Caption by Hyatt Zhongshan Park Shanghai, China Situated adjacent to the iconic Zhongshan Park and within the lively Yuyuan Road neighbourhood is 254-room Caption by Hyatt Zhongshan Park Shanghai, which offers easy access to exploring historic Shanghai, shopping centres, towering skyscrapers, and boutiques.
With the latest technological features such as digital keys, free Wi-Fi, and more, guests at the hotel can enjoy the convenience of mobile food ordering services, self-service coffee/tea, and 24-hour grab-and-go options. There is also a fitness centre onsite.
ibis Styles Manila Araneta City
ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, the Philippines
The 286-key ibis Styles Manila Araneta City is situated in Quezon City, right next to the iconic Araneta Coliseum, one of the largest indoor arenas in Asia. Nearby are malls, restaurants, and cultural spots with a variety of activities to discover.
Hotel facilities include four dining options, a fitness centre, pool and lounge, co-working space, and meeting room.
The MRT and LRT 2 metro stations are conveniently located just a stone’s throw away from the hotel.
voco Jim Corbett
voco Jim Corbett, India India’s first voco hotel, voco Jim Corbett, is nestled on the foothills of the Mailani range in the Kumaon region.
voco Jim Corbett features 70 guestrooms and offers an all-day dining experience, and other dining options like a banquet hall and alfresco lounge bar. For recreation, there is a pool, spa, amphitheatre, fitness centre, as well as indoor and outdoor banqueting spaces for weddings and other occasions.
Four Points by Sheraton Boracay
Four Points by Sheraton Boracay, the Philippines Four Points by Sheraton Boracay – the first Marriott property on the island – boasts 339 guestrooms and suites, three F&B outlets and an expansive outdoor lap pool and jacuzzi, among others.
Situated in Station 1 mere steps away from the White Beach, the former Citic Hotel Boracay also offers a 250m² fully customisable Evolution Annex meeting room and canopy area for up to 120 pax, Four Points by Sheraton’s signature Best Brews craft beer, and fitness centre.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement to develop Holiday Inn Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, India.
The new hotel is scheduled to open in 2025, and will feature 95 rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, meeting room, and fitness centre.
Holiday Inn Prayagraj is set to open in 2025
Located in the heart of Prayagraj, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, Holiday Inn Prayagraj will cater to both business and leisure travellers, as well as those on religious pilgrimages.
While the tourism sector in Asia-Pacific may be a major employer for women, who make up 53 per cent of the total industry workforce, social-cultural traditions have deterred many others from joining the industry.
Conservative societal expectation and norms in the region prioritise women’s roles within the family, where women are the default spouse or parent responsible for fulfilling domestic and caregiving roles, according to a UN Tourism report.
The UN Tourism Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Asia and the Pacific was held in Bali, Indonesia from May 2-4 (Photo: Tiara Maharani)
Speaking at the 2nd UN Tourism Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Asia and the Pacific in Bali recently, Prachi Thakur, technical coordinator of the conference, emphasised the need for education on gender roles – specifically the fact that no one gender is built for a specific job – and to break the belief that women should not consider unconventional jobs.
Mariyam Nasheetha Nasheed, deputy minister of the Ministry of Tourism of Maldives, also highlighted the challenge women face in their career after getting married or having children, as traditions expect them to give up on their jobs.
“We are trying to address the issue by formulating specific policies, like introducing a friendly environment (and) workplace for women, which aim to retain women in the industry,” Mariyam added.
Meanwhile, World Women Tourism co-founder Nisha Abu Bakar opined that other factors preventing women from joining the tourism industry are low salaries, gender discrimination, lack of career growth, and even sexual exploitation.
Nisha stressed the need for “a concerted effort to support zero tolerance (towards) discrimination” as well as strong policies that protect women in the workforce if the industry hopes to attract more female workers and professionals.
The IAAPA Expo Asia 2024 kicked off in Bangkok, Thailand on May 27 with a more diverse range of attendees, marking a shift away from traditional players like amusement parks and theme parks to include organisations like hotel developers and cinema operators. This highlights a blending of travel and entertainment focuses.
IAAPA CEO Jakob Wahl emphasised a trend of “hybridisation” in the entertainment landscape, saying that companies outside the traditional amusement industry are increasingly investing in attractions to enhance visitor experiences and extend dwell time.
