DUBAI BEGINS COUNTDOWN TO HOST 2018 ICCA CONGRESS

DUBAI BEGINS COUNTDOWN TO HOST 2018 ICCA CONGRESS

• Conclusion of congress in Prague marks the official handover to Dubai
• Dubai will host the event’s 57^th edition in November 2018

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 22 November 2017: Dubai is gearing up to host the 57^th Congress of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) next year, following the conclusion of this year’s edition in Prague. Dubai was named host city for the 57^th ICCA Congress in 2014, following a successful bid for the event that was led by Dubai Business Events and Dubai World Trade Centre. To be held from 11 – 14 November 2018 at Dubai World Trade Centre, the congress will see meeting industry professionals from all over the world gather in Dubai to discuss key challenges and opportunities within the business events industry.

A delegation from Dubai received the formal handover from hosts in Prague during the closing ceremony of the Congress on November 15. At the ceremony, Dubai representatives, including Steen Jakobsen, Director of Dubai Business Events, and Mahir Julfar, Senior Vice President, Venues Management at Dubai World Trade Centre, presented Dubai’s unique facets to attending ICCA members and delegates. An earlier session saw Marjan Faraidooni, Senior Vice President of Legacy Impact and Development at Expo 2020 Dubai, discuss the legacy that will be left after the conclusion of the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region.

Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase Dubai’s most recent advances as a world-class city with unrivalled connectivity to key industry bodies from around the world. Hosting business events forms a core part of our sustainable economic diversification efforts, and is a key driver in our Tourism Vision for 2020. We look forward to welcoming ICCA delegates next year and hosting an event that plays an important role in the development and growth of the business events industry.”

As Dubai’s visitor offerings continue to evolve, the city is developing a range of new attractions, hotels, venues and infrastructure projects that are set to bolster Dubai’s standing as a global hub for tourism and business events. Dubai has seen a consistent rise in business and tourism figures, becoming the fourth most visited city in the world in 2016, with 14.9 million overnight visitors last year. In the first 9 months of 2017, the city welcomed 11.58 million international visitors, up more than 7.5% on the same period last year.

ICCA CEO Martin Sirk said: “The timing of ICCA’s Congress in Dubai couldn’t be better. Economies throughout the Gulf and Middle East are going through huge changes to their business models and are diversifying into a wide range of exciting new sectors; association-related meetings activity is bubbling up across trade, healthcare and high-tech scientific sectors, thanks to both home-grown demand and driven by expansion and outreach from US and European organisations; and we’ll arrive when preparations for Expo 2020 Dubai are reaching a critical point, providing all manner of experiential meetings-related content for our members to think about. We’re very excited to bring the world of ICCA to Dubai in 2018!”

Business events continue to play a key role in achieving Dubai Tourism Vision 2020 and UAE Vision 2021. These ambitious plans outline concrete steps to further develop the city into a global knowledge hub that advances a range of key industries and drives innovation across vital global sectors. With Dubai’s sustained successes as a destination of choice, business events play an increasingly prominent role in the national agenda of economic diversification and establishing a knowledge-based economy.

Follow us on Facebook / Instagram #micemedia_online / Twitter

---

#MICEmedia #MICEindustry #ICCA #ICCADubai #Dubai2020 #DubaiTourism #visitDubai #CityMarketing #DestinationMarketing

Discovering Guam

Discovering Guam
Until very recently not many people could have told you where Guam was located, or even what was there.

Recent political events have certainly changed that.
With intense, global media attention in recent months, however, many outlets like CNN, the BBC and others took the time to really look behind the breaking news. What they found and repeatedly reported on was the amazing people, the beauty of the island, the wonderful attractions and the importance of tourism to its economy.

The stories revealed the special spirit of the nearly 170,000 residents who are predominantly American citizens but who also strongly honor the ancient and vibrant Chamorro culture.

They also unveiled stunning images of the unspoiled, stunning, natural beauty of Guam.

From an economic standpoint, they talked about the growing leisure travel, conference & meeting, and incentive travel market in Guam – propelled not only by its authentic style and unique experience opportunities, but also its modern hotels and convention center and strong technology infrastructure.

