International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), managed by Legends Global, has appointed Jack Weatherby-Fell as venue manager, The Cutaway.
Jack Weatherby-Fell
Weatherby-Fell will oversee day-to-day operations and client experience at The Cutaway, working closely with partners, community and the ICC Sydney team to deliver events. He will be supported by ICC Sydney’s general manager – operations, Lynell Peck, and recently appointed AV manager of The Cutaway, Ricky Joseph.
His most recent role was head of events at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, where he led the planning of large-scale event operations and delivered high profile exhibitions, conferences and corporate events.
The MICE City Summit marked its 10th edition with a landmark agreement; photo by TCEB
At the 10th MICE City Summit, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) united government, academia, and vocational education in a landmark partnership to tackle Asia-Pacific’s workforce shortages and drive sustainable growth in secondary cities.
Signed on April 28, 2026, the Memorandums of Understanding align TCEB and Prince of Songkla University (PSU) with the Ministry of Interior and Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC). The partnership aims to establish a City Data Intelligence ecosystem and develop high-performance human capital, shifting Thailand’s business events strategy from focusing solely on business events to driving long-term urban development.
The MICE City Summit marked its 10th edition with a landmark agreement; photo by TCEB
Supawan Teerarat, president of TCEB, noted: “This collaboration across policy, operations, and education reinforces the foundation of Thailand’s MICE ecosystem. It reflects our commitment to expanding MICE from Business Events to Development Events – delivering high-value impact and strengthening Thailand’s credibility in the global market.”
“This collaboration will build on past successes, turning concepts into practice, particularly regarding sustainable city development systems. This is a core focus for city administrators and those overseeing local areas. When local administrators have a vision and understand the potential of their cities, they can enhance capabilities,” she stated.
To support this, the alliance will develop structured programmes to clarify goals and joint efforts across all provinces nationwide.
A major facet of the agreement involves the Ministry of Interior, the principal body overseeing Thailand’s nationwide urban administration. The Ministry plans to utilise the business events industry to distribute wealth, empower local entrepreneurs, and elevate local governance. The partnership will focus on developing “high-performance city managers” equipped with deep socio-cultural understanding and backed by intelligent data systems that enable real-time policy decisions.
Chaiwat Chuenkosum, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior, explained: “If MICE City development is not fully integrated, we won’t fully realise its potential. MICE Cities require various factors – from infrastructure to local businesses. When the city is ready, and evaluations show a high-quality MICE City, the city itself improves, which aligns with our core mission of developing our cities.”
This knowledge will be embedded into the Ministry of Interior’s training programmes for district chiefs, provincial governors, and local administration executives to build a resilient and developed nation.
To address the business events talent shortage, TCEB, PSU, and OVEC are leveraging the Songkhla Model – a successful “Living Lab” that made Songkhla Thailand’s top sustainable MICE city for three years. This partnership integrates vocational education with industry insights to transform educators into innovation leaders capable of rapidly developing a high-performance workforce.
PSU’s president Niwat Keawpradub highlighted that these achievements have yielded innovations like a Credit Bank system, noting the curriculum will move beyond classroom learning to “practical application, joint learning, and real-world development”.
He stated that the goal is “to create a network of collaboration to elevate city development through MICE”, ensuring visitors experience a shared picture.
Niwat concluded: “We are not merely teaching – we are building an ecosystem to develop high-performance MICE city leaders who can think, act, and deliver effectively.”
Burke addressing industry stakeholders at the launch
Malaysia has launched its first food waste management and responsible sourcing guidebook, positioning sustainability as a core strategy for its business events and hospitality sectors.
Titled Best Practices on Waste Management and Responsible Sourcing Guidebook, the resource was developed over three years by the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Business Events Alliance together with WWF-Malaysia, Taylor’s University and UCSI University.
Burke addressing industry stakeholders at the launch
The guidebook emphasises responsible food sourcing, using seafood as a case study to demonstrate how procurement impacts ecosystems. It offers practical frameworks for evaluating suppliers and embedding sustainability into purchasing policies.
Additionally, the resource tackles food waste using local case studies and a Behavior-Centred Design approach –merging behavioural science with design thinking to identify root causes and implement scalable solutions.