DOF Robotics’ exhibit at IAAPA Expo Asia 2024 (Photo: Anne Somanas)
“Our show attendance used to be dominated by amusement parks, theme parks, water parks and zoos. Now, we see more museums, and a lot of hotel developments that want to include water parks, water slides, and attractions. In other parts of this world, we have cinema operators coming because they want to know about food and trends, shopping centres, and even operators of ski resorts attending our show because they also want to develop attractions for summer,” he stated.
Wahl added that any operator that implements family-oriented offerings can now be perceived as competition for the attractions industry, drawing the example of Ikea.
“The difference (with Ikea) is the entrance is free and you pay at the exit – but you see families going there, spending time there; they bring their kids; Ikea has kids’ entertainment and cheap food. We have met people from Ikea at our shows and events because the company is (also functioning as an) attraction,” he explained.
Wahl said the attractions industry is resilient. He pointed to its swift rebound from the pandemic, fuelled by pent-up demand for experiences.
Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) took centre stage at the expo, with several exhibitors sharing specific examples of technology integration in their attractions.
Shane Wu, global marketing manager of Brogent Technologies, outlined the company’s hyper-real virtual racing experiences powered by AI calculations, while Muge Gulagalar, senior marketing specialist at DOF Robotics, discussed using AI for data collection and customer profiling within rides for targeted marketing.
Wu also noted the growing demand for media-based attractions – those that heavily rely on audio-visual technology to immerse visitors in a story or environment.
When asked about areas of growth in Asia-Pacific, Wahl mentioned the rise of Vietnam as a key investment destination for attractions within the past five years, adding that India’s tourism sector has also witnessed growth, particularly in smaller attractions like Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) within shopping malls.
A combination of the robust rebound of Switzerland’s tourism industry, as well as tighter airline restrictions on large volume group ticket allotment, has forced Asian incentive travel groups desiring the European destination to be more flexible with their event dates and locations.
The result is an opportunity for the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau (SCIB) to spread incentive movements throughout the year, and to drive groups to lesser-known areas.
The Swiss Travel System’s extensive network allows corporate incentive groups to get around the country with ease, no matter which city is used as their base
According to the country’s Federal Statistical Office, the Swiss hotel sector recorded 41.8 million overnight stays, a level never achieved before. It was an increase of 9.2 per cent over 2022. At the same time, domestic demand remained very high.
Barbra Albrecht, head of meetings & incentives worldwide and member of the Management Board with SCIB, said: “We had really, really good occupancy (inbound arrivals) in 2022 and 2023. Travellers from North America, South-east Asia and India were all able to travel again in 2022, and those markets really boomed for Switzerland. They came back in smaller groups, but still brought us very good business.”
Intense leisure demand stretched out accommodation and venue supply that business event groups also desired.
“Thankfully, incentive travel clients are quite flexible. They are ready to change dates instead of insisting on certain timings, and going to new places. That allowed us to spread groups out throughout the year. For instance, we had a lot of Indian incentives last November – that never happened before,” Albrecht told TTGmice.
“As for trying out new places, instead of always going to the same places like Interlaken, clients are happy to explore Bern and Basel. Switzerland is quite small and it doesn’t matter where you’re staying because you can be on a mountaintop in an hour and explore a top attraction in another city in the next hour.”
Albrecht emphasised Switzerland’s accessibility, made possible by the extensive network of the Swiss Travel System and the convenience of the Swiss Travel Pass, which covers land, sea and air via the Swiss Federal Railways, Lake Geneva boat cruise, panoramic GoldenPass Express and cable car rides to Glacier 3000.
Furthermore, the Swiss Travel System offers door-to-door express group luggage transfers for groups of 10 or more pax, with a maximum of 50 luggage items, travelling in the country by train, bus and boat.
SCIB has endeavoured to build public transport into its fam trips to demonstrate to event organisers the ease of moving groups from city to city in this manner. This also supports Switzerland’s sustainable living ethos, which Albrecht said many clients are drawn to.
When asked about the trend of smaller corporate incentive groups post-lockdown, Albrecht said it was due to budgets “remaining the same” but having to be spent on pricier airfares.
Dominique Oi, MICE manager South-east Asia with SCIB, added that it could also be due to tighter airline restrictions on the number of group tickets allotted for each agent.
