micenet ASIA FebMar 2013 by micenet ASIA

editor’s letter Constant change Stepping out of Bali’s airport, one immediately sees an ongoing construction for the Ngurah Rai International Airport expansion. Driving out of the airport, there are even more construction sites to witness - from road upgrades to improving existing properties or building new ones. One can almost second guess that the primary reason for this construction frenzy is the coming of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) in October to Bali. Even then, the ongoing infrastructure upgrades are actually quite due, perhaps even overdue, given the popularity of Bali as a MICE and leisure destination. If there’s one country that can attest to the significance of change in a society or its economy, Singapore can very well top the list. The republic is a frontrunner in reinventing itself constantly; making it

a unique MICE destination as it was 20 years ago. As Marina Bay Sands’ John Mims once shared in an interview on what he tells friends about Singapore: If you have not been to Singapore for the last two years, you’ve not been to Singapore. Life as we know is a constant change and the choice lands upon us whether we want to accept change as they happen or do we want to initiate them. The sights and sounds we experience now will soon become part of yesterday. Having seen the results of constant change in Singapore and a preview of a more efficient Bali recently, it’s about time we embrace the thought that change is a necessity to stay relevant and ahead. If you want us to feature a certain destination or give comments about our magazine, drop me a line at feedback@ micenet.asia.

Sandra Hernandez Editor

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD • • • • •

Andrew Chan, ACI HR Solutions Damion Breust, Barclays Daniel Chua, AONIA Danielle Puceta, American Express Business Travel David Lim, Everest Motivation

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• • • •

Maureen O’Crowley, Seoul Tourism Organization Nino Grüttke, Messe Berlin Rosalind Ng, SACEOS Selina Grocott, Pacific World

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CONTENTS

news & events

departments

UP-TO-DATE

UPCLOSE

06 bureau briefs 07 NEWS 12 global watch 14 VITAL MATTERS 58 VENUE UPDATE 60 career strategies 68 TASTE MAKERS Wowed over.

15 Q&A • Pullman Phuket Arcadia's general manager, Brett Wilson, is confident that their property will be the top of mind at Phuket. • Hilton Worldwide's head of sales — Europe, Philippe Garnier, shares why best practices must resonate. • Strong touch points are important for Capri by Fraser general manager, Raymond Howe. 66 people

MICE MATTERS 56 case study Delivering a stroke of hope. 62 profile Women of inspiration. 64 HOW TO Discover what you are made of. 70 curtain call

Cover image: Courtesy of The Stones Hotel Legian, Bali.

The contents of micenet Asia which are covered by copyright may not be reproduced or copied without the written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. micenet Asia does not accept responsibility for damage to, or loss of, unsolicited material submitted for publication. The content and accuracy of advertisements accepted are the responsibility of the advertiser. All prices and conditions quoted in micenet Asia are based on the latest information received. The publisher cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience or expense resulting from a subsequent alteration to prices or conditions.

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2013

destinations

group PUBLISHER / MANAGING DIRECTOR Helen Batt-Rawden Email: helen@btp.net.au VICE PRESIDENT El Kwang Email: el@micenet.asia MANAGING EDITOR Brad Foster Email: brad@btp.net.au EDITOR Sandra Hernandez Email: sandra@micenet.asia

DESTINATIONS 18 COVER STORY: BALI Best of both worlds. 26 SEOuL Getting through. 31 singapore Your choice business events destination. 52 MALAYSIA Nu-KL.

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Lim Bee Bee Jenn Ruffell Email: jennifer@btp.net.au Bernard Kassab Email: bernard@btp.net.au contributors • Angela Blardony Ureta • Andrew Chan • Graeme Kemlo • David Lim • Gina Sin • Leila Botham • Rob Cotter • Samantha Coomber • Tan Hee Hui • The Association Specialists CHINESE TRANSLATOR KH Tok SALES & MARKETING Michelle Lim Email: michelle@micenet.asia ADMINISTRATION & SALES SUPPORT Gina Sin Email: gina@micenet.asia Charline Wong Email: charline@micenet.asia SUBSCRIPTIONS Email: info@micenet.asia micenet Asia is published by BUSINESS & TOURISM PUBLISHING Asia Pte Ltd 35 Selegie Road, #09-04, Parklane Shopping Mall, Singapore 188307 Phone: +65 6337 8781 Fax: +65 6337 9060 Email: info@micenet.asia Website www.micenet.asia

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Bureau briefs Taiwan’s MICE industry pilot programme (MEET TAIWAN)

MEHK Oxfam Trailwalker 2012 promo campaign HONG KONG The MEHK (Meetings & Exhibitions Hong Kong) Oxfam Trailwalker 2012 promotion campaign, the first-ever collaboration project by MEHK and Oxfam HK to promote Oxfam Trailwalker as a corporate team-building and corporate social responsibility event to overseas corporations drew participation from Guangzhou, Shanghai and Singapore with MEHK’s support and hospitality to the teams. The

campaign gained a good level of awareness and interest in various MICE markets from the US, Korea, Japan and Mainland China in the past year. The leverage on sports event for corporate incentive has been positive and MEHK will continue its engagement with Oxfam and other stakeholders to lead a growing number of overseas teams for the event in 2013. Contact: Ms Amy Lam at amy.lam@hktb.com

Seoul Tourism Organization adds 41 new members to Seoul MICE Alliance SEOUL Seoul Tourism Organization’s (STO) Seoul Convention Bureau announced the addition of 41 companies to the Seoul MICE Alliance (SMA). The SMA is a partnership between the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Tourism Organization, and private organisations, to enhance the city’s global MICE competitiveness. The services of the 41 new members span nine different industries,

many of which offer services that will further improve the overall quality of international meetings planners and attendees, such as design and print services or shopping. Having these new members on board is expected to encourage buyers and international visitors to seek more services locally - which will help in the smooth execution of events and contribute to the vitalisation of the local economy.

Confidence builds up PHILIPPINES An air of confidence follows recent tourism developments in the Philippines. Low cost carriers linked the Philippines to its regional neighbours, as seen by increased direct connections from Singapore and Hong Kong to Clark and Iloilo. High-end hotels and integrated resorts in Manila Bay Entertainment City add on to the extensive MICE facilities already available in the Philippines. The

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US$1 billion Solaire Resort and Casino will be the first of four resorts to open in the Entertainment City. In its first phase, The Solaire Manila Hotel opens in Q1 this year, boasting 500 guest rooms, a grand column-free ballroom that can house 1600 dinner guests, f&b and wellness facilities. Contact: Tourism Promotions Board Philippines at pcvcmemb@dotpcvc. gov.ph.

TAIWAN In 2009, the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) initiated the “Taiwan MICE Advancement Program”. A four-year development project, the programme improved Taiwan's MICE industry. To advance MICE development to the next step, this year, the BOFT is beginning an extension project called “Taiwan’s MICE industry pilot programme (MEET TAIWAN)”. Commencing in 2013, the BOFT looks forward to another four years of continued investment in the Taiwan MICE industry. The MEET TAIWAN programme aims to make Taiwan well-known for its high-quality service MICE industry. The long-term objective is to improve service efficiency, enhance international visibility and competiveness of the MEET TAIWAN brand, and promote Taiwan as one of the best MICE destinations in Asia. Contact: MEET TAIWAN project’s office at mpo@meettaiwan.com.

Shell sites as meeting venues MALAYSIA MyCEB has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chin Swee Caves Temple (the Temple), officiating the Temple as its fourth shell site. As an alternative to the conventional meeting venue, shell sites are iconic landmarks that could also be utilised as off-site business event venues for large groups. Shell sites present its visitors with an experience of meetings while being enclosed within the cultural and natural elements of Malaysia. Located in the most scenic site of Genting Highlands, the Temple has played host to numerous events. MyCEB’s first three other shell sites include Putrajaya Maritime Centre, Central Market and Thean Hou Temple.

news

First Singapore property to offer handy smartphones to guests

Chiang Mai’s Year of MICE Three-phase master plan for Chiang Mai to be a Global MICE City CHIANG MAI A master plan has been drawn to develop Chiang Mai as the MICE destination for Thailand and ASEAN in five years. This was announced after the Chiang Mai MICE Summit, participated by Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and eight key government and private organisations in Chiang Mai who will lay the framework to further develop Chiang Mai as a world-class MICE destination. The eight stakeholders who will join forces with TCEB to translate the government’s “Chiang Mai’s Year of MICE” into concrete action are Chiang Mai province, the Chiang Mai Provincial Administration, Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce, Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, the Office of Commercial Affairs Chiang Mai, TAT Chiang Mai Office, Chiang Mai Creative City (CMCC) and Chiang Mai University. With more than 33,000 hotel rooms’

inventory and the country’s third largest airport, Chiang Mai has very strong infrastructure advantages to support the city’s plan to become a MICE destination. The Chiang Mai MICE Destination master plan is divided into three phases. In phase one, which begins in 2013, domestic MICE will be the target while all concerned agencies work together to improve infrastructure. Various education campaigns will run as Chiang Mai is positioned as a strategic MICE City. In phase two, from 2014-2015, promotion will be extended to cover regional cooperation blocks including GMS, BIMSTEC and Chiang Mai Twin Cities. As business and economic growth progresses, the balance between business and cultural development has to be achieved. In phase three (2016-2017), Chiang Mai will be marketed as a Global MICE City, capable of handling global mega events.

SINGAPORE Providing travellers to Singapore with unlimited 3G internet, local and international calls to 26 countries, newly opened Days Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park became the first property in Singapore to offer travellers a unique service called ‘handy’, a convenient smartphone rental service. Specifically designed for travellers visiting Singapore, ‘handy' will be available to customers with a one-night package stay at Days Hotel Singapore at an attractive rate of SGD $142. Also available at an affordable rental fee of SGD $18 nett per day, 'handy' will provide travellers with a Samsung Galaxy Note device. The device will also be preloaded with a mobile city guide specifically designed for tourists visiting Singapore and a handpicked selection of other travel-friendly smartphone applications. The hotel has teamed up with Tink Labs, a Hong Kong based company, for this service which provides a comprehensive mobile travel platform to inbound travellers.

Experience Asian hospitality ASIA Marco Polo Hotel brings a Winter Spectacular Package promotion so guests can experience Asian hospitality at any of its 13 hotels including Hong Kong, Beijing, Foshan, Jinjiang, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Wuhan and Xiamen in China; Cebu and Davao in the Philippines; and Phuket in Thailand. Each Marco Polo hotel

is as distinctive as its location. The Winter Spectacular Package includes accommodation and buffet breakfast for two and 15 per cent off on laundry and the next day’s room rate. Promotion is valid till February 28, 2013. For more information, visit www.marcopolohotels.com micenet Asia

Event tragedy highlights real risks A recently released report into bushfires that tragically injured ultra-marathon competitors in the Kimberley last year provides a graphic reminder that event planners must manage risk or face criminal negligence charges. Story by Graeme Kemlo 8

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news

Big Stick Adventures’ Brett Hollis says companies that entrust their teams to outside organisations for motivation or reward now demand full and detailed OH&S risk analysis plans.

Business events operators would do well to heed the warning of industry experts that not only reputations are at risk from tragedies such as the Kimberly ultramarathon fire, but “a person conducting a business or undertaking” (PCBU) could face personal liability. Whether business events are conducted indoors or out, on land or at sea, it is deemed a workplace and falls under new legislation introduced this year in most states and known as the model Workplace Health and Safety Act. Michael Kent is general manager of Avert/Assure – two companies involved in the risk management business: Avert Risk Management Services is a consultancy that provides risk management advice and assessment to businesses that provide services to the general public, while its sister company, Assure Event Safety Consultants, provides event safety services. He says the Kimberley example was a human tragedy that is still fresh in everybody’s minds, and while large enterprises would be well aware of the harmonisation of differing statutes across the country, smaller players may not realise the implications of the new WHS Act. Apart from the risk to a company’s public reputation, the new laws mean failure to exercise due diligence as a director, CEO, MD or GM of a “business or undertaking” could attract large fines. And, it is not just focused on a company’s employees. Employees of clients on a famil — a popular practice in the business events sector — need to be kept safe by all those who host them at the destination. Avert/Assure is at the front line of managing the risks associated with public events. Mr Kent says one of the first obligations of those providing event services is to ensure they understand the risks by communicating early and often with emergency services and local authorities who know the area intimately. His firm is doing just that right now as it has just been appointed to manage safety in a major public event scheduled for next May. It is a historic re-enactment of the first

Whether business events are conducted indoors or out, on land or sea, it is deemed a workplace and falls under new legislation introduced this year in most states and known as the model Workplace Health and Safety Act.” general manager of Avert/Assure, Michael Kent

crossing of the Blue Mountains that not only involves about 50 people making the trek through bushland and on some public roads, but it is scheduled to include 20 children aged between 10 and 12 years. “We will have to realistically consider whether it is safe to have children on the trek, some of which will be through rugged bush and across creeks, so we are navigating the route ourselves in four wheel drives as part of our assessment. We also need to know that we can manage traffic on public roads, and get people out of the bush in an emergency with special vehicles or ambulances. “This is a pretty high profile event in terms of its scale… but we have a robust approach to this where we make a considered assessment of the realities of what can happen,” he says, indicating that it will take Avert/Assure a few months to put together the risk and safety plans. At the coalface of action-based business events activities is Brett Hollis, owner of Big Stick Adventures, one of the busiest operators in corporate team building and incentive experiences in Australia, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Beijing. His company was named a BRW magazine Fast Starter in 2009. Big Stick Adventures micenet Asia

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Increasingly he says companies who entrust their team to outside organisations for motivation or reward demand full and detailed OH&S risk analysis plans. “They want to know that we have analysed the risk of personal injury, fire, flood, wild weather… it is part of our permit process when we conduct events on public land and locally Parks Victoria are quite stringent.” general manager of Avert/Assure, Michael Kent

has customised reward and adventure activities for a veritable who’s who of local and international corporations. He has had CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, BDMs and plenty of ordinary people riding all manner of vehicles - from mountain bikes to rally cars to expensive sports vehicles to golf carts. He’s had them on land, sea and air, but he has always managed the risk. Increasingly he says companies that entrust their teams to outside organisations for motivation or reward demand full and detailed OH&S risk analysis plans. “They want to know that we have analysed the risk of personal injury, fire, flood, wild weather… it is part of our permit process when we conduct events on public land and locally Parks Victoria are quite stringent. “We have adventure activity standards that everyone needs to abide by, but we

tend to go above and beyond, given that we often deal with quite high profile clients,” Mr Hollis says. “In fire-risk areas we are on the fire alert system with the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Country Fire Authority, so we get a phone call and email notifications of fire outbreaks, burn-offs or weather factors.” While operating along the Great Ocean Road might suggest wild water adventures, his adrenalin adventures come in strictly measured doses – sea kayaks, often paddled by novices, operate in the relative calm of flat water, rivers and creeks, even though participants have completed a waiver form. “We rely on participants to be 100 per cent honest with us about their abilities or their medical fitness,” he said. But when there are 9400 participants, as there was on an international incentive for Amway China, all the risks multiply significantly. Also quite recently, Mr Hollis and his team were asked to run a Sydney Harbour Bridge walk. This needed the bridge to be closed to all traffic for a period over four consecutive days. “Suddenly our public liability insurance had to be increased from $10 million to $20 million, although we had never had a claim and no incidents,” he said, explaining that he had to complete a 150 page risk analysis and assessment before the relevant authorities would permit the event. “We had to consult very widely – ambulance, police, fire brigade, the RTA, City of Sydney, City of North Sydney, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority - we had crowd control, traffic control, but we understood it was about understanding all

the potential risks and mitigating them.” Mr Hollis says some companies are very safety conscious, especially those that operate in high-risk industries such as mining, oil and gas or manufacturing. “They have a non-negotiable policy: no horse riding, no mountain bikes, no employee can get into a vehicle that’s not five-star ANCAP rated.” But not every client operates their business with the same safety culture, and sometimes they will query the price of an activity. “We have to explain that risk assessment and risk management is built into the price”. Then there’s the corporate who wanted Big Stick to motivate his team with a 1.5 km ocean swim off Lorne. Hollis bluntly said “no”. As with many matters legal, ignorance of the new laws is no excuse. Fortunately industry bodies such as the Victorian Tourism Industry Council provide industry partners with access to business tools including a Crisis Essentials Guide indicating how to prepare for, respond to and recover from a crisis event as well as a list of contacts when preparing for or responding to a crisis. VTIC with the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania and Queensland Tourism Industry Council have partnered with OAMPS to provide access to a comprehensive tourism and recreation business insurance product tailored to the sector covering public liability, professional indemnity, management liability, property, even B&Bs. They specify a range of activities covered, among them: sightseeing tours, snow activities, 4WD and bushwalking tours, canoeing and kayaking activities, surf schools, kiteboarding instruction, eco and nature based tours.

Ultramarathon lawsuit A parliamentary inquiry on the September 2011 Kimberley Ultramarathon in which a number of competitors were severely burned after being trapped by a bushfire has determined the race organisers did not take all reasonable steps to identify risks prior to the race. It further found the organisers, Hong Kong-based RacingThePlanet, did not

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reduce risks or maintain the safety of competitors even though it knew a bushfire was burning nearby. Two competitors suffered burns to 60 per cent of their bodies while two others received burns to 35 per cent of their bodies. One severely injured competitor, 25-year-old Turia Pitt from New South Wales, is reportedly seeking at least $10

million in damages. The inquiry was also critical of Tourism WA and its sponsorship arm, Eventscorp, which signed a sponsorship agreement of more than $100,000 with race organisers allegedly without requesting or sighting the company’s risk management plan, and property assessing the plan.

Editorial Board

Editorial Board for micenet ASIA

micenet ASIA magazine established its first Editorial Advisory Board in a move to continuously improve its content offering and relevance in the MICE industry. Says micenet ASIA vice president, El Kwang: “We are so honoured to have board members with brilliant talent and in-depth MICE industry experience to support us through honest and constructive feedback. We look forward to continuously improving our magazine and anchoring our reputation as a leading MICE magazine in Asia.” Comprising the board are some of the most respected people in the industry, selected for their experience, expertise and high level of professionalism within the sector.

• Andrew Chan

Andrew Chan is the founder and CEO of ACI HR Solutions (ACI) and is responsible for operations and strategic direction.

• Damion Breust

Damion Breust joined Barclays in early 2008 in Singapore and is the director – head of event marketing Asia Pacific.

• Daniel Chua

Daniel Chua is the managing director of AONIA (meaning Land of the Muses), an agency serving clients through successful MICE projects since 2002 for the Pharma, Technology, Lifestyle, Automotive and Finance industries.

• Danielle Puceta

Danielle Puceta is the JAPA meetings director of American Express business travel.

• David Lim

David Lim is a leadership coach and is best known for leading the 1st Singapore Everest Expedition in 1998.

• Maureen O’Crowley

As vice president of Seoul’s Convention Bureau, she leads the department’s efforts to induce conventions to Seoul, build international brand awareness in the meeting and convention market and strengthen Seoul’s industry strategic partnerships.

• Nino GrÜttke

From top, left to right.

Nino Grüttke is the executive director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB Asia.

• Rosalind Ng

Rosalind Ng is the president of SACEOS and the managing director (Asia) of IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of the Informa Plc.

• Selina Grocott

Selina Grocott is the regional director for Singapore and Malaysia of Pacific World, the leading DMC in Asia. micenet Asia

A container of ideas Remember the last time an attendance confirmation fax slowly ground itself from the machine to land on your desk? Wasn’t recently, was it? Didn’t think so… By Rob Cotter Over the past decade Gen Y’s burgeoning technological toolkit has transformed every corner of the MICE industry, consigning fax machines and their functionally gaslight companions to the notional MICE Museum of Historical Artefacts. The 2008 GFC onset, however, and shaky economic conditions it has wrought has been reaching every industry corner too, clipping the wings of its hi-tech flight by elevating cost control to primary concern. Mix in the equally significant emergence of CSR and sustainability, and the ‘children of the web’ stamping their tech-savvy seal on modern events have also had to adjust to being children of austerity saddled with environmental responsibility.

Shading ahead So what will this mean for the industry? Well, imagine a Venn diagram of tech innovation, environmental consideration and economic prioritisation: whilst each field will continue to develop independently, the engine of opportunity driving the industry forward will be ideas that fit the shaded area where they 12

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overlap. Firing this engine and hinting at the kind of idea that will sit in the shade was a recent unveiling by a young Spanish supplier at EIBTM 2012. “During several events that we were producing, we saw the opening for an innovative and ephemeral stand or booth that was sustainable, easily adaptable, customisable and practical,” said Kubikat Studio S.L director, Lídia Marsal. “Together with the industry experience of the other company members, we decided to risk everything on a new concept: the Kubikat, a recycled and transformed container with fully automatic opening that can be used for road shows, product presentations, pop-up stores, restaurant or lounge bars, event stand and many other uses. It can meet all these needs.”

Three cheers for innovation Reusing a container as a show stand, Kubikat ‘contains’ the main ideas needed to tackle current industry challenges. First of all is its backbone of environmental responsibility, not only of reusing existing materials, but also eliminating

construction waste arising from events, being designed for long-term use and easy transport. It is also fully equipped with slide-out solar panels for energy self-sufficiency and the internal equipment – furniture, lighting, audio system – is selected to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Secondly, cost savings are met by there no longer being the need for personnel, material or time considerations for set up; it’s as simple as deliver, hit a button and watch it unfold. The initial outlay of rent or purchase can therefore be quickly recouped over a number of events and the ability to update and customise it keeps it in tune with any changes to brand image. Power selfsufficiency also removes any extra event charges. And thirdly, the units are freighted with tech innovation, managed from a single internal control point, or even a laptop. At the touch of a button the container walls separate to become floors, awnings and solar roofs, creating an inner space with LED screen, wifi, counter and furniture that can all be customised to client spec.

global watch

Crisis the mother of invention

“We hope that the product will become popular all over the world, as we offer it worldwide, it can be transported anywhere and we can adapt and personalise it to any brand,” said Marsal. “We believe it will be an excellent example of practicality and sustainability in the event industry and it is really addressed to professionals looking for innovation, sustainability and resources optimisation.”

