The Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) in Singapore has inked a one-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thomas Cook (India), and its group company, SOTC Travel respectively, during a Partners Appreciation Night held on July 28 in Mumbai.
With India a top source market for Sentosa, accounting for nearly a third of overseas visitors to Sentosa Island for 1H2023, the MoU will highlight the discoveries in Sentosa; and shore up Sentosa’s position as a top-of-mind destination.
HyperDrive, an electric go-kart circuit with gamification features, is one of the new attractions at The Palawan @ Sentosa (Photo: The Palawan @ Sentosa)
SDC will work closely with Thomas Cook and SOTC on activities such as product development, joint consumer promotions, as well as publicity to raise Sentosa’s profile in the India market, increase Sentosa’s capture rates of the India market particularly in Tier 2 and 3 cities, and grow visitorship to and spend on Sentosa Island. Both Thomas Cook and SOTC will also curate exclusive packages that feature the latest offerings in Sentosa.
Apart from the return of KidZania Singapore in 2024, the latest offering unveiled is the Shangri-La Group’s first standalone lifestyle and entertainment precinct, The Palawan @ Sentosa, which soft launched on July 26.
On the business events front, SDC will continue to work closely with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) through programmes such as the Singapore MICE Advantage Programme and In Singapore Incentives & Rewards (INSPIRE), to bring corporates into Sentosa. Under the programme, SDC and its businesses offer a range of complimentary experiences in Sentosa for eligible events, across dining, attractions, thematic-tours, and team-building experiences.
SDC is also working closely with the STB, and specialised Indian in-market destination wedding planners, to promote Singapore and Sentosa as a luxury wedding destination. To sweeten the deal, SDC will work with businesses on the island and wedding planners to offer complimentary pyrotechnic displays or drone light shows as wedding highlights.
Silversea Cruises has appointed Teresa Ignacio as assistant vice president, global guest services.
Based in Miami, she reports to Massimo Brancaleoni, senior vice president of global sales, and will collaborate with each of Silversea’s regional managing directors to develop, implement and lead a global operational strategy across all Silversea contact centers.
She has over 25 years of experience, and previously oversaw the consumer managed services programme for an American multinational financial services corporation.
InterContinental Singapore has promoted Judy Koh to hotel manager and Fai Abdullah to director of sales and marketing.
With almost 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Koh brings a wealth of expertise to her role having begun her journey at IHG two years ago as the director of sales and marketing.
From left: Judy Koh and Fai Abdullah
She will work hand in hand with general manager, Andreas Kraemer to further enhance guest satisfaction, and will oversee all operational functions within the hotel.
Fai has served as the director of sales in numerous luxury hotels such as Fairmont, Swissotel and Marriott for the past 10 years.
In her new role, she will be responsible for leading the sales and marketing teams, driving revenue growth, and enhancing the hotel’s brand presence in the luxury hospitality market.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Ginger Tree Goveia to bring a new hotel to Goa, India.
Slated to open in January 2025, voco Goa Arpora will be IHG’s seventh brand in the country and will cater to the growing demand for quality accommodation in Goa.
voco Goa Arpora will open in January 2025; voco Orchard Singapore, pictured
Located in North Goa, the new property will offer proximity to popular night markets, dining, boutique shopping and beaches of Baga and Calangute.
The hotel will feature 110 rooms, an outdoor pool, spa, gym, meeting rooms and three F&B options.
Onyx Hospitality Group is growing its Amari Hotels & Resorts portfolio, with the first of five upcoming openings launched on August 1.
Speaking to TTG Asia on the opening day of the Amari Raaya Maldives, Onyx’s CEO Yuthachai Charanachitta described the 187-key resort as the group’s “ultimate resort” and “one of the big milestones” for the company.
Yuthachai: Amari Raaya Maldives is our new benchmark for all Amari resorts
Amari Raaya Maldives comes as Onyx ends its management of Amari Havodda Maldives. The new-build sits on an island that is three-kilometres all around, and maintains plenty of open space amid a busy collection of hardware that includes an indoor and outdoor kids zone, arts centre, eight F&B venues, a spa with 10 treatment villas, water sports centre, herb garden with open kitchen and dining area, mangrove forest, and more.
