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EL KWANG PUBLISHER/ MANAGING DIRECTOR el@bizeventsasia.com
KrIStIE thoNG EDITOR kristie@bizeventsasia.com
GINA SIN SENIOR WRITER gina@bizeventsasia.com
Biz Events Asia is published by Business & Tourism Publishing Asia Pte Ltd 51A Kreta Ayer Road, Singapore 089008 Tel: +65 6337 8781 Fax: +65 6337 9060 Email: hello@bizeventsasia.com Website: bizeventasia.com
PUBLISHER/ MANAGING DIRECTOR El Kwang el@bizeventsasia.com DIRECTOR Geoff Batt-Rawden geoff@bizeventsasia.com
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EDITOR Kristie Thong kristie@bizeventsasia.com
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION PIXO fanix@pixosolutions.com
SENIOR WRITER Gina Sin gina@bizeventsasia.com
OFFICE MANAGER Rev Karunakaran rev@bizeventsasia.com
SENIOR WRITER Claire Algarme claire@bizeventsasia.com
CONTRIBUTORS
CHINESE CONSULTANT KH Tok
#
MAR 2015
CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A HOLIDAY
Change may be met with apprehension for some, but for others, re-invention and improved direction can be likened to taking a well-deserved vacation and returning to the daily grind rejuvenated. Tourist organisations and players in Asia continue to gain a greater competitive edge on par with global markets, with the rapid development making Asia unpredictable and change a constant. This evolution of Asia has also brought about an increasing importance in business culture and a call for professionalism.
This first issue under the Biz Events Asia brand brings you a different tactile experience. Understanding that reflection is the cornerstone of learning, we have changed the paper on which the magazine is printed on, with dedicated spaces marked #JotItDown for you to take notes and pen ideas. We also kick off our monthly themes for the year with The Business Culture Issue, where we speak to a variety of companies within the business events sector and find out how business culture drives success.
While the economic impact of business events is often tremendous, MICE as an acronym is not readily understood by those outside of the industry. Hence, our name change is part of a re-branding initiative to reflect the industry’s professionalism and creativity, while promoting awareness and engagement with those who play important roles in driving success outside the industry.
In another new section introduced this year, we address the challenges working mothers face and how mentorship may be instrumental to helping and maximising the skills of this specific resource.
Our purpose remains the same – to be the choice media that energises the industry with more innovative ideas and to provide a platform that brings together the voices of the best people in the industry through a dynamic exchange of skills, knowledge and experience.
Our #DelveInto destinations include the new leading Australian cities of Adelaide and Brisbane, Tokyo’s efforts to boost business events capabilities in time for the 2020 Olympics, and Thailand’s unique island destinations with a heart – Khao Lak and Samui. We’ll like to thank the industry, our editorial advisory board and contributors, the other industry magazines, and most importantly, you – the readers, for your unceasing support. Biz Events Asia, the only Asia-based media for ibtm america
Biz Events Asia is the official media partner of: Our cover image is courtesy of The Star Performing Arts Centre in Singapore. Read about the star-studded venue's efforts in securing more international business events on pages 14-16.
SALES & MARKETING SINGAPORE OFFICE Michelle Lim michelle@bizeventsasia.com Charline Wong charline@bizeventsasia.com THAILAND OFFICE Santhiti Arunsit Email: santhiti@bizeventsasia.com Tel: +66 81 422 4997
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CHINA: Mary Yao Email: mary@mhichina.com Tel: +86 10 6551 5663 ext 8008 DUBAI: Lenora Bennis Email: lenora@mediavantage.com Tel: +971 52 846 6212 SOUTH KOREA: Alexander Paik Email: apcomm@naver.com Tel: +82 10 5042 1337
month: bizeventsasia.com Privacy Policy: Business & Tourism Publishing Asia is committed to managing your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act. For a copy of our Privacy Policy, please go to bizeventsasia.com/privacy Printed in Singapore by Sunrise Printing & Supplies Pte Ltd. Reg no. 199002858D PPS 1785/04/2013 (022963) MCI (P) 131/02/2015
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CHINA
Guangzhou International Travel Fair 2015 March 2015
HONG KONG
Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) March 2015 | 6,800 pax
MACAu
MIECF 2015 - The 8th Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition March 2015
MAlAySIA
Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2015 March 2015 | 6,000 pax
SINGAPORE
USANA Pacific Convention 2015 April 2015 | 2,800 pax
COVER STORY Singapore’s star-studded venue makes its presence known in the global business events market 14
Editorial advisory board mEmbErs
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Janet Tan-Collis President | SACEOS CEO | East West Planners
Damion Breust Director – Head of Event Marketing Asia Pacific | Barclays
Selina Chavry Regional Director – Singapore & Malaysia | Pacific World
SoUth KorEA
2nd Seoul International Conference on Biological Engineering & Natural Science June 2015
Mar 15
ISSUE
JApAn
9th UIC World Congress on High Speed Rail, Tokyo July 2015 | 1,000 pax
6 #SoundBites 10 #TakingTheLead 12 #WebSpace
40 #DelveInto Australia Adelaide and Brisbane - the leading business events destinations of 2015
22 #TheBusinessCultureIssue Where business culture drives success
54 #DelveInto Tokyo How the private sector helps boost business events in the city
28 #TalentAndMentor
Are companies taking care of working mothers?
36 #Knowledge Good relationships needed to attract hotel MICE business
38 #Knowledge Why site inspections are necessary
72 #LegalMind
60 #DelveInto Thailand Two beach destinations where imagination is the only limitation to event creativity
68 #Engage Hottest news and developments from AIME 2015
70 #Engage New event format at ibtm america promises higher engagement
74 #WiredUp This app measures the mood of an event audience
AUStrAlIA
World Geothermal Congress, Melbourne April 2015 | 5,000 pax
78 #SoulSearching Why yoga stacks up for event professionals
Daniel Chua Managing Director aONIa MICE
Andrew Chan CEO | aCI Hr Solutions
ho Yoke ping General Manager Business Events Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)
Deanna Varga Director Deanna Varga Consultancy
Max Jantasuwan Group Managing Director Events Travel asia
Sumate Sudasna President | Thailand Convention & Exhibition association (TICa) MD | CDM Thailand
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#
THAILAND New hospitality company Louis T Collection has acquired Mantra Samui Resort as its first Louis T hotel, which will undergo a major physical and management transformation. Staff from the hotel will also be benefitting from a series of trainings and technology upgrades, including changes to the website and existing operating systems.
SINGAPORE Drawing a crowd The Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre (SingEx) together with its convention wing, MAX Atria, are set to draw an estimated 50,000 foreign visitors from international events such as: th
Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games)
Annual World Conference st
International Brain Stimulation
HACCP and ISO 22000:2005 certified international food safety programme that ensures the highest standards of food safety and
preventive approach to food safety management through a seven-principle guide.
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GLOBAL InterContinental Hotels Group launched its 2015 Trends Report, Building Trust Capital: The new business imperative in the Kinship Economy, which identifies the growing importance for companies to build both brand and organisational trust. Included is how brands mean differently between the Boomers and Millennials:
something about them, while 11 percent of Boomers say otherwise.
45%
18-24
25-34
30%
54%
58%
25-34
55-70
Book hotel Services from a mobile device
BOOMERS
64%
45-54
MILLENNIALS
AUSTRALIA
22%
45-54
MILLENNIALS
18-24
Millennials who would do so.
42%
69%
Call hotel to speak with real people
55-70
BOOMERS
The new conference and events centre will position Hunter Valley as a leading Australian conference and events destination, offering 2,000 sq m of combined pre-function, meeting and exhibition spaces. ROBERT COATES General Manager of Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, on the opening of the new Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Conference and Events Centre
250 million
Number of people expected to visit Dubai in 2020 because of World Expo
etouches
MACAU The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central is set to launch in the heart of Cotai by the third quarter of this year, bringing the brand’s signature butler service to all St. Regis Macao’s guests – a first for any hotel in Macau. The St. Regis Macao will offer
with private canvas at its outdoor pool. This story on www.bizeventsasia.com was shared at least 182
MALAYSIA Plans for The Ritz-Carlton, Petaling Jaya are
Empire City will be constructed in phases to of retail space and more than 111,480 sq m of office space. Meetings and events can be held include a ballroom, junior ballroom and four meeting rooms.
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ANNOUNCING A TO YOUR
Game-Changing Experience
Exclusive
Unique
Event
Value
Business
Industry
Connections
Innovative
Impactful
Solution
Relationships
Quality
Interactions
The
McCormick Place West Chicago, 2015 www.ibtmamerica.com Connecting the Meetings and Incentives Industry in America 8 IBTM America AD.indd 8
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W O R L D W I D E L O C AT I O N S : A F R I C A
ASIA
EUROPE
L AT I N A M E R I C A
MIDDLE EAST
NORTH AMERICA
Elevate your meeting experience. Comprising two iconic towers, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai stands elevated above Dubai’s Business Bay on Sheikh Zayed Road, in the heart of facilities and services for an elevated meeting experience. 1,608 LUXURIOUS GUEST ROOMS
S Elevate your meeting experience now and call +971 4 414 2000, email jwmarquis.dubai@marriott.com or visit jwmarriottmarquisdubai.com.
Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, PO Box 121000, Dubai, UAE | T +971 4 414 2000, F +971 4 414 6030 | jwmarriottmarquisdubai.com
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# PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS SET FOR THAILAND MICE VENUES Thailand has established its first formal certification for venues. The Thailand MICE Venue Standard (TMVS), covering three main components – physical, technological and service aspects, has since certified a total of 42 MICE venue operators in six key cities in Thailand. Spanning across Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Hat Yai, these venues include three convention centres, 34 hotels and resorts, and five public and private organisations. This year, the targeted cities due for certification are Hua Hin, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Nakhon Ratchasima. Following its success, the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) aims to promote a wider adoption within the region by establishing the ASEAN MICE Venue Standard certification based on TMVS as a model. To secure the support of ASEAN member countries, a workshop will be held in the first quarter of 2015 to equip member countries with unified knowledge of the MICE industry and the importance of professionally managed venues in all three components. The formal certification for venues is established by Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) together with key industry partners such as TCEB, Thai Exhibition Association, Thai Hotel Association, Association of Thai Travel Agents, Association of Domestic Travel and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Mahidol University. These organisations have studied recognised international standards set up by leading convention industry bodies such as the International Association of Conference Centres, Convention Industry Council and International Association of Professional Congress Organisers.
PACIFIC WORLD ENTERS THE PHILIPPINES
VEN THA UES IN THE T HAVE THAIL A TES T PASSEDND
Queen Sirikit National Convention Center
Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld
Pacific World has expanded its business into the Philippines via a commercial partnership with local DMC Blue Horizon Travel & Tours, Inc. The integrated global DMC and event management company will be tapping onto Blue Horizon’s local expertise and knowledge, operating from a central office in Makati, Metro Manila. Operational support will be leveraged from offices located in Cebu, Boracay and Bohol. “The Philippines is a land that is still relatively undiscovered and has much to offer, from stunning venues and properties in Manila that are exceptional value-for-money, to cultural and social experiences that can add an unforgettable touch to any incentive programme,” said Gregor Zajc, managing director of Blue Horizon Travel and country director of Pacific World Philippines. This announcement comes on the back of a series of partnerships late last year that brought the expertise of Pacific World into Sri Lanka, Maldives and Croatia.
Miracle Grand Convention Hotel
The 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Throne International Convention Center in Hat Yai
SCB Training Center Pattaya
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FROM THE BUREAUX
AUSTRALIA Throughout February and March Melbourne is hosting Australia’s single largest incentive group to date. Delegates from the Tupperware Indonesia Manager Incentive Trip 2015 will be arriving in stages over eight weeks for a four-day programme. Melbourne Convention Bureau secured the bid with the help of City of Melbourne and Tourism Australia, who negotiated a seamless customised VISA application process between WITA Tour (travel agent) and the Australian embassy, and facilitated discussions with airlines to ensure ease of travel.
JAPAN Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau has welcomed Samurai Kembu Kyoto, a traditional sword play and performance organisation that offers event organisers and delegates access to one of the country’s most ancient performing arts as part of their business programme. By participating in a kembu session, delegates can learn about samurai and samurai kembu, and put into practice the etiquette of samurai.
EUROPE Italy, Ireland, France, Portugal and Latvia have all joined the alliance of European National Convention Bureaux, bringing the total to 22 members. This strategic alliance unites the individual and unique offerings of each member to simplify and strengthen the approach towards key markets such as China and USA, and encourages knowledge sharing and partnership working among the member countries. Numerous projects including a comprehensive market research into the Chinese market are currently in discussion among the alliance. MATTHIAS SCHULTZE of German Convention Bureau
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# SACEOS partners with local polytechnic for talent retention About 450 students in Singapore will benefit from partnership
Accor sweetens packages for meeting planners in Asia Event planners thinking of events in Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines, check this out.
