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JOINT PURPOSE
global perspective. For this, we had the pleasure of working with associations guru and Guest Editor, Jennifer Salsbury.
Often in events, we see groups of people gathering for a joint purpose. Whether it is to learn, network or discuss business, these activities are all carried out with hopes for a better future. This is certainly true for the associations industry. Traditionally, one pays a fee to be associated with other like-minded people. Some pay to have their association lobby on matters that affect their industry. Others pay to be professionally accredited for what they do; and so they should, especially if they are in the medical field. For over four decades, the business events industry in Asia Pacific has benefited from the association events revenue stream. The set-up of event bureaux to manage bidding opportunities for their countries saw the increased sophistication in tracking economic impact (financial gains a country received due to an event) and the way destinations marketed themselves. Hence, we saw the purpose of dedicating an entire edition on better understanding of the importance and growing power of the associations business from a
To ease your mind into this specialised topic and engage your interest, we bring you other forms of joint-purpose gatherings in our #DelveInto section. In Malaysia, we feature event experiences underpinned by the awareness of sustainability. In Thailand, we bring you highlights from a familiarisation tour Biz Events Asia co-hosted for 11 American buyers, most of whom were first time visitors to the city of angels whilst legendary golfer, Sir Nick Faldo, gave keen golfers a purpose to gather at Laguna Phuket last month. As we gather for the joint purpose of creating a better world, may a better understanding that contributes towards world peace be conceived. As Albert Einstein once said, “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.� We hope you enjoy this edition and find association with a greater sense of purpose.
APR 2016 BIZEVENTSASIA.COM
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Our cover image features Pinang Peranakan Mansion in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. Read how Malaysia won the first cancer congress in Southeast Asia on page 14.
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CHINA
World Travel Fair Shanghai, China | May 2016
JAPAN
Global Academic Network Conference (Global Academic Network Tokyo) Tokyo, Japan | May 2016
HONG KONG
Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair Hong Kong | April 2016
MALAYSIA
CIO Leaders Summit Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | June 2016
SINGAPORE
National Achievers Congress 2016 Singapore | May 2016
COVER STORY Malaysia wins first cancer congress in Southeast Asia
#CoverStory
MalaySia to hoSt firSt CanCer CongreSS in SoutheaSt aSia
WordS: gina Sin
MaLaysia seTs a neW benChMarK for MediCaL Congresses in The region by Winning The bid for The WorLd CanCer Congress and The WorLd CanCer Leaders’ suMMiT in 2018.
successful on its second attempt at clinching the bid, Malaysia has become the first nation in southeast asia to host the internationally-acclaimed World Cancer Congress and the World Cancer Leaders’ summit. The congress and summit is set to collectively attract more than 3,200 cancer specialists from over 115 countries representing the entire spectrum of the global cancer control community from october 1-4, 2018. The congress, to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), is expected to boost regional efforts of the various governments and nongovernmental organisations (ngos) in southeast asia in cancer control and prevention. it is also expected to contribute at least rM30 million (usd7.29 million) in economic value to the national economy. “The hosting of the World Cancer Congress 2018 in Kuala Lumpur is not only an honour for Malaysia but also for southeast asia. it is a reflection of the kind of close collaboration between the government and the ngos and also part of the government’s focus through the national Cancer institute on how serious we are about cancer control,” said Tan sri rafidah aziz, Principal Patron of the national Cancer society of Malaysia (nCsM).
Collaborative Support “Team Malaysia”, consisting of nCsM, the Malaysia Convention & exhibition bureau (MyCeb) and Ministry of health, first started the groundwork
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APR 2016
Janet Tan-Collis President | SACEOS CEO | East West Planners
Tan Sri rafidah aziz Principal Patron of the national Cancer society of Malaysia (nCsM)
The working committee of national Cancer society Malaysia (nCsM) and Malaysia Convention & exhibition bureau (MyCeb)
from left: Clare ratnasingham, Vice President, national Cancer society Malaysia (nCsM), Tan sri rafidah aziz, Principal Patron for national Cancer society Malaysia (nCsM) and ho yoke Ping, general Manager, business events, Malaysia Convention & exhibition bureau (MyCeb)
The World Cancer Congress will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2018
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
“The hosting of the World Cancer Congress 2018 in Kuala Lumpur is not only an honour for Malaysia but also for southeast asia. it is a reflection of the kind of close collaboration between the government and the ngos and also part of the government’s focus through the national Cancer institute on how serious we are about cancer control.”
APR 2016
Damion Breust Head of Corporate Relations Asia Pacific Barclays
to lobby for support by participating in booth exhibitions at the World Cancer Congress 2012 in Montreal, Canada, followed by the World Cancer Congress 2014 in Melbourne, australia. nCsM being the leader of the bidding team worked closely with MyCeb on the winning bid strategy that was submitted in september 2014, with a final decision on the host city made in april 2015. The national Cancer institute; Ministry of Women, family & Community development; Malaysia oncological society; College of radiology; national Population & family development board; and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture were some of many others who played crucial supporting roles in acquiring the bid.
getting the bid despite rising competition in the region, Team Malaysia presented a pitch to address the needs of the union for international Cancer Control (uiCC), which aims to create a hub that connects uiCC with the rest of southeast asia and a platform for knowledge sharing. The country’s strong track record in hosting international conferences, convenient access and affordability that enable delegates to visit and conduct business activities were some of the important considerations in the pitch. dr saunthari somasundaram, President of nCsM, also lobbied towards efforts in winning the bid. due to her active role in cancer awareness activities in region, she was elected to be one of the asian representatives on the board of uiCC.
uiCC is the largest cancer fighting organisation of its kind in the world, with more than 400 member organisations across 120 countries. headquartered in geneva, switzerland, it is one of the leading non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian cancer organisations. a Memorandum of understanding (Mou) was signed between the nCsM and uiCC in october 2015 to host the 2018 World Cancer Congress and the World Cancer Leaders’ summit in Kuala Lumpur. “MyCeb has been aggressively promoting Malaysia as the preferred destination for business and major events globally. Through MyCeb’s ongoing efforts, Malaysia will also be hosting conferences such as the Community based rehabilitation (Cbr) World Congress 2016, Congress of asia Pacific association of allergy, asthma and Clinical immunology, international Congress of the international society for Medical shockwave Therapy (isMsT 2016), and more,” said ho yoke Ping, general Manager of business events, MyCeb. held every two years, the World Cancer Congress is a unique and ideal platform for the international cancer control community to exchange best practices, meet, discuss, share, learn, and connect in order to find solutions to reduce the impact of cancer on communities around the world. The World Cancer Congress this year will be held from october 31 to november 3, 2016 in Paris, france.
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Selina Chavry Global Managing Director Pacific World
Daniel Chua Managing Director AONIA MICE
Andrew Chan CEO | ACI HR Solutions
SOUTH KOREA
Annual Conference on Life Sciences and Engineering Seoul, South Korea | July 2016
APRIL 16
ISSUE 6 #SoundBites
THAILAND
International Conference on Advances in Business Tourism & Social Sciences (ICABTSS) Phuket, Thailand | June 2016
10 #TakingTheLead 12 #Webspace 13 #FreshIdeas
38 #DelveInto Thailand Where programming content is key to successful events
48 #DelveInto Australia
Post-AIME report shows strength of three key Australian cities
16 #TheAssociationCongressesEdition
58 #Knowledge
Why association congresses matter and how to capture them
How to qualify business leads
60 #WiredUp
A well-integrated mobile app goes a long way in bridging communication
62 #LegalMind 28 #DelveInto Malaysia Explore Langkawi and how Kuching Sarawak, is gearing up for the ICCA congress
Read how a portal in Singapore is helping working mums find balance
64 #Engage 66 #DiningMatters 67 #Deals
21 E di t i on t Wo 2 0 1 6
Sydney ViewS fE E d i n G i n n ovAt i o n E d i t i o n
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Thought leaders
AUSTRALIA
Integrated Architecture in Banking and Finance Sydney, Australia | April 2016
Ho Yoke Ping General Manager Business Events Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)
Deanna Varga Assistant Director Commercial & Visitor Services Australian National Maritime Museum
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Feeding performance
Food science
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Don’t miss our special supplement from ICC Sydney
SYDNEY VIEWS
Max Jantasuwan Group Managing Director Events Travel Asia
Sumate Sudasna President | Thailand Incentive & Convention Association (TICA) MD | CDM Thailand
Daniel Aswin Co-founder Absolutions
Neeta Lachmandas Executive Director The Institute of Service Excellence, Singapore Management University
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CHINA Novotel Suzhou SIP has found a place in the heart of China’s Suzhou Industrial Park, a 307-key property to join the growing Novotel network in the Greater China region, which currently has 16 hotels across 10 cities. The third Novotel in eastern Jiangsu Province, the new build hotel is connected to the Suzhou International Expo Centre and is within walking distance to Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre as well as several other popular attractions, including Jinji Lake, Moon Harbour and more. The hotel offers over 700 sq m of events space, including a pillar-less ballroom and five meeting rooms.
THAILAND After a year-long refurbishment, Amari Koh Samui has reopened with a fresh look and feel. Bright and spacious surroundings reflect the warm, Thai-inspired design elements with a contemporary twist. 197 guest rooms are spread across three wings – the Garden Wing, Thai Village Wing and Beach Wing. Along with its new look, the hotel has also introduced a new dining option, the first Amaya Food Gallery in Thailand inspired by the well-loved street markets of Asia with an interactive open kitchen concept.
AUSTRALIA
A conferencing venue with a 700-guest event space built adjacent to Holiday Inn Warwick Farm in Greater Western Sydney is nearing completion. Set to open in late 2016, the 577-sq m pillar-less event space will allow for major launch events with the ability to bump in cars and trucks. Two foyers, a landscaped patio and 480 car park space are some of its added features.
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The New Option for the MICE market
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SRI LANKA Following the completion of a 30-month long restoration of the hotel’s North Wing late last year, Galle Face Hotel has recently introduced a new club lounge that boasts views of the Indian Ocean from a private terrace, a conference centre lobby that doubles as a museum with everything from a cannon ball that once smashed through its roof to the car which Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, once owned when he was stationed on the island in the 1940s. Galle Face Expeditions has also been launched for single to multiple day trips around Colombo and the rest of Sri Lanka.
# MALAYSIA
The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) has announced the appointment of Premala Danapakiam, BCCK Director of Sales and Marketing as the Deputy Chair of ICCA Malaysia Committee. “The appointment of Danapakiam as the Deputy Chair of ICCA Malaysia Committee is timely as Kuching will be hosting the 55th International Congress and Convention Association Annual Congress 2016 (ICCA 2016) from November 13-16, 2016. We look forward to the mutual cooperation between ICCA Malaysia members to further cement Malaysia’s position in the association meetings sector,” said Eric van Piggelen, CEO of BCCK.
GLOBAL
Minor Hotel Group (MHG) has made a move to strengthen itself as one of the global leaders in sustainable tourism by implementing the Green Growth 2050 (GG2050) sustainability solution. 35 resorts and hotels under the Anantara brand have already been committed to the Green Growth 2050 programme, launched in 2015, with many other hotels under MHG undergoing certification. According to John Roberts, MHG Director of Conservation Efforts, Green Growth 2050 was the only solution that brought together a Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recognised Certification Standard, aligned with international conventions including the UN Global Compact.
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NUMBERS
2020 The year it is expected that at least 50 percent of solutions offered to clients will be technology-driven, such as the digital table map used at a 1,200-guest event in Paris recently. Source: MCI Group
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# THAILAND The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has unveiled its “Thailand, Sustainability & Soulful CSR Destination” offering as part of the country’s strategy to attain a five percent growth in business events visitor numbers and revenue in 2016. This strategy is aimed at activities that could elevate business events held in Thailand to the next level through maintaining and promoting social, cultural and natural diversity. Four key areas highlighted as emerging trends are: “beach destinations for sustainability and CSR”, Bangkok’s role as the “capital for sustainability and CSR”, “wildlife for sustainability and CSR”, and the chance to contribute to a range of Royal Project Initiatives, founded by His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1969.
MACAU As gaming in Macau has declined by 35 percent, the country is placing a greater focus on being Asia’s mega events city. This new direction is seen supported by its newest integrated hospitality and meetings infrastructure. The Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) has also launched its new Subvention Programs to cover a minimum of 100 pax in a two-day meeting with a half-day corporate activity, or trade shows of more than 1,000 sq m. A range of incentives from accommodation costs, food and beverage, keynote speaker participation, marketing and promotion, will also be offered by IPIM.
FROM THE BUREAUX
CHINA The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and China’s various government bodies will organise the first World Conference on Tourism for Development in Beijing from May 18-21, 2016. Under the theme “Tourism for Peace and Development,” the event will foster a high-level debate on the contribution of tourism to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), presenting an analysis of how to advance the contribution of tourism to the 17 SDGs, including the sector’s ability to create jobs, promote
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local culture and be an agent of change towards more sustainable consumption and production practices. Moderated by CNN anchor and correspondent, Richard Quest, the conference will feature a discussion on how countries can align their national development strategies with the SDGs and the role of public and private partnerships in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
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Kerry Healy, Vice President Sales - Asia Pacific at Accorhotels, explains one of its latest initiative called Leisure Online What inspired the creation of Leisure Online? The original idea is to have a real booking tool on www.accorhotels.com/tourism, one that is beyond informative. The website gives access to our room inventory in real time allowing our clients to secure their business in our hotels. This is an opportunity for any leisure professional clients in any country in the world to place an option at any time without waiting for the hotels’ answer. In addition, clients can buy online the porterage and dinner services. We have rolled this out to 150 hotels in Asia Pacific and more hotels in South America & Europe will join the offer before the end of 2016 to reach the target of 850 hotels. What feedback have you received from the users? The clients have waited for a tool that would allow them to reduce the response time and now AccorHotels has invented it. So far, clients who have been using this tool have increased their productivity. The strengths of this tool are availability and rate. The clients instantly know the room availability, they are assured that the price is the best one they could find in any other channel. What is new is that Leisure Online gives clients the availability to open up our business to new hotels that they are not used to work with. This, at times, offers surprising prices that helps us discover them. The conversion rate has doubled in comparison to the group booking done directly to the hotels: due to the immediate information on group rates, and the possibility for the client to place an option online straight away. Which are the most requested brands via this channel? The most requested brands are Mercure, Novotel and ibis Hotels which represent more than 80 percent of bookings. The message to travel professionals at ITB Berlin concerning Leisure Online. We keep rolling out new hotels and new destinations. If the travel professionals want to get all information about the new destinations and hotels, they should register through our tourism newsletter in our website.
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# BOLD IN BRISBANE
WORDS: GINA SIN Sometimes a business event calls for something a little bit different, decadent or downright quirky. Industrial chic, exposed brick walls and street art are just some of the surrounds that get attendees engaged and inspired. Here are three of our favourite event venues in Brisbane, Australia.
Brisbane Powerhouse Exposed bricks and pipes wind their way through the building, exuding industrial-chic vibes at the Brisbane Powerhouse. The former 1920s power station’s history does not compromise on forward-thinking technology, and is wellequipped with electronic whiteboards, WiFi, data projectors and quality sound systems. New Farm Park is right next door for attendees who want to feel the grass between their toes. Bar Alto and Watt Restaurant on site also provide great food and drinks post-event. Accommodates up to 525 with 10 meeting rooms.
Cloudland Cloudland is in the heart of Brisbane’s entertainment precinct, Fortitude Valley. The interiors range from fairytale-chic in the Alice Room to dark decadence in The Cellar and everything in between. The set-up is complemented by high-tech audio visual and sound systems built into each function space. Did we also mention it has 5,000 climbing plants, a sparkling waterfall, a grand staircase and a retractable roof? Accommodates up to 2,200 with five meeting rooms.
Woolly Mammoth Embrace the elephant in the room (there is literally a huge woolly mammoth in the venue) at one of Woolly Mammoth’s trendy experiential and multi-purpose meeting spaces. There are bocce courts and giant Jenga for networking and brainstorming sessions, and a rustic catering with 31 craft beers on tap. The location in Fortitude Valley is also spot-on for transport and entertainment afterwards. Accommodates up to 1,200 with five meeting rooms.