Taylor’s University is integrating the guidebook into hospitality modules, with UCSI University set to follow, aligning industry standards with talent development.
John Burke, general manager of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, said: “These two challenges of what we waste, and where we source, are deeply connected. This is not simply an environmental issue. It is an operational issue, a sourcing issue, and ultimately, a responsibility issue for our industry.”
Malaysia generates approximately 16,688 tonnes of food waste daily, with nearly 60 per cent considered avoidable. At the same time, unsustainable sourcing practices are placing increasing pressure on natural resources.
Sophia Lim, CEO and executive director of WWF-Malaysia, said: “Food waste accounts for an estimated eight to 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions thus making it a serious climate and environmental challenge.
“How we source food has direct implications on biodiversity, marine ecosystems and resource security. This guidebook equips both industry practitioners and future talent with the knowledge and practical tools needed to drive meaningful change.
This collaboration represents the systemic, multi-sector approach needed to move the needle on Malaysia’s sustainable food systems as the country works toward its 2030 United Nationals Sustainable Development Goal of halving food waste, she added.
Aloft Jakarta Kebon Jeruk officially opened its Grand Ballroom on April 10, 2026, completing the full suite of meeting facilities available since the hotel’s November 2025 opening.
Located on the third floor, the 530m2 Grand Ballroom features a five-metre ceiling height and can accommodate up to 654 guests. It is equipped with a built-in screen and projector, a professional-grade Hardwell Turbo Voice 15 Pro sound system, bandwidth of up to 100 Mbps, and a power supply of 10,000 watts, with the option to expand to 20,000 watts for larger productions.
Aloft Jakarta Kebon Jeruk’s Grand Ballroom
The ballroom is part of a meeting ecosystem with a dedicated drop-off gate that includes a Junior Ballroom with a 284-seat capacity, five meeting rooms ranging from 32 to 120 seats, a VIP room, and two private dining rooms. Additionally, an expansive 508m2 pre-function is designed to maximise comfort and engagement.
Calvine Vorry, director of sales and marketing of Aloft Jakarta Kebon Jeruk, said: “The pre-function area is bathed in natural daylight, creating an open, comfortable, and interactive atmosphere. This space is ideal for coffee breaks, exhibitions, and vibrant networking sessions.”
Highlighting the importance of business events to the hotel’s strategy, Calvine noted: “We see the MICE segment in West Jakarta continuing to show positive growth, particularly from the corporate, technology, and government sectors.”
Since opening, the hotel has hosted a variety of events, from corporate meetings and gala dinners to brand activations. In April, the property hosted an automotive sales conference for 220 guests, alongside a product launch and a medical conference for 150 delegates each. This momentum continues into May with a scheduled banking and financial training session for 120 participants.
From left: Corporate Travel Community’s Benson Tang; Al-Futtaim’s Souhilla Taarabit; ex-Toyota Finance Australia’s Simone Gibbs; KPMG’s Rahul Marwah; and Trip.Biz’s Sherwin Dai; photo by Prudence Lui
Corporate travel is shifting away from a pure cost-saving model toward a strategy that prioritises employee well-being and modernised Duty of Care standards.
At a forum held during Connect Marketplace 2026 in Hong Kong, industry leaders discussed how travel policies are being redesigned to balance corporate financial goals with the necessity of supporting and protecting the traveller.
From left: Corporate Travel Community’s Benson Tang; Al-Futtaim’s Souhilla Taarabit; ex-Toyota Finance Australia’s Simone Gibbs; KPMG’s Rahul Marwah; and Trip.Biz’s Sherwin Dai; photo by Prudence Lui
Rahul Marwah, sourcing & procurement advisory director at KPMG, noted that modern negotiations now prioritise necessity and due diligence over raw savings.
“Instead of making three separate trips, staff can combine multiple destinations into a single journey. This approach not only optimises costs but also ensures staff are well-rested, rather than trading well-being for business,” he explained.
Marwah added that KPMG now allows business class for flights over five hours regardless of seniority, noting that embedding ESG and social elements into policy is becoming essential.
Finding the right balance between company objectives and employee needs is crucial, added Souhilla Taarabit, group head of corporate travel services at Al-Futtaim.
Following regional instability in the Middle East, Al-Futtaim revised its policies to focus on “meaningful travel”. Taarabit emphasised that the best approach is to understand how a trip supports company outcomes.
