Biz Events Asia Volume 6 August 2019 by BEAM

Volume 6 | August 2019

ASSOCIATIONS

M&I TOOLKIT

ASEAN collaboration; Inclusive growth in Africa; Legacy lessons from WD19

Ageism at events; New workplace culture; Gucci Osteria in Singapore

RIN

RECY

LED

TED O 00% N1

GREEN SHEEN PAPER

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With up to 25,000 bonus rewards points on offer, plus your chance to WIN a 3 day 2 night Singapore VIP Getaway for two including flights, luxury accommodation and elite experiences with exclusive dining, master-classes, spa treatment, a private city tour and more – you can really have it ALL. Discover more at

meetingplanner-accorhotels.com For events booked before 15 December 2019 and held by 31 July 2020. Terms and Conditions apply. Authorised under NSW Permit No. LTPS/19/36450; ACT TP19/03803; SA Licence No. T19/1201

RAFFLES

SWISSÔTEL

B A N YA N T R E E

GRAND MERCURE

M A M A S H E LT E R

ANGSANA \

IBIS

FA I R M O N T

IBIS STYLES

ADAG IO

SOFITEL

RIXOS

THE SEBEL

CASSIA

ACCE SS

MANTIS \

NOVOTE L

T H A L A S SA S E A & S PA

MGALLERY \

MERCURE

PULLMAN \

ADAG IO

E d i t o r ’s Letter

A little more action

Biz Events Asia is the official media partner and member of:

t the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, leaders signalled the need for more ambitious action if targets set in the Paris Climate Change agreements are to be reached, namely carbon neutrality by 2050 and limiting global warming to 1.5°C. For the business events industry, sustainability has been a watchword for some time now, with stakeholders increasingly vocal about moves to reduce carbon footprint, offset ‘event pollution’ such as reducing the use of plastic and paper, and limit waste. But is there too much talk and not enough action? And how does Asia fare on a global scale? We investigate these questions in our Cover Story (p.30) and discuss the industry’s role and responsibility in bringing about social, economic and environmental change. In fact, this issue of Biz Events Asia is printed on 100% recycled paper. Also in this issue, we examine how to cater for the differing needs of younger and older delegates (p.22), and travel to Vancouver to attend Women Deliver, the world’s largest conference on gender equality. We unpick the legacy lessons involved in securing this triennial event and the tangible event outcomes that followed (p.40). As our dedicated series on collaboration continues, we analyse cooperation in the ASEAN region (p.36), as well as efforts to boost collaboration at this year’s Asia Business Meet in Singapore (p.16). Please enjoy this issue responsibly and, as always, we welcome your feedback. Lauren Arena Managing Editor

Managing Editor Lauren Arena lauren@untangledgroup.com CEO | Publisher El Kwang el@untangledgroup.com Creative Director Chua Yi Kiat kiat@untangledgroup.com Senior Reporter Anis Ramli anis@untangledgroup.com

Sales & Operations Michelle Lim michellelim@untangledgroup.com Lilian Kuan lilian@untangledgroup.com Jen Anderson jen@untangledgroup.com Contributors Jack Carter Kim Benjamin Gerardine Donough-Tan Design & Production PIXO fanix@pixosolutions.com

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International Media Representatives China: Mary Yao mary@mhichina.com +86 10 6551 5663 ext 8008 Dubai: Rahul Sequeira rahul.sequeira@themediavantage.com +971 56 693 1213 South Korea: Alexander Paik apcomm@naver.com +82 10 5042 1337

Biz Events Asia is published by Untangled Pte Ltd 308 Tanglin Road, GreenHub Offices, Phoenix Park, Singapore 247974 Email: hello@bizeventsasia.com | Website: www.bizeventsasia.com Tel: +65 9833 1583 Visit us online for regular updates throughout the month: www.bizeventsasia.com Privacy Policy: Untangled is committed to managing your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act. For a copy of our Privacy Policy, please go to www.bizeventsasia.com/privacy Printed in Singapore by Sunrise Printing & Supplies Pte Ltd. Reg no. L002/11/2017 PPS 1785/04/2013 (022963) MCI (P) 036/08/2019

Vol 6 2019

CHINA

IBTM China Beijing | 28-29 August 2019

HONG KONG

AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) Hong Kong | 4-5 November 2019

PHILIPPINES

PCAAE 7th Associations Summit Manila | 27-28 November 2019

MALAYSIA

Hospitality and Tourism Conference Malacca | 21-22 October 2019

THAILAND

IT&CMA Asia Bangkok | 24-26 September 2019

AUSTRALIA

iMedia Brand Summit Gold Coast | 2-4 September 2019

SINGAPORE

ITB Asia Singapore | 16-18 October 2019

Contents Volume 6 2019

Max Jantasuwan Founding CEO Events Travel Asia

Selina Sinclair Global Managing Director Pacific World

Andrew Chan CEO ACI HR Solutions

Deanna Varga Director Mayvin Global

Editorial Advisory board members

Ronald Lim Event Director & Founder Think Tank Productions

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Janet Tan-Collis CEO East West Planners

Neeta Lachmandas Executive Director The Institute of Service Excellence, Singapore Management University

Sumate Sudasna President | Thailand Incentive & Convention Association (TICA) MD | CDM Thailand

Damion Breust CEO Directions Conference & Incentive Management

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Co ntents

06 10 11 22 28

Upfront Leaders Gen Next Diversity & Inclusion Case Study

Cover 30 Story Industry leaders can be a catalyst for change, but Asia may need to up the pace in the sustainability stakes.

50 40 46

Associations Impact

Legacy lessons from Women Deliver in Vancouver.

M&I Toolkit

Organisational models that encourage creative thinking and innovative behaviour.

South Africa

New infrastructure supports industry advancement across the continent.

Australia

New Zealand

Social engagement and authentic experiences in Darwin.

Increased accessibility, new venues and incentive ideas.

58 ASEAN REPORT

Up Close

Darren Chen explains the ‘Gucci effect’ after running the brand’s first dining pop-up in Singapore.

As part of our ongoing Competition vs Collaboration series, we investigate how this regional platform can be harnessed for business events.

62 www.bizeventsasia.com

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Up front

IBTM to launch new trade show in Asia Pacific Photo credit: TIME 2019

Inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific will kick off in Singapore in 2020 — but does the industry need another trade show? By Lauren Arena

IBTM, part of Reed Travel Exhibitions, has announced the launch of a new business event, IBTM Asia Pacific, set to take place on 6-8 April 2020 in Singapore at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre. The two-day event will connect buyers and sellers for pre-scheduled business meetings, education and networking and will be managed by Reed’s exisiting team. based in London. IBTM portfolio director, Shane Hannam, says: “Launching a new event for the Asia Pacific market is not only exciting for the IBTM brand, it is also supported by the fact that the region’s business events industry is expected to see the highest growth rate in the world; reaching $441.1bn by 2025.” Reed Travel Exhibitions previously managed the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) in Melbourne, but in 2018, after a steady decline and criticism from industry, did not renew its contract. A revamped version of AIME was launched in February this year. Now managed by Talk2 Media & Events, the show received mixed reviews, but the 6

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industry applauded efforts to rebuild a regional event for APAC. Speaking to Biz Events Asia, Talk2 Media & Events CEO, Matt Pearce, says an additional show “will create more competition, but people will vote with their feet and with their wallets”. He adds: “We received a strong response to our Hosted Buyer programme this year and we’re in a good place for 2020.” While competition is healthy, the market is becoming increasingly crowded. ITB Asia recently announced the launch of MICE Show Asia 2019, a new three-day event that will be co-located at Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 16-18 October. Then there’s IBTM China in Beijing, IT&CM Asia in Bangkok, and ILTM Asia Pacific in Singapore — as well as a string of annual association conferences. So, do we need another regional event? “There’s certainly a lot going on,” says Lisa Hopkins, vice president, APAC industry relations and global network at BCD Meetings & Events.

“But, the APAC region is big enough to support multiple shows.” Hopkins says Talk2 Media deserves support for its work in “re-energising” AIME and the return of Reed Travel Exhibitions will likely create a power play. “It’s impossible to be present at every show,” she says. “Even international shows, like IMEX and IBTM World in Barcelona, attract buyers and suppliers from APAC, so there’s a risk the market will become diluted.” When it comes to the crunch, BI Worldwide’s head of events APJ/ China, Marine Debatte, says brand power matters and an IBTM-branded event in Asia Pacific will raise the profile of professionals in the region. “Travelling to Frankfurt or Barcelona can be tough, so having an internationallybranded event in the region is more respectful of our time and how busy we are.” She adds: “Now we’ll have a bigger seat at table as buyers.” Ultimately, the organiser with the best connection to the APAC market will win the race. www.bizeventsasia.com

U p f ro nt

Thailand

The fourth edition of the Thailand Incentive & Meeting Exchange (TIME) took place in Bangkok between 10-15 June. Organised by TCEB, this year’s event focused on the theme of ‘Togetherness’ relationship building across Asia to help enhance Thailand’s meetings and incentives sector. TCEB president, Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, says: “At TIME 2019, TCEB hosted 40 event planners from the ASEAN+6 countries, which are Thailand’s main meetings and incentives source markets. We have come up with a coherent strategy that is consistent in positioning TCEB as a thought leader, cocreator, collaborator and partner for MICE success, all reflecting our new ‘Thailand Redefine Your Business Events’ branding.” Following a knowledge and business exchange in Bangkok, buyers experienced local Thai culture in Phuket and Phang Nga.

Mentorship at IBTM World IBTM World has launched ‘Event Business Accelerator’, an investment and mentoring programme for young entrepreneurs. The programme will give people with an idea, product or service relevant to the events industry the opportunity to participate in an intensive mentoring programme, culminating in a live pitch for funding to a panel of potential investors at IBTM World. Set to take place in Barcelona from 19-21 November 2019, this year’s event will also include a new immersive IBTM Accelerate zone, featuring exhibitors and education sessions designed to attract and nurture entrepreneurial talent. Event director, David Thompson, says: “IBTM is committed to paving the way for future industry talent and this initiative allow us to do this in a comprehensive and sustained way.”

Australia

> www.bizeventsasia.com

Get Global, the show dedicated to Australia’s outbound business events market, took place at ICC Sydney on 26 July, with more than 340 registered buyers and 120 exhibitors. Additions such as the Saxton Speakers Showcase, which included fitness powerhouse, Michelle Bridges, and Four Pillars gin founder, Matt Jones, helped to attract the crowd early on, and buyers applauded the show’s casual format. However, while buyer numbers increased slightly, exhibitor numbers fell. This year’s event, the third instalment of Get Global, attracted 20 fewer exhibitors than 2018. Nevertheless, co-founders, Gary Bender and Donna Kessler, say they are pleased with the show’s continual evolution and are thankful for the support they’ve received from the industry. “We are in constant discussions with our exhibitors and buyers and are always going to tweak our format to stay current and relevant to our dynamic industry,” Kessler says.

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Up front

Singapore A proposal to develop a medical and wellness tourism event was selected as the winner of the 2019 Singapore MICE Challenge, a student engagement initiative created by SACEOS and supported by the PCMA Foundation. The event also allows participants to gain experience presenting in front of an audience of experienced business events professionals. Dalton Wong Lik Hung, Bronte Bernadette Santa Maria, Uzen Tan and Emmaline Woo Suci of Team Voyage from the Singapore Institute of Technology were among six teams of finalists participating in this year’s competition, held in conjunction with the Singapore MICE Forum. The winning event proposal, Singapore Medical and Wellness Tourism 2020, aims to provide a consumer platform with pricing transparency, showcase Southeast Asian medical and wellness offerings to the global market, and curate an online medical and wellness market place. Team Voyage will present their ideas at PCMA Convening Leaders 2020 in San Francisco in January 2020.

> China

In the lead-up to IBTM China 2019 (28-29 August), event manager Nicole Ci says over the last 14 years, the show has gone from strength to strength, reflecting the robust rate of growth seen in the region’s business events industry. More than 8,000 pre-planned meetings are expected to take place this year (up 20 per cent compared to last year) between 350+ exhibitors and 335 hosted buyers. The number of exhibitors set to attend this year is up 40 per cent compared to 2018, while hosted buyers are up 18 per cent. “As the region matures, education and knowledge sharing has become increasingly important, and ensuring we continue to deliver an inspiring and targeted Knowledge Programme is a big focus for us,” Ci says.

> > Malaysia Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) recently launched its ‘Penang 2020: BE Unfiltered’ campaign. PCEB CEO, Ashwin Gunasekeran, unveiled four new products developed for the campaign, which runs until December 2020, to further enhance the state’s business events offerings. These include a new PCEB Mobile App for delegates featuring destination information, a comprehensive support programme, a dedicated CSR programme to assist turtle conservation, and special flight rates on Malaysia Airlines.

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Op in i on Leade r

More sustainable meetings CWT Meetings & Events’ Nelson Khoo says lasting change requires greater collaboration.

H Today, 20 per cent of RFPs include sustainability, compared with less than five per cent five years ago.

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olding meetings and attending events is an essential part of business. Good things happen when people get together. Still, meetings and events have a broad impact on the environment — through waste, energy use and the carbon generated by travel. This is especially so in Asia Pacific, where rapid economic growth over the last couple of decades has come at the expense of the environment. According to the UN Environment Program, plastic production in the region has boomed over the last decade, while waste management lags behind. And the expanding business events industry has, unfortunately, contributed to the problem. The good news is that our industry has definitely become more aware of this issue. Today, around 20 per cent of the meeting and event RFPs we receive include environmental sustainability, compared with less than five per cent five years ago. At the same time, venues are also looking at ways to become greener, such as eliminating plastic water bottles and cups from their meeting rooms. While it’s encouraging to see event planners, venues and other players in the industry trying to take positive action, efforts so far have largely been piecemeal. For example, a planner might say “no” to plastic straws, and then order thousands of disposable plastic glow-sticks. Or they may invest in an app for the event, but still print paper agendas and feedback questionnaires. Similarly, while hotels are removing plastic water bottles from their meeting and event spaces, these same bottles find their way into the guest rooms. Of course, every little bit helps — but real, lasting change requires us to take an end-to-end look at the environmental impact of each event,

and then collaborate as an industry to minimise that impact every step of the way. There are many aspects to factor in: Which destination will minimise the distance that delegates need to travel? Can the meeting and dinner venues be closer together, preferably within walking distance? Can you use more energy-efficient AV equipment? Are the ingredients for your F&B locally sourced? What if you have live food stations instead of a buffet to minimise wastage? Do door gifts need to be wrapped? Or do you even need them at all? A donation to a worthy cause made in each participant’s name can fulfil the same purpose while leading to positive environmental and social impact, for example. Perhaps what’s holding companies back from taking a more complete approach is a lack of understanding. Despite their positive intentions, planners may not know what options are available to them, or where they should begin. This is where organisations, like ours, which manage tens of thousands of meetings and events each year, need to step up and advise our clients on what’s out there and what the best practices are. For example, one of the biggest misconceptions is that going green increases costs. While certain eco-friendly options are indeed more expensive, this isn’t always the case. For instance, live food stations or grab-and-go meals can work just as well as a buffet and are in fact a cheaper alternative. Another idea is to include recycling stations at the event, allowing delegates to recycle event collateral such as lanyards and plastic holders. You can then re-use them for future events. Just a little careful planning can make events a lot more sustainable without blowing the budget. Nelson Khoo is events manager, Singapore, at CWT Meetings & Events.