14 favourites, 9 retweets on Twitter Spotted on LINKEDIN
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What you missed online on WWW.BIZEVENTSASIA.COM Pan Pacific hotels in Singapore see general manager moves One general manager has moved from PARKROYAL on Pickering to Pan Pacific Singapore.
Pullman launches in Khao Lak Event facilities include a ballroom that can accommodate 1,000 standing guests.
0
the number of entries received from the #micenetasiaevolves contest on Facebook (This is how honest we are!)
I am an event manager: I have unlimited resources at my disposal. I can turn water into wine for you. I always keep at least 10 meeting rooms under my desk. I can make any of the venue rooms larger or smaller, depending on your programme needs. I will naturally remove any supporting pillars from your meeting space and will install windows in every room as needed. Unfortunately the “ocean view” is not scheduled to arrive until Day Two of the programme for which I sincerely apologise; however, I will move the convention centre two feet to the left to accommodate your request by the end of Day One, although I realise the event is only next week. I can only throw myself on your mercy and grovel at your feet; I completely agree that it is inconceivable that we should have any other groups booked into the hotel during our event. And the additional breakout rooms you asked for
this morning for tomorrow’s conference will be added to the hotel by the end of today. Naturally it will be no problem to turn the plenary session for 200 (classroom style) into a hollow square for 300 with rear screen projection, simultaneous Japanese translation and satellite hook-up during the 15-minute coffee break. Unfortunately, due to space constraints, and the fact that the final programme bears no resemblance whatsoever to the initial programme that we contracted the space under, I’ll have to suspend the lunch buffet from the ceiling above the plenary session, then suck the gravity out of the ballroom – not a problem. I’ve located the boxes that the sponsors sent last month under their mother’s maiden name to the other hotel down the street, and again I apologise for not having found them sooner. In answer to all your questions, it is of course, understood that I am
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people liked this post
telepathically aware of all your speakers needs and I’ll set up an overhead, LCD panel, dual slide projectors, two screens, laser pointer, podium microphones, two table top microphones, podium knockout switch, timer and blue M&Ms in each room, which I’ve negotiated at no extra charge, just in case they are needed. Additionally it goes without saying that an AV technician, engineer, baby-sitter and I will be underneath your head table for the duration of your event, just in case you need anything else. It has been great working with you on this event and every other just like it and I can’t wait for the next one! Anthony Bordignon Operations Manager at I AM EVENTS
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#CoverStory
THE STAR EFFECT A STAR-STUDDED VENUE IS MAKING ITS PRESENCE KNOWN IN THE GLOBAL MICE MARKET THIS YEAR.
WORDS: KRISTIE THONG
In late 2012, a new venue opened its doors in Singapore. Situated in Buona Vista 15 minutes away from the city centre, The Star Performing Arts Centre (The Star PAC) quickly made a name for itself by attracting big names in the entertainment arena. Since its opening, it has hosted pop concerts from renowned international artistes such as Jason Mraz, Adam Lambert, The Piano Guys, and II Divo, as well as special performances such as dog whisperer Cesar Millan and movie screenings with a live orchestra. Its achievements as an entertainment venue have perhaps boosted its equally stellar reputation as a business events venue, where it has attracted business events from the banking and finance, logistics and healthcare sectors. “Meetings and conferences account for about 40 percent of the events held at The Star PAC. ShareInvestor, iFast Financial, MediaCorp, Keppel, AIA and Great Eastern are a few of our repeat hirers who host their kick-offs, financial, and health seminars at our venue regularly,” says general manager Jack Ho. The Star PAC is also popular with educational institutions, having attracted seminars at The Star Theatre and convocation ceremonies from Curtin University and University of Glasgow. With advanced AV technology and highdefinition live broadcast capabilities, The Star Theatre is an ideal venue for educational and medical events. “Having a good track record actually helps in getting other institutions to check out our venue too.” A lot of attention in 2014 has been on branding and creating awareness for the venue.
“We launched a branding campaign last year and also collaborated with our hirers to increase public awareness of the venue and the various events held there. “This year, we are looking at increasing the utilisation of the small venues, mainly The Star Gallery and The Star Loft. These are versatile venues suitable for different events, ranging from meetings, product launch, and award ceremonies to dinner and banqueting events.” The Star Gallery is ideal for stunning gala dinners or themed events. During
a launch event themed “starry starry night” for 330 guests, it was transformed into an atmospheric wonderland of shining stars set against a deep dark blue background. Spotting main hues of blue and silver with orange and yellow spotlights, the ambience of the evening was further enhanced by table centrepieces of five-feet-high crystal trees with hanging raindrop crystals, LED lights and cobalt table linens and chair bands.
GOING GLOBAL While the majority of business secured has been domestic, Ho highlights that The Star PAC has every intention of
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JACK HO
Fast Facts
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“My entire team would like to express our greatest appreciation to [Melvin and Kelvin] who understand the challenges and demand of running an international event, and exercise great deal of flexibility and mutual trust in the partnership.” AN EVENT PLANNER FROM UX CONSULTING
THE STAR SPACES
The Star Theatre
The Star Theatre Singapore’s first and only 5,000-seat theatre, constructed in a traditional horseshoe shape with stalls and two circle levels with custom-designed seats for comfort and extra leg room. Complete with cutting-edge AV technology, excellent theatre sightlines, highdefinition live broadcast and studio quality recording as well as quality back-of-house support.
The Star Gallery
The Star Gallery Outfitted with full AV capabilities and accommodates 770 guests theatre-style or 400 guests in a banquet setting. Designed as a multipurpose hall, the venue offers flexible options with retractable walls to facilitate multiple smaller events in one venue. The spacious wooden deck in the outdoor area is ideal for pre- or post-function receptions.
The Star Loft
The Star Loft An exclusive and intimate function space atop the building, featuring soaring glass walls allowing abundant natural light to illuminate the alluring space. With a capacity of 140 guests in theatre style and 100 guests banquet-style, it comes complete with an elegant roof terrace that offers generous view of the one-north precinct. Ideal for dynamic meetings, exclusive private parties, product launches, press conferences or a star-studded gala.
The Star Terrace
The Star Terrace A casual outdoor amphitheatre with bench seating for 300 guests and a deck area for drinks and conversations. With an open stage amidst lush indoor greenery, it creates the perfect setting for events where interaction is key.
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#TheBusinessCultureIssue
Ask any business leader how important it is to have a business culture, and we’ll guess most, if not all, will say it is paramount. While a leader is likely to be able to define the business culture with confidence and ease, how will it be expressed through the words and sentiments of his employees or customers?
THE BUSINESS CULTURE ISSUE WE LOOK AT THE BUSINESS CULTURES OF SOME COMPANIES IN THE BUSINESS EVENTS SECTOR AND IDENTIFY WHAT DRIVES THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS.
Business culture is very important as it is often a key driver of a successful business, according to Alexandra Schwartz, director of marketing and cultural initiatives at Duetto, a technology and services company that provides revenue strategy solutions to hotels and casinos. “It is ‘who we are’, is a key driver of our success, and the ability to take care of our clients with the utmost care, respect and consideration, as we do,” she said. For most companies in the business events industry, employees are the most important asset. For Pacific World, a global integrated DMC and event management company with an increasing number of global agreements with clients, a strongly embedded business culture is crucial for the brand to stand out from the rest of the competition. “It is also critical that we are structured efficiently to work as a team and allow creative ideas to flow from all parts of the organisation,” said Harsha Krishnan, strategic development director of Pacific World.
CULTURE UNIQUE TO ITS OWN WORDS: EL KWANG AND KRISTIE THONG
A recent survey Biz Events Asia conducted revealed that having a good culture motivates staff, and sometimes empowers them to contribute more to the success of the business. A correct business culture also tends to attract talent. And with the right product and motivated staff, businesses stand a
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better chance of securing business and repeat patronage. Some even say it forms the unique selling proposition. Starwood’s belief in “a better way to experience the world” is evident in its Starwood Cares Culture, a unique organisational culture that serves as the foundation in all that’s done across its nine distinct lifestyle hotel brands. “In Starwood Asia Pacific, we conscientiously instil a culture of care that embraces Care for Associates, Care for Guests, Care for Business and Care for Community,” said Dylan Choong, director of human resources at Starwood Hotel & Resorts, Asia Pacific. Its employees are cared for through a series of training and mentoring initiatives, including training programmes, communication and engagement activities, and recognition of outstanding acts of care systematically applied throughout the region. One example of this is Starwood Careers, a structured career development programme since 2003 to develop talent and build Asia Pacific’s bench strength and talent pipeline. “We care for Guests by preparing our Associates to create personalised and memorable guest experiences to enhance customer loyalty and fostering a culture of continued excellence. We care for our Business by enabling our Associates to understand and value the impact of their work on our business goals and we care for our Community by identifying sustainable community initiatives and engaging our Associates to play responsible roles as Global Citizens through personal participation,” Choong said. The success of Starwood’s unique organisational culture is evident in its consistently high employee engagement rate, especially among Starwood leaders who have undergone Starwood Careers.
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NUMBERS FROM THE BIZ EVENTS ASIA BUSINESS CULTURE SURVEY 78%
76%
OPEN
feel motivated by company’s business culture
INNOVATIVE
CREATIVE CUSTOMERCENTRIC
FLEXIBLE
51%
feel empowered at work
HONEST
will not change or improve company’s business culture
Most common words used when asked to start a company and describe its ideal business culture
Job seniority breakdown of survey respondents 86%
will encourage others to join the business events industry
23.53% 5.88%
59%
feel their talent is utilised to full potential in the company
38.24% Senior management Middle management
32.35%
Junior management Non management
For Singapore-based food and beverage company Big O, its business culture is based on the belief that a general “cannot go to war without an army of good soldiers”. Its owner, Wendy Choh, believes in nurturing her employees to treat the business as their own. “I do not exist without my soldiers. We are family. The guests are the bosses, not me.” It is this belief that has brought about success to Big O, growing from Big O Café & Restaurant to an expansion into Catering, Events & Sweets. It has catered for prominent events in Singapore such as the 2012 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix and Mercedes-Benz Ml Class Launch. What’s even more unique about Big O’s business culture is that teenagers with special needs make up 10 percent of the total staff strength. At present, Choh has four employees in the category – one with cerebral palsy, one who is hearing impaired, an abandoned intellectually disabled teenager, and a borderline aggressive intellectually disabled elderly.
Part-time jobs are also offered to delinquents as well as teenagers with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to give them exposure to a working environment while allowing them to socialise with others within a structured and safe space. Trained as an educational psychologist, Choh supervises them personally with the goal of integrating them into their roles at the restaurant. This altruistic side of the business has brought about much improvement for Big O’s employees. The parent of an autistic teenager said that her son has learnt how to communicate effectively with people. “From his stints with Big O, he has become more comfortable dealing with people (or strangers), and his motor skills have also improved to a great extent. He has become more confident of himself, with higher self-esteem.” Similar to Starwood, Big O also enjoys low staff turnover overall. “We have employees who have been with us for 20 years, and most full-time staff have been with us for at least seven to 10 years. It is a culture that is very unusual
in the food and beverage business in Singapore,” Choh said.
TWO-WAY STREET It all sounds straight-forward, but the reality is that some employees in the workforce are unhappy with their company’s business culture. This dissatisfaction may be derived from a lack of understanding, a lack of communication, or simply miscommunication. Some employees feel undervalued by their employers, and their opinions going unheard. A change in management or leadership may shift cultures and affect beliefs and trust; a change in CEO often has a greater change impact than middle management shifts. On the other hand, a lack of change may also create challenges and dissent especially if a company’s products and services are no longer valid. For associations with conservative structures and cultures, membership challenges are common as they fail to attract new members or renewals from the younger, more liberal demographic. Owner-operated companies and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are
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“We care for Guests by preparing our Associates to create personalised and memorable guest experiences to enhance customer loyalty and fostering a culture of continued excellence. We care for our Business by enabling our Associates to understand and value the impact of their work on our business goals and we care for our Community by identifying sustainable community initiatives and engaging our Associates to play responsible roles as Global Citizens through personal participation.� DYLAN CHOONG Director of Human Resources Starwood Hotel & Resorts, Asia Pacific
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“We have employees who have been with us for 20 years, and most full-time staff have been with us for at least seven to 10 years. It is a culture that is very unusual in the food and beverage business in Singapore.”