“Amari Raaya Maldives is one of the most expensive projects undertaken by an owner with us, under the Amari brand. While Amari is an upper-upscale brand, the opening of Amari Raaya Maldives means we are now playing in the luxury space. Furthermore, Amari Raaya Maldives is our first luxury resort under the brand,” he explained.
The Amari portfolio currently comprises 14 properties, including the new Maldivian addition, and the majority is made up of urban hotels in cities, with strong products for meetings and corporate travellers. Some of its recent openings include the 453-key Amari SPICE Penang, Malaysia, which is directly connected to SPICE Convention Centre and SPICE Arena.
Of the four Amari properties that are set to open in 2024, three will be city hotels – in Colombo, Sri Lanka; Vientiane, Laos; and Bangsaen, Thailand – and one will be a “small resort” in Niseko, Japan.
“So, you can say that Amari Raaya Maldives is our new benchmark for all Amari resorts. It will be a strong reference resort product for us when we speak to owners,” said Yuthachai, adding that the success of the property will also determine the scale of management enquiries Amari will get in the future.
When asked if Amari Raaya Maldives would be the turning point for Onyx to elevate all Amari properties into the luxury category, Yuthachai would only say that the group constantly reviews all its brand and properties.
“We will not be able to bring all our existing Amari properties to Amari Raaya Maldives’s level immediately, but over time we will. That said, I believe that hospitality branding needs to be focused. I do not believe in having extensions of brands – like Brand A, A.1, and A.2 – that just creates a lot of confusion around pricing,” he added.
Yuthachai also shared that he may be inspired to bring some concepts at Amari Raaya Maldives to other Amari properties in time to come. One concept is the application of a backstory to Amari Raaya Maldives, built on a fictional castaway Seb, who found his way onto the island and built his life there.
“This has not been done at other Amari hotels. We could adopt some essence of Seb’s story into other Amari resorts, but for now, Seb is unique to Amari Raaya Maldives. Or, perhaps a different backstory would be more suitable for individual properties in Phuket, Samui and Pattaya, so that the guests’ journey and interactions will be more meaningful,” he said.
Amari Raaya Maldives’ extensive activity centre and kids’ zone are also worth looking into for other Amari properties, he noted.
With borders now open, the Macau government and business events stakeholders have intensified their efforts to create more leisure tourism experiences – that can be built around corporate events and meetings – to lengthen the stay of business travellers to Macau.
As part of the diversification of its offerings, the Macau government has adopted a “1+4” plan. It refers to the ongoing development of Macau’s tourism and leisure industries but with an additional focus on four new industries – big health, high-tech, modern finance, and conventions and exhibitions including culture and sports.
Studio City is a Hollywood-inspired, cinematically-themed resort on the Cotai Strip
The “1+4” plan will clarify the development direction of some industries, and will also include the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
According to the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), the city will host around 700 to 1,000 convention and exhibition events this year, up at least 40 per cent when compared to 2022.
Overall, the tourism sector has been off to a great start, with 200,000 visitors in 1Q2023, buoyed by business events such as a large-scale international corporate conference with over 10,000 attendees in April, and a 4,000-pax finance conference in May.
An IPIM spokesperson explained: “This is why we sent representatives to wave our flags at global events like UFI Global CEO Summit 2023, held in Portugal in February. We also attended UFI Asia-Pacific Conference last March to attract international organisers. So far, gaming expo G2E Asia 2023 has confirmed its return in July along with the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference in 2024; it’s the first time the conference has come back since its debut in Macau in 2008. These demonstrate their confidence in our future.”
Aside from promoting Macau on the global stage, IPIM also develops trade partnerships, as well as tie into event calendars to craft guided local tours suitable for corporates and event visitors.