Not simply an excellent example, Kubikat is also a timely example of how technological know-how can be harnessed to current economic and environmental challenges to unlock unique products for the industry’s future. As such it is real food for thought for today’s tech developers, event managers and those on the supply side. With the GFC and rising pressure of environmental responsibility already mothering invention, the MICE industry needs its family of ideas to blossom in the years ahead. Initiatives as good as this leading the way, let’s hope it continues by the container load!

micenet Asia_HP_128.5X177.5_v2 2ol.pdf 2012/12/21 12:05:41 PM

CMY

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vital matters

industry insider insights

Strengthening business relationships and convening for a kinder world.

Magnetic resonance association chooses Singapore SINGAPORE The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), the world’s largest professional association dedicated to promoting innovation, development and application of magnetic resonance techniques in medicine and biology, has selected Singapore as the venue for its 24th Annual Meeting & Exhibition. The seven-day conference will be held from May 7–13, 2016 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Expecting a turnout of 8500 attendees, the annual ISMRM event aims to promote communication, research, development and applications of magnetic resonance in the fields of medicine and biology as well as developing and providing avenues for continuing education in the field. Due to the wide-ranging applications of magnetic resonance, ISMRM has a strong multidisciplinary membership comprising

clinicians, physicists, engineers, biochemists, technologists and students from more than 40 countries. This will be the second time the event is held in Asia, and its first time in SouthEast Asia. With a significantly growing membership in Asia, the selection of Singapore is extremely timely. Commenting on their decision to hold the event in Singapore, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), executive director, Roberta Kravitz said, “Singapore was chosen because not only is it a modern and developed city with excellent access and a reliable infrastructure to support an event of our scale, it is also a forerunner in scientific research, making it an ideal location for our members to exchange ideas and explore the latest scientific developments, especially those within the Asian context.”

Gold Coast to host Global Volunteering Conference Australia Volunteering Australia, the national peak body working to advance volunteering in the Australian community, has successfully won the bid to host the 23rd International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) World Volunteer Conference and Youth Forum in 2014. Gold Coast was chosen as the location to stage this event and is a major win for a city that relies heavily on volunteer support. Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter says securing the IAVE World

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Volunteer Conference and Youth Forum are particularly timely in the lead up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games. “Major events such as the 2018 Commonwealth Games spur billions in new tourism and city development, positively impacting jobs, infrastructure and the wealth of the community. The energy and passion of our burgeoning volunteer community makes a vital contribution to the successful delivery of these events.”

Automation World 2013 in Seoul seoul Automation World, the premier venue for representatives from every sector of the factory automation industry to meet and forge crucial business relationships with partners from Korea and abroad, will open it’s doors in Coex come March 13-16, 2013 to over 20,000 attendees. South Korea’s automation industry is valued at more than US$15 billion, making it the 8th largest automation market in the world. The opportunity to meet local Korean buyers is consistently ranked as the number one reason hundreds of companies from around the world choose to exhibit their products at Automation World every year. Automation World 2013 provides access to almost every sector of the global factory automation industry with the participation of product exhibitors ranging from motors, conveyors, hoists, belts, compressors, control valves, and electric pumps, to sensors, measuring instruments, converters, touch panels, barcode scanners, industrial cameras, lenses, and lasers.

Q&A

Top of mind at Phuket Brett Wilson Pullman Phuket Arcadia, general Manager

Accor group’s Pullman brand eyes on becoming a major player in the upscale market of Phuket. Pullman Phuket Arcadia general manager, Brett Wilson, tells Sandra Hernandez how they are strategically focused on delivering impeccable services to the clientele of event organisers.

How does it feel to be the GM of the new Pullman Phuket Arcadia – a property that offers an unspoilt view of the western coastline of Phuket? It is an honour to be GM of this exciting new cosmopolitan lifestyle property. The owners have been smart about the design and have taken advantage of all the unique selling points the resort has to offer, like the stunning uninterrupted views of the Andaman Sea, which is one of the main reasons people are attracted to Phuket.

enthusiasm and breaking out of the routine. This Pullman property has some key elements that set this resort apart. Checking into the hotel is like entering a universe in which relationships flow effortlessly - where our teams appear to be bound by kinship rather than job descriptions. Guests are ushered in, cared for, made comfortable, pampered even – without ever noticing how attentive, active and gracious everyone is. There is a current of genuineness that sets the place in motion. We offer IT solutions that support the nomadic lifestyle of our business or leisure guests, as they work, commute, or holiday across the continent.

Oftentimes, personalised experiences bring guests’ stay to a higher level. How do you meet or exceed your guests’ expectations? The Pullman staff members are known as ‘creators’. They personally craft guest experiences throughout one’s stay, focusing on individualism and local Thailand hospitality. The Pullman brand has a strong focus on MICE and in Phuket we have introduced these roles to assist with our goal of being a leading MICE resort in Phuket and personalise guests’ experiences. The specialised roles are welcomers, event managers and IT solutions manager dedicated to MICE. With every opening of a five star property, standards of business travellers elevate. How do you make sure you remain at the top of their minds? Through our lively service, movement,

What can meeting planners expect from your new chill out spaces? This is a fantastic concept that meeting planners will find a huge bonus. It’s a large open area dedicated to MICE groups in-house with a contemporary lounge feel. The 66-square metre area is centrally connected to all meeting spaces in the resort and allows meeting planners with great extra resource for break outs, breaks, interactive activities or cocktail functions. As the name suggests it’s the perfect spot to chill out between heavy meeting sessions for delegates. The view from the chill out space is also impressive as it overlooks a large cascading waterfall. With modern innovative furniture, free Wi-Fi and entertainment options, this space gives meeting planners a new wow factor for their clients.

Can you complete this statement: The new Pullman Phuket Arcadia creates excitement in the MICE industry... As it introduces a new place to meet and socialise where the action is, with spatial flexibility. A brand new in-style resort with heritage and modern touches, its real style is both timeless and timely to the market. Its MICE spaces have been uniquely designed specifically for the industry – eight metre-high ceilings create a sense of opulence and grandeur, and space that enable MICE guests to keep their meetings, breaks, and accommodation rooms all centrally positioned in the heart of the resort. We have five brand new state of the art meeting rooms and six outdoor function spaces with fantastic ocean views that can accommodate groups of up to 300 pax. Seasoned business travellers have become more selective with f&b choices. How does Pullman Phuket Arcadia address this growing preference for quality yet healthy menus? We try not to standardise our food and beverage offer as each group has different wants and needs. Our talented team works closely with our clients to come up with a tailor-made food and beverage experience. We do, however, see a trend towards healthy options to keep delegates energised and motivated during sessions and, therefore, have designed some health and wellness options. micenet Asia

Make best practices resonate philippe garnier Hilton Worldwide , Head of sales, europe

Hilton is a global company that leverages and exports great ideas in every part of the world - making them relevant to the customers all the time, says Hilton Worldwide’s Head of Sales-Europe, Philippe Garnier. Story by Sandra Hernandez

How does Hilton reinvent itself to remain relevant to the industry? The advantage that we have over the last couple of years is that we have had such a commitment at the highest level of the company to innovation. Innovation can be in the technology space or within our brands. So if we start within our brands, we have 10 brands and until a few years ago, most of these brands were not seen outside the Americas. But now, we have taken many of these extraordinary brands to the rest of the world. That’s a kind of innovation when we export these great brands to the rest of the world. The innovation also comes from making sure that we don’t just take a cookie cutter model, i.e., lifting the way a brand is in one country — for example in Europe and America, and then put them in Singapore and China the same way. We make sure that the brand is relevant for the region. Some examples can be in our focus service, where we have Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn, which are two brands that are very big in Europe and the Americas and that we are now starting to bring to this part of the world because of all the opportunity of growth. We make sure that Hilton Garden Inn or Hampton Inn is created in a way that it resonates in China or in Singapore or wherever else we take it. 16

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With the competition among hotel properties, how do you differentiate yourself? The key differentiator is the human impact. This means training, hiring and retaining the right talent to win those moments of truth for the customer every time. We must be very clear in understanding what the guest wants when he or she visits this brand. We must understand the kind of different experience a guest wants if they come for leisure or for business. The key to the success is to always over deliver what the guest wants. This comes with extraordinary people. Therefore, we do training; we have the Hilton College which is basically an internal school to make sure that we train our teams and our individual team members to be the best that they can be. It also means that we are never shy to look around the region on who does a great job in any industry to deliver great service and potentially learn from them. Then, it is to have a good retention strategy for the great people we have. So you must hire the right people, ensure that they are trained to the best capability that they can be, and then you must always be willing to look around, not just within the hotel industry but in the region.

And you check on best practices everywhere? Whoever does extraordinary service, you must love (to) copy him/her to make it relevant for your brand and you must always make sure that you over deliver on your promise. Great companies who have great customer service start from the top and we have a CEO, Chris Nassetta, who is very committed to the culture and to the training of our people that is part of our DNA. So culture must be, one, always over deliver on what you promise. There is a high investment and focus within the company from the CEO down to make sure that we train or equip our people to be the best that they can be. Finally, we try to cross-pollinate talent or cross-pollinate ideas. Because we are the fastest growing hotel company in the world, we can move our talent around the world to make sure that the DNA and the culture of who we are gets replicated to the rest of the world. You retain people a lot easier when they know you care for them and if they know you have a great product. So if you have lots of new openings, great aspirational brands, and a very clear commitment from the top of the company to invest in our people, those make up a nice formula for success.

Q&A

Strong touch points Raymond Howe Capri by Fraser, general Manager

Capri by Fraser general manager, Raymond Howe, has an abundance of energy in his work and the way he makes it a point to keep in touch with both guests and hotel staff members. Story by Sandra Hernandez

With a great location near the Singapore Expo, how do you plan to capture the business from meetings and events planners? Being in the heart of the Changi Business Park, it opens us to a whole spectrum of opportunities. Set in the business enclave, there is a constant demand for meeting spaces and areas for events of various scales. The Singapore Expo further helps to attract exhibitors by playing up its expertise in the field. Instead of being competitors, we complement each other since we can better understand and cover all needs of exhibitors. In the process of doing so, we are able to provide accommodation and suitable meeting and event facilities, thereby supporting the f&b component in the hotel.

You are known to go for fun outdoor activities with your guests such as cycling around Singapore. Why is this so important to you? Share with us some of your guests’ feedbacks. The saying goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” One should stay active not only mentally but also physically. In any case, I am training for my races as well so the workout comes in handy. Residents find this refreshing especially for those that fall into our demographic since they usually travel alone. Company is hard to come by, even harder to find companionship for workout. As such, they appreciate all these little touches that make their stay more memorable.

What makes Capri by Fraser a unique hotel in cosmopolitan Singapore? Designed to meet the lifestyle needs of the e-generation, Capri by Fraser is a hotel residence that empowers its residents with a menu of intelligent services to choose the way they want to rest, relax and recharge. Urban inspired, high-tech and intuitive, Capri by Fraser’s “always on” e-efficiency includes iPad-activated check-ins, interactive e-concierge, interactive walls, a data box and high-speed Wi-Fi Internet access. Its spacious suites, complete with fully equipped kitchenettes, allow more freedom of space than that of the average hotel room. The option to cook any time of the day and play Kinect on Xbox 360 while doing the laundry provide a refreshing alternative to that of typical hotels.

others. In the midst of it, I pass on my freespirit nature to them. In this way, it creates positivity, thus, driving the everything-cando attitude in them. What has been the greatest compliment you’ve received since opening Capri by Fraser? It definitely has to be the recognition from and for the team. From building the team to grooming the team, each and every one has worked hard to achieve the same goal.

You engage your staff very well on a regular basis. How has this management style contributed to the success of your hotel? My mantra is to be hands-on in operations. By putting myself at the ground, I understand fully the challenges faced by my staff and thus I’m able to empathise with them. Each of them is an asset to the hotel so it is important to take good care of them as their progress will spur the hotel’s performance. Being in the resort field for many years, I wish to bring this resort mood to all my staff. One can tell by talking to you that you have such high passion for life. How do you apply this attitude to the way you work? I enjoy meeting people and spreading joy to micenet Asia

Best of both Worlds Where business meets leisure at The Stones Hotel Legian, Bali – Asia’s debut of Autograph Collection. Story by Sandra Hernandez

he modern open lobby concept of The Stones Legian, Bali, warmly depicts the character of the property and the people behind it. It welcomes with open arms. With a distinct hotel design and ambience that exude lavish facilities and signature services, The Stones Hotel immediately transcends a lasting impression – the kind you hope for that stays in your good books. Thoughtful staff members offer guests an unexpected but totally welcome respite from the sweltering afternoon upon check-in; a refreshing popsicle of three different local flavours into one. Instantly, a guest feels at ease – comfortable and assured that one's in for a memorable stay.

Autograph Collection’s first in Asia The Stones Legian, Bali, is Autograph Collection’s (Marriott International’s exclusive portfolio of independent hotels) first property in Asia. It is the 36th hotel to be added to the collection’s rapidly expanding roster of independent hotels in key destinations throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, 18

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Pool view.

Europe and Asia. Each Autograph Collection hotel possesses its own distinct identity and appeals to discerning travellers who are looking for a creative experience that only an independent hotel can deliver. “It’s a very unique and exciting experience to open the first Autograph Collection Hotel in Asia Pacific. Marriott’s Autograph Collection is a collection of Independent Hotels, each one with its own unique personality, and character - so we have been able to create a unique lifestyle hotel/resort, with great meeting facilities. In addition, Bali is a wonderful destination, and we have assembled a great team to launch the hotel and the brand in this part of the world,” says The Stones Hotel general manager, Mr Peter Brampton. With nearly 40 Autograph Collection hotels worldwide, this exclusive collection is an evolving ensemble of strikingly independent luxury hotels. Each of the hotels has been selected for its bold originality, rich character and uniqueness. “We see Asia Pacific as a key growth area for the Autograph Collection of hotels, and there will be more hotels joining the collection in the near future,” reveals Mr Brampton.

The Stones Hotel general manager, Peter Brampton.

Creating a distinction Located at the southern tip of Legian Beach, The Stones Hotel infuses an invigorating addition to the rows and rows of hotels and resorts in the Kuta area. With an iconic architectural design that stands out on its own, the hotel sets itself apart by bringing to its guests many unexpected, yet, pleasant experiences. Mr Brampton elaborates on this distinction explicitly, “I would say our difference is our difference. Bali has a great number of quality hotels and resorts, but

BALI

Ballroom.

Deluxe room view.

Presidential Suite pool.

Located at the southern tip of Legian Beach, The Stones Hotel infuses an invigorating addition to the rows and rows of hotels and resorts in the Kuta area. With an iconic architectural design that stands out on its own, the hotel sets itself apart by bringing to its guests many unexpected, yet, pleasant experiences.” there seems to be a ‘sea of sameness’. The Stones hotel is architecturally striking, very modern, urban and chic in its approach. We build on this with our unique service delivery and concepts within the hotel – so our customers enjoy a unique and somewhat unpredictable experience. If you think about it, the experiences we remember the most are those that seize us unexpectedly, more so than those that are planned. So part of our focus is to put unexpected delights into the guest’s journey or within the customers’ interaction with the hotel.

“We also have tremendous meeting space. Our ballroom is the largest on this side of the island – 1500 square metres – so we can target group, conference and meetings business that previously couldn’t be hosted in Legian. We have an additional five meeting rooms and great breakout space. We see this segment as being key to the success of the hotel – we are very focused on the MICE market, and offer unique concepts and experiences for our conference delegates.” Even the dining experience at The Stones Hotel can be pleasantly unusual. They have the 24 Hours Gourmet Express which is the equivalent of room service in other hotels, except that the delivery guys are in their nifty uniforms with red delivery boxes. They don’t waste a single minute to bring the ordered food to the guests as soon as food is prepared. Meals are served in stylish packaging that can be enjoyed in the room or can be taken out while exploring the island or the beach.

Pushing meetings and events to a higher level With five spacious ballrooms that can accommodate from 600 to 2200 people, The Stones Hotel has certainly upped the

ante for hosting large scale meetings and events at Legian. The place can be easily identified as an ideal venue for an important business event or celebratory gala. The meeting spaces are flexible to accommodate anywhere from 10 to 2200 delegates. The grand ballroom is 1493 square metres with an impressive ceiling height of 8.25 metres. Since opening in December 2012, The Stones Hotel has been host to some very big events. Mr Brampton shares, “The largest one that comes to mind was how we were delighted to host APSA - the Asia Pacific Seed Congress- two weeks after we opened the hotel, for a five day event. This event hosted over 750 delegates from South East Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the USA, and Latin America. It was a great event that enabled us to showcase the hotel to so many so soon after opening. With such a successful event right after opening the hotel, it lets all our MICE partners know we are really open, tested and ready for business. “We have also hosted several domestic conferences and other MICE business, particularly from South East Asia. We are very pleased with the response to date; given the hotel has only been open for such a short time. Our culinary team enjoys working with the meeting planners to tailor events and bring the culinary side of the conference to life; to make it memorable for both the client and delegates.” Bali, no doubt, is bursting with great venue offerings from end to end. The new Stones Hotel, however, makes for a relaxing stay with its intuitive service, vertical gardens, oversized pool, entertainment deck, spa, f&b and stylish guest rooms. On top of this, the property has put into place a first in this part of Bali – MICE facilities that can accommodate the most intimate of business meetings to the grandest of corporate events. micenet Asia

Bali reconstructs On the road to APEC 2013. Story by Samantha Coomber

ali is experiencing dire traffic and congestion problems as the island undergoes major infrastructure projects and upgrades, but there is method to the current madness, however painful at present. Key projects are the expansion of Ngurah Rai International Airport, an elevated toll road connecting Benoa, Nusa Dua and the airport and Simpang Siur underpass, near Kuta. These, in feverish preparation in readiness for hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) in October, but additionally, in response to Bali’s escalating infrastructure problems and traffic congestion – legacy from bad planning and neglect over the years – combined with rampant development and increased population and visitors growth.

The Pavilions Bali.

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Addressing accessibility Bali Hotels Association (BHA) stresses that these improvements are part of ongoing efforts to solve the island’s challenges. “Bali traffic has grown along with the island’s popularity and hotel industry growth,” stated BHA chairman, JeanCharles Le Coz. “Smart thinking and (overdue) clever planning should see an enormous improvement in traffic conditions with the new Simpang Siur underpass and toll road connecting Nusa Dua – truly an enormous undertaking, but increasing capacity at least two-fold. With a good PCO and client flexibility, present challenges can perhaps be overlooked!” Anticipating surging traffic prior to, and after, APEC 2013 and ever-increasing passenger numbers, Ngurah Rai International Airport is currently undergoing a massive expansion project: upgrading

the international terminal, constructing a new apron and VIP jet passenger terminal, and parking facilities expansion. This is aimed at accommodating airport annual capacity from 9 million to 25 million passengers and up to 20 wide-bodied aircrafts, including Boeing 747s and Airbus 380s. Construction of a new internationalclass airport in northern Buleleng regency is also in the planning stages, since Ngurah Rai faces land constraint problems preventing future runway extensions. Overall, increased flight frequencies and low-cost airline connections have helped expand Bali’s tourism and MICE market. “The airport upgrade should mean an increase of international airlines flying directly in,” states BHA chairman, Le Coz. “Overall, there are enough flights, however, Singapore has become a

BALI

Overall, increased flight frequencies and low-cost airline connections have helped expand Bali’s tourism and MICE market. ”

Photos: Courtesy of Indonesia Tourism Board

Samaya pool.

bottleneck and several Middle-eastern airlines wish to connect on to Bali from Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, but haven’t managed to obtain landing rights, excluding Qatar Airways. Hopefully, with Bali’s airport upgrade, these issues will resolve themselves.” Construction of the Simpang Siur underpass, at notoriously congested Dewa Ruci intersection, is, ironically, causing increased traffic problems. “Traffic is more frustrating with the on-going construction, but we should view the underpass progress as ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, literally, as it helps us accept the current situation and look to a brighter future when these projects are completed,” comments Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana general manager, Philippe Battle. Nusa Dua-Benoa-Ngurah Rai toll road (NBD) – Bali’s first, elevated above the ocean with a planned six categories of toll fees – is designed to solve the chronic traffic jam congestion along Bali’s major “tourism highway” and dramatically reduce driving time from Sanur to Nusa Dua from one-hour down to six minutes plus give Nusa Dua, Bali’s main MICE destination, quicker accessibility to major tourist destinations, such as Ubud.