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#CoverStory
MALAYSIA TO HOST FIRST CANCER CONGRESS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
WORDS: GINA SIN
MALAYSIA SETS A NEW BENCHMARK FOR MEDICAL CONGRESSES IN THE REGION BY WINNING THE BID FOR THE WORLD CANCER CONGRESS AND THE WORLD CANCER LEADERS’ SUMMIT IN 2018. The World Cancer Congress will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2018
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“The hosting of the World Cancer Congress 2018 in Kuala Lumpur is not only an honour for Malaysia but also for Southeast Asia. It is a reflection of the kind of close collaboration between the government and the NGOs and also part of the government’s focus through the National Cancer Institute on how serious we are about cancer control.” TAN SRI RAFIDAH AZIZ Principal Patron of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM)
The working committee of National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) and Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)
From left: Clare Ratnasingham, Vice President, National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Principal Patron for National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) and Ho Yoke Ping, General Manager, Business Events, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)
Successful on its second attempt at clinching the bid, Malaysia has become the first nation in Southeast Asia to host the internationally-acclaimed World Cancer Congress and the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit. The congress and summit is set to collectively attract more than 3,200 cancer specialists from over 115 countries representing the entire spectrum of the global cancer control community from October 1-4, 2018. The congress, to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), is expected to boost regional efforts of the various governments and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in Southeast Asia in cancer control and prevention. It is also expected to contribute at least RM30 million (USD7.3 million) in economic value to the national economy. “The hosting of the World Cancer Congress 2018 in Kuala Lumpur is not only an honour for Malaysia but also for Southeast Asia. It is a reflection of the kind of close collaboration between the government and the NGOs and also part of the government’s focus through the National Cancer Institute on how serious we are about cancer control,” said Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Principal Patron of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM).
COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT “Team Malaysia”, consisting of NCSM, the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and Ministry of Health, first started the groundwork to lobby
for support by participating in booth exhibitions at the World Cancer Congress 2012 in Montreal, Canada, followed by the World Cancer Congress 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. NCSM being the leader of the bidding team worked closely with MyCEB on the winning bid strategy that was submitted in September 2014, with a final decision on the host city made in April 2015. The National Cancer Institute; Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development; Malaysia Oncological Society; College of Radiology; National Population & Family Development Board; and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture were some of many others who played crucial supporting roles in acquiring the bid.
GETTING THE BID Despite rising competition in the region, Team Malaysia presented a pitch to address the needs of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), which aims to create a hub that connects UICC with the rest of Southeast Asia and a platform for knowledge sharing. The country’s strong track record in hosting international conferences, convenient access and affordability that enable delegates to visit and conduct business activities were some of the important considerations in the pitch. Dr Saunthari Somasundaram, President of NCSM, also lobbied towards efforts in winning the bid. Due to her active role in cancer awareness activities in the region, she was elected to be one of the Asian representatives on the board of UICC.
UICC is the largest cancer fighting organisation of its kind in the world, with more than 400 member organisations across 120 countries. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it is one of the leading non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian cancer organisations. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the NCSM and UICC in October 2015 to host the 2018 World Cancer Congress and the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in Kuala Lumpur. “MyCEB has been aggressively promoting Malaysia as the preferred destination for business and major events globally. Through MyCEB’s ongoing efforts, Malaysia will also be hosting conferences such as the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) World Congress 2016, Congress of Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, International Congress of the International Society for Medical Shockwave Therapy (ISMST 2016), and more,” said Ho Yoke Ping, General Manager of Business Events, MyCEB. Held every two years, the World Cancer Congress is a unique and ideal platform for the international cancer control community to exchange best practices, meet, discuss, share, learn, and connect, in order to find solutions to reduce the impact of cancer on communities around the world. The World Cancer Congress this year will be held from October 31 to November 3, 2016 in Paris, France.
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#TheAssociationCongressesEdition
THE ASSOCIATION CONGRESSES EDITION BIZ EVENTS ASIA NAVIGATES THROUGH THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ASSOCIATIONS BUSINESS
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ASSOCIATIONS BRING MEANING ASSOCIATIONS IN ASIA AND THE SUPPORTING SUPPLIER TRADE ARE DEVELOPING THEIR EXPERTISE AND GAINING BENEFITS FROM INTERNATIONAL GROUPS WITH A KEEN INTEREST IN THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE REGION. WORDS: EL KWANG JENNIFER SALSBURY Associations bring meaning to groups of people organising together for a joint purpose. They bring connections and co-operative links between people and organisations, as well as create bonds and unions for varied disparate groups. They cover trade, professional and affinity groups in addition to inter-government linkages. They provide the environment for standardisation, industry regulation, professional education and scientific research. They can also be a true force for good in developing regions and underpin support for disadvantaged groups. There are many purposes and objectives for the hundreds of thousands of these organisations, large or small, and growing in the Asia Pacific region – long quoted by the event industry’s leading association congress organisation, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), as the fastest growing region for association development.
MAXIMISING MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING Associations cross into the event management world with their congresses, exchanges, workshops, seminars and numerous other events – whatever they like to call them – to share experiences and research findings, train and upgrade professionals or resolve challenging issues. Overlay the Asian penchant for getting things done through relationships and connections and it’s a natural for developing this region. The key to a successful partnership between a professional event or congress organiser
– known in the association’s world as a PCO – and the association client is clear mutual understanding of each other’s objectives. The association hires a professional to gain the benefit of trade connections for logistics and also proper management of an event budget allowing the scientists to focus on the content. However, there are many more areas where an experienced PCO can really assist and one key area is in revenue sourcing through sponsorship or the exhibition. Having understood the event objectives, the PCO can leverage on their contacts in the relevant supporting industry together with their knowledge of current trends, codes of conduct and professional restrictions to match suitable sponsors with projects seeking funding support.
REGIONAL SUPPORT IAPCO is the international association of PCOs and has long been working within the region to train all aspects of professional congress management, tailoring an internationally renowned event to the local Asian context for a variety of regional city or national convention bureaux and their members. This year the upcoming President of IAPCO, Jan Tonkin of New Zealand’s The Conference Company, will be based within the Asia Pacific region giving encouragement to the regionally based PCO members. IAPCO is one of the professional groupings of suppliers servicing the association congress industry. More recently, there have been developments within the region from North America-based organisations such as the Professional Convention Management Association
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#TheAssociationCongressesEdition
(PCMA) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI), to name a few. The professional convention centre and venue management organisations like the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) and the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) have also been busy. Most of these organisations have well-developed training programmes and partner with Asia-based groups to varying degrees of localisation effectiveness. The running of ICCA’s annual congress in Kuching, Sarawak this year will bring together the trade from the region in a wonderful exchange with professionals from around the world. Sharing in this way works tremendously well for congress experiences as this particular type of event is usually, by nature, a one-off and the following edition is organised by a different group in a different part of the world. It is not only the trade that is working together but also groups of association executives exchanging thoughts for better association management. Australiabased Association Forum leader John Peacock has brought this kind of training to Malaysia in a welldeveloped programme. The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has been actively encouraging the market in China and has just run for the second time their Great Ideas Forum (GIF) in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, a movement is quietly taking shape in the region. Philippine -based association leader Bobby Peralta notices various groups coming together and sharing ideas whilst Europe-based associations have found a compelling reason to set up in Asia to market their professional training – a group of association executives joined together under the auspices of Berlin based K.I.T. Group to visit
Association Congresses – Why do we want this business? Association congresses are as varied as other types of business but, on the whole, they have similar benefits to a destination or supplier to the specialist congress organiser.
Singapore and shared their impressions of the opportunities. When an association congress comes to town, its presence is certainly felt in the city’s restaurants, shops and touristic attractions in addition to the venues and hotels hosting the event. So much so that the increase in revenue has been identified by many local authorities and formalised into the network of convention bureaux. It is discretionary spending by visitors who have usually had their travel and accommodation expenses covered by others and proven to be higher per capita spenders than the leisure tourism sector. These days the buzzword is “legacy” and much is written on the lasting impact beyond the tourism dollars – it is much more about the knowledge exchange. With growing development comes increasing wealth, education, scientific research and a growing presence of Asians not only participating in international meetings but also steering the development of these organisations themselves by sitting on international boards of management. Marketing to attract group attendance at regional or international events becomes highlighted as it potentially leads to connections for developing future exchanges and outreach or community projects. The association movement is alive, well and truly active in Asia!
Economically robust – These organisations are regulated internally by their own statutes as well as their related industry, and association events have to happen. They are therefore less affected by short-term marketing plan changes, economic factors and trends related to consumer demand. Early confirmation – Established event cycles mean that organisations select venue early to ensure that their event is being brought to the members on a regular basis. Flexible and good for low seasons – Most tend to avoid clashes with similar events and may have established running on certain days of the week but are usually more flexible with dates in order to maximise better rates during low seasons. Higher level of discretionary spending power – Many delegates are sponsored – in varying degrees – to attend either by their employers or by suppliers and therefore have a higher level of discretionary budget than a regular tourist to spend in the destination. Knowledge exchange – Association groups gather like-minded people together for mutual benefit but in medical, technology or scientific-related conferences they also perform the role of continuing professional education with formal accreditation points for attendance and a means of creating standards within a profession or industry. Legacy – In addition to the professional training gains, there is motivation for further research, encouragement in worthwhile projects and causes within the destination and an extended impact within the hosting community. This is not to say there are no new challenges for international congress organisers. The pressure today is to stay relevant to their audience of various generations and ensure, by creating compelling content and communicating it effectively through the whole range of media, that they are the “must-attend” event within their specific marketplace. They are competing for delegate attendance that is affected by budget constraint and are increasingly bound by industry codes of ethics.
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COLLABORATION IS THE NAME OF GAME Looking around the region there is a new energy coming into the associations world and one extremely experienced person pops up time and again quietly motivating for better recognition of the benefits to society from professional association management through collaboration and sharing of experience. Octavio B. Peralta, also known as “Bobby”, volunteered as the President & CEO of the Philippine Council for the Advancement of Association Executives (PCAAE) whilst serving professionally as the Secretary General of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) in Manila, Philippines. Checking in with Bobby, I asked him about the success of PCAAE. “Being a democracy, with freedom of expression and to associate; being an “island” country as well as part cultural (Filipinos love to meet, greet and celebrate) are reasons why people and institutions converge and form membership organisations in the Philippines.
MANAGING ASSOCIATIONS IS A SPECIALISED BUSINESS AND NOT AT ALL WHAT APPEARS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD. OFTEN STARTING OUT WITH NO PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF MANAGEMENT, MANY EXECUTIVES HAVE GAINED HUGELY FROM COLLABORATION AND SHARED EXPERIENCE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL GROUPS OF ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES. WORDS: JENNIFER SALSBURY
In PCAAE’s case (which is only two years’ old), I saw a ‘gap’ and a need to form an ‘association of associations’ based on the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) model to further professionalise association governance and management in the country.
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“I believe sharing of best practices will eventually lead to the creation of a global ‘association of associations” OCTAVIO B. PERALTA President & CEO PCAAE
annual conference called the Association Executives Summit (AES) which is now on its third year running (AES III ran on December 3-4, 2015 with future dates to be announced on www.pcaae.org).
With this as a focus and advocacy, and with the help of practitioners in the association sector here as well as supporters like the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), which provided initial financial resources; the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), which provided its event venue; and my organisation, the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia & the Pacific (ADFIAP), which provided the secretariat. These were sort of the ‘building blocks’ for PCAAE to take off.”
HOW ABOUT OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION? “There is also a new society of association executives like the PCAAE in Korea that was initiated by Glynn Choo, also an ASAE member like myself. It’s called the Korean Society of Association Executives (KSAE), formed in 2015 (after PCAAE). Then there are two ‘older’ association organisations in Australia, the Associations Forum (John Peacock) and the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE). These four ‘national’ associations got together last March in Hong Kong at the sidelines of the inaugural
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ASAE Great Ideas Conference Asia-Pacific, and formed the AsiaPacific Federation of Association Organizations (APFAO). I may also mention that Malaysia is keen in coming up with their own similar association and we’re exchanging notes on this as we speak.
Aside from those mentioned above, we have a certification programme called the Certified Professional Executive Programme, a points system continuing education platform; we have a line-up of home-grown speakers and authors bureau, a MICE Ambassadors Program to help attract international association conferences into the country and an awards program known as the ANG SUSI Awards (in Philippine language, literally ‘The Key’ awards, highlighting and recognising the achievements of associations and other membership organisations. It is also the acronym for “Associations nurture National Growth for Social Unity and Innovations”.
I believe this sharing of “best practice” will eventually lead to the creation of a global grouping – an ‘association of associations’, if you will. The North American and European ‘regional’ associations have been there. There is shaping up to be an ‘African’ federation of associations and, as mentioned above, the APFAO already exists. As these initiatives converge, the next level will be on a global scale.”
WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS DO YOU WORK ON WITH YOUR LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS COMMUNITY? “As PCAAE is the only ‘association of associations’ in the country, we communicate through both online (email, e-publications, social media) and face-to-face (board meetings, committee meetings, seminars,
“It’s a personal mission of mine to strengthen ties between IAPCO and the Asia-Pacific region. It’s a twofold opportunity: as well as profiling IAPCO to organisations, venues and bureaux in Asia Pacific” JAN TONKIN President IAPCO
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FE E D I N G I N N OVAT I O N E D I T I O N
ICC Sydney Executive Chef Tony Panetta visits Martin Boetz at the Cooks Co-op and tastes some of his Hawkesbury River local produce.
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E DITION TWO 2016
SYDNEY VIEWS F EEDI NG I N N OVAT I O N E D I T I O N
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PAG E 4
Thought leaders
Feeding performance
Food science
Sydney influencers share their views on vibrant cities.
ICC Sydney’s food philosophy mourishes both the body and the mind.
Healthy chef and nutritionist Teresa Cutter reviews ICC Sydney’s smart menus.
ICC Sydney Executive Chef Tony Panetta visits Martin Boetz at the Cooks Co-op and tastes some of his Hawkesbury River local produce.
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Welcome from the CEO by GEOFF DONAGHY 3. Technology As a new build, ICC Sydney is equipped with an integrated technological backbone that will provide flexibility for years to come.
In addition to his role as Chief Executive Officer at ICC Sydney, Geoff Donaghy is Director of Convention Centres AEG Ogden and President of the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC) and is its representative on peak global body, the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC). As we count down to the opening of Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct in December, I’m pleased to share with you what I believe to be the formula for establishing one of the world’s most extraordinary venues. 1. Location & destination Blessed with a stunning natural environment, ICC Sydney is located right on the foreshore of a spectacular harbour. More important though is its position in the heart of the city. The development of Sydney’s western harbour now positions Darling Harbour at the centre of the city’s intellectual capital precincts. The CBD sits to our east, the new financial district of Barangaroo to our north, educational precincts and the city’s most prolific startup hub to our south and key media and cultural facilities to our west. ICC Sydney enjoys all of this and is a pivotal component of a $3.4 billion program to revitalise Darling Harbour and its public domain. 2. Design Through a collaborative process with the New South Wales State Government, architects Hassell + Populous, and our consortium partners Lendlease, we are creating a new model for hosting business and entertainment events. ICC Sydney comprises three interconnected buildings and will deliver a dynamic, activated precinct with multipurpose facilities and flexible spaces designed to maximise opportunities for collaboration.
Delegates will have venue-wide access to high bandwidth and robust wireless connectivity, dynamic HD digital signage and elite conferencing facilities. The venue’s high calibre and functional IT network is hardwired into every room, providing the ability to tailor solutions for every event, now and in the future.
Sydney: Australia’s intellectual capital
Home to Australia’s key regulatory bodies Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
4. People With a focus on blending seasoned industry experts, from the AEG Ogden network, our city, state and nation, with professionals from other industries, we are building an extraordinary team that together will open the most exciting venue being developed in the world today.
Australia’s No. 1 research hub 3 world renowned research institutions (Garvan Institute, Lowy Research Centre and Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute); 8 Cooperative Research Centres 14 major teaching hospitals
Over the coming months, my key focus is to create a truly great workplace, one with rewarding jobs and exciting career opportunities for the 2,000 people that make up ICC Sydney’s talent force. 5. Culinary excellence
No. 1 reputable city globally (Reputation Institute 2015)
In some instances, our delegates are with us for four or five days and their health, enjoyment and performance are extremely important to us. ICC Sydney is set to provide ample choice for its visitors and clients plus world class service and cuisine. Our commitment to food for performance, both physical and mental, is driven by an innate understanding of the importance of local, seasonal and ethical produce. What sets us apart is Executive Chef Tony Panetta’s work with nutritionists to understand the science behind ingredients, ensuring we offer the best possible meal to suit a range of tastes. We look forward to welcoming you to experience world class in everything that we do this December. s ICC Sydney is being delivered by the NSW Government in partnership with Darling Harbour Live, comprising Lendlease, Hostplus, Capella Capital, AEG Ogden and Spotless FM, as part of Darling Harbour’s most exciting renewal in 25 years.