“We revised our policy and introduced more parameters around meaningful travel. It is vital for employees to feel that we are taking care of them,” she said.
Flexibility has also become a priority, as noted by Simone Gibbs, former procurement lead at Toyota Finance Australia. She stressed the importance of maintaining flexible travel policies in light of ongoing disruptions and rising fuel surcharges.
“Since the pandemic, knowing where your people are at any time is really important for Duty of Care,” Gibbs highlighted. While many TMCs provide tracking portals, she suggested the “next level” involves paid services like International SOS, which can deploy people on the ground to provide direct assistance during a crisis.
Sherwin Dai, general manager for Greater China & North Asia at Trip.Biz, argued that more organisations are viewing travel programmes as a talent acquisition strategy.
He cited a global tech client that allows its 100,000 staff to book premium economy for any flight over four hours, sharing that the company saw a two per cent increase in the retention rate..
“From their perspective, it was well-spent money. More companies are realising that a strong, employee-centric policy is a way to attract and retain talent,” Dai stated.
Opinions remain divided on where travel management should sit within a corporate structure. At Al-Futtaim, the function is placed under Human Resources. Taarabit explained that this creates the most value for a diverse workforce: “The most vital step is to make sure employees understand we want them to feel good.”
However, Gibbs argued that while her former travel policy was owned by HR, it was not always managed effectively. She suggested that the best model involves operations and procurement working together.
“Procurement puts the agreements in place, but you need someone operationally to manage that supplier and gather traveller feedback,” she noted. Ultimately, she concluded that the ideal approach differs based on each company’s needs.
Thaifex – Anuga Asia 2026 is set to be the largest in the event’s history, returning to Bangkok’s IMPACT Muang Thong Thani from May 26 to 30.
The tradeshow has expanded to 12 halls covering over 140,000m2, reflecting a critical period for the F&B industry where supply chain adjustments and sourcing speed have become paramount. This year’s edition expects to host over 3,300 exhibitors from 60 countries, drawing an estimated 88,000 trade visitors from around the world.
Thaifex – Anuga Asia 2025; photo by Koelnmesse
A major addition to the 2026 programme is the debut of PLX Asia, the region’s first dedicated B2B platform for private label and contract manufacturing. This initiative addresses a strategic shift in South-east Asia where retailers are increasingly using private labels to drive growth. The platform will launch with an industry leadership summit on May 29, laying the groundwork for a full-scale trade exhibition in 2027 that will span food, beauty, and household categories.
Innovation remains a central focus, particularly within the newly integrated Hall 4. This zone features the New-to-Market Street, showcasing products launched within the last year, and the Future Food Experience+, a conference covering high-tech advancements like precision fermentation and AI in retail. Visitors can also participate in interactive events such as the Alternative Protein Flavour & Taste Contest, where they can vote on the best emerging plant-based products.
The event also marks a significant diplomatic and commercial milestone with the European Union joining as the Official Partner Region. An EU Pavilion will highlight European standards of authenticity and sustainability, providing buyers a streamlined way to access high-quality European supply within the larger sourcing environment.
According to event organisers Koelnmesse, this consolidation of nine specialised trade shows into one venue is designed to help businesses close deals faster and navigate a rapidly evolving global market.
From left: Entrance to Coolies Club; private dining room on the second floor
Located on Soi Romanee in Old Phuket Town – once the epicentre of the island’s 19th-century tin mining red-light district – Coolies Club is the latest project from Krystal Prakaikaew Na-Ranong, the co-owner and managing director of The Slate Phuket.
Designed by acclaimed architect Bill Bensley, the venue pays homage to the area’s history of opium dens and miners’ hedonistic pleasures with a design palette of turquoise, jade green, and antique red.
From left: Entrance to Coolies Club; private dining room on the second floor
For event planners looking for an intimate, high-impact setting, the venue offers two distinct levels. The ground floor provides a sophisticated sit-down format for up to 40 guests, surrounded by ornate Chinese fretwork and vintage furnishings. For more exclusive gatherings, the private room upstairs accommodates 32 pax, offering an atmospheric Opium Den dining experience.