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O p i ni o n G e n e ra t ion Ne xt

What leadership means to me Belle Laide Events GM, Rosie Campo, says ‘being human’ is key to the making of a manager.

I Find your spark and let this drive you forward.

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recently read an article that defined leadership as the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. This defines the essence of my role at Belle Laide Events (BLE). When I was promoted to general manager at the age of 29, my personal objective was to motivate and guide staff with a strong focus on the daily operations and overall sustainability of the business. Having worked my way up the ladder with 12 years of experience producing events, I always keep in mind what I am asking of my colleagues. You will often find me in the trenches with them — happy to have the difficult conversations, work the long hours and get my hands dirty. Remembering where you have come from and what it takes is important. We will never stop learning or growing from those around us and true leadership can only be achieved with mutual respect, which can only be earned over time. Motivation comes from teamwork, support and most importantly ‘being human’. So at BLE, that’s what we do — we come together, we divide and conquer, we support one another and we do it with a whole lot of laughs. Inspirational motivation has an ability to cultivate confidence and longevity. Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Having started my career at the eager age of 17, my motivation stemmed from things that fuelled me from the inside. Mine was a burning passion for creating seamless events, where all the hard work and problem solving

came together to deliver a beautiful masterpiece that provided clients and their guests with enjoyment. Teamwork and establishing relationships were the pinnacle of this. For any aspiring young professional, my advice would be, find your spark and let this drive you forward. No one can ever teach you motivation and passion, so stand out, have the confidence to back yourself and don’t fear failure; learn from it. Never underestimate the value of teamwork. At BLE, we are more than the sum of our parts — our team works with quality suppliers and we maintain sound relationships with our clients. With ever-increasing expectations, tight deadlines and challenging stakeholders, the only way to deliver success is to work together as one team. Throughout my five years at BLE and in the last month alone, being part of the team has been an absolute inspiration. Recently, BLE successfully delivered the Daydream Island Resort launch and the Adobe Symposium for 4,000 pax. Both events were laced with unique ideas and challenging logistical requirements but were delivered by a group of sound professionals that used their expertise to work together to pull off an amazing feat. Despite being a small, busy team with large projects to manage and tight deadlines to meet, the BLE team carves out time (sometimes their own) to help give back to the industry. Time limitations mean we can’t do or attend everything, so we’ve focused on training the next generation of event professionals. Based in Sydney, Rosie Campo is general manager at Belle Laide Events.

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Op in i on I APCO

Don’t just tick the box Kuoni Congress sustainability consultant, Carolina Vosátková, says setting clear goals will help rally support for green meeting initiatives.

T To recognise success, it is necessary to monitor and measure your actions.

Biz Events Asia is a strategic media partner of IAPCO

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here are many articles about sustainable events and how to create them utilising various checklists. While such lists provide a handy onsite tool, if you want to achieve a long-term impact, you must consider several other factors that may not readily appear on your checklist. At Kuoni, we started our sustainability journey back in 2016, aligning ourselves with ISO 20121 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (see p.34 for more details). In doing so, we’ve identified five key steps to ensure green meeting efforts go well beyond simply ticking a box: 1. Create objectives and indicators If you want to introduce eco-friendly actions at your events, take a step-by-step approach and start by creating an official commitment or mission, like IAPCO’s Ticky the Turtle campaign, which aims to rid the meetings industry of single-use plastic and help improve the marine environment. A campaign such as this will allow you to better communicate your message and engage event attendees as well as your community. An overarching commitment can also help you create global goals that are set against local actions, allowing you to measure and compare results. 2. Educate your team members Demonstrate the meaning behind the pledge to your team. When your team understands

the potential for positive impact, your advocacy efforts will be simpler, and the end result more powerful. 3. Choose suppliers wisely By choosing a supplier with a sustainability policy, you are supporting a partner with similar values as your own. Alternatively, invite your local suppliers, clients, venues and stakeholders to join your pledge. As an extension of your team, suppliers can also help to amplify your sustainability message and mission. 4. Monitor and measure In order to recognise success, it is necessary to monitor and measure your actions. These actions must be set early in the event planning process, and always identify who is responsible for each measurement. 5. Evaluate and develop There is always an opportunity for improvement, and when it comes to any kind of green event, it is important to regularly assess and see where you can grow. This article was provided by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), which represents 131 131 companies comprised of over 9,300 professional congress organisers, meeting planners and managers of international and national congresses, conventions and special events from 41 countries, including author Carolina Vosátková of Kuoni Congress.

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e2i Par tne r Conte nt

Training for the future How e2iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place and Train Programme helped to create clear employment pathways for two young business events professionals in Singapore.

Define your path... e2i creates tailored training programmes to upskill young professionals for employment opportunities and career progression.

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e 2 i Part n e r Con t e n t

he business of events is fast-paced, requiring long hours and excessive travel to juggle multiple projects. It takes a certain type of person to thrive in this industry, and attracting and retaining talent can be tough — especially in a place like Singapore, where the business landscape is highly competitive. To overcome this challenge, the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) partnered with Singapore-based event management company, INX Events & Production, to develop a structured training programme aimed at equipping new entrants and mid-career professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge for employment and job progression within the organisation. Established in 2012, INX Events & Productions offers a full suite of event services, from visual conceptualisation, event marketing and live event management, to in-house production services such as carpentry, large format printing, audio-visual systems and lighting. In 2018, INX was looking to expand its team to oversee new projects. However, like most SMEs, the company did not have a structured training programme. INX enlisted the help of e2i, which developed and implemented a Place and Train Programme for two young professionals, Madeleine Chong and Ben Heng, who were keen to further develop their careers within the company. Along with weekly reviews, e2i provided salary support during the training period. Both Chong and Heng received an increase in salary and a promotion upon completing the internal training programme.

There are so many skills and techniques that one cannot possibly learn from books. MADELEINE CHONG Graphic designer INX Events & Productions

MADELEINE CHONG 25 years old Graphic designer

Chong joined INX in 2016 as a junior creative executive. After two years as a graphic designer, she was looking to broaden her job scope in order to progress in her career. e2i developed a four-month training programme specifically for Chong, which focused on creative pitching and brainstorming techniques, familiarisation of the latest creative software, event set-up and execution, and skills to assist in the ideation process. “On-the-job training is very important,” Chong says. “There are so many skills and techniques that one cannot possibly learn from books.” Along with sharpening her presentation skills, Chong also acquired new capabilities in online and social media marketing and learnt how to better manage the wide range of requirements she receives from clients. As a result, she now holds a more senior position and achieved a pay rise.

BEN HENG 35 years old Events operation specialist

After six years working as an AV technician, Heng joined INX last year and immediately received five months of training with e2i to help him transition to a client-facing role as an account executive. His training focused on event planning, sourcing and project management, where e2i’s structured programme created a clear path for career progression and, as a result, an increase in salary. “This is a great learning curve,” says Heng. “Acquiring new skills and learning on the job helped to create a smooth transition into my new role.”

What is the Place and Train Programme? The Place and Train Programme is part of Singapore’s National Continuing Education and Training (CET) efforts to equip new entrants and mid-career professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge for employment and job progression. e2i’s tailored approach and experience, particularly with young professionals in the business events industry, includes hands-on training, industry knowledge and ops guidance, etiquette requirements, and ongoing risk assessments.

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A B M 2 01 9

ABM 2019 creates engaging space for collaboration Immersive storytelling and refreshed ‘speed meet’ sessions garner positive response from buyers and sellers. By Anis Ramli

Find your tribe... Buyers were grouped into various ‘Passion Tribes’ to explore Singapore based on thier business interests.

sia Business Meet (ABM), SACEOS’ signature buyermeet-seller platform, returned this year with a refreshed design focused on meaningful engagement and immersive experiences. Fifty-eight global business event buyers flew in to the Lion City to attend the invitation-only event, held from 22 to

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25 July in conjunction with the Singapore MICE Forum (SMF). Inspired to showcase the ‘Singapore You Never Knew’, SACEOS, along with co-event organisers Untangled and Pacific World, curated a three-day programme that included thoughtfully-created familiarisation tours and a reformatted buyer-seller meeting session that drew positive response from

both sides. Delegates were also given plenty of opportunities to network and learn from each other in both casual and structured meeting formats, such as a trade secrets workshop, morning walks, lunch-time discussions, evening cocktails and a ‘Shark Tank’-style pitching session. Narelle Bailey, managing director of Verve Events International, based in

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ABM 2019

Immersive... Speed meet (top) and a ‘Shark Tank’-style pitching sessions (top right) were coupled with unique venues (left) and social events (above).

Sydney, says the immersive approach was a refreshing change. “There has been a sea of sameness in similar events in Southeast Asia for quite a while, so this is a very different experience,” she says. As an introduction to Singapore, buyers were grouped into three ‘Passion Tribes’ based on their business interests and how familiar they were with the destination. The Culture Shapers tribe, mostly first-time visitors to Singapore, explored unconventional venues along the Singapore River and ‘Insta-worthy’ cultural hubs such as Kampong Glam and Tiong Bahru. Judy Jin, operations and events manager at Global Antitrust Institute in the United States, appreciated that the programme was unlike other trade shows she’s attended. “I am really thankful that the programme was set up this way. I got to see a side of Singapore that I probably may not have seen otherwise,” she says. Buyers in the Action Seekers tribe explored Singapore’s indoor and outdoor team-building facilities, which included a high ropes course at Bedok Reservoir. Meanwhile, buyers already familiar

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with Singapore made up the Innovators tribe and were given a deeper insight into the destination from the perspectives of two young entrepreneurs — GIVE.ASIA’s Aseem Thakur and founder of Yeomama batik brand, Desleen Yeo — who shared their personal journey as business owners. Marine Debatte, head of events solutions at BI Worldwide, says she valued the insights from people outside the events industry. “It’s refreshing to hear from other entrepreneurs and be inspired by their growth mindset,” she says. Following this, the “All About Relationships” buyer-meet-seller day turned the traditional meeting format on its head, with sellers (not buyers) rotating around the room for a four-minute speedmeet pitch. The “quick-fire” round was followed by a Deep Dive session where buyers went into lengthier discussions with sellers who meet their specific needs. Stanley Ng, director of MICE sales at Accor, says the speed meet was “a fantastic idea as we got to meet so many people, while the deep dive was great for in-depth conversations to talk business”.

Nicoletta Grama, senior programme manager for Romania’s BCD Meetings & Events, was happy with the quality of sellers this year, saying they were “people who were relevant to us and who we can reach out to for our next event”. Dining and networking events during ABM 2019 were multi-sensory occasions that showcased Singapore’s culturallydiverse cuisines, creative usage of space and the industry’s capabilities in presenting imaginative dining solutions. Marina Bay Sands’ LAVO and Accor’s SKAI delivered delicious menus alongside breath-taking views, while sustainability and innovation were the core theme of lunch curated by Lavish Dine Catering at Edible Garden City and a gala dinner hosted by Grand Hyatt Singapore. Despite the competitive nature of business events, Bailey believes ABM 2019 created an environment conducive to sharing and collaboration. “I’ve had great conversations with other buyers and everyone’s been happy to share ideas,” she says. “It feels like a big family.”

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ABM Trade Secrets Workshop Global event buyers share tips on how to win business and offer unique market insights. By Anis Ramli

Breaking down barriers... Buyers from India, China, Australia, U.S., Malaysia and the U.K. discuss best ways to engage, connect and conduct business.

s the business events industry scales up globally and interest in Asia Pacific (APAC) grows, how does one do business with key international markets? The recent Asia Business Meet gathered global buyers to share insights into their respective markets and discuss the specific challenges of working with destinations in APAC. One of the challenges faced by incentive travel professional, Rajeev Kohli, joint managing director of Creative Travel, when doing business in APAC is about the focus — or lack thereof — for

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incentive travel. He advises industry players to promote local experiences instead of emphasising physical infrastructure alone. He says: “No one will buy a destination unless they feel it.” Matthew Oster, head of enterprise events and marketing at National Australia Bank, agrees. He advises bureaus to work together with the service sector to sell the destination first. “You’re not competitors when you’re talking to the rest of the world,” he says. “It’s about showcasing what you’ve got in your backyard.”

With a market as vast as the U.S., the challenge for operators in APAC is in delivering unique experiences to justify the time and cost of travelling to the region. According to Chicago-based Catherine Butler, director of operations, project and onsite management at BCD Meetings & Events, product differentiation is key. “There are many different cultures and aspects to each of the APAC countries. Make sure you showcase that to us because we want to come over and get the right solution for our clients.”

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ABM 2019

Meanwhile, Richard Soo, managing director of MEP Meeting & Exhibition Planners, based in Kuala Lumpur, admits slow turnaround time from sellers in APAC is an ongoing struggle. “We really do not have the luxury of time these days. Our clients give us maybe five days to come up with four destination proposals,” he says. Market insights In an effort to bridge cultural gaps and ease the process of doing business, buyers also shared real-life insights into the current situation unfolding in each of their respective markets. Kohli, based in India, cautions industry players against stereotyping the Indian market. “India is an evolving market and we are one of the most powerful markets in the world,” he says. “Today’s Indian traveller is spending the most money on the ground than any other nationality around.” “We will spend the money,” he insists. “Just show us how to spend it!” When dealing with the China market, Ray Zhang, Ofo’s procurement head, says the Chinese will look for three things — interesting destinations, ease of doing business, and cost. And short lead times are part and parcel of doing business in this market. “Chinese MICE buyers never give you a lot of time to conduct inspections. The boss will say give me the proposal in one or two days’ time.” In Australia, Oster sees a shift back to customer centricity, which means “designing brand experiences that really allow our customers to immerse themselves in the values and vision of our organisation, and to create that emotional connection”. Meanwhile, Butler shares that many corporate clients in the U.S. are risk averse. In overcoming negative perceptions of a destination (often perpetuated by the media), she feels that honesty is the best policy. “It’s good to be honest about the issues within your country. Educate us so we can carry on the education overseas,” she says. In the U.K., Stephen Pope, managing director of corporate events and incentive agency, red e2, says that Brexit hasn’t affected any client perception or their attitude to travel. “Budgets are still available for the next 12 to 18 months,” he says.

