Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has named George Koumendakos as its new general manager.
The Dutch national, who is fluent in three languages, brings 37 years of experience including 15 years as general manager in multiple five-star hotels around the world.
Having worked in 14 countries, Koumendakos was recently general manager at Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara in Malaysia prior to joining Metropole Hanoi.
Edgar Terutung has been named the new business development director – Indonesia of TUI Blue Hotels & Resorts Asia. He will spearhead TUI Blue’s expansion in Indonesia in his new role.
He began his work experience in business development for local real estate developers in Indonesia, and subsequently joined the hotel and serviced apartment development at Ascott.
Before joining the team at TUI Blue, Terutung was regional director of development at Louvre Hotels Group in South-east Asia.
Centara Hotels & Resorts has appointed Francesco Pompilio as the new general manager of Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives.
He brings a wealth of international hotelier experience to his new role, having worked across prominent destinations including Italy, the UK, the UAE, and Vietnam for over two decades.
He was most recently general manager at Vinpearl Discovery Sealink Nha Trang in Vietnam.
Skyscanner has unveiled a new search discovery and inspiration tool, Dream and discover with AI, which is powered by generative AI. It will initially launch in beta in Australia, India, and Singapore to test traveller behaviour when it comes to using AI for trip planning, with other markets set to follow.
The beta phase will allow Skyscanner to gather feedback, engagement, and conversion data to optimise and enhance future traveller first product development.
Powered by Open AI’s Chat GPT technology, travellers can ask open-ended statements and questions such as “best cities for cultural tours” or “what are some hidden gems in Europe?”, and includes a variety of prompts ranging from “short flights next weekend” to “foodie city breaks”. The tool will then generate travel ideas and recommendations as well as three destination suggestions with links to the best flight options for each.
Unlike other generative AI travel tools and chatbots, imagery is combined with rich destination descriptions to highlight the unique characteristics of each suggestion. Upon deciding a destination, travellers are taken straight into Skyscanner’s flight search funnel to choose their flight.
Piero Sierra, chief product officer at Skyscanner, commented: “Generative AI is such an exciting technology that we as a travel industry are only just beginning to apply. 56 per cent of travellers are coming to Skyscanner for inspiration, so with this beta launch we are looking to understand how it might help travellers in the discovery phases of the travel planning journey, and importantly how they engage with the technology versus existing tools.
“This is one of many experiments we are running to see how generative AI can be incorporated into the core Skyscanner proposition – helping travellers plan and book their trip with ease and confidence – in the future.”
Thailand, the world’s fourth most favoured travel destination for international tourists according to the Visa Global Travel Intentions Study last year, is loved for many things – its culture, range of recreational and wellness options, and shopping opportunities.
However, Thailand’s gourmet draws may well be the one common magnet for almost all loyal fans of the destination.
Making a move on foodies, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched in May the Amazing Thailand Culinary City project to further develop and promote Thailand as a world-class gastronomy tourism destination.
The project made its debut at the recent Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2023, held from May 31 to June 2 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok. It brought together entrepreneurs in the food tourism sector to create business matching opportunities, presented an exhibition on local dishes from across the country, and invited visitors to sample delicious treats from various participating restaurants as well as try their hand at making Thai desserts.
This launch was accompanied by a series of consumer-focused culinary events throughout May and June. These were hosted in four regions – Chiang Mai (North), Khon Kaen (North-east), Phuket (South), and Chanthaburi (East) – during which cooking workshops and demonstrations, food exhibition and sampling sessions were conducted.
However, TAT’s Amazing Thailand Culinary City project has loftier ambitions. Conceptualised under the BCG Economy Model, the project encompasses Agriculture, Gastronomy, Food Safety, Experience, and Creative Entrepreneur components.
“Activities are designed to stimulate a circular economy and underline the country’s vision for national development to achieve prosperity in terms of economic, social and environmental sustainability,” said Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, deputy governor, marketing communications, TAT.
Sitting alongside TAT’s culinary development efforts are continued innovation on the part of hospitality players in Thailand, whose efforts also serve to highlight the country’s cosmopolitan dining scene.
Opened in April this year, Pastel Rooftop Bar & Mediterranean Dining on the 22nd floor of Aira Hotel on Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Road injects a festive vibe through its colourful interior décor and artistic murals. The menu is big on Mediterranean flavours, with a focus on farm-to-table ingredients. Small and large plates are designed to encourage carefree, communal dining.
Also new is Gaston, which replaces the well-known Spasso Italian restaurant and bar at Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok. Gaston is styled after a classic Parisian bistro, where the menu features familiar French favourites like pork terrine, duck foie gras, and confit de canard.
After building a strong following for The Siam Tea Room, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park has gone on to open a second outlet at Asiatique The Riverfront. The new riverside outlet is focused on Thai favourites too, with a menu inspired by a journey to Old Siam.
The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, which celebrated its first birthday in July, contributes to Bangkok’s vibrant dining scene, with options including the award-winning Chinese cuisine Mott 32.
