HAVING completed the joint venture for Global Business Travel (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 24, 2013), American Express Company (AMEX) has announced new members of its executive team, promising to “change the way that business travel operates”.

AMEX and an investor group led by Certares now each have a 50 per cent ownership stake.

The new company provides leading travel solutions, integrating consulting services, proprietary research and end-to-end meetings and events capabilities. Its creation also saw the injection of US$900 million in capital from investors.

Pat Bourke has since been named chief administrative officer, Norma Corio as chief financial officer, and JoAnne Kruse as chief human resources officer.

They join Greg O’Hara, who was appointed chairman of the board, and Bill Glenn who assumes the roles of president and CEO.

Said Glenn: “With our brand heritage, global network and strong capabilities honed over decades of connecting the world through travel, GBT is a leader in our industry…But our industry, like others, must evolve along with the consumerisation and globalisation of modern commerce.

“Whether it’s mobile functionality, dynamic apps or simply easier and faster ways to do business, American Express Global Business Travel now has the resources to further innovate and change the way that business travel operates.”

He added: “With the creation of the joint venture and the infusion of US$900 million of capital from our investors, we now have even greater resources that the marketplace to not only stay ahead of the curve, but to create the curve.”

MALAYSIA Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) is organising the first Business Events Week (BEW) to expose local industry players to key insights, challenges and growth opportunities in the business events arena.

To be held between August 14 and 21 at the Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar, the event will bear the theme Exceeding Expectations to encourage participants to see value in being innovative and to think differently in order to surpass expectations and draw more business to Malaysian shores.

Malaysia’s aim is to lure 2.9 million business event arrivals by 2020 to make up about eight per cent of the 36 million targeted tourist arrivals. Last year, the country welcomed 1.4 million business events arrivals, which translates to 5.2 per cent of total tourist arrivals to Malaysia.

MyCEB CEO, Zulkefli Sharif, said: “The purpose of BEW is to create a platform for all stakeholders of the business events industry to converge, communicate and debate issues that impact on the future growth and sustainability of the business events industry. There will be a series of seminars, workshops, dialogue sessions, expo and networking sessions that engages all levels and segments of the business events industry.”

International speakers slated to attend include Jason Fox, motivation strategy and design expert and author of The Game Changer, and Mike van der Vijver, meeting designer and advisor, trainer and coach in intercultural management.

Both experts will both speak on topics related to innovation.

Delegates will also hear from North American meeting and event planners on how they can best capture business, and listen in on dialogue sessions between the private and public sector on strategies to enable Malaysia to develop and position itself as a leading business events destination globally.

DUANGJITT Resort & Spa, located towards the south of Phuket’s Patong Beach, has rolled out a new convention facility within its 14.6ha premises to raise its appeal as a MICE venue.

“Although we have over 500 rooms, our meeting facilities could only accommodate 100-plus pax previously, hence the management decided to add a new convention hall to the resort with an investment of some 300 million baht (US$9.3 million),” said Duangjitt Resort & Spa’s assistant director of sales, Purimpratch Sukbuayai.

Comprised of three main buildings designed in traditional Thai architectural style, Duangchanok Convention Hall features the 986m2 high-ceilinged Duangchanok Ballroom that can comfortably accommodate 1,200 pax and be divided into three smaller spaces; the 309m2 Duangrada Reception Hall that can host around 300 pax; the Banquet Hall consisting of four breakout rooms (Duangkamol, Duangthip, Duangmanee and Duangkaew) varying between 100m2 and 200m2, plus the 232m2 open-air Duangdao Hall; and three VIP rooms with private restrooms.

“Duangchanok Convention Hall is able to accommodate up to 2,000 pax, making it the biggest MICE venue on Patong Beach,” added Purimpratch. “Construction has already been completed but the facility is still undergoing fine-tuning of its interior systems, with an official opening planned for later this year.”

Soft-opened in late-2013, Duangchanok Convention Hall hosted the 6th Andaman Travel Trade Show in November 2013 as its first event, and has received meeting requests for groups varying between 300 and 400 pax from neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Singapore, Purimpratch shared.

Upcoming groups include a 600-pax group from Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Group and two 600-pax groups from India in September this year.

Less than 1km away, the newly opened Grand Mercure Phuket Patong also offers a 290m2 Grand M Ballroom accommodating up to 200 guests for sit-down dinners and 300 guests for standing cocktails, plus two meeting rooms of 95m2 and 60m2 each, according to the resort’s assistant director of sales, Nuschanart Ariyakhachorn. The 314-room property will celebrate its grand opening later this month.

DRIVEN by Pattaya’s rising potential as a corporate and meeting destination, Holiday Inn Pattaya is pushing for the growth of its MICE business with the launch of a meeting-oriented wing in August.

Set adjacent to the existing 367-room Bay Tower, the new 200-key Executive Tower will boast a dedicated meeting space, Workshop, on the fourth floor. The retro-inspired, industrial-designed area is outfitted with meeting rooms, a boardroom, an auditorium, a terrace and a media hub along with a dedicated breakout zone.

Apart from the additional 200 rooms and suites each with their own private balconies, the new building will feature a top-floor Executive Club with panoramic views of Pattaya Bay, swimming pools, a kids’ club and a restaurant.

“There continues to be a healthy demand for MICE business into Pattaya, with many telling us they are looking for something different,” Kate Gerits, general manager at Holiday Inn Pattaya.

“The Workshop concept is about bringing the meeting area to life, providing a creative space in which participants feel inspired, and being able to provide flexibility of space all on one level,” she added.

Holiday Inn Pattaya will also form part of the newly launched North Pattaya Alliance (TTGmice e-Weekly, June 30, 2014), a group of seven hotels aiming to raise the district’s appeal as a premier destination for MICE business events and Indian weddings.