5 top tier universities (Macquarie University, University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, Western Sydney University)
Australia’s No. 1 business events destination (International Congress & Convention Association 2015)
Home to Australia’s only integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct
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Views from the top Influencers & thought leaders share their views on creating a vibrant city with world class dining experiences
GOVERNMENT, BUSINESSES, ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITIES ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD SYDNEY’S REPUTATION AS A WORLD CLASS DESTINATION. FROM FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT TO BUSINESS EVENTS, INNOVATION HUBS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES, WE ARE CONSTRUCTING A CITY THAT DELIVERS THE BEST OF THE BEST. MIKE BAIRD NSW Premier
Sydney is seeing an unprecedented transformation as it reinforces its global city position and sets a path for future growth. We are seeing a new surge in public transport infrastructure and urban renewal precincts across the city but at the heart of it all will be ICC Sydney – a vibrant new hub that is immersed into and interacts with its new urban public domain. New retail outlets including exciting cafes, bars and restaurants will pop up and build on the already successful Darling Quarter area creating a truly thriving entertainment and food destination. GLENN SCOTT Principal Architect HASSELL
WE ARE EXCEPTIONALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE STUNNING PRODUCE RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP AS WELL AS PRODUCERS THAT ARE TRULY DEDICATED TO THEIR CRAFT AND ITS CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. WE ALSO ATTRACT THE FINEST TALENT IN WINE AND HOSPITALITY, SETTING US APART ON A FIERCELY COMPETITIVE GLOBAL STAGE. SOPHIE OTTON
Independent wine consultant, presenter & educator
Sydneysiders have really embraced the small bar scene. This revolution is part of Sustainable Sydney 2030, and there are more than 100 popular small bars now operating in the City of Sydney Local Government Area. The City is committed to investing in the future and enlivening laneways, which helps to create a more vibrant city centre for all.
INVESTMENT IN SYDNEY’S FUTURE IS WIDE-REACHING AND WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THE CITY WILL MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR WORLD CLASS VENUES, ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORT.
LO R D M AYO R CLOVE R MOO R E
MIN ISTER CON STAN CE
City of Sydney
Sydney is an absolute mecca for both leisure and business tourists, and interest is increasing. The transformation of the iconic Darling Harbour precinct with integrated new entertainment, convention and exhibition facilities and a raft of amazing new spaces will see businesses of exceptional quality, including the new Sofitel at ICC Sydney, flourish. SIMON MCGRATH Chief Operating Officer Accor Pacific AccorHotels
NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
SYDNEYSIDERS EXPECT AND ACCEPT NOTHING BUT THE BEST WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, AND OUR PROXIMITY TO ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLY FARMED PRODUCE MEANS FINDING TOP QUALITY INGREDIENTS AND MEALS IS NEVER A PROBLEM. ICC SYDNEY’S COMMITMENT TO USING FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE IS JUST ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHY OUR CITY IS RENOWNED AS A GLOBAL FOOD CAPITAL. DR. JOANNA MCMILLAN Independent nutritionist
Sydney is a treasure trove of gourmet delights and our city’s commitment to top quality food, beverage and service makes it one of the most desirable destinations in the world to live, work and visit. From fine dining at Quay to bistros like Bennelong, from cool cafes to amazing pubs, the diverse range of options and cuisines truly set us apart. JOHN FINK Director he Fink Group
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Food for Performance Executive Chef, Tony Panetta, is committed to using not only the best local ingredients, but ones that will enhance delegate experiences at ICC Sydney. His guiding aim is to ensure all visitors are primed to fully enjoy the vast range of events and entertainment on offer across the new world class venue. Here, Panetta reveals the philosophy underpinning all of ICC Sydney’s menus and how his ‘smart food’ will drive physical and mental performance across the board.
by TONY PANETTA
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At ICC Sydney, we want to create the best possible environment for collaboration, learning and innovation. It is this mission that has helped us hone in on a guiding philosophy that we believe will help consistently achieve business event success and set Sydney apart from the rest. At ICC Sydney, we will deliver food for performance. With the help of nutritionists we have come to appreciate the science behind our ingredients and how to harness produce to deliver the best results.
WE KNOW SEASONAL, LOCAL, NUTRITIOUS AND HEALTHY FOOD PROVIDES THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR MINDS TO THINK CLEARLY, ENGAGE FULLY, AND GENERATE THE BEST IDEAS POSSIBLE, AND FOR BODIES TO REMAIN LIGHT AND ENERGISED. Our approach focusses on being smart about food, which translates across produce selection, our “a la minute” approach to preparation and cooking, and how we blend ingredients. This means we are creating menus designed to fuel performance, comprising local ingredients that have been chosen to assist in things like concentration or delivering natural energy, so guests remain bright and alert throughout the day. Just as we want delegates to get the most out of their plenary sessions and workshops, we also want event participants energised throughout the day on the trade show floor or to engage in sparkling conversation whilst enjoying the breadth and depth of our carefully considered “only in Australia” gala banquet menus. We’re committed to providing clients with choice and can craft options to suit the varying tastes of delegates from around the world. Our kitchen team, which includes renowned pastry chef Michael Belcher, will create Instagramable delicacies with style and substance.
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Whether it’s a sweet treat or sumptuous seasonal salad, however, the ingredients will be ethically grown and produced, and the dish will have a personal touch, so guests feel like it has been created just for them. As an example of this, our first seasonal menu will feature a salad made with Freekah, a whole food ancient grain, which is low GI and rich in protein and minerals. It is a great source of fibre and can help combat sweet cravings as it contributes to stabilising glucose levels throughout the day. Beetroot is also a classic Australian ingredient and one that will feature at ICC Sydney when in season. It is one of the richest dietary sources of antioxidants and naturally occurring nitrates, praised for improving blood flow throughout the body, including the brain, heart and muscles, and great for concentration. This health and vitality focus extends beyond food, so expect to see a selection of botanical spa waters, healthy juices and coconut water. Our focus here is on electrolytes, which hydrate cells, transporting energy around the body and boosting circulation. We are also being smart about how we treat fresh produce, particularly when we’ve reached the end of a season. In addition to fresh local produce,
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we will use preserved items on our menus too – our answer to serving out of season requests while sticking to our commitment to local farmers. As you read this, we are establishing a large and broad network of artisan farmers and producers to support our menus for years ahead. This will help us serve up quintessential Sydney cuisine while strengthening regional businesses by fostering growth and job opportunities – a win for us, our clients and our community. ICC Sydney will set new industry standards across the board, and our food offering will be a defining feature that helps position this new venue as truly world class. We are agile enough to cater a boardroom lunch for 10 while delivering a gala dinner for 2,000, all with a personal touch, performance-focused approach and commitment to the city and state we operate in. No one can deny the scale of the challenge, but our secret – like that of all the teams at ICC Sydney – is team work, robust planning, anticipating the needs of our clients and collaboratively delivering the best solutions to create memorable moments and lasting business success. Bon appétit! s
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1, 2, 3 Cooks Co-op farm fresh product 4 Old Salty’s Oysters, Pambula Lake 5 Selection of Willowbrae Chevre Cheese products
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ICC Sydney menu preview A nutritionist’s review of dishes created by Tony Panetta, Executive Chef at ICC Sydney
Coconut and chia seed tapioca breakfast bowl
by TERESA CUTTER
CO CO N U T WAT E R BER R I ES
Rich in superfood goodness, each serve is packed with soluble fibre to support digestive health and ingredients which help stabilise blood sugar levels. • Chia is high in plant-based omega-3s, essential for a healthy heart. Chia also helps to lower cholesterol while maintaining proper artery function and is rich in B vitamins which promote a healthy metabolism – perfect for weight management. • Berries are full of antioxidants and rich in vitamin C which helps to keep skin firm by aiding collagen production. • Brazil nuts are packed with selenium which helps to support heart health and muscle metabolism. • Coconut water acts like an electrolyte, helping to hydrate cells, transport energy and boost circulation.
BR AZI L NUTS C HI A S EEDS
Lamb salad F R E E KA H
POM E GRA N ATE
This is a delicious salad full of lean protein and antioxidantrich aromatics. • Lamb is packed with complete protein as well as B vitamins, niacin, zinc and iron. It’s also one of the richest sources of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which supports a healthy metabolism and immune system. • Freekah, a whole food ancient grain, is low GI and rich in protein and minerals. It has a wonderful nutty flavour and is also a great source of fibre. • Pomegranate is high in vitamin C, aiding in collagen production and supporting healthy heart function by reducing blood pressure and inflammation in the body. • Kale, part of the cabbage family, is a good source of antioxidants, beta-carotene and vitamins C and E. It is also rich in naturally occurring glucosinolates which help in the fight against disease.
KA LE ZU CC HIN I
LAMB
• Zucchini is a good source of B-group vitamins, essential for energy metabolism. Vitamin C, betacarotene and phytonutrients give zucchini its powerful antioxidant properties.
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The power of good food Q&A with Teresa Cutter, founder & director of The Healthy Chef So good food equals good performance?
As a result, the city’s chefs are increasingly focused on providing top quality, sustainably sourced, seasonal produce and healthy wholefoods – all across a diverse range of cuisine – and this truly sets us apart.
Exactly. Health and wellness is well established as a global consumer trend and good nutrition is needed everywhere; in schools, hotels, work environments, hospitals, at home and anywhere else you can imagine.
How is what we eat linked with our physical and mental wellbeing? Teresa Cutter is one of Australia’s leading healthy chefs, dedicated to improving wellbeing through the medium of food. She is also a trained nutritionist and an internationally accredited fitness trainer with the Fitness Institute of Australia. Teresa firmly believes that to be sustainable, any healthy diet must also be a delicious one, and she regularly shares her knowledge as an author, content curator, television spokesperson and contributor to various publications. Here, she reflects on her city’s love of food and how a nutrition-first approach is fuelling a happier, healthier place to live and visit. Sydney offers an abundance of delicious temptations, but have you seen any change in the way people view food and nutrition in recent times? Over the years I have seen both Sydneysiders and, more broadly, Australians become increasingly excited about nutrition and the positive ways food and exercise can help shape their health. People now want to know exactly what is going into their food and the role this plays in the body. Sydney is a renowned foodie capital with a reputation for excellence and a strong outdoorsy culture, it’s no wonder we are quite health conscious.
Nutrition has emerged as a key factor in business success and I believe all culinary professionals (and amateurs for that matter) have the power to positively change and support our society by designing healthier menus, ditching preservatives and choosing high quality, seasonal ingredients from local suppliers.
What we eat forms the foundation of our health and a balanced diet has always played a vital role in supporting this by providing the body with essential vitamins, protein and minerals.
GOOD NUTRITION ENABLES US TO CONCENTRATE BETTER AND WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY. Also, for those who are always on the move or under pressure, nutrition can make the difference between a good and bad day. When we travel or have a heavy workload, our body gets tired and more susceptible to getting sick as our nutrient stores are depleted. Food is the most powerful medicine we have, and during these times it is particularly important to make solid meal choices that will support wellbeing.
The power of good food has been recognised as far back as with the Ancient Greeks. I love this quote by Hippocrates: “Positive health requires a knowledge of man’s primary constitution [which today we call genetics] and of the powers of various foods, both those natural to them and those resulting from human skill [today’s processed food]. But eating alone is not enough for health. There must also be exercise, of which the effects must likewise be known. The combination of these two things makes regimen, when proper attention is given to the season of the year, the changes of the winds, the age of the individual and the situation of his home. If there is any deficiency in food or exercise the body will fall sick.”
This is something I know ICC Sydney is committed to and I believe it will greatly help and delight delegates and visitors. What are some good food combinations or superfoods we can eat to stay at the top of our game?
I ALWAYS RECOMMEND DISHES SHOULD INCLUDE FRESH, WHOLEFOOD INGREDIENTS THAT WILL SATISFY WITHOUT WEIGHING YOU DOWN. For example, steamed vegetables or a garden salad with some protein, like a piece of wild caught fish, is a great combination. The high protein content helps to balance blood glucose levels, which helps maintain concentration and energy. For a quick boost, a green juice or smoothie made from berries is always a good option! s
Teresa’s top three health tips for event performance
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Drink The simplest trick is to stay hydrated. Increasing water consumption can help boost mental alertness as well as improve skin and digestive health.
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Move Enjoy regular exercise. It doesn’t have to be intense, even a 20 minute walk, three times a week will make a noticeable difference.
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Eat Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly leafy greens which are full of vitamins, minerals and disease-fighting phytochemicals.