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Knowledge exchange... Buyers and sellers in the audience also participated in the active discussion.

Security, however, is a big issue. “Security should play a bigger part in a seller’s message to a client, in terms of what your operational stance [and emergency response] is.” In Kuala Lumpur, Soo highlights tighter procurement policies within multinational companies as a pain point. “Clients may want you to do the job, but procurement is not going to allow it because it’s all dollars and sense to them,” he says. “So the challenge is how we can overcome this procurement process and still create a relationship with the client.” To address this issue, Soo believes event organisers must rally together to “have a dialogue with multinationals’ procurement teams so that they have an understanding of how we can work better together and still deliver value.” Why I attend events Despite an ever-increasing number of industry events, these buyers still find value in attending trade shows – as long as they are educational and attract quality attendees.

For Kohli, face-to-face events are not going away any time soon, but believes the way trade shows are executed will change, signalling the growing trend towards festivalisation. “Human interaction at business events is still important, especially for Asians,” he says. “But we’re going to see some transformation in how trade shows happen because there are so many shows and buyer fatigue is setting in very fast.” NAB’s Oster attends conferences to learn and keep abreast of industry development. “I come to an industry event to be challenged, to tie the learning back into my market and share my views,” he says. Butler sees the benefit of going to industry events that “aren’t necessarily in our industry because they can be really educational”. Soo, meanwhile, attends trade shows in search of partnerships because, he says, “that gives me the opportunity to network and see whether we can jive together.”

Security should play a bigger part in a seller’s message to a client. STEPHEN POPE Managing director Red e2 agency

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SMF 2019

SMF 2019 drives community values

Photo credit: SACEOS

Building on the success of 2018, this year’s event continues to foster regional partnerships and international collaboration. By Anis Ramli

Experience design... Apple Store designer, Tim Kobe, says compelling customer experiences can create “irrational loyalty” to your brand.

onversations at this year’s Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) were dominated by themes of community and collaboration, making it clear that the future of business events will be driven by personal engagement and relationships. SACEOS president, Aloysius Arlando, opened the forum at Resorts World Sentosa on 25 July, saying: “A successful business event is a platform created for knowledge exchange where conversations can continue beyond the event to collaborate and find solutions for the industry challenges that we face in today’s world.” Leading by example, SMF 2019 saw a line-up of international speakers who shared insights on designing customer-centric

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experiences, digital innovation, and empowering communities. Business events are opportunities to engage and build relationships, and Tim Kobe, founder and CEO of design studio Eight Inc. (and mastermind behind the Apple Store) explained how to create customer-centric experiences that lead to successful business outcomes. “The key to successful experience is focusing on understanding people beyond the demographics and psychographics,” he said. “Instead, focus on the things that drive human behaviour.” Kobe believes that positive emotional experiences bring about incredible advocacy. “The idea that you can get 12 times the advocacy when you create

these types of experiences is an incredible competitive advantage in any business,” he said, quoting Temkin Group’s ROI of Customer Experience 2018 research. The research also shows that people are five times more likely to forgive a mistake when you make one. Kobe shared that by creating compelling experiences, customers will develop what he calls “irrational loyalty” where they care deeply about your company and your relationship with them. In a session titled: ‘Confessions of a Trade Show Organiser’, IMEX Group chairman and industry veteran, Ray Bloom, narrated his struggles in establishing EIBTM in the 1980s.

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SMF 2 0 1 9

He credited his relationships with SITE, MPI and ICCA, among others, as a big part of the event’s success. After five years of losses with the trade show, he turned a small profit “thanks to the support of all of these individuals and associations in the industry from the very beginning and the community they represented,” he said. He eventually sold EIBTM to Reed Exhibitions in 1997 and went on to launch the hugely successful IMEX brand in Frankfurt in 2003 and Las Vegas in 2011, both of which attract international buyers and sellers. “My team and I have managed to enjoy these relationships throughout the years both on an individual basis with trade associations, and also with communities. Those relationships started back at that time, and they’re even stronger today than they were then,” he added. During a panel session that offered global perspectives on the business events industry, leaders from SITE, AIPC, PCMA and other associations discussed how to stay relevant in a fast-changing market. Key ideas delivered include the events industry’s role in advancing government and economic development priorities, utilising emotional intelligence to design events with the user in mind, and engineering unexpected moments to create lasting memories that drive meaningful impact.

Still, much of the conversation centred on collaboration and community building, with Kai Hattendorf, managing director of UFI, declaring: “The key to the future is collaboration.” Menawhile, IAPCO president, Mathias Posch, cautioned that collaboration needs to be balanced with purpose. “Collaboration is great but it can also be dangerous, because we’re collaborating with everybody in the tourism industry. And so the message gets distorted because we all have a different purpose.” He explained: “If I organise scientific conferences, my purpose is not putting people into hotels. My purpose is getting people together to share knowledge about science, about medicine, whatever it might be. If I keep hammering on touristic issues, I just distort my own message and I actually lose relevance.” SMF 2019 also saw continued discussions on the Asia Pacific Community Building Manifesto initiated last year as a call to transform the meetings industry. Oscar Cerezales, COO Asia Pacific, MCI Group, led industry leaders in a Day-0 exercise to identify actionable outcomes for business model innovation (one of the seven key pillars identified in the manifesto) and outlined how associations, destinations and academia

must reinvent themselves to remain competitive. “Destinations need to rethink the way they create value, their ROI, legacies, and economic impact,” Cerezales advised. One way to improve destination management is to create a radical alliance — a ‘superhero’ team of selective people with a real investment — to attract the right kind of MICE business. For associations, Hattendorf highlighted a need to refocus on purpose to better serve communities. “If we manage to do that, these communities will develop loyalty that goes beyond the rational dimension,” he said. “It can be almost religious.” And when it comes to academia, Cerezales believes “there is a gap between what is being taught and what we need as an industry”. He proposed the end of “straight-line education” and the beginning of an on-demand, Netflix-style approach to bridge the divide. In the spirit of collaboration, SMF also saw industry trade associations from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand sign the Asia Community Building Pledge to foster stronger regional cooperation (read our ASEAN feature on p.36 for more details).

Power panel... Global association leaders discuss how to stay relevant in an ever-changing market, and how to create meaningful impact.

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Div ersi t y & Incl usi o n

Old School: Ageism at events When it comes to catering for the differing needs of younger and older professionals, the business events industry has a lot of growing up to do. By Jack Carter

Open dialogue... Knowledge consumption may differ according to age, but engagement with young professionals is key to the future of the industry.

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D i v e r s i t y & I nc lusio n

Career path... As workers meander between roles and industries, age and seniority are no longer inextricably linked.

hile the events industry is often at the cutting edge when it comes to new technology and has made impressive strides towards sustainability, there is still much work to be done to tackle diversity and inclusion. And in the context of age discrimination, it’s an issue that affects the industry’s young and old on a regular basis. “Age discrimination happens on both sides of the spectrum,” says Jessie States, CMP, CMM, director of the MPI Academy. “Younger meeting professionals are categorised based on the views of their generation. Their input and ideas may not be taken as seriously or with as much consequence as their more tenured colleagues. Older workers, on the other hand, and women in particular, can also experience discrimination as they grow older.” When it comes to prejudice among older female workers, States refers to a 2017 report from the American Association of University Women. It showed that women who earned 96 per cent of men’s earnings at the age of 25 were being paid only 78 per cent by the time they reached 45 years old, before dropping to 74 per cent by the age of 55.

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States oversees the design and delivery of education for the event association’s partners and chapters around the globe through the MPI Academy. While both a guest speaker at numerous international trade shows and through the launch of MPI’s ‘State of Inclusion in Meetings & Events’ report earlier this year, she has been a leading voice in the conversation around how to improve inclusivity in the industry. She claims, however, that it’s not just employees that businesses are failing. “Our events may also be cited at times for a failure to address the differing needs of younger and older audiences alike.” States explains. “How does the body change as people age, and what additional accommodations should we consider to help create a welcoming experience? Does consumption of knowledge differ for different cohorts of age groups? What about tech fluency for digital natives?” Historically, a person’s career path has always been relatively straightforward, a ladder permitting only two moves: up or, often reluctantly, down. Today, these journeys are far more varied, where workers meander between roles and industries as they seek new challenges and greater job satisfaction.

Age discrimination happens on both sides of the spectrum. JESSIE STATES Director MPI Academy

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Div ersi t y & Incl usi o n

When you are newer to this industry you don’t necessarily have access to the same financial means as the more seasoned professionals. AOIFE DELANEY Director of marketing and sales DMC Network

Young leaders... SITE’s Young Leaders Program has been running for 13 years, offering education and

As a result, age and seniority are no longer inextricably linked, and many companies are failing to adapt to this shift. “One issue I see in the industry is that while we try to cater to various age groups, we still separate them,” explains Mathias Posch, president and partner of International Conference Services and president of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO). “A 30-year-old, for example, is a ‘young leader’ and there are awards and recognitions for potential, while there are lifetime achievement awards for those retiring. “While understandable, it leaves out a good chunk of people who may not fit into this exact scenario. Who says somebody can’t change career or be innovative later in life and therefore be ‘up and coming’ again?

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On the other hand, we might find leaders in their 30s who have contributed or achieved enough to be honoured for the work they have done rather than their potential.” The events industry offers plenty of opportunities for learning and development, but Aoife Delaney, director of marketing and sales at the DMC Network, believes that these doors are often closed to young professionals at the point of purchase. “When you are newer to this industry you don’t necessarily have access to the same financial means as the more seasoned professionals,” she argues. “Attendance at events often comes at a considerable financial cost, and that’s something that we need to be conscious of, coming up with opportunities such as scholarships and reduced rates for

developing professionals to continue to keep this demographic involved.” Delaney is an alumna of SITE’s Young Leaders Program, a community that has been running for 13 years, offering education and networking opportunities to the association’s younger members. She believes that joining the programme was her best career decision to date. “It gave me the opportunity to learn about the industry from my peers, and gain lifelong friendships with fellow members who have now gone onto leadership positions in their own companies.” Not all countries invest this heavily into promoting young people into positions of leadership. In many Asian countries, long-established cultural norms still place a great importance on the traditional attitudes towards seniority. This leads to young

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D i v e r s i t y & I nc lusio n

Photography sponsored by Kelli Price for the SITE Young Leaders Conference 2018

networking opportunities to the association’s younger members, along with a dedicated conference.

professionals not being taken seriously, something Delaney believes will only harm the continent’s events sector. “I think one of the biggest things that the events industry can do is to continue to support dialogue with the younger generation. This cohort brings such fresh enthusiasm to our industry, we need to celebrate this,” Delaney adds. It is to the credit of associations like SITE, MPI and IAPCO that have all implemented their own initiatives to tackle the issue of age discrimination. MPI, for example, offers a certified training programme dedicated to inclusion, teaching its members how to create fully inclusive environments for delegates. Based in Singapore, Posch is also committed to educating his staff when

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it comes to delivering events that are welcoming to all age groups. “Awareness is the first step,” he says. “Be aware how different generations like to interact and communicate, how they like to learn and participate. Once we know these things, the answers are often self-evident. Similarly, States believes honest and frequent dialogue is crucial.

“Unless we are able to speak openly and often about creating inclusive event environments, we’ll never see improvement,” she concludes. “We want to create experiences that are welcoming to all delegates and participants, regardless of their differences. The more welcoming our events, the more diverse our audiences, and with diversity comes great power of thought and direction.”

Be aware how different generations like to interact and communicate, how they like to learn and participate. MATHIAS POSCH President International Conference Services

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Ca se st udy s e ction sp o nso r

More than meets the eye Don’t let size fool you, says Rosie Douglas of Business Events Cairns and Great Barrier Reef.

We may be a regional city, but we punch above our weight.

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share my home city of Cairns in Tropical North Queensland with around 150,000 other permanent residents. While that might seem like a small city when compared to the likes of Singapore, Hong Kong and Beijing, size can be deceiving and I would encourage event planners to look beyond to see the capabilities of regional cities in Australia, like mine. Cairns is in the wake of hosting more than 6,000 Amway China Business Owners. In waves of more than 900 guests at a time, top-performing sellers experienced Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef with bespoke experiences ranging from wildlife encounters to fine dining. What set us apart, from bidding for the event to delivery, was our collaboration, ‘can do’ spirit, world-class hotels and venues – not to mention our accessibility with direct international flights. And on the topic of access, SilkAir has recently announced a new daily direct flight between Cairns and Singapore. With SilkAir soon merging into Singapore Airlines, the announcement has seen a 40 per cent increase in seats and more options to connect Cairns with Southeast and Northeast Asia, India and Europe. Amway isn’t the only recent example of Cairns hosting large-scale events. When the G20 Leader’s Summit came to Australia in 2014, the city hosted

the Finance Minister’s meeting. Around 2,000 visitors, including high-profile international guests, experienced Cairns’ hospitality and surrounding experiences including the Great Barrier Reef. We were selected to host the G20 Finance Ministers due to our track record of hosting major international events including the 40th Pacific Islands Forum. In late 2018, Cairns hosted a number of high-profile dignitaries as part of the APEC Summit in Papua New Guinea, including U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. A drawcard for these events is the Cairns Convention Centre, which has won the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) Award for Best Convention Centre twice; in 2004 and again in 2014. The Cairns venue is one of only two convention centres to be awarded the top honour more than once. We may be a regional city, but we punch above our weight — and further proof is the record levels of infrastructure development currently underway. They include three new luxury properties by The Crystalbrook Collection, the new AU$54million Cairns Aquarium, and Shangri-La The Marina, which has undergone an AU$13-million refurbishment of its 225 guestrooms and suites. Rosie Douglas is general manager of Business Events Cairns and Great Barrier Reef. For more, visit businesseventscairns.org

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Cairns

- inspiring landscapes and experiences - perfect for incentives of any size. Read how Cairns and Great Barrier Reef delivered for Amway China recently at businesseventscairns.org.au

Ca se St udy Amway C hi na

Amway China gala extravaganza More than 6,000 delegates dine out on ‘rainforest and reef’ gala event series in Cairns. By Lauren Arena

Creative collaboration... Encore Event Technologies worked with several local partners to deliver seven identical, high-quality gala events.

n an age where experiential travel is the norm and every plated meal requires ‘Insta-worthy’ status, organising a gala dinner is no mean feat. Especially when you’re expected to feed and entertain more than 900 top sellers as part of an incentive reward that they’ve each worked 12 months to achieve. The pressure is on. But what if you had to replicate the same highquality, engaging experience seven times over in a period of just three weeks? Australian events company, Encore Event Technologies, did just that for the recent Amway China 2019 Leadership Seminar in Cairns. Following a series of

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business sessions, the mammoth ‘From the Rainforest to the Reef’ gala programme was the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, and a work of creative and logistical mastery. Ideation More than 6,000 Amway China business owners descended on Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef in seven waves throughout March and April for the direct selling company’s annual Leadership Seminar. This was the sixth time the prestigious event has been held in Australia, but the first time Amway China has come to Queensland, so local operators were keen

to showcase the region’s unique flora and fauna; working together to deliver the three-week-long event series. “The gala programme was a logistical feat seamlessly delivered thanks to the collaboration of all parties — from event organiser, Encore, to Ochre Restaurant and Catering, right through to our local food producers, transport providers and the venue,” said Rosie Douglas, general manager of Business Events Cairns and Great Barrier Reef. Encore managing director, Tony Chamberlain, said he and his team spent months engaged in meticulous planning in order to deliver the event series.