Guam will once again have a booth at IMEX America #3041 and is anticipating great interest from event planners and buyers from the US, Asia, Australia and many other regions.

Who’s Been Coming and Why?
In just one example of who’s coming to Guam, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) & PATA (Pacific Asian Travel Association) held their 2016 Annual Conference in Guam which brought many influential industry leaders to the island, and delighted them with all that Guam has to offer,

Japanese, South Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese and American tourists and incentive groups have also been enjoying their experiences of Guam.

While Guam has more than 8,860 modern hotel rooms and hotels run by leading brands such as Hyatt, Sheraton, Hilton and Westin – as well as the new Guam Convention Center at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort – Guam also has its own distinctive local style which creates memorable events and experiences.

Business and pleasure visitors alike can take in outdoor fiestas featuring traditional, Chamorro food and festivities like fresh caught seafood & edible seaweed, traditional dancing, music and coconut cracking.

Hiking and walking up into the hills of Guam – or “Boonie Stomping” as it’s known locally – uncovers gorgeous flora, fauna and jungle waterfalls. Golf, dolphin watching and water sports like snorkeling and diving are also among the many activities offering a wide range of incentive options.

Guam has also built a strong technology infrastructure with superfast Wifi – bringing together the best of unplugged and fully connected options and activities.

The world is discovering Guam – and that it has plenty to offer.
https://www.guamvisitorsbureau.com/

Guam Visitors Bureau
www.guamvisitorsbureau.com

---

#Guam #UNWTO #WTO #PATA #IMEXAmerica #MICEnews #MICEmedia #TourismNews

Kenes Group and BestCities Global Alliance ready to open doors with their first original event

Kenes Group and BestCities Global Alliance ready to open doors with their first original event

Final preparations are underway as BestCities Global Alliance, visitBerlin – one of the Alliance’s partner destinations – and leading Professional Conference Organiser, Kenes Group, get ready to welcome delegates to their inaugural original event in Berlin.

Senior level attendees from leading international pharma and biotech companies, academia and government institutions are expected at the Summit on Controversies in Precision Medicine (CPMed), due to take place at the Ameron Hotel Abion Spreebogen Waterside, 13-15 November 2017.

The Summit is the first event following a landmark agreement signed by Kenes and BestCities, to initiate and manage original events in the 12 BestCities global locations. With a shared ambition to deliver high-level meetings for doctors, researchers, and specialists, not formally structured through existing associations, the events are a unique opportunity to study a specialised area of expertise, providing a valuable knowledge sharing and networking platform.

Under the leadership of Prof. Dan Peer, Director of Tel Aviv University Cancer Biology Research Centre and Translational Medicine, CPMed will address the challenges in precision medicine head-on. Titled, “Where do we stand in drug development?”, the Summit will create a focused environment for quality and open scientific debate on the value and direction of the industry. With an interactive architecture, the event is designed to provide the participants with exciting opportunities to ignite solutions, network and innovate.

Work is already underway to initiate a number of future original events through the collaboration of BestCities, Kenes Group and high-profile opinion leaders from around the world, in key fields where there is a potential to create an original event.

Ravit Shani Levi, Director of Global Market Development at Kenes Group, said “CPMed is an important first step into initiating a series of original events that leave a legacy. Under Prof. Dan Peer’s leadership and the outstanding support from our partners at BestCities and visitBerlin, we are looking forward to this new original event becoming an innovative platform for knowledge exchange, education, and networking in the field of precision medicine.”

Paul Vallee, Managing Director of BestCities, said: “Working together with Kenes, BestCities is committed to delivering impactful meetings that offer genuine value, insight and innovation to the global medical community. With its focus on a niche but crucial topic, CPMed is the ideal first event to showcase BestCities and Kenes shared long-term ambition for initiated conferences and our commitment to help build lasting legacies between associations and destinations.”

Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin, said: “Berlin is known around the world as a centre for innovation and has a first-class network of universities and research centres. This is particularly beneficial for meetings related to science and medicine. In addition, the city offers affordable accommodation compared to other cities and a wide range of cultural offerings. This unique blend is convincing an increasing number of convention and event organisers. Berlin is proud to be a strong partner in the new BestCities initiative with Kenes Group.”