Hotels aplenty One infrastructural problem Bali doesn’t

Bali Hotels Association Chairman, Jean-Charles Le Coz.

have is inadequate hotel supply: infrastructure improvements and APEC 2013 have positively affected investors’ confidence, resulting in booming, somewhat unregulated, hotel construction in 2012 – despite an oversupply of rooms concentrated in Bali’s most overdeveloped areas, namely the south. Property research agency Knight Frank predicts Bali will have 10,466 new hotel rooms by 2014 resulting from 60 new hotel projects. More are increasingly MICE-orientated, while additional upgrades to existing venues include 18,000 square metres of convention facilities with adjoining 5-star hotel at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (completing August) and Nikko Bali Resort investing US$10 million in multi-function facilities. According to Le Coz, regular ‘progress’ meetings, attended by BHA members, authorities overseeing infrastructural projects, police, security forces and official APEC co-ordinators, Ministry of Tourism, contribute to, “The BHA and leading meetings industry professionals more than confident that the airport and other projects will be completed properly and on schedule for APEC.” Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, assures the media that all APEC preparations are

proceeding according to plan: “Ngurah Rai International Airport expansion is expected to be completed by June or July, and the NBD and underpass, by August 2013.” The government’s commitment to accelerate various infrastructure developments is considered positive, and expected to help optimise potential for economic growth and accommodating ever-increasing tourism numbers. Bank Indonesia argues that much of Bali’s strong economic growth is driven by expansive infrastructure growth related to APEC 2013 plus ongoing property developments. 2013 should prove a benchmark year for Bali: BHA chairman Le Coz is confident that after APEC 2013, Bali will be ready and prepared to host more high-end, highvolume MICE events: “We strongly believe that all the right indicators are in place to continue having a buoyant growing MICE market, as stakeholders are working together to improve the facilities and bring new experiences to delegates and visitors to Bali." micenet Asia

itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not really difficult to manage perfect functions...

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With exciting features and more than 1,000 sqm space, the mpf will be ready to welcome you in april 2013. Unique features of the mpf includes floor to ceiling windows giving you a dramatic view of the Indian Ocean, three separate boardrooms and a spacious pre-function area

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Meet & EAT BALI Compiled by Sandra Hernandez

Japanese cuisine with an ocean view

enkay Japanese Restaurant at Nikko Bali offers classic Japanese cuisine and a breathtaking view of the Indian Ocean. With a distinctly contemporary and sleek interior, the restaurant has a teppanyaki counter that takes centrestage surrounded by 24 seats. There is also a sushi bar, nabemono (shabu-shabu and sukiyaki) and yakiniku tables. With sophisticated design featuring the blend of different materials from wood and natural stones, Benkay presents a balanced feel that is the essence of Asian living. The restaurant can comfortably seat 121 diners and still provide a spacious atmosphere. Separate comfortable seating areas are available to the left and right of the teppan-yaki parted by a high glass wall with a private room just at the east end of the restaurant. At the north side, a hallway with

a unique Onyx display leads to more private dining rooms and a sushi bar. The glass enclosed private rooms can be divided into three separate rooms for a more intimate setting or one spacious room for larger party. Benkay serves a selection of lunch sets and noodles. For dinner, you can find a more sophisticated menu featuring a selection of appetizers, grilled dishes, fried dishes, teppan-yaki sets or a kaiseki – a traditional Japanese multi-course dinner. Pair each meal with an extensive range of sake and shochu or the newly introduced 99 Ways of Martini menu where a guest’s choice of martini is paired with a complimentary martini chosen by the bar staff; providing a pleasant surprise to those who love a martini or two. T: +62 361 773 377 W: www.nikkobali.com

Rijstaffel goodness Ask The Stones Hotel’s chef Christopher Troy Smith what makes The Long Rice Table a great place to meet and eat and he’ll tell you, “At The Long Rice Table, you’ll enjoy authentic Indonesian flavours in a modern 5-star environment. The rijstaffel (Dutch for rice table) concept offers more interactive dining experience between guests and chefs at live stations with each dish sampled by all diners and enhanced by the option to create your own sambal at the table to suit your own personal palate.” Open for dinner daily, there are two different rijstaffel sets in the menu, an extensive a la carte list, and a variety of small portion appetisers through which you can create your own rijstaffel experience. Signature items include Martabak Telur, Ayam Rojak Bebek Betutu Platter and Sate Campur (served on sizzling charcoal). The long rice table has 36 seats comprised of three communal tables of 10 and three more intimate tables for two. T: +62 361 300 5888 W: www.stoneshotelbali.com 24

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Sumptuous choices Whether you are booked at The Mulia in Nusa Dua, Bali or not, you may want to drop by and try The Café – a truly versatile dining experience complete with different cooking stations at this newly opened resort and villa. Every effort is made to make each cooking station as close to its original cuisine as possible – Balinese, Indian, Thai, Japanese, Cantonese, Italian and more. There is something for everybody but the best part is its more than reasonable pricing. The interior is enticing; the food, even more. T: +62 361 3017777 W: www.themulia.com

BALI

Bali gets MICE-ready

aura of exclusivity for those who seek a high-end venue in the island.

Culinary offerings

Grand Ballroom.

There’s no question that the investment that The Mulia and Mulia Resort & Villas have put into its MICE facilities will soon be the talk of the town. Story by Sandra Hernandez Gracefully set along 30 hectares of wellmanicured landscape, The Mulia and Mulia Resort & Villas seduce along the tranquil coastline of the Indian Ocean in Nusa Dua. And why not? With such a grand property, tastefully done up from outside to in, who would not want to take a look at what’s behind the seemingly endless fence that surrounds the entire property?

MICE facilities A tour of Mulia Bali’s MICE facilities is almost worth a walking workout on its own. The property is massive and this is not an exaggeration. But we’re not just talking about the size here. The quality of the interior finishing, the well-thought of layout that leads from one function room to the next and the tight security within the property – everything comes together as the venue that any VIP would want to be in. Top it off with a view of the Indian Ocean that can disarm the most highly strung of days – and you’re in for a meeting and events venue that you would certainly want to try. “As a leading independent luxury hotel in Indonesia exhibiting premium and luxurious product, The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas offer 6-star facilities and services

with an impeccable level of personalised service and dedication to customer care to make the resort a real sanctuary for discerning MICE travellers,” shares The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas director of communications, Ms Rainata Tjoa. The grand ballroom and conference rooms can accommodate up to 5000 guests. It can set the ideal stage for a one-of-a-kind island celebration, lavish executive retreat meetings and unforgettable social events. The grand ballroom is elegantly designed with the highest quality crystal chandelier, marbles and custom made carpets that provide an

“The sheer choice and calibre of Mulia Bali’s gastronomy will surprise the island. Eight food and beverage outlets are incorporated into the resort ranging from afternoon tea to authentic Mediterranean cuisine; all prepared by high profile culinary team and chefs with truly global backgrounds. Guests may enjoy the inspirational dishes from all corners of the globe, and seduce the senses without compromise,” explains Ms Tjoa. The exclusive facilities, high level of personalised service as well as world class gastronomy experience with Michelin Star calibre chefs make Mulia Bali a destination that offers a complete package for the ultimate MICE experience.

Choosing Bali With other locations where Mulia could have invested in, we asked why Bali became the final choice. “The inspiration behind the Mulia Bali project was the success of our flag ship hotel, Hotel Mulia Senayan Jakarta as one of South East Asia’s most celebrated hotel. Opened less than 15 years ago, the hotel has established a reputation for offering the finest levels of accommodation and service; becoming proud recipient of numerous awards and accolades from industry experts and critics alike,” concludes Ms Tjoa.

Pre-function room.

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SOUTH Korea

Getting Through

Busy street of Seoul at night.

Banishing the barriers to communicate and move around Seoul. Story by Samantha Coomber

Communicate Finally, Korea’s complex mobile networks are simplified for business travellers, with the May launch of a new streamlined, prepaid SIM card service, fully adaptable to existing smartphones purchased overseas (WCDMA and 3G compatible). Stopover visitors can get their current SIM cards switched with a fully-functioning local Universal SIM card (USIM) by visiting the O2 Mobile Center at City Air Terminal, located beside COEX – Seoul’s largest, leading convention and exhibition centre – making it conveniently accessible for conference participants. Longer stay visitors can obtain “OLLEH Simple” prepaid SIM card plans at KT Global stores. Both 26

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options offer a cheaper, more convenient alternative to existing roaming services and phone rentals, plus avoid any last-minute fees owed upon departure.

Out of the jam South Korea’s government plans to invest US$15 billion upgrading railway systems over the next decade: this now includes the ITX — Cheongchun high-speed train travelling from Seoul to Gangwon-do Province, South Korea’s first dual-storey train. From November, international visitors can now travel Seoul’s greater metropolitan

Coex.

rail and bus system (up to 20 times daily) with just one transit card, the T-Money M-Pass. Other welcome transport additions include Hangang River Water Taxi, traversing the Han River and making crosscity travel a reality in less than 30 minutes, an international taxi service, visitor-friendly, available 24/7 with drivers speaking English, Chinese or Japanese, plus new bus transit systems. “Outside the Coex enclave (where meetings, travel, entertainment, shopping and accommodation facilities are under

Photo: Seoul Tourism Organisation.

Through the “Korea Convention Year” 2012 campaign (cleverly overlapping ‘‘Visit Korea Year 2010-2012”) Seoul has firmly established itself as a leading global MICE destination while making progress as more MICE-friendly for international visitors. South Korea’s increasingly fast-moving, modern capital has undertaken in 2012 significant upgrading and advancements on its transport, traffic and communication challenges.

Korea

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SOUTH Korea

one roof), traffic commutes can be a hassle, but Seoul offers great public transport alternatives such as extensive subway network, bus-only traffic lanes and international taxis,” confirms Alexander Paik, PR coordinator, Seoul Convention Bureau (SCB).

Breaking the language barrier Even language problems seem to be resolved. “Expect hotels and service industry businesses to have no problem speaking English,” states Alexander, SCB. “As a now leading MICE destination, all MICE-related businesses are trained to serve English-speaking clients.” As a premier convention city, building undersupply could be one of Seoul’s biggest MICE challenges. Additional conference venues set for

Deoksugung Palace.

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completion include Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Exhibition Centre (DDP) in 2013, designed by award-winning architect, Zaha Hadid and covering 85,000 square metres with two convention halls, exhibition centre and multiple conference rooms and Seoul Station Convention Centre (Korail) launching 2015, with 23,000 square metres conference facilities, 3000-seat plenary hall and 16,000 square metres exhibition space. “With Seoul’s boom in demand for meetings, we’ve had to recently increase hotel room numbers,” states Alexander. High-end hotel chains and business hotels openings include Conrad Seoul and JW Marriott Jung-gu, beside the DDP. Super-equipped convention facilities, plus strong bidding support and aggressive marketing by SCB contribute to Seoul’s reputation as host of large-scale

As a premier convention city, building undersupply could be one of Seoul’s biggest MICE challenges. Additional conference venues set for completion include Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Exhibition Centre (DDP) in 2013, designed by awardwinning architect, Zaha Hadid and covering 85,000 square metres with two convention halls, exhibition centre and multiple conference rooms and Seoul Station Convention Centre (Korail) launching 2015...” international events – the first Asian destination to host the G20 Summit, 2010. One hundred-plus secured bids for international conferences include a major triennial gathering for 2018, International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Congress. Seoul’s recent civic efforts, stronger infrastructure and professionalism haven’t gone unnoticed — it was awarded “Best International Meetings Destination 2012” by US Business Traveler and Union of International Associations ranked Seoul fifth worldwide for the number of international meetings hosted in 2011. Seoul’s Incheon International Airport’s advanced technology – and ultra-swift arrivals and departures process – has led to Airports Council International “Best Airport Worldwide” ranking for a seventh successive year and “World’s Best Airport,” by SkyTrax, in 2012. "Strategic developments in Seoul's transport infrastructure and tourism and communication facilities have aided the city's advancement as a premier MICE destination, while Coex’s inclusive multiple facilities are also driving the city's competitiveness in the global business travel industry," states Coex Global Business Unit international marketing manager, Rhiannon Shepherd.

Meet & EAT seoul Compiled by Sandra Hernandez

Observe the unique culture of Korea from its antique buildings and dine on traditional court cuisine such as the Daejanggeum Table d’hote and Eojin Dinner – which are prepared using recipes found in ancient literature. Korea House is located in the central Seoul district of Jung-gu, and is nearby the Namsan traditional Korean House Village and Myeongdong. Also, Korea House’s Arts Performance has been staged over 15,000 times in 31 years and is the most time-honoured show that has been enjoyed by more than 15 million people from around the world. T: +82 2 226 69101 W: www.kangkoku.or.kr/eng

Enjoy ancient Korean recipes

Go traditional

Sushi at its finest

nown for serving some of the best sushi in Seoul, MOMOYAMA is newly opened at Lotte Hotel. MOMOYAMA is inviting and lives up to its reputation of having a special alliance with famous sushi restaurant Sushiko (Ginza) and kaiseki restaurant Tamura (Tsukiji). The restaurant has the largest collection of sakes in Korea with a collection of 120 premium sakes selected by the restaurant’s own sake sommeliers. With a breathtaking view from the 38th floor and some private dining rooms for 2-16 guests, diners are in for some genuine Japanese cuisine in a restaurant that’s in a class of its own. T: +82 231 77031 W: www.lottehotelseoul.com/en

VIP treat Samwon Garden is the largest first-class restaurant in Korea which can host about 1200 guests. Their main hall alone can accommodate 200 people and they have other small-midsized rooms available. They offer a view of the restaurant’s outdoor traditional Korean garden. They have previously hosted both local and foreign dignitaries; prime ministers, VIPs from international conferences like the IPU, IBRD, and IMF. T: +82 254 83030 W: www.samwongarden.com

Jinsadaek is a traditional Korean restaurant that serves traditional Korean course-menus in a hanok, or traditional Korean house which allow guests to transcend time and space. The restaurant is named after a house that noblemen live in. Korean traditional food featured from all around the country such as Seoul, Kyungsang-do, Jeollado, Choongchung-do and even North Korea. Upon entering the restaurant, dignified guests can see the big floor (maru), huge pillars, the small floor (another maru), and private rooms, which imitate traditional houses in old days. On the third floor, a beautiful hanok is reconstructed for VIP guests. Dining while listening to a nightly gayageum performance, one can truly enjoy a Korean traditional dining experience. W:www.jinsadaek.co.kr

Dine to impress

f you’ve been searching for a dining place in Seoul to impress your guests, bring them up to Marco Polo, full operated by Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. It’s located on the 52nd floor of the trade tower and it boasts of a magnificent view of Seoul from anywhere in the restaurant as seats are arranged in stairways and the interior showcases a high ceiling. The menu specialises in Asian and Mediterranean cuisine with some of the most raved about perfectly grilled meats in the city. T: +82 255 97620 W: www.grandicparnas.com micenet Asia

Meet & EAT Singapore Compiled by Gina Sin

More than just a Nook

Wooing palates True blue foodies should already know this. Tucked away in a lane of hidden gems at Waterloo Street is The Fine Palate Café where you can find homely, unpretentious food served in a friendly and cosy vibe. They believe in using only the finest and freshest imported and local produce for the palate. Keeping to the same belief and spinning off from the café is the Fine Palate Catering which evolved over the last 20 years to become the leading gourmet catering company in Singapore. From networking cocktail parties to product launches or corporate company dinners and media luncheons, they cater

and provide quality artisan products in every dish. They can provide furniture and equipment rental set up, décor, lighting, kitchen and service staff. For smaller catering needs like board meeting, offsite presentations or even yacht events, Fine Palate has ready-toeat luxe platter selections, canapés or gourmet bento that can be delivered right at the door step. Fine Palate has seen through launch parties like the one for H&M when it first opened in Singapore. Prices range from S$50 per person for cocktails to S$120 per person for fine dining. E: enquiries@finepalate.com.sg

Be amused

of international small bites and drinks in a stylish and relaxing ambience. The amazing selection of quality fare is created by renowned consultant chef Armin Leitgeb who draws inspiration from his 20 years of travel and work experiences around the world, with insights into the Asian palate gleaning from his six-year stint in Singapore. Guests are entertained as chefs and bartenders fuss over the ingredients and drinks behind the sleek open concept kitchen and bar with state-of-the-art equipment from Gaggenau. The bar at Amuse is fronted by Austrian whiz kid, Klaus Leopold, whose creative spirit is evident in his imaginative cocktails. Managing director Wolfgang Lapper amassed one of the largest collections in Asia of more than 300

apas-styled dishes seems to be the in thing these days especially when it comes to hassle-free events. Taking its name from the French term ‘amuse bouche’ which literally translates to ‘mouth amuser’, Amuse is a casual eatery and bar that serves an array 30

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We have now realised what cooking does to team building and corporate bonding. Situated in Bukit Timah along Lorong Kilat, people come all the way to Nook House of Pancakes, the first DIY pancake art concept in Singapore and even in the neighbouring countries. Run by 23 year-old Dawn Lim and her partners, Nook House of Pancakes is an all-day breakfast restaurant with their tables customised to fit a hot griddle in the middle. Like the improvised cheeseburger soup, most of the items on the menu are unique and creative. The DIY pancakes are available in a squeeze bottle of different flavours of your choice. The 1400 square feet space seats 70 and stands up to 90. The space can be booked for functions and events because of the wide berth of space. Bookings must be made at least two weeks in advance. W: Nook.sg

Austrian labels. Amuse accommodates a seating capacity of 40 indoors, 40 on the veranda and 20 outdoors. For small groups, the Chef’s Table seats six persons and offers a view of the kitchen where a bespoke menu is available. Amuse is also a flexible space suitable for a variety of events such as wine and culinary master classes and demonstrations, as well as team building lunches. For standing events, Amuse can accommodate 80 to 100 indoors and up to 60 in the al fresco area. T: 6735 3476 / 8481 8193

Revealed

Singapore your choice business events destination

Produced by Business & Tourism Publishing Asia Pte Ltd and Singapore Tourism Board

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As Asia’s leading destination for MICE, Singapore offers plenty of solutions to cater to incentive groups and large scale conventions and exhibitions across the nation. Home to a large number of conventional and unconventional event spaces, Singapore has close to 50,000 hotel rooms with more hotels scheduled to open in 2013. The award winning Changi Airport serves some 100 airlines flying to over 250 cities in about 60 countries and territories worldwide. More than 6500 flights land or depart from Changi each week, with more than 50 million passengers passing through the airport every year. Singapore has consistently earned accolades for being a dynamic meetings and events destination including the Union of International Associations’ (UIA) Top International Meeting Country and Top International Meeting City (2011), the International Congress and Convention Association’s (ICCA) Asia’s Top Convention City for the 10th consecutive year and 5th Top Convention City in the world for the 2nd consecutive time (2011). MICE organisers can expect Singapore to deliver one of the highest service standards in Asia. The country’s infrastructure and communications networks are designed to meet business needs. Singapore has been ranked the World’s Second and Asia’s Most Network Ready Country by the Global Information Technology Report 2011/2012. The Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau (SECB), a group of the Singapore Tourism Board, is a member of the BestCities Global

Alliance – the world’s first global alliance of convention bureaux with 10 partners in five continents. SECB actively provides customised support to the industries and associations in an effort to provide an unforgettable and unique business event experience. With a proven track record of successfully securing inaugural events to the country, the SECB has been equally successful in bidding for returning events like Swift International Banking Operations Seminar (Sibos) 2015. At a press conference held in Singapore in July 2012, Sibos head Kris Hendrieckx told micenet ASIA that “Singapore was selected because of its strong reputation as a respected financial hub, its security, location and infrastructure. It certainly ticked many boxes and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has been helpful during the whole process.” It is worth to note that the SECB provides funding support to qualified businesses, companies and associations through the Business Event in Singapore (BEiS) scheme.

For more information, email secb@stb.gov.sg or visit stb.gov.sg

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Upcoming Key Conventions in Singapore

2013 • 52nd ACI World Congress • 79th IFLA World Library & Information Congress (inaugural to Singapore) • CICILS IPTIC World Pulses Convention • 37th Annual International Association for Philosophy and Literature Conference 2013 • World Engineer’s Summit 2013 (inaugural to Singapore) • Global Security Asia Conference 2014 • 22nd IAHR International Symposium on Ice • 15th Annual Conference of the International Speech Communication Association (inaugural to Singapore) 2015 • Swift International Banking Operations Seminar (SIBOS) 2015 • World Congress of Cosmetic Dermatology (WCOCD) 2015 2016 • International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Annual Meeting 2017 • IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation 2017 2018 • International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) World Congress 2018 • International Symposium on Homogeneous Catalysis 2018

Suntec Singapore poised to make a grand

comeback Excitement runs high as the countdown begins for the unveiling of the newly modernised Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. As one of Asia’s pioneering and most awarded international venues for meetings, conventions and exhibitions in almost two decades, the ongoing S$180-million-dollar modernisation program has raised a lot of interest on how much of a makeover can be expected from the sprawling venue by the time it reopens in June 2013. Arun Madhok ,Suntec Singapore’s Chief Executive Officer, has been instrumental in developing and overseeing the modernisation programme. He

Arun Madhok, Chief Executive Officer, Suntec International Convention & Exhibition Services

provides a preview of the extent to which this iconic structure is being transformed and the principles that guide its metamorphosis. He explains, “Suntec Singapore’s new design pays particular attention to flexibility, functionality and convertibility while integrating a high degree of advanced technology. The interior of the building has been conceptualised to adapt to the evolving needs of our clients while maintaining consistent quality across the board.” From the exterior, the most visible changes would be the modernised façade that includes an impressive three-storey interactive video wall at the entrance. Inside, the conversion is nothing short of massive. “We are changing a large portion of our building,” reveals Mr. Madhok. “It is being stripped bare and extensively remodelled. Level 1 and most of level 2 will offer new retail spaces to offer increased accessability for MICE delegates and visitors. Level 3 will consist of 36 convertible meeting rooms that will be able to accommodate a variety of requirements, from small meetings and exhibitions to large conferences and corporate events. Level 4 provides a unique opportunity for the exhibition halls to be converted into premium entertainment spaces

Exterior of Suntec Singapore.

through sophisticated lighting and other design features. “The building has served us well over the past 17 years. With the implementation of these planned enhancements, we will continue to shape the MICE industry in Singapore, well into the next decade.”