Wendy Choh (centre) of Big O
WENDY CHOH Owner Big O
perceived to have personal and bespoke business cultures, while larger and multi-national companies often have the resources to work with experts to help mould theirs. Particularly in MNCs, their local offices are also equipped to incorporate the local culture into the larger business culture where it was first conceived in the country the business originated from. Schwartz’s role at Duetto was created to ensure that the company’s core values of trust, creativity and uncompromising attention to customer service are communicated across all its channels and in every initiative undertaken. Duetto’s culture in the Singapore office exudes a family feel. “Work is more than ‘just work’, it is also about identifying with the company and with the people who work there,”
said Patrick Andres, executive vicepresident at Duetto Singapore. “We all collaborate and have fun as a group. It feels like a family. Many people have worked together in the past. We have shared experiences. In Asia, relationships are important in dealing with customers, but for us they are also important with the team. Most people come to us because they know us and have worked with us as customers, partners or even competitors (who wished they worked for us)!” he said. While there is no one culture that fits all, the way of business is often a two-way street. Employees, contented
or dissatisfied, form a large part of the business culture. Employees who wish to be engaged and heard by their management should keep an open mind, be prepared to make necessary changes, and seek to understand the challenges faced by their management. Employees should also accept that individual dissent never overwrites decisions made by their employers, as most employers focus their sights on the clients. On the flip side, leaders or senior management play a key role in communicating the values of a business culture to employees, partners, suppliers and clients. This message should be easily understood and improved on according to market conditions, but always consistent. How the message is consistently communicated to its employees will also have a powerful rollover effect on the way clients are treated, and what clients remember.
“Work is more than ‘just work’, it is also about identifying with the company and with the people who work there.” PATRICK ANDRES Executive Vice-President Duetto Singapore
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MAKE CHANGE WITH CULTURE INTACT Harsha Krishnan, strategic development director of Pacific World, suggests some pointers in which companies or leaders can successfully implement change without eroding an existing business culture.
and the need for change.
business and client needs in order for the culture to reflect the day-to-day realities of the business.
rather than a big-bang change as this will enable the company to adapt better and while it is a longer process will reap better long-term benefits.
organisation, but senior management should be seen as examples for the new culture and should live and breathe the culture at all moments.
A conference at NEXT Hotel® Brisbane is unlike any conference you’ve ever held. We’re designed to make your time count by generating creative ideas and innovative strategies. 8 Get to the heart of the matter in our flexible meeting space at our Executive Studios 8 Blue sky thinking and al fresco dining at Lennons Pool Terrace & Bar 8 Recharge with super-food packed meals in Lennons Restaurant & Bar 8 Free high speed Wi-Fi 8 Use of our Business Centre facilities 8 Your own NEXT Assistant to help you plan the perfect meeting... its all part of our Conference Commitment to you! NEXT Hotel® Brisbane is completely re-engineered for modern business travellers and MICE delegates.
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Inclusions: 8 Standard audio visual equipment includes screen, whiteboard and flipchart 8 Day Delegate Rate is based on a minimum of 10 delegates 8 Rate includes GST 27
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#TalentAndMentor
ARE COMPANIES TAKING CARE OF WORKING MOTHERS? WHEN GIVEN FLEXIBILITY AND UNDERSTANDING, WORKING MOTHERS MAY BE AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE IN THE WORKPLACE AND A BOON TO THE BUSINESS EVENTS AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR IN SINGAPORE. WORDS: EL KWANG AND KRISTIE THONG
Over the years, Singapore has seen an increase in the female labour workforce. Based on the Ministry of Manpower’s Labour Force Survey released in 2014, the female Labour Force Participation Rate rose significantly from 51.3 percent in 2004 to 58.6 percent in 2014. This growth is indicative of greater independence among female employees to carve out professional careers, as well as the prevalence of more mothers now keen to remain in touch with the corporate world. Mothers who continue to work have the ability to juggle both maternal duties and job responsibilities. This ability is not without its challenges: high-pressure jobs or positions that sometimes require erratic or longer hours may pull working mothers away from their families, or make them feel that time spent with their children is compromised. This is naturally so in the business events and hospitality sector, where tight deadlines and irregular hours in preparation of an event are common. Gender stereotyping may be an issue faced by mothers in the workplace, according to Andrew Chan, managing
director of ACI HR Solutions. Gender stereotyping may depict them as being less devoted to their careers than non-mothers, perhaps lacking the determination to get ahead in the company. “Expectations for mothers to be the primary caregivers to their children may also mean the occasional need to take time away from work and not being readily available for business travel as required by their employer, leading to negative appraisals and eliciting resentment from colleagues, which may lead to poor working environments,” he said. In extreme situations, these unrealistic expectations may eventually lead to mothers, especially first-timers, taking a break from the fast-paced and timeconsuming world of business events and hospitality. One such example is Anna Tan, who used to work in an administrative position at an international hotel chain. Tan told Biz Events Asia: “After I gave birth to my son, I continued working because I wanted to stay connected to the corporate world. My supervisor
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“Many working mothers leave their employers simply because companies cannot offer the types of flexible scheduling and comprehensive benefits options that would make employment more viable and appealing.” ANDREW CHAN Managing Director ACI HR Solutions
Tan eventually left the international hotel chain and has started a business with her husband. “This arrangement gives me more flexibility while allowing me to continue working, which is something I really wanted to continue doing.” Employers often take a short-term view of lost productivity and costs when it comes to working mothers, according to Chan. “Under the right environment, working mothers can be one of the most loyal and time efficient demographic in the workforce,” he said.
The supervisor, who was married but did not have children of her own, did not understand that Tan now had needs beyond her own. “When I was on leave, I was still expected to return emails or attend to last-minute work. It was a real struggle trying to take care of my son while making sure work handled to me was completed.”
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I worked in an organisation that was open to flexible working arrangements, and I worked three days a week. This allowed me to continue pursuing my career while caring for my child. I eventually returned to work full-time when my daughter was four years old and much more independent.
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was highly reliant on me prior to my pregnancy, and her expectations did not change even after he was born. I found myself having to continue working long hours, sometimes having to return to the office during weekends. I was told to bring my son along if I needed to. I chose not to have domestic help as I did not want to lose the bond I had with him. He was placed in a day care as my ageing parents were unable to take care of him. When I couldn’t get off work on time, the burden fell onto my mother who had to fetch him from day care.”
Working mothers are highly valued in mature markets like Australia. Working mothers get their jobs done efficiently and effectively as they often have to leave on time to pick their children up from day care. With high day care costs and the lack of grandparent support, Australian mothers with the right talent choose to work to ensure their jobs pay to cover the costs of child care. Many companies in Australia offer flexible working hours or job-sharing, giving working mothers the right environment to deliver as much, if not more, than a full-timer. A common issue faced by working mothers is the possibility of sick children needing care during usual hours. “As most employers only offer paid sick leave for employees, working mothers must take annual leave or unpaid leave to stay home and care for their sick children. Many working mothers leave their employers simply because companies cannot offer the types of flexible scheduling and comprehensive benefits options that would make employment more viable and appealing,” said Chan.
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The saving grace was her working environment. “I worked in an organisation that was open to flexible working arrangements, and I worked three days a week. This allowed me to continue pursuing my career while caring for my child. I eventually returned to work full-time when my daughter was four years old and much more independent.”
Theresa Lee, head of MICE at FCm Travel Solutions, believed working mothers who are in the prime of their careers should not give up their jobs for full-time motherhood. “It may sound like a much-needed break for the first few months, but may lead to disappointment and resentment at one’s self, which in turn may be transferred onto the child.”
SUPPORT IS KEY Neeta Lachmandas, assistant chief executive of Singapore Tourism Board, is just one of the many women who have had a child and struggled in the first few years. “When I had my daughter, I was working in marketing and the job required long hours and meeting pressing timelines. On some days, the conflicting responsibilities made juggling both work and family seem like a miracle.”
Under the right environment, working mothers can be one of the most loyal and time efficient demographic in the workforce.
A parent could drop out of the workforce due to many reasons, Lachmandas opined, but childcare ranks as one of the main concerns. Commenting on the Labour Force Survey, she said that the increased occurrence of flexible work arrangements supporting work-life integration was particularly credited
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as one of the reasons that attracted more women to participate in the labour market. The greater accessibility to portable devices has also made it easier for mothers to work from different locations, empowering them to multitask from home instead of being desk bound. While support for the majority of working mothers usually exist in the form of family, friends, domestic helpers or day care centres, Lachmandas feels support within the professional environment is equally paramount. “I have had moments when I felt defeated and considered giving up. In those moments, it was critical to have support and encouragement from my colleagues – this gave me muchneeded perspective.”
CALLING ALL MENTORS “Having a support network at work can provide a platform for other working mothers to share their invaluable knowledge on how careful planning, creativity, and the use of technology can help balance the demands of motherhood and a career,” said Lachmandas. Within the business events and hospitality industry, it also helps to have a support system. Lachmandas has stepped up to support Biz Events Asia’s goal to kick start an informal mentorship programme by connecting more experienced working mothers to younger, first-time mothers.
Younger event and hospitality professionals may be sceptical of managers as the role of a manager is to ensure employees do their jobs. However, they take well to mentor figures, who offer advice and suggestions and leave them to make their own decisions. Older and more experienced working mothers may be reluctant to take on a mentorship role as they fear they do not have time for it, or fear commitment or having to establish structures. However, mentorship comes in many forms, and it should always be tailored to suit both parties. Keeping the mentor-mentee relationship casual, such as getting down to monthly coffee sessions and text messages, helps keep an open line of communication for mentees to seek advice. The relationship should include the establishing of objectives and boundaries, with honest communication and confidentiality key to making the relationship work. It is imperative that mentors are prepared to let go, just like a parent to a child, when the mentees no longer need them as often as before. Listening and advice from a more experienced party should form the basis of any mentor-mentee relationship. “After all, having an objective listening ear who understands what oneself is going through just helps to put things into perspective,” added Lachmandas.
Are Asian employers giving their working mothers flexibility? If you are a working mother interested in mentoring a younger working mother in Singapore, please contact the editor at kristie@bizeventsasia.com
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Having a support network at work can provide a platform for other working mothers to share their invaluable knowledge on how careful planning, creativity, and the use of technology can help balance the demands of motherhood and a career.
STAYING CONNECTED Andrew Chan, managing director of ACI HR Solutions, suggests a realistic but ideal arrangement for working mothers to ensure companies continue to tap on this timepoor but competent resource. Having a formalised telecommuting policy is perhaps the most powerful way a company can demonstrate its belief that work-life balance is about flexibility and not about being less productive or committed to the job. Examine what percentage of the week or month can be worked from home, and the necessary technology support your company provides staff to do so. It’s equally important to ensure that the company culture is aligned, encourages telecommuting and not penalising staff based on how much time they physically spend in the office. A more conscious push to encourage telework isn’t only a way to appeal to employees with families, but a potential overall productivity boon. It is important to remember that work-life balance, along with other issues that concern women, is not exclusive to women. Such challenges can be a struggle for men as well; it just seems to be more acute for women. Many company initiatives may be driven by the needs of women, but these outcomes are often beneficial to and appreciated by the entire workforce.
NEETA LACHMANDAS Assistant Chief Executive Singapore Tourism Board
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BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS TO WIN MORE MICE BUSINESS IN THIS THIRD ARTICLE COACHING HOTELS ON THE ART OF WINNING MORE MEETINGS BUSINESS, DAVID HACKETT EMPHASISES THE VALUE OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.
