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Tokyo Haneda Airport is ranked first as the World’s Cleanest Airport with Changi Airport Singapore in second place and Tokyo Narita Airport third.

The cleanliness award is evaluated based on customer assessment and perception of an airport’s cleanliness standards, including seating, washrooms, food and beverage outlets, and terminal areas.

Mr. Isao Takashiro, chairman and chief executive officer of Japan Airport Terminal Co Ltd stated that: as a hub airport with a dynamic domestic and international route network, Haneda Airport plays an important role in Japan.

He further mentioned, although steps are in place around the world to restrict movement because of the covid-19 pandemic, Team HANEDA look forward to a rapid end to the prevailing situation, and remain committed to the safety of its customers by providing facilities and services that are second to none in convenience, comfort and functionality.

At the same time SKYTRAX, the international rating organization for air transport facilities and services, has also announced at the 2021 World Airport Awards that Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport) was voted the second-Best Airport in the World. In addition, Haneda has also been named the Best Airport in Asia, the World’s Best Domestic Airport, and the Best Airport for Passengers with Restricted Mobility and Accessible Facilities.

In the meantime, the Japanese government has announced that the state of emergency in the country will be lifted from October 1. The government will start its pandemic exit strategy to ease restrictions on travel, dining, and public events for vaccinated people.

It would begin on an experimental basis from October and become fully operational in November. Currently, events are limited to half the venue capacity and up to 10,000 attendees, whichever figure is lower.

Vaccination is rapidly proceeding in Tokyo, where 68.4 percent of the population received at least one dose, and 58.5 percent are fully vaccinated.

The covid-19 cases in Malaysia, is in a downward trend with Malaysians who are vaccinated are on the increase. At the same time, many enterprises in the business sector are now allowed, to reopen which goes well with the economic recovery of the country.

In this context, the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau has pleaded with the Malaysian government to reopen the fully vaccinated business events industry soonest possible.

Dato’ Sri Abdul Khani Daud, chief executive officer of MyCEB stated that it is, crucial that the government understand that business events, can operate safely and responsibly under strict standard operating procedures, and should be categorised as business activity.

He further emphasised the importance of, business events industry in contributing to economic recovery and affirms, the government’s confidence that the sector can operate safely through a controlled, regulated, and secure environment for the commencement of business events.

According to the chief executive officer, the last few months has seen the business events industry in the country, rising to the occasion as front liners where around 20 purposed-built convention centers around the country, have served the nation as mega vaccination centers. This includes he said, hundreds of business events volunteers helping millions of Malaysians to get their vaccine doses.

The chief executive officer concluded the plea with: “We do hope that the Malaysian government takes this distinction into account moving forward. Business events industry must be reopened without further delay, as Malaysia’s business events venues and facilities offer controlled environments which will ensure successful and safe events. MyCEB is ready and prepared to take the lead in working with the industry in implementing the gradual reopening of the fully vaccinated business events industry with the necessary precautions in place.”

Since the pandemic, Malaysia has recorded 57 postponement and 66 cancellations of international events. Despite the challenging times, MyCEB has continued to work with stakeholders in bidding for international events of which, 164 business events have been secured for 2022 to 2030.

The event which originally was to take place early this year is rescheduled, to January 16 to 22 of 2022.  Initially the venue was Phom Penh the capital city is now relocated, to Sihanoukville.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism has confirmed the date of the annual event in the country, and the move to the coastal city of Sihanoukville as the venue for the event.

Expected to attend are some 2,000 participants from over 25 countries on the theme for the ATF 2020:  ‘ASEAN – A Community of Peace and Shared Future’.

ATF is considered to be a significant annual tourism promotional event among member countries of ASEAN.  It’s hosted on a rotational basis allowing all ASEAN member countries the opportunity, to organise the event in their home country.

Generally, the fair is made up of several high-level events which include a meeting of ASEAN tourism ministers, national tourism organisations, press briefings, tourism conferences and the popular Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) trade fair.

TRAVEX is the largest ASEAN tourism business platform in the region and more than 450 sellers and buyers and the international media are expected to make an appearance at the event next year.

The venue now boosts total 5G coverage spanning event spaces, restaurants to backstage area and facility users can now have simultaneous access, to data-intensive applications and content. The 5G network infrastructure will empower exhibitors to integrate physical and online marketing and sales efforts to a more stable and better real-time live-streaming of events. It also includes the application of new technologies such as, hologram and augmented reality in engagement with visitors and streaming of high-definition videos to visitors’ mobile devices.