Where experience meets innovation Suntec Singapore has played a major role in advancing Singapore’s MICE industry since it opened in 1995. Strategically located right in the middle of the central business district, it sits at the heart of Asia’s most integrated meetings, conventions and exhibitions hub. Beyond the Centre’s 100,000 square metres of meeting space, a 15-minute stroll around its environs also provide visitors convenient access to 5,200 hotel rooms, 1,000 retail outlets, 300 restaurants, six museums and a world-class performing arts centre. Three MRT stations and two major express ways also serve the area, making for ease of mobility and transport. “A key aspect of the modernisation program of Suntec Singapore is to provide more control to our clients over their events and budget,” Mr. Madhok points out. “We are developing a state-of-the-art Suntec

technology suite to improve processes, connectivity and control. For example, the new Centre will be offering free high-speed wireless LAN connectivity to all delegates. Clients will also be taking control of the room configuration for their events via new customer portal. We will also give clients ‘real time’ control over their meeting space environment such as lighting and climate control.” Over and above the physical makeover, much consideration is also extended towards preparing the Suntec Singapore personnel for the fresh challenges that lie ahead. According to Mr Madhok “The modernised Centre will require a different way of selling, marketing and operating the business. Our staff are going through a rigorous training and development program that includes more than 100 hours of intensive training for each employee with reputable local organisations such as the ITE College West for Food Production, the Temasek Polytechnic School of Hospitality, as well as other industry associations such as the Singapore Tourism Board. We are assisting our staff to improve and expand their proficiency level so as to be 100 per cent operationally ready for the new Centre.”

Taking on the future of MICE Over the years, Suntec Singapore has hosted 18,000 events spanning a vast breadth of industries, including some of the world’s largest exhibitions and conventions. In 2011 it welcomed over seven million guests from all over the world and proved its ability to raise the bar by achieving occupancy rates as high as 98 per cent. Partners, old and new, have expressed their growing anticipation in exploring what the refurbished venue and upgraded facilities can do for their business events. One of the Centre’s loyal clients is ITB Asia, which has consistently held its annual travel market tradeshows at Suntec Singapore since 2008 until it closed for renovation, and is now poised to make a comeback in October. “Suntec Singapore offers the optimum business environment for ITB Asia exhibitors and buyers and we look forward to experiencing the new and improved centre,” says ITB Asia executive director Nino Grüttke. “We are

excited about the new hardware in terms of facilities and we expect that the software — the people — will be as excellent as we remember them. Based on our excellent years at Suntec Singapore, we’re anticipating to return to a winning team, a winning format and a winning location.” Similarly, long-time exhibitor Messe Düsseldorf Asia looks forward to coming home to its venue of choice for almost two decades. “In fact, we were one of the early companies to have chosen the venue once it was operationally ready,” recounts general manager Ms Shirley Lim, citing one of the company’s most successful medical exhibitions which was first held at Suntec Singapore in 1997 and continues to exhibit there. “For an established exhibition organiser to repeatedly return to the same venue over a span of 15 years is testament to Suntec Singapore’s expertise, professionalism and high support standards in delivering on our operational requirements for our international exhibitions,” she says. “Our long-term relationship with them has evolved into a successful business partnership that has seen their steadfast commitment in meeting our changing needs over the years. We are confident in the new and improved Suntec Singapore and it remains our venue of choice as a leading exhibition facility and MICE venue.” In the same way that Suntec Singapore is upgrading its physical facilities and product offering, it will also liven up its brand with a new logo and a more vibrant image that reflects its readiness to meet the ever-evolving needs of its customers. “Our vision is to be a positive influence to the convention and exhibition business of the future,” says Suntec Singapore CEO Arun Madhok. “We will continue to be the preferred place to meet in Singapore and in Asia. We have the perfect location, the right space, a high level of flexibility, cutting-edge technology and a team of exceptional people. Leading by example, we aim to inspire positive change in the MICE industry and transform the way people look at the convention and exhibition business altogether. We look forward to welcoming you all to the new Suntec Singapore Exhibition and Convention Centre.”

Suntec Singapore Statistics Total Space: 100,000 square metres Total MICE Space: 60,000 square metres • Level 1: Commercial space • Level 2: Commercial space • Level 3: Maximum 36 meeting rooms • Level 4: 12,000 square metres of convertible exhibition/banquet halls • Level 6: 10,000 square metres of multi-purpose exhibition halls and meeting rooms • Level 7: Four meeting rooms

SIngapore SuppleMent

Revitalise Mandarin Oriental Singapore.

Asia’s foremost convention destination heralds a revitalised precinct. Singapore’s original convention destination – Suntec Singapore and its surrounding five-star hotels: Conrad Centennial Singapore, Marina Mandarin Singapore, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Pan Pacific Singapore, and Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, continue to integrate and collaborate to strengthen their reputation as Asia’s foremost convention destination. With continuous upgrading of existing infrastructure happening in every major property within the precinct, the group’s vision to market Singapore as the top choice for conventions in Asia looks set to stand firm. Suntec Singapore’s senior director, sales, Ms Bibiana Lau, shares, “Suntec Singapore is at the heart of a self-contained convention city that offers convenience that is hard to match. You get access to 100,000 square metres of meeting space, 5200 hotel rooms, 1000 retail outlets, 300 restaurants, 6 museums and a world-class performing arts centre. In short, everything an event planner will ever want, and all within a 15-minute stroll.” 36

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What’s new

Pan Pacific Singapore recently completed an S$80 million transformation after a five-month closure. “Plans for the hotel’s transformation started in 2010 and we wanted to include sensorial elements. The burst of orange colour in the interior is a representation of the sun and sea. The meeting spaces in the second level now have more light,” shares Pan Pacific Singapore general manager, Mr Scott Swank. “The transformation of Pan Pacific Singapore comes at the back of comprehensive research on the evolving needs of our guests and associates. As Singapore continues to remain a top destination globally, our transformation ensures the delivery of quality hospitality experiences synonymous with the Pan Pacific brand, thereby enhancing our competitive advantage locally as a premier hotel of choice for discerning business and leisure guests.”

Mandarin Oriental Singapore unveiled its stylish new swimming pool, set against the spectacular views of the Singapore harbour skyline,

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as well as a luxurious and holistic spa that earned the prestigious Forbes Five Star rating. Ms Suzette Deveau, director of sales and marketing shares, “Our stylish new swimming pool, complete with floating sun beds and resort-like cabanas, provides private outdoor venues for events of up to 450 guests. The Marina Bay area has become the place to be and our recent renovations are certainly in keeping with Suntec and the renewed energy within the neighbourhood”.

Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore’s general manager, Mr Peter Mainguy, also revealed that their property “offers 608 newly-refurbished guest rooms and unique meeting facilities configuration which offers meeting planners the option to organise the events and breakouts within two private floors. This makes us an ideal MICE venue. In addition, we have four floors of breakout rooms which provide clients the opportunity for intimate meetings for up to 10 guests. Furthermore, iconic visitor attractions like Gardens by the Bay and Singapore Flyer can not only be viewed from our guest

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rooms but are within easy walking distance from the hotel too.”

Marina Mandarin Singapore is the first hotel in the precinct to use a fully integrated mobile technology to enhance customer experience at their food & beverage outlet. Its ‘OneGuest Mobile Solutions’ fully integrates order-taking, customer service management and real-time updates to provide customers faster service and more accurate information on their menu selection items. According to its director of sales and marketing, Ms Serene Law, “With new and refurbished MICE facilities around the Marina Bay area, the hotel also has plans to refurbish our ballrooms as part of the strategy to keep ourselves competitive in the market.” Marina Square is also reinventing itself. According to its general manager, Ms Chan Yien Mei, “Marina Square is undergoing redevelopment and refreshing its tenant mix to offer more exciting options for shoppers. In the first phase of redevelopment, to be completed in the second quarter of 2013, shoppers can expect a new gourmet precinct of 50,000 square feet with a new external façade facing Raffles Boulevard. By the end of 2014, a new retail wing of 200,000

square feet will be developed facing Marina Bay and Esplanade Theatres offering two levels of shopping and roof top dining options.” Having done a major modernisation revamp, Suntec Singapore will offer a modernised façade, impressive threestorey interactive video wall, and a new entrance, accessed by express escalators from the current ground-level entrance to the reception at Level 3.

Collaboration is key Suntec Singapore and its surrounding hotels realised in the 1990s that their combined strength and collaboration was key in successfully marketing their precinct and in attracting events. This resulted in the founding of the Joint Marketing Alliance (JMA) in 1995. Commenting on the alliance,

Conrad Centennial Singapore’s general manager, Mr Heinrich Grafe, shared, “I personally believe this marketing alliance is far more important now than it has ever been. Because as a single hotel, we wouldn’t be able to represent ourselves at all the big shows.” He added, “The advantage of having this precinct is you have a major convention meeting facility, complemented by five hotels in easy walking distance and you are not one of 2600 in room 2025.

Pan Pacific Singapore.

organisers, through conceptualisation, planning and management of MICE events which includes technical planning and set up. Pico Art International director, Trevor Soh, shared, “We are in a strong position to advise organisers who are exploring Singapore and the Suntec precinct for their events. To show our commitment and hedge their risk, Pico also offers joint venture partnership opportunities or underwrites the financials for selected companies in some cases.” With the JMA, interdependence becomes a natural and welcome outcome. The strength of the alliance lies in being able to work with people towards a common goal, which is to keep Singapore a top destination for conventions with the Suntec precinct as the favourite host and venue.

New hotels to look out for

Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore.

Conrad Centennial Singapore.

You’re in individually smaller hotels, which can probably cater more personal, more hospitality and not so en masse basis.”

Pico Art International and Pacific World Singapore Marina Mandarin Singapore.

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are part of the JMA to make the Suntec precinct, a premier convention destination. Pico offers turnkey solutions to MICE

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• Bay Hotel Singapore www.bayhotelsingapore.com • Beach Villas at Resorts World Sentosa www.rwsentosa.com • Capri by Fraser www.capribyfraser.com • Days Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park www.dayshotelsingapore.com • Equarius Hotel at Resorts World Sentosa www.rwsentosa.com • Parkroyal on Pickering www.parkroyalhotels.com • Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park (opening in Q1, 2013) www.ramadasingapore.com • Sofitel So Singapore (opening in Q3, 2013) www.sofitel.com • The Westin Singapore Marina Bay (opening in Q4, 2013) www.starwoodhotels.com • W Singapore – Sentosa Cove www.wsingaporesentosacove.com

Meeting for convenience

Facade of Grand Park Orchard.

When selecting a venue, a central location and high-standard service count a lot. While huge meeting venues have their own merits, an efficient and centrally-located one has its advantages, too. Located at the heart of Orchard Road, Grand Park Orchard provides an ideal meeting venue for any social or business function. There are two meeting rooms with a combined seating capacity of 150 that are ideally located on level four. They allow meeting delegates the same floor access to the main lobby, business centre, all-day dining restaurant – Open House, outdoor swimming pool and the champagne bar – Bar Canary. The meeting rooms are well equipped with state of the art technology, including a built in LCD projector. An IT specialist is on hand for any technical hiccups or support that a client might need. The venues offer flexibility to hold events such as seminar, board meetings, cocktail events and training sessions. The outdoor swimming pool deck and adjoining champagne bar offer perfect settings for intimate events and pre-gala dinner cocktail functions. The hotel’s professional planners can take much of the event organising load from the clients to create an event that perfectly captures the required style,

spirit and expectation of the clients.

Open House With a seating capacity of 150 that includes a private dining area for 10, Open House delights with a magnificent view of Singapore’s prime shopping and entertainment district. Its chic and vibrant design complements its open-dining concept where one can be spoilt for choice from a vast spread of international cuisines. The floor to ceiling glass window of Open House gives a spacious vibe and a view of the lively Orchard Road that can spark some great conversation.

Grand Park Orchard.

Bar Canary Right at the outdoor pool on level four but away from the dazzling views of Orchard Road, Bar Canary provides the right venue for some great party in a cool atmosphere. With a resident DJ that can spin an eclectic mix of House, R&B and Top 40s – this is the right place to hang loose after a full day of serious meeting and planning. There’s a diverse array of beverages for anyone to fancy – from premium cocktails and drinks to acclaimed wines.

Open House.

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Reinvent

Singex adopts a strong peoplecentric approach, focused on good governance, operational excellence and innovative solutions. Partnership and customer focus are priorities. Singex believes in adopting industry best practices and aligning itself to global standards, including: • Adopting international standards like ISO and BCM standards for service quality assurance • Dual certification for business continuity management in Singapore and the UK (first in Asia)

Garnet at MAX Atria.

Singapore offers world-class meeting venues that make every get-together, successful and memorable. Meeting planners have a vast selection of globally recognised and highly equipped venues for all their event needs – from the most elegant gala dinners, to light hearted or more formal business conferences. With a host of recreational and lifestyle amenities all a stone’s throw away, you’re on your way to hosting an outstanding business event that will always be remembered.

Singapore EXPO Centre of Excellence

The new MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO reaffirms the centre’s status as one of Asia’s best event facilities In March 2012, Singapore’s largest meetings venue unveiled its newest offer: MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO. The event space is the epitome of the modern

MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO.

Topaz at MAX Atria.

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convention experience and just one reason why Singapore EXPO, managed by Singex Venues Pte Ltd, is one of Asia’s top-rated event facilities. MAX Atria features 32 column-free rooms with spacious foyers, a garden courtyard and rooftop space. The 12,700 square metre convention wing can accommodate more than 3500 people in a variety of versatile spaces configured for meetings, banquets, exhibitions and product launches. The venue is ideally suited to cater to the growing trend of integrated events, which include co-located exhibitions, conferences or award ceremonies. It has already attracted a large number of events since its inauguration. This increasing popularity for co-located exhibitions and conferences is a result of both delegates and event organisers’ desire to maximise their return on investment (ROI). Adjoining Singapore EXPO boasts a staggering 123,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor space, featuring ten exhibition halls, four conference halls and a variety of meeting rooms, making it a onestop event hub.

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• MAX Atria, the first MICE venue in Singapore, to attain the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark Platinum award. Eco-friendly measures include the use of energyand water-efficient technologies, and recycled materials for the fixtures and fittings. • MAX Atria as the first venue in Asia to roll out complimentary high-performance Wi-Fi coverage in partnership with Xirrus (sustainable and scale-able as the number of events and delegates increases) • Strong partnership with new business hotels in the Changi precinct (Capri, Park Avenue Suites and Crowne Plaza), collaborating in cross-promotion activities, competitive rates and in providing exclusive customised services and experiences i.e. shuttles could be arranged to transport event attendees to Singapore EXPO for their respective day-to-day meetings and exhibitions or conference events.

MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO is located in the vibrant eastern part of Singapore, at the doorstep of Changi Business Park, home to many technology firms and multinational companies, only five minutes drive from Changi Airport and 20 minutes drive from the city centre.

CMY

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SIngapore SuppleMent CASE STUDY

Name Of Event: Young Presidents’ Organization World Leadership Summit 2012 Organiser: Young Presidents’ Organization Type: Annual event for CEOs and invited guests from around the world Venue: Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center When: February 26 March 01, 2012 Pax: More than 2000 Budget: Undisclosed

Young Presidents’ Organization World Leadership Summit 2012 Event overview The Young Presidents’ Organization Global Leadership Summit 2012 is the largest gathering of CEOs in the world. Held for the first time in Asia at the Marina Bay Sands, the prestigious annual summit in Singapore saw its largest attendance of CEOs in its event history. More than 2000 CEO members, and invited guests from over 77 countries came together to network and discuss challenges, opportunities, and other issues influencing today's CEO. Highlights of the 2012 event included hearing Nobel Peace Prize laureates Aung San Suu Kyi and Professor Muhammad Yunus share their personal experiences with delegates. Aung San Suu Kyi shared her hopes for Myanmar via live telecast, while Professor Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank shared his experiences on revolutionising the microcredit system.

Event outcome

YPO Event Plaza Opening Dinner.

The welcome dinner was held at the Event Plaza at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) under a huge white purpose-built marquee with a local hawker theme where guests dined under the stars. As networking was a vital component of the Summit, a YPO Marketplace that consisted of over 30 booths was also set up for the duration of the entire event to facilitate casual interaction and catch up amongst leaders. The unique booth design and set-ups were carefully tailored to replicate a relaxed environment, conducive for networking. This included a function room that was turned into a wine cellar that allowed leaders to catch up over a glass of wine, and a virtual golf booth that provided leaders the chance to chat over a simulated game of golf. The closing gala dinner saw celebrity chef, Justin Quek of Sky on 57, creating a custom menu for guests to sample a variety of fusion flavours. The Sands Grand Ballroom was transformed into an extension of Justin Quek’s renowned Sky on 57 restaurant for an unforgettable dining experience for the 1800 guests.

Challenges and triumphs YPO Marketplace.

YPO Closing Gala.

Due to the scale of the event, Marina Bay Sands ensured sufficient catering and conference managers were assigned to the YPO event. Close to 100 YPO guests with special dietary requests had dedicated catering and conference managers working to coordinate their various meal schedules. Despite various requests for spin-off meetings while the main sessions were still ongoing, staff managed to organise smaller meeting venues by working in close coordination with each other. A coach check-in service from the airport to the hotel was arranged for close to 1000 guests who completed their check-in process smoothly, before they even reached the hotel. Attendance at the networking events was also unpredictable and varied. At one of the events, attendance ballooned to almost 30 percent more than the original figure planned for the venue. Organisers overcame that with flexible back up space planning arrangements and logistical arrangements.

Marina Bay Sands consistently exhibited over the top service, from providing room keys to guests riding in from the airport, to excellent catering on two large socials and other meals on-site, to providing very personal care to one of our staff members who was ill… all done in a spirit of service and hospitality. Marina Bay Sands was vested in our event from top management down to the line staff, and the results were truly amazing.” young presidents' organization – World Presidents’ Organization, executive director of the International Events and Global Leadership Conference 2012, David Cook 42

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SIngapore SuppleMent CASE STUDY

XXXI World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress Event overview The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) chose Singapore to host their 31st Congress from May 18-20 in 2012. East West Planners was appointed to assist INC in managing their conference, social functions as well as dinner functions for an estimated 900 delegates from all over the world.

Event outcome Highlights of the event included the opportunity to sample the local delights of Singapore, a chance to network amongst friends and to make new ones, and an enjoyable evening of entertaining and interesting activities.

Challenges and triumphs The challenge was to organise an offsite social and interactive evening where guests could experience Singapore’s cuisines, culture and entertainment. There were limited options for dinner venues in Singapore as many venues could not accommodate a delegation of 900 pax. The unpredictable rainy condition poised some planning challenges, too. The client insisted on having a non-hotel ballroom venue for the casual dinner function. The number of delegates rose to 1000 and given the venue requirements, the newly opened Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium (MEMA) was proposed. The venue’s maritime-themed environment, with replicas of treasure ships and other nautical exhibits, provided a refreshing new waterfront venue, or an ideal setting for themed events. Set against the backdrop of Admiral Zheng He’s mighty Bao Chuan (Treasure Ship), the museum offered a waterfront promenade setting with breathtaking harbour views which has been popular for cocktail receptions and dinners, as well as outdoor parties. Dining options abound, as food can be selected from across Resorts World Singapore’s (RWS) celebrity-chef restaurants. I just wanted to Guests may also choose to adjourn and be thank you for your enthralled in the latter part of the evening, by the help in organising the animatronics spectacle Crane Dance, right at congress, and from the museum. what little feedback Initially, the client expressed concerns about we have had so far, it the time needed to travel from the city to Sentosa seems to have gone island, as well as possible traffic build up getting very well. Overall, into Sentosa. However, the concerns were there is no doubt addressed by mapping out travel times from the that this was one of hotel, and also highlighting MEMA’s location, which our most successful was at the tip of Sentosa Island. A site inspection congresses in terms was also done to simulate and demonstrate the of turn-out and management of the traffic flow. Coordinated execution.” logistics planning for the scheduled 25 coaches International Dried Fruit entering and exiting to and from Sentosa was also and Nut Association, INC Congress 2012, Chairman, managed. A different pathway was chosen as Giles Hacking entrance to the MEMA for convenience, privacy, and to ensure exclusivity for each arriving delegate. “Excellent work. Working in close partnership and coordination It was a great and with MEMA & RWS, the Museum staff provided successful congress. guests relevant information on the exhibits and Thank you for the directed them through their experience in the great job done.” Typhoon theatre, a 360-degree multimedia theatre OLAM International , INC that takes visitors on a voyage on board a 9th Congress 2012, Hosting Chairman, Asho k Krishen century Chinese junk. 44

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Name Of Event: XXXI World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress Dinner Organiser: East West Planners Type: Casual buffet dinner for the senior management and owners of the fruit and nut growers, manufacturers, traders, and business operators in the industry. Venue: Maritime Experiential Museum and Aquarium, Resorts World Sentosa When: May 19, 2012 Pax: 1000 Budget: Undisclosed

Contact: fatsin@eastwestplanners.com www.eastwestplanners.com

Case Study

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SIngapore SuppleMent

Redesign

Universal Studios Singapore, New York Street.

An essential component to any incentive or conference, the choice of venue provides the perfect backdrop for an interesting and enjoyable get together. Singapore offers many of the world’s most amazing unconventional venues that allow you to turn your most creative ideas into reality.

