Jan 2022

AFFILIATIONS

Jan 2022 Vol 1 Issue 10

Adapt & Innovate In Complex Times FOCUS ON LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT In conversa on with associa on heads

SITA AVIATION INSIGHTS Focus shi s to automa on, sustainability & digital health

Melbourne’s infrastructure paves the way for highly successful business events and corporate incentive groups, with world-leading conference facilities and venues, excellent connectivity, quality accommodation and WOW experiences unique to Melbourne.

JULIA SWANSON CEO, Melbourne Convention Bureau

SUSTAINABILITY

& TECHNOLOGY

NETWORK A community of MICE industry professionals who know that sustainability & technology are actionable priorities in the present

ONBOARDiNG STARTED NETWORK Meet like minded professionals from across the globe

LEAD Lend a voice to these cri cal elements and build momentum for ac onable change as Ambassadors

LEARN Discover best prac ces, gather latest know-how & absorb keen insights that will guide you to take wise decisions

EXPRESS Share your ideas to bring about a change that will drive the future of our industry

Open for professionals across the globe who are associated with the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Events & Exhibitions ecosystem which enables business tourism. Enquiries solicited at raghav@miceshowcase.com Powered By: SHOWCASING THE WORLD OF BUSINESS TOURISM

M I C E Showcase

&

PSU BUZZ

LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF TRADE ASSOCIATIONS & PSU’S

Raghav Khosla

The travel and tourism industry, one of the hardest hit by the pandemic in the country, is on the path of recovery and registered a 4 per cent year-on-year growth in job postings during December 2021, according to a report. According to a report by Monster Employment Index, the travel and tourism industry saw a steady increase in job postings post the second wave and reached an absolute high in July (with 16 per cent growth) and showed a steady state of revival until November 2021. This growth could be attributed to the emergence of ’revenge travel trends’ and 'staycations'. However, on a sequential basis, the Indian tourism industry witnessed a 1 per cent decline in job postings with the advent of the third wave, consequent travel restrictions, and safety norms. We hope that 2022 becomes a year of revival for the travel & tourism sector.

We at MICE Showcase are steadily increasing our engagement in the industry and our penetration in all aspects of MICE ecosystem is getting stronger by the day – and that too on a global level! Apart from being associated with reputed travel events like SATTE & ITB, MICE Showcase has also forged afliations with industry associations of repute, namely; ICPB, IEIA, IESA, NIMA, SITE India, PATA India and EEMA. These afliations give us a holistic approach to bring to you tailor made content that will keep you updated with the happenings in the world of MICE. You can also subscribe to our LinkedIn page to get regular updates. And do join our latest initiative – MICE Sustainability & Technology Network, as it is a ‘for industry’ initiative meant to raise awareness on two key elements in today’s context, i.e. sustainability & technology. You can reach me for any queries & feedback at raghav@miceshowcase.com

INSIDE 16-28

11-14

09-10

QUICK NEWS

NEWS BUZZ

33-34

32

SUSTAINABILITY Monthly

ASSOCIATION NEWS

29

INTERVIEWS

37-38

PARTNERSHIPS

MESSAGE FROM INDUSTRY 46-58

GLOBAL NEWS

GLAD TO JOIN

Announcing New Membership

United States Alabama plans to spend $1 million to prepare as many as 2,000 students to work in its hospitality industry. The funding was announced by Gov. Kay Ivey during a tourism conference on the Gulf Coast, where lodging companies, restaurants and a rac ons are seeing record numbers of visitors yet o en struggle to find a sufficient number of employees.

Canada The Government of Canada announced up to $67 million in funding to support Canada's tourism and hospitality sector through the Sectoral Ini a ves Program (SIP). This funding supports 24 projects that will help employers and industry stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality sector to a ract and retain skilled workers, build capacity through training and resources, and remove barriers for groups – including women, youth, Indigenous peoples, newcomers, persons with disabili es and LGBTQ2 Canadians.

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Croa a A total of 13.8 million tourists visited Croa a in 2021, crea ng 84.1 million overnight stays, the Croa an Na onal Tourist Board said in a statement. The most popular des na ons last year were Zagreb (638,000 arrivals), Rovinj (549,000), Dubrovnik (543,000), Split (529,000) and Poreč(431,000).

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Belgium The Brussels-based Bureau of Interna onal Recycling (BIR) has selected Barcelona and Dubai as the host ci es for its May and October 2022 conven ons, respec vely. BIR promotes its events as bringing together circular commodi es traders and processors from more than 70 na ons and in several materials categories, including metal, paper and board, plas c, electronic scrap, res and tex les.

India The Jammu and Kashmir Government signed an agreement with Century Financial in Dubai for a $100 million investment in the state under which 3 hotels and commercial-cumresiden al complexes would be built.

The MoU was signed in a special event presided by the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. "Global business & industry are waking up to the vistas of opportunity in J&K”.

Thailand Saudi Arabia The Saudi Conven on & Exhibi on General Authority (SCEGA) launched the Saudi Interna onal Motor Fes val (Autoville) from January 8 to 14 at Dirab Square Circuit in Riyadh as the largest interac ve event of its kind in the world of motors in the Middle E a s t r e g i o n . To p a u t o m a ke r s a n d professional drivers were at Autoville, including professional Saudi driver and two- me Guinness World Record breaker Abdul Hadi Al-Qahtani, along with legendary drivers Ken Block; Vaughn Gethin Jr.; Remy Bizouard; among many others.

The idyllic Maya Bay, tucked away among Thailand’s scenic Phi Phi islands, has been opened to visitors from January 1 this year a er remaining shut for almost four years. The number of daily visitors to Maya Bay will be controlled to protect the local environment and marine ecosystem, and a specific area will be designated for swimming. Tourists will reach the beach via a boardwalk.

Sydney Sydney's Cahill Expressway was transformed into a world-class stage for the free, outdoor five-day entertainment and cultural celebra on ELEVATE Sydney. ELEVATE Sydney ran from 1-5 January 2022 and featured more than 180 acclaimed Australian ar sts from 8am in the morning through to 10pm at night. The event also featured the biggest drone show in the Southern Hemisphere.

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Industry In Pictures From The World Of Social Media

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is thrilled to announce, along with the Puerto Rico Agricultural Department, that the American Farm Bureau Federa on’s 104th annual conven on will take place in the Puerto Rico Conven on Center Managed by ASM Global for the first me, January 6-11, 2023. #PuertoRicoTourism

SISO is a member of the Joint Mee ngs Industry Council (JMIC), the leading umbrella organiza on for the global events industry. The JMIC Board of directors (David Audrain, Kai Ha endorf and James Rees) met this week in-person while in Las Vegas. The JMIC Board of directors (David Audrain, Kai Ha endorf and James Rees) met this week inperson while in Las Vegas.ar, Ahmedabad. #travelconven on #iatoindia

Sustainable tourism is that which leaves the local community be er off and adds to the social and economic benefit of the area: Shri Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, India, at World Majlis: Off The Beaten Path, at #IndiaPavilion.

Together with ECPAT-USA and American Hotel & Lodging Associa on, Marrio Interna onal's dona on of its human trafficking awareness training has provided access to educa on for the en re hospitality industry. #HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay

Smiling Faces of the #pcmase Chapter. #cl22 #pcma Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Caesar’s Forum#lasvegas

Accor expands its por olio in #Bal c area. The partnership between #Accor and #PalmGrouppOU includes opening the very first “By Mercure” hotel in Tallinn and Estonia.

Binh Duong Providence, Vietnam and Gangnamgu District, Seoul, Korea, entered into a coopera on MoU to strength coopera on in the MICE industry, and promote interna onal trade ac vi es and cultural exchange between the two regions, and had its virtual signing ceremony.

A breathtaking Durmitor Na onal Park, the Montenegro part of the massive Dinaric Alps mountain range, is a year-round des na on for ac ve, outdoor incen ve travel.

UNWTO SG Zurab Pololikashvili a ends #FITUR2022. A key year for the tourism sector, we start 2022 making tourism stronger and ready for the future.

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January 2022

Kerala Literature Festival Rescheduled

FHRAI Signs MoU With J&K Government To Support Hospitality Infrastructure Development

The sixth edition of the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF 2022) has been rescheduled to March. It will now be held at the beaches of Calicut (Kozhikode) from March 17 to March 20, 2022.

It was earlier scheduled to be held from January 20 to January 23. Organised by the DC Kizhakemuri Foundation, KLF is supported by the Kerala government and the Kerala Tourism Board. The sixth edition of KLF is a coming together of the community after a year of virtual existence, hence the theme - 'Come Together'. This edition of the festival will be a hybrid event with 70% of the sessions being held physically while the rest 30% are to be virtual sessions; across 4 days and 4 tracks in parallel. Set along with the shores of the Arabian Sea, the 4day festival brings artists, actors, celebrities, writers, thinkers, and activists closer to people of different backgrounds and interests. With an aggregate footfall of more than 3 lakh people, KLF is the second largest festival of its kind in Asia, combining the best of literary and popular cultures.

The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) said it has signed a pact with the Jammu & Kashmir government to promote hospitality and related infrastructure in the Union Territory. According to FHRAI, this is the first time in history that a joint MoU has been signed between an association of hotels and restaurants and the J&K state government. The MoU was signed on 27 December 2021 at the Real Estate Summit 2021. Thirty-nine MoUs were signed for the development of housing, hotel and commercial projects. FHRAI Vice-President Gurbaxish Singh Kohli said, ''We are hopeful that this (MoU) will facilitate the J&K Government providing land to FHRAI members for various projects and extending incentives and other benefits as per extant policies and rules.'' He observed that new developments in hospitality will give a strong push to economic growth through increased investments and will create more employment opportunities in the region.

MEA Aims To Open 'Passport Seva Kendra' In Every LS Constituency

Ryanair To Close Base At Germany's Frankfurt Airport

External Affairs Ministry signed an ag reement for second phase of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP-V2.0) with M/s.Tata Consultancy Services Limited, appointing them as the Service Provider for the project. The PSP-V2.0 is a continuation and enhancement of PSP-V1.0, an eGovernance instrument, which introduced unprecedented transformation in delivery of passport-related services to citizens. The Ministry is working towards opening of a Seva Kendra in every Lok Sabha Constituency where there is no Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). As on date 93 PSKs, 428 POPSKs and 36 Passport Offices are operational. Recognizing the need to continually improve the quality of Government to Citizen services and the mantra of Good Governance via IT and digital media, the Passport Seva Programme would be embarking on technology upgrade with the use of Biometrics, Artificial Intelligence, Advance Data Analytics, Chat-Bot, Auto-response, Natural Language Processing and Cloud Enablement.

Ryanair has announced it plans to stop serving Germany's busiest airport.

The budget airline said that it would stop using Frankfurt Airport and close its base there. It will reallocate its five planes there to other airports that “have responded with lower airport charges to stimulate traffic recovery”. The airline complained that instead of providing incentives as the aviation industry struggles with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, Frankfurt Airport “has chosen to increase prices even further, making Frankfurt uncompetitive with European airports.” The Ireland-based company said that all Frankfurt-based flight crew “can secure alternative positions within the Ryanair network" and that passengers affected by cancellations would receive notifications and refunds “over the coming days”.

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January 2022

Singapore Allows Work-related Events For Up To 1,000 People

Martha J. Sheridan Of Greater Boston CVB To Co-chair Meetings Mean Business Coalition

From Jan 3, companies will be allowed to hold work-related events for up to 1,000 people, a drastic increase from the c u r r e n t c a p o f o n ly 5 0 participants. But events with more than 50 people cannot include the consumption of meals or beverages, unlike those with fewer than 50 participants. Organisers must also make sure people are split into zones of up to 100 people per zone. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Jan 1 announced the relaxation of measures for corporate events, yet another sign that Singapore is transitioning to living with Covid-19. Organisers must inform the authorities of such events beforehand via an online form. Spot checks will be conducted, and enforcement actions taken against those who flout the rules. MTI and MOM said Mice events, comprising cross-company meetings, incentive travel, conferences and exhibitions, where more interactions between participants are expected, will continue to require special approval from MTI.

The Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC) board of directors has selected Martha J. Sheridan, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau (GBCVB), as its next co-chair. Effective January 2022, Sheridan will join Michael Massari, chief sales officer of Caesars Entertainment, in guiding the coalition through a pivotal moment for the meetings industry. Under their leadership, MMBC will continue to advance its mission of promoting the enduring value that professional meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and the economy, particularly as this hard-hit sector emerges from the pandemic. Sheridan added: "Meetings and events are a vital component of the U.S. travel economy, and this sector must return for us to fully recover from the pandemic. It is more important than ever for our industry to rally aroud the power of professional meetings and events."

WHO Urges Countries To Lift Travel Bans

India-based Tamara Leisure Experiences Strengthens Its German Portfolio

Despite an increase in Omicron cases, the World Health Organization has recommended governments abolish travel prohibitions and vaccine requirements for entrance. “The ineffectiveness of travel restrictions imposed following the discovery and reporting of the Omicron variation in limiting the international spread of Omicron over time is demonstrated by the failure of such efforts. In accordance with Article 40 of the IHR, travel controls should be based on risk assessments and should not place a financial burden on foreign travellers “In a statement, it stated. It went on to say that states should use a risk-based approach to “facilitating international travel by lifting or modifying barriers, such as testing and/or quarantine requirements, when appropriate.” Aside from that, the committee commended South Africa for identifying the Omicron variation so quickly. Meanwhile, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned world leaders that the Covid epidemic “is nowhere near done,” and that the Omicron form is causing hospitalizations and fatalities all around the world.

Tamara Leisure Experiences headquartered in Bengaluru, India has added to its German portfolio of hospitality outlets with the recent acquisition of M o x y B r e m e n a t Uberseestadt in Bremen. This marks the 4th hotel acquisition by Tamara Leisure Experiences in Germany, strengthening its hospitality portfolio in the region.

Speaking on this latest acquisition, Shruti Shibulal, Chief Executive Officer, Tamara Leisure Experiences says, “This is a proud moment for all at Tamara Leisure Experiences, especially as we close 2021, another tumultuous year for the hospitality industry. We, at Tamara, aim to strengthen our global presence and this latest acquisition in Germany marks our fourth property acquisition outside of India. With it, we further diversify our portfolio and continue on our path to achieving 1000 keys globally by 2025.” This newly acquired hotel is a three-star property with 128 rooms and is situated to the west of Bremen, a city with 570,000 residents.

Uberseestadt, where the hotel is located, is the former port area of the Walle district and is currently being built up as a modern mixed-use business and residential space.

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NEWS BUZZ

January 2022

India To Announce New Policy To Strengthen Tourism Sector India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.

Ministry of Tourism in partnership with Tourism stakeholders will launch various incentives and initiatives to encourage and facilitate your visit to India. India will host G20 summit next year and many meetings across various tracks will be held in India in various cities,” Shri Verma added.

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he Government of India is coming out with a new tourism policy to strengthen and build capacity of tourism sector in order to provide better services and facilities to the tourists visiting the country said, Shri Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India at the inaugural session of the 'Tourism Week' at the India Pavilion in EXPO2020 Dubai.

Elaborating on the tourism policy, Shri Verma added, “The policy will create five missions including National Green Tourism Mission, to mainstream sustainability in tourism sector; National Digital Tourism Mission, to digitalize the sector; Sectoral Mission on skill development, to ensure that the country has the best trained and qualified manpower to maintain high standards of service; National Mission on Destination Management, to focus on ensuring synergy and coordination amongst public and private stakeholders and National Mission on Tourism 11 | www.miceshowcase.com

MSMEs to support and facilitate the start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises.” He further said, “In order to kickstart inbound travel, India has offered 5 lakh free e-tourist visas and India is now opening up international travel in a calibrated manner. All our airports, railways and road transport have taken adequate measures for public safety and so have our tour operators and hospitality operators. As a result, India saw a significant spurt in domestic tourism in past few months.”