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C a s e S t ud y A m w ay Ch in a

“On site, we managed 20 days of installation and rehearsals. Then, the team delivered both business sessions and the gala dinner for each of the seven waves,” he said. Execution Held at a newly constructed wing of the Australian Artillery and Armoury Museum, delegates were treated to a specially curated Tank Show, which included dramatic gun blasts and explosions created with pyrotechnics, before the main event. To bring the ‘From the Rainforest to the Reef’ theme to life, Encore designed an immersive experience that featured four acts of choreographed performances, augmented reality, robotic LED screens that moved with the music, and a custombuilt 270-degree giant screen that wrapped around the inside of the venue. Interactive lighting illuminated tropical reef-inspired centrepieces on each table (using intelligent pin-spotting and wireless dmx battery powered lighting), while glowing head dresses were supplied to delegates. The Voice China star Uni Yeh was also flown in to surprise delegates, performing with a live band and a team of local dancers. “The guests were blown away by the 270-degree multimedia projection, holographic projection, and synchronised robotics,” said Encore show producer, Andrew MacColl. “The creative event design was matched with cutting-edge use of technology to create an amazing experience for guests.” Perhaps more impressive still is the fact that the Encore team designed and executed all of this in a venue that came without rated rigging points, three-phase power, guest Wi-Fi facilities and airconditioning. “Working in such a unique venue had its challenges, but also many benefits in that it allowed our team the opportunity to maximise their creativity to bring to life a blank canvas,” Chamberlain said. Complementing the creative technology was a sumptuous seafood feast; where Cairns’ fresh local produce was delivered to tables in large clam shells. Over the course of the event series, more than 6,000 mud crabs and 2,000 kilograms of fresh prawns were served to guests.

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Ochre Restaurant and Catering worked closely with Encore to plan and deliver the three-course meal in just 75 minutes. A designated area of VIP guests received silver service with plated main meals while the remaining guests enjoyed a banquet-style meal. Encore’s Chamberlain, said it was an honour to work with Amway China in such an iconic Australian location. “Our goal was to create an event that showcased the beauty of Far North Queensland while also demonstrating what is possible for a creative business event. Our talented team achieved all this and more, in a challenging venue. This event will go down in Encore history as one of the best.”

Lessons learnt Unique venues come with logistical challenges that require additional bump-in time Use creative lighting and holograms to bring your event theme to life A collaborative approach ensures regional cities can deliver large-scale events

Immersive entertainment... Live acts, including Chinese star Uni Yeh, kept the party going.

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Co ver St ory

GREEN SHEEN Industry leaders can be a catalyst for change, but Asia may need to up the pace in the sustainability stakes. By Kim Benjamin

rom mass protests in the UK by activists Extinction Rebellion, to governing bodies worldwide — France, the UK, Canada, the City of Sydney declaring a ‘climate emergency’, major environmental issues such as climate change, pollution and plastic waste are being propelled to the top of the world’s social and political agenda. The United Nations Climate Change Conference assesses progress on climate change. Its most recent meeting in Bonn, Germany in June signalled the need for more ambitious climate action if targets set in the Paris Climate Change agreements are to be reached, namely carbon neutrality by 2050 and limiting global warming to 1.5°C. For the business events industry, sustainability has been a watchword for some time

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now, with stakeholders — from venues, hotels, airlines and associations to convention bureaus, increasingly vocal about moves to reduce carbon footprint, offset ‘event pollution’ such as reducing the use of plastic and paper, and limit waste. But is there too much talk and not enough action? The complexity of climate issues makes taking action daunting, with very few having really thought through the implications, says Guy Bigwood. He was sustainability director at MCI and is now managing director of the Global Destinations Sustainability Index (GDSIndex), which monitors the development and performance of sustainable business tourism destinations. “To limit climate change to a 1.5°C temperature increase, we need to reduce net

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C ov er S to ry

emissions by 45 per cent by 2030, and net zero by 2050 [according to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change],” he says. “This requires a major overhaul of the tourism and meetings industries’ business model. We will have to radically reduce the amount of flying, accelerate innovation, combine business and leisure trips and fundamentally optimise our meetings and their infrastructure.” Bigwood believes the events industry is not quite ready yet — but says it is approaching the tipping point and that business leaders are really opening their eyes to the need for change. And with the events sector’s spread of contacts and influence, it could be a catalyst for global change across all industries. “We need to be better storytellers. Event professionals need to create an engaging and aspirational narrative that explains what they are doing to make their events sustainable, and to inspire participants to support these goals,” he says. “Most organisers still communicate sustainability poorly. We need to use better imagery and language to touch people’s hearts and minds.” The question of whether the industry contributes to ‘over tourism’ is also an interesting one. Bigwood says that in many ways the industry is a solution to over tourism, bringing visitors to destinations out of season, where they spend at least double compared to a leisure tourist. “Additionally, events bring in knowledge, investment and inspiration,” he says.

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“But mega-events undoubtedly affect some local people and their day-to-day patterns. The trick is for organisers to better engage and involve local citizens in the planning of a destination and its events.” Craig Lehto, general manager of Vancouver Convention Centre, believes the current [sustainability] reality is still one where economic impact often wins over the environmental one. In October 2017, the venue was the first convention centre in the world to be double LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certified, a benchmark for the next generation of green buildings. “When it comes to sustainability and the impact being made, you can’t be humble – when others see what these efforts achieve, they’re drawn in and more willing to have that conversation,” he says. “For us, being able to clearly demonstrate the organisational value of adding sustainable practices into our operations has had an immense impact on clients and other groups we work with.” He adds that from a business standpoint, this is still a very fresh way of thinking. When the convention centre can showcase how it has benefited from green building design or a community element in services such as its scratch kitchen or recycling programme, it encourages event organisers to think about how they can do likewise.

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Co ver St ory

Sustainable ideas... Invnt designed an interactive ‘Think Tank’ at TEDxSydney to promote discussion around the legacy attendees want to leave on earth.

We will have to radically reduce the amount of flying, accelerate innovation, combine business and leisure trips and fundamentally optimise our meetings and infrastructure. GUY BIGWOOD Managing director GDS-Index

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Pushing the boundaries Bigwood suggests a simple yet powerful incentive would be for exhibition organisers to charge exhibitors for the waste they produce. Centres and hotels need to go ‘full into’ sustainability — not as a purchasable option but as a standard way of working. Sustainability was a key issue debated at TEDxSydney, held in May at ICC Sydney. Designed and produced by Invnt, the overarching theme was ‘legacy’, with 5,000 professionals attending. As part of the event, Invnt staged an activation dubbed ‘Think Tank’, with panel talks appealing to attendees to think (twice) about the legacy they want to leave on earth. Sessions focused on deforestation, climate change, pollution, food wastage and loss of biodiversity. Of those who took part, 45 per cent agreed corporations have a part of play in safeguarding the planet, while 28 per cent suggested education as a potential solution. Only 38 per cent believed that government needs to help alleviate the issues, while recycling and reusing as a solution was discussed in 60 per cent of sessions. Interestingly, just 17 per cent said incentives for brands and consumers would influence people to make changes. While charging exhibitors has yet

to happen, trade show organisers are increasingly placing sustainability top of mind. At this year’s IMEX Frankfurt, for example, exhibitors were encouraged to take a sustainability pledge by committing to three initiatives from a list of nine, including reducing all single-use plastics and paper, using public transport or walking to the show where possible and reducing or only offering sustainable gifts/ giveaways. CEO of IMEX Group, Carina Bauer, says that the pledge was “generally very well received”, although just under a quarter of the stands took part (78 from a total of 320). An in-house ‘sustainability squad’ carried out unofficial audits during the show to see what progress was being made. “We know there’s an appetite among many of our exhibitors to do more to actively protect the environment, especially locally where they live and work,” says Bauer. “However, those behaviours aren’t always easy to replicate during a trade show and this is what we want to help them to achieve.” This year, IMEX eliminated delegate bags, issued bamboo lanyards and most caterers avoided serving red meat. “We’re starting to explore if fairtrade options are feasible in the long term,” adds Bauer.

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C ov er S to ry

“We will be offering the pledge again at IMEX America and certainly in Frankfurt next year. We did learn a lot from this first effort. There may be tweaks to the pledge, but the essence of it will be the same.” The Asia-Pacific perspective The consensus among industry experts is that Asia still has a long way to go with regard to sustainability, particularly when compared to the progress of European cities. However, signs are encouraging. UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, recently awarded HML, the management and operating company handling day-today management for the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with its 2019 Sustainable Development Award. This recognises those that have implemented an innovative communications approach towards environmental protection, with HML’s ‘Think Before Plastic’ campaign triumphing over entries from the U.S. and France. Its initiative, targeted at event organisers, exhibitors, contractors, visitors and restaurant guests, has resulted in eliminating the use of 883,000 pieces of disposable plastic cutlery, 176,500 disposable plastic straws and 67,100 disposable plastic meal boxes within the first six months, following the campaign launch in July 2018. Christian Druart, research manager at UFI, says that exhibitions already have a great ‘multiplier effect’ as they reach many stakeholders. “At UFI, we try to drive the industry into the key topics of actions, with current ones including ‘measurement’ (what to measure, how to ensure consistency) and waste management,” he says. Ken Hickson, founder chairman and CEO of Sustain Ability Showcase, a Singapore-based sustainability consultancy, points out how Bangkok was ranked number two in Asia (after Kyoto) in the 2018 GDS-Index . “Its ranking is due to Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and its active promotion of sustainability best practices, which can

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be implemented as CSR programmes,” says Hickson. “One example is ‘Farm to Functions’, which connects riceproducing communities with venue operators and entrepreneurs who require a supply of rice for their events. The programme distributes income directly to farmers.” Among other Asian destinations, Hickson believes that while Singapore has laid some good foundations, its position as a leading MICE destination in the region leaves more to be desired on the sustainability front, while Taiwan is keeping up the pressure by promoting ‘green MiCE’. “What the industry doesn’t seem to realise is that sustainability is all about managing resources efficiently — nothing goes to waste — and taking

up the mantle of responsible sourcing of all materials,” Hickson emphasises. “We’ve got to go beyond the incremental changes to transformational changes. Sustainability involves four Es: energy, environment, economy and ethics. Event organisers, MICE operators, suppliers and consumers need to take all those into account.” Leading by example Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands (MBS) was Southeast Asia’s first MICE facility to obtain the ISO 20121 Sustainable Events Management System certification in 2014. This year, Sands Expo and Convention Centre achieved the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum accolade for pioneering a number of sustainable initiatives.

Take responsibility... MBS works with WWF to source sustainably-farmed seafood and improve marine biodiversity.

There was a chance to be leaders, now we have to do a lot more to catch up with others. KEN HICKSON Chairman and CEO Sustain Ability Showcase

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Photo credit: www.un.org

Co ver St ory

Set goals... Use the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as a framework to engage stakeholders, guide initiatives and improve strategy.

MBS also formed a partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Singapore in 2017, focusing on responsibly-sourced seafood. Two years on, MBS says it is more than half-way towards achieving its 2020 target of procuring 50 per cent of its total seafood from responsible sources, as well as supporting four aquaculture farms. “Our goal is to initiate a transformation in the seafood value chain. We have the ability to create an impact because MBS procures a large volume,” says Kevin Teng, executive director of development and sustainability at MBS. “By setting targets and developing strategies and policies around responsible sourcing, we are doing our part in improving the ecological conditions of fisheries and marine biodiversity, as well as the communities that live and work within the industry.” In June, ICC Sydney was recognised by UFI for its ‘pioneering sustainable practices’, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. A culinary programme, based on a New South Walesfocused supply chain, and the venue’s launch of the first Reconciliation Action Plan in an Australian convention centre to

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celebrate Australia’s First Nations people, were singled out. “Since the introduction [of our Reconciliation Action Plan] we have provided cultural education training for team members in partnership with Eora College and launched a pre-employment programme to provide work experience and a pathway to employment for First Nations students,” says Geoff Donaghy, CEO of ICC Sydney. He believes the desire to effect positive change is gathering momentum, with the venue seeing deliberate and proactive engagement from its Asia-Pacific partners to leave a lasting legacy for their events. Another initiative originating from New Zealand is For The Better Good, a sustainable alternative to plastic bottles and packaging. The company provides bottled water with a compostable bottle and label made from plants as well as bottle collection. A plant-based bottle-cap is in the works. The company supplies and collects bottles to/from a number of hotels in New Zealand, composting them at a site, along with food scraps diverted from landfill; the compost can then go on to

grow more food. Founder Jayden Klinac says the business is now looking to partner with hotels in Hong Kong, with less use of plastic made from fossil fuels (oil). “Guests who did not bring a reusable bottle with them while travelling can now use ours as they are non-toxic and reusable,” he says. “Less waste is created, with food growth instead.” Combining luxury and sustainability SITE’s global conference, held in Bangkok in January, identified how luxury in the future will be defined by authentic, unique and personal experiences. Research shows that nearly one-third of corporate incentive travel planners said curating unexpected ‘wow’ experiences, including hands-on events tailored to professional and personal growth, have become the industry standard. But to what extent can luxury travel and experiences be sustainable? Bigwood believes that “luxury can’t be luxury unless it includes sustainability”, quoting the Tesla S as an example of high [sustainable] performance and luxury combined. “Another example from our industry is the ‘Green is the new glam’ campaign from Monaco,” he says.