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首席执行官热烈欢迎大家 by GEOFF DONAGHY
除了担任悉尼国际会议中心 (ICC Sydney) 首席执行官一职外 Geoff Donaghy也是AEG奥格登会议中心的总 监和联合会议行业委员会 JMIC 的永 久代表 他也同时担任会议中心国际协会 主席这一要职 悉尼国际会展中心预计将在今年12月正式 开幕 届时该中心将成为澳大亚首屈一指 的会议 展览及娱乐中心专区 悉尼国际 会议中心的特色在于
1. 优越的地理位置 坐拥迷人的城市美景 悉尼国际会议中心 位于达令港畔 与众多核心服务区域为 邻 中央商业区就在其东边 新建设的国 际金融服务中心巴兰加鲁在其北 南边是 教育专区和创业中心 西边则是媒体中 心 技术中心和文化中心等 整个振兴工 程耗资34亿澳元 竣工后将为悉尼达令港 注入新气 2. 卓越的设计 通过新南威尔士州政府 HASSELL+Populou建筑公司和财团伙伴的 联手合作 悉尼国际会议中心为大家带来 独一无二的体验 悉尼国际会议中心由三 座相互连接的建筑组成 凭借着令人耳目 一新的现代化设计 世界领先的技术和多 用途场馆空间 这里将成为举办会议 展 览和各项活动的理想选择
3. 先进的技术
5. 令人惊叹的佳肴美馔
作为一个崭新的会议中心 悉尼国际会议 中心拥有最先进的技术设施 可为任何活 动和会议提供技术支持
在一些情况下 会展可能举办四至五天 也就是说在这四至五天里 与会者大部分 的时间将与我们在一起 这时 他们的健 康 娱乐和表现对我们来说至关重要
会议中心内设高速宽带 WIFI全面覆盖 高清数字标牌和国际知名的会议音视频系 统等设施 此外 会议中心内的每一个会 议室也都配备有先进的视听系统及互联网 宽带服务 能满足各类会议需求 4. 专业的团队 我们拥有一支专业 优秀的会展团队 团 队成员由资深的AEG奥格登人士和其他行 业的专业人士组成 为客户提供全面的会 展服务 在未来的日子里 我将专注于为这个近两 千人的强大队伍创造一个良好的工作环 境 并竭力为员工提供富有竞争力的薪酬 福利 极具挑战性的工作机会和良好的职 业发展前景
悉尼国际会议中心为客户提供多种选择和 世界一流的服务及美食 食物会影响一个人的工作表现 我们力求 选用当地的时令食材 并确保这些食材符 合道德采购标准 我们期待您能在今年12月份前来体验我们 所为您提供的世界级服务 悉尼国际会议中心开发项目是新南威尔 士州政府和活力达令港项目 (Darling Harbour Live)达令港改造工程的一部 分 项目由联盛集团 Lend Lease HOSTPLUS Capella Capital AEG奥 格登和Spotless公司聯合打造 这将是达令 港25年来最激动人心的翻新项目
悉尼 - 澳大利亚智力资本
澳大利亚重点监管机构 澳大利亚储备银行 澳大利亚证券交易所
RBA
2015年度全球城市声望排行榜
澳大利亚排名第一的商务活动目的地 国际大会及会议协会
ICCA
会议城市排名
ASX
澳大利亚第一研究中心 3个世界知名研究机构 加文研究所
世界上声誉最好的城市
洛伊癌症研究中心
和张任谦心脏病研究所
5所顶尖大学 麦考瑞大学 悉尼大学
新南威尔士州大学 悉尼科技大学
西悉尼大学
澳大利亚唯一的综合性会议 展览及娱乐场所
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美食与表现 行政总厨Tony Panetta致力于选用最 优质的本地食材 并通过美食美馔为 悉尼国际会议中心(ICC Sydney)的客 户打造难忘的体验 他的指导目标是 确保每一个客户能够参与所有的活动 和尽情享受我们特别准备的美食 在此 Tony Panetta将与大家 分享悉尼国际会议中心的美食哲 学 讲述美食背后的故事
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重食材的选择和混合 而且强调即煮食 物 尽量保留食物的美味 我们精心设 计的菜单巧妙融合了当地生产的食材 不但可以提高与会者的集中力 还提供 了他们身体所需的能量 让大家一整天 都能保持清醒 1 就如同我们希望每一位与会者从会议和 研讨会中受益一样 我们也希望大家在 参加会展时 能享受我们精心设计 而 且是澳大利亚独有的晚宴
by TONY PANETTA
在悉尼国际会议中心 互相合作 学习和 革新是我们信守的理念 我们深信通过这 些理念 我们将可以不断在商业上获得 成功 并让悉尼在全球会展目的地中脱 颖而出 在营养师的帮助下 我们明白了食物如何 影响一个人的工作效率以及摄食什么样的 食物来提高工作效率 众所周知 饮食会影响一个人的大脑和思 维能力 我们将为各位客户提供营养丰富 的健康食品和选用当地生产食材 使大家 的精神 头脑和身体都保持在最佳状态 我们对食物的处理方法侧重于选择“聪明 的食物” 具体来说 就是我们非常注
我们致力于满足来自不同国家和地区 的与会者的饮食需求 无论是甜点或 时令沙拉 我们将确保所选用的食材 来源符合道德的采购 我们的餐饮团 队 当中包括了著名糕点厨师Michael Belcher 将为大家精心创造风格独特 的美味佳肴 以我们的第一个时令菜单为例 我们在 沙拉中加入了低糖 低碳 含丰富纤 维 叶黄素 蛋白质 还能养胃助消 化的Freekeh (麦子 甜菜根是澳大利亚料理中常见的食材之 一 甜菜根具有高纤维 硝酸盐含量 高 能舒张血管和促进血液循环 悉尼 国际会议中心的厨师将充分利用这个营 养丰富的食材 把它制造成各种各样的 美味菜肴 除了顾及到食物的营养 我们也会充分 利用温泉水 果汁和椰子水所提供的丰 富电解质来帮助与会者滋润身体 补充 水分和能量 以及促进血液流通
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鲜食材 以保证在提供应季新鲜食材的 同时 也能为客户带来非应季美味 这 也代表了我们对本地农业的支持 澳大利亚拥有许多农场和食品生产商 我们将与这些农场和生产商建立一个庞 大的网络 以确保我们拥有足够的食材 来应付未来众多的活动 选用当地食材 不仅是支持本地农业 对我们本身 对 客户 甚至是整个社区都有益 悉尼国际会议中心将为行业树立新标 准 我们对食物的要求和用心将让我们 成为真正的世界级场地 无论是十人的 午餐会议或两千人的宴会 我们都有办 法做到体贴入微 满足每一个客户的需 求 哪怕前方挑战重重 我们的团队却众志 成城 不畏艰险 勇于挑战 通过聆听 了解客户的需求和周详的规划 我们必 定可以为客户提供最佳的方案和打造难 忘的体验
我们也将巧妙的处理处于季节尾端的新
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1, 4 COOKS CO-OP 农场生产的新鲜食材 2 悉尼 Willowbrae Chevre 乳酪农场产品 3 悉尼潘布拉新鲜牡蛎
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悉尼国际会议中心菜单预展 营养师对悉尼国际会议中心行政总厨Tony Panetta所创的菜肴进行审查
椰子水
早餐 椰子木薯加奇亚籽 超级食物 水平
含丰富的水溶性纤
对消化系统有益
浆果
又可稳定血糖
• 奇亚籽含多种营养 Omega-3脂肪酸含量高 还具有高纤维的 特性 能降低坏胆固醇 另外还有很高的维生素B 促进代谢 有助控制体重 • 浆果具有很强的抗氧化活性 而且含有丰富的维生素C 可促 进胶原蛋白的生产 有助于皮肤更新及保持皮肤的柔软度 • 巴西坚果被认为是硒的丰富食物来源 不仅对心脏有益还可增 加肌肉力量 从而提高耐力 • 椰子水是丰富电解质的天然来源之一 能滋养身体 补充水分 和能量 促进血液流通 奇亚籽
FR EEKEH
麦子
石榴
巴西坚果
羊肉沙拉 这是一道美味可口的沙拉
含纯蛋白质和丰富抗氧化成分
• 羊肉含丰富的蛋白质 维生素B 烟酸 锌和铁 其共轭亚油酸 含量也是诸多肉类食品中最高之一 有助于代谢和免疫系统 • Freekeh 麦子 有低碳水化合物 低糖的特点 富纤维 叶黄素 蛋白质 还能养胃助消化
而且含有丰
• 石榴含丰富的维生素C 可促进胶原蛋白的生产 对预防和治 疗动脉硬化引起的心脏病和降低血压有很大的作用 • 羽衣甘蓝是白菜家族的一种 具有很强的抗氧化活性 丰富的 维生素C和E 胡萝卜素和硫代葡萄糖苷的含量也很高 可预 防疾病 羽衣甘蓝 夏 南瓜
羊肉
• 夏南瓜是B族维生素的良好来源 对能量的新陈代谢至关重要 丰富的维生素C 胡萝卜素和植物营养素造就了夏南瓜具有很 强的抗氧化活性的特点
观点 - 以下是一些高层人士对创造一个充满活力和拥有世界级美食的城市 的看法 政府 商务机构 协会和社区上下齐努 力将悉尼打造成世界级的商务及旅游目 的地 无论是美食 娱乐 商务活动或 者是创新中心和新技术 我们力求成为 行业里的佼佼者 迈克•贝尔德 Mike Baird 新南威尔士州州长
悉尼居民对食品的要求极高 由于澳大 利亚有很多生产有机食品和使用可持续 农业系统的农场 我们轻而易举就能找 到最优质的食材和食物 悉尼国际会议 中心(ICC Sydney)承诺会使用最新鲜的 本地食材 以进一步证明悉尼是一个不 折不扣的世界美食之都 JOANNA MCMILLAN博士 独立营养师
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领悟食物的力量 互动问答 Teresa Cutter
“健康厨师”创办人及总监 良好的营养有助于维持中枢神经系统的运 作和提高工作效率
Teresa Cutter是澳大利亚领先的健康厨师 之一 身为一名合格的营养师 她致力于 通过食物来改善身心健康 她目前也是澳 大利亚健身协会旗下的一名受国际认可的 健身教练 Teresa 坚信 若要做到持久性 任何健康 的食物也都必须是美味可口的食物 她也 经常在书中 杂志和电视节目中与大家分 享她对健康食物的看法和知识 在此 她反映了悉尼居民对食物的热爱以 及对优质食物的追求如何使悉尼成为一个 更快乐 更健康和宜居的城市
此外 对于那些经常在外跑动或承受的压 力比较重的人来说 摄取足够的营养将决 定你一天的好坏 当我们工作忙碌时 身 体容易感到疲乏 这时就很容易生病 因 为我们体内的营养已开始流失 食物对此 就是最好的良药 选择对身体有益的食物 就显得更为重要了 良好的食物就是力量 古希腊人最明白这 个道理了 希波克拉底曾说过 “健康的身体取决于我们对人体基本结构 现在叫基因 的认识和对不同食物的摄 取 无论是自然食物还是加工食物 可 是 要身体健康单靠食物是不够的 还需 要运动 而且须向大家宣导运动的好处 只要注重饮食和经常运动 就可以让我们 变得更健康 少了其中一项 就很容易生 病 此外 气候变化也会影响身体 因此 还需注意季节和风向的转变 另外 年龄 和居家环境也是不可忽视的因素 ”
悉尼是一个充满食物诱惑的城市 但近年 来人们对食物营养的看法有什么改变
好的食物等同于好的表现吗
这些年来 我发现许多悉尼居民以及其他 的澳大利亚人民 越来越重视食物的营养 以及食物和运动如何影响一个人的健康
正是如此 健康与保健是全球性的消费趋 势 无论在学校 酒店 工作场所 医 院 家里或是任何地方 摄取良好的营养 是必不可少的
如今 人们在进食时 都想知道入口的究 竟是什么 食物来源为何 吃进肚子的食 物又会对身体造成什么影响 悉尼向来以 美食天堂和丰富的户外文化著称 所以当 地居民也都具备着良好的健康意识
营养已成为企业成功的关键因素 我相信 所有烹饪专业厨师 包括业余厨师 都会 提倡健康饮食 少用防腐剂 多向当地供 应商购买时令食材 并为顾客设计出健康 的食品菜单
因此 越来越多的当地厨师注重于为顾 客提供最优质 最新鲜和最健康的食材 而且更加广泛地选用绿色的食品和时令食 物 就是这个原因 我们的城市才会与 众不同
有哪些食物组合或超级食物可以提高我们 的工作效率
食物如何影响一个人的健康和精神状态 营养是健康的根本 食物是营养的来源 均衡饮食则是维持健康的首要原则 所谓 均衡饮食就是每天摄取足够的维生素蛋白 质和矿物质
我总是推荐营养丰富而且新鲜的天然食 物 比如清蒸蔬菜或沙拉加少许的蛋白 质 如一片野生捕捉的鱼肉 这是一个非 常棒的组合 高蛋白含量的食物有助于平 衡血糖水平 这对集中注意力和维持能 量有益
会展表现良好 的三大诀窍
1 水份 随时补充水份 才能维持人体的 正常运作和有助于提高警觉性 另外 足够的水份也对皮肤和消 化系统有益
2 运动 定时运动 无需太激烈 也无 需太久 每周三次 每一次哪 怕只是20分钟 对身体也有一 定的益处
3 食物 摄取多一些新鲜蔬菜和水果 其营养丰富的绿叶蔬菜
尤
若要快速提升能量 绿色果汁或浆果冰沙 将是一个不错的选择
对悉尼市中心的重新规划和改造具有 深远的影响 我们将竭尽所能确保我 们的会展场地 住宿和公共交通系统 达到世界级的水准 M IN IST ER CONSTANCE 新南威尔士州交通及基础建设部长
悉尼居民对小酒吧情有独钟 目前已有 超过了100家小酒吧在悉尼市区各角落 营业 作为 绿色悉尼2030计划 的一 部分 我们将投入资金和人力使悉尼市 中心的巷道更有活力 LORD MAYOR CLOVER MOORE 悉尼市市长
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STAYING AHEAD OF THE GAME SINGAPORE’S FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP COMMANDS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ATTENTION THROUGH GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP AND SOUND REPUTATION. WORDS: EL KWANG Singapore magnifies its focus on business events. Already a renowned meetings and incentives destination, it amplifies the desire to position the garden city as a leading global hub for international association by announcing the formation of the Global Association Hubs partnership with Brussels, Dubai and Washington DC at IMEX America 2015. According to the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB), the partnership aims to “assist international associations in their growth and better serve their overseas members with the partner cities acting as regional conduits” thus easing the process of setting up the associations’ regional offices in these cities. Essentially, this partnership will give these four cities greater profile in attracting the recession-proof revenue stream of association congresses.
FOCUSED ON MEDICAL At the end of 2015, the SECB announced that Singapore will host prominent medical congresses with an estimated economic impact of SGD34 million (USD 25.2million) in tourism receipts and 16,000 visitors, coming into Southeast Asia for the first time. May 2016 is a significant month in the Singapore’s business events calendar with the prominent International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine’s (ISMRM) annual meeting and exhibition happening at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 7-13, 2016. The event is set to attract 6,000 global professionals like clinicians, engineers, physicists, biochemists and technologists to share their knowledge
The list of medical events to be hosted in Singapore: (March 22–24, 2016) and Meeting (IDEM) Singapore (April 8–10, 2016) Musculoskeletal Tumour Society 2016 (April 21–23, 2016) Dermatology (RCD) 2016 (April 21–24, 2016) Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Annual Meeting and Exhibition (May 7–13, 2016)
Therapy (ISCT) Annual Meeting 2016 (May 25–28, 2016) Conference (IDRC) and World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) Working Group Meetings 2016 (May 30 – June 2, 2016)
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Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob 2016) (June 26–29, 2016) Asia (UAA) Congress 2016 (July 20–24, 2016) Imaging (ASCI) Congress (August 4–6, 2016) (August 31 – September 2, 2016) Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Asia Pacific Congress (September 3–6, 2016) Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE) World Congress (September 19–21, 2016) Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain (October 31 – November 3, 2016)
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for advancing the science of magnetic resonance in medicine. The Section for Magnetic Resonance Technologists (SMRT) president 2015-2016 Barry Southers, Med, RT(R) announced via the conference website that the annual meeting will be available virtually for the first time ever. Roberta Kravitz, Executive Director of ISMRM said, “Singapore has continued to amaze us with its choice of great meeting spaces and social venues that are available for our various functions and side events. We are very happy to have confirmed events that I am sure will provide our delegates an excellent sense of place as well as lasting memories that are unique to this beautiful city.” 7,000 delegates will be flying into Singapore for SpineWeek, the world’s largest spinal care-related meeting, to be held in May 16-20, 2016 at the Marina Bay Sands. The event is set to bring together 16 spine societies from around the world, along with executives involved in the community, for the event’s first Asian edition. Besides the main event, delegates will get a chance to network in person and through the conference mobile app, as well as deepen their knowledge at training workshops that may lead to future collaborations.
Bureaux Success – How is Return on Investment Measured WORDS: JENNIFER SALSBURY Jeannie Lim, Executive Director Conventions, Meetings and Incentive Travel at the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said, “We are delighted that event organisers are impressed with Singapore’s offerings as a MICE destination. It is always a pleasure working with meeting organisers who are keen to showcase the city as part of their meeting experience. We are happy to help bring about a fruitful meeting experience through which delegates not only learn, network and exchange ideas, but also return home with a piece of Singapore in their hearts.”
How is Return on Investment (ROI) measured? Depending on available budget, convention bureaux may choose to focus on simply attracting organisers to their destination and introduce them to their supplier members rather than invest too much expenditure on delegate-boosting activities. In either case, most bureaux are required to “prove” their “value” to the destination and to their stakeholders, which in turn can lead to solid information to support further funding for the bureau and therefore an increase in services. Performance indicators for convention bureaux may consist of one or all of the following but keeping a consistent measure to identify the trend is key: Return on investment – Estimated economic impact of delegate spending for business events held in the destination, including organiser spend. Bid success rate – Percentage of bids won or lost in any year. Lead generation activities – Number of new bid opportunities created through research, sales calls, trade show attendance and site inspection activities. Delegate materialisation – Actual number of delegates attending conventions measured against predicted or targeted attendance by organisers. Total room nights generated – Often linked to housing bureaux where commissions are earned on hotel bookings generated through business events.
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#TheAssociationCongressesEdition
ASSOCIATIONS ADVANCING IN ASIA It is human nature for people to associate with each other, and hence we have associations, which can include people and organisations as members. Associations are strongest in Western nations, and Asian nations with Western historical connections have stronger associations sectors than other Asian countries. Hence, associations are widely established and understood in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. Through giving advice and running events in Asia since 2009, we have been pleased to see growth in the sector – and an increasing sense of self-awareness that is actually a sector supported by a profession. Malaysia is the leading Asian nation for association training, with MyCEB’s Association Dialogue and Malaysia Association Next events running since 2012, followed closely by the Philippines where the Philippine Council for the Advancement of Association Executives has been running its Association Executives Summit every year since 2013. As part of the outreach programme, the American Society of Association Executives ran its inaugural Great Ideas conference in Hong Kong in 2015, with the next event scheduled for April 10–12, 2016. So what is the state of the associations sector in Asia? It has huge potential, but is in its infancy at this stage. One of the issues is legislation under which
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STRONGER BY GROUPING AMERICAN AND AUSTRALIAN GROUPS OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES SHARE EXPERIENCES AND TRAINING TO HELP DEVELOP GOOD GOVERNANCE MODELS IN ASIA BASED ASSOCIATIONS CHALLENGING SOME LONG HELD OUT OF DATE PRACTICES. WORDS: JOHN PEACOCK
associations are established. The various Societies Acts and Companies Acts under which associations incorporate need updating, and the related regulations and bureaucracies need to facilitate smooth and easy registration compliance, with a hands-off approach. The governance of associations within an Asian nation is challenged by the lack of understanding of the principles of governance where a Board of Directors (or similarly named body) sets the strategic direction and delegates the running of the organisation to a CEO and staff. Too many boards of associations in Asia believe that their role is to make all the decisions, and that the role of a CEO is a senior administrative position only. Further, the level of sophistication of governing documents and compliance
leaves much to be desired. In our consultancy work in 2015, Associations Forum saw one Asia Pacific regional association of medical professionals adopting the wrong constitution, not following the compliance regulations of the nation which they were incorporated and not having the right people officially recorded as Directors. The growth in democracy in Asian nations has been a huge force for the economic success and social cohesion. Fortunately, more democracies allow opportunities for associations because of the right to associate and because democracies do not wish to control all aspects of their nation. Asian associations will go through a few decades of catching up with the Western world regarding associations, but they will certainly succeed when the vision and will to improve the association sector exists.