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#Knowledge
My two previous articles discussed the value of winning MICE business and how to write winning proposals. In both I emphasised the value of talking to the enquirer, understanding their requirements and objectives, and delivering a response that meets the need of the customer. This already reflects an inter-active relationship and will show your commitment to work as a partner and not just a vendor. But how do you maximise on the relationship, built as you bid to win a piece of business, whether or not it proves to be successful? Let’s assume you were successful; your proposal is selected by the client and they indicate a desire to use your property. Your first face-to-face meeting is likely to be the inspection visit and it is probable that both the client and someone from their agency would attend if the business was won via an intermediary agency.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND? Firstly, I recommend good groundwork. Talk to the agency, ask them what matters to the client, and establish their likes and dislikes. And plan accordingly. Small details can have a big influence. A customer that recognises the hotel is taking care of details on the inspection visit will assume they are capable of equally attentive service for their group. That can be as simple as knowing whether to put red or white wine as a room gift. Getting it right counts. Make a plan for the inspection visit. Ensure others of importance to the client programme – banquet manager, AV technician, the event co-ordinator, etc. – are available and all fully briefed on the plan and objectives. They too should be part of the relationship-building team – determined to help close the deal. But before you commence the hotel site visit, take time to listen. You may be anxious to show off your bedrooms, meeting space, banquet areas and leisure facilities, but I would always recommend that an inspection visit starts in the coffee shop. Take the opportunity to sit, talk, and to listen. Manage the site accordingly after having
understood more about the client, their business, their audience and their expectations. Don’t forget to emphasise the positive relationship between you and the agent: remember they brought the customer to your door. The client will be impressed if they see you are working together positively, and the agent will be flattered in the eyes of the client. A win–win outcome. Ideally also get the hotel’s general manager to drop by. The power of “I heard you were in house today and I hope we can play host to your event” cannot be over-emphasised. So let’s assume the inspection visit goes well and the group confirms. How then can/should the “relationship” continue to develop? Critically, continuity should be part of the process. Whilst the project might now transfer from a sales contact to an operational team, the sales person should maintain contact both through the planning period and when the group is on site. That isn’t simply to demonstrate interest in the current project, but to also continue building relationships that can be converted into further opportunities. Indeed every hotel employee should understand that they are ambassadors and can influence future business. Success builds success. A happy client will become a positive advocate. They may have direct opportunity to return to your hotel or they might recommend you to others. If you are part of a hotel group, the good experience you deliver may persuade the client to stay with the brand in other locations. Throughout the life of an event, building positive relationships can influence future business with both the end user and the agency. Remember, agencies want to work with partners that make them look good and deliver success for their clients. And in a world where there are thousands of hotel options to choose from, you can win disproportionate amounts of their groups if they feel confident to promote you to others. Once an event is over, stay in touch. Keep the contact alive through email,
DAVID HACKETT Managing Director Meetings Guru Ltd
phone calls and meet as and when possible. Some of my most valued relationships are decades old. The contact may have changed companies or roles, but I will continue to support and promote their business whenever appropriate because we have established trust. Even if you don’t win the specific business you were bidding for, remember there will be other opportunities. So invest time to understand why you lost and ask to be considered for future projects. The rapport you have built to date can still be a foundation for success. Maintenance of contact is key so ensure that today’s “no thank you” doesn’t also mean “goodbye”. Your opportunity is to convert an enquiry into a long term relationship. And with thousands of hotels bidding for MICE business, your tasks are: to move your property up the prospect list; to be considered frequently; and to convert the opportunities that result. Think of it like courtship. First dates don’t always lead to instant attraction. Long term relationships are generally founded on showing interest in the other party and establishing mutual grounds. The more you communicate, the more likely it is you will find what brings you together. So show customers you care. They – and their event participants – could soon be sleeping in your beds, filling your meeting rooms, spending in your bars and delivering exceptional revenues.
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WHY WE NEED SITE INSPECTIONS A SITE INSPECTION PRIOR TO AN EVENT IS ALWAYS NECESSARY TO AVOID UNNEEDED STRESS, EXTRA COSTS OR LAST-MINUTE PANIC, ACCORDING TO TANIA GOODACRE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATION.
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#Knowledge
Even as an experienced event manager, a recent gala dinner that I delivered had an element of failure because I had not conducted a site inspection for myself. I relied on the memory and experience of a colleague who had run an awards dinner there a few years ago.
BIG MISTAKE – MINE! The lack of a site inspection ended up costing more in AV than expected, and meant that we didn’t get a good relationship with the operations people of the venue. This caused a lot of stress for the venue, the AV company and me, which then flowed on to my team. Conducting a site inspection would have prevented all that stress, last minute changes and extra costs. In the end, the price of conducting the site inspection myself would have saved us far more than the amount I “saved” by not travelling to another city to conduct it. In another case, I had two separate site inspections of my venue, where I specifically asked whether it would be possible for me to display a truck or two on a particular outdoor area. This was an important sponsorship consideration for my event, and I was duly reassured by the sales staff that it would certainly be possible. However, the venue later came back to me and admitted that it would require an engineering report before it would allow me to use the space in this way. This added an unexpected delay to my plans, and caused a degree of unnecessary heartache to all involved. So I encourage you to conduct the site inspection personally every time, and to proactively cover all possible issues while you’re there. Here are my tips to help you plan an efficient and thorough inspection:
with the venue, let them know if you have spaces that you particularly want to see. Make sure the venue understands that you expect to see those spaces. It’s a waste of time going if you can’t see the exact spaces that you are considering (or have contracted).
inspection. Print them out, take them with you (or have them on your tablet), make notes on them. I know that venues give you an information pack, usually on arrival. However I find that information is better received in advance as it helps get the most out of the inspection. special needs, such as needing large equipment or heavy vehicles on display? Email your requirements and specifications to the venue in advance so that the venue sales staff have time to obtain further information before the site inspection. Ask to see those reports either in advance or at the site inspection. requirements, ask the venue to include the operations manager at the site inspection. The sales team might not have the same in-depth knowledge of the site’s capabilities, and may innocently tell you “yes” when the operations manager knows the answer is a “no” or “not sure”. suggestions on what they know works in their venue. a formal menu tasting. Are you unfamiliar with any dishes suggested? Are there logistical challenges with serving the meal?
TANIA GOODACRE Events Manager Australian Trucking Association
As event managers, we know what we are trying to achieve and why. But we usually only have one chance to get all the source material we need to sell our idea back to the executives and the rest of the team. If you can effectively communicate these concepts to the venue, they can be your best ally in delivering a very successful site inspection, and a wonderful event for your delegates! I hope you enjoy your next site inspection.
#
JotItDown
mean everything! Along with the room layout, my photos will include the mundane things such as where the power points are located, a close-up of the carpet so I can refer to it for things such as the colour scheme, and locations of the lifts/ escalators. Take a photo of the roof in case you need to consider tiepoints for signs or bunting.
opportunities can they provide? Consider the flow of your delegates, and make sure that you’re allowed to put signage in areas where they might need to be directed. at that time or do you have to share the common spaces? If you’re sharing, what kind of restrictions will apply regarding signage, noise and access?
plans prior to conducting the site
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A I L A R T S U A ADELAIDBERISBANE #De
E M I A IKE L S HOW NATION S E RAD DESTI T AW R D D E D ) T ) AN ELAIDE IPA E C I N T IA. AN LBOUR AD L Y A N L I STR IGH IN ME CH U H R A A E TH ARY IA (M RS INTO L U A R (FEB H AUSTR L BUYE A T SOU NATION R INTE EL KWANG DS:
WOR
Leigh Street Dinner, Adelaide
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DE-STRESS IN SA THE WONDERS OF ADELAIDE AND EASY ACCESS TO OTHER SOUTH AUSTRALIA (SA) REGIONS MAKE SWOPPING STRESS WITH FRESH AIR, CLEAR SKIES, FINE WINE AND FRESH PRODUCE A NATURAL CHOICE. EASY ACCESS TO SUCCESS With approximately 64 direct international flights into Adelaide every week, the destination is getting interest from international business event organisers, especially those who have already visited other cities in Australia. The South Australian capital is not concerned about the lack of skyscrapers in the city; visitors are attracted to its building conservation efforts as they take photos in front of one of numerous heritage-listed buildings. By clustering historic sandstone buildings with new ones made of steel and glass, the city proved it did not let building height restrictions hinder its creativity. When strolling from one end of the city to the Rundall Street mall precinct, what visitors get are clear skies and a whole lot of fresh air
– key draw cards for Asian visitors living in polluted cities. Adelaide is ready to capitalise on their 2014 success, topped with the recent announcement that it is the host city of Dreamtime 2015, a premier biennial trade marketing event by Tourism Australia expected to bring more than 100 of the world’s top level travel buyers to Australia for a five-day experience. Damien Kitto, CEO of Adelaide Convention Bureau, said: “This is a perfect opportunity to connect with key markets and fits perfectly with the positioning of Adelaide on a global scale for major conventions, meetings and incentives off the back of the unprecedented level of infrastructure both completed and nearing
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Significant bid wins
ADELAIDE’S 2014 SUCCESS International Council International Council on Systems Engineering International Symposium 2017 (AUD 4.7 million economic benefit) Australian Veterinary Association Conference 2016 (AUD 4.5 million economic benefit) APPEA National Conference & Exhibition 2018 (AUD 9.4 million economic benefit) International Astronautical Congress 2017 (AUD 18.7 million economic benefit) AMP Financial Services Conference 2016 (AUD 5.5 million economic benefit)
2,037 jobs created AUD 210 million worth of events held in 2014 137 events worth AUD 144.2 million secured in 2014 for subsequent years Close to 162,000 bed nights secured 1,400 jobs created Direct international flights into Adelaide (Flights per week)
Singapore Kuala Lumpur Hong Kong Auckland
completion. Adelaide has never been more equipped to shine in the spotlight of Dreamtime.” Kitto highlighted that his team at the bureau and its members are passionate about South Australia and will continue to support buyers – from the bidding process to the day delegates leave South Australia after an event. “People are often surprised at how easy it is to execute an event in Adelaide, like arranging to have an outdoor long table dinner on Leigh Street. Above all, Adelaide has easy access to Barossa Valley and Kangaroo Island (affectionately known as KI), frequently requested destinations for high-end luxury incentive groups.” At the Business Events Australia stand during AIME 2015, John O’Sullivan, managing director of Tourism Australia, told Biz Events Asia that Dreamtime is integral to the bureau’s “broader Tourism 2020 industry targets for business events to grow the sector to AUD 16 billion annually by the end of the decade”. O’Sullivan’s goal for his team is to continue building on the strengths and traction of existing campaigns and activities, and converting them into actual results. Successful activities such as the North Asia and South East Asia showcases in 2015 will continue striving to provide meaningful connections between participating Australian stakeholders and key buyers in Asia. The city is built on a square block; visitors can get from the Riverbank Convention, Entertainment and Research precinct to the east side of the city easily
14 12 4 8
Dubai Denpasar (Bali) Total
AUD 3 billion
14 12 64
INVESTMENT PUMPED INTO BIOMEDICAL BUSINESS EVENTS Adelaide has been taking the development of business events very seriously over the past few years. The Riverbank Precinct development aims to increase visitor expenditure from AUD 5 billion in 2013 to AUD 8 billion by 2020.
AUD 400 million
AUD 535 million
AUD 400 million
AUD 200 million of federal funding
AUD 300 million
AUD 24 million
Adelaide Biomedical Hub (includes SAHMRI 1, SAHMRI 2,the Royal Adelaide Hospital, University of South Australia Centre for Cancer Biology, Women’s and Children’s hospital, Adelaide Convention Centre) Adelaide Convention Centre 2-stage development (stage 1 completed, stage 2 by 2017) South Australian Health & Medical Research Centre (SAHMRI) (completed) Adelaide Oval (completed) Victoria Square (completed) Adelaide Festival Centre and surrounding Festival Plaza (advanced planning stages) Adelaide Casino (including a new luxury hotel) (advanced planning stages)
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BEYOND THE CONVENTIONAL The Adelaide Convention Centre welcomes the world to its new state-of-the-art facilities, designed with the event planners’ future requirements in mind. It is surrounded by premiere entertainment, sporting and medical precincts, and set on the city’s waterfront district. Find out more about our brand new building at adelaidecc.com.au
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n less than an hour from the CBD. you could be leaving the only footprints on an incredible sandy beach, shucking oysters straight from the ocean, swimming and kayaking among dolphins and sealions, or taking a sip of world-famous wine steps away from the vines it came from. I don’t know anywhere in the world that can offer experiences of such quality and diversity so close to a capital city CBD.
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TRACI AYRIS Series Producer for SALife TV
via the free city tram. Adelaide offers event and destination management companies a desired solution with 2,000 quality hotel rooms and apartments, all within 500 metres of the recentlyrefurbished Adelaide Convention Centre. The city allows you to get around quickly without feeling hurried or claustrophobic from navigating congested roads in leading cities. Without the need to arrange frequent transfers, it is a huge convenience and also a huge cost saving for both organisers and delegates.
SAHMRI
to build SAHMRI, which today stands out impressively in the cityscape. Biz Events Asia visited Professor Julio Licino, MD, FRANZCP, who is the deputy director of translational medicine as well as the head of the Mind and Brain theme (one of the seven themes at SAHMRI), who commented that it is rare to have three universities (University of South Australia, Flinders University and The University of Adelaide) working together and alongside government agencies and research partners. Over two years, efforts eventually attracted the right attention at an international meetings and conferencing level.
Adjacent to the Adelaide Convention Centre is a new medical precinct that comprises SAHMRI, (South Australia Health and Medical Research Institute) spanning 25,000 square metres and capable of housing over 600 researchers. It took over AUD 200 million in federal government funding
Beside SAHMRI is a construction site prepping its way for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. With a teaching hospital on one side and the convention centre on the other, the precinct is poised as an ideal proposition for medical association meetings.