The Star Performing Arts Centre Opened in November 2012, The Star Theatre with The Star Performing Arts Centre is the first and only 5000 seat performing arts venue in Singapore. Within the complex are flexible event spaces like The Star Gallery that holds 770 seats in a theatre style set up or 490 on rounds for banqueting events. The Star Gallery breaks into five sizable breakout rooms. www.thestar.sg

Universal Studios Singapore Transport your guests onto Sentosa island and into the creative world of the movies. Universal Studies Singapore offers entertainment, attractions and cuisine under one roof. Surprise your conference delegates with a New York Street undercovered dinner party within the 1500-banquet capacity zone of New York whilst mingling amongst the Universal Studios Singapore cast of characters. www.rwsentosa.com

Gardens by the Bay The 54-hectare Bay South Garden within Gardens by the Bay offers event planners a number of unique spaces. Nestled within the Flower Dome with magnificent waterfront views and the ever-changing flower display is the 1200 square metre Jubilee Hall. This enclosed purpose-built event space is perfect for a 700-guest banquet. For outdoor enthusiasts, consider having an evening cocktail party for 500 guests at the Silver Leaf tucked under a cluster of the famous Supertrees overlooking the Dragonfly Lake. www.gardensbythebay.com.sg

Sands SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands Host your next private event up high on the Sands SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands. Perfect for cocktail parties, the South Garden and North Garden can take 200 and 250 guests respectively. The 500-guest capacity Observation Deck, the restaurants namely Sky on 57 and KU DE TA as well as

Get out of the box and go for unconventional venues! • Chinatown Food Street For bookings, please contact Chinatown Business Association www.chinatown.org.sg • Goodman Arts Centre www.goodmanartscentre.sg • Marina Barrage www.pub.gov.sg/marina • Merlion Park – For bookings, please contact Singapore Tourism Board www.yoursingapore.com

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• National Museum of Singapore www.nationalmuseum.sg • Singapore Botanic Gardens www.sbg.org.sg • Singapore Flyer www.singaporeflyer.com • Singapore Turf Club www.turfclub.com.sg • The Arts House www.theartshouse.com.sg • The Jewel Box on Mount Faber www.mountfaber.com.sg

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Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore.

the SkyBar are popular choices with event organisers. www.marinabaysands.com

Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore Opened in mid-2012, the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore is located in Marina South next to the Marina South Pier. The centre is known for its breathtaking ocean views. Perfect if you are looking for an experience with a difference when holding your next event within this iconic building with more than 11,500 square metres of events space. www.mbccs.com.sg

Cavenagh Bridge Popularly called the Grand Old Lady of the Singapore River, the Cavanagh Bridge, built in 1869, is one of the oldest bridges in Singapore. Whether it is an award presentation or an informal banquet, the bridge can transform itself to suit your purpose, as the entire bridge can be booked for evening events. www.sla.gov.sg

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Rediscover Here’s a sample itinerary, courtesy of Pacific World, that unravels the story behind urban Singapore. Set out on a journey to explore urban Singapore like you’ve never seen before. Discover the key role of urban planning in the rise of the Lion City and wander at its never-ending architectural developments.

A step ahead Start off your expedition with a visit to the Singapore City Gallery, where a

guided tour will take you through the city’s interesting history of planning and development. Stunning interactive exhibits will transport you back to Singapore’s olden days and astonish you with details of the city’s remarkable growth. Build your knowledge further with a tour at the Marina Bay Gallery to learn more about our city’s recent innovations. Take in the marvels of Marina Barrage’s architecture and be captivated by the technology behind this stateof-the-art reservoir as you tour around Singapore’s first and most urbanised water catchment area. Enter the residential complex Pinnacle@Duxton to have a closer look at Singapore’s first skypark 50-storeys high, made affordable to all. This one-of-a-

The Fullerton Bay Hotel.

kind building successfully brought unique architecture into the “heartlands”, a term locally used to refer to the suburban towns where majority of the Singaporean population lives. Top your urban adventure with a special tour on architectural insights into the Marina Bay Sands development project! Exclusive sessions can be arranged for your group upon request.

Sleeping over The W Singapore Sentosa Cove is one of Singapore’s newest and trendiest hotels. Enter into a world where colours and textures mingle with top-notch service and design. At the Wangz Hotel, step into an urban jewel of sophisticated architecture. The design is daring yet classic, for your guest’s best comfort and awe. Conveniently located by the iconic Singapore River, the Gallery Hotel is a quiet retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle, featuring a unique one-of-a-kind cantilevered glass sided rooftop pool.

The sky’s the limit The Fullerton Bay Hotel recently launched floating event pods as a top end meeting venue. Ideal for C-Suite level meetings for 20 pax, these new meeting rooms are truly floating our boat. At Swissôtel The Stamford, Equinox restaurant’s private dining room can be arranged as a venue for your meetings or events. The outstanding view through the glass-panel window will enchant your most exclusive guests.

In the mood To wrap up your day of architectural wonders, enjoy one of Singapore’s trendy rooftop bars and restaurants. Prelude atop the Fullerton Waterboat House, Loof or 1-Altitude which are some of our favourite picks. Try the recently opened Zafferano restaurant serving contemporary Italian cuisine in a stylish setting with the option of alfresco dining on the terrace.

Singapore: Thought provoking, exhilarating and unexpected! Marina Barrage.

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W Singapore Sentosa Cove.

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Contact: singapore@pacificworld.com www.pacificworld.com

SIngapore SuppleMent

food history and its culture so teams can get a full download of what’s making their tummies so happy. Alternatively, try your hand at cooking some of our local dishes. Culinary schools like Coriander Leaf, Palate Sensations and ToTT offer team bonding cooking classes. Strengthen your team members’ bond as they go through different cooking challenges to whip up mouth-watering local dishes such as chilli crab and chicken rice.

Appreciation Courses Enjoy a wine appreciation course at Wine & Co. Consulting or learn more about the art and science behind brewing the perfect cup of coffee with a coffee appreciation class at Highlander Coffee Academy.

Build your teams. We’ll help strengthen them

Adventure Tours

Teambuilding activities can serve as ice-breakers, motivating attendees to get to know each other better and to create stronger bonds while delivering meaningful experiences. With Singapore’s world-class infrastructure, efficiency and accessibility, team building activities can go well beyond the ballroom and across the island.

Takashimaya or Paragon to perform mandatory tasks and to purchase items from specified product categories, within an allocated shopping budget. The day will culminate in a high profile fashion show in a glamorous venue that will see participants parade their wares where the most creative team wins!

The Great Singapore Shopping Challenge

Ethnic Precinct Amazing Race

For fashionistas, hone your shopping skills by searching for the best bargains along Orchard Road and Marina Bay. Teams can race to designated malls such as ION Orchard, Mandarin Gallery,

Understand Singapore’s diverse cultures by embarking on a scavenger hunt around our 3 cultural precincts. Visit places of interest in Singapore’s unique cultural precincts and identify special monuments, relics or objects that contribute to the rich culture in each precinct. Alternatively, purchase souvenirs that would best represent each precinct. For example, pick up a garland of flowers from Little India, a chapteh toy from Kampong Glam or even egg tarts from Tong Heng Bakery in Chinatown.

Culinary Tours/ Courses

Wine appreciation.

No trip to Singapore would be complete without sampling our mind boggling variety of local dishes. Embark on a Makansutra Food Safari Tour, which takes the participants on a food tour around Singapore. Dine at some of the best eateries and get a taste of the authentic dishes that have been created on our little island. A Food Host will be present to provide the story of Singapore’s rich

Outdoor lovers can look forward to 34 different exhilarating obstacles at the tree top course at Forest Adventure. Try out combat laser shooting with Combat Skirmish Singapore, a situational warfare game where strangers become friends, accelerating the team-building process and developing strategic thinking at the same time. Break the mould of predictable corporate outings with advenTOUR Singapore by kayaking to a kelong (floating hut). Embark on a survivor experience on Pulau Ubin, a small island off Singapore where teams can experience a night out with nature. Be surrounded by the lush flora and fauna on the island and experience rustic Singapore.

Island Adventures Take part in Sentosa’s Imbiah Challenge where participants race against time to complete assigned tasks at various attractions throughout Sentosa’s Imbiah Lookout. The activities are designed to help encourage and cultivate values such as teamwork, communication and courage amongst employees. Participate in a mission that will provide teams with the chance to navigate the streets of New York to the pyramids in Ancient Egypt! Held at the region’s first world-class movie theme park, the Scavenger Hunt Team-Building Programme at Universal Studios Singapore creates a unique and dynamic team bonding experience unlike any other.

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Indulge at Singapore’s Lifestyle Havens after Hours Singapore provides the perfect mix of work and play In need of some downtime after business? Surrounding Singapore’s financial centre is a variety of leisure havens perfect for kicking up those business shoes and letting your hair down after hours. Regardless of preference, there is something for every executive in the city ranging from shopping to dining, to nightlife and entertainment once meetings are completed for the day.

GET YOUR SHOPPING FIX

FLAVOURFUL ESCAPES

THE NIGHT’S ALWAYS YOUNG

Indulge in some retail therapy at

Those seeking the pleasures of fine

Chill out and let your hair down after

the myriad malls along Singapore’s

dining can savour the delights of

a hard day’s work. On the bank of

famed shopping belt, Orchard Road.

Singapore’s culinary establishments.

the Singapore River is Clarke Quay,

Look out for ION Orchard with its

Check out the Singapore outposts of

whose cluster of clubs, bars and

stable of flagship and concept

Michelin-starred chefs which include

lounges are always vibrant and

stores, ranging from luxury labels to

Joël Robuchon and Guy Savoy. Also

worth a visit. Robertson Quay, the

high street brands, iconic time piece

savour the gastronomic creations

most laidback of the three quays

boutiques to classy art galleries. Of

of celebrated home-grown chefs at

along Singapore River, is also

note is the mall’s Jewellery Street in

Restaurant Andre and Iggy’s.

home to some of the most popular

Basement 2 with some of the island’s finest fashion jewellers.

Find your way down to the hip

bars among the local and expat

cluster of restaurants at Dempsey

community. The largely residential

Hill and dine amidst the lush, quiet

estate is bustling with unique whisky

Orchard is another shopping

surroundings just five minutes from

and wine bars, and even a popular

sanctuary, Paragon Shopping

Orchard Road. Formerly the site

chocolate bar.

Centre, home to Gucci’s only duplex

for the British army barracks in

flagship in Singapore. Across the

colonial times, this little enclave of

iconic Zouk at Jiak Kim Street, voted

side street from it is Knightsbridge

Singapore has seen art galleries,

among the top 10 clubs in the world

which houses Malmaison and the

antique furniture stores and

by DJ Mag. For quiet unwinding,

region’s only Abercrombie & Fitch

weekend farmers markets call it

soak in the panoramic view of

boutique, which stocks the full range

home in recent times. Choose from

Singapore’s city skyline at LeVel33

of the brand’s aspirational casual

a wide selection of chic restaurants

— world’s highest urban brewery, or

luxury offerings. Do also check out

like The White Rabbit, PS Cafe,

1-Altitude — planet’s highest alfresco

retail hotspot The Shoppes at Marina

and Au Petit Salut. For the local

bar, towering at 156 metres and 282

Bay Sands, noted for Louis Vuitton

favourites, check out Samy’s Curry

metres respectively.

Island Maison, the fashion house’s

and Long Beach hidden within

first floating flagship boutique in the

immaculately conserved colonial

Siang Hill and Club Street, once the

world, and its collection of street

black and white buildings that

home ground of traditional Chinese

wear labels such as new-to-market

evoke old world charm. To really

clan associations and exclusive

Zadig & Voltaire and multi-label style

understand Singapore food, one

social clubs. Now home to a variety of

emporium The Society of Black

has to sample the mouth-watering

chilled out drink spots, alfresco cafes

Sheep.

hawker fare such as Chicken Rice

and quirky shops, it is the perfect

and Bak Kut Teh (pork ribs soup) at

place to watch the world go by.

Just a walk down from ION

If you’re a tech junkie, Funan

A stone’s throw away is the

Soak in the cosy charm of Ann

DigitaLife Mall is the place to head

the Singapore Food Trail and Newton

to for its gamut of electronic and

Food Centre. A not-to-be-missed

scene at Timbre@The Substation

Get a taste of the local music

photographic products conveniently

Singapore signature is the Chilli

located at Armenian Street, where

located under one roof.

Crab, which can be enjoyed at No

different groups of local musicians

Signboard Seafood or Palm Beach

play live every night. Check out the

Restaurant.

other bars in the vicinity where The Arts House and Mount Sophia are located.

For more on how to mix business with leisure in Singapore, visit yoursingapore.com/morethanjustbusiness

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We are Y

So to help bridge the generation gap, micenet ASIA wants to give Gen Y their time in the sun, their moment in the spotlight and their turn on the soapbox.”

Take them to the Top Surging through the ranks of the MICE industry with tenacity, ambition, and unrelenting energy, Gen Y (born 1982-2002) is the future of the MICE industry. micenet ASIA keeps in touch with the millennials at every opportunity and regularly hears their ideas and points of view as voice of the new generation. Story by Leila Botham

Hear them Gen Y’s passion for the MICE industry is untainted by the cynicism inherent in their older colleagues. When asked to describe what they love about the industry words like dynamic, fulfilling, passionate, creative, innovative and exhilarating leapt from the page. The MICE industry offers ‘endless opportunities’ and ‘nothing beats the excitement… of organising an event’ and further talking to more members of this generation confirmed that Gen Y is excited about their jobs and also extremely knowledgeable about the industry. Ranging from well-developed arguments about Singapore’s position in the international convention business, to espousing a more unified approach in the industry, Gen Y have their finger on the MICE industry’s pulse. Their technology laden upbringing and social

media prowess is reflected in their ambitions for their clients’ events – they want more customisation and immediate interaction for their clients. Events should be memorable and definitive with the ‘use of technology simulation and visual experiences’ along with ‘more interconnected… through web/online communities’. Gen Y is client focused and driven by excellence.

Miss-construed Unfortunately, Gen Y is well aware of the misconceptions about them and their work ethics. Gen X is driven by independence while Baby Boomers thrive on adrenalinecharged assignments. Both generations earned success through patience, hard work and determination - virtues that Gen

Y can certainly get cues from. Despite all their talents, many are guilty of passing judgment to them. We have all heard “they are really IT savvy and ambitious but so easily distracted” or “they are hard workers but want to be promoted straightaway – they have to do their time”. Gen Y knows that they are described as impatient, soft, adolescent, aggressive and job-hoppers. And it makes them angry. In amongst all of the Gen Y, Gen X and Baby Boomer banter comes one very important message. The game has changed. Older generations are still basing their workplace model on the golden era of earning your stripes at the beck and call of your boss. No longer can we sit in our offices, issue orders and expect Gen Y to jump. They have been raised as an inquisitive, free-minded and insightful generation. Constantly assailed by infinite communication (remember – few of them would remember a time when they couldn’t Google an answer), they learn, digest and act upon information in the same time a Baby Boomer has taken to find the sports section of the Sunday newspaper. So to help bridge the generation gap, micenet ASIA wants to give Gen Y their time in the sun, their moment in the spotlight and their turn on the soapbox. There will be a dedicated section in each issue called ‘We Are Y’ and we invite you, Gen Ys, to contribute.

If you know of any great Gen Y to feature or have comments and experiences to share, drop us a line at feedback@micenet.asia.

micenet Asia

MALAYSIA

Nu-KL Get clued-in on the Malaysian capital city’s constantly changing landscapes and new highlights. Story by Tan Hee Hui

Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia is anything but an elusive MICE destination for numerous visitors from around the world. The Southeast Asia nation has overcome the global economic downturn and H1N1 flu outbreak, among other concerns, with much aplomb. In 2009, Malaysia received 23.6 million foreign tourists, an increase of around seven per cent over the previous year; and its tourism industry is set to expand rapidly in the future.

Action for transformation In fact, the Malaysian government aims to transform Kuala Lumpur as one the world’s top 20 most liveable cities, and achieve a top 20 economic growth rate by 2020. To do so, the country is expected to secure tangible benefits for the MICE sector as well as implement the Greater Kuala 52

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Lumpur Plan – one of the 12 national key economic areas under the government’s 2010 economic transformation programme to establish Malaysia into a high-income economy by 2020. KL’s rapid changes include the introduction of many new foreign hotel and retail brand names, such as the

Grand Hyatt situated next to the prolific KL Convention Centre (KLCC). Offering 370 rooms and 42 suites ranging from 47 to 340 square metres, Grand Hyatt KL’s guestrooms are touted as being the largest in KL. Better still, all of the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, offering panoramic views of the city centre,

Malaysia

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MALAYSIA

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

including the iconic Petronas Twin Towers (which were once the tallest edifices in the world). Across the road, the Impiana KLCC Hotel has added 180 rooms to the current 322 units; and at a different part of the city, the Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur – a heritage-themed boarding which is part of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World’s luxury hotel collection – offers more than 300 deluxe rooms and suites as well as 16 meeting rooms and a ballroom that can accommodate 1200 people. Established in 1932, the Majestic Hotel KL – located across the road from the old KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) Railway Station – hosted many of KL's glamorous events back in the halcyon days. Even renowned author Graham Greene and actor David Niven, who’s featured in the film Paper Tiger shot in Malaysia in the 1970s, had stayed at the hotel, resplendent in a neo-classical architectural style.

Suria KLCC.

For some retail therapy, the Suria KLCC, one of Malaysia’s premier shopping centres, attracts large crowds on a daily basis. Just in the past year, many international and upscale fashion and beauty as well as lifestyle brands have made their Malaysian debut here. Situated at the foot of the Petronas Twin Towers and with 1.78 million square foot floor space and 384 outlets, the mall has recently been expanded to include an additional 140,000 square foot floor space and 37 speciality stores. Across the road, the Avenue K Mall – after failing to attract a high footfall in the past, despite being strategically located above the ‘KLCC’ LRT station – is now undergoing a renovation. Although it’s not confirmed, the renovated mall may probably feature notable UK-based designer brands which are currently not available locally, such as Amanda Wakeley, Aspinal of London, Duchamp London, Gerard Darel, Jaeger, Kurt Geiger, Nicole Farhi, Pal Zileri

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Majestic Ballroom.

and Theo Fennel Jewellery. Elsewhere, the Pavilion KL Mall – located a short walking distance from KLCC – attracts numerous locals and tourists alike, and where established international brands such as Sacoor Brothers, Hackett London, Denim and Supply, Ralph Lauren and Jo Malone have recently introduced their debut stores locally, undoubtedly burning a large hole in many consumers’ pockets.

Infrastructure modernisation Other aspects of KL which have not been spared in terms of modernisation include the upgrading of its infrastructure and public transportation. Take the recently opened elevated and fullycovered 142 metre walkways (with airconditioning), connecting several parts of the city centre such as the KLCC, the nearby Impiana KLCC Hotel and Pavilion KL Mall, whilst allowing pedestrians to enjoy a comfortable stroll along the way. A newly integrated mass rapid transit system will also be introduced and the current light rapid transit routes will be extended to several more parts of KL, all for your convenience. In the next few years, more globally renowned hospitality names such as W, The Banyan Tree, Four Seasons Place, Regent Hotel and St Regis will open their doors to guests in KL. Mind you, this is just the tip of the iceberg of the major changes involved in Malaysia’s aim to achieve greater things in future.

Where Business Meets Pleasure Connected to the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) Easily accesible to buses, Light Rail Transit (LRT) to KL Sentral ERL System to KLIA Residential packages available. Contact no. at 603 4042 5555 or www.seripacific.com for our Residential and mice package 13 function spaces to cater for meetings and private dinners through large conferences, celebrations and product launches and theme party * Enquire about our newly Executive Meeting. Package! Deluxe Room

Kofuku Japanese Cuisine

Swimming Pool

Paciﬁc Ballroom

Zende Restaurant

Jalan Putra,50350 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No: 603-4042 5555. Fax No : 603-4041 7236. Toll Free: 1800 88 555. Email : resv@seripacific.com /fbservice@seripacific.com. Website: www.seripacific.com

OWH/HOTEL/2013/175a_Mice ad-177.5 x 128.5mm_090113

Meeting facilities, recognised by the world.