“India is celebrating and commemorating 75 years of Independence as 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' showcasing progressive

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai and Deputy CommissionerGeneral for India at EXPO2020 Dubai said, “Travel & Tourism is a crucial sector to Indian economy, contributor to employment and GDP. By 2030, we are expecting this sector to contribute upwards of USD 500 Billion to our GDP. IndiaUAE tourism is one of the busiest sectors in the world fuelled by the 3.3 million strong and vibrant Indian diasporas in the UAE. While UAE to India sees 50,000 tourists a year, UAE received over 6 million Indian tourists. EXPO2020 Dubai is the first Expo in the MEASA (Middle East, Africa and South Asia) region, and we are proud to announce that Indian visitors are largest in terms of visitors by nationality at the Expo.”

The inaugural session was also attended virtually by leading voices in the tourism and hospitality sector like Mr Rajeev Kohli, Joint Managing Director, Creative Travel, Mr Rajiv Aggarwal, Director & Head of Public Policy, Meta – India, Mr Rohit Kapoor, CEO, India & Southeast Asia, OYO Hotels & Rooms and Mr Dhruv Shringi, CoFounder & CEO, Yatra Inc.

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NEWS BUZZ

January 2022

Jharkhand Announces Incentives Up To Rs 10cr For Investment In Tourism

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he Jharkhand government announced a slew of fiscal incentives for those willing to invest in developing tourism facilities, including hotels and resorts, amusement parks, ropeways and adventure sports, to give a boost to the sector and attract tourists to the state. The incentives were announced in the recently unveiled state tourism policy, which aims to make Jharkhand a “must-visit destination” by tapping its unexplored potential.

“Fiscal incentives are to be provided for the promotion of tourism in Jharkhand. To provide incentives for increasing the competitive attraction of Jharkhand as compared to other states. All the fiscal incentives shall be routed through the Single Window System of Department of Industries,” the policy mentioned. Those eligible for incentives are hotels, resorts, amusement parks and ropeways set up with a minimum investment of Rs 10

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crore, it said.

Besides, wayside amenities built with a minimum investment of Rs 2 crore and water sports facilities set up with a minimum investment of Rs 1 crore are also eligible for incentives. Cruise ships and houseboats with a minimum investment of Rs 1 crore, and camping sites and adventure sports facilities set up with a minimum investment of Rs 50 lakh are eligible for the incentives.

Among others, aero sports facilities set up with a minimum investment of Rs 50 lakh, sound and light show and laser show with a minimum investment of Rs 25 lakh, and rural tourism sites set up with a minimum investment of Rs 25 lakh are also eligible for the incentives.

The policy said capital incentives up to Rs 10 crore will be provided and 50 per cent of it will be paid at the time of commission and the rest at the end of the first year of operations.

However, the details regarding how much would be paid in which category were not mentioned. Other benefits include subsidy for captive power generation, SGST related incentives and electricity duty related incentives.

An additional 5 per cent incentive up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided to SC and ST entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, disabled persons and ex-servicemen.An additional incentive of 5 per cent would be provided for setting up units in Scheduled Areas outside the urban hubs, the policy said.

Any project that starts commercial operations after Jharkhand Tourism Policy 2021 came into force would be eligible to apply for the benefits.

Jharkhand, carved out of the southern part of Bihar in 2000, shares its border with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal. It has a number of forests, including the Palamu Tiger Reserve, waterfalls, hills and temples.

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NEWS BUZZ

January 2022

Thomas Cook India Expands Presence In The Capital To Target Strong Growth Potential Of Delhi-NCR requirements, Thomas Cook India has set up a new Gold Circle Partner franchise outlet at Laxmi Nagar, Delhi.

Additionally, to build consumer confidence in travel, Thomas Cook India has launched “Assured” Safe Travel Program - developed in association with Apollo Clinics that ensures best in class travel safety protocols covering every distribution, delivery, and partner touch points in the travel ecosystem. “TravShield” an upgraded safety commitment of only vaccinated staff and copassengers among many other precautions, ensuring traveller safety in the pandemic era.

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homas Cook (India) Ltd., India’s leading integrated travel services company inaugurated a new Gold Circle Partner (franchise) outlet in Delhi. This expansion augments Thomas Cook India’s distribution and reach in Delhi-NCR to 13 consumer access centres: 6 owned branches and 7 Gold Circle Partner (franchise) outlets.

In addition to serving the financial hub of Laxmi Nagar, the new outlet will serve as a hub for nearby residential areas of Nirman Vihar, Karkardooma, Preet Vihar as well.

In the new age of travel (Covid-era), customers are understandably seeking the guidance and reassurance of holiday experts to navigate through the complexities and changes in travel and health protocols. Thomas Cook India’s internal survey reiterates the same, with a significant 77% respondents stating that they require guidance of a holiday expert. To help customers with their travel plans and

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Consumers are showcasing a strong pent-up demand and with vaccine acceptancy, consumers from DelhiNCR are displaying a strong travel desire for domestic favourites like Goa, Andamans, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, North-East; international destinations like Maldives, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, France, Turkey and Egypt. Key segments driving leisure demand from DelhiNCR include families, couples, group of friends/young professionals, and business travellers. Culture and heritage, adventure/outdoor, culinary experiences, and spa/wellness are top preferred holiday options for consumers from Delhi-NCR. Thomas Cook’s Gold Circle Partner outlet at Laxmi Nagar in Delhi, offers consumers end-to-end travel solutions with an array of travel and travel related services, including: International & Domestic Holidays (Group Tours, Personalised holidays, Cruises, etc.), Value Added Services

like Travel Insurance; Visa Services, etc.

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Delhi-NCR has always been a key market for us at Thomas Cook India, and we continue to see a strong travel desire from the region. We are delighted to announce the launch of our new Gold Circle Partner franchise outlet at Laxmi Nagar’s financial hub.

We intend to accelerate demand while supporting our customers across segments including families, couples, group of friends/young professionals, business travellers, local trade associations, and more.”

He added, “Our Gold Circle Partner,

Mr. D.S. Manral is a veteran with over 25 years in the travel and tourism sector. His extensive network will serve to strengthen Thomas Cook India’s presence in this growing market and thereby assist our customers from Delhi-NCR to plan their perfect holiday. We extend a warm welcome to our Delhi based customers. Our travel experts at our Lakshmi Nagar outlet will assist them plan their much awaited holidays for 2022.”

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January 2022

NEWS BUZZ

Budget Expectations 2022 - TAAI

Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI

A

s President of TAAI, I very strongly believe there are several aspects which can be expected in the upcoming budget session to support the entire sector holistically ‘Travel Tourism & Hospitality’ which will help in making this sector survive, revive & economically support India to become the largest hub for the world. For this, it is extremely important for both the central and state governments to work in tandem to facilitate this sector & support it to be included in the concurrent list to get Industry Status to make it more structured.

The government should strive to

increase the disposable income of the middle classes so that discretionary spending will rise. Concrete steps should be taken to improve the cash flows and reduce the working capital burden on start-ups, existing MSMEs & SMEs. Access to easy credit, reducing income tax rate & GST tax rate, abolishment of TCS & wage support with ease of business.

Strengthening MSMEs, creating a fund of funds scheme for technology adoption for use in industry 4.0, reviving the Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) for technology up-gradation.

To revive this struggling sector, we need ‘One India One Tourism’ approach inclusive of ‘One Tax Structure.’ Important points to be considered are E visa fees waiver for all tourist visas for 2022-2023, to support inbound revival Export status for tourism export earnings to support the inbound revival. Doubled, expenditure allocation for tourism

ministry to enable intensive global reach out to support the inbound revival. Domestic income tax travel credit for Indian citizens and Indian companies to support domestic retail and domestic mice pickup. Global bidding fund to enable bidding support to Indian mice companies to bring global mice events to India.

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) extension for tourism and hospitality. ATF ought to be brought under the GST to make air travel more viable for the entire aviation stakeholders.

Lastly & most vital is a structured mechanism to future secure travel agents’ payments to ensure that we create security for our travel agents & operators’ survival. Travel agents’ payments to principals are unsecured credit and we need to ensure that some form of mechanisms whether escrow or guarantee or underwriting based mechanisms are in place to ensure that travel agents money stays secure.

‘Isolation’ Is No Longer Required For COVIDPositive Foreign Arrivals

I

nternational visitors coming to India will no longer be required to stay in an isolation facility starting January 22, 2022, if they test positive for COVID-19, but will be required to isolate themselves at home according to protocol, authorities said.

The government said in its amended ‘Guidelines for International Immigrants’ that foreign arrivals who test positive will still be subjected to home quarantine for seven days even if they test negative, and will be

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subjected to an RT-PCR test on their eighth day in India.

Travelers from any country, including those considered ‘at-risk,’ were previously managed at an isolation facility and treated according to

normal standards, according to the authorities. The requirement to stay at an “isolation” upon arrival has been removed from the updated standards.

Passengers who are found to be sick during screening will be segregated and transported to a medical institution, according to the authorities.

If they are found to be positive, their contacts will be identified and addressed in accordance with the law, according to the statement.

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INTERNATIONAL M.I.C.E. SHOWCASE SUMMIT 3rd Edition An Empowering Summit For The Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions & Events (MICE) Professionals To Learn, Connect And Build Meaningful Business Connections

INTRODUCING IMS2021 Highlights

MICE & BUSINESS TOURISM

AWARDS o honour the resilience of ou r in d ative t ustr initi n A y

2022 dates will be announced soon

1000+ 90+

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COVER INTERVIEW

January 2022

SUSTAINABILITY OPTIMISATION OF MEETING DESIGN AND OF COURSE

HEALTH AND WELLNESS Julia Swanson, CEO, Melbourne Convention Bureau MS. The MICE business in Australia has expanded rapidly in recent years, the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) has outlined a solid performance in the 2019-20 financial year, despite the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. To what do you attribute this development?

Julia is a passionate and driven tourism and business events professional with over 20 years’ experience. In her 11 years with MCB, she has contributed strongly to the growth and success of the organisation in the global business events market. In her time as CEO, Julia has driven stronger strategic alignment with Visit Victoria through her role on the Visit Victoria Leadership Team for the overall benefit of the visitor economy. In 2021, Julia was appointed to the role of Vice President of The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB), a demonstration of her leadership and expertise in the business events industry in Australia. She is also currently on the Executive Board of the BestCities Global Alliance, an alliance of 11 leading global cities that harness the power of collaboration and community to create positive impact through business events. Julia holds a Bachelor of Business (Catering and Hotel Management) and a Masters of Business (Hospitality and Tourism Marketing). Her sales experience includes 13 years’ experience in a number of international hotel chains.

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Julia Swanson. Melbourne’s infrastructure paves the way for highly successful business events and corporate incentive groups, with worldleading conference facilities and venues, excellent connectivity, quality accommodation and WOW experiences unique to Melbourne. The city has always been an innovator in the events space, and with so much being accessible by foot, our compact city is easy to navigate once arrived. It invites delegates to discover its creative culture, expressed in its food, fashion, events, arts and music scene. Or for those wanting to explore further afield, the unique natural beauty of regional Victoria is just a short trip away. Yet, I truly believe it is our holistic ‘Team Melbourne’ approach and the relationships we have built with our clients and the business events supply chain over 50 years of operation that has put us in good stead.

Navigating the challenges presented by COVID-19 has been a top priority of MCB. We responded quickly to rapidly changing market conditions since the onset of the pandemic. We’ve had success with 70 per cent of events due to take place rescheduled to future years. This success can be attributed to our partner venues, accommodation and event service providers, being flexible with cancellation policies and working to accommodate postponements and international event rotation cycles. While travel wasn’t optimised, we reorganised the digital delivery of products and services to ensure clients could keep promoting their meetings and continue to plan their event in Melbourne with confidence.

MS. In what ways has MCB been instrumental in the delivery of highquality business events, and in exceeding the expectations of event organizers. What would be your top recommendations to get the most value out of an event?

Julia Swanson. In today’s fast-paced, changing world, the event industry has evolved and opportunities to connect can certainly be overwhelming. This is exactly where a convention bureau can step in and help. Unless you’ve personally had experience

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

COVER INTERVIEW

January 2022

with a convention bureau, you may not know what support services they provide for corporate and association event planners. Working with a destination’s convention bureau can help you transform the way you engage and connect your clients, whether it be through a corporate event, conference, team strategy day or incentive trip.

taking your event hybrid or virtual, MCB can connect planners with state-of-the-art live studios, cutting-edge production teams and virtual event platforms. Ÿ

Access to free marketing materials. Convention Bureaux like MCB can help organise print and digital destination information for delegate boosting, including visitor guides, maps, images, videos, itineraries and website content.

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Create a unique and unforgettable event. If you're looking to really get the most out of a destination during your event, bureaux are in the know. Event planners are spoilt for choice in bringing their event to life with access to MCB's expertise in working with different suppliers. Think laneway activations to gala events in unconventional locations like Old Melbourne Gaol or State Library of Victoria. In addition to the highest concentration of conference facilities in Australia, including the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne's vibrant arts and live music scene and a delectable culinary dining experience doesn't go astray to indulge a variety of clients.

Five benefits to engaging a convention bureau to help plan, execute and get the most value out of your event include: Ÿ

Services are complementary. Local bureaux have a wealth of experience in executing memorable events using state-of-the-art facilities and innovative suppliers to ensure every event yields successful business outcomes. Planners can tap into that network for no cost, as MCB provides a free one-stop service to creating memorable events in Melbourne.

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Access to contacts across government, industry sectors and more. Convention bureaux have access to a variety of government contacts and industry experts that may align with your event. MCB has the support of the state government and excellent networks in academia, medicine and research institutions to name a few.

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Receive advice and referrals to suppliers. With a plethora of venue, accommodation, catering, entertainment, transport and experience options on the market, a bureau can help narrow down the best suppliers for your event. MCB partners with more than 150 suppliers and can help you choose the right partners to meet your event brief and budget. If you're

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MS. MICE events are not just about business. What incentives does Melbourne offer in order to create a truly memorable experience?

Julia Swanson. As a premier destination for delegates and event planners, Melbourne is ever-changing its offering providing an array of new reasons to host business

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Take sustainable farm tour at Green Olive on the Mornington Peninsula where you’ll learn about their biological approach to farming and paddock to plate food production and soak up beautiful views while enjoying seasonal farm grown tapas and a glass of the estate grown wine.

events in the city. At MCB we are experts in crafting that once-in-life-time itinerary personalised specifically to our clients' needs and budget. One exciting new experience to open is Melbourne's new immersive digital art gallery THE LUME Melbourne, located at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.This epic adventure sees immersive art take over all the senses, and projections which reach four storeys tall, will remain an unforgettable experience for guests. Where else can you be immersed amongst Vincent Van Gogh artwork while hosting your networking event, gala dinner, product launch or post-conference drinks? THE LUME Melbourne is ideal for pre-function, exclusive full venue takeover with custom digital projections created just for you or non-exclusive events during gallery hours.

The proximity of the city to country and coast is very attractive with corporate meeting and incentive groups and pre-and post-conference touring options, particularly those interested in nature-based activities.