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C ov er S to ry

“It incorporates great design, artwork and language, communicating how to be ‘glam’ and green. This campaign has seen a major shift in the sustainability of the destination. Today, more than 82 per cent of hotels there are eco-certified — a record for a non-Nordic destination.” Keiran Frost, managing director of corporate retreat Camp Glenorchy in New Zealand, says it thinks of sustainability as a ‘triple bottom-line’ goal: impact on the environment, impact on the community and financial impact overall, with the venue aiming to set new standards for combining luxury and sustainability. The site generates more solar energy than it needs, captures and treats rainfall to meet all of its water needs, and requires less than 50 per cent of these resources than typical destination meeting operations. All profits are donated directly to the local community trust. “Sustainability is about more than just recycling. It’s about mindfulness in every aspect of planning and hosting a business event,” says Frost. “Corporate incentive groups [staying here] can feel good about giving back to the community because all profits from their event flow through to the community trust. It’s a combination of luxury, sustainability, inspiration and social responsibility.” Camp Glenorchy is now exploring programmes for groups to engage with the community by volunteering to plant native plants, participating in parkland restoration, learning about native birdlife or visiting nearby walkways. Luxury can also extend to food, as Leighton Wood, chief operating officer at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC) points out, with the venue sourcing some of its produce from Yume, the first online marketplace for surplus food. It features top-quality, brand-name excess food that may have otherwise been discarded. Moving forward The events sector may have started addressing sustainability a long time ago, but there is now a growing awareness among all stakeholders of not just the need to catch up, but also to take action. While the impetus in Europe may have come largely from necessity, with nowhere to physically put waste, MCEC’s

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Mindful design Camp Glenorchy in New Zealand aims to set new standards for combining sustainability and luxury.

Wood says momentum in Asia is being initiated by stakeholders — boards who need to act in accordance with community standards, a new generation of employees demanding action, governments who have set aggressive carbon reduction targets and increasingly sophisticated customers. Tackling sustainability presents the events and meetings industry with massive risk, but also exciting opportunity to drive social, economic and environmental change.

Only time will tell just how much of a lead it is now prepared to take. “Events can have a big influence. We’ve certainly seen greater adoption of sustainable practices in other business sectors such as construction, energy, finance and agriculture. But this has not been matched in the MICE industry in the last five years,” says Hickson. “There was a chance to be leaders; now we have to do a lot more to catch up with others.

Sustainability is about more than just recycling. It’s about mindfulness in every aspect of planning and hosting a business event. KEIRAN FROST Managing director Camp Glenorchy

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ASEAN for business events?

ASEAN has the framework for regional collaboration on various fronts. But can it come together on business events? Gerardine Donough-Tan delves into the conundrum.

Collaborative effort... The ASEAN Tourism Forum promotes the region as one tourist destination, but can more be done to incorporate busisness events?

he Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a concert of 10 Southeast Asian nations, has achieved success as an economic bloc, despite political challenges. McKinsey notes that Southeast Asia is one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastest-growing consumer markets. The International Monetary Fund estimated ASEAN as the fifth-largest economy in the world in 2017 had it

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been a single country. Intra-ASEAN and international trade and travel are strong. In natural disaster management and emergency response, coordination and collaboration transcend different types of government and civilian agencies, including international partners. At the ASEAN Summit this June, the heads of state announced the possibility of a joint bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Not all the 10 countries currently meet the

stringent criteria, but optimists point to the successful rotation of the biennial Southeast Asia Games and infrastructure developments coming up in the next decade. So, attractive and promising as ASEAN looks, can it do better in hosting business events? â&#x20AC;&#x153;If Southeast Asian convention bureaus want to compete with China, they may be more effective by talking about the size of the regional market rather than their own

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Photo credit: TTG Asia

C o mp e t i t i o n v s C o l l a b o r a t i on AS EAN

national market,” says Gary Grimmer, CEO of GainingEdge, a business events consultancy. “A collaborative emphasis would elevate the focus and understanding about the economic scale of the ASEAN region and leverage ASEAN countries to strengthen each of their individual brands.” He adds: “If Southeast Asia lifts the sophistication of its game and enhances the standards of delivery throughout the region, the market will grow faster for everyone.” Industry veteran Mike Cannon, owner of Mike Cannon Business Events, notes that “if you want to grow, you have to work together”. But lack of commonality in visa regulations, importing goods for exhibitions and sponsorship policy pose challenges. “Bureaus market the destination and help win business events; i.e. sell. But industry via the bureau in an ASEAN or stand-alone forum will drive the need to enhance and firmly establish the Southeast Asia brand for new, repeat and rotating business,” he says. This means business events can anchor and grow if there is a solid foundation. Indeed, the 2018 International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) top city rankings for international association meetings placed Singapore and Bangkok among the top 10. Yet these two powerhouses lost to Penang in the quest to host the inaugural ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter Summit this December. ASEAN cities Bandung and Manila were also among the 12 contenders. Penang was the only destination in Malaysia that bid, with full support from the ICCA Malaysia Committee. Interestingly, ICCA’s regional office is in Kuala Lumpur. Hard fights show the desire for prestige as much as for the actual event business and its spin-offs. While some criticise the waste of resources in bidding wars, the lack of a pan-Asian or panASEAN federation stymies a coordinated approach to sourcing for and securing business events. With the Asian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (AACVB) all but defunct (it was “unable to comment” for this story), the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) could perhaps extend its role beyond mainstream

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leisure tourism, although some business events industry leaders would disagree. Nevertheless, as the umbrella federation comprising national associations of hotels, airlines and travel agencies/tour operators of the 10 ASEAN countries, ASEANTA can support business events. Recently-elected ASEANTA president Mingkwan Metmowlee says ASEANTA aims to develop strong human capital in the business events segment. “We will work together to improve both the employment and capacity of tourism human resource development. From local destinations to luxe cities, we will work professionally to provide the best experiences to visitors.” However, ASEANTA’s private-public sector alliance still lacks participation from the national tourism organisations of Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. To fill the vacuum, could AACVB morph into a new entity, such as an ASEAN offshoot? Aloysius Arlando, SingEx Holdings CEO, is president of the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) and AIPC (International Association of Convention Centres). He cautions that in re-purposing (AACVB), one must be mindful of where tourism is an economic contributor in member economies. “ASEAN stems from consensus building and any ASEAN initiative takes a cue from that. What might work for one member-economy might not work for another. That’s why advocacy is key.” He adds: “Perhaps under the ASEAN Tourism Framework, AACVB can have a new lease of life. A full-time secretariat or association management company will be necessary to ensure continuity and consistency of execution of agreed programmes and priorities. The chairmanship would rotate among ASEAN members as is the current arrangement for ASEAN and its associated meetings.” While independent business events councils may work at the national level — such as in Australia and Malaysia — the formula doesn’t apply in the international arena. For a start, Cannon suggests holding a regional CEO forum, led by industry experts such as Grimmer and former ICCA CEO Martin Sirk (now the international advisor to Global Association Hubs), in an effort to drive ASEAN collaboration.

The return on investment of business events is vastly different to that of tourism. MIKE CANNON Owner Mike Cannon Business Events

Regional proxy? TRAVEX (Travel Exchange) at the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum is under ASEANTA’s auspices. Each year, buyer and seller manuals list ‘MICE’ as a target interest of many participants. To satisfy these mutual interests, could TRAVEX include business events within its ambit? The World Tourism Organization identifies ‘business tourism’ as encompassing meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. Cannon and Grimmer, however, stress that the two industries are different. Cannon says business events must be kept outside of tourism. “If they keep it in and aligned with tourism at ASEAN, it will fail. The return on investment of business events is vastly different to that of tourism, which in the eyes of most government officials, equates to numbers of visitors.” “Different customers, different customer motivations, different distribution channels and, once you go beyond hotels and airlines, different supply chains,” says Grimmer. “Tourism organisations don’t really understand the MICE industry, nor are most of them engaged in a meaningful way unless they have a convention and exhibition bureau as a department. Even then, most bureaus aren’t getting the support they

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Co mpet i t i on vs C oll abor ati on ASE AN

Raising the bar... ASEAN MICE Venue Standards certified Conrad Manila (top left), Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay (top right) and Sofitel Luang Prabang (above).

need from their tourism organisations and their destinations are underperforming as a result.” Messe Berlin’s launch of MICE Show Asia at this year’s ITB Asia in Singapore also suggests that business events merit separation from mainstream tourism. And the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific will join the fray in April 2020 — also in Singapore. Meanwhile, IT&CM Asia — now in its 27th year and anchored in Bangkok — proves the strength of the business events sector.

A collaborative emphasis would elevate the focus and understanding about the economic scale of the ASEAN region. GARY GRIMMER CEO GainingEdge

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ASEAN MICE Venue Standards The ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan designates ASEAN as a single tourist destination by 2025, and MICE venues come under its scope. In terms of industry standards, there has been progress. The ASEAN MICE Venue Standards (AMVS) is based on the model developed by Thailand. Phase one, from 2016 to 2018, focused on hotel meeting and convention venues; 33 properties were certified across all ASEAN countries. More

are in the qualification process. The next stage, exhibition venues, has begun and will be followed by special event venues. The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is steering the project. TCEB president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya says: “AMVS provides all member states with guidelines to make their properties competitive. They can join hands to provide quality business event venues, making ASEAN a competitive business events region. “Through the AMVS-certified venues, we will be able to develop and enhance the capacity and competitiveness of MICE in serving both organisers and visitors in a professional manner.” According to TCEB, a uniform standard across MICE venues in ASEAN builds confidence in the professionalism of the region’s MICE industry. It helps venues to achieve international standards in physical structure, services and technology. AMVS also prepares them to work professionally with organisers and planners to ensure smooth operation

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C o mp e t i t i o n v s C o l l a b o r a t i on AS EAN

of MICE events and to meet customer requirements. On emerging destinations, Chiruit acknowledges that successful MICE destinations in ASEAN could support and pass on lessons learned to newer ones. “It is achieved on a bilateral basis as neighbouring countries share expertise and skills,” he says. TCEB has already found an ally in ASEANTA. Its members will support Thailand’s leadership of AMVS, says Metmowlee. “In addition, ASEANTA will initiate MICE professionals’ capacity-building across our member countries to enhance HR and quality development to meet the needs of clients.” Another collaborative opportunity is emerging. At SMF2019 in July, five ASEAN national convention and exhibition associations — from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand — signed a joint pledge. “We will mutually support our respective professional development programmes and research efforts to help build our regional business events community,” says SACEOS’ Arlando.

No time frame was stated, but in general, the associations aim to share research data and hold joint activities to encourage digital adoption, upskilling, professional development and capacity development. Such activities may facilitate technology adoption in terms of cybersecurity and data protection. In June, AIPC, ICCA and UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) launched their global alliance. They are exploring exchange and reciprocity in four primary areas: educational content, research, standards and advocacy. Besides strengthening their own interests and those of their members, perhaps they could also consider offering emerging MICE destinations and organisations advice, training and preferential rates to bring them up to speed. That will bode well for the collective good.

This continues the dedicated series Biz Events Asia will be publishing on collaboration. Share your views with us via email: lauren@ untangledgroup.com

ASEANTA will initiate MICE professionals’ capacitybuilding across our member countries to enhance HR and quality development to meet the needs of clients. MINGKWAN METMOWLEE President ASEAN Tourism Association

New opportunity... Heads of five national convention and exhibition associations in ASEAN signed a joint pledge of support and cooperation at SMF 2019.

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A sso ci at i ons Im pact

Women Deliverâ&#x20AC;Ś outcomes When legacy is built in from the get-go, tangible meeting outcomes can be immediate. Lauren Arena attends Women Deliver 2019 to highlight key lessons for associations.

A force for good... Women Deliver is billed as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest conference on gender equality and the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women.

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A s s o c i a t i o ns I m p a c t

“N

urture and invest in future leaders,” warned Ethiopia’s first female president Sahlework Zewde, at the opening of the Women Deliver 2019 conference (WD19) in Vancouver, Canada, in June. “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito.” Billed as the world’s largest conference on gender equality and the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women, WD19 focused on power — and how to use it as a force for good. The event brought more than 8,000 participants from 165 countries to the Vancouver Convention Centre from 3-6 June. Along with advocates, academics and activists, Zewde was one of several world leaders at this year’s event who pledged their commitment to moving the needle on gender equality. On the eve of Women Deliver, Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, announced that his government will increase funding to CAD$1.4 billion annually (from 2023) to support the health of women and girls around the world. Canada also announced plans to advance women’s economic empowerment through a ‘Women Entrepreneurship Strategy’ and launched the Equality Fund, which supports women’s rights organisations in developing countries. Founders and leaders of some of today's most influential movements, such as #MeToo and Times Up, took to the conference stage to share stories and carve out a future for women's movements. Meanwhile, Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta, committed to ending female genital mutilation by 2022, and pushed for more women in parliament. Women Deliver featured numerous plenaries, panels, sessions and side events — including a Parliamentarians’ Forum co-organised by the World Health Organisation, UN Population Fund, and European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development — and ignited a global dialogue, with more than 200 satellite events on six continents and a live virtual conference component that attracted more than 125,000 views.

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“This is so much more than a conference,” says Women Deliver president and CEO, Katja Iversen. “We are an unstoppable movement and this is a pivotal moment to refuel ourselves for our ongoing work.” She adds: “A gender-equal world is healthier, wealthier, more productive and more peaceful. When we invest in gender equality everybody wins. Gender equality is everybody’s business, but it cannot be business as usual. We will inspire the world to use power for good.” Inclusive event design When it comes to redefining power dynamics, the conference walked the talk. Heads of state shared the stage with young leaders (20 per cent of plenary speakers were under 30), CEOs with grassroots advocates, and Women Deliver itself sponsored more than 1,000 youth delegates from underprivileged communities across the globe to attend the event. This included travel and accommodation costs, registration, visa

fees and per diem expenses. Each of the break-out sessions was set up as a fully-fledged plenary meeting, with a dedicated AV assistant, so everyone on stage was made to feel like a VIP. The spirit of inclusivity was also reflected in the event’s innovative exhibition format. Known as the Fuelling Station, the exhibition floor was designed as an all-inclusive space where delegates could engage with exhibitors, listen to fiveminute talks and social enterprise pitches on the Power Stage, watch VR films or share ideas on interactive walls. Several lounge areas and a dedicated Youth Zone ensured the Fuelling Station was also a hub for ongoing dialogue and reflection. This approach proved highly successful as more than 90 per cent of conference survey respondents said after attending the event they gained knowledge on how to use their individual power to drive progress and change for girls and women.

Inclusive... World leaders and youth shared the stage, while social areas allowed for dialogue and reflection.

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A sso ci at i ons Im pact

Driving change... Vancouver Convention Centre engaged local community groups and the city's hospitality industry to ensure WD19 left a lasting legacy.