Meanwhile, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) remains in charge of promoting incentive tourism, since it was transferred to the portfolio of the Secretary for Economy and Finance on February 1, 2021. To further develop the incentives sector, MGTO launched a Travel Stimulation Program.
Under the programme, MGTO provides approved applicants with appropriate destination support, such as souvenirs, cultural performances, half-day tours to experience the Historic Centre of Macao, and more.
In order to be eligible for the programme, corporate groups must include at least 25 non-Macau participants and stay for a minimum of two consecutive nights.
Aside from incentives, the programme also covers wedding tourism, student tourism, and sports tourism.
An aerial view of Macau (Photo by Macao Government Tourism Office)
The private sector has also stepped up efforts to court more international groups as visitors return.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment has currently secured around 10 international events – spanning from meetings to incentives – that will happen over the next six months. Groups vary in sizes, with the largest at around 900 pax.
Its spokesperson shared that more investments will be poured into its non-gaming activities, which aim to bring “world-class shows, art exhibitions, fun-filled family attractions, as well as modern and interactive cultural venues to Macau”. In line with this, Melco Resorts & Entertainment also launched Asia’s first-ever residency concert series.
Other fresh attractions include the opening of Melco’s own branded hotel, Epic Tower, and an all-year-round indoor waterpark in April, all of which are part of Phase 2 of Studio City.
Other projects in the pipeline include the soon-to-open W Macau, as well as new retail and F&B outlets. Upgrades will also Grand Hyatt Macau’s meeting and function facilities.
All of these facilities aim to attract local families and foreign tourists alike, complement Melco’s existing hospitality offerings and further boost the company’s MICE business,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, event management and teambuilding planner smallWORLD Experience is currently rebuilding its team, much like many other businesses in Macau.
Its executive director, partner, Bruno Simões, told TTGmice: “The resumption of business activities only commenced two months ago. Numerous operators, such as restaurants, transportation companies, and event service providers are still grappling to meet current demand.”
Regardless, he is optimistic of Macau’s business events future, adding that he plans to “begin promotional campaigns during the upcoming summer season.”
Although the industry has been down, we are confident that brighter days are ahead. We are currently in the process of healing our wounds, and eagerly await MICE recovery this summer. Let’s stay positive and keep pushing forward!” Simões said.
Discova Japan has appointed Takahiro Kondo as the new regional contracting manager, stationed in Tokyo, Japan.
He brings a wealth of expertise and experience in the travel industry to the company, having worked for many years in various capacities, including product development, contract management, and supplier relations.
In his new role, Kondo will be instrumental in driving innovation, developing new travel products, and cultivating strategic partnerships with local suppliers.
Emirates has named Rashed Alfajeer as the manager for Singapore and Brunei.
He succeeds Rashid Al Ardha, who has moved on to manage the airline’s operations in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Alfajeer embarked on his professional journey with Emirates a decade ago when he joined the Emirates Commercial Outstation Management Trainee Programme in 2013. He has held several key positions around the globe, and was most recently the manager for Iran and Central Asia.
Centara has appointed Pannarat Tantrativud as the new assistant vice president – CRM & customer service.
She will be responsible for leading Centara’s CRM and loyalty strategies, as well as the Customer Contact Centre, ensuring optimal customer service, relationship management, retention and commercial returns.
Prior to joining Centara, she was the general manager at Scale 360 Co.
With events and in-person connections back in focus, optimism abounds in the meetings and events industry this 2023.
Adaptability will still be paramount as the industry navigates the continuing resurgence of business events, new ways of working, changing attitudes to travel and ongoing supply challenges.
The FCM India Meetings & Events team kept busy in 2022 sending 150,000+ corporate customers around the world. According to FCM India’s Meetings & Trends Report, the top 10 destinations from India included Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Australia, Baku, New Zealand, the UK, Switzerland, and France.
Indian corporates are showing a keen interest in travelling for events
Strong demand continues The surge in bookings in 2023 continues to shape the sector. High demand is seen right across the industry, despite organisations facing changing attitudes to work-life boundaries and budgetary constraints.