Marking a new page in the venue’s installation of the 5G infrastructure is the introduction of a “futuristic staff member” to the HKCEC team – Captain C a 5G smart robot who recently, completed its apprenticeship, as a security captain at the Hong Kong Computer & Communications Festival

Captain C combines 5G network and artificial intelligence technologies. It is equipped with a 360-degree 4K high-definition surveillance camera, infrared detection camera, and a sensor system for detecting smoke and fire. While its role at the venue is versatile, it can implement crowd management and at the same, undertake pandemic prevention measures through broadcast of social distancing reminders.

Capital C  HKCEC’s first 5G smart security robot.

When a person exhibits a high body temperature, or does not wear a mask, Captain C, will instantly transmit real-time images to the security control room so that appropriate follow-up actions can be taken.

The five-year advancement project to upgrade and refurbish HKCEC’s facilities began in 2019, and over several stages. The introduction of Captain C is a benefit of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region government’s subsidy scheme for encouraging early deployment of 5G, to improve operational efficiency.

Live from Bangkok, Thailand on September 2 from 2.30pm, the ceremony witnessed the Asia Convention Alliance’s founding members: TCEB, TICA, Seoul Tourism Organization (STO), Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MYCEB), Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) join forces in signing a series of bilateral MoUs that will mark the establishment of Asia Convention Alliance.

The parties involved signed on September 2, three Memorandums of Understanding:  Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Seoul Tourism Organization (STO); TCEB and Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB); and between Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) and Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).

Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau stated: “The idea of TCEB and TICA to form the alliance with our Asian counterparts was initiated in December 2020, when we foresaw that the convention market in Asia is most promising and expected to be on the real verge of recovery sooner, due to preceding readiness for short-haul travel and economic stimulus policies of the governments in the region.

Mr. Sumate Sudasna, president of Thailand Incentive and Convention Association said,  “We are ready to share our resources and market expertise with every member of the Asia Convention Alliance. Together, we can give Asia’s convention industry a deserving reboot.”

Mr. Ki Yon Kil, president and CEO of Seoul Tourism Organization mentioned “We expect the MoU with TCEB in building further collaboration and cooperation among Asian cities will serve as an important step toward the recovery of the business events industry amidst the difficult time.”

Dato’ Sri Abdul Khani Daud, chief executive officer of Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau commented ” We are committed to strengthening cooperation with the alliance. MyCEB aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and rebuild the business events industry in the region.”

Ms. Leonor F. M. Lin, president and chief executive officer of Taiwan External Trade Development Council expressed: “During the trying times of the covid-19 pandemic, TAITRA is certain that this cooperation is greatly beneficial to the MICE industry in Asia and brings together the best for the MICE industry around the world.”

“Globally, one third of all edible food produced is thrown in the bin, and with one in every nine Australian unsure where their next meal is coming from, OzHarvest and their goals are relevant to all of us as a community,” said chief executive of MCEC Peter King.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is supporting OzHarvest in their commitment to fight food waste through food rescue, education programmes and sustainability work.

The venue’s contribution will be through ongoing food donations, resources and service provision with workplace giving, fundraising and advocacy programmes.

MCEC will also provide a commercial kitchen space to OzHarvest for the food rescue organisation’s ‘Cooking for a Cause’ Programme for three days in a week. Participants can learn from OzHarvest chefs zero-waste cooking skills and how to, transform rescued ingredients, into gourmet meals, ready for distribution to communities in need of food.

OzHarvest is Australia’s leading food rescue organisation with the driving purpose, to ‘Nourish Our Country’. In Melbourne, it has diverted over six million kilogrammes of quality food from landfill to people in the state of Victoria.

It also run education programmes to create positive change through its Nutrition Education Skills (NES) training of educating adults, to cook healthy meals on a budget; and Food Waste Education (FEAST) where, curriculum on food waste and sustainability are included in primary schools.

Each year in Australia, food waste costs AUD20 billion, while five million people experience food insecurity.