The culinary programme follows a zero-waste kitchen concept, focusing on sustainability without compromising on creativity. A standout example is the lemongrass tuna wraps, which cleverly utilise portions of the fish that cannot be served as whole fillets, ensuring every ingredient is maximised.
The menu is further defined by rustic, fire-smoked techniques – think seared Black Angus hanger steak with rosemary and garlic butter, and smoked spaghetti alla bottarga – that reference the traditional cooking methods used by tin miners.
Entertainment is also a core component of the Coolies Club experience. While the venue hosts a signature singing cabaret every Saturday night, capturing the exotic elegance of a bygone time, these performers are also available for private hire. Planners can book the cabaret troupe to bring a sense of theatrical flair and historical nostalgia to corporate dinners or private celebrations.
Iconic Hotel Group has appointed Pauline Chua as group general manager, overseeing operations across Iconic Marjorie Penang, Iconic Regency Service Residences and Iconic Hotel Penang.
She joins from Onyx Hospitality Group, where she was general manager of Amari Johor Bahru, driving performance and strengthening brand recognition.
With over three decades of hospitality experience, she has led both single properties and multi-property portfolios across Asia-Pacific.
Food & Hospitality Asia (FHA) 2026 concluded after four days of trade activity, seminars and competitions, with organisers reporting its largest edition in a decade.
The event combined FHA-Food & Beverage and FHA-HoReCa into a single annual format, held alongside ProWine Singapore and IndusFood Asia at Singapore Expo. More than 2,750 exhibitors took part across 10 halls, while about 70,000 industry professionals from around 110 countries and regions attended.
The Singapore Pavilion hosted local exhibitors and business matching sessions at FHA 2026
The programme covered 18 segments across food, beverage and hospitality, including technology, products and operational practices. The show floor featured country pavilions from Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas, alongside newer participants such as Cambodia, Mongolia and the Philippines.
The European Union was featured as Region of Honour, presenting food products and sustainability initiatives. The Singapore Pavilion, led by Enterprise Singapore, included business matching sessions and a showcase developed with the Singapore Food Manufacturers Association.
A technology-focused zone, FutureFWD, highlighted developments in areas such as AI, automation and data analytics, alongside seminars and product demonstrations.
ProWine Singapore 2026 brought together more than 200 exhibitors from 24 countries, including established wine and spirits producers and newer categories such as low- and no-alcohol products. Features included tasting areas and networking sessions with buyers and distributors.
IndusFood Asia presented companies from India’s food and beverage sector, with a focus on exports, partnerships and market trends.
The Hosted Buyer Programme attracted 700 buyers from over 23 countries and regions, with around 19,000 meetings conducted over four days.
Competitions included the Young Chefs Grand Prix, won by KCAA.GN from South Korea, alongside the Asian Pastry Cup, FHA Bakery Challenge and FHA Dessert Challenge. Winners included Japan in the Asian Pastry Cup, China in the bakery competition and Sohee Kim from South Korea in the dessert category.
The next edition is scheduled for April 20-23, 2027.
The venue now provides a comprehensive digital replica of its flexible event spaces
The International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has unveiled 360 Interactive Tour, establishing one of the world’s largest 3D digital twins to streamline global event planning.
Powered by Matterport’s immersive mapping and Phoria’s UX technology, the tool allows organisers to remotely navigate the Convention Centre, Exhibition Centre, and TikTok Entertainment Centre.
The venue now provides a comprehensive digital replica of its flexible event spaces
Unlike standard virtual walkthroughs, this digital twin enables precise evaluation of scale, room connectivity, and attendee flow, allowing planners to visualise complex layouts and spatial relationships with high accuracy long before arriving on-site.
ICC Sydney CEO Adam Mather-Brown noted that the investment is designed to reduce planning complexity and provide smarter, more efficient solutions as the pace of industry technology accelerates.
The tool addresses a growing demand for immersive infrastructure, as research indicates that organisers engage more deeply with 3D digital environments than traditional static imagery.
The interactive experience is now live and accessible via the venue’s official website.
Just 10 minutes from Phuket International Airport on the serene northern coast, this 178-key, Bill Bensley-designed resort offers delegates a quiet, tropical paradise steeped in Phuket’s tin-mining heritage
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
With over three decades of hospitality experience, she has led both single properties and multi-property portfolios across Asia-Pacific.
