when the fall of Lehman Brothers was announced on the first day of Sibos!
What kind of government and private sector partnership support is Sibos looking for to tip a city in its favour?
We are looking for partnerships which allow us to enhance the event or make the delegate experience even more unique.
For instance, some cities will provide us access to top speakers, while others will open up venues which otherwise remain sealed to the public, or focus on making sure that delegates can discover the city in an efficient way by offering free public transport. It isn’t a single thing we are looking for; it has to be a mix. At the end of the day it needs to be a win-win situation for both parties.
How will you make the next Sibos another wow event? What’s in store at the 2018 event in Sydney?
Well, it is actually Sydney that has something in store. Sibos 2018 will take place in a brand new conference and exhibition centre, which also triggered a complete revamp of the Darling Harbour area. So for those who attended Sibos in 2006, they can expect to discover a completely different city.
Event brief Into its 11th year, the Asian MICE Forum (AMF) is an annual event where speakers from the world’s major MICE organisations, such as ICCA, UFI and SITE, share their thoughts and experiences.
Themed The New Era of Experiencing and Sharing, this year’s event saw a discussion of new trends beyond the scope of incentive travel and events, and touched on creative issues and CSR stories in the meetings and conventions sector.
Moreover, as Taiwan’s first event to have gained ISO 20121 certification – involving the implementation of a management system standard and green, sustainable MICE practices – the Forum served to encourage the country’s MICE industry to adopt the standard and stay abreast of the global green conference trend.
Challenges The key challenge for an 11-year-old forum is to keep the content and programme new and fresh to satisfy the experienced audience and to engage the younger delegates now involved in the MICE industry.
Moreover, where in the past, invited speakers were only from the Asian region, speakers are now invited from all over the world.
A further challenge hence is for organisers to switch to a more global perspective.
Solutions To make the AMF more dynamic and attractive, boundaries of the MICE industry needed to be extended so the most innovative and inspiring speakers could be involved. The organisers believe that the acronym “MICE” is not limited to the scope of meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions – it also stands for an industry of creativity and knowledge sharing.
To keep abreast of the latest trends, the organisers arranged for attendance at IMEX, IBTM, SITE, ICCA, and UFI events.
The latest information and most relevant topics were collected, particularly, in relation to new technology tools commonly used by the young generation of today. AMF’s event design, theme, and speakers list were reimaged and interactive technologies like online voting and augmented reality were integrated to enhance audience experience.
Key takeaways The forum stayed fresh and offered a platform for participants to learn new things about the industry. Hot issues and interesting elements in the programme also helped generate more innovative ideas, putting conviction behind the saying that new thinking brings new possibilities.
Event: Asian MICE Forum 2016 Organiser: Commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and implemented by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) Venue: Taipei International Convention Center Date: September 7 and 8, 2016 Number of participants: 600 pax
Event brief Established in 2005, Kyäni is a health and wellness network marketing company. This event – its very first held in Hong Kong – brought together over 1,000 partners from across Greater China.
As Kyäni did not have experience organising conferences of this scope and size, Concept Communications (Conceptcoms) was roped in to help on areas from creative concept development to all logistics and production details.
Challenges Based on the conference theme Live Your Dream, Conceptcoms was challenged to create a key conference visual and produce the entire event including performance, programme rundown, audio visual, lighting and other logistics work – all within a six-week time span.
Also included in this schedule was time needed for Kyäni’s headquarter in the US to approve the visual and ensure it matches the conference theme as well as the company’s corporate identity.
Communicating across separate time zones was a challenge, and the project team needed to ensure the approval process ran smoothly and on schedule.
And as participants could bring along friends and partners to the conference, Conceptcoms was also tasked to collect information on guests, who were potential business leads for Kyäni.
Solutions The creative team of Conceptcoms communicated thoroughly with Kyäni’s Asia operation manager before proposing three options for key visuals, easing the approval process and allowing sufficient time for production and logistical arrangement.
In order to create a memorable experience, Conceptcoms introduced a performance that combined neon lights and lion dance, some of Hong Kong’s icons, at the opening ceremony.
The post-lunch Tron Dance was another highlight of the conference.
In addition, to engage the audience, a fun segment was designed where participants folded paper planes however they wanted before launching them through the air.