KEY RESEARCH THEMES AT SAHMRI
KEY EVENTS ATTRACTED LINKED TO RESEARCH THEMES
, November 2014 , December 2014
, June 2016 October 2017
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delaide is attracting good interest and bookings for incentive travel from Southeast Asian countries, especially with the increased capacity of flights, range of new hotel accommodation, restaurants, wine and dine experiences.
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FRANCIS WONG Managing Director Encounter Australia
THE CONVENTION CENTRE THAT UP ITS GAME In March 2015, Australia’s first purpose-built convention centre has completed the first stage (West and Central buildings) of an AUD 400 million two-stage refurbishment. The second stage involving the refurbishment of the East building has commenced and is scheduled to be completed in 2017. Upon full completion, the Adelaide Convention Centre will boast a skyway connecting three buildings and have the ability to host three sizable events in the respective buildings with their own access points.
additional 4,300 square metres of convention floor space and versatile tiered and flat floor seating for over 2,000 delegates. The Centre also offers 18 breakout rooms accommodating between 30 and 200 people, with each fully equipped with a motorised screen, data projector, DVD player and lectern with microphone.
On the upper level of the West building is the Panorama ballroom perfect for a 600-guest banquet event. The ballroom offers spectacular views of the River Torrens, Parklands and Adelaide Oval. The West and Central buildings offer small and large functional and stylish event spaces with floor-to-ceiling natural-light forum areas without losing intimacy during networking tea breaks and pre-dinner drinks. Small events especially in the lower level of the West building will not feel “drowned” in the oversized foyer and meeting spaces. Alec Gilbert, chief executive of Adelaide Convention Centre, said the multimillion dollar expansion will enable the centre to become more competitive Inside the Adelaide Oval
STAGE ONE COMPLETED – WEST AND CENTRAL BUILDING These modern buildings offer an
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To meet The hotel specialises in small to medium meetings and events. The six elegant and expansive function spaces are designed to cater to a range of event and meeting requirements, whilst providing unique and inspiring experiences for delegates and attendees. This extensive collection of facilities includes the main ballroom with capacity for up to 500 delegates and smaller rooms which are ideal for board meetings and intimate evening business networking functions. The chefs will work with planners to design a menu based on an event’s needs. The dedicated on-site audio-visual team are extremely experienced and provide a range of innovative technological solutions.
Ballroom at InterContinental Adelaide
Interactive dining experience SAHMRI
in Australia and overseas, and attract a larger number of bigger events to Adelaide. “With three unique buildings that integrate seamlessly, we’ll be able to open up the entire centre for a large international conference or offer selfcontained conferences within individual buildings,” he said.
Organise an exclusive “break the ice” networking dinner at the award-winning Shiki restaurant. It offers authentic Japanese teppanyaki-style cuisine in a unique and theatrical environment across six live cooking stations by Chef de Cuisine Kenny Trinh and his team, perfect for 60 guests (10 guests per station).
INTERCONTINENTAL ADELAIDE InterContinental Adelaide is located in the heart of the city on the banks of the River Torrens. It is adjacent to the Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Festival Centre, and Adelaide Casino, and just a short walk across the new footbridge to the re-developed Adelaide Oval.
InterContinental Adelaide
The hotel is often selected as a host hotel for events and VIP stays due to its location. High-end incentive groups can arrange to take over the entire top floor to treat top performers like stars. International guests can organise a truly Australian experience with exclusive wine tastings, hear insights from the makers of Penfolds wine or even have the opportunity to cuddle a Koala in the hotel lobby.
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delaide has a modern convention centre in the wonderful Riverbank precinct, which includes the new Royal Adelaide Hospital and South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, all in the centre of a beautiful city full of culture. PROFESSOR DOROTHY KEEFE Service Director of the South Australian Cancer Service Professor of Cancer Medicine, University of Adelaide Senior Medical Oncologist, Royal Adelaide Hospital Cancer Centre
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FRESH IDEAS
Do it like the locals
Here are some out-of-the-box ideas from our February 2015 visit to Adelaide.
Join in the fun as Adelaide invests in trendy rooftop and corner bars and restaurants around the city. Bring your delegates for a boutique Australian designer shopping experience at Rundall Street East. Turn into Vardon Avenue for some wine shopping in the East End Cellars and The Tasting Room with owner Michael J Andrewartha. Michael also owns Mother Vine, a wine bar serving great Australian cuisine on the other side of Vardon Avenue. The bar is licensed for private cocktail events for up to 120 guests, and is perfect for a laid back sit-down dinner for around 80 persons.
From market to plate
Australia is known for its quality fresh produce. With the increased demand for culinary experiences due to popular shows like MasterChef Australia and Tourism Australia’s Restaurant Australia campaign, it is the perfect time to inject a “from market to plate” experience for your delegates. Bring them shopping for the freshest ingredients at the Adelaide Central Market. From there, proceed to Rawson’s Market Kitchen above the market (small groups) or The Sprout Kitchen a short drive away (larger groups).
www.adelaidecentralmarket.com.au www.sproutcooking.com.au
Wine down the meeting Delegates will be mesmerised by the design of the National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide. It has five dedicated event spaces catering from 10 to 500 guests. Treat your delegates to the sampling of 120 different wines through state of-the-art enomatic wine preservation and dispensing machines at the centres “wined” bar & cellar door with stunning views of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
www.mothervine.com.au
Sporting spirit The rise of sporting events trend and the recent ICC Cricket World Cup have drawn international awareness to the recently-refurbished Adelaide Oval. The Oval offers over 20 dedicated fivestar indoor and outdoor event spaces catering for five to 3,000 guests. The William Magarey Room is a ballroom ideal for cocktail networking events of up to 1,500 guests, or banquet events of 760 guests. Its uniqueness shines when an event planner uses all north, east and west rooms together, which then offer both stunning panoramic views of Adelaide as well as into the Oval.
www.adelaideoval.com.au
www.wineaustralia.com.au
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WHAT’S NEW?
Mother Vine
What: May Fair Hotel, Adelaide’s newest luxury hotel Where: Across from Rundall Mall on King William Street When: Opened 29 January 2015 Design: Heritage-listed “Romanesque” style Rooms: 170 guest rooms and suites Events: Seven spaces catering from six (boardroom style) to 150 guests (cocktail style) Website: www.mayfairhotel.com.au
National Wine Centre of Australia
Adelaide Central Market
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BRISBANE: THE NEW LEADING CITY OF AUSTRALIA THE SUCCESS OF THE G20 LEADERS SUMMIT AND THE CREATION OF THE BRISBANE GLOBAL CAFÉ HAVE MADE BRISBANE A BUSINESS EVENTS CITY TO BE RECKONED WITH, ALONGSIDE SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE.
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It is considered an honour for a city to host the G20 Leaders Summit due to all security, technical and infrastructure requirements met. Not only did Brisbane deliver an extensive event with 2,000 tourism workers and volunteers with flying colours; it attracted a 4,000pax delegation of world leaders and global media and received praise from US President Barack Obama who called Brisbane a “global city in a globalised world”. Brisbane upped the ante by creating The Brisbane Global Café held ahead of G20. The Global Café brought together experts and 75 speakers including tourism magnate Pansy Ho, theoretical physicist Michio Kaku and Chinese online executive SY Lau addressing five key themes: improving human life; powering future economies; the digital age; cities of the future, and new frontiers of tourism. The event generated intense social media interest – it was the top trending item on Twitter across Australia during its first day.
The Brisbane Convention Bureau is undertaking a strategic assessment of our markets in the Asia Pacific region, including China, to determine how best to deploy our resources to capitalise on the legacy of the G20 and the Global Café,” said Rob Nelson, general manager of Brisbane Convention Bureau. Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said Brisbane Marketing would be embarking on a new wave of activity to boost the city’s performance, including positioning Brisbane as a global infrastructure hub to attract international investment targeting Asia Pacific, specifically China, as a tourism market. Brisbane Marketing introduced www.choosebrisbane.com.au to strengthen its focus on driving more conventions and high-yield business visitation to Brisbane.
Nelson added: “With new hotel, service and tourism infrastructure coming on line and its reputation as a friendly city that means business, Brisbane has never been better placed to showcase its business event credentials.”
Hotels that opened in 2014 include Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane, the technology savvy NEXT Hotel Brisbane, Gambaro Hotel, TRYP Fortitude Valley Hotel by Wyndham, and Alpha Mosaic Hotel Fortitude Valley, which added higher end and boutique stock to the city.
W “The G20 Leaders Summit and the Brisbane Global Cafe have given Brisbane incredible exposure across Asia Pacific as a city that can seamlessly host major business events.
development to create a world-class integrated resort. Queen’s Wharf Brisbane will be the hub that connects the defining parts of the city – the Botanic Gardens, the Queen Street Mall, the Cultural Precinct, South Bank, the Parliamentary Precinct and the Brisbane River. The Howard Smith Wharves Revitalisation Project will include public spaces and parklands covering 80 percent of the site that connect to Riverwalk, a 150-room five-star boutique hotel under the Story Bridge, worldclass restaurants, cafes, bars and an exhibitions space.
Other infrastructure investments include the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane LEANNE ZEID Corporate Relations Director MCI Australia (Incorporating Off-Site Connections)
ith a marketing campaign saying they cater for the modern business traveller and make time count – this is certainly the case at NEXT Hotel Brisbane. I loved the way they have integrated technology by utilising the smartphone. I was amazed that I could be at a meeting and set the air temperature remotely through the phone for my return. I could also use the phone to place my room service order and more importantly, place a coffee order for my early departure the following morning! Definitely a hotel I would return to for business or leisure.
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RISING STAR IN THE NORTH A RECENT TRIP TO TOKYO WITH A SELECT GROUP OF GLOBAL MICE MEDIA SHED LIGHT ON HOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS INFLUENCED JAPAN’S BUSINESS EVENTS LANDSCAPE IN ITS RUN-UP TO THE 2020 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES. Dominating the skyline is Mori Building Company’s portfolio of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings known for its mixed-used spaces. Since 1955 the urban real estate developer and property management firm has been playing a crucial role in the country’s efforts to strengthen its business events presence in Tokyo. The company approaches urban development with the concept of a “Vertical Garden City” and an environmentally friendly model that uses land more efficiently. With focus mainly in the Minato area of Tokyo, the leading Japanese developer’s pioneering vision led to projects such as Roppongi Hills – where they are headquartered in, ARK Hills, and the newly-opened Toranomon Hills.
ROPPONGI HILLS As one of Japan’s largest integrated property developments, Roppongi Hills is a mega-complex that incorporates offices, apartments, shops, restaurants, Grand Hyatt Tokyo, a major TV studio, an outdoor amphitheatre, an art museum, an observation deck and more.
Standing in the heart of Roppongi Hills is Mori Tower, a 54-storey skyscraper since 2003 with a vision to allow living, work, play and shop in proximity while eliminating commuting time. Mori Tower’s Roppongi Academyhills features 10 meeting rooms including a Tower Hall that seats 500 delegates and an auditorium that overlooks the city skyline 200 metres above ground. The 387-room Grand Hyatt Tokyo hotel’s 17 event facilities cover 2,800 sq m of banquet space including a number of restaurants and a multi-functional outdoor space on the third level. Its larger banquet room, Tarragon/ Coriander, boasts a multi-vision screen with DLP projector and an abundance of natural light. Cooking classes are also one of the many popular activities for team-building in this hotel. Providing a source of inspiration for creativity and innovation is the Mori Art Museum, which occupies six floors of the tower. Embracing the concepts of “contemporary” and “international” since its establishment, the museum
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presents a wide range of exhibitions and public programmes from a global perspective, as well as projects that support the activities of promising young artists. One of Mori Tower’s highlights is Tokyo City View, an observation deck on the 52nd floor that boasts an 11-metre high-vaulted ceiling, approximately 300 metres of circumference and 4,735 sq m of floor area.
TORANOMON HILLS Connecting the Shinbashi and Toranomon districts is the Toranomon Hills, a 52-storey building located in the middle of the road that would connect the Olympic facilities on the bay area and the city centre. Facilities that would make up the futuristic Toranomon Hills tower include the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills hotel, four levels of retail spaces, two levels of conference spaces called Toranomon Hills Forum, 30 floors of office spaces, 172 units of private residences and parking for 544 cars. As Hyatt’s first Andaz in Asia, Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills hotel offers 164 guest rooms, a lounge, a restaurant and a rooftop bar on the 52nd floor that also crowns a 210 sq m Rooftop Studio. Its dynamic meeting and event venues easily attract product launches and cocktail receptions that many wish they were in attendance of. Touted as one of the area’s largest conference centres, the Toranomon Hills Forum can easily accommodate up to 2,000 delegates in the conference area. The conference centre includes three pillar-free halls and four spacious meeting rooms, as well as 32 digital signage columns starting from the lobby. Its “Smart Conference Center” engineering paradigm for business events represents the integrated knowledge acquired from operating the Roppongi Academyhills facility. The innovative ways in which all meeting spaces were designed provide an environment that reduces stress and allows concentration. One of the ways to promote focus includes developing desks and chairs with renowned furniture manufacturer Cassina IXC. Some of the Jaume Plensa (Roots)
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hat stays true to a country’s unique identity is its culture and timeless tradition that is infused in its activities, services and architecture. These intangible aspects are evident in the way the Japanese take pride in how they prepare and serve their dishes, or in what they do or build.
