A LINE-UP of large international events is on the calendar for Singapore Expo this year, with the venue expecting 50,000 international visitors.

In March, Singapore Expo will host the new-to-market 1^st International Brain Stimulation Conference 2015 for medical practitioners and experts, as well as the Last Mile Fulfilment Asia 2015 for logistics and fulfillment industry professionals.

World Rubber Week 2015 will also run at Singapore Expo in March for more than 6,000 delegates. It is a combination of the World Rubber Summit, Rubber Exchange Forum and Tyrexpo Asia.

In April, Metrology Asia 2015 will happen concurrently with MTA 2015, showcasing measuring and inspection applications for more productivity and accuracy.

The venue is also due to welcome Radiology Asia 2015 in May, where a scientific meeting and an exhibition on medical imaging technology will take place.

Singapore Expo has been chosen as a venue for the 28^th SEA Games in June, and will also host the annual incentive Jeunesse Global Expo Unite Annual World Conference in September for over 10,000 delegates.

After which, Singapore International Energy Week in October will see the GASTECH 2015 held at Singapore Expo, taking up 50,000m² of exhibition space and more than 400 exhibitors.

Aloysius Arlando, CEO of SingEx Venues, which operates Singapore EXPO and MAX Atria, said: “The robust line up of business events represents our ability to reach into the key verticals that are aligned with Singapore’s vision of becoming a knowledge-based economy, while concurrently generating significant spin-offs for the tourism and MICE industries.

“This year is also more meaningful as the nation celebrates her 50^th birthday, and we hope our international guests will enjoy the vibrant and festive atmosphere throughout Singapore during their events.”

Returning events include the annual International Furniture Fair Singapore in March; Internet of Things Asia in April; FPSO World Congress in September; and the 18^th Annual Asian Shared Services and Outsourcing Week in November.

PHILIPPINES-BASED DMC Blue Horizon Travel & Tours has embarked on a new partnership with Pacific World to provide clients with expert services and local experience.

Pacific World Philippines will operate out of its central office in Makati, Metro Manila, with operational support from its offices in other parts of the Philippines, namely Cebu, Boracay and Bohol.

Harsha Krishnan, strategic development director at Pacific World, said in a statement: “The Philippines has been a big gap in the Asian presence of Pacific World and we are pleased today to be able to fill it with the support of Blue Horizon Travel & Tours.”

With the expansion, Pacific World now has a presence in over 100 destinations in the world.

Gregor Zajc, managing director of Blue Horizon Travel and country director, Pacific World Philippines, commented: “The Philippines is a land that is still relatively undiscovered and has much to offer, from stunning venues and properties in Manila that are exceptional value-for-money, to cultural and social experiences that can add an unforgettable touch to any incentive programme.”

CORPORATE groups looking for accommodation in Hong Kong may want to pay attention to JW Marriot Hotel Hong Kong’s ongoing package deal offering a 10 per cent discount.

Meeting organisers will receive a 10 per cent rebate on the final master bill as well as Triple Marriott Rewards Points with bookings for 10 or more guestrooms.

The deal is valid until March 31, 2015 for stays between now and August 31. The offer is available for new guestroom bookings without meetings or catering events, but subject to availability of rooms.

For more information call (852) 2841-3838.

AUSTRALIA can hardly contain its excitement at being the chosen destination for the Tupperware Indonesia Manager Incentive Trip 2015, and will welcome more than 4,000 delegates to the city of Melbourne.

Tupperware Indonesia’s top sales managers, team leaders and distributors will arrive in stages over February and March to enjoy a four-day programme. Some A$19 million (US$14.8 million) will be generated from this mega incentive.

To secure the bid, the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) joined hands with City of Melbourne and Tourism Australia to offer the Indonesian delegation a seamless, customised visa application process between travel agency Wita Tour and the Australian embassy.

The CVB also played middleman between the Indonesians and airlines. Besides that, it drew up an itinerary for the delegation, which comprises mostly women between the ages of 30 and 50, who enjoy shopping and sightseeing.

Tupperware Indonesia sales support manager, Agus Mustapa, said in a statement: “Melbourne was the clear standout. Aside from the endless attractions, thriving shopping culture, ease of access to regional areas, and reputation as a safe and friendly city, it also has the infrastructure necessary to accommodate large groups – great hotels, entertainment and attractions, and all in a city that is easy to get to, and easy to get around.”

AMWAY Japan has booked out Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa for 6D5N starting yesterday, to host this year’s highest incentive trip for the company’s 300 top sellers.

Amit Oberoi, general manager of Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa, told TTGmice e-Weeklythat part of the pitch presented to Amway Japan was “Sunglasses at Work” Meet by Design, a set of customised ideas for team activities and unconventional gala dinners set in unique locations within the 12.5ha resort.

Preparations for the big incentive group included translating all the resort’s directional signages, menus, promotions and other listings to Japanese. A pool of Japanese staff from different Shangri-La properties was also brought in for task force duty, especially for the front office, he added.

Planning for the coveted incentive event took two years.

Oberoi said Amway Japan chose Boracay based on its natural beauty and exotic location, plus “the presence of a Shangri-La property added more weight to that decision”.

The choice of Boracay is significant because while the island reaps accolades as one of the world’s best beaches, it remains an unfamiliar place for many Japanese, unlike the more popular Cebu.

THE sudden announcement of Global Business Travel Association’s (GBTA) Bangkok office end last month has caught the corporate travel community by surprise.

Welf Ebeling, regional director, GBTA Asia, will remain until the end of March to help GBTA transition its activities to China, where the association has hired operations manager Maggie Wu, based in Shanghai.

The association is moving away from organising conferences to “delivering business travel education and training”, said Michael McCormick, executive director and COO, GBTA.

“It has become clear that education must be our primary focus,” he said, adding it was an area where GBTA can clearly differentiate itself.

To that end, GBTA will expand localised education programmes to high-growth markets like Singapore and India, the way it has done in China in partnership with Fudan University.

Last August, GBTA also announced the creation of the GBTA China Education Fund (Gift of Knowledge), led by United Airlines.

Reacting to the news, a regional corporate travel manager in the IT sector, who declined to be named, told TTGmice e-Weekly: “I’m disappointed GBTA is closing the Bangkok office. I thought GBTA could do something for us in Asia-Pacific. I’m also surprised that GBTA is reducing its presence because as recently as October last year, we were discussing the vision for the region and what else GBTA can do.”

“Welf (Ebeling) has done a good job and I hope GBTA will continue to offer its certification programme in Asia to benefit a new generation of corporate travel managers.”

Agreeing, another regional corporate travel manager in the banking sector commented GBTA must continue to offer its certification programme in Asia as Hong Kong-based ACTE, the other corporate travel association in the market, does not.