If responsible dining is what travellers seek, then they shall find it at Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay, where guest meals are prepared using fresh produce from the resort’s own orchard and herb garden. This food resilience effort started in December 2022, when the resort converted a 6,000m2 plot into lush grounds bursting with 160 coconut trees, 180 banana trees, 180 papaya trees, and four kinds of home-grown spices that are commonly used in Thai cooking.
Harvests are channelled to the four F&B outlets on property, while guests joining the resort’s cooking classes can pick their own fruit and spices from the garden.
Patrik Ilstam has been named general manager of Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort and Villas.
An experienced pre-opening hotelier with a background in operations, Ilstam has held various senior management roles in international five-star hotels in South-east Asia over the last 20 years. He most recently served as the general manager at Burasari Phuket Resort.
A Swedish national, he is also fluent in Danish, Norwegian, English and Thai.
Bangkok’s business events industry has restored its traction and built on its recovery momentum this year, and the city is well on its way to regaining previous levels of success obtained prior to the pandemic.
According to the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), 1Q2023 saw Thailand saw the arrival of 7.9 million business events travellers, 183,618 of which were from overseas, generating 8.5 billion baht (US$240.2 million) for the industry. Buoyed by this, the Thai government has forecast a bumper 2023/2024, aiming for around 18.6 million business travellers, and a target of 109 billion baht for the sector.
International travellers may be flocking to Thailand, but domestic organisations are also loving Bangkok as a host destination for conferences, meetings and expos, observed Tim Russell, head of marketing communications at local DMC and tour company, Smiling Albino.
“With ongoing health concerns and increasing flight costs, we found that in the last couple of years, Thailand has hosted a lot more domestic MICE trips, as Thais who might normally travel abroad have been rediscovering the delights of their own country, and realising why foreign visitors love it so much.”
Confident in the attraction of Thailand and Bangkok to both locals and global visitors as an attractive business events destination, TCEB has put together a bold five-year plan to maximise footfall and bring in more than 160 million MICE travellers and generate 945 billion baht for the country.
Dubbed TCEB Go, the plan incorporates the Thailand MICE to Meet You 2023 campaign, which has already seen some vital updates to the country’s event infrastructure. These include dedicated MICE Lanes at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, which processed 3,500 business events travellers between October 2022 and March 2023.
TCEB has also made an effort to recognise 52 organisations with the Thailand Sustainable Event Management Standard (TSEM). The certification enables event and travel planners to easily select experienced and knowledgeable local partners and suppliers who understand the importance of sustainability, while being able to provide cutting-edge audiovisual, lighting, data analysis, electronic ticketing, and reservations solutions.
Stefan Bruns, general manager Thailand, Diethelm Travel Group, has noticed that the popularity of the Thai capital has led to significant changes to existing infrastructure.
“The MICE business in Bangkok is seeing a notable surge, particularly for conferences and incentives. A prime example of this growth is the increasing prominence of Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) as a venue for both conferences and exhibitions.”
Located in the heart of Bangkok, after three years of remodelling inside and out, QSNCC’s refurbishment was completed at the end of 2022. Its top-down renovations mean the venue now provides more than 78,500m2 of event space across four conference rooms, eight exhibition halls, four conference halls, and four assembly spaces, alongside 50 meeting rooms and breakout areas.
Since its official opening, QSNCC has held over 400 international and domestic events to date, with more slated to happen in the coming months.
“Previously, QSNCC mainly hosted domestic exhibitions and meetings, but (since the revamp), we have welcomed international tradeshows, global conferences, and entertainment events,” Sutichai Bunditvorapoom, executive vice president – marketing, sales and operations division from QSNCC told TTGmice.
He further shared that QSNCC’s portfolio has also changed slightly after its top-to-toe overhaul, where new clients include luxury brand launches such as Porsche and Lamborghini, as well as music concerts. Longstanding clients, such as the annual Book Expo Thailand – which registered around 160,000 in footfall during its October 2022 show – also continue to hold their events at QSNCC.
When asked to outline QSNCC’s strategy for the next five years, Sutichai shared: “Our profile will be clearer next year. This is because we are also trying to bring in new events in the innovation and technology space, as well as fintech. One notable win is Money 20/20, which announced (in April) that our venue will be hosting the 2024 edition.”
Moving forward, QSNCC will be focused on luring more business from Asia, as the “economy is strong, and corporates are willing to spend”. Further afield, the venue will continue to seek out business in France, Germany and UK as well.
For Bruns, the centre’s accessibility is a highlight: “Its strategic location, in proximity to Sukhumvit hotels and the MRT station, makes it even more appealing for attendees favouring public transportation.”
QSNCC isn’t the only venue with a packed calendar, where events this year include the 62nd ICCA Congress 2023 (November 12-15) and Asian Pacific Digestive Week 2023 (December 6-9).
Other venues with major upcoming events include the World Allergy Congress 2023 (December 1-3) at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, while the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) will host Oil & Gas Thailand 2023 (October 18-20), Mobility Live Asia 2023 (November 1-2), and Thailand Friendly Design Expo 2023 (December 7-10). – Additional reporting by Rachel AJ Lee
Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong has appointed Clifford Weiner as general manager of Island Shangri-La with immediate effect.
