superadmin

This year’s ATF with some 350 participants from more than 27 countries and regions is hosted by Cambodia held at Sihanoukville for three days beginning from January 18.  ‘A community of peace and shared future’ is the theme adopted reflecting ASEAN’s common values in the spirit of unity in diversity.

The event started off on January 16 with the official ASEAN national tourism organisation meeting and, tourism ministers and association meetings where leaders discussed the implementation of tourism recovery programmes.

At the heart of the ATF is, TRAVEX an annual ASEAN leisure travel trade fair showcasing the latest Southeast Asia travel experiences organised by a joint collaboration between MP Singapore and the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

TRAVEX features hoteliers, tour operators and travel agencies, national tourism boards, airline professionals, restaurateurs, attraction and theme park owners.

Everyone attending the event is required to take an antigen rapid test prior to entry, wear their masks at all times, and observe safe distancing. Meanwhile all frequent venue touch points and exhibition halls are regularly sanitised and disinfected.

As a country, by January 27 Cambodia would have vaccinated 89.46 percent of its total population of 16 million a safety requisite for herd immunity.

The ATF 2022 will close on January 20 with a ceremony of handing over the ATF flag to next year’s host, Indonesia.

Sarawak, secured a total of 109 business events with an estimation of RM365 million in total economic impact with tax revenue of RM21.4 million and, approximately 28, 289 new job opportunities from 2020 to 2021.

In Business Events Sarawak’s latest performance report, the destination has secured at least 43,471 delegates over a total of 160,142 delegate days worth RM 193.7 million in direct delegate expenditure. In terms of physical-to-virtual conversions, 34 events worth RM105.5 million in total economic impact have been converted, forfeiting the arrival of over 12,000 delegates, RM57.3 million in direct delegate expenditure and 8,370 new job openings.

Despite several events being converted to virtual, these figures are a statement of achievement for Sarawak as the destination continues to recover from the pandemic. Various initiatives were implemented to support recovery efforts that keep the destination active in the national and international scene: such as the provision of education for the local industry; a proactive approach to collaborating with stakeholders of varying levels; and Sarawak’s attractive incentivised packages for local, national, and international business events planners.

Sarawak made all the right moves to attract business events planners during the most fragile of times. In March 2021, BESarawak launched its incentivised packages to support the sector’s recovery efforts and provide valuable financial and in-kind support to planners.

“The incentives and comprehensive support offered are integral to the sector’s rehabilitation,” asserted BESarawak’s chief executive officer,  Ms.Amelia Roziman.

She further  added: “Most importantly, these offers are appealing to planners and catering to today’s event needs. Beyond incentives, our team continues to provide pre and post event support to ensure the best possible client experience that reflects Sarawak’s hospitality.”

Sarawak recently entered phase four of Malaysia’s national recovery plan, forecasting a positive restart for business events and a better outlook for the sector as a whole.

For 2022, BESarawak will continue to place destination development high on its priority through promoting legacy impact and mobilising Sarawak’s covid-19 business events mitigation and recovery plans.

In the annual report released by Melbourne Convention Bureau, it stated that 40 business events worth AUD150 million have been secured – adding to its strong pipeline of future events for the bureau. This pipeline now boasts 118 business events for 2022 to 2028 that will attract 133,495 delegates, filling 387,372 hotel room nights across the city, and set to inject AUD804 million into Victoria’s visitor economy.

This will result in over 65,800 room nights secured, enough to fill the city  three times over. Melbourne Convention Bureau has reordered that from 2020 to 2021, more than 1,800 jobs were created from business events.

Speaking at the company’s Annual General Meeting, Melbourne Convention Bureau chief executive Ms. Julia Swanson reflected on the challenges created by the pandemic, and how the bureau’s purpose has never been more relevant than over the past year.

“Driving economic and social progress for Victoria by securing and delivering world class business events has provided, MCB with a strong sense of direction in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Against this backdrop, we have delivered a sound result, strengthening Melbourne’s position as a global leader in business events and reinforcing Victoria’s reputation as Australia’s event capital.”

Ms. Swanson added: “Our strategy has been the right one to guide the organisation in laying the foundation for a bright future for business events in our state, from enhancing our profile and business opportunities across both international and domestic markets, engaging stakeholders, and an ambition to provide a leading digital experience for professional event organisers and event planners globally.”

Melbourne Convention Bureau has also successfully launched a national business events program, the first of its kind for Victoria – designed to aid the immediate restart of the business events sector.

The funding program provided business event organisers with a significant cash injection to support costs for the hosting of their events in Melbourne. The events approved are at the close of the financial year, and are to be held in 2022, they are expected to deliver AUD102 million in economic contribution to the state.