And to solve the challenge of collecting data on accompanying friends and partners, Conceptcoms implemented an electronic registration system.
Key takeaways When event and design objectives are well-communicated, organising an event to the client’s satisfaction is achievable within a short time span.
Of course, a dedicated event management team and careful attention to the project timeline are also crucial for the event’s success.
Event: Kyäni Conference Organiser: Kyäni International Venue: Asia-World Expo Date: May 27-28, 2016 Number of participants: More than 1,000 delegates
How long have you been in the travel industry and what do you enjoy most about your job?
I have been working as a meeting planner in Okinawa for 10 years and, for me, there is nothing better than seeing our guests experience our programmes and then giving us big smiles in return. It is great when we can all see the targeted effect happening and again when we are able to share the client’s excitement with our team.
What is your greatest career achievement to-date?
For six years, I served as a ISO9001-standard chief auditor. That experience has helped me to plan and offer services with our company that take into consideration the importance of process management.
I have never stopped striving to devise ways to make a process more efficient, to determine ways in which we can heighten the degree of achievement in our programmes and how we can deliver additional satisfaction to our clients.
Does anything about your job keep you awake at night?
My mind is constantly occupied with how we can develop better plans to provide greater satisfaction to our clients, and what we can do to brush-up our overall services.
I also often think if all members of our team are sharing and understand the company’s purpose of helping clients to achieve their aims.
What are your top three tips for achieving success in a career in this industry?
First, you should build a network that encompasses global issues, the meetings industry, regional culture, regional economics and, of course, clients.
Second, make sure you understand your clients’ interests and share that knowledge with your entire team.
Third, raise the motivation levels of your team and make sure they are sharing the organisation’s goals.
Pan Pacific Hotels Group has appointed Chan as area general manager, China and general manager, Pan Pacific Suzhou. He has over 30 years of industry experience spanning China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines and the US. He is no stranger to the Group, having helmed Pan Pacific Ningbo from 2014 to 2016.
O’Keefe is now Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s chief technology officer of hotel distribution. He brings 20 years of technology and software experience, as well as rich expertise and deep knowledge of the travel industry, to his new role. He was most recently chief technology officer for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.
Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur had recently completed major refurbishments and renovations carried out in phases over the course of four years and to the tune of RM100 million. The result is a better guest experience for in-house meetings and stays.
Rooms All 420 rooms are now better prepared for the modern traveller. More universal power sockets, two USB socket charges and speedier in-room Wi-Fi (8mbps) are available, along with a 48-inch smart HD LED TV.
My room on the top-most floor, level 35, and on the Club Floor, offered me panoramic views of the city and boasts a convenient layout. For instance, the safe sits under the work table and shelves are built into the tiled wall by the sink for toiletries. And speaking of toiletries, I love that Cinq Mondes, a luxurious line of botanical spa products from Paris, are provided for guests.
MICE facilities I’ve attended several press conferences and meetings at Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur, and have always been impressed by the thoughtfulness that went into the design of the property’s event facilities.
Meeting spaces are clustered for convenience on level six, on a floor called Metropolis. They sit right above Latest Recipe all-day dining restaurant and is serviced by a set of escalators from the fifth floor.
The collection comprises six meeting rooms and a pillarless ballroom. The latter can accommodate up to 600 delegates in a theatre setting, or be divided into two for smaller gatherings.
The refurbishments have given the Metropolis foyer a brighter and more contemporary look. Two interactive kitchens strategically located at the foyer, provide a permanent pantry station where delegates can enjoy limitless variety of snacks, coffee and tea throughout their meetings.
Other facilities In-house facilities include six F&B outlets, a freeform swimming pool, a well-equipped gym and spa facilities.
The Club Lounge on level 33 features an open kitchen with live cooking, a private meeting room for a dozen people and a lounge.
There are also shower rooms for guests who need to freshen up after an early morning arrival, before the usual check-in time, or have a late flight to catch after checking out.
For groups, a dedicated check-in counter can be arranged.
The hotel also provides off-site catering and teambuilding programmes within the Klang Valley.
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.
The head of Sibos – an annual conference, exhibition and networking event organised by SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) – tells 
How long have you been in the travel industry and what do you enjoy most about your job?