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#TheAssociationCongressesEdition
CALL TO ACTION Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) is fast becoming a strong example of doing things right in Asia and especially in their work encouraging their local associations community to find out more about professional association management training! The business events sector has been recognised as a key contributor to Malaysia’s economic growth under the national government’s Economic Transformation Programme. Speaking with Ho Yoke Ping, General Manager of the Business Events division at MyCEB, she highlighted the importance of this work and the rationale behind their projects. “Through hosting international conventions, Malaysia benefits from showcasing local innovation and expertise to the world, knowledge sharing, building international networks and business prospects, providing professional development opportunities as well as creating longer term legacies for the country.” “The sustainable development of the international business events market is dependent on a globally active and vibrant professional and trade association community. To support the development of Malaysia’s national associations and the potential for hosting international conventions, MyCEB has developed a range of initiatives that provide professional development and international engagement opportunities for Malaysia’s national associations through it’s Association Development Programme (ADP)” stated Datuk Zulkefli Hj Sharif, CEO of MyCEB recognising the value of this sector to the country’s economy.
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MYCEB SUPPORTS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR MALAYSIA’S ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY WORDS: JENNIFER SALSBURY
In November 2012, MyCEB engaged the services of association experts, Association Forum and their business events consultants GainingEdge, to conduct the inaugural Association Dialogue, Malaysia’s first workshop dedicated to boosting the performance and professionalism of the associations sector. “This is one of a series of educational platforms to be facilitated by MyCEB based on the needs of the local association market. Topics include the establishment of an association, governance and leadership, member recruitment and retention as well as association operations, finances and infrastructure,” explains Mike Williams, Senior Consultant of GainingEdge when introducing the project. In the same year MyCEB launched a series of conference planning
“A series of educational platforms to be facilitated by MyCEB based on the needs of the local association market” MIKE WILLIAMS Senior Consultant GainingEdge
“Malaysia now has a thriving association community that beforehand never had the opportunity to learn from each other.” DATUK ZULKEFLI HJ SHARIF CEO MyCEB
international conventions run by not-for-profit associations. Advice clinics have been set up to assist with topical subjects such as governance and business planning.
seminars to provide advice and assistance towards associations and corporations that are organising national, regional and international conventions. The programme covers a broad range of topics on conference planning and management including sponsorship, event promotion, delegate recruitment, and financial management.
In 2015, MyCEB facilitated Association NEXT, the first national conference for the association community. Soon after the establishment of the Malaysian Society of Association Executives (MySAE) was announced by the Association Advisory Council
set up through the ADP” explains Mike when talking about the real progress in these development. A delighted Datuk Zul summed up the benefits “Malaysia now has a thriving association community that beforehand never had the opportunity to learn from each other, discuss and address common issues and work towards common goals for the not for profit sector.” A great step and a leading initiative in the region.
“National Associations that are members of or affiliated with an international association may also apply for international engagement support. The level of financial and non-financial support varies according to the current international standing of the association and must be linked to a medium term strategy to bid for an international conference. For new and emerging associations, this may include support towards their international association membership for their first year of membership” continues Mike when explaining more about the opportunity presented. Now in its fourth year, the Association Development Programme (ADP) continues to thrive with its annual educational programmes creating a valuable platform for association executives to learn, network and exchange ideas, and it doesn’t stop there. “With the support of MyCEB, ADP initiated the first study into taxation issues relating to
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NTS E V S E S BIZ S E N A USI YEAR EEN IN A B OF THIS GR E ICC S S T G IGH AYSIA THIN ND TH IN L T SPO O MAL S ALL ATTE MBLY E TH ING T LORE ES TO ASSE 6. L 01 P R N 2 A X A R E R P R U T E IA RE NE ARE TS AS AND P ND GE OVEMB N EVE GKAWI RESS A K, IN N A LAN CONG ARAW H S 55T HING, KUC
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GREEN JEWEL ARCHIPELAGO LANGKAWI ISLAND, THE JEWEL OF KEDAH AND UNESCO WORLD GEOPARK IS A SUSTAINABLE EVENT WONDERLAND. WORDS: EL KWANG DR GERRY GOEDEN
“Do not touch the bark of that tree as that powder like substance burns your skin like acid,” said Fendi, the Jungle Walla guide as we trekked through the 10 million year-old Datai Bay rainforest towards Crystal Creek. The soft-spoken storyteller further engaged the crowd with knowledge of birds and wildlife around The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort as the resort team set up a healthy breakfast experience along Crystal Creek. The young but wise Fendi said: “Human cannot control the rainforest but can learn how to live with it harmoniously.” If knowledge is power, The Andaman Langkawi will further add depth to any sustainable meeting and incentive programme with their onsite coral nursery activities, a post 2004 tsunami effort of the 800 year-old fringing coral reef started by the resort’s previous general manager Anne Scott and Dr Gerry Goeden, a marine biologist based at the resort. The former has been appointed as the general manager of the highly anticipated, soon-to-be opened St. Regis Kuala Lumpur. In conjunction with Lafarge Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, the resort also deployed a 52 Artificial Reef Module System (ARMS) to assist in the regeneration of fish stocks and reef fisheries. The ARMS will contribute to the reef environment that currently provides shelter to over 25 percent of
fish in the ocean and up to two million marine species, ultimately creating a sustainable fishing industry in the archipelago. “Conservation is a team effort,” stated Dr Gerry as he introduced a series of meaningful team building exercises when Biz Events Asia attended the onsite launch of the Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ Sustainable Meeting Offer on March 3, 2016. Starwood’s Vice President, Sales – Asia Pacific, Nichlas Maratos said: “Starwood is committed to drive sustainability efforts and our Global Citizenship work is a great reflection of this. However, we recognise that besides making sure that our internal operations and infrastructure are ecosystem friendly, our efforts should also include our customers and make it possible for them to actively participate in and be involved in this initiative.” Maratos emphasised at the educational session (set on the sand across a table made from a fallen tree from the rainforest) that Starwood’s commitment to being a good global citizen started back in 2008 with their “30/20 by 20” goal to reduce energy and emissions by 30 percent and water by 20 percent per built hotel room by 2020. That is equivalent to 79,000 hot air balloons for carbon emissions, 216,272 homes’ energy use (or nearly 500,000 passenger cars),
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and nearly 116 million bathtubs of water. So far, the achievements include: Global ban of shark fin at all Starwood properties by 2015
LARGER CONVENTIONS AND MEETINGS On the other side of the Langkawi Island resides The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa offering its signature SuperFoodsRx breakfast options to kick-start delegates’ days and have them ready for a meeting.
12.08%
USD5.4 million
donated to charity in 2014
reduction from 2008 in energy (kBtu/built room)
Some Fast Facts about Starwood’s Sustainable Meetings Offer: SUSTAINABILITY THE STANDARD: supplies signage and whiteboards GO DIGITAL: Sales proposals, menu selection, room-list creation and reservation crosscheck are all available to help customers conserve the resources used for their meeting. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: With Sustainable Food and Beverage practices, hotels minimise the procurement of overharvested and endangered species, work with local vendors, minimize waste and source the finest ingredients for guests. Customers may choose: locally sourced produce and sustainable seafood coverings, or, if preferred, tables with reusable coverings to conventional bottled water MEETINGS IMPACT REPORT (MIR): Available free-of-charge, this report assesses the environmental impact of individual events via indicators such as energy and water consumption, waste management and sustainable food choices.
Meeting planners who prefer large and flexible meeting spaces will like the 448-sq m Westin Grand Ballroom which can be divided into two equal spaces. The ballroom is also flanked by four dynamic spaces for events with multiple breakout requirements. Adjacent to The Westin, the Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC) made its international debut by hosting the 26th ASEAN Summit in April 2015. The purpose-built LICC is the perfect venue for regional and international association meetings with a 1,660 sq m Grand Ballroom that can be divided into four, along with seven smaller breakout rooms. The “Helang” VIP Lounge is perfectly furnished as a waiting or
meet-and-greet area for dignitaries with security requirements.
LUXURY SECLUSION Regis Langkawi. Guests are treated to an arrival befitting of royalties through the private gateway marked by a majestic eagle sculpture representing the “Lang” (eagle) of Langkawi. A wall mural depicting old world royalties arriving in Langkawi by boat, the traditional mode of transport, leads guests onto the portecochere filled with lush green plants against black and white design accents.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITH MONUMENTAL IMPACT: Customers can promote team-building and giving back to local communities with activities that contribute to their organisation’s corporate responsibility goals.
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16.07%
reduction from 2008 in carbon emissions)
After a day of visiting Langkawi’s famous sites like the Langkawi Sky Bridge, guests can take a breather on the 100,000-sq m natural salt water swimmable lagoon with a pristine private beachfront stretching over 600 metres. The Mansion centres a twowing resort and is a conduit for facilities from the Astor Ballroom and Iridium Spa to food and beverage experiences at the posh Decanter Wine Cellar through the St. Regis bar and L’Orangerie, the resort’s signature restaurant. The design of L’Orangerie reflects a traditional European greenhouse for citrus trees with high ceiling, and features a stunning rainforest view
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17.26%
reduction from 2008 in water (cubic meters/ built room)
angkawi, a UNESCO Global Geopark, has evolved into a sustainable MICE destination, offering engaging CSR programmes such as Guided Reef Walks and the establishment of eco-friendly resorts like The Frangipani.
HO YOKE PING General Manager, Business Events MyCEB
and potted orange tree that draws the attention on arrival.
Perched on the dock of the beach is the specialty over-water restaurant Kayuputi, where the chef serves contemporary Asian-inspired haute cuisine dining experience using a combination of fresh, quality ingredients sourced locally as well as imported specialties such as Australian Wagyu beef.
Q&A with Sherrilyn Charles, Director of Sales & Marketing of The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa 1.
What didn’t you know about Langkawi before locating? The ever-present and direct access to its natural beauty
2.
What are the 5 things visitors must do in Langkawi? Island-Hopping Tour, Jet Ski fun around the islands, Mangrove Tour , Visit the Night Markets, Watch the stunning sunset from our Float jetty!
3.
What dishes are a “must try” in Langkawi? Pak Malau Nasi Dagang
4.
Complete the sentence. “Langkawi makes me feel………” In complete serenity and energised at the same time
St Regis Langkawi - St. Regis Bar
Langkawi International Convention Centre
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SUSTAINABLE LEGACY JANE VONG HOLMES OF GAININGEDGE EXPLAINS WHY LEAVING A LEGACY IS THE WAY TO EXPRESS SUSTAINABILITY.
If leaving a legacy from meetings that visit communities around the world is a significant trend, then there was a clear dose of this during ICCA’s annual congress in Buenos Aires last November. As always, the Copenhagen-Denmark Lecture was a highly anticipated session, and speaker Claus Meyer – revolutionary chef, entrepreneur, TV personality and philanthropist – hit all the right buttons when he shared how one man CAN make a little difference. When he ended his session, some delegates had tears streaming down their faces, and yes indeed, like his little hummingbird carrying drops of water in its beak to douse the flames could not save the forest from being burnt down, but we can do our part as best as we can. ICCA delegates had the opportunity to help to make the world a better place through a simple, meaningful act. Using all its social media platforms very effectively, ICCA churned up delegates who had to only slip something else into their suitcases as they packed for Buenos Aires – a book, a pair of shoes or a puzzle for the children of Haciendo Camino. This charity organisation “Making The Way” is dedicated to preventing and eradicating child malnutrition in rural Argentina. It has been reported that in some of these areas, 40 percent of the children on average, are undernourished. This delegate-inclusive CSR project was in addition to the usual CSR project that
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ICCA as an organisation undertakes at every ICCA congress – substituting speaker gifts for a donation to a selected charity for instance. At ICCA Buenos Aires, Future Convention Cities Initiative (FCCI) shared some case studies on their events that delivered benefits, influence and a legacy, citing several including COP 17 Durban, International Congress of Mathematicians Seoul, and the XXV Congress of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis and Scientific Standardization Committee Meeting Toronto, with an overarching theme “Business Events – the Power to transform Cities, Events, Society.” Earlier, a group of association meeting planners as members of a client advisory board, had endorsed that the “legacy” component of their meetings is important. The ability for the host destination to support the development of unique social and/or mission-related legacies from an event held there is seen as a powerful value innovation. These legacies could be co-created by the destination members and activated through their respective local and international networks.
This legacy theme was further carried during the inaugural “President’s Choice” session on empowerment and equality for women. In 2007, only two Argentine meeting destinations were in ICCA’s annual rankings, today there are 12 destinations cited, reflecting the leaps and bounds Argentina has taken since a decision to actively participate in all ICCA congresses and trainings. Hosting the 2015 ICCA Congress was indeed a feather in their cap. Later this year, in November 2016, ICCA Congress will be held in Sarawak, Malaysia. The hosts make no apologies for being a “second-tier” convention city. So what IS a second-tier city? And how can one move away and climb up to being a “first-tier”? The message coming from a session facilitated by ICCA’s newest Honorary Member Anne Wallin-Rodven, was loud and clear: “Celebrate your Difference!” From County Kerry, Ireland to Kuching on the island of Borneo to New Zealand in the far, far south, these destinations stood up bold and turned relative isolation into competitive advantage through slick marketing campaigns, strategic approaches to marketing and
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JANE VONG HOLMES Senior Manager Asia, GainingEdge
turned their business development efforts into winning formulae by defining their USPs and using these creatively. This is certainly the case for Sarawak, the host of ICCA Congress 2016. From virtual obscurity, it went on to form Malaysia’s first convention bureau (today there are three including the national bureau) and notched an impressive lineup of bid wins under its belt. Interestingly, the Sarawak government has plans to make Sarawak a “halal” events hub, taking advantage of its strategic location south of the booming North Asian markets and access to Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim population. Participants to this year’s congress can expect ICCA’s winning formula of networking, education and entertainment. Highly anticipated will be the Best Marketing Award showcasing some of the industry’s brightest in marketing. The 2015 Award was won by Halifax Convention Centre (illustrating that it is certainly possible to work creatively with nothing) and at this annual “show and tell” all finalists did their organizations proud. With the Halifax Convention Centre only opening in 2017, their marketing campaign helped meeting planners imagine their event in a space they cannot yet see, visit or touch. The ensuing campaign built anticipation, excitement and instilled confidence so that they will select the Halifax Convention Centre as the venue of choice for their events in 2017 and beyond. The Centre accomplished this by providing these planners the opportunity to be part of the process leading to opening day – what should the forks look like? What should the carpet feel like? What will the hand soap in the bathrooms smell like? Their Award-winning “Imagine” campaign was born. See you at ICCA Congress Kuching this November!
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KUCHING GEARS UP FOR THE ICCA CONGRESS WORDS: JENNIFER SALSBURY
Sarawak, Borneo, has been a really creative convention location that has gone from strength to strength since the creation of the Sarawak Convention Bureau, the launch of the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), and now this year to lead Asia as the host for the “essential” convention industry association congress event – the 55th ICCA Annual Congress 2016 – which is
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to be a “Gathering of the ICCA Global Tribes” taking place at the BCCK from November 13-16, 2016. The BCCK itself is the first international purpose-built convention centre in Sarawak, Malaysia. Growing alongside Sarawak’s position as a captivating ecotourism destination on the mystical island of Borneo, BCCK serves the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry at local, national, regional and international levels. Debuted in 2009, BCCK is a state initiative of the Sarawak government to grow business tourism through the hosting of business events. To date, BCCK has welcomed close to 1.2 million clients, delegates and visitors from different corners of the world and hosted 980 events. They must be doing something right as we hear from BCCK’s CEO Eric van Piggelen: “Our 2015 client satisfaction score at 98 percent bears unequivocal testimony to our centre’s ability to consistently deliver successful events for our clients. Our business segments show that many clients who utilise our centre come back again, mostly from within Malaysia. Naturally we are diligently scanning the international markets for further business and
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BCCK epitomises the progressive vision of the Sarawak Government to bring socio-economic progress to the state through new sources of growth. Working with “Team Malaysia” we present Kuching as a role model and inspiration for other secondtier cities.