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Ideal for car launches and networking events, Oval Plaza at the back of Toranomon Hills measures 6,000 sq m of outdoor space that features a lawn area where a large caricature entitled “Roots” by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa sits. It aptly conveys the diversity, humanity and unity of global culture, similar to Mori Building’s concept of cross culture and community inclusion.
FLY LUXE And we’re not talking about full-fledged carriers here. The Mori Building City Air Services (MCAS) from the ARK Hills Heliport is the only heliport in central Tokyo to provide this private charter service. The Narita Heli Direct connects Narita Airport to the ARK Hills Heliport in 20 minutes, during which passengers can enjoy views of the Imperial Palace grounds, Tokyo Bay, Tokyo Tower and the Big Tree. Passengers can also get to experience this safe and comfortable
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centre’s efforts to support event organisers include optical fibre laid throughout the facility, the use of a global IP address and connection to trunk lines.
high-performance, low-noise helicopter ride in style with its Hermes-fitted calf leather seats.
SAFE AND SOUND Over the years, Mori Building has been re-energising its efforts around building safety. The company designs its projects with the aim of improving the fundamental urban infrastructure in which communities can seek refuge, and developing areas to contribute as a disaster relief centre. Locals and international visitors alike can be assured of Mori’s structures, which are all built with earthquake-resistant features such as seismic damping walls, green mass dampers and emergency power generator systems.
HOLISTIC INCENTIVE ACTIVITIES What stays true to a country’s unique identity is its culture and timeless tradition that is infused in its activities, services and architecture. These intangible aspects are evident in the way the Japanese take pride in how
MCAS helicopter
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they prepare and serve their dishes, or in what they do or build. A handful of performances, places and things to do are unique representations of Japan that make incentive planners spoilt for choice.
Just walking distance from Toranomon Hills is Japan Sword, a gallery with an outstanding collection of Samurai art, authentic antique Japanese swords, sword fittings and mountings as well as Samurai helmets and armour. Founded during the Meiji period (circa 1900), this is one of the most renowned sword shops in the world.
Also walking distance from the Toranomon Hills is Tsukada Nojo, one of the many Izakaya joints dotted around the Shinbashi area where locals wind down after a day’s work. Highlights on the menu include succulent local freerange fried chicken with charcoal and
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he Japan National Tourism Organization and Japan Convention Bureau have on-going measures to promote and support incentive tours through a list of action programmes.
Enoki mushrooms topped with raw egg on a heated pan. Dedicate one morning to a zazen experience at Seisho-ji Temple. This involves an approximately 20-minute meditation that is centred on Zen Buddhism. It not only prepares the mind for the day ahead, but is one that expresses the importance of respect, faith and devotion. Incorporating a typical Japanese cultural activity to the itinerary is a visit
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Atago Shrine
to the Atago Shrine, originally built in 1603 and famous for its very steep stairs that represent success in life. The King and Queen of Netherlands were recent visitors to this shrine.
KABUKI SURPRISE What seemed like a blackout during a venue inspection turned out to be a surprise welcome, which involved sudden bursts of laser lighting and heart-throbbing sound effects. In what is called a Kabuki performance, a tall figure donning a shock of long white
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coming from Asia. In order to get a bigger piece of the incentive pie and capture international visitors in the region, the Japan National Tourism Organization and Japan Convention Bureau have on-going measures to promote and support incentive tours through a list of action programmes. This includes radically strengthening MICE-related activities; continuing efforts to identify facilities and spaces that appeal as unique venues; enabling trusted travellers to use the automated gate at customs; and installing immigration “fast lanes” for business event attendees, VIPs, and other travellers who merit special treatment. These “fast lanes” are targeted to commence in April this year at Narita International Airport and Kansai International Airport. The Roppongi and Toranomon areas are closest to the Haneda Airport (about a half-hour drive), which sees about 632 flights per week to and from 100 cities across the globe.
mane and a painted face appeared and danced with slow, elaborate steps. This classical dance-drama, known for the stylisation of its drama and elaborate make-up worn by some performers, is a crowd-pleaser pulled off by the good people of Miyabi-Ya. They are often asked to perform at events, with each performance lasting anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. Workshops can also be held to let guests experience putting on the Kabuki make-up, wearing the costumes or learning some dance moves.
Toranomon Hills
Kabuki
CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AND IMPROVISATION Korea, Thailand and Taiwan make up the larger portion of incentive groups
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IN N IS NS ATIO T TIO IN OCA IMAG EVEN T TO O HL E E EAC WHER TION T ERS G . OB TW ILAND LIMITA LANN VENT P E THA ONLY AND OSTP Y THE ATIVIT OVER C CRE LY RE FUL ANG
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KHAO LAK DRAWS HELPING HANDS ACROSS THE WATER A 10-MINUTE READ THAT MAY SHIFT YOUR DEFINITION OF ENGAGING EVENTS. Boxing Day 2014 marked the 10th anniversary of the devastating tsunami, which claimed the lives of countless visitors and locals and left many children orphaned in its wake. Hands Across The Water (HATW) was set up to raise funds and create homes for Thai orphans. It was established by Peter Baines, a police forensic specialist who was sent by the Australia Federal Police to lead a team in Khao Lak to assist with the tsunami aftermath. HATW created an annual fundraising event that folds in one of Australians’ favourite sport – cycling, which goes beyond the typical charity gala dinner. The 2015 event was held at the Pullman Khao Lak Katiliya Resort and Spa in January, and raised an impressive AUD 1.5 million (USD 1.2 million).
Sea sunrise in Koh Samui island,
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THE SPARK Kelly Coleman, a renowned Australian event specialist, met Baines at a business events industry speaker showcase in 2010. During tea break, Baines told Coleman about the annual 800km (over eight days) and 1,600km (over 16 days) fundraising riding event organised by HATW. Soon, he invited Coleman to take on the bike ride challenge. “Even though I exercise regularly, I doubted my fitness level and stamina when it came to the distance of the rides,” said Coleman. Just as the thought crossed her mind, Baines announced on stage to a crowd of 250 event gurus that Coleman would be joining the ride the following year.
Coleman explained: “I wanted to crawl into a hole; in events, however, we often have to think on the spot and ask delegates to do things they are not prepared for. I decided to lead by example, graciously accepting the challenge whether I was ready or not.” It was Coleman’s third ride this year. She invited Biz Events Asia to meet her at the finishing line, as well as visit the Baan Tharn Namchai orphanage in Khao Lak and spend a few days discussing her experience. The HATW Facebook page captured the daily movements of two groups – one with over 100 riders and the other group of trekkers, a new element introduced this year. To qualify for the 800km and
1,600km rides, participants must raise a minimum of AUD 10,000 and AUD 20,000 respectively. They were each given a photo of an orphan, which symbolised a child riding along with them. Some participants set up their own blog spaces to chronicle their journeys. The trekkers and riders, however, were not alone; their family and friends stayed connected with them via social media, while some of them waited patiently for them in Khao Lak.
THE HOTEL & VENUE I flew into Phuket and travelled for over one hour by car for my first visit to Khao Lak. On arrival, the ocean view from the 320-room and villa Pullman hotel lobby was mesmerising. Assuming that the gala dinner might be held in the 522-sq
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Home director Mae Thiew
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HATW gala dinner
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veryone has a responsibility to give back in some way. Corporations have CSR programmes, but it is more meaningful when we as individuals have our own. It is so easy to get sucked into our busy lives and find excuses not to do more. But when we do give back, it is a good way to really connect, be it with human beings, animals or nature. In return, we heal.
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the way, I took in the resort’s distinct ambience, which was tranquil despite a full occupancy. The tranquillity was enhanced by the numerous pools we rode past and the close proximity of the beach from the resort. KELLY COLEMAN Events specialist from Australia
m ballroom adjacent to porte-cochere, I sneaked into the dedicated events space. However, the pillar-less, highceiling ballroom with natural light and its three well-appointed breakout rooms were set up for another conference. A porter on the buggy then called for me, ready to drive me to the villa. Along
“Sir, the quietest pool is the one located next to Le Spa on the other side of resort,” said the porter, who handed me a detailed map of the resort. But as I entered my villa and saw my own mini pool, I decided to stop counting the number of pools around the resort, and concluded that this is the best way to give guests a sense of stillness and exclusivity in the resort. After a site inspection of different events spaces, accommodation categories, the resort’s team-building activity area
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was emotional because I was riding with an inspiring person like Mae Thiew, a nun and also the head of Home Hug orphanage, as well as the mother to all the children there. The reason she does the ride is to show the kids that anything is possible if you are strong in your heart. She rode 1,600 km despite suffering from terminal cancer. She is the most amazing woman I’ve met and I won’t meet anyone like her in my lifetime.
“Khao Lak is charming; the humble town gives you an authentic experience unlike busy modern cities. It’s a place where you can really relax and fully rest. It is this quality that attracts travellers to the Pullman,” said Ketkar, the destination champion.
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and the amazing Le Spa, Sidd Ketkar, director of sales of Pullman Khao Lak, invited me to dinner at the Baan Thai restaurant, which is one of the five restaurants in the resort.
Cyclists of HATW
THE FINISH LINE After a good night’s rest, I hopped onto a 30-minute shuttle and journeyed towards the orphanage. In the crowd of family members, friends and orphans, there was a mix of emotions ranging from excitement to nervousness from the orphans getting ready to perform. It was a colourful sight of different nationalities coming together for one good cause. The sighting of the first trekkers towards the finalising line sparked off the loudest of cheers. Orphans began drumming and the pedestrians started dancing. Happy tears and hugs evoked by the sense of achievement further bonded friendships. Coleman arrived with the biggest smile and tears, surprisingly wielded up from a usually strong and focused event specialist. On the car ride back to the resort after the ceremony hosted at the orphanage, Coleman commented: “Doing this ride is truly food for my soul. Everyone has a responsibility to give back in some way. Corporations have CSR programmes, but it is more meaningful when we as individuals have our own. It is so easy to get sucked into our busy lives and find excuses not to do more. But when we do give back, it is a good way to really connect, be it with human beings, animals or nature. In return, we heal.”
all the children there. The reason she does the ride is to show the kids that anything is possible if you are strong in your heart. She rode 1,600 km despite suffering from terminal cancer. She is the most amazing woman I’ve met and I won’t meet anyone like her in my lifetime.”
Coleman further explained: “I was emotional because I was riding with an inspiring person like Mae Thiew, a nun and also the head of Home Hug orphanage, as well as the mother to
THE DINNER
A lump of emotions developed in our throats, and that story should refrain us from complaining about the little things in life.
The 450-guest gala dinner was held outdoors at the resort’s Sukhothai pond garden. Instead of focusing on the success of the trekkers and riders,
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Koh Samui, Thailand
the focus was on the orphans from the five homes that HATW is responsible for. What was more impressive was the stronger focus on the orphans who had graduated from different levels of education. Not only was HATW in a position to provide shelter for the children, but it could teach them the importance of education. One of the celebrated graduates that evening was “Game”. Karen Doyle, general manager of HATW, told Biz Events Asia: “Game is a 22-year man raised in Baan Tharn Namchai orphanage who completed his law degree at university. He plans to continue his studies in psychology and also wants to give back to his orphanage and help the children. We are so proud of him and hope he can further inspire other children in our orphanages.”
THE EVALUATION As Coleman and I reflected over lunch at the resort’s Terrace Café the next day, we felt that if business events were meant to be motivating and engaging, HATW had certainly ticked all the boxes. When planning events, we are often obsessed with the quality and quantity of food and beverages. But we must not forget the most important element in events – the depth of engagement. Would we want our delegates and event guests to walk away hungry from the lack of food, or “hungry” from the lack of engagement and knowledge? We certainly hope it is not the latter; as I observed during the gala dinner when the orphans were on stage, the eyes of the audience were on the children, and definitely not on the plates of food under their noses.
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SAMUI: LIFESTYLE ISLAND AN UNCONVENTIONAL VENUE THAT EMBODIES CREATIVITY DESIRED BY SPECIAL EVENT ORGANISERS.