With over 13 years of experience with the Shangri-La Group, Weiner brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role, where he will oversee the daily operations of Island Shangri-La and continue to drive its strategic growth.
His most recent position was project director at Island Shangri-La, where he worked towards a repositioning and relaunch of the property as an urban oasis, with a renewed focus on the leisure and family markets.
Escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada have raised serious concerns among India’s inbound tourism stakeholders, especially since October marks the beginning of the industry’s peak season.
Historically, Canada has been a vital source market for inbound tourism in India. While domestic tourism is gradually recovering, international tourism revival in India has been sluggish. A segment of tour operators fear that the strained relationship between both countries will severely impact this year’s inbound tourism prospects.
“Canada holds immense significance in our inbound tourism market. We have confirmed groups scheduled to travel in November, (but) the current strain in India-Canada relations is likely to lead to cancellations. However, we remain hopeful for a swift resolution to this issue,” said Debjit Dutta, director and CEO of Impression Tourism Services.
The deterioration in diplomatic ties began when Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a fervent supporter of a separatist movement advocating for the creation of ‘Khalistan’ in India. Subsequently, both nations expelled respective diplomats, and India suspended the issuance of visas to Canadians.
“At present, what we are seeing is a combination of cancellations plus Canadians postponing their travel plans by another two to three months. We are hoping that visa suspension for Canadians will be rolled back by that time because the inbound season ends in March. Also, the situation is grim for cancellations as we won’t get refunds from any suppliers in such a scenario,” said Homa Mistry, CEO, Trail Blazer Tours India.
Speaking anonymously, a hotelier mentioned that inbound tourism has been already slow to recover, partly due to limited marketing efforts internationally, and the current strained relations make it increasingly unlikely for Canadians to travel to India during the ongoing inbound season.
The need for constant education, public-private collaboration, and participation in certification programmes will help the business events sector to minimise its environmental impact, said panellists at the Driving Change: Sustainability in MICE Tourism panel presented at PATA Travel Mart 2023 Forum last week.
Supawan Teerarat, senior vice president of MICE Capability and Innovation at Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, initiated the discussion by stating that sustainability is now a “must-do”, and no longer a trend.
“The new generation of clients are more curious, and will not select destinations, properties, venues or DMCs, if (these suppliers) do not have sustainability policies in place,” she stated.
This is why TCEB has embarked on programmes such as the Farm to Function project, which encourages hotels to source products from local farmers; develops guidelines for sustainable event management; and provides consistent training for events operators to help them achieve ISO-level certifications.
Noredah Othman, CEO of Sabah Tourism Board, said the local business events sector is “at the stage where we should start sustainability right” and has the opportunity to learn “how to do MICE sustainably” from the more experienced neighbouring countries, like Thailand.
Noredah believes that Sabah’s business events sector is starting from a strong point, as the state’s identity is deeply interlinked with nature and conservation, and industry players are committed to community-based tourism and local sources. Visitors are also encouraged to offset their carbon footprint by participating in conservation efforts and be aligned with Sabah’s ethos of protecting its natural wonders.
Meanwhile, Amaresh Tiwari, vice chairman of the Indian Convention Promotion Bureau, highlighted how India is embracing sustainability through initiatives like Travel for LiFE, to bring about large-scale behavioural change among tourists and tourism businesses.
He elaborated how India has made strides in energy conservation, such as by using LED lighting and harnessing solar power in “30 to 40 per cent” of convention centres around the country, where excess energy “goes back to the surrounding community”.
Jyothi Varma, consultant of Travel Related Services Online and Offline, underscored the importance of education in instilling a culture of sustainability from an early age. She encouraged students in the audience to question everything, and participate in various groups and associations to learn more.
In a follow-up Forum session, Increasing sustainability in the tourism supply chain through standards and certification, Peter Richards, a project manager for Tourlink SwitchAsia Programme, also highlighted the importance of supplier education.
Richards said sustainability impact would be achieved once suppliers choose to be sustainable and more tourists opt for responsible tours and participate in community projects.
Tourlink SwitchAsia Programme aims to raise sustainability standards and bridge gaps in various sub-sectors of the Europe-Thai tourism supply chain. Efforts are also underway to draft Thailand’s first global sustainable tourism criteria, and align its carbon footprint calculations with European standards.
He elaborated: “The project involves developing checklists through a global-local consultation process, tailoring materials, and conducting training for businesses across different sectors, ranging from community-based tourism in Chiang Mai to marine tourism in Phuket. The team also works on auditing tools for small suppliers who may not afford formal certification processes.
From left: FAITH’s Aashish Gupta (moderator); TCEB’s Supawan Teerarat; Sabah Tourism Board’s Noredah Othman; Indian Convention Promotion Bureau’s Amaresh Tiwari; and Travel Related Services Online And Offline’s Jyothi Varma