At the 5-star One World Hotel, you can expect ample space, luxuriously appointed with spectacular chandeliers and state-of-the-art facilities including simultaneous interpretation system, live feed facility and mood lighting with variable colour setting and high-speed internet access. However, what makes corporate functions here extra special is the opportunity to put fun back into functions. Take a refreshing dip in our pools, lose yourself in a sensual massage, treat yourself to award-winning cuisine, catch the latest action flick, enjoy a round of golf or indulge in retail therapy. There’s so much to do and experience, especially with the 1 Utama shopping centre right next door. What’s more, we have been recognised locally, regionally and internationally as the Best Convention Hotel, so you know that you’ll be in good hands. Anything’s possible in One World. To add some excitement to your next event, speak to our Conventions and Events team today at 03-7712 2289 or email cne@oneworldhotel.com.my Find us on:

The BrandLaureate SMEs Chapter Awards 2009 Corporate Branding Best Brands in Hotel – Business

Cinnamon Coffee House Malaysia Tourism Award 2008 - 2009 Innovative Restaurant Premier Award - International Restaurant

Best City Hotel Excellence Award

www.oneworldhotel.com.my

first avenue, bandar utama city centre, 47800 petaling jaya, selangor, malaysia. toll free domestic: 1300 88 7888 toll free international: 1800 88 7888 tel: 603 7712 2289 fax: 603 7712 2290 email: cne@oneworldhotel.com.my website: www.oneworldhotel.com.my

Name Of Event: Stroke 2012 Conference Organiser: The Association Specialists, Australia Type: Combined Annual Conference Client: Stroke Society Of Australasia & Smart Strokes Venue: Sydney Convention And Exhibition Centre When: August 29-31, 2012 Pax: Approximately 900 Budget: Undisclosed

Delivering a

stroke of hope Event Overview The Association Specialists has been working with the Stroke Society of Australasia and SMART STROKES over several years to produce memorable, educational meetings, and the second joint meeting of the Stroke Society of Australasia and SMART STROKES (Australasian Nursing and Allied Health Stroke Conference) was no exception. The event aimed to attract over 700 delegates from Australasia, making it the largest stroke conference to be held in the region. By combining the resources of both societies, a fantastic programme with a great interdisciplinary focus was created. Initial planning of the conference focussed on one theme — haemorrhage and recovery — but greatly expanded in scope and variety of topics in the lead up forming a robust educational programme that received immense interest from the medical industry and stroke survivors alike. The program included keynote presentations from five renowned international speakers, 18 symposia sessions, 120 oral paper presentations in 25 concurrent sessions and 66 e-poster presentations. Notably the conference included the Australian movie premiere of “Aphasia: hope is a four letter word”, the true story of actor Carl McIntyre who, after suffering a massive stroke at age 44 and losing his ability to read, write, and talk, struggled against overwhelming odds to redefine his life. Stroke survivors, their families and friends were invited to the movie premiere creating an atmosphere of enthusiasm and discussion. People’s eagerness and interest in attending was so great that the committee focused on making the conference as accessible as possible to people working with or who have been affected by stroke. SMART STROKES provided over $60,000 in funds to assist with 100 scholarships distributed to support nursing and allied health delegates to attend the conference. In addition to the programme highlights a valuable industry and trade exhibition attracted the leaders in pharmaceutical and patient care fields to share latest products and initiatives in the treatment of stroke and subsequent ailments. The gala dinner, also held at the Sydney Convention Centre, was a highlight of the two days, giving the delegates, presenters, and trade partners an opportunity to catch up with colleagues, network with new faces and to ‘let their hair down’. The entertainment made sure everyone enjoyed themselves on the dance floor to the late hours of the evening.

Event Outcomes The conference was a success on the 2012 medical calendar and for the team at The Association Specialists. The event saw approximately more than 800 delegates and trade attendees, well above anticipated attendance levels, and 30 trade displays. The Q&A session with actor Carl McIntyre was particularly stimulating, however, a number of symposia were heralded as a valuable insight into the life of stroke sufferers and ground breaking in care improvements and innovations that will see a drastic change in the way strokes are managed in the future. Feedback from delegates proved the scientific programme content was worthwhile and of value to attendees. While the financial results of the event are confidential, The Association Specialists is pleased to note the positive outcome achieved for the clients, was well ahead of budget. The results achieved ensure financial security for the running of future SSA/SMART STROKES events and reflect the strong emphasis placed on financial management by the team involved. 56

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Case Study

Challenges and Triumphs

Accessibility of all areas of the venue was an important element in the planning and running of the event. A team of allied health student volunteers was assembled to assist with special assistance requirements of delegates to the conference.”

Of course the production of an event of this scale is never without its challenges. As a combined conference, a number of committees were set up to assist in facilitating the planning of aspects of the conference. As anticipated, committee members had sometimes very different needs and expectations – a personalised approach to communication lines and streamlined decision-making processes helped to keep the event on track. Accessibility of all areas of the venue was an important element in the planning and running of the event. A team of allied health student volunteers was assembled to assist with special assistance requirements of delegates to the conference. The premiere of “Aphasia: hope is a four letter word”, attracted a great number of attendees. The audience had to be separated from the trade exhibition due to strict pharmaceutical regulations – a special consumer lunch was held in the foyer overlooking Darling Harbour, with staff roping off and monitoring the exhibition entrance.

Feedback Positive feedback came from both the client and delegates in attendance. While much of the feedback reflected positively on the venue, the movie premiere, the scientific mix, the networking opportunities, the dinner, and particularly the consumer involvement, a recurring theme was the high level of personal attention and care taken in the quality of the overall delegate experience. “All sessions were incredibly worthwhile. Presenters were engaging and the turn out fantastic.” “Meeting so many enthusiastic stroke professionals, it was very well organised with excellent facilities and catering (I am gluten free and this was the best special diet catering of any conference I have been to, both in the UK and abroad). Obviously for us from the UK the venue was fabulous!” “The ‘life stories’ that were heard enabled me to reflect on my own practice and the importance of a ‘positive frame of mind’. The gala dinner was a great way to relax and network.” micenet Asia

Compiled by Sandra Hernandez

Centrally yours Carlton Hotel Singapore, centrally and ideally located in Singapore, is minutes away from Raffles Place, Suntec City International Exhibition & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, and major shopping belts in Singapore. With a total of 15 function rooms, Carlton meets the different needs and scales of any event and occasion. The Empress Ballroom on level 2 has thickset walls re-upholstered. It can accommodate up to 540 people and exudes modern interiors that use stylish chandeliers. There are three rooms added in 2010: the

The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali introduced an exclusive beach lounge for guests to unwind in a relaxed environment with their toes in the sand over drinks and finger food. The resort offers an intimate evening of wining and dining under the stars with a sumptuous four-course dinner paired with two glasses of sparkling wine. For hosted dinners or more personal dining, the resort offers a chartered chef to cook a delectable BBQ dinner served in a preferred location around the resort. With welcome martinis and a tailored menu, who can resist holding an event or two at Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali? W: www.westin.com/bali 58

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Istana Rooms which come with natural lighting and are conducive for smaller and more intimate meetings; the Esplanade and Connaught Rooms have tasteful furnishings that are impressive for meeting and banqueting services. Carlton’s new premier wing added 287 rooms to the existing buildings to make the hotel’s total room inventory to 915. The hotel’s f&b offerings are the awardwinning Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant, international cuisine buffet dining at Café Mosaic, Gravity Bar, and the newly opened Tuxedo Café and Pâtisserie. W: www.carltonhotel.sg

Hue’s art deco charm

a Residence Hotel & Spa, a restored palace originally built by Emperor Khai Dinh in 1917 after he visited Europe for the first time, is a boutique hotel on the banks of the Perfume River in Hue, Vietnam. After years of restoration by a team of conservationists from Germany, it now offers a unique meetings and events venue surrounded by the rich history and beauty of Hue. La Citadelle is a spacious function room that offers a full range of conference equipment and is set amidst an inspiring colonial garden that provides a perfect respite in between sessions. VIP Room is an art-deco meeting room that’s ideal for business get-togethers and private events. La Residence Hotel & Spa is a member of the MGallery collection of memorable hotels by Accor. W: www.la-residence-hue.com/

Finding an exclusive beach lounge

venue updates New contemporary resort

he five-star Le Meridien Bali Jimbaran (LMBJ) opened early this year to offer an ultracontemporary resort to Jimbaran Bay, with accommodation and facilities tightly packed around a 1300 square metre lagoon. LMBJ promises a ‘transformative concept’ for meetings and events with 645 square metres of modern function

space. Their signature venue is the 5th floor rooftop with all-glass celebration pavilion/wedding chapel (144 square metres, 110 seating capacity for cocktail receptions) and Bale Banjar Ballroom (155 square metres, 120 seating capacity for dinners). It is surrounded by infinity ponds with unobstructed ocean views – designed to capture Jimbaran sunsets. W: www.lemeridien.com/balijimbaran

Secluded find If seclusion is a requisite to your team building, Centra Coconut Beach Samui may be a good option. Recent upgrading and renovation works at the property rebrands it to become a destination resort at the southwestern tip of Samui island. “This is an intimately scaled resort in a beautiful location and it has an air of exclusivity that we wish to enhance,” says Centara Hotels & Resorts senior vice president for

sales and marketing, Chris Bailey. With the addition of a fitness centre, remodeled beachside pool and a new outdoor seating provided for the lounge and the restaurant, Centra Coconut Beach Samui is located at the secluded Thong Tanote Beach, with views across Koh Tan and Koh Mutsum, two renowned diving and snorkelling spots. W: www.centarahotelsresorts.com

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career strategies

Move forward Andrew Chan CEO, ACI HR Solutions

There is no place for boredom or frustration at the workplace, if you know how to communicate your thoughts and what you’re going through.

How can one move forward with a boss who micro-manages and criticises more than recognises good work? It may not be easy, but open communication is important. Rather than bottling up your thoughts and feelings, find an appropriate time to sit down with your boss to discuss how he/she is making you feel, but don’t criticise. Avoid having this discussion at the time it happens though, as emotions, deadlines and stress may take over to make the discussion less than productive. Instead, request a time to meet more formally. It’s never easy working for a micro-manager, but recognise that management is a skill, and managers may also need feedback to improve.

next promotion as this is not always practical, try being proactive within your organisation by asking for projects to do. This could be finding better ways of doing things or CSR initiatives that benefit you, your organisation or the community. If this isn’t available, look at personal up-skilling opportunities outside of work by taking up further education, training or short courses to keep you motivated and challenged.

When work starts to bore and frustrate, what could this mean and how should one overcome this? We live in a fast paced environment nowadays, particularly with technology that has increased our tendency to upgrade and be constantly looking out for new challenges, especially amongst Gen Y employees. Without looking for a new job or that 60

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How can one prevent from losing control over workload to the point of getting overwhelmed? Start by taking the time to analyse your present situation. If possible, discuss your situation with someone you respect and knows you and your work situation, such as a mentor, colleague or even manager, and seek their objective advice. Sometimes it’s easier for someone else to see what you may have missed. Perhaps you need better time management skills, or you should be delegating your work more often than you do. If you’re not already doing so, consider better use of technology to help improve how you manage your workload and time.

Remember, there are apps for almost everything nowadays! When missing out on promotions, what’s the best attitude to stay motivated on the job? It’s always disappointing to miss out on a promotion, but try to stay positive, and request some feedback from your manager. Where possible, request a meeting to discuss with him/her areas where you could improve, or up-skilling may be required to help you get that next promotion. This session is not to challenge your manager on why you did not get the promotion, but should be purely focussed on self-development. New on the job, new work culture and new challenges. What’s the best way to adapt? Change is often difficult and you’re likely to be feeling a range of emotions from excitement, to missing old colleagues and certain ways of doing things. Start by keeping an open mind, and spend more time initially observing than making judgement or changes in the new environment.

Compiled by Angela Blardony Ureta

women of inspiration

Keeping the team spirit alive and aflame A seasoned professional in the hospitality and tourism industry, Ms Pauline Cheung’s extensive portfolio includes leading the global sales offices and heading the group revenue department of the Park Hotel Group, one of Asia-Pacific’s top hospitality brands and adjudged Best Regional Hotel Chain at the 23rd TTG Travel Awards 2012. Ms Cheung is responsible for daily sales and revenue strategies, aside from taking on an advisory role in setting sales discipline and strategies for execution. As group director of sales, Ms Cheung is also instrumental in building the group’s branding through trade events to develop business partnerships for the expansion of the market share of each hotel.

If you had to start over in your profession, what would you do differently? I would still gladly enter the sales profession, as there are not many jobs out there where you can make friends while gaining knowledge about different industries and cultures around the world.

PAULINE CHEUNG Park Hotel Group Group director of sales

How did you start out in the industry? I started my career at an inbound travel agency in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, the owner closed down the business when he and his family moved to Canada. However, one closed door led to another opening and I had the opportunity to work in a hotel as a sales executive in charge of corporate sales. 62

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What are the core values of your organisation and how are these communicated through the services that your group provides? Customer First and Employee Care are our two most important core values, and these are exemplified in our brand promise: “Where every encounter is a discovery of love”. This means that we provide loving hospitality to our guests, build and maintain strong working relationships with our business partners, as well as create inclusive and harmonious work environments for our staff.

How do you encourage creative thinking within your team? I encourage brainstorming and inculcate the thinking that only an unspoken idea is a bad idea. On top of coming up with sales strategies, as a team we also get to brainstorm for fun events such as conjuring ideas on how to entertain our partners and customers at our annual road show dinners. For example, we had our colleagues perform Michael Jackson’s signature dance moves and even Chinese opera singing! What advice would you give a woman entering into a leadership position for the first time? For ladies, my advice is to make use of your feminine element yin (which implies softness and gentleness) in order to develop a passionate and caring team. Do your best to take care of colleagues, partners and guests. How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated? My team is my greatest motivation — and by working together closely with them I am able to stay driven constantly. What do you do to ensure that you continue to grow and develop as a leader and as a person? I engage and share ideas with my team regularly, hoping to inspire them and to be able to grow together with the company. I also strive to set good examples, demonstrate ownership of our projects and simply be part of the solution. On a lighter note, besides staying focused at work, I take time to just enjoy life and experience happiness. In other words, work hard and play hard.

profile

Lifelong learning and PHD — Passion, Hunger, Drive

ROSMALIA HARDMAN W Singapore - Sentosa Cove Director of sales and marketing

With over 30 years’ experience in travel and tourism, Ms Rosmalia Hardman has established herself as one of the leading hospitality marketers in Asia and the Middle East. An expert in hospitality start-ups, Ms. Hardman’s pre-opening portfolio includes luxury hotels, villas, restaurants and bars, marina and country clubs, sports clubs, beach clubs, ski resorts and convention facilities. Since 1981, she has been involved in various leadership positions that involve corporate and regional sales, marketing innovation and public relations. A founding member of Marketing Council Asia, Ms Hardman is also a sought-after industry speaker and workshop leader at business seminars and conferences across Asia.

Passion, Hunger and Drive. Never undermine yourself just because you’re a woman. You must have the passion and the drive, as well as a genuine love for people and for interaction. Be humble. Work hard and learn every step of the way. Learn from your experiences. Understand what it takes from an entry level position and develop your skills through growth and development.”

What’s a typical day like for you? I work relatively long hours… I start the day at around 8 am with a “walkabout” where I meet and greet our guests and clients before the start of their meetings, then spend a good part of the morning in strategic discussions with my team. My afternoons are dedicated to client meetings, follow-up calls and brainstorming sessions. After 7 pm, it’s mostly administration work and interacting with clients and guests at evening events in the hotel. Now that the hotel is open and busy over the weekends, I sometimes work on weekends or come by for a few hours to oversee events. What are the most important decisions you make as a leader, particularly in your position as director of sales and marketing? Business acquisition decisions — together with my senior leaders, we must evaluate every business potential and determine its long-term objective and growth, not just for the hotel but also for the Starwood organization as a whole. I also make decisions on sales and revenue strategies, ensuring alignment with marketing and digital initiatives, as well as W happenings – this requires coordinated effort and must be well orchestrated. I need to also ensure that every strategy we make is on-brand and every activity evolves around our key passion points of design, fashion, music and film. How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated? I have to enjoy what I’m doing. Passion comes from within. If you love what you do, nothing becomes too difficult to handle. I’m heavily motivated just seeing the people around me enjoying what they’re doing. My team motivates me to no end! Then again, I need to also be constantly challenged. I need action — to always be on the go, to have things to do and even more things to do! I’m definitely not a desk-bound, monotonous person. I love interacting with people — being on the

move, meeting, greeting, talking, sharing and being engaged. Most of all, it gives me great pride to see my team succeed. That’s the greatest motivator of all. Which of your achievements are you most proud of? I’ve been in the hospitality business since 1981 and had relocated to eight countries in two continents since 1988. With nine hugely successful hotel openings, four children born in three countries (and raised in eight), and a husband who backs me up all the way – this in itself is an achievement that I am most proud of! What is your advice to young women joining the hospitality and business events industry? Have your PHD: Passion, Hunger and Drive. Never undermine yourself just because you’re a woman. You must have the passion and the drive, as well as a genuine love for people and for interaction. Be humble. Work hard and learn every step of the way. Learn from your experiences. Understand what it takes from an entry level position and develop your skills through growth and development. The best leaders are those who have been there and done that. What do you do to ensure that you continue to grow and develop as a leader and as a person? I listen and I learn. I ask and I find the answer. I am lucky to have had the experience of working around people of different age groups, of different cultures and in different countries. It has taught me to be more tolerant and adaptable to various cultural norms and expectations. I’ve also learned many new things from my younger colleagues, things that they don’t teach you back in business school. I’ve learned how to optimise the use of the social media platforms. Working with various senior leaders taught me to learn and understand many different styles of management and business models. The learning never ends. micenet Asia

How to discover what you are made of DAVID LIM EVERest motivation Speaker and leadership coach

Lessons from Qinghai’s Mystery Mountain reveals how leaving the comforts of home can make one discover what one is truly made of.

Sometimes you have to leave the comforts of home to find out what you are made of. And thus began the adventure late last year to seek the group of mysterious mountains situated in remote southwest China in Qinghai. From outer space, they look just like a smear of white against the brown plains of the Tibetan plateau. Located just about 100 kilometres from the northern Tibet border, the glaciers centred around Longyala Peak (6104 metres above sea level) fanned out like broad spokes of a wheel from a central hub. None of the peaks in this area had been climbed and Google does not have a single clear photograph of any of them. For two days, we were driving in very inhospitable terrain to identify the right glacial snout from which to launch our expedition. It was over these eight days that I learnt and re-learnt some valuable lessons in leadership.

I began to inadvertently believe we were in the right place by matching and confirming information that supported my viewpoint. I quickly snapped out of this after a day, and realised we were way off course, and decided to move our camp to another location three hours away. In a workplace environment, do we have people around us who are happy to challenge our viewpoint when that viewpoint merely seeks information to confirm we are on the right path? Cultivate such people so that you make high quality decisions and not be blindsided.

Beware of confirmation bias affecting decisions On at least two occasions, I thought we were at the location in which we had planned to be. I was so keen to start climbing that I began to fit peaks and features on our decades-old Russian Army maps to what I could see. In short, 64

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changes. Very often, the last 10 per cent of effort pays a 100 per cent dividend later. Too often, in my opinion, we give up, just as we start to see the payoff, and all the effort to that point is often wasted. Simply refuse to take the easy way out when you know that payoff is well worth the extra effort.

Any fool can suffer so make sure you suffer for a reason One of the hallmarks of a good mountaineer is the ability to tolerate

Don’t take the easy route Carrying a large pack of over 20 kilos at high altitude is similar to running a race on a 400-metre track. At the end of a minute or so of hard work, you stop, out of breath, and then rest. The difference on a mountain is that you will need to repeat the cycle of work and rest several hundred times, and a long load carry. At times like this, it’ is easy to give up short of an ideal campsite. This is what happened to us, and I had to cajole, persuade and push my team mate to carry on as far up the glacier as possible to put us in an advantageous site. Once we pinned down our tent and equipment, it would take an enormous effort to make

At west glacier.

how to

David's triumphant sangay.

moderate levels of discomfort for protracted periods of time. Imagine for a moment, spending a week, sleeping, eating, cooking and changing, all in a tent with a footprint no larger than a single-superior bed. Imagine a tent so small, when you smile, your teeth touch the walls. I exaggerate of course, but not about the actual size of the tent. A quarter inch foam mat separates you and the ice beneath, and you can hear the groaning and crackling glacier underneath as it pops, and snaps as it moves downhill an inch at a time. There’s a squalor in a tent as you try to eat and drink hot food and liquids without getting any into your clothes, hair and equipment. Snoring, farting, coughing blend seamlessly into a night when temperatures drop to minus 15ºC, and you still have to ventilate the tent. Or, if you prefer, sleep warmer to wake up with a coating of frozen moisture in the form of hoar-frost all over your sleeping bag, clothes and the roof of the tent. The principle here is not that suffering is welcome; it’s that any fool can suffer. Smarter people suffer for a good

reason, and find ways to make this suffering a part of the whole process to achieve a goal. Too often we forget, in our whiny, whimpering selves, why we do what we do; instead, focus on the the big pay off, and the suffering becomes a necessary part of that journey.

Redefining success On the 23rd of September 2012, after a short if very windy climb, Rozani and I stood on a nameless, virgin peak, in a remote glacier in a remote region, being very surely the first humans ever to explore and climb in this massif. That in itself took the edge of the 80 km/hour gusts that raked the top of the peak. The summit itself was at or nearly at 6000 metres. Not a bad effort I said to myself at the time. Two days later, we attempted our main objective, the virgin Longyala Peak at 6104 metres. Rozani was not moving fast and I had to keep motivating him and pushing the pace. Eventually, I led

from the camp in pre-dawn hours all the way to the 6000-metre lower summit. From there, we gazed at the remaining route to the top. Unlike the view that the ridge presented from below, we would have to drop 50 metres and then re-ascend south-facing corniced ridges for another 100 metres. On one section, the unstable overhanging ice fringes or cornices shifted direction and faced north. Looking at our time left, and energy level, and the risks involved, we decided not to proceed further. Had we missed tagging the top of our main objective? Yes. Had we succeeded in making the highest virgin peak ascent by any South East Asian mountaineer? Definitely. In work and life, it pays never to define success too narrowly. Externalities change, expected performances don’t come up to par, and the most enthusiastic people I have met are constantly reframing challenges without selling out on the main elements of a goal.