Welcome your team aboard TheQ Train – one of the newest offerings providing a once-in-a-lifetime incentive experience for delegates. MCB is proudly partnering for the first time with this award-winning restaurant that travels along the historic Bellarine Railway between Drysdale and Queenscliff. During a lunch experience that showcases the best of the Bellarine, guests can enjoy views of Swan Bay and local scenery. Packages are

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available for teams to sail directly from Docklands to Portarlington on board Port Phillip Ferries where groups will be met and transported to The Q Train. It’s never been easier to depart Melbourne and take a business meeting or networking event offsite. Making for a memorable day on the Bellarine, every minute of the journey is as much a part of the adventure as the destination itself. Melbourne is known for its coffee, laneway culture and street art, but its environmental initiatives have earned its reputation as one of the most sustainable, not just in Australia, but throughout the world.

There’s a myriad of incentive experiences to really connect people with a sense of giving back and provide a return on emotion that are the perfect for a team building activity.

Book a VIP tour at Phillip Island Nature Park to have a private ranger guide share conservation stories while guests build much needed artificial burrows that act as a box for wildlife in the area. Go on an Aboriginal Heritage walk at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and gain insight into the rich history of the First Peoples of Australia though a journey of learn about Aboriginal plant uses, customs and on-going connection to country and land. Or go on a Sustainable Farm Tour at Green Olive down by Mornington Peninsula where you’ll learn about their biological approach to farming and paddock to plate food production. After the tour you can settle with the view of their vineyard with seasonal farm grown tapas and a glass of the estate grown wine.

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MS. How badly has COVID-19 affected the meetings industry in your country and city?

Julia Swanson. Like all destinations, Australia’s meetings industry has been impacted considerably. However, we’ve adapted and innovated and are prepared for what lies ahead.

We are excited for the return of Melbourne signature events of the Australian Open, Formula One Grand Prix and Asia Pacific Incentive Meetings Event (AIME) this year. AIME 2022 will be one of the first international trade shows to be held in Melbourne this year and will be a significant recovery platform for the business events industry in Victoria - it’s our opportunity to show the world that Melbourne is back. We’ll see more international business events by mid-2022, including one of my personal favourites, the World Baristas Championship

and World Brewers Cup in July. Interest out of Asia for small-medium groups is increasing and we expect this market to return quickly once air access is established.

Importantly, the city-wide conventions of Rotary 2023 and Lions 2024 are still moving forward with their planning we appreciate the support of our MCB partners for these mega events.

MS. What has the pandemic taught us about the current state of the meetings industry? What plans do you have in regards to preventive measures to take with the rise of Omicron?

Julia Swanson. Even prior to the pandemic, safety was high on the consideration set for clients when deciding on a host destination. Melbourne’s reputation as a leading business event destination is supported by a list of success factors and safety is among them. Health and safety remain paramount and with mandatory vaccinations for attendance at venues, a level of comfort to event organisers and

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delegates is ensured. As a city we are well versed in COVIDSafe settings, and it puts us in good stead to stage events with confidence. Every venue has its own COVIDsafe plan which provides clarity to planners and for delegates. The guidelines are clear, and it is easy to do business. We have seen how incredibly resilient and adaptable the business events industry has been, rising to the challenges the pandemic has thrown up along the way.

MS. How does the future of business tourism in Melbourne look in these turbulent times? What sets your destination apart from the competition?

Julia Swanson. There is pent up demand for in-person events, with companies eager to bring people back together after almost two years behind screens and we are very

much looking forward to welcoming the national and international business events confirmed for Melbourne this year. There is a raft of new hotel openings, including the new five-star Hyatt Centric and Oakwood Premier with more to come in 2023.

THE LUME Melbourne, Australia’s first permanent digital art gallery at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre recently opened and offers a range of exclusive corporate event packages including thoughtfully curated menus, sound, and tech support to create an unforgettable multi-sensory event experience. The spiritual home of Australia's sporting and entertainment capital has a brandnew events and conference venue, CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park. Spanning over 4,500 sqm across three levels and encompassed by open green spaces, the innovative venue has the capabilities to host everything from large-scale conferences and major awards nights, and gala celebrations including five-star dining experiences.

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In 2021 (calendar year) MCB secured 64 business events for Melbourne. These events are expected to attract almost 46,000 delegates and inject $191 million direct revenue to the Victorian business events supply chain and provide long-term certainty for Victoria’s visitor economy in the coming years. Melbourne now has 123 international and national business events confirmed from now until 2028 worth more than $803 million and expected to attract close to 134,000 delegates filling over 385,000 room nights. We look forward to welcoming these events to Melbourne.

What sets Melbourne apart: Renowned as Australia's knowledge capital and innovation hub, Melbourne continues to be a major drawcard for many international associations, particularly in the fields of medicine and science.Melbourne's credentials as a city of great minds is supported by 13 major independent research institutes, 9 universities with expertise across health and life sciences, and 10 major teaching hospitals. Ÿ Melbourne's expert sectors include biomedical and pharmaceutical, sustainability and clean energy, education, information and communications technology, finance, infrastructure, transport.Melbourne offers Ÿ

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associations access to its world-leading research institutes and connections to academics to facilitate strong education programs, powerful knowledge sharing and fostering world-leading innovations. Ÿ Melbourne strong infrastructure offering ensures highly successful conferences and events, with worldleading conference facilities and venues, excellent connectivity, quality accommodation and an extensive transport system. Ÿ In addition, Melbourne also offers a wide range of immersive experiences which delegates are looking for and the city is renowned as a vibrant and multicultural with an exciting dining scene to match.

MS. How have you managed to connect the digital and analogue world at your events and in business? What key trends do you currently observe in the MICE industry?

Julia Swanson. Digital solutions have truly come into their own during the pandemic. It was a trend that has been accelerated out of necessity and MCB has undertaken a significant digital transformation of the delivery of our products and services to support international clients, professional event organisers and incentive planners plan future travel to Melbourne – including virtual site inspections, livestreaming and digital bid platforms.

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Whilst you can’t replace the magic of in-person interaction there’s an exponential move towards the use of digital tools, from engaging Zoom backgrounds, avatars for Virtual Booths to even fun Working from Home survival kits that can add a touch of engagement pre, during or post an online event. Virtual reality and 360 tours are becoming the new norm to help event planners have ‘onsite’ inspections of venues and accommodation from the comfort of their very own home. Melbourne’s world-class innovative business events supply chain is well set-up for this. The role of technology has grown exponentially, and this is here to stay.

MS. What are the top three major challenges surrounding the industry? What in your view are the current opportunities in this sector?

Julia Swanson. Sustainability – environmental impact of business events was a focus before the pandemic and will continue to be. The pandemic has given the sector the opportunity to rethink the return to in-person events and how they can be run to minimise impact on the destination.

Planners are increasingly including environmental credentials in their RFPS and seeking assistance from convention bureaux and the supply chain to minimise their impact.

Optimisation of meeting design – the last 24 months have been an environment of fast decision making with a focus on business continuity. Business event professionals have adapted accordingly, rapidly changing their events from inperson to virtual or hybrid.This has meant short-term planning cycles, learning on the run and fast execution.

Now we know COVID-19 is here to stay a while, event professionals can use the knowledge they’ve gained and

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feedback from hybrid and virtual delegates to better strategise their future meeting design.

We’ve seen a strong demand for in-person events to return and technology has rapidly developed. Now the focus needs to be on optimal meeting design to cater for both inperson and virtual attendees, noting their needs and experiences differ and delivery needs to be personalised to the channel. Organisations also need to think through commercial realities of multi-channel meetings and understand the impact on their bottom line. It’s an exciting time for the sector to capitalise on the strong demand for in-person, whilst building audiences through complementary technology solutions And of course, Health and wellness – the global pandemic has heightened focus on health, safety and wellness.

COVID-safety and risk mitigation will remain for the foreseeable future. Destinations with high vaccination rates, COVID-safety standards of venues and trusted heathcare systems will have a competitive advantage.

Further to that, I see the wellness of attendees growing in importance. This will increase focus on outdoor events, pre and post regional touring and wellness programs into meeting design.

MS. On a personal note, we are curious to know what keeps you busy when you are away from work?

Julia Swanson. As a mother of two adorable and incredible active boys aged 4 and 5, there is plenty occupying my time outside of business hours! We are very lucky living in Melbourne, with options for day trips to wine regions, Phillip Island nature parks, ski fields and of course, amazing bay and ocean beaches.

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ASSOCIATION

CORPORATE BUZZ

LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF ASSOCIATIONS & CORPORATE

IAStructE is organizing the online courses and webinars for the betterment of their members and other stakeholders. In the recent past IAStructE organized the Online Refresher Course on Design & Construction of Steel Bridges, during July-August 2021 and another online Refresher course on Seismic Rehabilitation and Retrofitting of Buildings, during September – October 2021. It also organized many webinars on the diverse topics related to structural engineering profession.

MICE Showcase Talks To Manoj Kumar Mittal, President, IASE MS. Please tell us when you joined IAstructE and what motivated you to join this association? Please share with us about your work and achievements as an engineer or researcher?

Manoj Kumar Mittal. I joined IAstructE in 2003. I am practicing as Civil & Structural Engineering consultant since 1992 after graduating from BITS-Pilani in 1985.Our organization engages in the structural engineering related services for buildings. Since then, we have designed more than one thousand structures of various magnitude and complexities. We also specialize in structural audit & retrofitting of buildings.

During the last three decades we have been able to contribute meaningfully to the profession. Our interest areas also include construction management & sustainability related aspects of the project. I joined IAstructE in 2003 since it was the only professional body in India dedicated to the structural engineering domain. All other professional bodies lacked the desired focus.

MS. Specifically, what was the motivation behind the conception and organizational formation of the Indian Association of Structural Engineers? Please recount its brief history and major milestones reached in fulfilling its

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plans.

Manoj Kumar Mittal. The Indian Association of Structural Engineers, identified as IAStructE, was conceptualized and constituted in the year 2002 by a group of senior professional Structural Engineers from all regions of the country. IAStructE is a national body of structural engineers established with the objective to cater to the overall professional needs of structural engineers in India.

IAStructE is purely a professional learned society with the prime objective of supporting and protecting the profession of structural engineering by upholding professional standards and acting as a mouthpiece for structural engineers in India.

The aim of the Association is to exchange knowledge and to advance the practice of structural engineering worldwide in the service of the profession and society. Now we have presence all over India. We have four regional centers. WE all encourage students to join as student members. We also try to establish student chapters in various engineering institutions. Members are selected after going through well laid down process of scrutiny of qualification & experience. With time It is growing in reach and impact.

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IAStructE is engaged in organizing the following: Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Panel Discussion & Question Answer session organized on 29th June 2019 the last day of lecture

MS. How does IASE do its utmost to conduct the mission for the betterment of its members? How does IAStructE contribute to the overall professional needs of structural engineers?

Manoj Kumar Mittal. IAStructE deals with all aspects of structural engineering: the science and art of planning, design, construction, operation, monitoring and inspection, maintenance, rehabilitation and preservation, demolition and dismantling of structures, taking into consideration technical, economic, environmental, aesthetic, and social aspects. The prime areas of the association are conducting in-service training programs for newcomers entering structural engineering, updating senior structural engineering professionals / consultants by initial professional development (IPD), and continuing professional Development (CPD) programs to practicing civil & structural engineering professionals. The purpose of Association is to associate together and contribute to a common goal for upliftment of Structural Engineers fraternity in India at large. This further helps in advancement of strengthening of civil Structures of public utility and ensuring safety of Indian Citizens.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Courses for Professionals Refresher Courses for young & Practicing Engineers Seminars/Workshops/Conferences-in person, online & Hybrid mode Technical Lectures related to the latest technological advancements and Technical Discussions Publishing of Structural Engineering Digest (SED) Technical Journal of IAStructE Publication of code commentaries. Handbooks and guidelines

Members have full access to these documents & resources.

Members also get significant discount in association’s activities. Further affiliation with IAStructE significantly enhances the prestige & credibility of the members.

Members also gets the opportunity to interact and network with well known renowned structural engineers.

MS. With the advancement of Science – What are the majors strides Civil and Structural Engineering has taken in its own niche domain? Furthermore, we would like to know how "Structural Engineering helps us to fulfill our need for nature's bounty in the most efficient way possible.”

Manoj Kumar Mittal. Emergence of new high performing construction materials / chemicals, analytical tools, vibration control devices & use of AI and data analytics has led to significant development and improvements in Structural Audit, Repair & Retrofitting, Structural Health monitoring of the structures. It has also led to complete automation and seamless integration of entire design and construction process. Increased focus on sustainability is propelling structural engineering to stretch beyond its

IAStructE has signed MoU with Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) UK, Japan Society of Seismic Isolation (JSSI), The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) UK, Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), Structural Engineers Association of Nepal (SEANep) for exchange of information and promotion of Structural Engineering profession.

The Association provides opportunity for all the members to develop skills in Structural Engineering and helps members to be at the forefront of Structural Engineering practice. Towards achievement of its aims and objectives,

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Mr Mahendra Raj, founder President inaugurated the Seminar

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traditional frontiers. Structural Engineering is an art and science of creating safe, innovative, and durable structures to fulfill the human needs by optimum and judicious use of natural resources for sustainable development. It is crucial for the development and sustenance of human race. All aspects of human life are touched by structural engineering. It is also key driver of any economy.

MS. Can you highlight any recent activities or events that IASE has hosted considering the current challenges posed by the Pandemic and how have these activities/events helped the fraternity at large?

Manoj Kumar Mittal. In view of the pandemic due to the outbreak of COVID-19, IAStructE is organizing the online courses and webinars for the betterment of their members and other stakeholders. In the recent past IAStructE organized the Online Refresher Course on Design & Construction of Steel Bridges, during July-August 2021 and another online Refresher course on Seismic Rehabilitation and Retrofitting of Buildings, during September – October 2021. It also organized many webinars on the diverse topics related to structural engineering profession. The main objective of these Refresher Courses was to build capacity by throwing light on the current scenario, giving background information about the works done so far, new developments and to apprise the future strategies in the field. This format enabled engineers’ members from all parts of India and abroad to attend the events. Even we were able to invite speakers from other countries as well. It improved the participation; quality of the events and large numbers of engineers were able o take benefit.

MS. How badly has COVID-19 affected this industry?

What has the epidemic taught us about the current state of your industry?

Manoj Kumar Mittal. COVID-19 has affected constriction industry very badly like many other sectors of the economy. It slowed down the customer’s demand.

Unavailability of resources and workforce during lockdown period was problem across all sectors of economy. Following COVID protocols and getting prepared for it also took some time. Apart from lifestyle changes in one’s life at personal level lot of changes have happened the way we use to work. Now many of operations and most of our meetings are remotely managed. Automation, online & working from home have become quite common. Pandemic has caused lot of agony to most of us but also taught many lessons for time to come.

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ASSOCIATION

January 2022

CORPORATE BUZZ

LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF ASSOCIATIONS & CORPORATE

MS. What are the top three major challenges surrounding the industry? What in your view are the current opportunities in this sector?

Manoj Kumar Mittal. In my view non-availability of skilled & trained workforce, absence of regulatory mechanism of engineering profession & lack of ethical professional practice are three major challenges. These issues need urgent attention of government. Solution of these involves combined coordinated efforts by government, academic institutions & professional bodies apart from other stakeholders. Affordable mass housing & infrastructure projects will be the areas in focus in time to come.

MS. If you had to develop an even more radical vision for the association, what would it be?

Manoj Kumar Mittal. Merger/amalgamation of all associations in the domain of structural engineering, mandatory enrollment of all structural engineers based on written assessment test, periodical review after 5 years, complete automation of all processes of the associations and quality technical events in hybrid mode, termination of membership on disciplinary & non ethical practices and publication of quality journal of international standards would be my dream list.

MS. Also, we would like to know what keeps you busy when you are away from work?

Manoj Kumar Mittal. Listening music & podcast, going for long walks, reading books are my hobbies. Apart from I have started my podcast SamVad which is a deep and extended conversation with a guest on a particular topic.