Western Australia’s official convention bureau, Business Events Perth announced, it has successfully won bids  for 67 national and international business events, set to take place in Western Australia from 2022 to 2024 – injecting direct expenditure of AUD54 million into the state’s economy – in addition to 190 local business events supported in 2021.

Business Events Perth chief executive officer, Mr. Gareth Martin stated that; the 67 national and international events secured this year, were critical to securing the path to recovery for Western Australia’s business events industry, however this was not the organisation’s only strategy at play throughout the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

The convention bureau implemented a content development strategy, to enhance its capabilities in marketing Western Australia as a business event destination through digital channels.

It included a 3D venue tours, new website and interactive business event planner, as well as a member content creation program, which has funded the creation of new marketing assets by member venues and suppliers.

At the same time, Business Events Perth introduced a member professional development program which supports members to send their staff to conferences or training events in professional development.

“We’ve provided tangible support for the recovery of Western Australia’s business events industry, and I’m proud to say that in the 2020-21 financial year, Business Events Perth supported 190 local business events that have brought more than 82,000 delegates together across the state, thus ensuring our venues and suppliers had a steady stream of bookings generating much needed revenue to keep their doors open, while we wait for the stable return of national and international events,” said Mr. Martin.

Business events in Sarawak, is preparing for international corporate meetings and corporate incentives initiatives with the launch of a brand new team building product, with the resumption of domestic business events in the state. Under Sarawak’s Tribe Legacy Sarawak campaign, the state’s business events industry plans to embrace digital technology to promote destination sustainability and team building activities.

The new teambuilding product  known as Tribespirit Teambuilding is a treasure-hunt inspired adventure which had, its first trial run over the weekend with 40 participants from Sarawak’s business events and tourism industries testing their team leadership skills through, a series of physical challenges throughout Kuching city and, trivia quizzes on Sarawak’s culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals.

A selling point of the teambuilding programme is the use of Go Team mobile application to manage and monitor on-ground activities remotely. Updates, feedback, and scores are kept in real-time to give the programme a more tailored experience

“We are constantly analysing and testing out angles to develop high engagement, motivational programmes that incorporate technology to elevate the experience. The trial run was successful and this initiative will also be developed for other business events cities such as Sibu and Miri in the future.” said Ms. Amelia Roziman, BESarawak’s chief executive officer.

Expo 2020 Dubai has recorded 2,942,388 visits since its grand opening on October 1. The visitor numbers included over 100,000 schoolchildren, with the Expo set to further stimulate young minds during the forthcoming Knowledge and Learning Week from December 12 to 18.

In the past week, Expo 2020 Dubai marked UAE Flag Day, which saw His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai raising the national flag. Also a celebration of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Honour Day hosted Dr Yousef Al-Othaimeen, OIC Secretary General; and the Expo 2020 National Days of Antigua and Barbuda, Indonesia, Colombia, and the Netherlands, which included a visit from Dutch royalty His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima.

Among the big-name guests gracing the Expo stage is Riverdance, the world-famous Irish dance sensation which will run throughout the month of November.

Monaco celebrated its national day with a performance by a 26-member band at the Jubilee Stage, with the Principality’s head of state, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II in attendance. The band was primarily made up, of brass and wind instruments, with trumpets, trombones and saxophones at its core. 

The Expo’s Diwali celebrations featured an entertainment line-up, with the Hindu festival celebrated by acts such as India’s Salim and Sulaiman Merchant, and Bollywood playback singer Vipul Mehta. Late Nights @ Expo also hosted a series of music events to commemorate the festival of lights, including a special showcase from Indian rapper Badshah.

Visitors thronged a temporary circuit at Expo 2020 as the world’s best cyclists, contested Giro d’Italia Criterium – the first ever official sporting event to be staged at a World Expo. In Finish, cyclist Slovakia’s Peter Sagan pipped Colombia’s Egan Bernal to first place.

Urban and Rural Development Week was launched on World Cities Day on October 31 and concluded on November 6, with more than 120 of Expo 2020’s permanent buildings have been Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified. The week included, a special Women’s World Majlis reimagning, what cities and villages, would look like had they been designed by women, and the launch of the Last Mile Delivery Roadmap, a blueprint for making informal settlements safe and sustainable.

During the coming month, there will be the launch of the Explore Expo 2020 Dubai, Explore the World special raffle to win one million Emirates Skywards miles, and a host of other prizes rewarding those who visit as many Country Pavilions as possible.

The number of virtual visits bringing Expo 2020 Dubai to a global digital audience has amounted to 14.8 million since October 1.

Expo 2020 Dubai runs until March 31, 2022.

Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre has been declared as a safe business event venue under the SafeBE certification following – a stringent inspection and audit by Bureau Veritas – a globally recognised certification body. The certification falls under its public buildings Inspection category based on convention centre certification guideline.

The audit process takes into account standard operating procedures in relation to covid-10 preparedness and safety measures.

“We have a comprehensive health and safety guide that governs all aspects of operations. Clients and partners who host an event at MITEC are briefed on our covid-19 safety policies and standards,” said Ms. Mala Dorasamy, the acting chief executive officer.

While Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture recognises the SafeBE certification, as part of a collaboration between the public and private sector, which comes under the Travel Safe Alliance cooperation consisting of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Malaysia Association of Hotel, Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers and Malaysia Airlines Group.

Sarawak government has announced its support of convention legacies, as part of the master plan for the state’s Post Covid Development Strategy 2030. The Business Events Sarawak Legacy, or BESLegacy as its known, is an initiative where business events planners can design their convention activities to align with the outcome of the legacy sought after.

The announcement was made during the virtual industry session themed ‘The Rising Impact of Business Events – TRIBE’ hosted by BESarawak in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Sarawak, and  the International Congress & Convention Association.

BESLegacy Initiative is a joint effort between the Sarawak Government and the business events industry. The Initiative has identified five core areas in which legacies can take place on a sectoral level, economic and environmental impact, as well as on the community’s social and political aspect.

According to the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Dr. Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari, Sarawak is placing top priority on designing conventions as economic and social change makers. The legacy impact which is commonly known as convention legacies, was included in the Sarawak government’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 to recalibrate the destination’s economic, social and environmental development. Business events and legacy impact are officially marked as an aid to achieving the government’s objectives.

BESarawak’s chief executive officer, Ms. Amelia Roziman mentioned that the Sarawak government’s commitment will lead to the acceptance and long term development of legacy impact, as an equal to economic impact.

A new artwork by New Zealand’s multi-media and installation artist Lonnie Hutchinson, Hana will be placed in the foyer of Te Pae Christchurch, ahead of the convention centre’s opening later this year.

The three koru-shaped chandelier-like installations, are made of 11,000 glass and acrylic beads, and have a combined weight of just over one ton.

“Hana means to illuminate or brighten,” says Lonnie Hutchinson. “The work has been inspired by the Ngāi Tahu creation story and the concept of Ahikā or keeping the home fires burning. These illuminated yellow and red beads will combine to draw people into Te Pae Christchurch and help them feel welcome.”

“Each koru is made up of 109 individual strands, some as long as four metres. So, it has taken an army to thread them onto the wires. I’m so grateful to volunteers from the Christchurch Art Gallery who were able to lend a hand and a critical eye to the project.”

Te Pae Christchurch is being delivered by Ōtākaro Limited on behalf of the Crown.

Ōtākaro’s chief executive, Mr. John Bridgman affirmed that the Te Pae Christchurch is close to completion and is going to be an iconic building for the city.  He further mentioned, the Hana artwork effectively located in the front window is a spectacular sight both day and night for the convention centre.

The opening of the convention centre is scheduled for December, and the venue will begin hosting its first events leading up to Christmas.

After six months of hibernation since April 2021 due to COVID restrictions, Thailand’s biggest exhibition and convention centre, IMPACT is seeing the return of face-to-face events.

This is In line with Thailand opening its doors to fully vaccinated international travellers from over 63 countries with effect from November 1 this year; Thailand’s face-to-face event sector, is now seeing a gradual return of activities driven by the return of the staging of domestic events.

To date, it has been confirmed that 49 events will physically take place at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre between November and December this year – 12 of which are trade and consumer exhibitions organised by the government, private sector, and trade associations – serving markets such as; science and technology, Smart SMEs, baby products, automotive, finance and food and beverage.

In addition to exhibitions, over 14 business meeting and training seminar events are also booked during this period, reflecting the pent-up demands for face-to-face knowledge and networking exchanges.

Over the next two months, the venue will also host 13 wedding events now that restrictions for such events have been relaxed. Other types of events taking place will include public examinations, sporting, and competition events.

The return of face-to-face events to IMPACT is timely as it celebrates its 23rd anniversary of operations this year. Over the years, the venue has established itself as one of the biggest and most modern exhibition and convention venues in Thailand and Southeast Asia, with over 140,000 square metres of indoor space, 100,000 square metres of outdoor space and two on-site hotels with over 967 rooms.

Mr. Loy Joon How, the general manager stated that IMPACT looks forward to a return in normalcy, and hopes to establish the pre-COVID situation of hosting over 800 events and welcoming over 10 million attendees annually.

In terms of accessibility to the venue, it will further be made easier to reach the exhibition and convention centre, with two mass rapid transit train stations under construction at the venue, which will be operational by end of 2024.