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Changes are afoot in the direction of ICCA, the lead organisation for association meetings. In an inspired move at the last congress, the board announced the keen interest in working closer with associations to improve quality in association events with their stated vision “to shape the future and value of international association meetings”. Martin Sirk, ICCA’s CEO, announced the concept with this comment: “We will be much more active in helping international associations extract value from their events. We have to embrace change and get closer to the international associations themselves.” And what an interesting place to take this initiative to for the upcoming congress whilst positioning itself as the “global community and knowledge hub for the international association meeting sector” as ICCA heads for Kuching, Sarawak in Malaysia.
ERIC VAN PIGGELEN CEO of BCCK and Chairman of ICCA Local Host Committee for 55th ICCA Annual Congress
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e have designed our activities to give ICCA Congress attendees a glimpse of the wonders of the state of Sarawak
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AMELIA ROZIMAN General Manager Sales & Marketing of Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB)
Evening view of Kuching river Proboscis Monkey Sitting On A Tree, Borneo,Malaysia
our strategy is very focused on strengthening this segment.” Repeat business is clear endorsement of a great product and, with the social programmes in multiple venues around Kuching, the state of Sarawak is certainly looking beyond the four-day event of the ICCA Congress and hopes to inspire other smaller cities around the world to bid for leading events. Clearly, BCCK is an essential element for Kuching to be taken as a serious business tourism destination. Eric van Piggelen continues: “BCCK epitomises the progressive vision of the Sarawak Government to bring socio-economic progress to the state through new sources of growth. The business of event hosting not only created job and business opportunities for Sarawakians in the tourism sector, it also provides our local industries and education sectors the opportunity to network and transfer knowledge. The intangible return to the state economy is enormous quite apart from the tourism sector’s statistics. We are gearing towards a 20 percent increase in association business events in the next five years.” 36
However, it has been the Malaysian teamwork that has shone through and won the day for this congress bid. Eric is also the Chairman of the Local Host Committee for the ICCA Congress and proud to talk about this spirit: “I must say that the ‘Team Malaysia’ spirit helped us to bid and to win the ICCA 2016 Congress – the key ingredient. By working in partnership with key industry players we came up with a strong business case in terms of presenting ourselves as a role model and inspiration for other second-tier cities. This was based on how we used ICCA’s educational and marketing platforms to build our professionalism and creativity, so that we can now regularly win prestigious international congresses in a variety of fields. This was also a country bid involving our fellow Malaysian members and clearly presented as part of a sophisticated national development strategy.” The energy in the air was tangible and the passion with which the team worked to promote and highlight the official corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme – the Borneo Orang-Utan Project (BOP) – as they spoke about their task is evident. Led by Brooke the Orang-utan, mascot of the ICCA
Congress in 2016, the Malaysian contingent has been attending trade shows around the world to bring the message of BOP from this eco-focused state to encourage attendance and share the taste of the destination. “We have designed our activities not only to engage with attendees but to also give them a glimpse of the wonders of the state of Sarawak” stated Amelia Roziman, General Manager – Sales & Marketing of Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB). It is not surprising to hear the response to these efforts – Sarawak played host to one international conference every week of last year. Not resting on any laurels, Mike Cannon, Managing Director of SCB announced the formation of a new division within the SCB: “Looking ahead the bureau has created a new division for 2016; Government & Industry Relations headed up by SCB stalwart Chew Chang Guan, to drive stronger connections with the government and industry while the SCB continues to promote keynote events such as the ICCA 2016 Congress” It is into this context that the international convention world converges in November 2016, attracting professionals from all corners to meet the Asian way and inspire a new era for the organisation.
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#USAmeetsBKK BIZ EVENTS ASIA AND PARTNERS BROUGHT 11 AMERICAN BUYERS FOR A FOUR-DAY EXPERIENCE IN BANGKOK WORDS: EL KWANG PHOTOS: CHUA YI KIAT Thailand is experiencing a surge of interests from event buyers. Some hotels in Bangkok which spoke with Biz Events Asia are reporting strong Q1-2016 revenue forecast/results. According to Bangkok Post’s report on March 23, 2016, “As many as 33.83 million foreign tourists could visit Thailand in 2016, up 13.22 percent on the 29.8 million in 2015, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand”.
Arrival at Anantara Siam Hotel
Biz Events Asia partnered with Eva Air, Events Travel Asia (ETA), Minor Group Hotel Group and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and brought 11 American buyers for a four-day experience in Bangkok in March 2016. As it was a first visit for most of these buyers, Biz Events Asia and ETA partnered up in design and experience. Premier View Twin
THE PROGRAMMING Max Jantasuwan, Group Manager Director of ETA said, “It is always challenging when designing programmes for firsttime visitors, let alone for these group of experienced travel and event managers. We have to take the possible jetlag and cultural differences in mind when planning all the surprise elements. We are glad to co-design this programme with Biz Events Asia.” The programme design took the following into consideration: Sense of arrival – the buyers would have been en route for at least 24 hours, and may be fatigued on arrival Weather difference – a vast difference in heat and humidity between America and Bangkok that week Taste buds variance – non-Thai meals were served on the day of arrival so buyers can take some time to adjust their body and mindset and rest well on the first night
Rarinjinda Wellness Spa Massage Workshop
“I have visited Thailand before but this was one of the most memorable trips. What made it special was simply the company I was with. I arrived knowing one person but after three days, new friendships blossomed and I came away grateful for the new friends and especially the FAM coordinators who executed each activity so flawlessly. Thailand has so much to offer especially in the hands of very competent organizers like Jeff and El.” THAO FISHER Marcom Specialist, Asia Pacific Affymetrix
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ACTIVITIES THAT WORKED
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Secret escapes for successful events
Whether you are wanting to motivate your team or thank them for their success, it makes sense to take them somewhere that will inspire them towards even greater achievements. At Centara Hotels & Resorts, we have professional-standard meeting and event venues of all sizes, set amidst vibrant cities, exotic hideaways and tropical beachfronts. Visit our new dedicated Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibits that matches the best performances of your team. VISIT US AT centarahotelsresorts.com/mice FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT US ON
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take four photos featuring the following themes: their interpretation of Thai culture, Thai happiness, with a local Thai and their favourite part of the hotel. Meg Evans, Regional Director of Sales & Marketing South East Asia at the Minor Hotel Group gave away a five-night stay in any hotel within Thailand and Cambodia, whilst Anantara Siam Bangkok’s General Manager Patrick Booth also gave away a five-night stay at his hotel. ETA gave away a Sony wireless headphone for the best listener of the group.
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When asked for opinions on improvements, the buyers were gracious in saying that the programme was perfect. The only request was for more bathroom breaks during the tours and possibly more rest time on arrival. If the programme budget allows, extending the famil by a couple of days to experience another part of Thailand will deepen the understanding of the destination. Hosts should also bear in mind not to organise famils during summer and spring breaks in America as the Americans value family time. The buyers advised that their go-to source for destination and hotel information is the bureau representative based in USA, TripAdvisor and Google. Product presentations at their offices are strongly recommended. Alternatively, webinars are a popular information source channel.
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he Thai people have a certain calmness and gentleness that are infused in everything they do. There is genuine warmth in the way they interact with everyone. I enjoyed the spicy food, interacting with the people, and the amazing program put together for this FAM trip! Dare I say, El and Kiat made my trip that much more special
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BUYERS’ ADVICE
PAULINE AKATSA ITC Global Program Manager, Energy Resources & Marine Carlson Wagonlit Travel
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O-M-PULLMAN-G BIZ EVENTS ASIA’S EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, EL KWANG, PAYS A VISIT TO THE EVENT CENTRIC PULLMAN BANGKOK HOTEL G
Right in the heart of Silom resides the stylish Pullman Bangkok Hotel G. On arrival, one will sense the great energy of its crew dressed in smart black and white uniform that mirrors the dĂŠcor and colour scheme of the open-plan lobby. Host a casual welcome dinner for your conference or incentive group at Scarlett Wine Bar and Restaurant. Scarlett is located on level 37 with stunning views of Bangkok city and the Chao Phraya River. Guests will enjoy tapas and sharing food platters of modern cuisine and daily specials accompanied by an affordable and extensive wine selection. Alternatively, visitors will love the cool burger bar, 25 Degrees located adjacent to the hotel lobby. 25 Degrees originated from Los Angeles and is the perfect place for a theme party night.
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25 Degrees
When it comes to event spaces, the 411-sq m ballroom on level 38 perfectly fits 350 guests. The smaller meeting groups will fall in love with the funky and fashion event spaces called The Retreat, The Library and The Gallery. According to an event planner who hosted a residential conference the week we visited said, “After being in Bangkok numerous times, I have to say, I was very impressed with the flexibility and service received from the hotel. The hotel’s Director of Sales, Khun KK (Korkaew Korwatana) understood our brief and knew exactly how to deliver an experience. Her passion shines through.” That passion applies throughout our stay and they have the X-factor in delivering surprises to their VIPs. For example, a huge white gift box was delivered to the room with a balloon and some meaningful gifts inside of it. Over the next few nights, post-dinner desserts in different colour themes were sent to the room over four consecutive nights. When we work so hard, such thoughtful treatment is a true value-add and the adrenaline we get from these touches are what we call “memorable experiences”.
Scarlett Terrace
Scarlett Open Kitchen The Library
Pullman Bangkok Hotel G Exterior
The Library Foyer
The Gallery G Suite
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COMMUNITY THE CORE OF SUSTAINABILITY A RECENT GOLF EVENT AT LAGUNA PHUKET SHONE A LIGHT ON HOW DEEP-ROOTED THE GROUP IS IN MAINTAINING A SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT. WORDS: GINA SIN The rise of golf in events is proving that not only those with an expandable budget can afford to incorporate the sport into a corporate incentive programme or in any business event. Especially at a venue with experience and a strong focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Battle of the Chefs Dinner
AN EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER An Exclusive Golf Weekend at Laguna Phuket in Thailand with six-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo held from March 11-12, 2016 successfully concluded with several events spread throughout some of its properties, including Banyan Tree Phuket, Angsana Laguna Phuket, and the latest Cassia Phuket. Over the two days, 26 golfers and media had the privilege to interact with Sir Nick, who led an inspiring 30-minute Golf Clinic for all golfers before teeing off with separate teams on the 18-hole golf course. Guests also explored the Group’s newest third brand, Cassia, and its onebedroom and two-bedroom apartments – a new contemporary hotel residence concept inspired by a millennial lifestyle. Looking to delight guests to “Live, Laugh and Love their way” Cassia style, a breathtaking Sunset Cocktail overseeing the tranquil lagoon with ‘live’ saxophone performance was held at Cassia Phuket, which was launched in October 2015.
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A highlighted moment second only to teeing off with Sir Nick was a Destination Dinner specially set-up at the Hole 18 green of the golf course offering guests a unique gastronomic dining experience. Showcasing the finesse of culinary art and talents at Laguna Phuket integrated resort, executive chefs and their teams from Angsana Laguna Phuket, Banyan Tree Phuket, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket and Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort competed in a “Battle of the Chefs” competition, whipping up ‘live’ stations with Lebanese, Thai, Mediterranean and Mexican Molecular cuisine to tantalise the taste buds of the guests.
DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES An advocate for junior golf development
through his famed Faldo Series tournaments, Sir Nick Faldo said, “With the aim of developing youths and giving back to the game, I am delighted to partner Laguna Golf Phuket in hosting Phuket’s first-ever Faldo Series Thailand Championship – South in early September 2016.” Created in 1996, the Faldo Series presents opportunities to young people through golf and helps identify and nurture the next generation of champions. Hosted in 30 countries around the world, the Faldo Series benefit more than 7,000 young golfers each year. During this visit, Laguna Golf Brand Ambassador Sir Nick Faldo was also invited as the Guest-of-Honour to officiate the Grand Opening of the new British International School, Phuket (BISP) Golf
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Faldo Golf Clinic
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he Laguna brand by the Banyan Tree Group with its growing global presence and strong mission in CSR is well-complemented by Sir Nick’s vision and goals as a renowned golf professional.
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Centre on March 10, 2016. A specialist training area which comprises putting greens, chipping areas, bunkers, and a netted driving range, it is built to allow talented young golfers in the BISP Golf Academy to practice the full range of shots within the school’s spacious 44 acre campus. While Laguna Phuket has a world of CSR-integrated golfing of its own, it also has a strong connection with its community through a diverse range of CSR programmes that dates back to 1984 when it all began with the rehabilitation of Bang Tao Bay. Once a tin mine and declared by the United Nations Development Programme as “too environmentally damaged to have any development potential,” Laguna Phuket has since continued to safeguard its natural environment, cultural heritage, and promote communal prosperity. Other initiatives include social and educational development, environmental conservation, religious and cultural preservation, as well as associate benefits and relations.
Brand Ambassador, a newly broadened partnership following the announcement of Sir Nick as the Brand Ambassador of Laguna Lang Co, Laguna Phuket’s sister integrated resort in Central Vietnam, in June 2015. “The Laguna brand by the Banyan Tree Group with its growing global presence and strong mission in CSR is well-complemented by Sir Nick’s vision and goals as a renowned golf professional. Embracing the shared vision of sustainability and community efforts to nurture aspiring youths reinforces Laguna’s confidence to
further fortify the partnership with Sir Nick as the Brand Ambassador of all three Laguna Golf courses located in the Laguna destinations of Lang Co in Central Vietnam, Bintan in Indonesia to here in Phuket, Thailand,” said Ravi Chandran, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Laguna Phuket.
Sunset Cocktail at Cassia Phuket
SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS Laguna Phuket announced at the Welcome Cocktail Party held at the Laguna Lifestyle Hub the appointment of Sir Nick Faldo as Laguna Golf’s
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PO E R IME Y A T POS REE KE S ’ A ASI H IN TH S T VEN RENGT E Z I B ST S W IES HO T S I C T THA RALIAN T AUS
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Welcome Event perfomance
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aiMe 2016 paves the way for business events growth Keeping true to the ever-changing business events landscape, the 24th asia-pacific incentives & Meetings expo (aiMe) showcased a relentless expansion of infrastructure in the region, along with new prograMMes for the industry to learn and networK. Words: gina sin uniting a community of 4,588 event professionals, aiMe 2016 showcased 523 exhibitors from 31 countries, culminating in an experiential trade show event that celebrated the diversity and vibrancy of the host city, Melbourne, and beyond. a substantial 71 percent of appointments were mutually matched, with 74 percent of hosted buyers exceeding their minimum number of appointments. ian wainwright, event director, reed travel exhibitions attributed this result to the revised appointment system, which exceeded expectations and delivered thousands of productive appointments over the two days. “a key theme for aiMe 2016 has been the quality of the hosted buyer program being far superior from previous years, ensuring exhibitors met with decision makers who had significant interest in their products or services and had potential budget to spend.” a more dynamic and organised trade show this year was experienced by Malaysian hosted buyer cynthia Martin, Managing director, crystal edge sdn bhd: “i connected with fellow
buyers of conference services, grew business opportunities, shared knowledge and soaked in inspiring ideas with other industry professionals. as a third-time attendee, i would say this year’s aiMe was a success as it delivered value to me through a combination of networking events and a mutually matched appointment system that allowed us to create a diary of up to 30 appointments with the business leads we identified pre-event.” aiMe 2016 kicked off with a welcome lunch at the Melbourne convention and exhibition centre’s (Mcec) Melbourne room, where it was transformed into a beach-inspired setting to align with tourism australia’s current aquatic and coastal campaign. unlike the aiMe 2105 welcome event that was held on the second night of the trade show, the highly-anticipated aiMe 2016 welcome event on the first night, themed “one year in Melbourne in one night”, was held in 400 city road, a quintessentially Melbourne event space that saw more than 1,400 ticket holders celebrate the start of the trade show in a multi-media sensory experience, celebrating
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the vibrant arts, culture, food and festivals of the city.