“Large groups with more than 100 participants find themselves being split in two (on different flights), and the programme has to cater for staggered arrivals. As such, smaller groups are actually easier to manage now,” Oi reflected.
Both Albrecht and Oi expressed confidence in Asian markets contributing to even more corporate incentive travel movements in 2024 and in Asian top achievers unravelling even more exciting layers of the destination as they venture beyond popular locations.
Their confidence is partly due to Swiss International Air Lines’s new direct services to Seoul, launched May 7 this year.
SCIB was involved in 315 corporate incentive movements from Asia in 2023. This figure was likely just 10 per cent of the total events from Asia that were hosted in Switzerland, as many were handled solely by private organisations, opined Oi.
India and the collective South-east Asia region are among Switzerland’s top five performing markets for incentive travel. In 2023, Indonesia was South-east Asia’s top performer, followed by Thailand and Malaysia.
Oi said the the Philippines was a market to watch, as it has grown more than 30 per cent since SCIB opened its South-east Asian office in 2012. To grow the market further, SCIB is investing in in-market sales visits and destination education, such as airlines that Philippine groups can use for the best possible way to get to Switzerland, and the experiences available to top achievers.
Minor Hotels has signed a management agreement with Taryan Group for a new-build resort and branded residences on Bali in Indonesia, which is slated to open in 2027.
Once opened, the Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Resort will be the first luxury beachfront resort on Seseh Beach and the third Anantara Hotels & Resorts property in Bali. The Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Residences will be available for purchase through Taryan Group, with Anantara providing overall resort management.
Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Resort will open in 2027
Located on the black volcanic shores of Seseh Beach, a short drive from southern coast hotspots Canggu and Seminyak and an hour from Ngurah Rai International Airport, Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Resort will boast 216 rooms and suites ranging from 52m² to 120m².
Guests can enjoy surfing on Seseh Beach, or learn how to ride the waves from the on-site surf school. For wellness, the resort features a spa, fitness centre, beach lounge and three swimming pools. The property will also include three dining outlets: an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty Japanese restaurant and a poolside bar.
Singapore Cable Car is sharing its 50th birthday with a friend – Hello Kitty – and everyone is invited to the party. From June 1 to December 31 this year, visitors can ride in birthday-themed Hello Kitty cable car cabins along the Mount Faber Line from Mount Faber Peak to Sentosa.
These unique cabins, dressed in vibrant designs bearing images of Hello Kitty, her companion Dear Daniel, her sister Mimmy, and her parents, are first in South-east Asia.
Visitors can ride in birthday-themed Hello Kitty cable car cabins along the Mount Faber Line from Mount Faber Peak to Sentosa from June 1 to December 31
Beyond the Hello Kitty-themed rides in the skies, visitors can also make photo memories with an exclusive two-metre-tall Hello Kitty sculpture as well as at a special photo spot where vintage cable car cabins adorned with Hello Kitty anniversary designs are on display.
Destination Gold Coast’s annual destination showcase for business event planners, This is Gold Coast 2023 (TIC2023), proved to be an eye-opener for many individuals tasked with sourcing ideas and experiences for their upcoming events.
TIC2023, hosted last August, treated delegates to a range of destination experiences such as stand-up paddleboard yoga at Tallebudgera Creek, distilleries and breweries that dot the coast, dinner under the stars at Sea World’s The New Atlantis Precinct, and a gala event at The Langham, the Gold Coast.
Level 18 at The Darling
Reflecting on her TIC2023 experience, Carol Ru, general manager for PTC Express Travel, which represents markets in South-east Asia, China and Taiwan, said: “It’s been a real help for a DMC as ours because so much has changed after the pandemic and we needed to refresh our contacts with suppliers. I’ve been inspired by new ideas that I wouldn’t even have thought of before.”
For planners looking to craft an elite programme that will impress VIPs, the Gold Coast’s newest luxury event venue – Level 18 at The Darling – is one to consider. A part of The Star Gold Coast’s portfolio of event spaces, Level 18 boasts coastal views in expansive light-filled spaces that can cater to functions of all sizes. The Miami rooms and Penthouse come with wraparound balconies that offer guests panoramic skyline views.
Also new is Kirra Point Precinct in southern Gold Coast. This area is packed with retail, hospitality and tourism offerings, with Kirra Beach House as the main draw, comprising a rooftop dining destination and a beach club with three bars, a restaurant and stylish cabanas. There is also an option to spend a night or two at the new Kirra Point Holiday Apartments in its hotel-style one-, two-, or three-bedroom units.
