Asia
NG Hotels Phaselis Bay to offer new 5-star meetings base in Kemer, Antalya, from April
A new five-star Turkish hotel and meeting facilities, NG Hotels Phaselis Bay, is preparing to welcome guests for the first time in April 2021. As the largest new project of its type in Kemer, near Antalya, Phaselis Bay offers modern facilities blended with nature across a 408-room lifestyle resort. There are 17 room categories and seven four-bedroom villas, each with its own private pool and garde...
Hong Kong Licensing Show and conference does the business online
The 19th HKTDC Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) and 10th Asian Licensing Conference (ALC), both organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), were run this week as online events, 11-15 January 2021. The events featured representatives from top global brands and a showcase of licensed products and services. Stephen Liang, HKTDC assistant executive director, said: “Glob...
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre launches new virtual studio
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) has created a new virtual studio in order to hold virtual and hybrid events. The studio features production-grade audio and visual equipment and a team of technical experts to help run virtual events. It can broadcast livestreams or pre-recorded content, and integrate these into platforms such as Zoom, YouTube and Vimeo. General Manager of the Centre...
Asia Pacific comes out on top for 2020 in Henley Passport Index
The Asia Pacific region has come out on top in the 2021 edition of the Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports according to the number of destinations its holders can access without a visa. Japan holds the top spot, with Japanese passport holders able to enter 191 countries without a visa. Singapore comes in second with 190 countries, followed by South Korea and Germany with 189. This year’s ...
Hotel Okura Vladivostok deal signals Russia-Japan commercial intent
Following the recent announcement of a new Okura hotel in Moscow, the Japanese company, Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., has underlined its ambitious plans for the Russian market with the news that it will open and manage the Hotel Okura Vladivostok in the second half of 2021. The Vladivostok project will be operated under an agreement with Russian joint stock company, MGK Zolotoi Rog signe...
ICCA draws 300 participants to hybrid Asia Pac Summit
The 2nd ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter Summit (ICCA AP Summit), curated from Yokohama, Japan, 15-16 December, drew 300 participants both on-site and online, from 14 countries, including 40 speakers and 35 associations. The hybrid event was hosted by the City of Yokohama, Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau (YCVB) and PACIFICO Yokohama and co-organised with the ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter. The 2020 ...
Incentive packages recoup RM291m for Sarawak’s business events industry
The Malaysian region of Sarawak says it has reached RM291.2 million (USD$72.2m) of economic impact through its Business Event Planners Incentivised Packages. The packages are designed to encourage business events following heavy economic losses in the industry during the pandemic. So far the scheme has encouraged 80 events to take place between 2021 and 2026. YB Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (Sa...
ArtAccord to launch at SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit in Ekaterinburg
SportAccord, a major event bringing together international sports federations and organisations involved in the business of sport, is to see the launch of the inaugural ArtAccord alongside its 2021 summit in Ekaterinburg. The annual World Sport & Business Summit is a six-day event and will run from 23-28 May in Russia’s Urals powerhouse city. Delegates will now have the opportunity to experien...
Hong Kong government commits to expanding event space
The Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association has welcomed the Hong Kong government’s latest policy address, recognizing the importance of the exhibition industry. The government has committed to expanding event space in the city. There is a plan to redevelop the sites of the three government towers in Wan Chai North and the Kong Wan Fire Station (opposite to the Hong Kong Convent...
How Busan continues to market itself during the pandemic
In Busan, Korea’s second city and maritime powerhouse, the city tourism organisation continues to market to its maritime strengths for the long term, although, despite Korea’s track and trace efforts, international travel remains, as elsewhere a major barrier to resuming major conferencing business. The city’s flagship, venue, BEXCO, hosted one of the most successful medical events in the world, t...
Seoul extends its destination marketing to the virtual world
Instead of reining in its marketing activity, Seoul Tourism Organisation (STO) got out on the virtual front foot, pushing the innovation envelope in one of the most dynamic and technically advanced capitals in the world. In September I was invited to join STO’s world first – a virtual MICE destination marketing tour. The Virtual Seoul world constructed online offered a digital view of the city’s f...
Davos World Economic Forum to fly to Singapore for 2021
Organisers of the traditional global gathering of political and economic elite, World Economic Forum, which is usually hosted in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, have moved the 2021 event to Singapore for health and safety reasons. Switzerland is still very much in the grip of coronavirus, with up to 10,000 cases a day reported in early November. Singapore has just 28 people being treated in hospita...