A relaxed island lifestyle can charm city dwellers away from the figurative drowning in a digitally-engaged world. As the saying “old habits die hard” goes, non-digital lifestyle habits such as a love for good food and wine often follow travellers to their holiday destinations. Originating from Miami Beach in the US, Nikki Beach is a premium lifestyle brand. It offers comfort and pleasures that corporate high-flyers look for in life, even on their holidays. Nikki Beach was named after founder Jack Penrod’s daughter Nicole, who lost her life in a car accident. The brand’s motto is “Enjoy Life”. At the heart of Nikki Beach Resort Koh Samui is the Beach Club, where the main restaurant, the pool and the spacious poolside intertwined and inspire creativity for special events ranging from product launches to cocktail and dinner parties. The Beach Club is popular for its Amazing Sunday Brunch, often attracting over 400 guests each time. The menu at the
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Beachfront pool villa
Beach Club restaurant offers everything from local Thai and international cuisines, as well as healthy choices. Why Nikki Beach Resort Koh Samui for special events? Michael Sin, former assistant general manager of Nikki Beach Resort Koh Samui, confirms: “We are creative people! Yes we have readymade menus, but our culinary team can design menu based on the objectives of an event, using local produce and the freshest seasonal ingredients.” And the creativity doesn’t stop there. Sin and his team get inspiration from attending events around the world. In fact, the resort designs and creates its own theming props used at events – a cost-effective and time-efficient solution for international special event gurus who can simply fly into Samui to run the event. To Sin’s team, no two events are the same and the resort does not restrict their creativity by conventional spaces.
MICHAEL SIN Former Assistant General Manager Nikki Beach Resort Koh Samui
“We are all about supporting our clients in ensuring the success in event delivery.” Sin walked Biz Events Asia around the different accommodation options that cater to discerning travellers yearning for solace. The two-year old luxury bungalows are tastefully designed and fitted with modern in-vogue comfort. Amid the greenery is a sense of exclusivity and privacy, promising a good night’s sleep after an event, a day of excitement around the island, or a night out in town. On the other side of the resort is the modern Nikki Beach Tradition hotel neatly appointed along the 75-metre lap pool. It is perfect for group stays as it injects a sense of community during
the day, while blackout blinds in the deluxe rooms offer privacy at night. At the end of the parallel-positioned hotel buildings are two spacious Ocean Penthouses with stunning Lipa Noi Beach views. City dwellers can access their emails via the hotel’s Wi-Fi, while others may choose to people-watch at the Beach Club or enjoy a soothing outdoor massage. Adjacent to the hotel is a recently-launched twobedroom Nikki Beach Private Villa with private pools, a nice home away from home for long-stay guests. Samui, Thailand’s second-largest island and Nikki Beach resort have the ability to make one feel relaxed yet powerful. Powerful because one might feel like they could be whoever they choose to be. No pressure.
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#Engage
FRESH OUT OF AIME WE BRING YOU THE HOTTEST ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT MADE A SPLASH AT THE ASIA-PACIFIC INCENTIVES & MEETINGS EXPO HELD IN MELBOURNE FROM FEBRUARY 24-25, 2015. WORDS: GINA SIN
BRISBANE Brisbane has rolled out a number of new and upcoming initiatives to further boost its business events offerings, following the success of the high-profile G20 Leaders Summit last year. Australia’s first Capri by Fraser will open this year, while a Rydges hotel will open in 2016 just next to the Royal International Convention Centre. The Howard Smith Wharves Revitalisation Project which includes a 150-room boutique hotel and a 1,500-pax conference centre, along with Pullman Ibis Conference Centre Brisbane Airport and the new Emporium Hotel South Bank will add almost 900 accommodation rooms to the city by 2017.
MUSCAT Muscat’s unique cultural appeal has attracted regional and international delegations and high-end incentive programmes throughout the years. Its growing popularity with world congresses has led to the birth of Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, which will open in 2016. It will be developed within a fully integrated convention precinct just four kilometres away from Muscat International Airport, with eight hotels providing a total of 1,000 accommodation rooms. New venues in Oman include the Al Mussanah Sports City and the Ras Al Jinz Scientific & Visitor Center.
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MELBOURNE A pre-show experience introduced a number of unique venues in Melbourne. The Cargo Hall in South Wharf is the city’s latest venue for corporate functions and special events. Originally built in 1875, the heritage-listed Cargo Hall is a pillar-free, fully open space that can accommodate from 220 to 600 people. Munich Brauhaus is a Bavarian-themed venue that comes equipped with AV capabilities to cater to meetings and product launches. It can accommodate up to 1,100 guests. Margaret Court Arena (MCA) is a newly completed sports venue just next to the Rod Laver Arena. The upgrade of MCA transforms what was once an outdoor tennis court to a boutique arena that can cater to numerous sporting events. Retractable in less than five minutes, it owns the world’s fastest retractable roof.
MALAYSIA The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) announced the launch of the Malaysia Twin Deal Program Xtra as part of the MyFEST 2015 campaign. In the first deal, groups of 200 guests and above for events booked by June 30, 2015 and held between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 can enjoy partial sponsorship of a dinner or cocktail as well as a Malaysian cultural show during dinner. The second deal is open to larger groups: for bookings of up to 2,000 participants, planners can enjoy a two-pax 5D4N free and easy vacation to two destinations in Malaysia with complimentary return air tickets and fivestar accommodation.
SYDNEY
ADELAIDE A series of investments will further strengthen the AUD 13 billion (USD 10.2 billion) business events sector in Adelaide. The development of the Adelaide Convention Centre and an AUD 535 million to renovate the Adelaide Oval are vital to the re-development of Adelaide’s Riverbank Precinct. 15-minutes away from the airport to the city, this precinct is also home to the largest health and biomedical hub in the Southern Hemisphere, which will see the Royal Adelaide Hospital, a new clinical health building in The University of Adelaide, as well as a Centre for Cancer Biology open in 2016.
A Warships Pavilion by the Australian National Maritime Museum is due to make its mark as Sydney’s newest waterfront venue. With early bird bookings available for events to be held from September 2015, this AUD 11 million (USD 8.6 million) attraction on Darling Harbour will host three function spaces – an outdoor rooftop, a VIP terrace and a cinematic experience. Developed to mark the centenary of World War I and commemorate over 100 years of service by the Royal Australian Navy, the Warships Pavilion is positioned alongside ex-Navy destroyer HMAS Vampire and submarine HMAS Onslow. The addition of the Warships Pavilion will increase the museum’s waterfront venue portfolio to 11.
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#Engage
BRAND NEW STAGE AT IBTM AMERICA MORE ATTENTION GIVEN TO DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL EVENT PLANNERS IN A NEW SHOW FORMAT. WORDS: KRISTIE THONG
Event planners strive to create enriching and memorable experiences, and more importantly, to constantly improve and up their game for future events. Tradeshows catering specifically for the business events industry have a bigger role to play: to create conducive and rewarding platforms for event planners and buyers sourcing for new ideas and products, while taking the lead to set an example of what quality events stand for. In this regard, ibtm america (formerly known as AIBTM) set to take place in Chicago, USA this June will take on a new and improved show format. It will accommodate 250 suppliers, who will meet with 250 carefully selected event planners in the US and international business events industry on a 1:1 ratio. According to Jaime McAuley, ibtm america event director, this new experience was borne out of consultations with the industry and members of the US advisory board, who identified the need for trade shows to prioritise the time given to meetings with premium buyers in the most costeffective way. Chicago Skyline
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WHAT HOSTED BUYERS GET
A diary of up to
30
pre-scheduled appointments with highly relevant meetings and events industry suppliers, a fully-hosted programme that includes flights and accommodation.
This new solution at ibtm america promises a stress-free solution that aims to allow exhibitors to focus strictly on their business meetings and not the details related to on-site logistics. According to regional buyers who have signed up to attend ibtm america, there is a clear demand for an increased presence of European suppliers as they attend the show in search of their next meeting and incentive destination.
Access to a variety of networking events, including evening events hosted by Choose Chicago.
One of these regional buyers is Joseph McKeown of ReGroup Comms, who commented: “As the owner of an event marketing and incentive agency, we are seeing an increased need from clients for support with international destinations and programs, specifically in the European markets. Both our
Participation in “Discovery Day” on the first day, which includes access to the CEU-accredited Knowledge Forum and quality business appointments.
“
Both our multi-national clients and our America-based customers are looking for that next ‘big idea’ international incentive and meeting destination, and ibtm america can help us deliver that.
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JOSEPH MCKEOWN ReGroup Comms
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It’s an exclusive closed-door event with a unique meeting pod design, which will create a private meeting space that gives each participating supplier branding opportunities. Exhibitors have a complete turnkey solution that gives both buyers and sellers a focused face-toface meeting space.
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“It’s an exclusive closed-door event with a unique meeting pod design, which will create a private meeting space that gives each participating supplier branding opportunities. Exhibitors have a complete turnkey solution that gives both buyers and sellers a focused face-to-face meeting space,” she told Biz Events Asia, the only official Asia-based media that will be at the show.
multi-national clients and our Americabased customers are looking for that next ‘big idea’ international incentive and meeting destination, and ibtm america can help us deliver that. We’ve always found ibtm america to be a very efficient, effective and productive show for us to see the latest international and North American destinations and support
services in one place, all at the same time.” Regional buyers that have confirmed their attendance will represent some of the leading associations in the US, including: Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, International Union of
JAIME MCAULEY Event Director ibtm america
Police Associations, AFL-CIO, National Air Traffic Controllers Association and National Association of African American Studies and Affiliates. McAuley expressed that ibtm america this year is relevant to Asia-based event planners looking for US and European products, and they will make up a portion of international hosted buyers at the show. “There are no trade visitors [at the show] – only hosted buyers. The qualification criteria will match the best buyers with the best suppliers. Planners will be hand-picked based on their purchasing power, experience, future business and decision-making ability and will need to have US business to place,” said McAuley. ibtm america 2015 will take place June 9-11, 2015 at the Skyline Ballroom located in McCormick Place West, overlooking the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan.
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KEEP MUM AND CARRY ON
RESIDENT LEGAL ADVISOR VICKI HENG GIVES A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF POST-TERMINATION RESTRICTIONS AND SUGGESTS WHAT COMPANIES IN THE BUSINESS EVENTS INDUSTRY CAN DO TO PREVENT ANY LEAK OF TRADE SECRETS.
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Maintaining a good relationship with employees is also likely to do much more for a company in its protection of trade secrets than any contractual clause can. VICKI HENG Legal Advisor vicki@vickiheng.com
Employees – they come, and they go; that is the reality of today’s workforce. Coupled with the ease of copying and transferring information through electronic means, it has become increasingly difficult for employers to police and prevent the leak of possibly valuable know-how and trade secrets once their employees leave.
WHERE DOES ONE BEGIN? Protection cannot happen until we know what there is to protect. Employers must first take stock of their businesses and identify their proprietary rights. Typically, trade secrets would include customer information, new ideas, marketing plans, recipes, and price lists – all of which would compromise a company’s competitive edge should they fall into a competitor’s hands. Once employers recognise what they have within their charge, they can then implement various measures to secure their rights from the outset. In some companies, access to data is limited depending on each employee’s seniority. In others, erroneous information is deliberately keyed into customer lists or price lists so that any theft would be easily ascertainable. Policies deterring employees from storing company information in their personal mobile electronic equipment or storage devices should also be put in place. Establishing a company-wide awareness about the importance of proprietary information also drives home the message that the issue is not to be treated lightly.
CONTRACTUAL CLAUSES A common security measure is having restrictive clauses built into employment agreements so that new employees are made aware of their responsibilities towards the company’s proprietary rights from the very beginning. It is also recommended that a formal exit
interview be conducted upon termination so that these obligations are impressed upon the employee prior to his or her departure. These include: (i)
Non-solicitation clauses barring an employee from soliciting employees, customers or business opportunities from the ex-employer. (ii) Non-compete clauses barring an employee from working for a competitor and/or in the same trade, usually limited in duration or geography. (iii) Non-disclosure clauses barring an employee from disclosing trade secrets, confidential information or know-how to third parties.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL Companies have been known to avail themselves of templates and boilerplate clauses from the internet, but they are reminded to use these with caution as they may be found unenforceable. In deciding whether to uphold such clauses, the courts in Singapore have considered the following factors:
Certain information such as trade secrets may also be granted wider protection than customer information especially if such information is easily obtained. Information already in the public domain prior to the confidentiality obligation has no protection at all. While employers are encouraged to insert such clauses into their employment agreements, they would do well to be cognizant that a one-size-fitsall policy is to be avoided. Maintaining a good relationship with employees is also likely to do much more for a company in its protection of trade secrets than any contractual clause can.