Local community engagement Women Deliver organisers wanted to engage local indigenous communities and acknowledge the city’s history. As well as an Indigenous women’s pre-conference, leaders from three of British Columbia’s First Nations — the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, and Musqueam nations, welcomed WD19 in a dedicated ceremony, while several conference sessions also addressed gender equality in indigenous communities. WD19 also mobilised a number of local advocacy groups to come together to launch Feminists Deliver, a grassroots collaboration of self-identified women and girls and non-binary individuals based in British Columbia. Additionally, Vancouver Mayor, Kennedy Stewart, announced funding and land contribution to kick-start planning for a housing project that will address the city’s homelessness problem. Inspired by the values of WD19, this legacy project will be co-created with indigenous communities and led by women, from initial planning to construction and operation. Legacy lessons Shortly after the bid win was announced in 2017, the Women Deliver Mobilization Canada consortium was launched to ensure WD19 delivered real and lasting change. In the lead-up to the conference, the consortium held events in every region across Canada to advance the conversation on gender equality and ensure that ‘advocacy agendas’ and ‘action agendas’ were aligned. 42

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According to Vancouver Convention Centre vice president, sales & marketing, Claire Smith, a clearly defined Vancouver legacy was a key factor in securing the triennial event. “It was a very emotional journey,” Smith says. “To win the bid, we had to connect with our local community in ways that we’d never experienced before. We connected with women and grassroots organisations in the community who are doing remarkable things.” After losing an initial bid to Copenhagen in 2016, international sales manager, Stephanie Johnson, says the team had to reframe its bidding approach — focusing on the mission of Women Deliver rather than the USPs of the convention centre. “The client wasn’t interested in previous events or creative ideas,” Johnson explains. “So we painted a picture of the community. “We had to demonstrate the ground swell of excitement that might happen if Women Deliver were to come to the city, as well as opportunities for growth.” So, the convention centre team met with local corporations that have programmes supporting female employees, engaged local indigenous leaders and women in business leadership, and spent time with community groups, including BC Women’s Hospital Foundation and several homeless shelters. Together with operators in Vancouver’s hospitality industry, the convention centre also raised funds for 12 residents (who are

involved in local community groups that support women) to attend the conference. During the bidding process, Johnson says local suppliers and hotels really pitched in to offer “never seen before” rates so that as many sponsored youth delegates as possible could attend the event. “We were all involved in the fabric of the event,” she says.

To win the bid we had to connect with our local community in ways that we’d never experienced before. CLAIRE SMITH VP, sales & marketing Vancouver Convention Centre

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M&I Toolkit s ection sp o nso r

For the love of food Accor’s Kerry Healy says closing the gap between Singapore’s food culture and food waste is more important than ever.

E Accor has committed to reduce food waste by 30 per cent by the year 2021 — not just here in Singapore, but globally across our 4,800 hotels and resorts.

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very year, approximately one third of all food produced in the world is lost or wasted. Here in the Lion City, food is accessible around the clock, including at our 15 hotels and resorts and 50 restaurants and bars. In Singapore, a nation of five million selfproclaimed food-lovers, this is an ongoing challenge. To address this issue, Accor has committed to reduce food waste by 30 per cent by the year 2021 — not just here in Singapore, but globally across our 4,800 hotels and resorts. In an industry where the ‘war on waste’ is a constant battle, we want to take the lead towards positive transformation. Some of our sustainable food and beverage initiatives include increasing local and organic food procurement where possible, as well as partnering with innovative technology solutions, such as Singapore-based food redistribution app, treatsure, which supports our aim to recover or recycle 60 per cent of our food waste. To date, six Accor properties in Singapore (Fairmont Singapore, Swissotel The Stamford, Novotel Clarke Quay, Novotel on Stevens, Mercure on Stevens and Ibis Novena) are utilising the app and we are now looking at expanding use of the tool across our hotels internationally. As part of our Planet 21 Acting Here CSR programme, we tackle food waste at its source.

Through the establishment of a centralised procurement department at Accor’s regional office in Singapore, strategic discussions with suppliers are taking place at a groupwide level, and agreements being made to eliminate unnecessary packaging, align with seasonality, and consolidate to more sustainable sources. It also allows our hotels to work together to support social and environmental efforts. Along with treatsure, we also work with Singapore-grown produce distributor Backyard Productions and The Food Bank Singapore. Singapore has a target of increasing its food production from 10 per cent to 30 per cent by 2030. By ensuring effective communication between our hotels, distributors and farmers, we can better serve Singapore’s societal and environmental needs, and increase the overall quality of our F&B for guests. When it comes to events, we are also increasingly offering ‘green’ meeting packages, sustainable menus and activities that give back to local communities because we know that our clients are keen to play their part in making a positive impact. We encourage all events and hospitality professionals to join us as we strive towards building a strong, environmentally-conscious community to better serve our future. Kerry Healy is vice president of sales, Asia Pacific, at Accor.

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An Iconic Return. A Legendary Welcome. August 2019

RAFFLES.COM/SINGAPORE SINGAPORE PARIS WARSAW ISTANBUL DUBAI MAKKAH SEYCHELLES MALDIVES SIEM REAP PHNOM PENH MANILA JAKARTA HAINAN SHENZHEN UPCOMING: UDAIPUR BALI LONDON BOSTON

M&I Toolkit

Create positive work culture

Organisational models and physical environments can encourage creative thinking and hardwire innovative behaviour. By Jack Carter

e’ve heard it countless times before. A CEO stood on a well-lit stage, enthusing to the audience that their company culture is unlike anything their competitors could ever dream of; how it enables employees to reach their absolute potential. More than ever, organisations today are defined by their values. They spend eyewatering amounts on office refurbishments, while investing endless man hours on implementing new organisational models to reflect the values their company is built on. The concept of culture in the workplace has been turned into a multi-million-dollar global industry (one that employs many readers of this magazine). The story of how it all began, however, shouldn’t be skipped. “It originated in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a fear-driven response from the U.S. to the Japanese miracle,” explains Dr Richard Claydon, a globally-renowned behavioural strategist and founder of Organisational Misbehaviourists. The miracle Claydon is referring to follows the events of Hiroshima. After the nuclear devastation, it took Japan only three decades to rebuild and become the world’s second biggest economy. Meanwhile, by the early 1970s, the U.S. had sunk into a recession and was recovering poorly under the Reagan administration in the 1980s. Confounded by Japan’s remarkable recovery and battling its own economic and social unrest, American scholars like William G. Ouchi began studying Japanese businesses to understand what they were doing differently. One of the key findings from Ouchi’s 1981 book Theory Z: How American Management Can Meet the Japanese Challenge was the strong working

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Authentic leadership... Values-based culture currently dominates discussion around workplace productivity.

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M &I Toolkit

Human centric... Office design is an integral part of the employee experience, affecting mental and emotional wellbeing.

culture among Japanese companies — one that united its employee population, and was absent at the time in the U.S. It lay the groundwork for workplace culture as we know it today. Fast-forward nearly 40 years, and the concept has grown exponentially, with numerous varieties, ranging from customer culture and coaching culture to gamer culture and start-up culture, used to describe a company’s personality. Claydon explains: “What we are seeing today is values-based culture. There is, increasingly, the notion that authentic leadership is the best type of leadership. Authenticity is the rejection of external norms and a turn inwards to your own values to determine your behaviour. CEOs in Silicon Valley, for example, challenged traditional ways of doing things. They turned inwards to reflect on their values and determined that this is what made their

companies great. So, they designed their culture around these values, hence the idea that culture is an organisation’s personality.” Companies may enthuse to new recruits and board members that their culture is what makes them so remarkable, but Claydon argues that it’s not necessarily what makes an organisation thrive. According to Organisational Misbehaviourists, which offers training and development programmes to teach people how to identify and overcome misbehaviours that cripple the potential of organisations, toxicity and disengagement among employees is a US$3trillion problem in the U.S. alone. Claydon believes that creating the best possible work environment, where creativity, critical thought and cognitive diversity can flourish, is the key to hardwiring innovative behaviour in the workplace. He concludes: “While the espoused differences of these unique cultures are

going to be almost infinite in number, the actual differences seem to be quite small. The only thing is how well the company enables enabling behaviours, like pragmatism and communication, over disabling behaviours, like frustration and depression. If they do that well, then you might have a decent place to work.” So, the question is: How can companies develop cultures to enable behaviours that eventually lead to success? Just as important as values are physical environments, and in the last decade, office design has practically become a science. A leading innovator in this space is Steelcase. Besides examining how architecture, furniture and technology can combine to help people work, its research department has been studying neuroscience too. “As demands on people’s attention grow, it is becoming more important to optimise our cognitive resources,” says Donna Flynn, vice president of Steelcase’s WorkSpace

As demands on people’s attention grow, it is becoming more important to optimise our cognitive resources. DONNA FLYNN Vice president, WorkSpace Futures Steelcase

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M&I Toolkit

Futures team. “By studying the findings of neuroscientists, we’re realising that knowing more about how our brains shape our physical, cognitive and emotional wellbeing is bringing more clarity to understanding human needs in the workplace.” This ranges from making it easy for people to remove distractions that inhibit deep focus, to eliminating static seating — movement boosts attention by pumping oxygen and fresh blood through the brain. Recently, Steelcase applied its findings to a conference at the Vancouver Convention Centre. With the goal of creating an environment that would enhance networking and elevate discussions among delegates, Steelcase replaced the venue’s furniture with comfortable, homely seating that created places to put computers down, charge devices and support different postures. The premise was that delegates engage more when they are comfortable. When it comes to designing productive spaces, no industry is quite as experienced as the events industry. As well as investing significant time and resources into sourcing inventive venues, agencies are equally aware of how important a creative and fun office environment can be for innovation. “Office design is an integral part of employee experience and wellbeing,” says

Natalie Ackerman, EVP of Greater China at Jack Morton Worldwide. “We generally spend more than eight hours a day in this space, so creating a comfortable, safe and fun environment is crucial for the wellbeing of our employees.” Jack Morton China recently moved to new offices and the agency introduced a number of new features to help its employees flourish. “We have plenty of different kinds of areas to work in,” Ackerman reveals. “The office has a lot of open space, encouraging greater communication and collaboration. We have whiteboard areas to give employees an opportunity to write things down and map things out, and we also designed it to maximise natural light penetration, as we know how this can benefit employees’ mental and emotional wellbeing.” When it comes to developing cultures that are hardwired for success, companies can get bogged down in determining the list of values and traits they most want to align with. Instead, science would suggest that it may be better to determine the individual behaviours that lead to success, and let them inform the pillars of an organisation’s identity.

Authenticity is the rejection of external norms and a turn inwards to your own values to determine your behaviour. RICHARD CLAYDON Founder Organisational Misbehaviourists

Work space... create a range of areas throughout the office that encourage both collaborative learning and deep focus.

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A d v erto ria l

Galaxy International Convention Center to open in Macau Galaxy Entertainment Group raises the bar with ultimate integrated resort and MICE destination set to open in the first half of 2021.

Go big or go home... Galaxy International Convention Center (above) will house the Galaxy Arena (top right), and Convention Hall banquet set up (bottom right).

pening in the first half of 2021, Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) is the new MICE venue developed by Galaxy Entertainment Group, and the latest addition to the group’s integrated resort precinct in Macau. Accommodating events of all sizes, GICC is a multi-purpose venue located within the Galaxy Resorts (Macau) Precinct — one of the world’s largest integrated resort destinations. GICC is equipped with immersive technology, state-of-the-art audiovisual and flexible spaces, where the dedicated EVENT STUDIO team of event professionals creates bespoke experiences. The complex will also house the 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena, ideal for concerts and large-scale events.

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The sprawling entertainment and event complex will incorporate a 750-room luxury hotel and several dining options, while integrating seamlessly with Macau’s largest collection of luxury hotel brands under one roof — The Ritz-Carlton Macau, Banyan Tree Macau, JW Marriott Hotel Macau, Hotel Okura Macau, Galaxy Hotel™ and Broadway Hotel. GICC will mark a turning point for venues in the business events industry, with access to 1.1 million sqm of unique entertainment, shopping and leisure attractions, including 120 dining options, and live street entertainment. In line with the recent rise of bleisure travel, GICC offers event attendees easy access to entertainment options such as the Grand Resort Deck water park, and Promenade Shop, which features

200 international brands, 10-screen 3D Cineplex, and award-wining spa services. Together with increased accessibility and burgeoning infrastructure, like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, GICC is set to bolster the business events industry in Macau, where cultural heritage and renowned culinary traditions enrich the event experience. For enquiries:

A MEMBER OF GALAXY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Address: Galaxy MacauTM, COTAI, Macau Sales Hotline: +853 8883 1628 Website: galaxyicc.com

Vol 6 2019

Up Cl ose Dar r en Chen

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U p C l o s e D arr e n Ch e n

Darren Chen and the 'Gucci effect' After managing the first international Gucci Osteria pop-up in Singapore, Savour executive director, Darren Chen, shares behind-the-scenes insights and business learnings. By Lauren Arena

hen the iconic Italian fashion house announced that its concept restaurant, Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, was set to make its international debut in Singapore, it sent local foodies and fashionistas a flutter. Touted as the hottest ticket in town, the five-week-long pop-up (from 1 May to 2 June) saw 3,500 patrons walk through the doors of The Arts House Annex Building. Helmed by chef Karime Lopez, the head chef of Gucci Osteria in Florence, the 60-seat restaurant presented an eclectic menu (four courses for lunch, seven for dinner) with dishes inspired by Lopez’s travels as well as a few signatures from Bottura’s Michelinstarred restaurant, Osteria Francescana. The Gucci Osteria Singapore edition was managed by locally-grown F&B lifestyle company, Savour, which specialises in unique culinary experiences. Executive director, Darren Chen, had previously worked with Bottura and his team for a Formula 1 event in Singapore, but says working with Gucci was “a totally different kettle of fish”. “It’s a leap of faith because you don’t know what you are getting into,” Chen explains. “We wanted to be authentic, so a confluence of things had to take place to make this happen.

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“Like any worldwide brand, Gucci was concerned with us being their brand guardians for five weeks. It could all go nuts, so there’s a lot of concern about getting everything right.” But why Singapore? As with most things, it came down to relationships. “Of course, we had to do a lot of convincing to get them here,” Chen explains. “In terms of experience, the people we know, the connections we have, I think we had a big part in reassuring them that we could do the work.” Following a series of Skype calls and an alignment of travel schedules, the date was set. By then, Chen and his team were left with only four months to plan (and two weeks to build) before opening night. Can you give us some insight into what the planning process was like? Darren: Manic is not the word… Lots of energy but with time pressure. There was tension and stress. Lots of tears — tears of frustration, tears of joy — but, overall, it was worthwhile. These tears are the most satisfying when you shed them because you’ve done the work and people appreciate it. Working with Gucci, you cannot use phrases like: “I can’t find it”, “out of stock”, “is this good enough?” So, my team had to turn it up a notch.