For more information on CPMed visit: www.precisionmedicine.kenes.com
For more information on BestCities visit: www.bestcities.net

---

#CPMed #visitBerlin #bestcities #MICEmedia #MICEnews #TourismNews #CityMarketing #DestinationMarketing

Outrigger Resorts Launches Exclusive Global Honeymoon Platform

Outrigger Resorts Launches Exclusive Global Honeymoon Platform

PHUKET, THAILAND – To coincide with the start of ITB Asia in Singapore, Oct. 25, Outrigger Resorts is launching a range of nine honeymoon packages for all of its Pacific, Asian and Indian Ocean beachfront resorts this week.

The packages cover some of the most desirable and iconic honeymoon destinations in the world: Maldives, Mauritius, Hawaii, Fiji, Guam, and Phuket and Koh Samui in Thailand.

“Outrigger has made it easy for couples to plan a dream honeymoon and celebrate in paradise,” said Sean Dee, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Outrigger Enterprises Group, who is attending ITB Asia this week. “Our global honeymoon platform is an extension of the Outrigger Resorts Signature Experiences – inviting guests to ‘Escape Ordinary’ – and in this case, love every minute of the authentic tropical adventure.”

Each Outrigger “Honeymoon Getaway Package” is customized to the host location; standard inclusions typically feature breakfast in bed, romantic flower decorations and a selection of rich chocolates or a chilled bottle of sparkling wine. Newlyweds visiting Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort would enjoy a dreamy sunset cruise with cocktails and canapés or at Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort an extraordinary honeymoon dinner on the beach and a 30-minute couple’s massage.

Six of the Outrigger Resorts in Maldives, Thailand, Fiji and Mauritius are also announcing “Ultimate Honeymoon Packages.” In these, couples enjoy all the features of the “Honeymoon Getaway,” plus additional romantic elements, such as a sundown cruise and Swedish massage at Castaway Island, Fiji; a couple’s spa treatment and VIP Mercedes-Benz airport transfers Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort; a honeymoon seafood dinner on the resort jetty and a couple’s massage in the VIP cabin at the spa for Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort; and a candlelit dinner for two on the beach at Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort.

Newlywed honeymoon couples can also join Outrigger Resorts’ beachfront vow renewal ceremonies at each Outrigger Resort. “Pledging allegiance to each other through a local culture ceremony adds additional emotional depth to the honeymoon experience,” said Dee.

Outrigger Resorts, which is celebrating its 70th Platinum Anniversary this year, has offered free vow renewal ceremonies at select properties for the past 15 years. With approximately 1,000 couples renewing their vows at Outrigger each year, that’s 15,000 couples who have already rekindled their love at Outrigger.

For the “Honeymoon Getaway” and “Ultimate Honeymoon” packages, each Outrigger resort requires a minimum stay between three to five nights, depending on the destination. The travel period for the honeymoon packages at all Outrigger Resorts is through Dec. 31, 2018. Guests must provide proof that their marriage date occurred less than one year prior to arrival.

Full details, terms and conditions are available on the Outrigger honeymoon overview page here on Outrigger.com. A click from the page shows the dynamic pricing of all honeymoon packages across the resorts. Prices vary according to date and can be viewed in each visitor’s preferred currency.

---

#UltimateHoneymoon #Outrigger #OutriggerResorts #HotelNews #HotelMarketing #MICEnews #TourismNews

SINGAPORE: INSIDE OUT BRINGS SINGAPORE CREATIVE TALENTS TO SYDNEY

SINGAPORE: INSIDE OUT BRINGS SINGAPORE CREATIVE TALENTS TO SYDNEY

Singapore, November 2017 – Singapore: Inside Out, a creative showcase featuring works by some of Singapore’s leading contemporary creative talents, opened in Sydney today and will run until 5 November. The showcase in Sydney will feature 20 award-winning creative talents from Singapore and Australia across various disciplines. Interspersed at various locations within the trendy Chippendale precinct, including The Old Clare Hotel and Kensington Street will be visual and performance art installations incorporating sound art, light projections, live dance and live music performances.

Mr Lionel Yeo, Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said, “We are delighted to share with our Australian friends a showcase of Singapore’s burgeoning creative scene and celebrate the passion of our talents. This showcase in Sydney will offer a fresh look at Singapore and pave the way for more opportunities for our creative talents.”