Till now I have done episodes on ethics and education. It is available on all podcast platforms like anchor, Spotify, apple & google etc.

Panel discussion in progress

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January 2022

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TEMA Is The Only Association Which Has Joined Ribbon Cutting Of World’s Largest Show CES, Las Vegas For More Than Ten Years In A Row Prof. NK Goyal, Chairman, Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (TEMA) executive and financial powers” The first telecom manufacturer’s conference was attended by 100 manufacturers, which were initial members of TEMA. Some of the highlights of the said conference and relevant as on date were: 1. One of objectives of conference was “To meet the telecom needs of the Country, it is necessary to increase the production of telecom equipment in the Country by at least three times.”

2. In his Welcome Address Shri BS Murthy, the then Member (Production) cum Ex Officio Secretary to Govt. of India said:

Prof. NK Goyal, Chairman, Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (TEMA)

MS. Could you tell us about your beginnings with the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association? Please share some of your professional moments with us.

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There is need to, at least, treble the production of Telecom Equipment in the Country during the coming five years.

Prof. NK Goyal. TEMA owes its establishment to the India’s first ever “Telecom Manufacturers Conference” organized by Telecom commission just within three months of its incorporation, on 13th/14th June,1889 at New Delhi. Taking clue from this conference and to follow up telecom manufacturing sector, the TEMA was formed on 1st June,1990, as the first ever telecom sector association in India.

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A common forum has been provided for exchange of views among Government departments, manufacturers and users so that a national strategy can be evolved for meeting the challenges of indigenous production.

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The conference will focus the attention on ways and means of achieving the target of increasing the telephone density. This can be achieved only by total participation and motivation of all the telecom manufacturers in the Country.

It may be recalled that Telecom Commission was established by Resolution and gazette on 11.4.1989. TEMA is grateful that the “Production” was recognized in the resolution of formation of Telecom Commission as: Ÿ

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“In order to promote rapid development in all aspects of telecommunications including technology, production and services, the GOI consider it necessary to set up an organization, which will have responsibility in the entire field of telecommunications.

After careful consideration, the GOI have decided to establish a Telecommunication Commission with full

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3. Shri PS Deodhar, the then Adviser Media, Planning Commission in his opening address said: Ÿ

The indigenous production is totally inadequate to match this needs. The answer does not lie in importing the systems from Multinational companies. The thrust should be on indigenous production.

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Imported technology is expensive. There is no need to import technology. The money saved could be gainfully employed in setting up in built R&D and investing in technology appropriate to Indian conditions.

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Prof. NK Goyal Photo with Hon'ble Sri Narendra Modi, PM of India 4. Shri Abid Hussain, the then Member Planning commission in his Key Note Address said: Highlighted the Government commitment to indigenously designed and manufactured equipment.

5. One of the recommendations was “9.4: Establish telecom export promotion council….decision agreed.

IL will be entrusted with this task”.

Finally, the said Export council was formed by TEMA and its initial notification was issued as “TEMA Export Promotion Council”, that was later changed to “Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC)” MS. What do you think the most difficult component of this job is, and what are you doing to address it?

Prof. NK Goyal. Every Govt policy since independence right from Industrial Policy Resolution 1956, talks of promotion of telecom manufacturing and several initiatives, policies taken, yet India yet to achieve substantial position as hub for manufacturing. The issue is world over the Countries like China, Japan, US, Sweden, Korea, etc. invested heavily in R&D and developed technologies and promoted them even to the extent of blocking of competitive technologies. For example USA and South Korea did not allowed GSM and China stopped 3G/4G. India on the contrary welcomed all technologies without any restriction or even import licence. That

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allowed all global technologies to market in India. The Indian technologies, thus were forced to compete with large foreign companies and they never acquired large global base. Now during present times Govt forced 4G from domestic sources to BSNL and has also formed committees for 5G/6G for R&D and domestic manufacturing promotion. Biggest challenge is access to market for domestic manufactured products.

The foreign manufacturers offer very low cost finance and dirt cheap costs. With PLI and Make in India, this may improve. Hence domestic manufacturing offers very good scope. However, the Make in India policies as of now applies only to Central Govt and its PSUs. It need to be extended to State Govt and their projects and private industries.

MS. What is the size of India's telecom equipment manufacturing industry? In the next two to three years, what amount of growth do you anticipate?

Prof. NK Goyal. Hon’ble FM launched National Infrastructure Pipeline on 31.12.2019. She said the Country has a compilation of projects worth Rs 102 lakh crore and in next few months, it would reach the Rs 300 lakh crore target. Even if 4-5% of this is taken for telecom projects, it would be around Rs 12-15, 00,000- 5, 00,000 Crores. We estimate at least 50% of this, i.e. about Rs 6, 00,000- 7, 50,000 Crores should be coming from domestic manufacturers, cumulative over the next five years.

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TEMA is also known for instituting CMAI ICT World Communication Awards, National; Telecom Awards, International Education Excellence Awards, International CSR awards and International Cyber Security Awards. TEMA is taken as a brand and important stakeholder for policies related to Telecom, ICT, Digital technologies etc.

TEMA and its promoted association CMAI has a membership base of 48,500 and 74 MOU partners worldwide.

TEMA regularly conducts seminars, conferences and international exhibitions on telecom, ICT, cyber security, Education, technology issues. TEMA also regularly interact with Govt. on policy formulations for Data security of POS Machines and Digital Payments" - NK Goyal spectrum, procurement, technical evaluation, MS. What steps should the government take to encourage standards, specifications, National security domestic telecom equipment manufacturing? related matters.

Prof. NK Goyal. Extend MAKE in India PPP MII to State Government and their projects and private companies.

Have a long term policy to sustain, promote local technologies. Enforce local specifications mad by DOT TEC on all the industries whether private or Government.

Identify relevant technologies, invest in R&D and promote their use in Defence/Govt. as also private uses, on the lines of US DARPA policies.

MS. According to a new analysis by Booz & Co, India's domestic manufacturing sector will not grow at a promising rate. What are your thoughts on the subject?

MS. A few foreign vendors have already established manufacturing operations in the country. How do you think indigenous producers will do against established players with huge pockets?

Prof. NK Goyal. Any body manufacturing in India is treated as Indian manufacturing.

MS. Finally, what is your vision for the industry in which you work? Do you have any specific goals in mind?

Prof. NK Goyal. To make Atma Nirbhar Bharat in telecom sector by 2023.

Prof. NK Goyal. We do not agree with this proposition, as with focus on Digital India, Make in India and internet revolution, upcoming 5G/6G, India is now world’s second largest market after China.

MS. Could you please tell us about the TEMA's most recent activities and conferences?

Prof. NK Goyal. TEMA is known world over by the fact that it is the only association in world, which has joined Ribbon Cutting of world’s largest show CES, Las Vegas for more than ten years in a row. TEMA is also known as founder of World Electronics Forum, Asia Electronics Forum.

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January 2022

This Year Is One Of The Best Years To Visit The Maldives - The Golden Jubilee year of the Maldivian tourism industry

Thoyyib Mohamed - MD, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation MS. If you would like to summarize the learnings from 2021, then what would they be?

Thoyyib Mohamed. We learned an incredible amount of lessons in 2021. I can say that one of the most significant lessons we learned is that being prepared means you are already halfway to overcoming the challenge. The Maldives’ success and perseverance during the pandemic is a testament to how well we communicated and prepared for any challenges to come. We adapted to the situation by trying new things, like switching some platforms to digital mediums and taking our first real step into the MICE tourism segment. It makes perfect sense, really - Maldives is already an award-winning destination for honeymoons, diving and family vacations, so why not combine business with those and get rid of the ‘zoom fatigue’ with board meetings on the beach? Making quick decisions, sharing updated information with all our stakeholders, and thinking in the long term are all important lessons we learned from propping up the tourism industry despite the obstacles of the difficult year.

can let go in complete comfort and serenity. It is also important to keep in mind that a lot of trade fairs, conferences, and events had to be canceled due to the pandemic. However, more in-person events are opening up, and the Maldives is positioning itself as one of the leading destinations for MICE- we have already started and plan to continue redefining MICE travel and tourism. Conferences are often thought to be serious and somber. Why can’t these meetings be held on a beach, with cocktails in hand and a jaw-dropping sunset on the horizon? Another top trend for this year will definitely be environmental awareness from conscious travelers. As one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, the Maldives had always been vocal about sustainability and incorporating best practices for the environment in all levels of work and in the services provided. Our waste management practices, the national single-use plastics phase out plan and our penchant for high levels of investment in marine conservation are all necessary if we are to continue to allow travelers to enjoy the true natural beauty of the Maldives’ islands.

MS. What will be your plans for 2022?

Thoyyib Mohamed. This year is one of the best years to visit the Maldives - the Golden Jubilee year of the Maldivian tourism industry. We started off as an obscure chain of islands in the middle of the vast Indian Ocean, and the people of Maldives have transformed the destination into one of the most desired and sought-after spots in the world - we just won the World Travel Awards’ most prestigious title, “World’s Leading Destination” for the second year in a row. Our plans for 2022 is to celebrate this success and achieve even greater milestones. We step into the new year with the exciting goal of welcoming 2 million travelers, and we have an entire year of surprises, perks and special programs planned for our visitors this year.

MS. What according to you would be the top trends in 2022?

MS. What message would you like to give to the industry?

Thoyyib Mohamed. We believe a lot of travelers will be interested in wellness travel this year. After months of lockdown, isolation, and mental burdens, travelers are interested in reconnecting with themselves, their family, and the natural environment. Safety is such a big part of wellness travel and peace of mind is something we have in abundance in the Maldives. The Maldives is the absolute perfect destination for this, as our naturally socialdistanced geography of scattered islands ensure that one

Thoyyib Mohamed. I want to offer my deepest gratitude to the travel industry. The industry has proven that whatever challenges come our way, we can overcome them. The diligence and dedication of the Maldives’ tourism industry is one thing, but the global travel trade as a whole stepped up to allow international tourism to flourish again. The resilience, bravery and innovativeness of travel trade professionals all over the world had empowered not just us, but travelers as well. I, for one, am proud to be part of this amazing industry.

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Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

MESSAGE FROM

INDUSTRY

January 2022

Focus On The Tourism Sector As A Growth Engine And Development Driver Of Economic Growth

Vishal Suri, Managing Director, SOTC Travel We look forward to the upcoming Union Budget’s consideration of further economic relief for the industry at-large with lower taxes and incentives to help boost the road to recovery.

The industry appreciates the

Government’s support to enable revival and strengthen the sector for which we anticipate a complete rationalization of GST, reducing/ eliminating the TCS on outbound travel, and eliminating the 5 crore capping for the SEIS benefit.

Rationalization of tax structure will help reduce complexities and will enable the industry to focus and accelerate businesses further.

Eliminating the 5 crore capping for the SEIS benefit would provide much needed impetus to post Covid revival of the tourism industry and promote

employment generation. More importantly to boost domestic travel and tourism, incentives should be offered to Corporates for organizing meetings and conference in India through partial or full tax exemptions to the corporates on the expenses incurred. We seek assistance from the Government in enhancing the structural transformation that is needed to build a stronger, more sustainable and resilient tourism industry.

We need to focus on the tourism sector as a sustainable engine for economic growth and development. The Government should reboot the tourism economy on a stronger, fairer and more sustainable footing.

In The Last 2 Years, We Have Seen The Power Of The Domestic Market And The Potential That It Holds

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he Travel & Tourism sector has been a key contributor to the GDP and the Union Budget offers the government a significant opportunity to create a stimulus towards revival.

The last 2 years have highlighted the power of the domestic market and towards unlocking the full potential of domestic tourism, we look forward to Budgetary focus on infrastructure development, technology and healthsafety across airports/aviation, road, rail and waterways. India’s waterways offer a large underleveraged potential that includes sea and river cruising opportunities and cascading employment benefits to the catchment areas. Empowering our global embassies, export (zero-rated) status to

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the inbound tour business and deeper marketing investment is much needed to kick start inbound demand and ensure competitive viability when compared to our neighbours in the region.

Madhavan Menon, MD, Thomas Cook India Group We look forward to the Government’s favourable terms as a stimulant to announcement of granting Industry enable the sector get back on its feet. status, rationalisation of taxes This will equally harness its force (including a complete GST tax holiday, multiplier impact towards GDP exemption of TCS levy on overseas contribution, employment generation/ holiday packages and reduction in skill development - much needed as the indirect taxes), removal of SEIS Country heads towards recovery, benefit capping of Rs. 5 cr and revival and growth. introduction of soft loans with Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

ADVERTORIAL

ADVERTORIAL

SUSTAINABILITY

January 2022

UNWTO Workshop Explores Power Of Statistics For Sustainable Tourism In Asia And The Pacic

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overnment policymakers, statisticians and relevant stakeholders from across the Asia and the Pacific region came together for a special workshop focused on Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism. The workshop was organized by UNWTO in collaboration with the Department of Tourism of the Philippines and with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea.

The sessions featured prominent speakers from governments as well as from the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), Auckland University and UNWTO.

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To further enrich cross-country and interregional learning, guest speakers also came from Fiji, Jamaica, Netherlands, Thailand and the Philippines.

Participants underscored the importance of implementing the MST Statistical Framework not only for informing national policy and subnational tourism management, but also to ensure aligned action and monitor progress towards regional and global policy ambitions such as climate action and the Paris Agreement, circular economy, the Sustainable Development Goals, the SAMOA Pathway, the Convention on Biological Diversity and others. The workshop provided a platform to review the MST Statistical Framework and its main concepts,

definitions, and tables for producing credible and comparable data on tourism sustainability.

Participants discussed the value of a flexible implementation of MST based on priorities and circumstances, best strategies for strengthening data capture capabilities and making the most of available data, and the importance of engaging stakeholders across the board. Other elements raised for successful implementation included a shared communication strategy, education not only in the production of data but also its use and drawing up a commonly agreed roadmap. The workshop brought together more than 80 key virtual participants from National Tourism Authorities and National Statistical Offices in the Asia and the Pacific.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

ASSOCIATION NEWS

January 2022

ASSOCIATION

CORPORATE BUZZ

LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF ASSOCIATIONS & CORPORATE

ESSA Launches Certied Training And Development Programme With Series Of Induction Courses

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vent Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) has launched the ESSA Individual Induction, the first in a series of certificated training courses for its members with a focus on health and safety. In its continued provision of market-leading services to its members, ESSA has created a series of bite-sized induction courses that cover a range of safety-related areas to provide a key understanding of different health and safety requirements when working at an exhibition or event.

ESSA already offers company-level Accredited status, a quality assurance programme designed to offer peace of mind to exhibitors, event organisers and venues by providing demonstrable proof of a company’s commitment to achieve the highest standards of health and safety benchmarks. These

attainable induction courses help pave the way for members to demonstrate their commitment to the highest standards of health and safety practices and invest in their employee’s continuous development.

Free and unlimited access to full ESSA members, 12 new induction courses are available in the first series and include: Health & Safety Law The CDM Regulations 2015 Industry Resources Risk Assessment Work at Height Work Equipment Fire Safety Electrical Safety Vehicle Safety Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health Ÿ Slips and Trips Ÿ Environmental Awareness Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Each short module provides a clear and concise understanding of why certain rules are in place, the requirements needed to follow them and how individuals can help make exhibition halls a safer and more efficient place. As well as being good for business, it is also the law.

ESSA director, Andrew Harrison, said: “At this critical time, we need to support our industry with the necessary training that demonstrates commitment to every aspect of health and safety. We have listened intently to our members and recognise that for many, there is a requirement to work from the ground up to meet the increasing health and safety needs of our sector and exhibit demonstrable training and competency at all levels.

Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) Launched to Advocate for Industry

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he Iowa Restaurant Association led and managed the launch of a new trade group representing hotels and lodging establishments in Iowa.

According to a news release, the Iowa Hotel and Lodging Group, a nonprofit trade association, was formed earlier this month. The association will endeavour to promote and advocate for the state’s roughly 700 hotels and lodging companies. The foundation of the association coincides with the industry’s endeavour to revive.

According to data from the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the

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newly established group’s national partner, Iowa hotels lost over 10,000 jobs and $420 million in room income.

State industry employment has fallen by 9%, with approximately 2,000 prepandemic hotel jobs still unfilled.

“When COVID travel limitations were implemented, Iowa’s hotel and lodging industry were one of the most hit business sectors,” Paul Rottenberg, president and CEO of Orchestrate Hospitality Group and chairman of the IHLA board, said in the announcement.”As we fight our way back to pre-pandemic occupancy rates, we need a unified voice.” It also

wants to take an active part in preventing human trafficking as an inaugural member of Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking.

The group’s first educational outreach will focus on assisting the industry with a new rule that went into effect on January 1 that requires all hotel personnel to be trained on how to detect and report human trafficking offences. Hotels must be compliant in order to host and receive payments for overnight stays by state employees or for state meetings hosted on hotel grounds.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

January 2022

ASSOCIATION

CORPORATE BUZZ

LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF ASSOCIATIONS & CORPORATE

MPI Announces Postponement Of The European Meetings And Events Conference (EMEC) Its last two North American signature events were evidence of well-designed experiences considering COVID-19 precautions. WEC Grapevine in November 2020 resulted in a 99% satisfaction rate with its Duty of Care procedures and zero attributed positive COVID-19 cases. And WEC Vegas in June 2021 received 97% satisfaction rate with its Duty of Care procedures, with only two positive COVID-19 tests, each “breakthroughs”, reported after the event.

MPI will continue to work closely with the EMEC Host Committee, its European Advisory Council and local partners on future plans for EMEC both in 2022 and 2023.

M

eeting Professionals International (MPI), the world’s leading industry association for meeting and event professionals, announced the postponement of its European Meeting and Events Conference (EMEC), planned to take place 27 February through 1 March, 2022 in Brighton, UK. MPI and the EMEC Brighton Host Committee have been monitoring the rapid global proliferation of the Omicron variant, as well as the trends in the UK and across Europe to tighten travel restrictions in response.

Based on discussions concerning the increase in travel restrictions and the overall health and safety of event attendees due to the Omicron variant, named by the World Health Organization as a “variant of concern”, it was determined that the in-person event should be postponed. MPI will be exploring options to bring its European community together in 2022.

“After discussion with our partners and

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Annette Gregg, Senior Vice President, MPI

Host Committee members, we’ve determined that continuing to plan for EMEC Brighton would not be a responsible action to take amidst the uncertain landscape unfolding largely due to the Omicron variant,” said Annette Gregg, MPI Senior Vice President of Experience, “The pandemic has underscored the need to review and assess each event fluidly, adapting plans to ensure the wellbeing, health and safety of all involved in our events.”

MPI has demonstrated success in planning safe in-person experiences.

“While we are disappointed to postpone EMEC Brighton, each member among our Host Committee felt it was the right thing to do given the circumstances,” said Richard Allchild, Head of Sales North America, IMEX Group, and EMEC Brighton Host Committee Co-Chair.

“EMEC is the industry’s premier European event and, above all, its intent is to provide fertile learning and innovation grounds for this

international community. This current scenario would simply undermine our ability to deliver the experience so many have come to expect.”

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

APPOINTMENT

January 2022

Vinod Kannan Takes Over As Chief Executive Ofcer At Vistara

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istara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of Tata group and Singapore Airlines, announced the appointment of Mr. Vinod Kannan as Chief Executive Officer, effective 01 January 2022. Also, Mr. Deepak Rajawat has been elevated to take up the role of Vistara’s Chief Commercial Officer.

Mr. Kannan started his stint with Vistara as the Chief Strategy Office in June 2019 and took over as Chief Commercial Officer in January 2020 with responsibility for developing, executing, and sustaining Vistara’s corporate strategy and ensuring the airline’s commercial success. He played a pivotal role in launching Vistara’s international operations, expanding its domestic network, fleet size and driving airline’s steady growth during the pandemic.

degree in Business Administration from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to carry forward the momentum that Mr. Leslie Thng has built during his time at Vistara. I look forward to continue strengthening Vistara’s position, in both – Domestic and International markets, along with such a capable and resilient team”, said Mr. Vinod Kannan.

Mr. Kannan spent over two decades working with Singapore Airlines (SIA) and has held several senior positions in the airline’s head office in Singapore as well as overseas. He holds a Master’s

Mr. Deepak Rajawat, the new Chief Commercial Officer, has been with Vistara since inception and held several leadership roles in Corporate Planning and Finance functions. He was the Divisional Vice President & Head of Corporate Planning with the airline until 31 December 2021. In his new role, he will be spearheading a wide portfolio of Vistara’s strategic and commercial functions, including but not limited to pricing and revenue management, network planning, sales & distribution, partnerships & alliances, product development, inflight services, marketing, branding and customer experience.

IndiGo Appoints Neetan Chopra As Chief Digital And Information Ofcer

I

nterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo) appoints Neetan Chopra as Chief Digital & Information Officer (CDIO).

He will join IndiGo with effect from January 03, 2022. Neetan, with over 25-years’ experience will take on this newly created role.

Neetan is currently the “Group Chief Technology Officer” at Dubai Holding and was previously a Senior VP of IT & Innovation at Emirates. Having begun his career at Accenture Consulting in India in early 1992, Neetan moved to the UAE and joined Emirates in 1995 as a Senior IT Manager. He steadily grew with

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Emirates before leaving them in 2018 and joining Dubai Holding as their Group CTO. The newly created role of CDIO will provide vision and leadership for developing and implementing information technology and digitalization initiatives as an integral part of the of IndiGo’s business strategy.

Neetan will spearhead the digitization of IndiGo’s operations in order to improve cost effectiveness, service quality, customer centricity and analytical capability, as well as drive the co-creation of new digital business models with internal and external partners and the larger technology ecosystem.

Neetan will be responsible for all aspects of IndiGo’s information technology and systems, processes, and organization, with a strong focus on attracting, retaining, and developing key IT and digital talents.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

APPOINTMENT

January 2022

Destinations International Appoints Jane Cunningham Director of European Engagement

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estinations International, the world's largest resource for official destination organizations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), announced that Jane Cunningham has joined the association as the director of European engagement. Jane's first day will be January 24, 2022.

Destinations International aims to foster a dynamic community of global destination leaders and the broader conference, travel and tourism industry. Residing in Stockholm, Sweden, Jane will be responsible for overseeing and developing a long-term engagement strategy for European destination organizations.

“Global coordination and the sharing of best practices will be essential as we continue to recover from the pandemic,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. “Collaboration has never

been more important than now and engaging with the European market is crucial. Throughout 2022, Jane will be embarking on a listening tour to see how Destinations International can best become a part of the global community.

Her network and 20 years of experience in almost every sector of our industry will prove invaluable as she helps our association develop key opportunities for our European

strategy in 2022 and beyond.

Destinations International and our entire industry will benefit from her energy and collaborative spirit.”

Jane has extensive global experience across the meetings and events industry, including working at hotels, a convention center, a destination marketing organization and a professional conference organization (PCO). Most recently, she held the director of community engagement position at BestCities Global Alliance.

HKTDC Appoints New Deputy Executive Director

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he Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has appointed Ms Sophia Chong as Deputy Executive Director overseeing international trade fairs and digital business for the Council.

She succeeds Mr Benjamin Chau, who is retiring after 37 years at the HKTDC. “Sophia is an industry veteran whose drive, commitment and talent have contributed to Hong Kong’s role as a global leader in international trade fairs and conferences,” said Ms Margaret Fong, Executive Director,

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HKTDC. “Her experience in all aspects of the Council’s work has given her a broad perspective and insights that will be crucial in helping Hong Kong’s SMEs ride through this

period of unprecedented challenge and capture new opportunities.”

Ms Chong has been promoted from the position of Assistant Executive Director, in which she was responsible for supervising some 30 annual HKTDC exhibitions, a number of which are the largest marketplaces of their kind in Asia or the world. Prior to that, she served as Director, Exhibitions and worked with the HKTDC’s global network of offices and industry multipliers worldwide.

Ms Chong joined the HKTDC in the 1990s.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

PARTNERSHIPS

January 2022

Priority Pass Announces Global Partnership With CarTrawler For Frictionless Travel Experience

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service will be available globally to all Priority Pass Members in 42 different languages and includes car rental as well as a variety of airport transfer options including shuttle and ondemand ride-hailing.

irst-ever global ground transport partnership for Priority Pass creates a frictionless end-to-end travel experience Ÿ

Ÿ

Partnership gives Priority Pass Members access to CarTrawler’s network of over 2,200 car rental and mobility providers from 56,000 locations worldwide All Priority Pass Members can now book car rental and airport transfer via the Priority Pass app

Collinson’s Priority Pass has launched a global partnership with CarTrawler – the global B2B provider of technology solutions for the travel industry – offering members access to CarTrawler services through the Priority Pass app. The partnership represents a push towards creating a

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seamless travel experience for Members, by going beyond the airport to enhance the overall customer journey.

With 56,000 locations around the world, CarTrawler leverages a network of over 2,200 car rental and mobility providers to ensure optimal availability and pricing – allowing for travellers to choose from a range of add-on transport options that best suit their needs, budget and schedule. The

The new global partnership gives Priority Pass Members the added value of a streamlined travel experience which enables them to effortlessly book ground-based transport, and is accessible within each market that Priority Pass has a presence. Members gain access to competitive rates from multiple car rental and mobility providers such as Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Grab, Cabify, Lyft and more, and Members can simply use any valid payment card to hire their vehicle or pay for their transfer.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

PARTNERSHIPS

January 2022

Oman Air Holidays Signs Exclusive Partnership With CONNECT For 2022 MICE Calendar

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man Air Holidays has signed a partnership agreement with CONNECT, a subsidiary of Oman’s SABCO Group, becoming exclusive travel partner for all CONNECT events on the 2022 calendar. As the Sultanate of Oman’s leading provider of inbound and outbound flight and holiday packages, Oman Air Holidays will offer event delegates, exhibitors and visitors a variety of exclusive accommodation and tour packages, comprising flight tickets, transfers, excursions and bespoke itineraries and add-ons.

“The 2022 MICE season in Oman is shaping up to be a busy one, and we’re delighted to partner with CONNECT to facilitate and enhance the offering of exclusive hotel and tour packages available to everyone attending exhibitions this year,” said Mundher Al Shaikhani, Senior Manager at Oman Air Holidays. “With five large-scale exhibitions already confirmed on CONNECT’s 2022 calendar, Oman Air

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Holidays has assembled customizable packages offering bespoke add-ons and itineraries for those wanting to explore Muscat and other regions in the Sultanate during their stay.”

Commenting on the partnership, Sayyid Khalid bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, Chairman of CONNECT and SABCO Group, said “CONNECT are proud to be partnering with the Sultanate of Oman’s national carrier and tour operator, Oman Air Holidays.

This partnership is borne through the shared ambition to position the Sultanate as a world class hub for the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition (MICE) industry, an industry that has a fundamental role to play in stimulating in-country trade and investment, and in achieving the Oman 2040 Vision. Additionally, international exhibitors, delegates and visitors who attend CONNECT’s market leading events will now have the opportunity to experience Oman Air’s multiple award winning services,

and through Oman Air Holidays’ extensive network of hotels, transportation services and excursions, to truly be able to discover the rich history, beauty and hospitality of Oman.”

Covering a wide cross-section of industry, this year’s CONNECT organized events include Oman Design & Build Week (14-16 March 2022), Oman Sustainability Week 2022 (14-16 March), Oman Petroleum & Energy Show (21-23 March), Oman Health Exhibition & Conference (26-28 September), and Food & Hospitality Oman Exhibition & Conference (26-28 September).

Partnering with CONNECT paves the way for Oman Air Holidays to extend its package holidays expertise and presence to Oman’s growing MICE tourism ecosystem, thus strengthening its participation and role in the government’s Vision 2040 tourism objectives.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

AVIATION

January 2022

Greater Bay Airlines Expands Its Growth Across Asia Pacic With Amadeus

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ewly established and headquartered in Hong Kong, Greater Bay Airlines is taking the next step in its growth strategy after obtaining its AOC (Air Operator’s Certificate) on 8th October 2021. The carrier has signed an agreement with Amadeus to make its schedules and fares available to travel agencies worldwide via the Amadeus Travel Platform in the first quarter of 2022.

Flights will commence in the same quarter, subject to regulatory

approvals. Amadeus-connected travel sellers — including travel management companies, corporations, tour operators, retail travel agencies, online travel agencies, and metasearch — will be able to easily search, book and service reservations on Greater Bay Airlines. Through the Amadeus Travel Platform, they will gain access to the airline’s flight schedules, load changes, seat maps, ancillary services and fare families as well as real-time flight updates.

These options will empower travel sellers to tailor offerings to their customers’ specific requirements, generating more value for both customer and airline.

Algernon Yau, Chief Executive

Officer, Greater Bay Airlines, says “We are pleased to appoint Amadeus as one of our service providers for Global Distribution System. Amadeus could support our rapid implementation requirements and the growth of our airline.” GBA has applied for the rights to operate in 104 destinations across the region, including Chinese Mainland, North and Southeast Asia. The carrier has already leased three Boeing 737-800 aircraft and plans to grow its fleet to 30 aircraft over the next five years.

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Wins Excellency - Gold Award in “Telangana State Energy Conservation Awards - 2021 (TSECA)”

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MR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL) has clinched the prestigious “ExcellencyGold Award” in "Telangana State Energy Conservation Awards - 2021 (TSECA)". The award was presented for the excellent initiatives taken by GHIAL in conserving the energy. At a grand event organized during Energy Conservation Week Celebrations at HITEX Convention Center, Dr. Smt. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana & Puducherry presented the award to the senior officials from GHIAL. The annual forum recognizes the

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companies engaged in Energy Efficiency initiatives that adopt best practices and technological advancement in their daily operations.

The jury evaluated the participants on various parameters and innovative thought process.

Mr. Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd,

said, “We are delighted to receive this prestigious award, which reaffirms our unwavering commitment to render the best use of the energy and water resources available. Hyderabad International Airport is moving towards cleaner and greener technology for the future generation.

The award is testimony to GHIAL’s commitment towards Energy Efficiency and environmental sustainability. This recognition reaffirms our commitment towards energy conservation. As a responsible corporate we will continue the work on energy conservation and environmental sustainability.”

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

AVIATION

January 2022

Sita Releases Aviation Insights: COVID-19 Crisis Shifts The Focus Of IT Spend To Automation, Sustainability, And Digital Health

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hile IT budgets have stayed largely flat in 2021, airport and airline CIOs are betting on technology to support their recovery from COVID-19, with a significant increase in spending on digitalization and sustainability as key priorities by 2024. This is according to new findings from SITA’s 2021 Air Transport IT Insights which represents the views of more than 180 IT airport and airline decision makers across 45 countries.

The majority of airlines (84%) and airports (81%) expect to spend the same or more in 2022 compared to 2021, with spending on automation of passenger processing seeing a significant rise. This compares to 56% of airlines and 67% of airports that planned investment in automated passenger service in 2021. Creating a more streamlined and digitally enabled journey to boost passenger confidence and enhance convenience is a priority for airlines and airports.