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JotItDown
The employee’s seniority and scope of work must justify the duration of the restriction. If he or she regularly handles confidential information, a higher obligation of confidentiality may be imposed. The geographical area and duration of the post-termination restriction must also be justified. If an employee’s activities has all along been restricted to one jurisdiction, then a multi-jurisdictional restriction for say two years would be deemed unreasonable and therefore unenforceable. Whether the employer had communicated to the employee that the information is secret or confidential.
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A HEARTY SOUND CHECK AN EDGY APP THAT MEASURES THE MOODS OF AN EVENT AUDIENCE MAY HELP ORGANISERS RE-THINK EFFECTIVE EVENT STRUCTURES AND IMPROVE OVERALL EXPERIENCES.
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#WiredUp
In a nutshell to measure the event’s pulse by measuring the moods of its audience of participants’ overall enthusiasm and progression of emotions transcends different cultures in the “universal language of emotions” states throughout the day can help organisers re-think and improve structures and various aspects of an event
“Hello, I hope you can all hear me at the back?” must be one of the most universally recognised opening lines at presentations, where speakers always want to ensure they are clearly audible to their entire audience. With venue AV equipment constantly improving and sound checks becoming more thorough, they can be increasingly confident that every word they utter will be clearly heard, even by those right at the back. However, whilst what is being said can be understood better than ever before, can the same be said of our understanding of how things are being said? Focusing on this, a new app introduced to the meetings industry sets out to measure precisely this “how” by engaging its own live sound check to get to the heart of an event by tapping into its “mood”. Moodies, developed by Israel-based Beyond Verbal Communication Inc., acts as an emotional radar by collecting a range of voice recordings that are immediately sent to the cloud for instant analysis, from which the event’s “pulse” is in turn relayed straight back to the user’s palm. “The idea of measuring an event’s mood in real time originated during an impromptu brainstorming session,” explained Dan Emodi, vice-president of marketing and strategic accounts
at Beyond Verbal Communication Inc. “We had been invited to speak at a prestigious market research event when one of our team members suggested it would be great if we could actually use our technology to measure the event’s mood in real time. We raised the initial idea with the organisers and following their enthusiastic feedback the ‘wouldn’t it be nice’ quickly turned into ‘we definitely should’, and so we did!” Despite seeming mind-bogglingly complex, similar technology has been in use in the customer service industry for many years and having now adapted and developed it to make it usable for the meetings industry, the trials so far have been showing how the app’s live information can properly enhance event management. “Market researchers have for the most part been engaged with analysing explicit information, but with Beyond Verbal’s Emotions Analytics we can now provide a new dimension of implicit information, which was greatly missing in the field,” said Emodi. “Our technology, which is an emotional microphone that allows people to transmit their voice to our cloud-based engine, also allows event planners to learn what is happening emotionally in real-time during the actual event, which provides valuable understanding that was previously unavailable.” “Whilst building such an on-going and real-time operation requires careful design and complete cooperation from the organiser’s side, the results have proved worthy of the effort,” he continued. “They give a clear indication of participants’ overall enthusiasm and progression of emotions, ranging from fatigue in the early morning and late afternoon, confrontational behaviours just before lunch to overall motivation and friendliness throughout most of the day.”
ACROSS CULTURES In amassing a body of voice recordings for emotional analysis for an industry as global as the meetings industry, one of the key challenges for the app has been in dealing with the differences
WORDS: ROB COTTER
between cultures and their emotional behaviourisms and understanding, as well as how to measure the emotional mood of an international event where many of these different cultures come together to interact and do business. “Like body language, our vocal intonations are language and culture agnostic, and we know that because we have been researching the science of emotions for the last twenty years, analysed more than half a million of emotionally tagged voices from over 160 countries in dozens of languages and secured our technology with numerous granted patents,” said Emodi. “As the saying goes: It’s not what you say, but HOW you say it.” “This universal language of emotions is the reason why babies understand adults, why we still understand the emotional plot of a foreign language movie without the need for subtitles, or why it does not really matter what cultures or languages are being exchanged in event halls – the language of emotions are intrinsically universal,” he continued. “Obviously some cultures are more reserved than others, but when one decides to express anger, for example, he or she would do it in the same pattern as any other in the world.” With the power of understanding emotions during events now available to organisers real-time, this offers a number of ways in which they can plan their operation to build in flexibility for change in light of this new layer of live information.
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This universal language of emotions is the reason why babies understand adults, why we still understand the emotional plot of a foreign language movie without the need for subtitles, or why it does not really matter what cultures or languages are being exchanged in event halls – the language of emotions are intrinsically universal. DAN EMODI vice-president of marketing and strategic accounts Beyond Verbal Communication Inc.
“As one of our event partners said to us, it’s really useful to understand the ebbs and flows of emotional states throughout the day and that as event planners it made them step back and realise there were some things they could do structurally to the event to reinforce the positive and reduce the negative,” said Emodi. “On top of these things event partners can add a new level of insight as to how they can improve various aspects within an event, for example for that before lunch period when the more aggressive emotional states started coming to the surface as folks were getting tired and hungry.”
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JotItDown
“Another potential benefit of our technology can be to determine participants’ mood about an individual session and it can even potentially be used by event speakers, enabling them to analyse their voice during their presentations,” he added. “Most of all, though, we are pleased with the insight it is giving our clients, enabling them to make their events an overall more pleasurable and effective experience.” With the many voices at meeting events, from speakers and presenters to staff and colleagues, now able to be analysed just as rigorously for their how they say it as for their what they say, the next time you find yourself being asked “if the people at the back can hear clearly” think long and hard before committing to a firm yes…
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IndoMICE IndoMICE 2015
2015
12 & 13 May 2015 12 & 13 May 2015 Stones Hotel, Legian Stones Hotel, Legian
Welcome to the inaugural Welcome the inaugural IndoMICEto Exhibition -a IndoMICE Exhibition -a fantastic new and pioneering fantastic new and show featuring thepioneering best of show featuring the best of Indonesia’s meetings, incentives, conference Indonesia’s meetings, incentives, conference and exhibition products and suppliers. and exhibition products and suppliers. Connect With Buyers From All Over Indonesia And Buyers Connect Buyers FromThe All APAC Over Indonesia From KeyWith Markets Across Region And Buyers From Key Markets Across The APAC Region IndoMICE 2014 will scale new heights, providing a professional, focused and
Contact Team IndoMICE Contact Team IndoMICE
Paul Hodgson
T +62 857 925 750 19 (INDO) Paul Hodgson T +61 417 773 333 (AUS) T +62 857 925 750 19 (INDO) E paul@indomice.co T +61 417 773 333 (AUS) E paul@indomice.co
Mark Richardson
T +61 39870 2611 (AUS) Mark Richardson
M +61 412 160 133 T +61 39870 2611 (AUS) E mark@indomice.co M +61 412 160 133 Melbourne | Bali | Singapore E mark@indomice.co Melbourne | Bali | Singapore Principal Partner Principal Partner
spectacular platform to showcase the vast capabilities of Indonesia’s MICE IndoMICE 2014 will scale new heights, providing a professional, focused and spectacular platform to showcase the vast capabilities of Indonesia’s MICE buyers from within the APAC region. buyers from within the APAC region.
International hosted buyers BE SEEN,buyers BE HEARD AND Domestic International hosted buyers BE IN DEMAND SEEN, BE HEARD Main stagebuyers presentations AND Domestic Topic driven masterclass sessions BE INUS DEMAND Main stage presentations JOIN AS AN EXHIBITOR OR Social networking events sessions TopicUS driven masterclass PARTNER JOIN AS AN EXHIBITOR OR Business networking sessions Social networking @ INDOMICE 2015! events PARTNER hosted buyer famils Business networking sessions @International INDOMICE 2015! International hosted buyer famils
IndoMICE 2015 IndoMICE
2015 77 48Indo IndoMICE MICEAD.indd AD.indd 77 48
BE SEEN, BE HEARD BE SEEN, HEARD AND BE INBE DEMAND AND BE IN DEMAND JOIN US AS AN JOIN US AS OR AN EXHIBITOR EXHIBITOR PARTNER @OR PARTNER @2015! INDOMICE INDOMICE 2015!
Gold Sponsors Gold Sponsors
The Stones Resort Legian The Stones Resort Legian
www.indomice.co www.indomice.co 28/2/15 22/1/15 4:43 4:29pm pm
#SoulSearching
WHY YOGA BENEFITS IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE YOGA IS BECOMING MORE POPULAR WITH GOOD REASON. WITH POSTEVENT RECOVERY TIME ALWAYS CRUCIAL AMONG BUSY PLANNERS, SAAKALYA YOGA SHARES HOW YOGA CAN HELP.
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DEVELOP GREATER 1 MENTAL CLARITY AND CONTROL You’re supposed to be “in the moment” when practising yoga. This helps you clear the mind of all thoughts and worries, and gets you to focus on the “now”.
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BRING CALMNESS TO YOUR MIND
Yoga has a lot of intense physical elements to it, which requires deep concentration. Focusing on your body and what it is doing helps bring calmness to the mind.
IMPROVE STAMINA AND
3 RESISTANCE TO ILLNESS If we have a lot of heat in the body, we can practise cooling postures. If we have a lot of air and dryness in the body, we can practise postures that settle the air down and reverse the dryness. If we have a lot of moisture in the body, we can practise postures that help us to move more. With greater balance overall, we become ill far less often and with less intensity.
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EXPERIENCE GREATER ENERGY VITALITY
Studies show that some yoga poses reduce fatigue and increase the cortisol hormone. Low levels of cortisol can zap your energy, therefore a regular yoga practice will help keep this hormone in check without holding you back.
5 INCREASE VITALITY By stretching and strengthening the muscles and massaging the internal organs, toxins are rinsed from the body. Through practising specific pranayama (breathing) you learn to breathe deeper, which means your blood receives waves of fresh oxygen, which is key to revitalising your whole system.
6 MANAGE STRESS Everyone has a sympathetic nervous system that is activated by stress caused by work deadlines, financial problems and sleep deprivation. Being in a chronic state of stress can cause the brain to pump out too much cortisol (stress hormone), which can also damage your muscles, weaken your immune system and impair digestion. Practising yoga on a regular basis can help your brain process stress so that the sympathetic nervous system does not jump into overdrive.
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IMPROVE WORKPLACE MORALE
Workplace fun can go a long way to improve morale. It isn’t very difficult to make the workplace more fun, and you will certainly see results if you or your company make the effort to liven up the daily routine, all of which lead to increased morale at the workplace.
8 IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY While you might gain a fit body and a calm mind as a result of efforts on the mat, you also become a more engaged and active worker.
DECREASES ACHES
9 AND PAINS
Yoga’s focus on balance and strength is ideal for improve back strength and circulation, which can often provide relief from chronic back pain.
10 MOTIVATES STAFF Yoga helps to put a smile on the face and generates good feelings within the body. This enhances communication and motivational skills, thus increases the client base and customer satisfaction.
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#Deals visit www.bizeventsasia for more deals online
W Taipei
TAIWAN
W Taipei’s new meeting package “W Meetings Couture” aims to provide a flexible and custom-made meeting plan to fit every client’s needs. The package starting from TWD 1,780 (USD 56) +10% per person includes flexible schedule options to meet the specific needs of event planners, with various F&B selections and myriad of AV equipment choices. Tel: +886 2 7703 8888 wtaipei.com
Hotel Windsor Suites & Convention Bangkok THAILAND
Book meetings at Hotel Windsor Suites & Convention Bangkok and enjoy Executive Suite access, with private check-ins, complimentary evening cocktail bar selection and snacks and more. Additional benefits include a 25% discount on spa treatments from tariff rates at Neva Spa, 25% discounts for all restaurants, and a 25% discount on laundry service. Tel: +66 2 262 1234 windsorsuiteshotel.com
The Stones Hotel – Legian Bali, Autograph Collection INDONESIA
Conrad Macao, Cotai Central
MACAU
Book a meeting at The Stones Hotel – Legian Bali, Autograph Collection to enjoy any three rewards: complimentary daily buffet breakfast for delegates staying in the hotel; free internet in meeting rooms; 5% rebate off master bill; triple Marriott Rewards points for every 20 rooms paid; and more.
Book a full-day meeting package for 20 delegates or more and enjoy a complimentary suite upgrade with return First Class Cotai Water Jet transfers between Hong Kong and Macau, Full-day meeting packages start from HKD 680* (USD 87) per person. Book and contract by June 30, 2015 for events held before September 30, 2015.
Tel: +62 361 3005 888 stoneshotelbali.com
Tel: +853 2882 9000 sandscotaicentral.com/ macau-hotels/ conrad-macao.html
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el@bizeventsasia.com
kristie@bizeventsasia.com gina@bizeventsasia.com
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2015
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ALEXANDRA SCHWARTZ DUETTO
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