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Up Cl ose Dar r en Chen

In the past, with our proprietary products, we can make the decision, sometimes it’s time-based, and compromises are made. But after this project, my team now understand that when you are uncompromising, you get to a level where no one else can compete. So, from a business strategy perspective, it’s really been an eye-opener. Most of the challenges were really about elevating the project to a level [that Gucci wanted]. We’re a small company, we have limited resources, so everyone put in double time to get to where we were supposed to be — with support from all our partners. Can you tell us more about the uncompromising brief? Darren: The venue had to be a historical building — the Arts house was perfect because at the time the space was up for tender, so we had a lot of creative freedom. The building was perfect, lots of character, but the space inside needed a lot of work. We renovated the entire flight of stairs, re-painted walls and built and installed a mirrored wall so that the

dining room resembled Gucci Osteria in Florence. Location was another big thing. The venue needed to be accessible, so when people with wheelchairs came to the event, we had a portable accessibility machine on the stairs. Of course, all designs had to be approved by Gucci, directly from Italy. The final iteration of the space went through several rounds of design work, — from the type of linen that we used, to the tone of ivory on the walls, to the tables and chairs. The wallpaper was flown in from Italy, along with all the Gucci platware (900 pieces, weighing 2,000 kgs — the freight costs were insane) but whatever we couldn’t have shipped, we had to replicate — and that was challenging. Were there any other logistical challenges that you had to overcome? Darren: It wasn’t so much the hardware, it was the software. Karime and her team of chefs flew in from Italy, but I couldn’t convince professional wait staff to leave their job in a restaurant for a five-week stint.

So, a lot of the staff were not trained waiters and some had never carried a plate. We flew in the restaurant manager of Gucci Garden in Florence to train staff. Of course, we had teething issues, like any restaurant. Talent is always an issue. However, we worked with former air stewardesses, who are used to disgruntled people and know how to pacify them, so the skillset is not just about placing a plate on the table, but also anticipating somebody’s needs. Any other issues you had to manage during the five-week execution? A popup is usually a couple of days, maybe a week, so this was an exceptionally long event. Darren: It’s just general fatigue, making sure that our standards don’t slip, because you can get comfortable. After week three, I thought we were cruising, then we realised some wait staff started to skimp on the details. It is tough to keep morale high and ensure standards are kept consistent. Working with Gucci, however, was more about overcoming organisational challenges. We just had to get used to their way of working.

Same same, but different... Chen and his team recreated Gucci Osteria, complete with wallpaper flown in from Italy, at The Arts House in Singapore.

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U p C l o s e D arr e n Ch e n

What is their way of working? How is it different to your way of working? Darren: They are very careful with their brand, very strict. For example, we didn’t allow any corporate customers to put up any pull-up banners at the venue. Luckily, at this level, you speak to the bosses, and they understand — that’s the Gucci effect. Maintaining brand integrity, and achieving such a high level, takes a ton of sacrifice — not time, it’s a mentality, you just don’t compromise. They push you to the limit to find the best solution. Working with Gucci helped to spur new ideas and we had a lot of our international partners come in and take a look. Every project we do is a testament to the fact that our partners trust us. The Gucci effect gives you better credibility with the customer. Following this experience, how do you think the ‘Gucci effect’ will influence the way you approach your businesses moving forward? Darren: I think we will focus on creating products that our fans like. In the past, I wanted to please everybody, which is not sustainable. The more you try, the more you dilute what you’re trying to do, and you can actually alienate your real fans. I’ve done that before, I’m not ashamed to say, I’ve gone too mainstream. Gucci charts its own path — it’s approach is: “I’m not following a trend, I will set it. I will set the curve, and you will follow. If you don’t follow, too bad.” From that point of view, the projects we have coming up are exciting because I feel that we have not compromised, like in the past. Create a brand that people will follow to the death — that’s the big learning. So, my goal now is to make sure that our fans are loyal, that they know we’ve kept the brand true. When they attend an event, it’s an authentic experience, not a compromised experience. I’d rather do one good show, than 10 mediocre shows. It just sets the soul. Ten years ago, I was in love with running a business. Today, I’m in love with trying to build something no one else has. To give it a go, whatever the consequence.

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Culinary masters... Karime Lopez (top left) and Massimo Bottura are behind signature dishes at Gucci Osteria.

When you are uncompromising, you get to a level where no one else can compete. DARREN CHEN Executive director Savour

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Destinat i on Feat ure So u t h Afr i c a

Inclusive growth South Africa's business events industry makes strides towards collective advancement â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not just for the nation, but for the continent. By Lauren Arena

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D e s t i na t i o n Fe a t ur e S o ut h Af r ica

o one can deny the scenic beauty of South Africa’s Western Cape — rolling hills, sand dunes and the idyllic coastline of the Cape Peninsula. But driving into the Mother City from Cape Town International Airport, the scene on the ground paints a very different picture: one of inequality and division, with perfectly manicured neighbourhoods on one side, and impoverished, ramshackle townships on the other. The lingering legacy of apartheid continues to plague the nation, where unemployment, poor education and unfair land division keep open the gap between white and black communities. South Africa’s business events industry, however, is making strides towards inclusive growth — not just for the nation, but for the continent. At Meetings Africa 2019, an annual event that takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, 15 African nations took part — not only selling their unique offerings, but working to elevate a collective ‘Brand Africa’ for the continent’s burgeoning business events industry. With newly established convention bureaus in Rwanda and Uganda, interest in the business events industry — and its potential for economic and social transformation — is growing, with South Africa leading the charge. This year’s record-breaking event attracted 343 exhibitors, more than 190 international hosted buyers and 55 local corporate buyers, a 10 per cent increase on 2018. “Business events are the anchor of tourism,” said South Africa Tourism CEO Sisa Ntshona at the opening of Meetings Africa 2019. “This is where policies are made, inventions are created.” Echoing this, South Africa’s minister of tourism, Derek Hanekom, said the continued growth of Meetings Africa signals an increased recognition of the importance and potential legacies of business events. “It’s about sharing information, knowledge, ideas in order to address some of our collective challenges,” he said. “What’s really important here in South Africa is inclusive growth, shared growth. Ensuring the benefits of growth are extended to as many people as possible.” Highlighting this is the Meetings Africa Sustainability Village. Introduced in 2017 in collaboration with the Event Greening Forum

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(EGF), this is a curated space where 16 SME businesses showcase their handcrafted products, all of which are inspired by South African culture and heritage and made within a 50km radius of the venue. Instead of giving gifts, hosted buyers received vouchers to purchase handicrafts from the village and support local businesses. In the spirit of inclusive growth, South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) in partnership with Gauteng Convention and Events Bureau, helped to support 25 SMEs exhibit at this year’s show. In a dedicated space on the show floor, the Gauteng Economic Development Township Experience not only allowed smaller local players to access international buyers, but also worked to tackle misconceptions surrounding South Africa’s townships. “It’s not all shacks when you talk about a township,” said SANCB chief, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo. “There’s a lot of built-up infrastructure, shopping malls and venues and peer-to-peer learning programmes that enhance the township experience in meetings.” New venue grading criteria launched by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) also include accommodation and venues in townships — helping to raise standards and encourage international event organisers to host events in these local communities. TBCSA also works with the South African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) to improve industry professionalisation. SAACI CEO, Rudi Van Der Vyver, says intra-Africa collaboration is vital to the industry’s future growth. “It’s blindingly obvious that the world sees us as one country, so we have to market ‘Destination Africa’.” “Education is a large part of it,” he added. “It’s on us, the associations, to put a structured approach to certification in place, similar to CMP, so that we can collaborate more effectively, increase professionalism as well as standards, and the benefit that the industry offers.” TBCSA CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, agreed: “When we win as a continent, we all benefit, so we need to ensure professionalism is upheld across the continent.”

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Destinat i on Feat ure So u t h Afr i c a

Where Mozambique

Zimbabwe

Namibia Botswana

Madagascar

South Africa

Kruga National Park

Johannesburg

Cape Town

Hotels

Experiences

The Century City development in Cape Town is home to several hotels, namely the 125-room Century City Hotel and adjoining Century City Conference Centre, which can accommodate up to 1,900 guests across a variety of spaces. A short drive from the CBD, the enclosed precinct has four secure entry points and is considered among the safest areas in the city. In Pretoria’s new Menlyn Maine neighbourhood, Sun International manages the Time Square entertainment precinct, which includes a casino, the 8,500-seat Sun © Free Vector Maps.com Arena, and Copyright The Maslow Time Square, which opened in April 2018. The 238-room hotel houses three, four and five-star rooms and each floor has a different room category. The five-star Capitol Menlyn Maine hotel (top left) is within walking distance, featuring 238 spacious rooms, decked out with plush interiors. A new Skukuza Safari Lodge (above) in Kruger National Park is set to open in 2020 to support meetings at the adjacent Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre. Despite numerous delays (the property was due to open in 2018), excitement is building around the three-star hotel and conference facility, which features 128 rooms. Thatched roofing and grass ceilings add to the natural ambience, along with design elements from local cultures and two onsite baobab trees.

No trip to South Africa is complete without a safari experience, and a game drive through Kruger National Park is high on the agenda for most incentive programmes. Sunrise Safari & Tours runs full- and half-day game drives in the greater southern Kruger National Park, including the Skukuza area, where groups can look for Africa’s Big 5 from a fleet of 4WD vehicles. The company also runs guided tours of nearby black townships, and drives through the scenic Panorama Route to Graskop Gorge. After your sunset game drive, complete the safari experience with a bush braai (BBQ) in a secluded area filled with lanterns, where food is grilled on open fires. Leading DMCs Adventure Works (based in Cape Town) and Dragonfly (based in Johannesburg) can curate incentive itineraries and outcomes-focused team-building activities for groups of various sizes. Make the most of Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront with a two-hour dinner cruise on The Alba Boat Restaurant, which can cater for up to 72 diners or 100 for cocktails. On the outskirts of Joburg, explore the renowned Soweto township with bicycle, tuk-tuk or walking tours (30 pax)

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Photo credit: South African National Parks

New hotels and venues support industry expansion

D e s t i na t i o n Fe a t ur e S o ut h Af r ica

Buyer's Opinion with Lebo’s Soweto. Run by locals as part of a sustainable tourism initiative, this is a great way to take in the sights and sounds of this vibrant place, interact with the local community and learn about traditional Zulu culture.

Unique venues For top-tier incentives, Hayward Safaris offers a mobile glamping experience, where private safari conference camps can be set-up in secluded locations across South Africa, including Kruger National Park, Namib Desert and the Cradle of Mankind. Here, meetings can be conducted in tech-enabled white safari tents, with break-out activities such as walking, helicopter and hot-air balloon tours and silver-service dining in the evening. Nestled within the lush mountains of the Western Cape, Stellenbosch (onehour drive from Cape Town) is a culinary goldmine and the centre of South African wine production. Many of the historical estates and vineyards in the area provide conference and event spaces. Corporate buy-outs are available at the 60.7-hectare Lanzerac Wine Estate (above), home to a 53-room hotel which oozes old-world charm. Six characteristic spaces can be used for boardroom

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meetings and events, such as The Cellar Hall, which can host 150 pax (banquet and theatre-style). The magnificent Manor House can host lunch or high tea functions for 100 pax in its airy Manor Kitchen restaurant, while private dining and premium wine tasting can take place in the farm’s original 1692 cellar. Nearby, environmentally-focused Spier Hotel and Wine Farm features a dedicated conference centre with several meeting rooms and a flexible auditorium that seats up to 400 pax (theatre). The Manor House and 153-room hotel can also be used for events, as well as the wine cellar, outdoor courtyard and the farm’s rolling lawns. Closer to Cape Town (30-minute drive), Norval Foundation museum (top right) is a platform for local art, where its onsite Skotnes Restaurant & Bar, Sculpture Garden, outdoor amphitheatre and nine galleries can all be used for private events. Picnics can be organised in the sprawling garden. Set against a stunning backdrop of the Steenberg wine region, Norval’s galleries feature contemporary art installations that can be booked separately or together (600 pax across entire venue).

I attended Meetings Africa in 2018 and was impressed by the quality and capabilities of operators in South Africa. They are keen to meet buyers’ requirements and explore new ground, especially with clients from Asia. I explored Kwa Madwala Private Game Reserve, Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park – the wildlife encounters, safari experience, breath-taking scenery and first-class accommodation here make it highly appealing as a meeting and incentive destination. I’ve proposed South Africa to my clients many times and they are keen to explore the destination, even beyond the business hubs of Cape Town and Johannesburg.

FRANKIE KHNG

Director, MICE MICE Maestro Singapore

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Destinat i on Feat ure Au st r a l i a

Time for the Territory As Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gateway to Australia, Darwin provides investment, education and social engagement opportunities for meetings and incentives. By El Kwang

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D e s t i na t i o n Fe a t ur e Aust r alia

arwin is open for business. The capital of Australia's Northern Territory (NT) and a gateway to massive Kakadu National Park, Darwin has huge potential for both trade and tourism — and, as a natural offshoot, business events. The Northern Territory Government has a plan to grow the economy and attract people to visit, work, invest and trade in Australia's north. In line with its international engagement, trade and investment strategic plan (2018 – 2021), the government is working with local and international industry, governments, communities and businesses to develop new economic drivers and smart industries. Some of the territory’s current trading partners include China, India, Indonesia and Singapore, with investment efforts expected to grow as the NT Government looks to increase direct international airlinks with eastern Indonesia and southern China, particularly to aid trade activities with the Chinese cities of Rizhao and Shandong. To further drive trade growth, the NT Government is also cooperating with its counterparts in South Australia to deliver the 'One Road to Asia' initiative, which looks to elevate the region as a freight and logistics hub for Australia and Asia. A 10-year infrastructure plan to facilitate increased direct international aviation and shipping services to the NT will also undoubtedly benefit key industries like tourism and business events. According to the NT Convention Bureau, annual delegate expenditure contributes an average of AU$36.4 million to the Territory economy from some 14,000 delegates. To bolster the industry, the bureau launched the Northern Territory Business Events Support Fund in 2018. So far, the fund has committed more than

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AU$1.5 million to attract more business events to the NT. The support fund provides financial support of up to AU$100 per delegate for qualified events, which can be used for a range of services, from a welcome function and delegate transportation, to the engagement of a local PCO or DMC. NT Convention Bureau director, Rebecca McGaig, says: “Darwin offers an impressive array of options for business events, unique experiences and activities, meaningful community engagement, multicultural cuisine, a rich and fascinating Aboriginal culture, a vibrant festivals scene and a stunning waterfront. The award-winning, world-class 1,200-seat convention centre perfectly complements a destination which has a proven record of delivering highly effective business event outcomes.” To accommodate larger convention and incentive travel groups, Darwin has an estimated 4,500 accommodation rooms — all within walking or short driving distance to Darwin Convention Centre. Sister properties Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton are located in the heart of Darwin City and offer a total of 617 accommodation rooms and approximately 2,450 sqm of event space — all bookable through a single sales contact based in Darwin. The city will also welcome a new luxury hotel, the AU$200m Westin Darwin, in 2022. The 240-room hotel will have panoramic views of Darwin Harbour and is located within close walking distance to Darwin Convention Centre. What makes Darwin attractive to international event planners, especially those looking to visit new destinations, is the city’s ability to deliver authentic experiences that are unique to the territory and imbued with Australian lifestyle aspirations — a key attraction for the Asian incentive travel market.