Expansion At the opening press conference of AIME 2016, Robert Doyle, the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Melbourne, emphasised the value of business events to the Victorian economy: “In 2014/15 we hosted 203 business events secured in partnership with the City of Melbourne, bringing 72,000 delegates to the city, worth around AUD308 million (USD228.7 million).” Australia’s rapid expansion of its business events infrastructure demonstrates a seamless support among the various government bodies and suppliers. According to Karen Bolinger, CEO, Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), the Victorian state government has announced an AUD210 million investment last year to expand the MCEC, which will add 20,000 sq m of meeting space, making it the largest convention centre in Australia. To support this, seven new hotels will open in Melbourne over the next two years, creating 1,400 new rooms and increase the accommodation capacity by seven percent. Brisbane on the other hand is riding the crest of a multi-billion dollar infrastructure development that aims to cement the city’s reputation as a key Asia Pacific business events destination. The development will feature 1,100 new hotel rooms, 2,000 apartments, 50 new bars and restaurants, a pedestrian bridge
to South Bank, new retail offerings, 12 football fields of public realm space that will accommodate up to 60,000 people, and nine heritage buildings in the precinct restored and reactivated. “These investments are complemented by a major upgrade to the Brisbane airport, air route growth and record numbers of international visitors,” said Rob Nelson, General Manager at Brisbane Convention Bureau. An AUD1 billion to develop The Star Sydney has been proposed to transform the harbour-side property over the next five years, with AUD500 million already committed to phase one that is currently well underway. Another AUD500 million will potentially be injected to develop Sydney’s events and entertainment destination with the addition of a new hotel tower and a connected ribbon development. The ribbon development will feature numerous signature food and beverage offerings, as well as additional meeting spaces to support the property’s Event Centre. Auckland, New Zealand, is breaking new ground with a NZD471 million (USD314 million) international convention centre that will open its doors from mid-2019. It is set to boast large flexible and functional spaces on all levels, including a convention capacity for 3,150 people. An integrated atrium and public retail and hospitality laneway have also been designed to encourage networking and enhance the delegate experience.
Werribee Mansion
Banqueting at Werribee Mansion
Educational partnErships Education sessions for Hosted Buyers this year was provided in a first ever partnership with the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sherrif Karamat, Chief Operating Officer at PCMA shared in his opening keynote presentation more than 20 years of his experience in the meetings and convention industry, and focused on disruptors and external environmental factors that are profoundly impacting the business events industry. The AIME Knowledge Program inspired waiting crowds, with Saxton Speakers Bureau presenting UK Business Speaker of the Year, Richard Gerver and creative-industry guru, Craig Davis, who shared their business experience and offered advice. Other highlights from AIME included a visit from Lisa Wilkinson, official “Mate of the Territory” who visited the Northern Territory (NT) stand to discuss its appeal for business travellers.
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“I found AIME 2016 extremely comprehensive, and got to really know who’s who in the business events
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connected with fellow buyers of conference services, grew business opportunities, shared knowledge and soaked in inspiring ideas with other industry professionals.
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Cynthia Martin Managing Director, Crystal Edge Sdn Bhd.
with its picturesque 19th century Australian affluence. It was once the abode of wealthy sheep farmers before it operated as a Catholic Church from 1922-73, when new additions were built. Rich in history, the property now boasts some 60 guest rooms along with spacious and unique meetings and events spaces. Surrounded by 10 hectares of formal gardens, widely attributed to W.R Guilfoyle, curator of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, the hotel also offers a plethora of team building activities to choose from.
industry. The Knowledge Program was also extensive and showcased a variety of inspiring and engaging presentations,” said Dimity Redcliffe, Marketing, Conference & Events Manager at Velg Training Pty Ltd.
Whereabouts in Werribee Pre-show, Biz Events Asia along with a group of hosted buyers from Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Australia headed out to Werribee, a beautiful suburb just under an hour’s drive from the city. The Mansion Hotel & Spa at Werribee Park, constructed between 1874-77, entrances
Werribee Open Range Zoo, a mere 2-minute drive from Mansion Hotel & Spa, offers the only African Safari experience in Victoria. Get up close and personal with a variety of animals as the zoo’s purpose-built safari coaches provide unobstructed views during the guided tour, or take advantage of the range of indoor and outdoor function spaces close to the wildlife. The zoo’s part in fighting wildlife extinction through breeding and recovery programmes also makes an inspiring learning experience. “The pre-tour to Werribee was insightful and enjoyable as it provided
Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane
a good overview of activities, venues, and entertainment offerings available in that area. Although AIME was a business event, it was great fun and I took home some valuable tools and creative, workable ideas to help plan my future projects,” said Martin. AIME 2016 was also the centre piece of Business Events Week, which returned as a week-long initiative from February 21-26, 2016 to profile the Australian national business events industry. Themed “With One Voice”, the week also saw the convergence of Australia’s business events leaders at the first ever Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) Policy Summit on February 23. The final agreed priority policies will give the industry a platform to speak with one voice to the government.
Welcome Event perfomance
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BEAUTY AND BRAINS RENAISSANCE
ICC Sydney exhibition halls
SYDNEY HAS NEVER BEEN BUSIER AS THE CITY CALLS ITSELF AUSTRALIA’S NEW FINANCIAL HUB. WORDS: EL KWANG ICC Food Philosophy
Sydney desires to make Barangaroo South Australia’s new financial and professional services hub. In late January 2016, Lendlease announced that Swiss Re has joined the current 5,000 professionals already working in the hub. Other tenants in the new International Towers Sydney include Australian banking giant Westpac, KPMG, PWC, Gilbert + Tobin, HSBC, Marsh & McLennan and Servcorp. Above the infrastructure investment and reputation for its beautiful harbour, it is the conviction of being a knowledge-led destination that will attract congresses like SIBOS. To further attract high value congresses, the destination and stakeholders deploy sophisticated marketing tones to underpin the rejuvenating events precinct of Darling Harbour.
THE CENTRE In this day and age, event planners are so well-informed and they do not need to hear the obvious like “this is a ballroom” at any site inspection. Convention centres can no longer rely just on large capacities as a unique selling point in its marketing message. In preparation to open in December 2016, ICC Sydney gathered thought leaders and global influencers to sell Sydney and the centre as the events destination. There is a reason for
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everything ICC Sydney does. Knowing food and lifestyle are vital to the human race, they broke away from the traditional venue mould and introduced a food concept with a desire to feed delegates’ performance as sourcing local ingredients is already a given. On page 21 is a supplement that showcases ICC Sydney’s food philosophy. The design of the centre welcomes local residents and embrace the outdoor lifestyle the Aussies are renowned for. ICC Sydney set a new global benchmark for global convention centres to cater more than traditional business events by activating concerts and festivals.
ICC Sydney Executive Chef Tony Panetta
THE HOTEL Knowing that Sydney will draw larger demands, Four Points by Sheraton Sydney Darling Harbour invested an AUD200 million (USD153.3 million) to add 222 accommodation rooms. The
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darling of the hotel will be its 3,700-sq m convention facilities across 21 meeting spaces. The two brand new pillar-less ballrooms with floor-to-ceiling sweeping views of Darling Harbour will be a great event showcase as the hotel gets ready to open in time for Vivid Sydney 2016. The hotel partners with audio visual guru Staging Connections to facilitate seamless delivery of their latest technology which includes the latest Crestron 4K resolution DM system links to high quality audio, visual and lighting controls. For the perfect projection, the venue will have 20 ultra-bright 16K American National Standards Institute (ANSI) HD projectors to produce top quality images and crisp audio through the 50 EAW concert MK2366i loudspeakers. Windows are made from chromatic glass which block out natural light through a switch control efficiently. If rigging is your thing, event planners can now drive a car into the ballroom and hang it from the roof. The ballrooms will have over 120 intelligent LED energy efficient pin spots that can be programmed to change the lighting effect. The hotel has appointed Australian chef Robert Sauer as Executive Chef to deliver unparalleled culinary experiences delegates have come to expect of Australia.
Four Points Sydney Grand Ballroom
THE MUSEUM The Australian National Maritime Museum is more than a cultural attraction. It offers 11 unique function spaces; a perfect offsite themed dinners and cocktail parties for up to 400 guests. The museum’s brand new AUD12 million Waterfront Pavilion, built by renowned Australian architecture practice, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp, has three venues: Nine Network Projection Room – immerses 40 VIP guests into a cinematic experience. Command their attention using the two films produced by the museum whilst showcasing sponsor logos and messages throughout the event. The City View Room – a fantastic experiential space for a cocktail party of up 130 guests. Let the exhibits
stir up creative conversations and use the city skyline as the back drop to reinvest theming costs to more quality food designed by laissez-faire catering. The Lookout – an intimate outdoor space located on the rooftop of the Waterfront Pavilion perfect for 80 guests. It faces the white roof of the main museum building that also acts as a projection canvas; a great way to showcase sponsor messages and featured videos made for the event. The rejuvenation of the Darling Harbour precinct as the heart of events in Sydney drew global attention and anticipation. The attention was at such a level that Lyn Lewis-Smith said to Biz Events Asia at the ICC Sydney showcase: “We have never been busier”.
Meeting Room at Four Points by Sheraton Sydney
Waterfront Pavilion at The Australian National Maritime Museum
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CAPITAL ACCESS CANBERRA, THE NATION’S CAPITAL, PIQUES BUYERS’ INTEREST POST DIRECT INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS WORDS: EL KWANG Ian Hill, Sheetal Rastogi (winner of 2 SQ tickets to CBR) and Sheldon Hee
Riding on the announcement of the Singapore Airlines’ “Capital Express” route connecting Singapore, Canberra and Wellington, New Zealand, starting September 20, 2016, team Canberra led a delegation of 27 stakeholders on a mission to Singapore on March 22, 2016 to woo business interests. “This is the largest delegation of tourism operators from Canberra and Region to visit Singapore. We are all very excited and geared up to welcome visitors from Singapore,” said Ian Hill, Director at VisitCanberra. Michael Matthews of Canberra Convention Bureau together with Stephen Wood of the National
Convention Centre (NCC) spent time with Biz Events Asia expressing the readiness of Canberra. According to Wood, the NCC’s refurbishment, due to complete in June 2017, includes technology, security and aesthetic upgrades and enhancements. Stage one will see the NCC spending AUD2.7 million (USD 2.07 million) on installing new carpet and furniture in the foyer as well as the reception areas and bathrooms. It will also be installing digital signage by June 2016. The community-focused capital works together to drive economic benefits.
Stephen Wood, Manager at NCC, said: “It is important for us to be more than just ‘present’ in the community. We don’t exist in isolation. We are part of Canberra and are active in the community through strong, local partnerships.” Flexibility does not stop at event spaces, it is service that counts. Work for the first stage were rolled out without customer disruption. “We closed on December 18, 2015 and started the refurbishment that day,” said Wood. “We then stopped for five days from January 2, 2016 to put on a conference for 1,000 people. Then everyone was back pushing through with major work in the foyer.”
VC’s Jacquie Roberts addresses guests
NCC welcomes venue takeovers for events over 200 guests when availability permits. Popular with the education, medical, government and cyber security industries, the NCC glams up with one of the most talked about event, “FASHFEST Canberra”, a three-day fashion experience that showcases talent from the arts, design, lighting, sound and music scene. FASHFEST 2016 will return to the NCC on September 29 to October 1.
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MEDICAL SENSORY
ADELAIDE’S INCREASED FOCUS ON THE MEDICAL FIELD ENTICES CONGRESSES LIKE THE ANZOS-AOCO OBESITY CONFERENCE 2017, CALLING FOR AN ASIAN OCEANIAN SOLUTION FOR LIFESTYLE CHANGES. WORDS: JENNIFER SALSBURY
SAHMRI interior
There are definite challenges that pop up alongside the many benefits as Asian countries develop their worlds away from the traditional way of living to modern cities with Western lifestyles and, common to many developing countries, hitherto unknown disease and public health concerns that threaten aspects of the way we now live. This has led to the related scientific organisations identifying a much needed pan-regional focus to tackle the explosion of so-called “Lifestyle Diseases” including atherosclerosis, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other diet related illnesses afflicting so many today. There is a great need to educate and train medical communities as well as government public health policy makers; hence the real growth of specialist medical conferences surrounding these topics. One such group is the Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity (AOASO) who runs the Asia-Oceania Conference on Obesity (AOCO) held most recently from October 2-4, 2015 in Nagoya, Japan, and attended by around
250 specialists with the theme “Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome – from Science to Clinical Practice”. Overall the AOASO provides: Concerted action to combat obesity in the region via collaboration and mobilisation of our resources Forum to exchange information related with obesity in each member’s country To participate vigorously in the efforts of our respective countries to enhance the qualifying life of our people This is a group that has taken a typical path in the new world of regional associations and got together at the related global congress of World Obesity
(formerly IASO) in 1998 to officially form their regional organisation. Today, this organisation has 11 member country groups from Asia Oceania including the Australia and New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS) which runs an Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) – next in Brisbane from October 19-21, 2016 – from their Secretariat in Melbourne, managed by Mike Pickford of ASN Events. For 2017, ANZOS has won the next AOCO conference and, in addition to combining with their own ASM, have seen an imaginative opportunity to bring in other related societies including those related to surgery. “Bariatric Surgery has really taken off as a
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e have a terrific opportunity to bring a lot of very interesting people together all looking for points of interaction
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ANZOS President
group art activity Mt Lofty house Adelaide Hills
cheese tasting inthe adelaide hills
treatment in Asia and together with other surgical societies such as the Obesity Surgery Society of Australia & New Zealand (OSSANZ) and the Australia & New Zealand Gastro Oesophageal Surgery Association (ANZGOSA), we have a terrific opportunity to bring together a lot of very interesting people who are looking for points of interaction,” said Brian Oldfield President Professor for ANZOS. “We are a broad church. The science superstars and young students all have an opportunity to present. We integrate three streams – Public Health Policy, Basic Research and Molecular Biology plus Clinical Research and Application,” continued Oldfield. The society is interested in policy and advocacy and has six specific objectives on matters relating to overweight and obesity within Australia and New Zealand, namely: Ensure active communication with and between members of the society Promote interaction between different disciplines/perspectives on obesity and provide an independent and authoritative voice that represents the broad multidisciplinary membership Be actively involved in policy development Promote an improved public understanding
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Promote an improved professional understanding Promote, facilitate research and nurture young researchers. So when the AOASO asked ANZOS to convene the AOCO it was an absolute natural for the group. However, considerations to select the right location for the event being held for the first time in Australia began. For the first time the Asian groups, who culturally communicate through food, will be meeting in the bailiwick of “our rather politically correct core group of attendees giving plenty of scope for some very interesting discussions as we move into the planning stages of our event” commented Oldfield.
government health and is expected to attract around 600 people depending on the discussions that take place over the next few months with the other potential collaborating organisations. “Marketing for the event will commence in the second half of 2016 and we really look forward to reaching out to the Asian groups to encourage lively dialogue and a real meeting of the cultures in this growing science,” said Oldfield. Adelaide’s investment in creating the health, biomedical and convention hub and its second medical showcase in June 2016 allow association and medical event buyers to see for themselves the benefits of having accessibility to 1,500 world leading medical researchers working in the hub.
“This environment needed the right team to work with us,” stated Mike Pickford, the incumbent PCO at ANZOS. “We found what we needed in Adelaide in terms of affordability, quality of the facilities and the local support.” The bid was prepared in August 2015 and presented at the 8th AOCO in Nagoya, which incorporated three of the seven core themes of Adelaide’s “BioMed City”, the co-location right next to the professional conference infrastructure and the strong support from the City. The conference is a real cross platform of scientific researchers, epidemiologists, clinicians, allied health workers and policy makers from
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#Knowledge
QUALIFYING EVENT INQUIRIES HOW WOULD AN EVENT PLANNER DEFINE A QUALIFIED AND AN UNQUALIFIED BUSINESS EVENT LEAD?
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I was approached by a long time industry colleague some time back for statistics on success rates of conversion from qualified and unqualified business leads in the MICE industry. She was carrying out research for a post-graduate study she had undertaken at university.
Back to the request from my colleague. I often work with MICE teams in hotels and other venues, and as part of that process I usually do an analysis of their current situation with regard to sales activity, standard operating procedures, rates of conversion, etc.