David lim is a leadership and negotiation coach and can be found at http://www.everestmotivation.com, or subscribe to his free e-newsletter at david@everestmotivation.Com

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Compiled by GINA SIN

Joy Cartwright DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING NIKKO BALI RESORT AND SPA

Bryan Gabriel Group general manager INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS

AUSTRALIA Nikko Bali Resort and Spa announced the appointment of Joy Cartwright who was previously the resort’s director of sales and marketing as the resort’s new representative in Australia, where she will hold the position of director of sales and marketing for Australia and New Zealand. During her one year tenure at the resort, she has engineered a tremendous amount of change and managed to bring a step up in all markets, especially Australia. Joy will also develop and maintain solid relationships with trade partners, wholesalers and retail agents, attending trade shows on behalf of the company, as well as assisting in the development of plans for the resort, focusing on Australia and New Zealand.

HONG KONG Bryan Gabriel is the new InterContinental Hotels Group general manager for Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island, overseeing all stages of the preopening and opening of the new property in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Bryan brings extensive industry experience to his new role having spent the last twenty years working on a number of high profile projects and distinctive properties throughout Asia and Australia. Among his career milestones, Bryan spent a three year period as general manager of The Establishment in Sydney, Australia, when the hotel won a number of prestigious awards, including the National Australian Hotel Association’s award for Best Boutique Hotel Accommodation in Australia.

Alice Lem Sales Manager The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (The Centre)

MALAYSIA The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (The Centre) has promoted Ms Alice Lem Chi Hong to sales manager – exhibitions. Ms Lem joined the Centre in July 2011 as exhibitions floor manager. In her new position, she reports to the director of sales and marketing and is responsible for implementing and delivering a commercially effective sales plan to achieve optimum venue occupancy and profitable business mix in the exhibitions division. With more than 13 years in the meetings and events industry, Ms Lem is expected to elevate the Centre’s image and identify new opportunities for business growth in the exhibitions division.

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Peter Maurice van PeborghGooch DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING NIKKO BALI RESORT & SPA

INDONESIA Peter Maurice van PeborghGooch joins Nikko Bali Resort and Spa as the new director of sales and marketing overseeing the department and implementing the plan for the repositioning of Nikko Bali Resort and Spa as a new reference for luxury hotels. He will also execute the upcoming launch of the resort’s new facilities. An experienced sales and marketing professional, Peter has successfully overseen the commercial side of several luxury properties in Europe, the Middle East and more recently Asia, working for top flight hotel brands such as RitzCarlton LLC, Savoy Group PLC and InterContinental. Prior to Nikko Bali, he was the director of sales and marketing at the Ayana (formerly the Ritz-Carlton), which is now part of the Capella Hotel Group.

Ian Ekers GENERAL MANAGER THE SENTOSA, A BEAUFORT HOTEL

SINGAPORE Native British Ian Ekers, with over 20 years of hospitality experience, has been appointed general manager at The Sentosa, A Beaufort Hotel. In his new capacity, Ian will oversee the hotel’s operations. Mr Ekers was until most recently, the general manager of PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road, where he repositioned and led the hotel to achieve “Best Performer in Pan Pacific Hotel Group” in 2010. He graduated with a double major in hotel & restaurant management and information system & computer science from Brigham Young University in Hawaii.

Austin Watkins director of marketing Four Seasons Hotel Singapore

SINGAPORE Seasoned marketing veteran Austin Watkins joins Four Seasons Hotel Singapore as the newly appointed director of marketing. Watkins joined Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in 2003 at Four Seasons Hotel Newport Beach and was director of sales and marketing at Four Season Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills since 2010 prior to his arrival in Singapore. His passion for the hospitality industry started in high school which subsequently led to over two decades of assignments spanning valet parking, housekeeping, front office and f&b departments in Hawaii, Las Vegas, Canada and California.

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Kenneth Wong GENERAL MANAGER HONG KONG TOURISM BOARD (HKTB)

HONG KONG Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has announced the appointment of Kenneth Wong as general manager of MICE & Cruise. His new responsibilities will include overseeing the development and implementation of business strategies in the Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK) office, leading the MEHK team to provide continued support to partners in the MICE industry and strive to bring even more international, worldclass events to Hong Kong. Kenneth and his cruise team will strengthen partnership with cruise line operators and industry players to establish Hong Kong as a must-visit port in Asia, and enhance co-operation between the region’s ports so as to foster the development of the expanding tourism in Asia.

Steven Smith SENIOR DIRECTOR CWT regional leadership team

SINGAPORE Steven Smith is the new senior director, CWT Meetings & Events, AsiaPacific and will be part of the CWT regional leadership team, based in Singapore and the global CWT Meetings & Events team. Smith will work together with Floyd Widener, global leader for CWT Meetings & Events to give Asia-Pacific customers access to CWT Meetings & Events’ global services, world-class tools and processes, while further developing specific regional expertise and best practices.

Zoe Clout ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SALES Langham Place

HONG KONG Zoe Clout joins Langham Place, Mongkok, Hong Kong as assistant director of sales – MICE. An adventurous traveller who spent a year in South America where her passion for top 5-star hotels was born, Zoe brings to her new role over 8 years of experience in 5-star hotels and event planning, focusing on the dynamic MICE market. As a newcomer in Hong Kong, she loves everything the city has to offer from after-work entertainment, weekend hiking trips to some of the best foods in the world.

Simon McGrath GENERAL MANAGER DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket – Surin Beach

THAILAND Hilton Worldwide announced the appointment of Simon McGrath as general manager for the recently-opened DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket – Surin Beach, Thailand. As general manager, McGrath will oversee day-today operations at the resort and drive the property’s business strategy as it establishes its brand in the region. McGrath’s career in hospitality spans over 30 years and was most recently director of business development at Hilton Adelaide in Australia. His career began in 1985 at a suburban hotel in Sydney, Australia while attending catering college. Since then, he has taken on a variety of senior management positions at hotels and resorts in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore. McGrath holds a graduate certificate in Hotel Management from the University of South Australia, and has completed the General Managers Program of the Australian Graduate School of Management.

Selina Chan GROUP DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING PHUKET BEACH RESORT

THAILAND Following a major renovation, soon to be opened Outrigger Phuket Beach Resort announced the appointment of Selina Chan as director of sales and marketing. A Malaysian national, Ms Chan has a 27-year history in hospitality marketing and sales in Asia and Australia. Prior to joining Outrigger, Ms Chan was group director of sales & marketing for Mangrove Tree Resort in Sanya, Hainan, China. She brings extensive senior experience with YTL Resorts (Malaysia), Travelocity, Zuji, Asia Web Direct, Reliancetravel.com, assorted hotel companies, and Air Vanuatu, where she was part of the start-up team.

Shazrina Othman PR & communications manager Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s (MyCEB)

MALAYSIA Shazrina Othman joins Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s (MyCEB) communications team as the new PR & communications manager. Shazrina will spearhead MyCEB’s communications department in line with its vision to become Asia’s model Bureau. “I am excited to be a part of this dynamic team and look forward to bringing fresh ideas to MyCEB and the industry as a whole,” said Shazrina. Shazrina holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the prestigious University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA. micenet Asia

CWA 2012 Line-up of Chefs and Mixologists, Adam Byatt, Lee Bennett, David Toutain, Natascha Schwarzer, Thierry Delourneaux and Julien Royer.

Wowed over

Quickly earning a reputation as South East Asia’s definitive haute cuisine event, Chefs with Altitude staged a spectacular return to the luxurious Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore from 3rd to 11th November. Story by Leila Botham Once again for 2012, Chefs with Altitude has composed a panel of inspired and talented young chefs to wow local foodies in some of the most desirable and sumptuous restaurants and bars in Singapore. This feasting extravaganza is hosted across four of Swissôtel The Stamford’s venues; the modern and intimate Jaan, the ever-exclusive Equinox, uber-chic New Asia bar and the sophisticated City Space. Guests have the opportunity to take in the spectacular views from the lofty heights of one of the tallest hotel towers in South East Asia whilst drinking and eating award-winning culinary creations.

Exclusively shared The by-invitation only opening party was to be hosted on the Swissôtel’s helipad, but unfortunately the weather gods had 68

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other plans. Yet, relocating the opening party to New Asia bar was a masterful Plan B. Guests sipped delicious cocktails created by imported mixologists Dan and Ash Bovey, were entertained by London’s premier circus noir, Cirque du Soir and DJs were spinning tracks until dawn.

Taste MakerS

This year’s line-up of gastronomic gifts was courtesy of Normandy-born David Toutain, London’s well-respected Adam Byatt and Canadian candy connoisseur Natascha Schwartzer.

Chefs in focus David Toutain opened Agapé Substance in Paris last year after 15 years working with masters like Alain Passard, Marc Veyrat and Andoni Luis Aduriz. With an interior evocative of Scandinavian minimalism mixed with Parisian flair, his 26-seater open kitchen restaurant is located in the stylish St-Germain-des-Prés precinct. Enticed away from the frosty Parisian autumn for his stint at Chefs with Altitude, Toutain took up residence at JAAN, arguably Singapore’s best French restaurant led by Chef de Cuisine Julien Royer. Lunch and dinner reservations were offered, with prices ranging from a 3-course menu for SGD $68 per person, to a 7 course indulgence for SGD $268 per person. Not to be outdone by his continental counterpart, Chef Adam Byatt hails from the UK and his acclaimed Trinity restaurant is located in the affluent Clapham Old Town in London’s south-west. An impressive list of awards trail behind him, including three prestigious AA rosettes, “Time Out Best New Restaurant”, and The Times UK top

100 restaurants for his work at Trinity. Byatt embraces classic British fare – scotch eggs, curd’s and whey, Yorkshire pudding and beef wellington regularly feature on his menus, but you would be mistaken to think that his cuisine would resemble Gran’s Sunday family dinner. Elevated British cuisine ruled supreme at Equinox restaurant for Chefs with Altitude. Byatt offered dinner bookings with a 7-course menu for SGD $178, with an a la carte menu also available for those unable to stomach a mighty seven courses. Whilst the old British and French rivalry played out in the towering Swissôtel, the organisers of Chefs with Altitude certainly did not leave those of us with a sweet tooth lacking for culinary adventure. Master chocolatier Natascha Schwartzer pampered guests at the Chocolate High Tea also held in Equinox Restaurant. Born and bred in Canada, Natascha fell in love with chocolate, particularly its elegance and scope for creativity. She refined her skills in Switzerland at a young age, which led to her joining Lindt & Sprüngli as show chocolatier and demonstrator. Many people would be overjoyed to work in Chocolate Nirvana, but Natascha parted ways with Lindt and moved to Australia to craft celebrated desserts at Balzac restaurant in Sydney’s posh Eastern Suburbs. In 2009 she

returned to the home of chocolate, Switzerland (Belgians may disagree), and is the manager of the Zurich Chocolate Academy. For SGD $55 per person, guests devoured Natascha’s delicacies at Equinox and may have repopularised the not-sohumble high tea in Singapore! Whilst Chefs with Altitude seems to be all about food, for those of us who enjoy a more beverage orientated experience, Ash and Dan Bovey were the resident mixologists at City Space every night serving up their specialist cocktails. Hailing from the UK, Ash and Dan have won several international competitions and you would normally find them mixing a Mint Julep or a Negroni at the celebrated Sahara in Berkshire’s Reading. Yet the pièce de résistance and the place to be on Sunday 11th November was the Ultimate Brunch at Equinox Restaurant. Toutain, Byatt, Schwarzer and the Boveys joined forces to produce one of Singapore’s most sought-after tickets. After the extremely successful and delicious Chefs with Altitude 2012 attracting some of Europe’s best food and drink professionals to Singapore, we are awaiting the announcement of the 2013 programme with baited breath. Be sure to keep your ear to the ground for news of this year’s event, as places will book quickly.

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Compiled by Sandra Hernandez

Getting personal Meet our editorial advisory board members, minus their high-powered suits! Behind the highly demanding jobs that our editorial advisory board members hold, they are like any of us who have their own favourites, fond memories and experiences that they would rather forget!

David Lim Everest Motivation Managing Director

Most embarrassing moment: My most embarrassing moment must have been on one of my climbing trips to the Swiss Alps in the 1990s. I recall reminding everyone on my team, of the dangers of falling over one's own crampons. With 12 sharp metal points in a steel frame strapped to your boots, you could easily snag one of them on your trouser leg or gaiters. Shortly after my reminder, I snagged my own crampons in mid-stride and fell forward, faceplanting in the snow. I leapt up and looked left and right to check if anyone had seen me. Luckily, no one really noticed!

Andrew Chan ACI HR Solutions Managing Director

Favourite movie why: My favourite movie of all time is Rocky. It’s actually the only movie on DVD I own. I used to watch it the night before game day when I was playing rugby back in Australia, and now I watch it the night before a marathon to get a bit of extra motivation. It’s the ultimate underdog made good movie of all time!

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Damion Breust Asia Pacific Barclays Director — head of Event Marketing

Best show seen and why: My television experience of 2012 was arguably the adaptation of Christos Tsiolkas's novel The Slap. I was completely hooked from the get-go as it is rare to see an exploration of human reactions, desires and failings within a middle class, multicultural, current Australian context. Having lived in Asia now for nine years, I was engrossed in the depiction of contemporary suburban life in Australia. Although the story is initially based on an incident at a 40th birthday barbecue where a guest slaps a child who is unrelated to him, the brilliance of the series was that each episode followed the impact of this incident on different characters. Each of these explorations unfolded into some serious, unexpected and dramatic story lines and I loved the fact that the series didn't present the racial and cultural stereotypes that one usually expects. Although I wasn't particularly sympathetic to any of the characters, each episode really made me reflect on our workings as humans and how much place, environment and time influence our actions and reactions. It was a great, very watchable Australian drama.

curtain call Nino Grüttke Messe Berlin Executive Director

Best childhood memory and why: I have a childlike curiosity that drives me to explore and discover new things every day. But I do remember many fond memories of my grandma and I. When I was seven, I loved riding on the upper deck of double-decker buses in Berlin. So on weekends, my grandma would pack lunch boxes for the two of us and ride the bus with me for an entire day – back and forth. That got her the nickname ‘bus grandma’. By the way, bus grandma just got herself an iPad at age 85 and frequently sends me facebook messages and emails. I love her!

Rosalind Ng SACEOS President

Colour that best represents you and why: I think I am

Daniel Chua AONIA Managing Director

Most memorable day: My most memorable day must be my wedding day. To be surrounded and filled with the love and well-wishes of hundreds of friends and relatives is a humbling, gratifying, uplifting and overwhelming experience. Beautiful memory after beautiful memory in a day full of heart-warming moments from the Church to the banquet hall in a haze of happiness (and bubbly). Nothing quite prepares you for the experience, though I’ve helped out at many weddings as the emcee or best man. And two years later, just after moving into our own apartment, I’m going to be a daddy!

Selina Grocott Pacific World Regional Director of Singapore & Malaysia

Favourite comfort food and why: It’s hard to say what my favourite comfort food is, I like almost everything. I love Asian food, and having recently moved to Singapore, I am in total food heaven. The chicken rice, the pepper crab, the dim sum, there is so much amazing food everywhere. My favourite right now is Vietnamese beef pho soup and rice paper rolls. If I had to choose one thing it would have to be wonton noodle soup. When I first arrived in Singapore I ate it almost every day for at least two weeks, I’m obsessed.

a mix of gold and green… I have a positive outlook in life and radiate charisma, personality and individuality, making others feel relaxed. With an optimistic attitude, I am the sort who can’t sit back to wait for things to happen; I am also a practical, down to earth person with a love for nature. I love green… I am wise & practical, and achievement oriented with high expectations. On the negative side, I can be quite strong-willed.

Maureen O’Crowley Seoul Tourism Organization Vice-President

Who to dine with and why: Though my name is more convincing, my pick would be a fellow Irishman named Paul Hewson, better known globally as “Bono” - the lead singer of the rock band, U2. We are about the same age and I have been a fan from early on. U2 is still going strong today and the music transcends generations. He is quite a character with a great sense of humour. I find inspiration in his song lyrics and would relish a conversation about his admirable humanitarian efforts and seek ways to lend a hand myself.

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2013年 2月至3月双月刊

编者

特写

的话

展望未来两全其美 73 巴厘岛生意与休闲尽在巴厘岛

勒吉安The Stones酒店— Autograph Collection于亚太区开设的第一家精品酒店 “重建”巴厘岛巴厘岛大规模的基础设施建设将促进MICE产业和旅游业的发展为MICE做好充分的准备穆利雅酒店耗资巨款建设MICE 设施为巴厘岛MICE的高速发展注入更多活力美食聚会聚会一定要美食相伴，在巴厘岛你可以找到最完美的结合人物巾帼不让须眉－两位商务旅游业的高级人才与我们分享她们的成功经验

踏出巴厘岛机场，映入眼帘的是伍拉·赖国际机场紧锣密鼓的扩建工程。不远处，你可以看到更多的新工程—从道路维修到翻新现有的酒店或建造新的酒店。你不难猜想，这些新工程和翻新是为了迎接10月份在巴厘岛举行的亚太经济合作组织峰会（APEC）。即使不是为了亚太经济合作组织峰会，作为一个热门的MICE举办地和休闲胜地，这些新工程将有利于巴厘岛的发展。当这些基础设施建设全部完成后，巴厘岛将以怎样的面貌呈现在我们的眼前呢？让我们拭目以待吧！我认为这些项目成功的主要原因在于不同的生意伙伴（利益关系人、项目干系人）拥有一个共同的目标—那就是使巴厘岛不仅成为一个休闲的好去处，而且是一个有效的商务旅游聚合点。在新加坡，两位商务旅游业的高级人才－百乐酒店集团的销售总监Ms Pauline Cheung和W新加坡—圣淘沙湾的销售及市场营销总监Ms Rosmalia Hardman将与我们分享她们丰富的商业经验。她们共同的远见和热忱，以及敬业乐业的精神是我们学习的楷模。欲在本杂志推销某一个商务旅游举办地或对本杂志有任何的建议，请电邮致feedback@micenet.asia

Sandra Hernandez 编辑

欲知更多详情，请浏览网址: 封面：由巴厘岛The Stones酒店提供。

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巴厘岛

两全其美

《图片标题》。

生意与休闲尽在巴厘岛勒吉安The Stones酒店— Autograph Collection于亚太区开设的第一家精品酒店。 Samantha Coomber 编纂

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厘岛勒吉安The Stones 酒店的开放式大厅反映了该酒店及其背后管理人员的风格。酒店别具匠心的设计和独特的氛围，加上豪华的设施和周到的服务肯定会让旅客留下深刻的印象。旅客到酒店办理入住手续时，细心体贴的服务人员即刻为你奉上融三种地方口味为一体的冰棒。在这样一个炎热的下午，香甜润滑的冰棒一入口，你立刻有种冰冰凉凉的感觉。此时，你也会有种快乐和甜蜜的感觉，不禁在心中告诉自己：“我的选择是正确的，我将在这家酒店留下美好的回忆”。

Autograph Collection于亚太区开设的第一家精品酒店 The Stones酒店，是Autograph Collection（万豪国际集团旗下独树一帜的独立酒店品牌）于亚太区开设的第一家精品酒店。该酒店是万豪国际集团Autograph Collection拓展全球业务计划下的第三十六家酒店。Autograph Collection旗下的独立酒店遍布美国、

加勒比海、拉丁美洲、欧洲及亚洲等地区。Autograph Collection旗下的每一家酒店都具有它独立的个性和风格，是所有崇尚设计品味及优质生活的旅客的最佳选择。酒店总经理Mr Peter Brampton 说：“在亚太地区开设第一家Autograph Collection酒店是一个非常独特和令人兴奋的经验。万豪国际集团的 Autograph Collection是一群独立的酒店，每一家酒店的风格都不同，所以我们一直能够创造出独特的酒店或渡假酒店，并为企业机构提供一流的会议设施。此外，巴厘岛是一个渡假天堂，我们组织了一支能干的队伍在这片碧海蓝天的净土上推出这家精品酒店以及这个品牌”。 Autograph Collection在全球拥有近四十家酒店，The Stones又是另一个独树一帜的独立豪华酒店品牌。每一家酒店都以其大胆的创意和独特的个性及风格而闻名。Mr Brampton透露：“我们意识到亚太地区是Autograph Collection 酒店拓展其业务的关键地区，在不久的

将来，会有更多的酒店入盟。”

创造与众不同的风座落于度假天堂巴厘岛勒吉安海滩（Legian Beach）的南端，The Stones 酒店为酒店林立的库塔地区注入了注新气。以其标志性的建筑设计，The Stones酒店很明显地和其他酒店与众不同。除了设计新颖外，这家精品酒店也为旅客带来许多意想不到和美好的体验。 Mr Brampton补充说：“我们确实与众不同，巴厘岛的酒店多得数不胜数，可是每一家似乎都大同小异。可是 The Stones就不一样了，从外观来说，酒店的设计引人注目，非常现代，而且具有时尚别致的都市气质。至于服务方面，我们细心周到、别出心裁的服务将让每一个旅客惊喜万分。你不妨想一想，最让我们难忘的经验往往是意想不到的惊喜。因此，我们致力于为宾客制造惊喜，让他们享受亲切友善及体贴入微的服务。 “我们也有宽敞的会议场地，我们 micenet Asia

座落于度假天堂巴厘岛勒吉安海滩（Legian Beach）的南端，The Stones 酒店为酒店林立的库塔地区注入了新气。以其标志性的建筑设计，The Stones 酒店很明显地和其他酒店与众不同。除了设计新颖外，这家精品酒店也为旅客带来许多意想不到和美好的体验。” 的宴会厅是这一带最大的，面积1500平方米。以往无法在勒吉安举办的大型会展如今都可以在我们的酒店举行。我们也具备了五个额外的会议室和一个宽敞的分组活动场地，这些设施都是我们成功的关键，而且我们非常重视MICE市场，致力于为参加会展的宾客提供独特的概念和为他们制造全新的体验。” 即使是餐饮，The Stones酒店也别出新意。酒店内有24小时的便捷餐饮服务，等同于一般酒店的客房点餐服务。只要你一点餐，穿着漂亮整齐的服务人员会将准备好的食物放在一个红色的外送箱里，然后即刻送到你的面前。服务 74