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Destinat i on Feat ure Au st r a l i a

Authentic event experiences in Australia's Top End

Where

Aboriginal Territorians

NT QLD

Australia

Darwin

NSW

Venture into the East Point Reserve with Segway Tours NT (top left) and explore the natural environment of the Larrakia people, the traditional owners of Darwin, who settled here some 35,000 years ago. Elevate the dining experience in the evening with Darwin Convention Centre’s newly launched 'Seven Seasons' modern Australian menu (centre), which tantalises taste buds with native ingredients like mud crab and crocodile. Inspired by the local indigenous calendar (which features even seasons), this culinary journey is complete with an Aboriginal traditional welcome, engaging storytelling and immersive projection mapping technology.

Social Impact

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Visit the National Critical Care, Trauma and Response Centre and learn about the centre’s World Health Organisation crisis response readiness standards. The team will share lessons from Australia’s response to the 2002 Bali bombings, and the field hospital equipment that was created as a result of their work. Extend the social impact lesson by hosting a cocktail party at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Tourist Centre, and learn how this not-for-profit organisation provides complimentary medical services to remote locations across Australia.

Sunset Gatherings

Ease into your incentive or conference programme with an intimate sunset cruise with Sail Darwin (top right). Let the salty sea breeze break the ice, while delegates mingle over drinks, canapes and sunset 'selfies'. The lawn at Mindil Beach Casino Resort is the perfect setting for a sunset pre-gala welcome reception, or an al fresco dinner for 500 guests. The resort has a permanent marquee next to the lawn — a cost-effective contingency option (should weather conditions change) that guarantees panoramic ocean views.

Destination Heritage

A 45-minute flight brings delegates from Darwin to Katherine for a day trip packed with natural and cultural marvels. Explore the 25 million-year-old Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge (above) via a 90-minute cruise and trek experience with several important photo stops. The selfie stick will get a workout here. Journey to an outback experience hosted by award-winning Australian country singer, Tom Curtain (top right), who serenades the audience with charttopping hits. Complete the cultural experience with an authentic Aussie BBQ under the sun.

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D e s t i na t i o n Fe a t ur e Aust r alia

Wildlife Adventure

Kick-start the day with a BBQ brunch, then take a 40-minute drive south of Darwin to explore the Territory Wildlife Park. Nestled among 400 hectares of natural bushland, forest and open woodland, the park is home to birds, nocturnal creatures and an aquarium. Book the Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin City exclusively and continue the adventure with a private cocktail party for up to 1,000 guests. As guests network among popular crocodile exhibits, you’ll also discover why crocodile farming and other livestock is worth AU$28.5 million to the NT economy.

Catch of the Day

NT is home to Australia’s biggest barramundi producers. Partner with some of Darwin’s experienced fishing crews and embark on a fishing expedition in the harbour. Moor the boat and pick up ingredients to accompany the catch of the day from local supermarkets like Coles or Woolworths. Let your delegates experience the fresh taste of this sporting fish through a cooking masterclass with a professional chef.

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Island Home

Take a 2.5-hour SeaLink Ferry to Tiwi Island, 80km north of Darwin and participate in a culture day with the Tiwi people. Let the Tiwi people share stories about their island home over ‘bush tucker’ (food of the Australian outback). Incorporate culturally immersive activities like a traditional Welcome to Country, walking tours, and explore some of Tiwi’s famous artwork and burial poles. Complete the day with a casual dinner under the stars on the private lawns of oceanfront restaurant, Pee Wee’s at the Point restaurant, which is ideal for groups of 100 pax. For smaller groups that prefer indoor dining, the 60-seater private dining room at Char Restaurant Darwin (owned by nationally recognised beef judge, John Kilroy) is a perfect choice.

Tropical Cook Out

Create a beachside party where delegates dress up in different tropical colours and group them into teams before unveiling a special ‘cookout zone’ decked out with a sumptuous spread of fresh local ingredients. Following recipes crafted by professional Darwin chefs, teams can cook and taste different dishes from around the region. End the evening with a nightcap in one of the city’s many local outdoor pubs and enjoy the cool tropical weather.

Buyer's Opinion Darwin’s business events capabilities are ready for international markets like Singapore. The National Critical Care Trauma and Response Centre stands out due to its ingenuity and its people — you can really see their passion. The venue's social impact goals also provide great content for incentive travel participants, who can learn and be inspired. For a gala dinner experience, I was in awe of the ‘Seven Seasons’ dinner curated by the Darwin Convention Centre, which provides an authentic Darwin narrative. The multi-sensory culinary journey is on trend and highly appealing to delegates who are well-travelled.

STEPHANIE ONG

Managing director Faces of Singapore Singapore

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Destinat i on Feat ure New Z ea l a nd

Access adventure

Asian incentive groups can dive head first into New Zealand, with increased accessibility and new venues on the horizon. Lauren Arena takes the plunge to find out more.

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D e s t i na t i o n Fe a t ur e N e w Ze alan d

laces, like people, have personalities. A place can have a very visceral effect on you, influencing your wellbeing, changing your worldview, and encouraging you to do things you never thought possible. Such is the power of experiential travel. This was my final thought as I prepared to jump off the 139-year-old Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown — the birthplace of bungy jumping. I had no desire to hurtle my body into mid-air before arriving in Queenstown, in the South Island of New Zealand, but the dramatic landscape — snow-capped mountains, rocky cliff faces, and ice-blue lakes — convinced me otherwise. Once the adrenaline subsided, I realised that this powerful personality, this adventurous spirit, is what makes New Zealand such an aspirational destination. And as accessibility to the Land of the Long White Cloud improves, meetings and event planners across Asia are cottoning on as well. “We carry quite a significant amount of corporate, incentive and conference traffic. It’s an important part of our mix,” says Air New Zealand’s chief revenue officer, Cam Wallace. The national carrier operates direct flights from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei and Singapore (operating up to five daily flights via a partnership with Singapore Airlines) and is strengthening its APAC network. A new, non-stop service between Auckland and Seoul will take off from 23 November, operating three times a week. Meanwhile, the airline’s newly ordered fleet of Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners (Air New Zealand confirmed an order of eight aircraft in May) will service long-haul markets, including Asia. “We offer a unique piece of New Zealand on an aircraft,” Wallace says. “From the food and wine, to the casual service, and the inflight entertainment, all our experiences are uniquely Kiwi and we try to extend the [customer] journey so that it involves being on the aircraft.” And when it comes to accommodating large incentive groups, Wallace insists the airline is very flexible. In fact, when more than 6,000 Chinese delegates flew to Queenstown for the Amway China Leadership Seminar in April last year (in 11 waves), Air New Zealand even increased its domestic flights between Auckland and

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Queenstown just for Amway, and offered tailored services, such as cabin greetings, priority check-in and free amenities. Destination Queenstown business development director, Kiran Nambiar, says hosting the large-scale incentive put Queenstown on the international stage. “The exposure, not only throughout the Amway network, but also with direct selling business communities and within the meetings and incentive industry, has been invaluable,” he says. In the lead-up to the event, Destination Queenstown worked with local operators to meet cultural requirements and assisted with product development to create unique experiences. “Delegates wanted to feel special so an ‘offthe-shelf’ product wasn’t going to be enough,” Nambiar explains. “The smooth delivery and professionalism maintained throughout this event was a true representation of how Queenstown comes together to make these events successful.” Tourism New Zealand is also sharpening its focus on the business events sector — which has delivered half a billion dollars to the country over the past five years. “New Zealand is punching above its weight as a conference destination, winning more conference business than ever before,” says Tourism New Zealand’s commercial director, René de Monchy. “We’re outperforming much larger, more easily accessible destinations due to our reputation for manaakitanga (hospitality) and hosting.” New major infrastructure projects, such as the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland (opening mid-late 2020), Te Pae convention centre in Christchurch (opening October 2020) and the Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre (opening 2022) are also set to boost business. “It feels like a very crucial moment in time,” de Monchy says. “In the next few years, we’ve got a bunch of infrastructure coming online. We know this isn’t the core reason why people come to New Zealand — but without it they certainly don’t come.” While big infrastructure will likely attract more business, it’s the manaakitanga that event professionals should really be aware of. It will leave a lasting impression on the soul.

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Destinat i on Feat ure New Z ea l a nd

Meet in Middle-earth and revel in New Zealand’s awe-inspiring scenery

Where

Australia

New Zealand

Auckland Rotorua

Wellington

Christchurch Queenstown

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Hotels

Experiences

In Auckland, the recently refurbished Cordis hotel (formerly The Langham) features 411 airy rooms and suites and is home to one of the largest pillarless ballrooms in New Zealand, seating up to 860 banquet-style or 1,200 theatre-style. For design-focused delegates looking for 'rebellious luxury', the 130-room SO/ Auckland (top left) opened in late 2018 and its rooftop bar offers some of the best views of the harbour city. The SkyCity integrated resort currently houses more than 600 rooms across two hotels, with a third, the 300-room Horizon Hotel, opening in 2020. This five-star hotel will be linked to the NZICC. A three-hour drive from Auckland, Rotorua is known as the epicentre of New Zealand’s indigenous Maori culture as well as for its geothermal activity. Here, Millennium Hotel Rotorua is best suited to corporate groups and all 227 rooms will be renovated in 2020. Farther south, the 139-room Crowne Plaza Queenstown is located in the heart of town and offers unrivalled views of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains. New hotels such as Wyndham Garden (75 apartment-style rooms), QT (69 rooms) and Ramada (131 rooms) add more options for corporate groups, while a number of luxury lodges can host intimate corporate retreats. Standouts include sustainably-minded Camp Glenorchy (see p.35 for more details) and ultra-luxe, Blanket Bay Lodge.

For an authentic Maori experience in Rotorua, explore the geothermal valley of Te Puia. Take part in a Haka war dance, enjoy a traditional Hāngi feast (cooked in an earth oven) and listen to stories shared by local hosts before visiting bubbling mud pools, natural hot springs, and the world-renowned Pohutu geyser. Nearby, visit the Nationl Kiwi Hatchery and sponsor a baby kiwi chick before heading to Off Road NZ for petrolfuelled activities like self-drive 4WD bush safaris and 4X4 monster truck thrill rides through native forest. Groups of 200 pax can book the entire park exclusively. Located 10kms north of Rotorua City, Agrodome is a 142-hectare working sheep and cattle farm. Here, corporate groups can get up close with farm animals, witness a live sheep-shearing demonstration and explore a thriving fruit orchard. Up the ante in Auckland by joining the crew on an America’s Cup sailing yacht. Explore Group can cater for up to 60 pax across two yachts, where delegates can take the helm or power the grinders as the vessel glides through Waitemata Harbour. But for the ultimate adventure bucket list, Queenstown is the ticket — and nothing fortifies team bonds more than a collective dose of adrenaline (or terror). AJ Hackett has a number of bungy, swing and zipline sites across Queenstown — along with a flawless safety record. At the Kawarau Bridge site, the bungy centre can

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Unique venues be hired for exclusive use, including banquet events for up to 200 pax. KJet offers high-speed jet boating with 360-degree spins (and views) on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers, while The Helicopter Line conducts scenic flights across Queenstown, with landings on snow-capped peaks and glaciers. With 21 helicopters, the company is well versed in servicing large groups — last year, flying 350 Amway Thailand delegates in less than two hours. Cruise along Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw vintage steamship, which can be chartered exclusively for 400 (standing) or 120 (seated) passengers. Disembark at Walter Peak High Country Farm for outdoor teambuilding before tucking into a gourmet BBQ buffet at the historic Colonel’s Homestead (300 pax). With such a dramatic landscape, even transfers are impressive in Queenstown — and the 45-min drive to Central Otago is no exception. The region is known for its wineries and fruit orchards, and a roadside pitstop at Mrs Jones Orchard will allow delegates to stock-up on local fresh and dried fruit. For team-building, Highlands international race track circuit (centre) is nearby, where groups can test the speed of V8 muscle cars and go karts, or take a ‘fast dash’ around the track in a Ferrari. Wine tasting with local winemakers can be organised onsite, along with lively catering from local favourite, The Stoaker Room, where food is smoked, grilled and steamed in upcycled pinot noir barrels.

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Meet at the Hobbiton Movie Set, the only permanent, purpose-built movie set in the world. Forty-four Hobbit Holes are folded into the rolling hills of the Waikato Region, creating The Shire from Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. The five-hectare site is also a working farm, so the idyllic countryside (bar a few props) is real. Tour the set at dusk, before indulging in a Hobbit feast sprawled across tables in the Green Dragon Inn (48 pax). Larger groups are catered for in the colourful Party Marquee, while a bustling marketplace experience can be set up for 1,000 (top right). The onsite team can organise team-building activities or special effects like water shows, fireworks and themed performances. Take a gondola up to Skyline venues in Rotorua and Queenstown. Both offer luge rides and ziplining and The Stratosfare Restaurant and Bar in each location can cater to 400 pax for buffet lunch or dinner. In Rotorua, walk or luge to the glamping-inspired Hidden Forest Venue for 120 pax. Before flying out of Auckland, host a farewell lunch at Villa Maria Estate which, despite being only a few minutes from the international airport, is incredibly scenic. Host events of various sizes on the winery's hillside or in the Barrel Room, which caters for 230 pax (banquet) or 300 (cocktail).

Buyer's Opinion A country so blessed with breathtaking landscapes, NZ has really positioned itself as the adventure capital of the world, with a strong Maori culture and a unique gastronomic scene to boot. Visitors are spoilt for choice, with a myriad of experiences available. However, for corporate clients who expect a more tailored programme for incentive trips, planners may find that some establishments are less flexibile when it comes to designing bespoke experiences. For our recent incentive programme, we complemented this limitation with our own customised mini events and specialised experiences that delegates could not have accessed if they were travelling alone. Delivering a relatively good quality, custom programme can be costly in NZ. Hence, we always present it as a premier destination that is more suited for toptier delegates.

ELAINE LAU

Managing director La Global Travel Malaysia

Vol 6 2019

On The Road

On the roadâ&#x20AC;Ś

Attending trade shows and discovery tours across Asia Pacific.

Queenstown

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Singapore MICE F

Asia Business Meet

Meeting Thailand Incentive &

Queenstown

Darwin

Exchange

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Follow our social media pages for more of what we saw on the road.

Vol 6 2019

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BARCELONA, SPAIN 19-21 NOVEMBER 2019

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