Automating health verifications This year’s IT Insights identifies passenger health certificate verification as an area for urgent attention as airlines and airports invest in digitizing the process. During 2021, staff across 81% of airlines resorted to performing manual verifications of health certificates in paper or scanned format. However, airlines want to automate the process over the next three years, with the majority investing in verification via a mobile app (51%) and nearly half investing in kiosk-enabled health checks (45%).

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emission reduction goals of tomorrow.

Smart technology, automation, and digitalization are the only ways our industry can thread the needle between profitability, safety, and sustainability.”

Sustainability steps Digital passenger health certification is also an urgent requirement for airports with a need to standardize approaches to verification. To accommodate growing passenger traffic and anticipated congestion, nearly half of major airports surveyed plan to implement mobile app-enabled verification. Almost a third have plans for verification through kiosks by 2024.

Airline investment is also increasing in areas such as self-service through mobile services, unassisted bag drop, boarding gates, and bag notifications.

Touchless and low-touch technologies – to make the journey easier, quicker, and safer – stay firmly in the investment mix, combined with investments in passenger identity management driven by biometrics.

David Lavorel, CEO, SITA AT AIRPORTS & BORDERS, said: “The industry faces pressure from all sides with an urgent need to reduce costs by optimizing operational efficiency while also adhering to new operational hurdles connected to COVID-19. In addition, sustainability is a continued concern for the industry, with growing recognition that transformation needs to happen today to achieve the

Airlines have moved sustainability high up the IT agenda, with more than half (56%) implementing new technology to improve sustainability and a third (32%) planning to do so by 2024. Many are exploring how IT can support their sustainability goals and ambitions as they respond to pressure to reduce carbon emissions in scopes 1 and 2 of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) protocol, which focus on direct emissions from owned or controlled sources and indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy.

Sustainability is equally critical for airports with most implementing initiatives such as building airport infrastructure (green spaces, use of natural light, and renewable energy), widely available recycling points, and intelligent building technology and automation.

Sébastien Fabre, CEO, SITA FOR AIRCRAFT, added: “Industry figures estimate that improving aviation operations and infrastructure could reduce emissions by up to 10%.

Airports and airlines can achieve significant emission savings almost immediately while future-proofing their organizations by investing in the cutting-edge technologies that deliver these efficiencies.”

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

CRUISING

January 2022

World Dream Becomes The First Cruise Ship To Receive The SG SafeEvent Certication

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ream Cruises announced that World Dream is the First Cruise Ship to receive the SG SafeEvent Certification launched by Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), to ensure hygiene benchmarks and safe-distancing best practices are upheld at business events.

A pioneer in developing a new norm of COVID-19 cruising, Dream Cruises’ MICE At Sea cruises will continue to deliver innovative MICE event solutions that adhere to STB’s CruiseSafe guidelines and SG SafeEvent Certification, with stringent safe distancing measures, capacity controls, and event cohort groups’

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safety assurance.

“Singapore has long been renowned as a safe and trusted Global Asia hub for business events. However, during these exceptional times, we have re-imagined MICE At Sea cruises in anticipation of regional cruise resumption to welcome international fly-cruise MICE event delegates to Singapore on board World Dream once again,” said Michael Goh, President of Dream Cruises.

“Building on the success of the bespoke SME Learning Cruise organised by Shin Min Daily News, Bosses Network and Dream Cruises on 1 - 3 October 2021, the largest event at sea since World Dream’s cruise

resumption, Dream Cruises took the bold step to set new industry benchmarks and best practices for resuming business events at sea for cruise tourism recovery. This milestone event was a good example of how effective our guidelines are for safeguarding our passengers.” “As we pivot, adapt and transform due to COVID-19, the SG SafeEvent Certification will offer an extra element of reassurance for our guests, providing the confidence that our cruises uphold the highest standards of hygiene and safe management measures, emergency management and best practices for worry-free event planning,” added Mr. Goh.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

January 2022

STUDY

Meeting Planners Reveal Needs And Concerns In 4th Edition Of Business Events Study

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evelopment Counsellors International has released the fourth edition of “A View from Meeting Planners: Winning Strategies in Destination Marketing,” revealing insights into meeting planners' site selection journey as we exit the pandemic.

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This study reveals how decision makers form perceptions of destinations and outlines the best marketing and sales practices to attract business events.

Highlights: Ÿ

New Concerns: 73% of respondents report they are most concerned about cancellation policies before any other pandemic

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Facebook, but Instagram is making large leaps. Virtual meetings have climbed to become mainstays of the industry.

issue. Pandemic concerns, however, affected most all of the results throughout the study.

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New Top Resources: Respondents report that they rely most on destination management companies (DMCs), beating out DMOs/CVBs for the first time. And the travel press is alive and thriving as news and magazine articles nabbed the top spot for respondents forming their perceptions of cities, states and countries.

New Digital Outlook: It's a virtual world and we're all just moving through it. As a tool for both marketing and communication, LinkedIn is the most-favored platform, followed by

Ÿ

New Top Destinations: The pandemic has upended where planners are looking to hold future events. Among preferred meetings and events destinations worldwide are London, Singapore, San Diego, Cancun, Puerto Rico and a tie between Cape Town and Dubai.

Development Counsellors International (DCI) is the leader in travel marketing and economic development marketing, increasing visitors and business inquiries for destinations around the globe.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

STUDY

January 2022

The Henley Passport Index Shows World’s Most And Least Powerful Passports For 2022: Japan & Singapore Gain Top Spot Again

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ondon-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners has released the Henley Passport Index for the year 2022, based on exclusive data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The latest results from the Henley Passport Index show record-breaking levels of travel freedom for topranking nations Japan and Singapore, but also the widest recorded global mobility gap since the index's inception 17 years ago. Without taking evolving and temporary Covid-related restrictions into account, passport holders of the two Asian nations can now enter 192 destinations around the world visa-free – 166 more than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the index.

According to historical data from the Henley Passport Index, which ranks all the world's passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa and is based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an individual could, on average, visit 57 countries in 2006 without needing to acquire a visa in advance. Today, that number has risen to 107, but this overall increase masks a growing disparity between countries in the global north and those in the global south, with nationals from countries such as Sweden and the US able to visit more than 180 destinations visafree, while passport holders from Angola, Cameroon, and Laos are able

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to enter only about 50.

Germany and South Korea hold onto joint 2nd spot on the latest ranking, with passport holders able to access 190 destinations visa-free, while Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain share 3rd place, with a score of 189.

The US and the UK passports have regained some of their previous strength after falling all the way to 8th place in 2020 – the lowest spot held by either country in the index's 17-year history. Both countries now sit in 6th place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 186. India is 83rd on The Henley Passport Index, up seven positions since October 2021. The country now has access to 60 countries without a prior visa.

Ground-breaking study reveals determinants of passport power According to exclusive research commissioned by the global investment migration firm Henley & Partners into the determinants of passport power, wealthier countries' gains in travel freedom have come at the expense of poorer countries, which have experienced mounting barriers to entry in recent years. Using 17 years' worth of data from the Henley Passport Index, political scientists Ugur Altundal and Dr. Omer Zarpli

compared visa-free scores with World Bank statistics on GDP and fragility, as well as with data collected by the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project at the University of Gothenburg.

The study shows that while citizens of upper middle- and high-income countries have achieved visa-free access to most nations, citizens of lower middle- and low-income countries, as well as ones with higher fragility scores, enjoy far less travel freedom because they are deemed to be high-risk when it comes to security, asylum, and overstay. Interestingly, however, they found that while the world's democracies on average have higher visa-free scores, both democratic and authoritarian regimes have increased their visa-free scores since 2006, at somewhat similar rates.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, says opening up migration channels is essential for post-pandemic recovery.

“Passports and visas are among the most important instruments impacting on social inequality worldwide as they determine opportunities for global mobility. The borders within which we happen to be born, and the documents we are entitled to hold, are no less arbitrary than our skin color.

Wealthier states need to encourage positive inward migration in an effort to help redistribute and rebalance human and material resources worldwide, including improving the size and quality of their own workforces.”

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HOSPITALITY

January 2022

Reliance Checks Into New York, Buys Mandarin Oriental Hotel For Around $270 Million

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eliance through its wholly owned arm Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings will be paying $98.15 million to acquire 73.37% of the hotel, it said in a statement. It will also take over its debt in excess of $115 million, said people in the know taking the entire deal value to be close to $270 million.

Set up in 2003, Mandarin Oriental New York is an iconic luxury hotel located at 80 Columbus Circle, directly adjacent to the pristine Central Park and Columbus Circle. Mandarin Oriental New York has global recognition and has won several

influential awards, including AAA Five Diamond Hotel, Forbes Five Star Hotel, and Forbes Five Star Spa, among others. The purchase will pit Mukesh Ambani led Reliance in direct competition with Tata Group's Indian Hotels that runs the Pierre, a Taj Hotel, a stone's throw from the Mandarin property.

The Mandarin Oriental owners will continue to manage the property post

the sale gets completed, expected end of March 2022. Reliance would acquire the remaining 26.63%, based on the same valuation used for the acquisition of the indirect 73.37% stake.

IHG Seals Four-Hotel Destination Resorts Portfolio Deal With Strategic Partner Sun Group

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HG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hospitality companies, has announced a fourhotel, 2,709-room portfolio deal in Vietnam with long-standing partner Sun Hospitality Group (a member of Sun Group), the renowned tourism-focused real estate developer.

Following the success of the award-winning InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, the companies will extend their partnership across two world-class, integrated development projects that will open in 2026.

The multi-property agreement includes the 616-room Holiday Inn Resort Yoko Park Onsen in Quang Ninh Province – the first large-scale hot spring resort in Vietnam,

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expanding on the existing Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh Resort.

Three hotels highlighting the breadth of IHG's brand portfolio will also be built as part of the ongoing development of Ba Na Hills in the mountains of Danang: the 602-room Crowne Plaza Danang Ba Na Hills, 843-room Holiday Inn Resort Danang Ba Na Hills and 648-room voco Danang Ba Na Hills.

This agreement will make IHG one of the largest international hotel operators in Quang Ninh province, with three properties across its Holiday Inn and InterContinental brands, and establish its footprint as a market leader in Danang with seven hotels. Serena Lim, Vice President, Development, South East Asia and Korea, IHG said: “We've always had a fantastic relationship with Sun Group and are delighted to extend it by working with them on these two fantastic destination resort projects.

Creating new tourism concepts and assets such as these really showcases the pioneering spirit that is such a great part of our culture and ethos at IHG.”

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INSIGHTS

January 2022

What I Learned While Running Marriott’s First Hotel

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his week will mark 65 years since Marriott International opened its first lodging property, the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel in Arlington, Virginia in 1957. It honestly feels like yesterday. I remember my parents, J.W. and Alice Marriott and I were up late the night before the grand opening, hanging pictures on the walls in the guest rooms.

We were so proud of our hotel, which had 375 rooms. We didn’t offer many amenities – no reservation system, no gym, no meeting rooms – just two double beds and a black and white television for $9 a night plus $1 for every extra person in the room. Back then, bellboys on bicycles directed the guests to their rooms – the guests followed behind the bicycles in their cars. There was no loyalty program and we billed our hotel as the largest motel in the world.

It was the start of what would become Marriott International.

When I told my father, who started the Hot Shoppes restaurant business in 1927, that I wanted to oversee that first hotel, his response was, “You don’t know anything about the hotel business.”

I replied, “Neither does anyone else around here. Let’s roll the dice.”

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General Managers Key to Success I have since learned a lot about the hotel business and one of my biggest takeaways is that there is no position more key to the success of a hotel than its general manager (GM). Working as a GM requires a skill set developed over years of hands-on experience. It’s a demanding job. You are ultimately in charge of accounting, sales and marketing, food and beverage, housekeeping, security, engineering, event planning, the front desk, concierge services, room service, human resources, guest services and more.

In a staffing pinch, often a GM has to vacuum rooms or put together room service trays. Always, a GM must manage expenses. I remember noticing a large sum under the “other” category in the Twin Bridges’ budget years ago.

When I investigated, I found that guests were taking our plastic-covered cardboard ice buckets on the road with them when they checked out. The ice buckets were handy on a road trip, for sure, but at a dollar apiece, those “souvenirs” were eating into our profits. I ordered permanent ice buckets for the rooms instead.

Not a Desk Job The GM position is not a desk job.

GMs should be walking the hotel, talking to associates and guests, confirming that the hot food is hot and the cold food is cold, that the trash is picked up, the sheets and towels are clean and ready for use and most importantly, that the guests and the associates are looked after with a smile.

GMs are most successful when they listen. I have seen some really smart people promoted to management roles only to develop a big ego. When they do that, they tend to lose their way.

Since our founding, we have been a company that puts people first and listens, whether we’re listening to guests, associates or our owners and franchisees. We want to know and be responsive to what people think.

Good GMs know their team members by name and are familiar with their stories. Most importantly, they know their career aspirations.

We are fortunate at Marriott. We tend to retain our GMs for decades. Many of them start as hourly workers and are promoted into management, often moving between many of our 30 hotel brands at our more than 7,900 properties all over the world. Having talked to thousands of GMs over the years, I can tell you that they genuinely love the work, the people, the culture of the company and their opportunity for career growth.

Bill Marriott Executive Chairman of the Board at Marriott International

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GLOBAL NEWS

January 2022

UNDP And EU Partner To Support Revitalization Of Sri Lanka’s Tourism Industry

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he Tourism sector being a vital foreign exchange earner and source of employment in Sri Lanka's economy has suffered multiple crises due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the need to revitalize tourism, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Sri Lanka have come together to support the Government and people of Sri Lanka to build back tourism as a resilient and sustainable sector through the 'Transforming Tourism in Sri Lanka: Emerging from crisis as a strong, resurgent and rebranded industry' Project.

A key expected outcome of this initiative is to strengthen the tourism policy framework and institutional capacity at national level, providing vital policy direction to rebuild, recover and trigger transformational change for more sustainable and inclusive tourism in the island. The draft Tourism Policy aims to create a unique tourism experience for travelers to Sri Lanka and create sustainable and

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inclusive benefits for all actors in the tourism industry. This in turn will aid in protecting Sri Lanka's best features; its natural resources, culture and history while benefitting local communities, taking us a step closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals – leaving no one behind.

To this end, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), in line with the recently published draft National Tourism Policy and public call for comments to the draft, held a meeting to discuss the engagement of the EU and UNDP in supporting tourism, particularly, in the implementation of the National Tourism Policy. The meeting was chaired by S. Hettiarachchi, Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, with the participation of Ms. Jenny Correia Nunes, Head of Cooperation of the

Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and Mr. Robert Juhkam, Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka.

Also present at the meeting were Ms. Suranga Vithanage, Director General (Planning), Ministry of Tourism; Ms. Dhammika Wijayasinghe, Director General, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA); and members of the Tourism Working Group.

Reiterating the EU's support, Ms. Jenny Correia Nunes, Head of the Development Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives stated, “The EU has been supporting Sri Lanka in a number of sectors including rural development, private sector support, justice and social inclusion. In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now also focusing on tourism as we see the great potential and value addition it brings in terms of holistic economic and social development for the country and its citizens.

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GLOBAL NEWS

January 2022 food and beverage festival, Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), which returned with its longest edition to date and ran for almost three weeks from November 26 to December 17.

Qatar Live Shortly after the launch of QIFF, the country staged Qatar Live, hosting ten renowned artists of the Arab world from December 2 - 17 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).

Qatar Tourism Wraps Up Three Weeks Of Festivities On A High Note

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atar staged an exciting finish to the year with a host of activities for the whole family and new touristic experiences. As restrictions on public gatherings eased and borders reopened, the country hosted a slew of in-person events. Qatar Tourism worked with stakeholders across the public and private sectors to host events and develop products and services catering to the needs of residents and visitors alike.

Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said, “This winter, Qatar has delivered a World Beyond to its citizens, residents, and visitors. We saw unprecedented levels of participation for our events and festivals, contributing to the success of the season. It is an encouraging sign as the country prepares to host millions of fans for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. We

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are especially delighted to see a large number of visitors from all over the region who joined us to share the exciting FIFA Arab Cup 2021 matches and partake of the variety of events taking place at the same time. It was wonderful to see the enthusiastic response to our cornerstone events, such as the Qatar International Food Festival, Qatar Live, Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition and more.”

Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) The first in the impressive line-up of events was Qatar's longest-running

Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition Organised by Qatar Tourism and Qatar Business Events Corporation (QBEC), the 18th Edition of Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition opened on December 12 and ran until December 17 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). The exhibition is the leading platform for modest and contemporary Arabian fashion. This year, the 18th Edition of Heya was held under the theme “Ignite”, affirming Heya's commitment to empowering female entrepreneurs in Qatar and the Middle East.

The Return of Cruise Tourism Qatar is a rapidly emerging cruise destination with a steady growth in the number of arriving ships and passengers. Qatar Tourism announced the return of cruise tourism in the country on December 2 when MSC Virtuosa made its first voyage to Doha, bringing around 4,600 visitors. The 2021-22 cruise season is expected to be the biggest season yet, with 78 calls expected, including 11 maiden voyages, 11 turnaround voyages and 10 ships staying overnight in Doha Port. Numerous health and safety procedures have been put in place in coordination with stakeholders to ensure the safety of the community, starting from the moment the cruise ships arrive until they depart.

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January 2022

GLOBAL NEWS

Thailand Reopens 3 More Sandbox Destinations From 11 January 2022

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n 07 January 2022, Thailand's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) approved a new round of relaxed entry measures for international arrivals to Thailand, reopening 3 more Sandbox destinations – Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Surat Thani (only Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao) from 11 January, 2022 – in addition to Phuket. From 11 January 2022, international travellers will be able to travel to Thailand under the Sandbox programme, and can choose to undergo their mandatory 7-day stay in either Krabi, Phang-Na, Phuket, or Surat Thani (only Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao).

However, all travellers must make sure that they arrange everything in order before applying for the Sandbox Thailand Pass. This can include, but not limited to, a vaccination certificate, a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result, prepaid 7-night's accommodation in an approved hotel, prepaid RT-PCR tests for when in Thailand, and an insurance policy with coverage no less than US$50,000.

Travellers must stay at least the first 7 nights within a Sandbox destination if planning to continue the journey to other destinations in Thailand. If staying less than 7 nights, the traveller must leave Thailand to another country immediately. Also, from 11 January 2022, the CCSA approved the lifting of travel restrictions on arrivals from African countries. This means travellers from Africa will be allowed to apply for the Thailand Pass under either the Sandbox programme or the Alternative Quarantine system.

The CCSA also approved the measure to maintain temporary suspension of the Thailand Pass system for new registrations under the Exemption from Quarantine (TEST & GO). The CCSA also approved the measure to maintain the designation of 26 “Blue Zone” provinces with pilot tourist destinations. However, stringent health and safety guidelines will be introduced.

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Meetings Africa 2022 Set To Reignite Africa’s Business Events Industry

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ollowing the announcement by South African Tourism (SAT) last year that the trade show will be staged in a physical format after an absence in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Meetings Africa is set to reignite Africa's business events industry. The show promises to offer an array of exhibitors and buyers from across Africa and the world, an opportunity to meet as they partner to contribute to rebuilding the continents business events industry.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the global business events industry, however, as the business events industry on the African continent, we remain optimistic and we are thrilled to invite global buyers to come network and do business with our exhibitors from across the African continent,” says Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Chief Bureau Officer at the South Africa National Convention Bureau.

“There has been a resounding call for face-to-face business engagement from our industry players, and we are confident in executing a safe event. While we understand the severe blow that has been dealt to the industry, we are also confident in creating a conducive platform for our participants. Buyers who will not be able to travel to South Africa due to travel restrictions will be accommodated through a minimal virtual platform. Meetings Africa is a representation of the unrelenting spirit of an African industry that forges ahead and opens its doors to the world,” adds Kotze-Nhlapo. Meetings Africa celebrated its 15th anniversary in February 2020 before the world closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and hosted 324 exhibiting companies from across the continent. At Meetings Africa 2022, the SANCB, in collaboration with its valued partners, will implement a revamped, globally benchmarked hosted buyer programme to ensure a successful exhibitor-buyer trade show experience. The show will take place in a physical format at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from 28 February to 2 March 2022.

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GLOBAL NEWS

January 2022

Business Events Sarawak’s 15-Year Anniversary Celebration Reveals RM 3 Billion in Total Economic Impact

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alaysia's first convention bureau, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), revealed that Sarawak has gained RM 3 billion in total economic impact from business events within 15 years of establishing BESarawak at their crystal anniversary celebrations.

BESarawak has come far and wide since its doors were opened in 2006 as an investment by the Sarawak Government to enter the global meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions market. Within the course of 15 years from 2006 until 2021, BESarawak successfully secured 1,006 business events amounting to RM 3 billion in total economic impact, RM 182 million in tax revenue and 241,238 employment opportunities.

From 1 January 2022, Sarawak is expecting to welcome 93 business events worth an estimated RM310 million in total economic impact, RM18.6 million in tax revenue, and more than 24,500 new employment opportunities.

Now as Sarawak has resumed business events, event retention and projected economic growth are largely due to the incentivised packages that were launched late last year.

One achievement that is differentiating Sarawak from other destinations in Malaysia, and arguably the region, is from being an economic-centric destination to one that advocates for the legacy impact of business events.

“Legacy impacts of business events are one of the key strategies to help achieve the Post Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 goals under the tourism sector,” said Sarawak's caretaker of Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, The Honourable Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. “We strive to secure at least 50% of the total bid wins from now until 2030 to be legacy-driven and beneficial to our sectors, economies, communities, environment, and policy transformations.”

Conventa Rescheduled To Take Place In Summer 2022

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ince the start of the pandemic, Conventa, the oldest regional MICE trade show has followed a detailed protocol for responsible event realisation that enables the project to comply with ever-changing epidemiological circumstances. In line with the protocol, the organisers of Conventa had set 10 January 2022 as the date for deciding whether or not to carry out the event.

year in a row. CONVENTA WEEK will take place from 24 to 27 August in live or hybrid form, depending on coronavirus restrictions. One of the organisers' promises is to execute the event safely. With their agility and flexibility, they succeeded both in 2020 and 2021. Conventa is among the handful of business events in the meetings industry that has not been halted by the corona crisis.

However, given the unfavourable epidemiological situation, they have concluded that organising the event in the winter term will be impossible.

Thus, the event will take place in conjunction with the Conventa Crossover conference for the second

Gorazd ad, the co-founder of Conventa, emphasised: “Conventa is entirely adapted to the hybrid future.

We could have executed the event digitally in the original term.

However, after discussing with partners, exhibitors and hosted buyers,

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the message was clear. Everyone wants a live event, where they can experience genuine human contact, and we will enable them to do so in August.”

Among the organisers' key responsibilities is complying with necessary safety restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Hence, the organisers acquired the Safe and Healthy Meetings & Events certificate, which evolved in 2021 based on prior experiences. The updated roadmap includes numerous restrictions, including attendee testing, hygienic measures and upholding the Conventa bubble.

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GLOBAL NEWS

January 2022

Arabian Travel Market Changes 2022 Dates To Accommodate New UAE Working Week Ÿ

ATM 2022 will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from Monday 9 to Thursday 12 May

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New timings coincide with Arabian Travel Week

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Monday opening will strengthen alignment with international markets

Reed Exhibitions (RX) the organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has announced that this year's four-day event will now open on Monday 9 May 2022 and close on Thursday 12 May 2022, to fall in line with the UAE's new Monday-to-Friday working week.

Taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the revised dates are also expected to complement international markets, the majority of which also follow the Monday-toFriday working week.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel Market, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming

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the global travel and tourism community to the UAE on Monday 9 May 2022. Made possible by the UAE's forward-thinking decision to transition to a 4.5-day, Monday-to-Friday workweek, we are confident ATM 2022's updated timings will benefit both exhibitors and attendees by offering improved alignment with international markets.”

Endorsing ATM's position, UAE business sentiment is certainly very positive. According to a poll conducted by management consultancy Mercer, overall, 84% of private sector firms welcomed the initiative and 37% would adopt a long-term flexible approach, particularly those with close trading links with other Gulf countries.

Now in its 29th year and working in collaboration with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) – previously known as the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), ATM 2022 will feature a broad selection of

show highlights. Travel Forward, the leading global event for travel technology, will shine a spotlight on next-generation innovations for tourism and hospitality. ATM buyer forums and speed networking events will take place during the four days of the show.

After joining remotely for ATM 2021, this year will see both the ARIVALDubai@ATM forum and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) participate live in Dubai for the first time ever. The dedicated ARIVALDubai@ATM forum will cover current and future trends for tour operators and attractions, focusing on growing business through marketing, technology, distribution, thought leadership and executive-level connections. GBTA, the world's premier business travel and meetings trade organisation, will deliver the latest business travel content, research and education to help drive the sector's ongoing recovery and support growth in business travel.

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GLOBAL NEWS

January 2022

Abu Dhabi Introduces AED 1,000 New Cap for Annual Tourism Business Licenses

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he Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is launching a new tourism business licensing initiative to support and accelerate the growth of the emirate's tourism industry.

A revised fee structure is being introduced, capped at AED 1,000 annually, and applicable to tourism business licenses, effective January.

This will be welcome news to existing license holders who currently pay varying fee amounts, depending on the level of business activity, and will be a significant boost given the challenges the sector has faced over the past 18 months. The license fee cap aims to benefit existing businesses in the emirate and encourage new investors to start ventures, elevating Abu Dhabi's competitiveness as a leading

destination regionally and internationally with its dynamic leisure, culture and MICE tourism sectors.

The initiative comes as part of the Abu Dhabi Government's wider strategic plans to further develop the sectors in the UAE capital and cement its position as a preferred destination for travellers and for tourism investment.

The new business license offers an amended fixed-fee structure, with the blanket costs covering fees payable to

several Abu Dhabi Government entities, including Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, the Department of Municipalities and Transport, Abu Dhabi Chamber membership fees and the Certificate of Conformity issuance fee. It also covers Abu Dhabi's regulation fees, with the amount adjustable depending on the type of business applying. Overall, the changes represent an almost 90% reduction in total license fee costs.

The introduction of a fixed fee for all sectors offers transparency, reduces administration challenges for investors, and supports the efforts of the governing departments to create a thriving business environment for the private sector, with particular focus on small- and medium-sized businesses.

GainingEdge Enter into Strategic Partnership on Project China National Convention Center II

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eijing North Star Convention and Exhibition Investment Co., Ltd., the investor and developer of the complex project “China National Convention Centre (Phase Two)” (CNCC-II), has reached strategic cooperation with GainingEdge, a world-renowned international consulting company for convention centers and business events.

GainingEdge will be responsible for the pre-opening operation and marketing of the convention center from 2021 to 2025.

This is an important move of CNCCII in its deployment in the

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international convention market.

CNCC-II is located in Beijing Olympic Sports Center Area, the northern end of the central axis of Beijing. It will serve as the Main Media Center (MMC) during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics to provide media services for the world. After the Games, CNCC-II is expected to open at the start of 2024 as an international convention center.

CNCC-II aims to build “A Masterpiece of the Capital in the New Era”. It has a total floor area of approx. 780,000 square meters with its main part of about 420,000 square meters serving

as the convention center. Designed by French architect Mr. Christian de Portzamparc (the Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize), the project can host conferences, forums, banquets, and other commercial events of different scales for 30 to 20,000 people, as well as exhibition events for more than 50,000 people. The supporting functions of CNCC-II lie on the west part of the main building with a total floor area of approx.

360,000 square meters, including a 5A Level-I office building, boutique shopping & retail, and two hotels, planned to be the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott Marquis.

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GLOBAL NEWS

January 2022

Singapore Tourism Board & Little Black Book Launch Singapore Edit Festival The Singapore Edit Festival brings together six Indian and four Singaporean homegrown brands to create a Singapore inspired limited collection in apparel, home décor, cocktail mixer and healthy snacks.

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he Singapore Tourism Board (STB) India today announced that it has partnered with Little Black Book (LBB), one of India’s leading online discovery & content ecommerce platforms, to launch a Singapore inspired limited collection of lifestyle products. The collection will be showcased at the Singapore Edit Festival on LBB shop from January 14th to February 14th 2022.

Designers of popular local brands from both Singapore and India have come together to create a range of Singaporean-inspired products from furniture, home décor, apparel to cocktail mixers and healthy snacks.

They will be made available for sale exclusively through LBB’s online shopping platform. This unique collaboration of six Indian brands and four Singapore brands have blended their brand ethos and design elements to present a unique and limited edition that has never been done before. The designers from both countries had worked virtually to jointly curate the design of the products and the fruits of labour were proudly made in India.

With the pandemic affecting local retail business, this association hopes to reinvigorate demand for local Indian brands which has been growing over the years. The innovative collaboration brings forth the uniqueness and cultural mix of Singapore and India to create compelling offerings that celebrate the journey of these homegrown brands.

In the home edit category, Singapore’s furniture brand Scene Shang and

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India’s home décor brand Sashaa World have co-created furniture, cushion covers, rugs and wall hangings inspired by Scene Shang’s signature coin pattern, a commonly found motif in heritage architecture in Singapore.

India’s House This presents home décor items inspired by Singapore’s flora and fauna while in the apparel category, Singapore’s Baju by Oniatta, a clothing line dedicated to reimagining Batik for the modern wardrobe, and Fabnest, a fast-growing Indian fashion brand have reimagined a ‘Tiger’ themed apparel collection to mark the ‘Year of the Tiger’ according to the Chinese calendar. Fabnest has brought this theme to life on an Ikat fabric, which is native to India.

Kolkata-based brand Leisure Loom and Singapore’s design brand Onlewo have collaborated on a range of women’s apparel while in the packaged food category, Singapore’s Prima Taste and India’s Omay Foods are serving up Singapore Laksa-inspired seasoned Potato Flakes, Foxnuts and Barbeque

chickpeas to add to Omay Foods’ range of healthy snacks. Finally, for the cocktail mixers category, Bartisans, an Indian brand of cocktail mixers has concocted a Singapore inspired pandan and coconut cocktail mixers to add a dash of Singapore to its range of cocktail classics.

The four selected Singapore brands, Scene Shang, Baju by Oniatta, Onlewo and Prima Taste, are part of ‘Made with Passion’ initiative, a national marketing campaign which promotes Singapore’s local lifestyle brands which embody the Singapore spirit of turning possibilities into reality.

Speaking about the new initiative, Mr. Raymond Lim, Area Director, India (New Delhi), STB said, "We are delighted to partner with LBB for the Singapore Edit Festival and present to the Indian audience a collaboration that

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GLOBAL NEWS cross promotes talents from both countries. This is a continuation to our earlier effort in 2021 where the pairing of Indian Gond artist Bhajju Shyam and Singaporean artist Sam Lo have come together through the curation of St+art India Foundation to create a mural artwork titled, “Dancing in Unison” in Singapore. Such cross border efforts have become one of our signature creative approaches in curating compelling content for our audience and bring both countries closer. We believe these wonderful creations by the talents from both Singapore and India will be well subscribed by the fans of LBB. As travel to Singapore by travellers from India who are fully vaccinated is now possible through the Vaccinated Travel Lane, we hope this initiative will spur their interests to better appreciate Singapore retail brands and bring home something locally created when they next visit Singapore”.