“The global MICE market size, in terms of revenue, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6 per cent from 2022 to 2030 to reach US$1,563.3 billion. FCM Meetings and Events India has achieved better performance than pre-Covid levels by more than 50 per cent,” said Manpreet Bindra, president of FCM Meetings and Events.
Willingness to travel, or not Indian travellers defy the international trend (a reluctance to fill their calendars with out-of-office commitments) by displaying a keen interest in travelling for events. However, one significant change has emerged in their approach – Indian travellers are now intentional about their travel choices and the impact it has on their overall well-being.
The era of red-eye flights and hectic dash-in-dash-out itineraries has come to an end. Instead, they seek more pampering, experiential activities, and theme-based events that make them feel more connected. Indian travellers now crave a holistic travel experience that includes group activities, adventurous pursuits, and a balance between relaxation and enrichment. They understand the importance of self-care and prioritise activities that contribute to their overall well-being.
Sustainability takes a starring role It’s clear companies increasingly consider sustainability a powerful mandate when planning meetings and events. This presents an opportunity for meeting and event organisations and planners to take the lead and assist their clients in developing action plans to minimise these environmental impacts of events.
Other simple changes can make an impact, such as adopting delegate apps and onsite technology to replace paper usage; collaborating with eco-conscious suppliers to reduce environmental impact; emphasising local and sustainable food and beverages; reducing and recycling waste; choosing venues committed to reducing carbon emissions; and partnering with local charities during larger events.
Wellbeing for all In 2023, there is an increased focus on caring for the mental and physical well-being of employees – and that includes when they are attending meetings and events. This trend is shaping event planning, with a shift to designing more holistic gatherings at unique and different destinations.
Companies are also recognising the need to factor in more breaks during events, more wellness activities, less packed schedules, and more informal downtime that allows for genuine connection.
FCM India Meetings & Events have organised morning yoga classes, spa treatments, and engaged motivational speakers from various industries such as Cricketers, and Mount Everest Mountaineers to inspire business travellers.
Embedding well-being into an event is also being seen as an important way to reward and retain employees in what remains a very tight labour market.
Rising costs and meeting spend The rapid surge back to in-person events has been a challenge for venues, hotels, airlines, and event planners. Travel constraints, capacity issues, labour shortages, supply chain issues and travel disruptions are all easing, but they are factors that are not expected to fully stabilise until 2024.
“Planners and venues are still seeing a trend to book at the last minute or with short lead times, and venue availability remains tight. All these factors mean that the cost of a meeting per attendee has increased, at a time when business budgets are tight, and employees are working at capacity,” said Bindra.
Virtual fatigue is real Data from FCM Meetings & Events show planning for hybrid and virtual events had dropped off by 75 per cent by the end of 2022 compared to the previous year.
Bindra said: “In 2023, Indian travellers are feeling more relaxed and confident about travelling. The removal of testing and quarantine conditions has contributed to this positive shift, and it’s having a ripple effect on the meetings and events sector. People are realising the true value of in-person interactions and are embracing them with enthusiasm.”
Technology drives experiences The seismic shift in the way we all do business post-Covid has given rise to technology that is now a permanent part of the meetings and events world. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and live streaming have arrived, and they have the power to deliver multifaceted experiences to diverse audiences.
This accelerated uptake of tech is also enabling businesses and event planners to capture important data for in-depth analysis and reporting. Events in 2023 are now more costly, meaning companies want data that can show a return on their investment and that an event has delivered on its goals and objectives.
FCM India has a Meetings & Events Mobile App that offers features to enhance communication and connectivity for large travel groups. It supports logistics and information sharing before the travel, during and after.
In his new role, Kondo will be instrumental in driving innovation, developing new travel products, and cultivating strategic partnerships with local suppliers.
Alfajeer embarked on his professional journey with Emirates a decade ago when he joined the Emirates Commercial Outstation Management Trainee Programme in 2013. He has held several key positions around the globe, and was most recently the manager for Iran and Central Asia.
Prior to joining Centara, she was the general manager at Scale 360 Co.