Curated with the Australian audience in mind, the Sydney edition is led by Mr Randy Chan, the Principal Architect of Singapore architectural studio, Zarch Collaboratives. Themed “Movement”, Singapore: Inside Out Sydney reflects on different movements within the creative process, as well as Singapore’s multi-cultural society which has inspired diverse practices that challenge perceptions of what is generally assumed to be Singaporean.

Over the next three days, visitors to Singapore: Inside Out showcase can expect to experience immersive artworks, collaborations and an energetic line-up of live programmes across a variety of creative disciplines. These will include a number of newly commissioned artworks and performances such as “New World Park” by music collective Syndicate who will traverse vintage songs of the Malay Archipelago and modern electronica beats, inspired by one of the first of Singapore’s renowned amusement parks; “Emerging Pool of Talent” by Larry Peh which draws inspiration from the fact that both Singapore and Sydney are surrounded by water, as well as “Motion Theory”, a kinetic installation borne from a collaboration between Ong Kian Peng and Murasaki Penguin. Select artists also present fresh takes of their previously-exhibited works, such as “At the Angle of Repose” by Grace Tan which builds on her kwodrent[1] series and “The Forest Speaks Back III” by, Donna Ong which responds to The Old Clare Hotel’s heritage as a former brewery by integrating beer bottles into her re-imagined tropical forest.

The showcase programme also features a series of dialogue sessions by SG:IO artists as well as creative industry experts and academia from Australia. The discussions will explore various topics such as creativity and innovation in the shared economy and impact of culinary collaboration.

Partner events happening along Kensington Street further shine the spotlight on Singapore’s creative scene and talents, who are joining hands with renowned Australian establishments to present unique dining, entertainment and retail experiences. These include:

Dining

• Eastside Kitchen + Bar x Fat Lulu’s Four Hands Dinner featuring one of Singapore’s renowned stand-up comedians, Rishi Budhrani (2 to 4 November 2017)
• New Ubin Seafood Pop-Up at Alex Lee Kitchen (3 to 5 November 2017)
• The Dessert Collective: Candlenut x KOI Dessert Bar x Tarte by Cheryl Koh (3-5 November 2017)

Entertainment

• SGMUSO Live Music Showcase featuring Linying, MAS1A and Sam Rui (3 to 5 November 2017)​

Retail

• Binary Style x Extraordinary Ordinary Day Limited Edition Scarves (3 to 5 November 2017)
• Demochoco x Kakawa Limited Edition Chocolates (3 to 5 November 2017)
• Singapore Designers’ Showcase (3 to 5 November 2017)

​Please refer to Annex A for a more detailed programme on Singapore: Inside Out Sydney

Ms Audra Morrice, Chef and Judge of MasterChef Asia said, “Before visiting Singapore: Inside out, I was aware that Singapore had been promoting the arts for a number of years. However for me, this showcase really shows Singapore opening up even more avenues in the arts scene. It is really nice that Singapore is pushing boundaries and taking its creative scene and its artists to the rest of the world, such as Sydney.”

Close to thirty key members of the Australian trade and media attended a special preview of the showcase yesterday, alongside a Singapore-Sydney collaboration dinner prepared by chefs Malcolm Lee (SG), chef-owner of the world’s first and only Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant of Candlenut, and Clayton Wells of the two hatted Automata (AU) to officially kick-start the Sydney edition of Singapore: Inside Out. The Sydney showcase will also conclude Singapore: Inside Out’s journey for this year. The Tokyo edition, featuring 13 artists and seven partner events across various locations in the city, was held on August 25 to 27 and attracted over 7,000 visitors.

To download images of Singapore: Inside Out Sydney, please click on this link: Photo Library – Singapore Inside Out 2017 ​

Please visit www.visitsingapore.com/en_AU/see-do-singapore/arts/performance-arts/singapore-inside-out/ for more information and a full listing of events. ​

​Follow Singapore: Inside Out on:

#SGInsideOut

[1] “the kwodrent series” explores wearable structures that over time, evolve into sculptural objects and site-specific installations influenced by geometry.