To find out more about rescuing food from events, you can go to www.ozharvest.org

NeXTfairs for Exhibitions & Conferences announced that, Qatar Travel Mart 2021 will be held from November 16 to 18 this year, at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. The event, is expected to provide insights and new perspectives to the future of tourism, while also offering most sought-after travel destinations, real estate development projects and up-to-date luxury, business, medical, sports, MICE, halal tourism, leisure and cultural tourism trends.

Qatar Tourism is the strategic partner of QTM with Discover Qatar and Qatar Airways Holidays as leisure partners. International participation are from countries such as Italy, Cyprus, the Maldives, Azerbaijan, Rwanda and the Dominican Republic among others and countries, that are looking at to enhance their presence in the Qatari market.

Mr. Rawad Sleem, co-founder and general manager of NeXTfairs for exhibitions and conferences highlighted that QTM will be under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Qatar.

Mr. Rawad Sleem, Co-Founder and General Manager of NeXTfairs.

He also stressed that only fully vaccinated people will be allowed into he exhibition whether staff members or visitors.  All precautionary measures will be applied to ensure the health and safety of the participants, exhibitors and visitors during the exhibition.

The measures include regular and consistent disinfection of the halls and the public and private places as well as, ensuring thorough disinfection of areas that entail meeting and communicating with visitors, especially reception halls, and other common places. The disinfection process will be carried out by highly trained technicians in accordance with international safety standards wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and using the latest spray technology

This is the first international film win for the Malaysian business events industry produced by Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) as part of its Tribe Legacy Sarawak marketing campaign. The short film of which the category fell under was entitled: ‘Sarawak – New Normal in Business Events’.

The award winning short film opens with a traditional Iban headhunter chasing down an international delegate through a rainforest. What seems to be a dangerous encounter is, in fact, a figment of the delegate’s imagination as he gets his temperature scanned at the conference venue, among other protocol procedures.

While the film targets a specific audience, the storyline is widely applauded by the local community for its creative and rather humorous demonstration of covid-19 precautionary measures – making it relatable to an audience outside of the business events industry.

Sarawak’s creative flare is no stranger to the Los Angeles Film Awards panel musician Alena Murang and production house Sarawak Eye, also bagged awards at this year’s LAFA.

You can watch the award winning short film on BESarawak’s Youtube Channel – BESarawak  at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saUxR8KpyDw.

The expansion of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center once completed will be five times larger, with a total event space of 78,500 square metres, two main exhibition halls with over 45,000 square metres, two large conference halls with nearly 10,000 square metres, 50 flexible meeting rooms and additional retail zone.

It will when opened in September 2022, have a daily capacity of over 100,000 visitors, reaffirming QSNCC’s position as Thailand’s largest convention centre within the commercial business district of Bangkok.

TCC Assets (Thailand) Co., Ltd, the investment holding and real estate company responsible in revamping the venue, stated QSNCC will be able to accommodate, all types of world class events on a global scale.  Already, the venue has begun to take in bookings for events, and has had positive response from MICE operators in the country as well as,  from merchandisers and food businesses for retail space.

“Despite the covid-19 challenges globally, we managed to follow our long-term investment plan to complete the QSNCC remodeling successfully,” said Mr. Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi, director of TCC Assets (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Queen Sirikit National Convention Center is a key element in the development of Rama IV district landscape which range from commercial, retail, hotels, hospital, residential and convention and exhibition venues.

N.C.C. Management & Development Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of TCC Assets manages the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

This initiative and partnership is a world first for Malaysia. Sarawak joins the Global Destination Sustainability Index for Business Events and Tourism by launching the GDSI Partnership Programme-Sarawak Region.  The GDSI-Sarawak partnership comprises of 30 committee members; consisting of local government ministries and agencies, academia, associations, and industry partners.

GDS Index is globally recognised as a bench marking system that will rank Sarawak’s business events, and tourism sustainability performance. The assessment will be based on 71 indicators across four key areas which are: environmental performance; social progress performance; destination supplier performance; and destination management performance.

The Index is fully aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and Global Sustainable Tourism Council Destinations. Sarawak has, in its development strategy of post covid-10 to be a leading destination in ecotourism and sustainable business events by 2030, based on the criteria set by the United Nations’ GSTC.

Kuching has been selected for the pilot project of the GDS Index programme, which positions the city, as one of the 75 progressive destinations in the world to undertake the GDS Index. It will later expand to other cities such as Sibu, Miri, and major towns in Sarawak.