Should event delegates expect a wellness element amid all that wining and dining, planners will be pleased to know that Native State in Kirra Beach, can deliver a serene bathing experience with an infrared sauna, heated vitality pool, cold plunge pool, steam room, traditional cedar sauna and meditation lounge.
Memorable social parties at Sea World
Besides all the sparkling new draws, Experience Gold Coast has also partnered with TravConsult, an Asian market and cultural expert, to provide 50 Gold Coast operators with market insights and cultural etiquette on key markets including China, Japan and South Korea.
Experience Gold Coast’s head of business events, Brooke Campbell, said re-establishing and strengthening the connection between Asia and the Gold Coast is part of the city’s plans to grow the visitor economy and continue rebuilding the international business event pipeline.
“China was our largest international source market by total visitors and total expenditure pre-pandemic, and we want to put our best foot forward as we welcome back these international delegates,” Campbell said.
“It’s a fiercely competitive market and we need to always be pushing the Gold Coast as a premier destination for conferences, exhibitions and incentive group travel,” she said.
Pierre Boudville has been appointed as the inaugural hotel manager of Ozo Medini Johor in Malaysia, which is set to open in July this year.
With over two decades of hospitality experience, he will be instrumental in setting new benchmarks for guest experiences at the new 198-key hotel.
He has previously held key roles at Amari Johor Bahru, Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort Desaru, Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa Langkawi, and Hotel Royal Penang.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Traveloka have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to enhance the travel platform’s commitment to Thailand’s tourism industry, with both parties collaborating to promote inbound and domestic tourism, including secondary destinations.
The MoA provides the legal framework for Traveloka to collaborate with TAT on dual marketing campaigns, sustainability initiatives and travel insights. This agreement also allows Traveloka to collaborate directly with the TAT head office in Bangkok and all domestic and overseas offices, further strengthening Traveloka’s support of the Thai travel industry.
From left: Traveloka’s Albert and TAT’s Thapanee Kiatphaibool
Both TAT and Traveloka had implemented earlier this year a joint campaign, Unveiling Thailand’s Treasure, which was “highly successful in showcasing the potential of lesser-known tourist destinations to a wider audience”, according to Traveloka co-founder Albert.
TAT’s campaign has broadened the spectrum of tourism activities, spanning economic advantages to emerging destinations, and promotes the exploration of secondary cities, with support from Traveloka such as flights, accommodation, and local attractions offers in the Traveloka app.
“This enhanced partnership with Traveloka will help solidify Thailand’s position as an industry leader in moving towards experience-based and sustainable tourism,” said TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, adding that the MoA “is in alignment with TAT’s direction to elevate Thailand’s travel industry and enhance its competitive advantage”.
He has previously held key roles at Amari Johor Bahru, Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort Desaru, Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa Langkawi, and Hotel Royal Penang.
While the tourism sector in Asia-Pacific may be a major employer for women, who make up 53 per cent of the total industry workforce, social-cultural traditions have deterred many others from joining the industry.
Conservative societal expectation and norms in the region prioritise women’s roles within the family, where women are the default spouse or parent responsible for fulfilling domestic and caregiving roles, according to a UN Tourism report.
Speaking at the 2nd UN Tourism Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Asia and the Pacific in Bali recently, Prachi Thakur, technical coordinator of the conference, emphasised the need for education on gender roles – specifically the fact that no one gender is built for a specific job – and to break the belief that women should not consider unconventional jobs.
Mariyam Nasheetha Nasheed, deputy minister of the Ministry of Tourism of Maldives, also highlighted the challenge women face in their career after getting married or having children, as traditions expect them to give up on their jobs.
“We are trying to address the issue by formulating specific policies, like introducing a friendly environment (and) workplace for women, which aim to retain women in the industry,” Mariyam added.
Meanwhile, World Women Tourism co-founder Nisha Abu Bakar opined that other factors preventing women from joining the tourism industry are low salaries, gender discrimination, lack of career growth, and even sexual exploitation.
Nisha stressed the need for “a concerted effort to support zero tolerance (towards) discrimination” as well as strong policies that protect women in the workforce if the industry hopes to attract more female workers and professionals.