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人员分秒必争，绝对不浪费一分一秒。食物都装在精美的包装里，你可以在房里享受美食，或者携带到迷人的海滩享用。

将会议及企业活动推到更高水平设有五个可以容纳600至2200人的宽敞宴会厅，The Stones 酒店绝对是在勒吉安地区举办大型会议和活动的最佳选择。我们可以非常灵活地安排场地，无论是10个人或2200人，我们都可以根据你的需要作出调整。我们的大宴会厅面积1493平方米，天花板高度则是 8.25米。自2012年开幕以来，The Stones 酒店已经举办过一些大型的活动。Mr Brampton说：“最大型而且最让我们兴奋的是在酒店开幕后的两个星期内，我们就举办了为期五天的亚太种子协会会议（APSA）。这个会议迎来了750个来自东南亚、欧洲、中东、美国以及拉丁美洲的代表。这是一个可以在这么短的时间内向那么多人展示我们的酒店的良机。这项活动的成功显示了我们的能力，也告诉了我们所有的MICE伙伴，我们已正式营业，我们经得起考验，更重要的是我们已为MICE做好准备。 “我们也举办过好多次，尤其是来自东南亚国家的国内会议和其他MICE 活动。虽然我们营业不久，但是到目前为止，宾客给我们的反应都是正面的，我们为此感到非常欣慰。我们的烹饪团队非常乐意与会议策划人商讨合作，为他们量身定制，提供最佳的餐饮，让每个宾客和与会者留下美好的回忆”。Mr

Brampton兴奋地告诉我。毫无疑问，巴厘岛有很多酒店让人们选择。然而，在崭新的The Stones酒店，你会让我们体贴入微的服务、典雅炫目的垂直花园、超大的游泳池、配备最先进的室内娱乐区、让你彻底放松身心的水疗中心、满足你心腹之欲的餐饮以及装潢时尚的客房所吸引住。此外，我们先进和齐全的MICE设施在巴厘岛勒吉安一带是无与伦比的，我们可以满足任何规模的企业会议和大型豪华企业活动的需要。

巴厘岛

“重建”巴厘岛

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厘岛目前正面对着严重的交通拥挤问题，因为岛上正在进行大规模的基础设施建设。虽然这些新工程导致了交通问题，但是新工程对巴厘岛的未来发展却大有裨益。新工程的重点项目包括：扩大建设伍拉•赖国际机场和建造一条接连贝诺瓦、努沙杜瓦、飞机场和靠近库塔新帮 Siur地下通道的高架收费公路。这些紧锣密鼓的扩建和翻新工程是为了迎接10 月份在巴厘岛举行的亚太经济合作组织峰会（APEC）。巴厘岛日趋严重的基础设施和交通拥挤问题源自于多年来的规划不周和对基础设施的忽略。此外，大规模的发展和人口及旅客的不断增加也是造成这个问题的原因之一。

改善交通情况巴厘岛酒店企业协会(BHA)强调，这些翻新和扩建工程是为了解决岛上的持久问题。巴厘岛酒店企业协会主席JeanCharles Le Coz 表示：“巴厘岛的交通拥挤问题与巴厘岛的知名度以及酒店业的增长息息相关。然而，随着新帮Siur 地下通道和连接努沙度瓦的高架收费公的全线完工，以及智能思维和巧妙的规划将大幅度地改善岛上的交通问题，交通容量至少会增加两倍。此外，优秀专业会议组织公司的出现和顾客的灵活性，也是解决问题的关键。预料交通流量将在亚太经济合作组织峰会举办期间剧增，加上日益增加的旅客数量，伍拉•赖国际机场每年的

迎接 2013年亚太经济合作组织峰会。 Samantha Coomber 编纂

载客量从900万人次增至2500万，因此伍拉•赖国际机场必须进行大规模的扩建。扩建的项目包括建设国际航站楼、一个新的停机坪和贵宾私人飞机专用航站楼，以及提升飞机停泊设施。。这些新工程旨在应付不断增加的乘客量。当新的停机坪和停泊设施完工后，该机场将可以停泊20架宽体飞机，包括波音 747和空中巴士A380。我们也计划在布莱伦北部兴建一个新的国际机场，因为伍拉•赖国际机场附近的土地有限，跑道无法延伸。整体而言，航班频率的增加和廉价航空的相接促进了巴厘岛的旅游和 MICE市场。巴厘岛酒店企业协会主席JeanCharles Le Coz 说：“机场的扩建意

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整体而言，航班频率的增加和廉价航空的相接促进了巴厘岛的旅游和MICE 市场。” 巴厘岛酒店企业协会主席 Jean-Charles Le Coz.

味着国际航班的增加”。他也强调：“ 整体而言，航班是足够的，然而新加坡已成为一个瓶颈。除了卡塔尔航空公司外，好一些中东航空公司要从雅加达、吉隆坡或新加坡相接巴厘岛，但没有获得降落权。希望机场的扩建和翻新完成后，这个问题将迎刃而解”。在Dewa Ruci交叉口建设新帮Siur 地下通道是为了解决巴厘岛交通拥挤的问题，反讽的是，这项工程却让原本就严重的交通问题更加紧张。Nirwana酒店经理说：“随着工程的进行，交通的问题委实令人头疼，或许我们应该视这项工程为‘希望的曙光’，这样我们就能坦然地接受现状，并展望未来，期待这项新工程为我们带来的利益。接连努沙杜瓦、贝诺瓦及伍拉•赖的收费公路(NBD)是巴厘岛第一个建于海洋之上的6类车辆通行高架公路。这条公路主要是为了疏散交通密度，尤其是在巴厘岛的主要“旅游公路”和减少从沙努尔到努沙杜瓦的驾驶时间，从目前的一个小时，减至六多分钟。人们也可以快速地从努沙杜瓦（巴厘岛的主要 MICE目的地）通往其他的旅游胜地，如乌布。 76

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酒店数不胜数巴厘岛所面对的其中一个问题是酒店供应不足。然而，基础设施的建设和2013年的亚太经济合作组织峰会对投资者的信心产生了积极的影响，尽管在过度开发的南部，酒店已供应过剩，但酒店数量却在2012年暴涨，几乎到了无可管制的地步。地产研究机构－莱坊（Knight Frank）预测，到了2014 年，巴厘岛将新添六十间酒店，共有 10,466间客房。这些新添的酒店更加关注MICE的商机。此外，场地升级项目也包括了扩充一万八千平方米的会展场所，以及将在八月份竣工，坐落在努沙度瓦会展中心附近的五星级酒店。日航巴厘岛度假酒店也将耗资一千万美元建设多项功能设施。 Le Coz表示，定期的进展检查会议将确保一切工程就绪。这些会议传达了一个重要的信息：“巴厘岛酒店企业协会和主持会议的专业人士有十足的信心，国际机场的扩建和其他的新工程肯定能在亚太经济合作组织峰会来临前如期完成。”旅游与创意经济部长冯慧兰（Mari Elka Pangestu）博士向媒体保证，所有为亚太经济合作组织峰会的筹

备工作都如期进行，伍拉•赖国际机场的扩建预计在六月或七月竣工，而NBD 和新帮Siur地下通道也将在八月份随即完工。政府在加速多项基础设施升级和建设方面可谓积极。人们也期冀政府能够促进经济增长及应付不断增加的旅客人数。印尼央行表示，巴厘岛强劲的经济增长与物业的不断发展以及大规模的基础设施建设有关，而这又与2013年的亚太经济合作组织峰会有直接的关系。 2013年可被视为巴厘岛的基准年：巴厘岛酒店企业协会主席Le Coz深信，巴厘岛在举办2013年的亚太经济合作组织峰会后，将更有信心举办更多高端以及高容量的会展活动。他表示：“我们坚信，巴厘岛的会展市场将继续蓬勃发展，我们的投资者将共同努力改善设施，为到巴厘岛的会展与会者和旅客带来新的体验”。

巴厘岛

为MICE做好充分的准备

毫无疑问，穆利雅精品酒店和穆利雅别墅及度假酒店耗资巨款建设MICE设施将很快成为街头巷议。Sandra Hernandez 编纂

占地30公顷的穆利雅精品酒店和穆利雅别墅及度假酒店坐落在宁静的印度洋海洋线上。如此庞大的产业，它高贵典雅的装潢、精美华丽的设计怎不让人想一睹它的光彩？

MICE设施巴厘穆利雅之大令人在游走参观时有如一次行走锻炼，这一点也不夸张。然而，穆利雅吸引人的不仅是其规模，它高素质的室内装修、深思熟虑的布局，功能房间之间的相连和严密的保安更是令人惊叹。这样的设施会让任何一个贵宾流连，而优美的印度洋海景更让忙碌的你忘却一切疲劳。酒店传讯总监, Ms Rainata Tjoa 说：“作为一家在印度尼西亚领先的独立豪华酒店，穆利雅精品酒店和穆利雅别墅及度假酒店为旅客提供6星级的设施和无懈可击的个性化服务，将使每一个MICE旅客感到满意” 酒店的大宴会厅和会议室可容纳多达五千宾客。其舞台可设计成一个独一无二的岛上庆祝活动、豪华的执行会议和难忘的社交活动。大宴会厅的设计典雅，厅内最优质的水晶吊灯、大理石地板和定制的地毯让人有一种与众不同的独家感觉。这里无疑是寻找高端会展场地的最佳选择。

精致的美食 “ 穆利雅酒店的多样美食选择会令人感到惊喜。酒店内设有八家餐饮店，由拥有多国背景的顶级厨师精心准备，从精致的下午茶到地道的地中海美食，任您选择。旅客可以尽情享受这些来自世界各地的美食，肯定让你心满意足” Ms Rainata Tjoa解释道。完善的设施、高水平的个性化服务以及世界级米其林星级大厨师的精湛厨艺都是穆利雅酒店的重要卖点。

巴厘岛是最佳的选择除了巴厘岛外，穆利雅酒店可以选择投资别处，为何巴厘岛却成为穆利雅酒店的首选？Ms Rainata Tjoa解释：“投资巴厘岛穆利雅酒店的灵感来自我们在雅加达的穆利雅史纳延酒店。穆利雅史纳延酒店是我们的旗舰店，致力于为顾客提供最舒适的住宿和最周到的服务。在短短的十五年之内，穆利雅史纳延酒店就为自己建立了声誉，成为东南亚最有名的酒店之一，而且荣获多项奖项。” “巴厘岛的魅力、如画的景色和丰富的文化无不吸引着成千上万的旅客。它不只是一个热带天堂，它是一个东南亚地区内与众不同的胜地，它将继续大放异彩，成为一个利润丰厚、高端旅客争相前往的旅游胜地。因此，选择投资在巴厘岛是理所当然的事。” Ms Tjoa斩钉截铁地说道。

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美食聚会巴厘岛 Sandra Hernandez 编纂

在享受精致日本料理的同时，欣赏海景

在

巴厘岛日航酒店内有一家 Benkay日式料理餐厅。在这里你可以一边品尝正宗的日本料理，一边欣赏壮丽的印度洋海景。厅内的装饰不但具有现代感，而且显得高雅别致。餐厅内设有一张被二十四张椅子围绕着的铁板烧柜台，一个寿司吧，还有nabemono（刷刷锅，寿喜烧）和烤肉桌。餐厅的室内设计尖端，融合了不同的木材和天然石材，Benkay日式料理餐厅呈现出一种具有亚洲生活本质的平衡。宽敞的餐厅空间可以容纳一百二十一个食客，让大家在舒适的环境下享用美食。在铁板烧柜台的左右是两个由一道玻璃墙分开的独立休息区，在餐厅的东区，设有一个私人用餐室。在北侧，

沿着一条装上独特玛瑙显示屏的走廊走去，就可以看到更多的私人用餐室和一个寿司柜台。玻璃围绕的私人用餐室，可分成三个单独的用餐室，让你和客人拥有私人空间，或者你也可以把它变成一个宽敞的用餐室。 Benkay供应午餐集和面食。晚餐时间，你将拥有更多选择，包括开胃菜、烧烤菜肴、炒菜、铁板烧集或传统的日本怀石料理。美食当前，怎可少了美酒？餐馆内有多种清酒和烧酒供您选择，或者你也可以品尝最新推出的九十九中种马提尼酒。每一杯马提尼酒将得到一杯免费的配对。对喜欢马提尼酒的顾客来说，无疑是一个惊喜。电话: +62 361 773 377 网址: www.nikkobali.com

美好的“Rijstaffel” 若你问巴厘岛勒吉安斯通酒店的厨师 Christopher Troy Smith，什么原因使 The Long Rice Table成为一个聚餐的好去处，他会告诉你：“在The Long Rice Table，你可以在五星级的环境下品尝正宗的印度尼西亚美食。这家餐馆的名称来自于“The rijstaffel”（荷兰语为饭桌）。人们在用餐时往往会互相交流，因此餐馆的整个概念强调厨师与食客之间的互动交流，以及食客亲自动手制作“sambal”（参巴辣椒酱）以符合自己的口味。 The Long Rice Table每日都提供晚 78

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餐，食客有两个不同的rijstaffe套餐，以及丰富的单点菜肴选择。此外您也可以品尝各种各样的开胃菜，创造属于你自己的“rijstaffel”体验。您也不可错过餐馆的招牌菜：Martabak Telur（印度煎饼加蛋）、鸡肉罗惹及芭蕉叶熏鸭拼盘和“Sate Campur”（一种沙爹，置放于火热的木炭上）。富有现代印尼风情的The long rice table能同时供三十六人用餐，包括三张供十人用餐的大桌和三张供两人用餐的小桌。电话: +62 361 300 5888 网址: www.stoneshotelbali.com

奢华的选择如果你下一回到巴厘岛渡假或谈生意，即使你不入住穆利雅酒店，你也不妨到设在这家开业不久的渡假及别墅酒店内的The Café看一看。在这里，你可以在多个烹饪站品尝到不同口味的精致美食，享受一个非凡美妙的用餐体验。每一个烹饪站都尽其所能使其食物保留正宗口味，无论是巴厘岛的道地美食、印度佳肴、泰国餐、日本料理、粤菜、意大利美食或其他的美食－都会让你垂涎三尺，享受一顿味觉盛宴。最令人惊讶的是，这些一流的食物，价格却很合理。除了满足你的口腹之欲外，这家新开业的酒店的室内装饰和环境也会让你赏心悦目，怡情逸性。电话: +62 361 3017777 网址: www.themulia.com

人物 Angela Blardony Ureta 编纂

激励人心

的女性

让“团队精神”

永放光芒 PAULINE CHEUNG

百乐酒店集团集团销售总监

你是如何开始你的酒店和旅游业生涯的？我的职业生涯从香港的一家入境旅行社开始。遗憾的是，那家旅行社随着老板及其家人移居加拿大而结束营业。然而，塞翁失马，焉知非福，我有幸成了一家酒店的销售经理，负责企业销售。如果你能重新开始，你会如何发展你的职业生涯？我还是会很乐意进入销售行业，毕竟没有很多职业可以让你在结交朋友的同时，获得不同行业的知识，以及认识不同国家的文化。贵公司的核心价值观是什么？而你所领导的部门又是如何通过实际的服务来传达这些价值观？以客为尊以及关怀员工是我们最重要的

身为一名在酒店业和旅游业经验丰富的专业人士，Pauline Cheung担任过许多要职。她领导百乐酒店集团的全球销售办事处和总收入部门。百乐酒店集团是亚太地区顶级品牌之一，曾荣获多项旅游大奖。除了负责拟定日常的销售及收入策略外，Pauline也是该公司在制定销售纪律及收入策略的顾问。作为集团销售总监，Pauline在建设该集团的品牌方面也扮演着关键的角色。她通过贸易活动来发展业务伙伴关系和扩大该集团旗下每一家酒店的市场份额。

两个核心价值观，而这些都体现在我们的品牌承诺中：“每一个际遇都是发现爱的机会”。这意味着我们为顾客提供殷勤的服务、与我们的业务伙伴建立和维护稳固的工作关系、以及为我们的员工提供一个具有包容性及和谐的工作环境。你如何在你的团队中鼓励创造性思维？我鼓励脑力激荡法，要求我的团队坦然地与我分享他们的点子，因为我觉得只有不说出来的点子才是坏点子。除了制定销售策略外，作为一个团队，我们也集思广益，共同为有趣的活动想点子。其中一项活动是怎样在常年路演晚宴上招待我们的企业伙伴和顾客。例如我们安排同事表演迈克尔•杰克逊的招牌舞蹈动作和表演中国戏剧。你有什么金玉良言可以赠给一个第一次

踏入领导阶层的女性？女士们，我的建议是善用你的阴性元素（我指的是柔和及温柔），以建立一个具有热情和爱心的团队。尽你所能照顾你的同事、企业伙伴及顾客。你怎么激励自己，保持积极性？我的团队就是我最大的动力，能够与他们紧密合作，我时时都受到鼓舞。你如何确保自己在个人以及作为领导者方面不断地自我提升？我定期和我的团队分享看法，希望能够激励他们，与公司并进成长。我也努力树立一个好榜样，对赋予我的任务负起最大的责任，遇到问题时不责难，共同寻找解决问题的方法。除了专注在工作外，我也会拨出时间来享受生活、感受幸福。换句话说，就是“努力工作，尽情玩乐”。

micenet Asia

人物

激励人心

的女性

终生学习以及PHD－热情、渴望、动力 ROSMALIA HARDMAN

W新加坡—圣淘沙湾销售及市场营销总监

你的日常作息是怎么样的？我的工作时间蛮长的。我大约在早晨八点左右开始一天的工作。通常我会先在酒店兜一兜，借此机会与我们的旅客和客户会面并与他们寒暄。过后，一大半上午的时间会花在与我的团队商讨业务策略，下午的时间用在出席会议、电话跟进以及集思广益会议上。晚上七点过后，我的时间主要花在处理行政工作及在酒店的晚宴上与旅客和客人交流。现在，由于酒店刚开张不久，而且周末的生意也很忙，有时在周末我也来上班，或者到酒巡视几个小时，以确保一切都妥当顺利。作为一个部门的领导人，什么是最重要的决定，尤其是你担任销售及市场营销总监的这个要职？业务收购的决定－我和我的高级领导人必须评估每一个企业的潜力和长期的目标，以确保它的长期增长，不单单是 W-新加坡酒店，而是以喜达屋酒店集团作为一个考量的整体。我也需为销售和收入策略做决定，以确保与市场营销及数码新措施，以及W—新加坡酒店的业务相吻合，这需要紧密的协调和精心的策划。我也需要确保每一个业务策略 80

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身在旅行和旅游业拥有超过30年经验的Ms Rosmalia Hardman，是亚洲和中东地区酒店行销的佼佼者。作为一名酒店开创专家，Ms Rosmalia Hardman开创的产业包括豪华酒店、别墅、餐馆及酒吧、码头和乡村俱乐部、体育俱乐部、滑雪胜地以及会展设施。自1981年以来，她一直担任各种领导职务－包括企业及区域销售、营销创新以及公共关系。身为亚洲营销委员会的创始成员，Ms Rosmalia Hardman 也是一个备受欢迎的企业演讲者和研讨会的负责人。她经常受邀在亚洲企业研讨会及会议上演讲和担任研讨会的负责人。

都是在打造我们的品牌，而每一项活动都围绕着我们对设计、时尚、音乐以及电影的热情追求。你如何激励自己，保持积极性呢？我相信敬业乐业。热情来自内心。如果你热衷于某一件事，没有无法解决的难题。当我看到周围的人享受他们所做的事，我就会倍受激励。我的团体给予我无限的推动力。我也需要不断地挑战自己，将一切付诸行动，必须有活儿干，越多活儿我就越起劲。我绝对不是一个成天坐在办公室里工作，更不是一个单调的人。我喜欢与人交流－处于动态、和人见面、寒暄温暖、交谈、分享和参与活动。最重要的是，我为我的团队的成功而感到自豪，这是我最大推动力。哪一个成就是你最值得骄傲的？自1981以来，我就已经在酒店业了。从1988年到至今，我已迁往两大州的八个国家。我成功地开创了九家酒店、在三个不同的国家产下四个孩子（在八个不同的国家把他们抚养成人）、拥有一个极力支持我的丈夫－这些对我来说，就是一个成就，是我最引以为豪的。

你有什么金玉良言可以赠给从事酒店业和企业业务的年轻女士？具备PHD：热情、渴望、动力。不要因为是女人就低估自己。你必须具有热情和动力，而且待人诚恳，乐于与人交流。保持谦虚，勤奋努力，学而不厌。从经验中学习，清楚地明白从事这个行业所需具备的基本条件和技能，并去发展这些技能。一个最优秀的领导者都是从这而来的。你如何确保自己在个人以及作为领导者方面不断地自我提升？我仔细聆听，并认真地对待学习。遇到不懂的问题时，我会发问，找出答案。我很庆幸能够在不同的国家，与不同年龄层和不同文化背景的人一起工作。这些经验提高了我对异己文化的接受度，也让我更能适应不同的文化规范和期望。我也从年轻的同事中学到了很多新的东西，这些知识是在求学时期所学不到的。我也学到了如何充分地利用社群媒体平台。与不同的高层领导人共事也让我了解了和学到了不同的管理风格和商业模式。我会继续向我最好的领导者学习，并效仿他们优点，正所谓“学无止境”。