From LBB, CoFounder Suchita Salwan had the following to say about the association “We’re thrilled to partner with Singapore Tourism Board on a first of its kind collaboration - the LBBxSTB Singapore Edit Festival. LBB has celebrated and empowered emerging brands and entrepreneurs in the lifestyle category since our inception.

Through this association, we’re excited to give our users an opportunity to experience some of the best Singaporean design and lifestyle brands, in the comfort of their homes; till they’re ready to travel to Singapore and experience these incredible brands in person. This is also a tremendous opportunity for Indian brands that sell on LBB to share context and ideas and build truly unique products that embody Indian craft and Singaporean inspired design.”

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January 2022 Here are what some of the brands have to say about their experiences in their collaborative journeys for the Singapore Edit Festival.

Indian Brands House This - Shikha Pahwa, Founder and CEO, said, “The collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board and LBB was a unique opportunity to rediscover Singapore through its hidden jewels and cocreate a collection that lies at the confluence of both our cultures. The whole journey has been immensely invigorating and enriching.”

Bartisans - Jovita & Jordan Mascarenhas, Mother-son duo founders, said, “The Bartisans story began with bringing happy hours to your home when you couldn't go out to enjoy them with small-batch, handcrafted mixers, premium garnishes and bar tools. On my first international holiday to Singapore, I discovered the flavour of pandan. When the opportunity to collaborate with Singapore Tourism Board came up, I didn't think I could have let it go. The Coconut and Pandan Cocktail Mixer is a reflection of those very flavours from that trip and we are super excited to have this opportunity with LBB, to introduce you to Singaporean flavours, one cocktail at a time.”

Fabnest - Divam Jain, Founder, said, “The team at Fabnest is absolutely delighted to have had such an enriching experience working with Oniatta and her team in Singapore. The insight that we have

gained in finding a balance between the design sensibilities of the two brands has truly brought our competencies forward for this collaboration. A big thanks to LBB and the Singapore Tourism Board for giving us this amazing opportunity.”

Omay Foods - Vijay Katta, Founder, said, “At Omay Foods, we bring nutrition and taste together. The teams at Prima Taste and Singapore Tourism Board helped us crack these staple Singaporean flavors with locally available ingredients. The snacks' taste and packaging present the strong bond the two cultures share. We are super excited to serve these across India with LBB and cultivate memories for a long time!”

Sashaa World - Sakshi Munjal, Founder, said, “It was also heartening to revisit Singapore, a place extremely close to my heart, albeit through conversations and design inspirations.

Complementing Singaporean heritage with Indian craftsmanship in this collaborative effort has been my utmost pleasure.”

Singaporean Brands Prima Taste - Mr. Eric Sim, General Manager, said, “Food is a uniting force that binds people from all over the world and we are thrilled to be partnering like-minded brands like Little Black Book, Omay Foods and Singapore Tourism Board that share the same passion for local specialities.

This collaboration was a great opportunity for us to introduce Singaporean favourites to India and express our love for Singaporean cuisine as well.”

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GLOBAL NEWS Baju by Oniatta Oniatta Effendi, Cultural Entrepreneur and Founder, said, "Collaborations are always special because above everything else, it is an opportunity for us to learn new things and make new friends. It is amazing how, despite the pandemic that has made distance seem further than it actually is, technology has allowed for

January 2022 us to make connections and share our experiences, our brand value and journey, our sources of inspiration and all this culminating to a product which both brands and our following will be very proud of.”

Scene Shang - Jessica Wong & Pamela Ting, Co-founders, said, “In this collaborative effort, Saasha World has used our repeat geometric coin design, which is inspired by Peranakan tiles found in shophouses in Singapore, and

which symbolises endless blessings, to create a collection of woven homeware bearing these symbols. We are especially excited by the newly created woven coin pattern in the macramé magazine holder as this marries the symbol with the craft especially well, and the result is beautiful, inspiring and refreshing.”

Paraguay Showcases Diverse Attractions At Expo 2020

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through tourism. The presentation also highlighted the sanitary requirements needed to enter Paraguay, while giving a detailed picture of the destination with a variety of attractions from water falls to nature trails, to bird sanctuaries, among others. Paraguay is also evolving into a sought-after MICE destination, officials said.

araguay organised a major travel event at Expo 2020, where delegates from major UAE travel businesses and global travellers gathered for a virtual tour of the hidden gem of South America during the Travel and Connecting thematic week.

The exuberant event was graced by Juani Quevedo, Director at Ministry of Tourism, Government of Paraguay and Alejandro Paniagua, Deputy Commissioner General, Paraguay Pavilion, Expo 2020. Through the presentation, `Just for you,' Paraguay Pavilion officials highlighted the picturesque beauty of Paraguay and how the country has tackled the Covid pandemic situation with prudence and effective proactive and preventive measures that it has achieved the `Safe Travel' certificate from the World Travel and Trade Council (WTC).

The presentation also highlighted Paraguay's rich cultural, historical, urban, and natural experiences.

Through a virtual journey, the audience was also introduced with rich cultural, historical, urban, and natural experiences.

“We will use this opportunity to

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highlight the reasons why Paraguay is a desired tourist destination. We want to strengthen our ties with the UAE and other Expo 2020 participants through tourism,” said Alejandro Paniagua – Deputy Commissioner General, Paraguay Pavilion, Expo 2020.

Ranked the 'world's happiest place' at the Expo, Paraguay's focus at the Expo has been on connecting water, renewable energy, and mobility under the theme of 'creating sustainable development opportunities. Its principal exports have been food, particularly soybeans and hydroelectricity.

It is now looking to leverage its strategic position between Argentina and Brazil to deepen ties with the UAE and other countries in the Gulf

Juani Quevedo, Director at Ministry of Tourism said: “We are really excited to be here at the Expo 2020 and to host this grand event for the travellers and travel businesses in the UAE. Paraguay is often left off the list when it comes to backpacking around South America. “Paraguay is an uncharted territory, even on this well-trodden continent. For those in the know, though, it's a place rich with unusual wildlife, natural wonders and colonial metropolises. Expo is an ideal opportunity for introduce Paraguay to the Middle East and wider region.”

The Travel & Connectivity Week was also an occasion for Paraguay to highlight its tourism and hospitality infrastructure, entertainment, and leisure options as well as gastronomic delights.

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GLOBAL NEWS

January 2022

Dubai World Trade Centre Leverages On Expanding Events Industry Momentum With An Expansive Q1 Line-up In Healthcare, Technology, Energy, And More

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ith a solid programme of conferences and fairs beginning this weekend, the World Trade Centre (DWTC) is prepared to build on the momentum it generated for the global events industry's postpandemic economic rebound.

Following the success of hosting global mega-events in 2021, DWTC is preparing to host a diverse lineup of international events in 2022, including Gulfood 2022, the world's largest trade show for the food and beverage industry.

"Dubai World Trade Centre has set an example for effectively hosting and organising large-scale international events as Dubai continues to fuel the comeback of the global MICE sector."

DWTC demonstrated to the world

Trade Centre.

Intersec, the world's biggest emergency services, security, and safety event, will take place from the 16th to the 18th of January and will feature a world-class accredited conference with over 500 international and regional speakers. during 2021 that significant events can be properly hosted by working together with key stakeholders to create an atmosphere that allows business to be conducted securely and successfully. We're looking forward to building on this success in Q1 and throughout 2022 as we solidify Dubai's status as a world-class MICE destination," said Mahir Abdulkarim Julfar, Executive Vice President, Venue Services Management, Dubai World

Dubai International Horse Fair, Medlab, Breakbulk Middle East, Sleep Expo, Aircraft Interiors Middle East, iFX Expo, Middle East Foam & Polyurethane Expo, Affiliate World Global Dubai, Dubai International Wood & Wood Machinery Show, Custom Show Emirates 2022, Dubai Entertainment, Amusement and Leisure Expo, and others are among the events on the DWTC's Q1 calendar.

WTTC Announces New Dates For Its 2022 Global Summit In Manila

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of the Philippines Department of Tourism said, “The WTTC Global Summit will be a significant opportunity for us to showcase the preparations that we have put in place for our eventual reopening to international visitors.

he World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), has announced that its highly anticipated 21st Global Summit will now take place in Manila, Philippines, from 2022 April 2022 – just a month from its original March date.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “As countries around the world begin to unlock the door to travel, we have taken the decision to reschedule our Global Summit by just a few short weeks. This will enable more international participants to join us in Manila and help guide and lead the sector as we head towards

economic recovery. “Our Global Summit is the most influential Travel & Tourism event in the calendar. We are looking forward seeing our Members, industry leaders and key government representatives gather in Manila in April to continue our efforts in safely restoring international travel.”

Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Secretary

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“Tourism has always provided us with endless opportunities. The reopening of our destinations and borders amid the pandemic is crucial to sustaining the livelihood of the millions who depend on travel and tourism. We are looking forward to being your gracious host in Manila as we navigate the next normal in the travel industry.”

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GLOBAL NEWS

January 2022

Thailand To Resume Quarantine-Free Tourism From February As Covid-19 Eases

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fter its suspension last month, Thailand will resume a quarantine-free visa programme for vaccinated travellers, which helped the tourism-dependent country contain a new wave of Covid-19 infections.

After a meeting of Thailand’s key Covid-19 task force, Ms Rachada Dhnadirek, a government official, said on Twitter that international travellers can start applying for visas under Thailand’s Test & Go entrance scheme starting February 1.

Applicants of all nationalities will be allowed to enter without quarantine, but they will be required to do two Covid-19 tests, one upon arrival and the other on the fifth day, according to Ms Rachada. The government’s plan to lower entry obstacles for tourists is in line with its desire for Covid-19 to be declared an endemic this year and efforts to restore the tourism industry, which employs millions of people.

While new cases increased following the Christmas and New Year holidays in Thailand, they are still far below the peak seen during the Delta wave and have not yet overwhelmed the

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country’s healthcare system. Tourismreliant Thailand has tried a number of strategies to resurrect the travel sector, which used to account for almost a fifth of the country’s GDP, with 40 million foreign visitors producing more than US$60 billion (S$81 billion) in 2019.

After its suspension last month, Thailand will resume a quarantinefree visa programme for vaccinated travellers, which helped the tourismdependent country contain a new wave of Covid-19 infections. After a meeting of Thailand’s key Covid-19 task force, Ms Rachada Dhnadirek, a government official, said on Twitter that international travellers can start applying for visas under Thailand’s Test & Go entrance scheme starting February 1.

Applicants of all nationalities will be allowed to enter without quarantine, but they will be required to do two Covid-19 tests, one upon arrival and the other on the fifth day, according to Ms Rachada. The government’s plan to lower entry obstacles for tourists is in line with its desire for Covid-19 to

be declared an endemic this year and efforts to restore the tourism industry, which employs millions of people.

While new cases increased following the Christmas and New Year holidays in Thailand, they are still far below the peak seen during the Delta wave and have not yet overwhelmed the country’s healthcare system. Tourismreliant Thailand has tried a number of strategies to resurrect the travel sector, which used to account for almost a fifth of the country’s GDP, with 40 million foreign visitors producing more than US$60 billion (S$81 billion) in 2019.

Before it was discontinued, the Test & Go programme, which permitted vaccinated travellers from more than 60 countries to escape quarantine, helped attract roughly 350,000 tourists in just two months. SBefore it was discontinued, the Test & Go programme, which permitted vaccinated travellers from more than 60 countries to escape quarantine, helped attract roughly 350,000 tourists in just two months.

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GLOBAL NEWS

January 2022 by key opinion leaders and high-level speakers.

The World’s Largest Congress On Allergy Heads To Prague, Czech Republic

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rague will host the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress in a hybrid format on 1-3 July 2022 at the O2 universum. The Prague Convention Bureau, in cooperation with the Czech Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology won the bidding process after a three-year endeavor. The EAACI flagship Congress is attended yearly by over 8,000 health care professionals and scientists including key opinion leaders from all over the world. The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) is an association of more than 13,000 clinicians, researchers and allied health professionals from 124 countries, dedicated to improving the health of people affected by allergic diseases and asthma.

After the highly successful digital Congress in London in 2020 and the Hybrid Congress held in Krakow, Poland in 2021, the EAACI Congress

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2022 will head to Prague, Czech Republic to be organized again in a hybrid format. “The hybrid format brings many new advantages and progressive functionalities, as was experienced during the first EAACI Hybrid Congress in 2021.

It allows participants to attend and network from all around the globe, but we would also like to express our wish to have as many participants as possible with us personally in Prague, to enjoy both the social contact with friends and colleagues and the unique scientific and cultural atmosphere that the magical Prague has to offer,” says prof. MUDr. Petr Panzner CSc., local ambassador and Chair of the 2022 Congress. The topic of the 2022 EAACI Congress is “Common origins of allergy and chronic inflammatory diseases – the One Health approach”.

During the three-day program, delegates will have a chance to attend more than 200 expert presentations and interactive workshops delivered

“The One Health Approach corresponds to determining of the links between human health and all environmental factors such as pollution, climate change, animal health and many more. It will be very stimulating and exciting to discuss these topics during the hybrid Congress. I am convinced that the 2022 scientific programme will not only help participants to gather the updated scientific information but will be very helpful in their daily practice as physicians and other HCPs thanks to interactive workshops and meetthe-expert sessions”, says Prof.

Panzner.

“A multitude of common factors seems to be responsible for allergic diseases development, duration, and severity. All these factors may have a varying influence on development and outcome of allergic diseases. Therefore, to successfully combine them, a wellcoordinated approach both in humans and in animals is necessary. This involves a joint effort from all stakeholders, forging collaborations among various disciplines, governmental bodies, industry, and patients. There is no better place to bring all these minds together than the EAACI hybrid Congress 2022, which will provide three days of intensive knowledge sharing, worldclass lectures by our experts, and the possibility to brainstorm on these linkages, priorities, and challenges as the interdisciplinary community we are,” says Prof. Marek Jutel, EAACI President.

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GLOBAL NEWS

January 2022

Boris Johnson Lifts COVID-19 Restrictions

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oris Johnson has declared that England’s Plan B restrictions will be phased out starting next Thursday, with required face coverings in public places and Covid passports being phased out.

The prime minister also stated that the government would stop advising individuals to work from home right now. Due to boosters and how people had adopted Plan B measures, the PM declared England was back to “Plan A.” Scientists felt the Omicron wave had peaked nationally, he told MPs. “This is a moment we can all be proud of,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said at a Downing Street press conference.

“It serves as a reminder of what our country can do when we work together.”

But, he added, “We must learn to live with Covid in the same way we live with flu,” because the virus and future variants cannot be eradicated. Instead,

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“we must learn to live with Covid in the same way we live with flu.” He urged people to keep making efforts to keep the virus at bay, such as hand washing, ventilating rooms, and isolating themselves if positive – and he pressed individuals who were unvaccinated to come forward and get their shots. The prime minister remarked earlier in a statement to MPs in the House of Commons: Mandatory Covid passports for entering nightclubs and large events would end, though organisations could choose to use the NHS Covid pass if they wished People would no longer be advised to work from home and should discuss their return to

offices with employers. Face masks will no longer be mandated, though people are still advised to wear coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces and when meeting strangers From Thursday, secondary school pupils will no longer have to wear face masks in classrooms and government guidance on their use in communal areas would be removed “shortly” Boris Johnson stated that other announcements on reducing travel limits and restrictions on care home visits in England are likely in the coming days. The prime minister also stated that the government intends to replace the legal requirement that those who test positive for Covid selfisolate with counseling and guidance.

The present self-isolation laws will expire on March 24th. Mr. Johnson stated that he did not expect them to be renewed at that time, but that the deadline might be moved ahead if the data permitted.

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