Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre has appointed Rick Aylett to the role of senior manager of operations. Aylett has vast experience in event operations and venue management, and joins the Centre from Atlantic Group where he held the group general manager position for operations.
Dorsett Hospitality International has promoted Rebecca Kwan to the position of senior vice president of sales – Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Kwan, who is also the general manager for Lan Kwai Fong Hotel @ Kau U Fong, took office as senior vice president of sales – Hong Kong in November 2015.
Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit has named Patitta Chinin its new senior director of sales – corporate, leisure and MICE. She was last director of sales and marketing at Movenpick Hotel Sukhumvit 15 Bangkok, and director of sales and marketing at Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit.
British Airways has picked Noella Ferns to be its regional general manager for Greater China and the Philippines, based in Hong Kong. Ferns has been with the company for over 20 years. She last led the Hong Kong, Philippines and Taiwan sales teams to drive growth in corporate accounts, trade partnerships and new business, while also overseeing the airline’s channel shift strategy.
Evason Ana Mandara in Nha Trang, Vietnam has named Michael Murphy its general manager. Murphy was the pre-opening general manager at Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain in China from July 2104 to October 2015, and next general manager of Vinpearl Luxury Nha Trang.
Conrad Centennial Singapore has welcomed the return of Heinrich Grafe as its general manager. He had left the hotel in 2013 after 16 years to lead Conrad Tokyo as general manager.
Marco Polo Hotels has appointed seasoned hotelier Dalip Singh as hotel manager of its three Hong Kong properties – Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, Prince Hotel and Gateway Hotel. Singh previously served as the managing director of KOP Properties.
Perth Convention Bureau has placed Amy Hallam in the newly created role of senior business development manager. Hallam will focus on bidding and securing large-scale international conferences for Perth and Western Australia. Prior to this appointment, she worked with the City of Perth in Economic Development.
Opened August 2016, The Garage Bar on the lobby floor of Cordis Hong Kong at Langham Place in Mongkok is said to be the first outdoor food truck destination in a hotel.
Previously known as The Backyard, the venue has undergone a renovation to create additional space and seating. As outdoor drinking space is rare in Mongkok, The Garage Bar is a welcome oasis for city folks.
Concept The Garage Bar offers an urban food culture experience by blending Western food truck favourites with traditional Asian flavours and pairing dishes with nearly 40 local and international craft beer brands. All that is delivered in a striking red and black setting with two vintage Citroën vans – one from 1966 and the other from 1972.
Must-eats include the Hongkongese Burger, a New Zealand steak in a bamboo charcoal pineapple bun (known among the locals as bolo bao); Crab & Cheese Melt Sandwich; and Churro Cherries Dulce.
Beer lovers will rejoice over a sample option that features local and international – three different labels will create a personalised “beer flight”.
MICE application The Garage Bar is such a stylish venue, and the vintage vans lend many Instagrammable moments. Spanning 322m2, The Garage Bar is split into the 134m2 Upper deck and 188m2 Lower deck.
It is ideal for welcome or closing cocktail receptions with 50 to 150 guests.
Music plays in the bar, but event planners can bring in a live DJ for an additional fee.
The only downside to The Garage Bar is its open-air nature, which makes it susceptible to weather elements. As a wet weather back-up, event planners are offered another bar, Alibi, or a private function room.
Organisations that have used The Garage Bar for their events include Wine Luxe, Mothercare, IATA and Columbia University.
Service Top marks for attentive service. Despite it being a large venue, staff came by frequently to check on diners’ needs and to tidy tables. I also like how knowledgeable the staff are about the different beers available and are willing to share tips on how to pick from over 40 craft beer brands.
Opened in 1989, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong has always been a hot favourite among top-tier business and social events. Last summer, the hotel completed an extensive refurbishment that benefitted guestrooms, Grand Ballroom, Grand Club Lounge and Grand Café.
Rooms I had the pleasure of spending a night at the Ambassador Harbour View Suite on the 36th floor. At 110m2, this is the second largest room type in the hotel’s inventory. Like most quality hotels on the waterfront, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong brought views of Victoria Harbour as well as the cityscape of Central and Kowloon into the room with floor-to-ceiling windows.
I found my suite to be suitable for business travellers hoping to conduct meetings in their room. The living and dining area can be separated from the bedroom with sliding doors. The living space also comes with a bar, pantry and washroom, and can accommodate up to 10 people.
The new four-seat marble-top work desk was a pleasure to use, as it came with more electric and communication sockets than the previous round table option. Thank goodness too, that all sockets in the suite are placed at accessible heights on walls, and not along the floor.
Another feature I enjoy about the hotel is the separate set of elevators that serve club floor guests between club levels and the Grand Club Lounge.
MICE facilities There are 21 venues for different types and sizes of events. For gatherings requiring a less conventional space, the hotel is amenable to converting corner suites into breakout rooms.
The refurbished Presidential Suites are also a hit with organisers of small-scale events such as fashion shows and social functions.
Elsewhere, the three meeting rooms in the Grand Club Lounge have been revamped along with the rest of the exclusive facility, with each room showcasing a new look with provision of a coffee station.
Other facilities Bellies are never bored with the hotel’s selection of 10 restaurants and bars. Private dining rooms in some outlets can be turned into event spaces. For example, the Grand Hyatt Steakhouse has three private rooms for eight to 30 people.
Other facilities include Plateau Spa, an outdoor heated swimming pool, a sauna and two tennis courts.