She was frustrated. To begin with, it is difficult getting any reliable statistics on how much business is out there, let alone what percentage is converted from qualified leads and what percentage is converted from unqualified leads. I told her, I’d get back to her.
Here is a list of the business event venues I have worked with from the last six to nine months. You can call this a straw poll if you like but it is accurate for the sample that I am referring to.
Before we go any further I should clarify some of this terminology. What is qualification? The way I figure qualification in the sales process answers two questions: Firstly - Is there a business fit? Does a venue have the capacity, location, standards, price, service, deliverables, availability and capability to host this? Secondly – Are we likely to win it? Is there a relationship in place or the possibility to develop one? What other destinations or competitors are we up against? Are we meeting/ talking with the decision maker? Has the client been open with us, sharing information and allowing access? What then is a qualified MICE lead and what is an unqualified MICE lead? Here we have to be brutal. If the client has made an inquiry and you have called them, spoken with them or met to build the relationship and gather additional information about business fit, purpose or outcome of the event then it is a qualified lead. If you have not been able to meet the client or there has not been a conversation with the decision maker and you have simply gone ahead and punched out a quote in line with the details provided in the initial inquiry, then it is not qualified.
• One convention centre (2nd tier Asian city) • 11 medium-sized Australian city hotels with conference facilities • Nine capital city hotels (Australia & Southeast Asia) with conference facilities • Two Australian resorts with conference facilities (one island + one in regional NSW) • One Australian capital city group of six function venues.
NICOLAS KENT Director FinnCarlyle Pty. Limited
Nicolas Kent is a Business Development Consultant and Training Facilitator with 20 years’ experience working in the MICE and Hospitality industry. He can be contacted at nicolas.kent@finncarlyle.com.au
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Performance issues when we first contacted these hotels/venues were numerous. Time management or shortage of resources; repetitive sales meetings where the status of the same proposals were revisited repeatedly; reactive sales processes; over-reliance on email communication; sales people spending too much time in the office; low percentage conversion of proposals; difficulty following up with prospective customers once the proposal is sent; difficulty converting the business; PCOs and other event planners exploiting the venue/ hotel as an easy source of quotes while maintaining at arm’s length relationship. The findings speak for themselves and point to the likelihood that many of us who work in the industry spend a great deal of our valuable time churning out proposals that we have little or no chance of winning. Biz Events Asia’s #Knowledge section is brought to you by the Singapore Institute of Technology.
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TECHNOLOGY RINGS CONFERENCE STYLE CHANGES IN CHINA
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Xi Jinping taking office as President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in late 2012 has had quite an impact on the meetings industry in China, especially his anti-corruption campaign starting in 2013. This policy also aimed at reducing lavish banquets, disallowing the popular Moutai liquor at official dinners and restricting spending at Opening Ceremonies and the like. Suddenly a lot of associations that received state funding saw their budgets heavily cut and simple solutions were sought to become compliant with the new way of running meetings.
“hardware” or “equipment” (think of a beamer or a large LCD screen), whereas we provide fully integrated solutions. Everything they need for the conference will be in an app: programme and delegate information, room plans, etc. With the app, delegates can stream presentations on their smartphones, create their personal schedule and exchange feedback with speakers and the moderators in real-time. This app can even be used for live-votings during sessions. This is a key message we are conveying to Chinese Associations, PCOs and venues.
M Events is experiencing a domino effect of sorts as it has established new services in China. Our first client, CIT (China Interventional Therapeutics) was a very international client that likes to see itself, and always has been, at the cutting edge of technology for their conferences. They were keen to work with us once we set up shop here because they knew us from conferences abroad and liked our solutions.
This may be becoming commonplace outside China but here it has brought a real change. Using these tools have made it a lot easier for Chinese and foreign delegates to communicate and made conferences more accessible especially for foreign delegates who used to struggle finding their way around. At a lot of Chinese conferences, finding English-speaking service personnel is still difficult so digital room plans and an English conference overview that is available on everyone’s smartphone from the start of the conference really helps.
At first a lot of associations in China insisted on doing things “the old way”, meaning ignoring the opportunities new technology could provide and preferring to take advantage of numerous volunteers and cheap labour. This started to gradually change as certain fields in the conference industry found it unthinkable to ignore the controversial solutions when we first introduced them in China back in 2010.
SOLUTIONS THAT ENHANCE ENGAGEMENT A lot of our clients integrate messengers and social media platforms such as WeChat to interact with speakers and other participants. Smartphone-based voting systems and cloud-based services have also been very popular. Focus has definitely shifted towards solutions that enhance communication at conferences. The most important difference between M Events and AV companies is that our solutions are technology-based. Most AV companies merely provide
SEBASTIAN FRITSCHE, Managing Director, M Events Greater China
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Here in China there is obviously still a strong focus on one-on-one service but now, especially with foreign delegates who have some conference experience, attendees really enjoy using selfservice terminals for registration and the speakers are happy uploading their presentations themselves so we recently introduced this technology at our events. This way, waiting times are reduced and staffing levels are minimised. Our client base has more than doubled since 2014, so there clearly still is a large market for conference technology. The level of professionalism inside venues, especially in Shanghai and Beijing, often surprises international organisers. They are surprised how things are done in China in the meetings industry in terms of decision making and processes; to outsiders things sometimes seem chaotic and unorganised (which they often are) but the end result is often delivered at a very high level.
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STRIKING A BALANCE WHETHER IN THE EVENT, HOTEL OR LEGAL INDUSTRY, WORKING MUMS OFTEN HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN FAMILY AND CAREER. VICKI HENG SHARES HOW ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS MUMS@WORK IN SINGAPORE CAN HELP OVERCOME THIS DILEMMA.
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#LegalMind
VICKI HENG Director Vicki Heng Law Corporation vicki@vickiheng.com
The eldest of three children in a middle-class family, I was brought up with the constant reminder that with perseverance and hard work, there was nothing that I could not do. Indeed, up to my late 20s, it seemed like anything was possible. I had a good degree, I had found myself a position in an esteemed law firm with excellent mentors and I had been made partner by my fourth year of practice – compared to the law graduates of today who struggle even to secure a training contract (a prerequisite to being called to the Bar). Life was going as planned, if not better. Then motherhood struck. Twice. It will be alright, I told myself. Nothing has to change, I can work and be a mum. I would put in my hours at work, come home and bathe the children, feed them, play with them, read them their bedtime stories, then put them to bed. It was only then that I could finish up whatever work I had for the next day. Perseverance and hard work got things done, including birthday parties, playdates and outings, as my parents said they would. But they had not prepared me for the guilt – the guilt of leaving my children in the care of their grandparents and helpers for up to 10 hours a day, the guilt of not being in school to take pictures of their celebrations, and the guilt of thinking about child-related things while I was at work. As flexible work arrangements in law firms were rare, I found myself looking down a long narrow road – to go this way, or the other. Determined not to have to make the choice, I started my own law practice in the year that my daughter turned seven, and my son five.
MUTUAL SUPPORT I am happy to note that I am one of many mothers who have journeyed down this path. In 2010, Sher-Li Torrey, then a mum to a baby girl, started Mums@Work, the first career portal in Singapore that helps women find the perfect balance between work and motherhood. Mums@Work, with a membership of 26,000 (and growing by over 100 each week) provides comprehensive support to mums, from helping them find flexi-time or parttime jobs, to providing consultancy relating to starting a business, educating employers on the benefits of employing flexi-time or part-time staff, and assisting companies on how to implement flexible working schemes. Among other things, the portal lists positions that allow women the flexibility of working from home, on a contract basis, or part-time. Last year, I was fortunate to benefit from the portal when I was looking to employ a part-time legal secretary. The successful candidate was a logistics manager looking to take some time off from her full-time job to prepare her elder son for primary school (a common motivator). Even though she had no prior legal experience, she quickly learnt the ropes. She worked four hours each day, and was home in time to be with her sons after they returned from kindergarten. She has since rejoined the logistics industry after her son settled into his new school.
stated that the proportion of employers providing at least one form of flexible work arrangement has increased from 28 per cent in 2008 to 47 percent in 2014. This is an encouraging shift. Considering the percentage of women (aged between 25 and 64) in the workforce is about 72 percent at present, I would urge employers to work towards accommodating a woman’s need to balance work with family. To resist would be to risk having mothers choose family over their careers, resulting in the loss of valuable talent. I have no regrets about starting my own firm. While there are some trade-offs in terms of income and regular hours, I am able to arrange my work around my children’s schedules, and they know that even though I may be typing away on the computer, I am available to help them with their piano lessons or schoolwork, or to talk or hug them whenever they need me. Perseverance and hard work are still my constant companions, but guilt is but a distant memory.
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Singapore has come a long way since the inception of Mums@Work. In January 2016, Minister for Manpower, Lim Swee Say was reported to have
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REAL SMX APPEAL
THE RECENT ASEAN TOURISM FORUM (ATF) 2016 IN MANILA GAVE DELEGATES THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE CITY’S PREMIER CONVENTION FACILITY, AND THE SOON-TO-BE-OPEN CONRAD HOTEL. WORDS: ROB COTTER
Delegates got the chance from January 18-25, 2016, to experience the city’s premier convention facility, SMX Convention Center, Manila, as well as take a sneak peek next door at the finishing touches being put into the Conrad hotel before its imminent unveiling. Conrad is just one of many new hotels coming on stream in the city alongside major infrastructure projects and high-rise developments that have not only littered Manila’s skyline with cranes, but have lifted the standards being set across the city. “At the moment we have a programme of upgrades for our facilities and for SMX Manila we’re doing a facelift rather than a total renovation, because the actual hardware is not that exhausted yet,” said Walid Wafik, VP – General Manager of SMX properties. “One of the reasons I want to do this is that the Conrad Hotel is opening right behind us, which is a sister company, so we have to get ourselves together and complement the Conrad, because the Conrad is also going to complement our business.” “The halls used for ATF were all quality upgraded in advance of that event and one of the things that we are going to do very soon is to change the flooring at ground and upper floor levels, which is part of the facelift,” said Walik. “This year I am also totally renovating all
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of my meeting rooms in the facility - I have 16 of them and I will be spending about 10 million pesos (USD210,000) on a complete uplift. I want to do this to be able to compete on the small business, so it doesn’t only have to be the big exhibits or conferences or banqueting events, but also a slice of the small meetings pie. And that won’t wait, as it’s where we’re competing with the growing hotel segment.” Broader improvements to the SMX portfolio will touch their six managed facilities – with Aura, Davao, Bacolod, the Megatrade Hall in Manila and Cebu Trade Hall complementing their biggest commercial success of the SMX Convention Centre – and will include upgrades to their software as well as hardware. “I started at SMX four months ago and looked at so many different areas of how we can improve our service, so we are also changing our operating system and we are also adding a sales support function so that we can manage our accounts better and do business better, which is also better for meeting planners,” said Walik. “We’re also constantly upgrading our AV equipment just to keep up with the trends, as Manila is experiencing all these new brands coming out and hotels with big convention or banqueting facilities, so we have to stand up and compete just as strongly. This is again a benefit to meeting planners.” Ensuring robust competitiveness means having a consistent presence in the
market, which is a challenge whilst trying to deliver improvements across such major facilities, but it is one that SMX feels ready to tackle. “In terms of carrying out the upgrades and ensuring continuity of the facility, I’m planning to do this section by section, depending on my calendar of events, and I will by all means work around it, because I cannot afford to close,” said Walik. “The meeting room works in SMX Manila will be completed by the third quarter of 2016 and the general uplift within 2016, all undertaken with no facility closure.” SMX is not only looking forward to improvements to existing facilities, but to new facilities in the pipeline that they believe will help shape changes in the nature of the Philippine MICE market and its ability to lure more international events. “We are now planning for the groundbreaking of an SMX in Cebu that will be up and running by the last quarter of 2017 and that will be similar to that in Manila. The best thing about it is that it will carry a third level that will be there for future expansion, so it may even be a bit larger than Manila,” said Walik. “For events I currently have a ratio of something like 90 percent local and 10 percent international, but with our new and improved facilities if I can elevate this 10-20 percent or even 15 percent then I’m on the winning side. I’m working very closely with the Tourism Promotion Board (TPB) of the Philippines to promote us to the main international markets, because when we look at the economy, growth and construction, the country is on the right track.”
NEW DELHI
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JUNE 23-25 2016
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UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL AND COOK WITH TWO AUSTRALIAN MASTER CHEFS WORDS: EL KWANG
According to Pacific World’s monthly destination index released in January 2016, Italy was the most requested destination. According to Emanuele Pinna, Pacific World Destination Manager Italy, “Thanks to its geographic centrality, recent economic and political stability and very good direct flight connections, Italy is becoming an increasingly popular destination for meetings and incentives”.
Biz Events Asia is honoured to be the official media partner in Asia for Culinary Interludes for an exclusive coverage of their September 2016 cooking vacation in Lucca, Tuscany in Italy hosted by renowned Australian chef Tony Carter and partner Julie. The couple and celebrity chef Matthew Dillow have created a Culinary Interludes holiday experience that includes visits to meals at secret restaurants known only to locals, selecting fresh produce at lively markets, wine tastings in a subterranean Roman era enetoca (wine repository originated in Italy) and hands-
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on cooking lessons in the kitchen of Novedieci (the historic agriturismo villa), located in the rolling hills of Lucca. The gorgeous Novedieci houses 10 bedrooms (with en suites), fully equipped kitchen and sun-drenched terraces. The villa boasts exposed 16th century beams, terracotta floors and softened shades of burnt sienna, olive green and cobalt blue. Offering the charm of yesterday along with modern comforts including wireless internet, the villa is exquisitely decorated and offers a sparkling outdoor pool to cool down in after a visit to the nearby markets or a cycle through the hills. For those looking for a more energetic holiday, Novedieci has its own gym and tennis court. The views from its prime position are beyond compare: spectacular sunrises, rolling vineyards and olive groves and starry nights with
the lights of Lucca and the local villages glowing in the distance. At a recent exclusive breakfast in Sydney for Biz Events Asia, Julie Carter of Culinary Interludes said, “We are so excited about this year’s Tuscan experience where guests take a breather from their busy lives to mingle with culinary talent like Cassai, Dillow and Carter.” Carter added: “We keep our groups small and value for money. The experience lasts for a week and includes all cooking lessons, accommodation, meals, transfers and local transport. The all-inclusive price per person (excluding airfares) begins at EUR2,200 (USD2,448).
Full Details are listed on our website: www.culinaryinterludes.com
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#Deals visit www.bizeventsasia.com/deals for more deals online
Grand Hyatt Incheon SOUTH KOREA
Grand Hyatt Incheon has launched a new “Grand Value Meeting Package” designed to provide meeting and event planners as well as medical tourism extra value and support. From now till June 30, 2016, enjoy a full-day meeting package at KRW99,000 (USD90) per person, or a halfday meeting package at KRW77,000 (USD70) per person. Planners can also benefit from entertainment support and special rates at the Inha International Medical Center.
Website: incheon.grand.hyatt.com
Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort INDONESIA
Be empowered, earn double Starpoints and double eligible nights towards elite status when you book your meeting or event at the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort before June 30, 2016, and arrive by December 31, 2016. Exclusive offers include special group rates starting from USD120 nett per night, full-day meeting rates from USD60 nett per person or a half-day meeting package starting from USD50 nett per person.
Tel: +65 361 846 5548 Email: bali.sales@starwoodhotels.com
Langham Hospitality Group GLOBAL
Langham Hospitality Group is bringing back the popular “Double the Extra Mile PLUS” programme to reward event planners and organisers with extra privileges. This offer may be booked from April 1 to June 30, 2016, for events taking place between July 1 and December 31, 2016, at all participating The Langham and Langham Place hotels.
Website: meeting.langhamhotels.com
Park Hyatt Saigon VIETNAM
Following the hotel’s refurbishments from March to June 2015, Park Hyatt Saigon has introduced an innovative meeting concept together with new event venues. Explore Summer Breeze at the Park package for groups of 10 rooms and above to enjoy double Hyatt Gold Passport Planner Reward points, one complimentary room upgrade for every 20 rooms booked, a free welcome or farewell cocktail, and more. Book now for stays from June 1 to September 30, 2016.
Tel: +84 8 3520 2343 Email: sales.saiph@hyatt.com
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jennifer@imc-conventionsolutions.com el@bizeventsasia.com
gina@bizeventsasia.com
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