FIVE months after emerging from a major renovation this year, Suntec Singapore Convention Exhibition Centre has released a sterling line-up of key events for 2014.

The company has announced 88 key events for its 2014 line-up, including 16 major medical events, 16 tradeshows, 19 consumer events and 37 international conferences and special events.

The events range widely from medical and technology to lifestyle and financial industries, including first timers such as Blueprint 2014, Asia’s Fashion Gateway, Prudential Eye Awards, Singapore Art Fair, AAMA-TEX, UROFAIR and Trans Asia 2014.

Exhibitions continue to form the core of the business with events such as HR Summit, Beauty Asia and Asia PCR/SingLive that have signed multiple-year deals with Suntec Singapore.

Suntec Singapore’s efforts to be a PhRMA-code compliant venue are also paying dividends, having attracted many of the country’s major medical trade events such as Occupational Safety & Health Asia, Medical Fair Asia and IDEM Singapore, Asia’s leading dental trade fair and scientific conference, with 6,000 delegates attending over three days.

The centre will also host international conferences such as International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, 7th Annual Congress on Glaucoma Surgery, IDF Western Pacific Regional Congress and International Conference on Co-ordinated Chemistry.

Returning consumer shows include COMEX 2014, Bookfest@Singapore 2014, Food and Kitchen Expo as well as Food and Beverage, while new consumer events include SG Tech Show.

CEO Arun Madhok said: “I fully expect 2014 to be a very successful and busy year. Having said that, we are not just looking to fill the Centre for the sake of it. We are looking to foster long-term collaboration with events and clients who can use the full potential of our Centre for our collective success.”

In the five months since re-opening in June 2013, the centre ran 196 events with a total of 780,000 visitors. This included 56 exhibitions and 124 conferences and meetings, including first-time events to Singapore such as the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, which brought in 3,890 international and local delegates from 122 countries.

New exhibitions included Cloud Expo Asia and Data Centre World, while repeat customers included ad:tech, ICMAT, Singapore Gifts and Stationery Show, IMCAS Asia, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce SMEs and Spikes Asia.

WITH the prevalence of precarious situations like protests, terrorist attacks and natural disasters around the world, a robust travel risk management (TRM) strategy is key for corporates to ensure fulfillment of their duty of care to employees, according to GBTA vice president, operations, Asia, Welf J Ebeling.

Urging companies to implement effective TRM strategies to improve traveller well-being and reduce trip-related stress, especially in view of the current political situation in Bangkok, Ebeling, said: “TRM means the duty of care, the liability companies have when sending travellers into the field. Many companies still don’t understand what type of corporate liabilities there are.

“Controlling of expenses and creating efficiency is just half of the story, while travel welfare is the other half,” he added. “There are potential risks even at home markets…Companies have not just a moral obligation but also a legal responsibility for their travellers.”

Several companies revealed that business travel to Bangkok has been unaffected by the current political unrest as they already have in place TRM policies to assess and cope with such situations.

Said an MNC’s corporate travel manager who declined to be named: “We review travel advisories by governments, but our travel security department will provide our own warnings. For example, we understand that protests are currently restricted to certain parts of Bangkok, so we will advise our employees on the areas to avoid while on business in Bangkok.”

Likewise, Scandinavian Airlines director and general manager, South-east Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Niels Henrik Hansen, commented: “For the (cabin) staff currently in Bangkok, we will update them daily of the political situation in the city – where to go, where not to go, etc.”

Warakorn Sinthuwongsanont, administrator executive/travel Thailand, Ikea Trading (Hong Kong) shared that the Thailand office is reporting on the Bangkok situation to its headquarters, which in turn disseminates constant updates to staff across its global offices.

JONES Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group (JLL) has exchanged contracts for the sale of luxury resort, Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, in the Maldives to Singapore-based CDL Hospitality Trusts for US$59.6 million.

The sale of the prpoerty, which comprises 19 beach villas and 16 over-water villas, includes the benefit of a long-term management agreement with Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts.

It also marks CDL Hospitality Trusts’ second acquisition in the Maldives in 2013, following its purchase of the Angsana Velavaru earlier this year.

JLL senior vice president for investment sales Asia, Nihat Ercan, said: “We are delighted to announce this landmark sale, the first arm’s length third-party managed resort sale in the Maldives and the second acquisition in the country by a major regional institutional investor during 2013.

“With sound trading fundamentals and enduring strength of visitor demand, the Maldives has certainly captured the attention of the investment community across Asia and the Middle East. We are seeing significant interest and weight of capital from private investors, owner-operators, listed companies and institutional investors, and we expect this trend to continue into 2014 as further opportunities in this unique market unfold.”

Since 2012, JLL has brokered five resort transactions in the Maldives, representing over 350 rooms and more than US$330 million in transaction volume, underscoring the island destination as one of the most liquid investment markets in Asia.

TRAVEL website TripAdvisor yesterday disclosed the winners of its 2013 Travellers’ Choice Awards for Destinations on the Rise.

Highlighting 54 spots globally based on the consolidated reviews and opinions of TripAdvisor travellers, topping the list for Asia is Kathmandu in Nepal, and for the world, Havana in Cuba.

The top 10 Asian destinations are:

1. Kathmandu, Nepal
2. Sapporo, Japan
3. Hanoi, Vietnam
4. Siem Reap, Cambodia
5. Hua Hin, Thailand
6. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
7. Sanur, Indonesia
8. Macau, China
9. Jaipur, India
10. Busan, South Korea

The top 10 destinations in the world, which includes three Asian desitnations, are:

1. Havana, Cuba
2. La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica
3. Kathmandu, Nepal
4. Jerusalem, Israel
5. Crusco, Peru
6. Ambergris Caye, Belize
7. Sapporo, Japan
8. Hanoi, Vietnam
9. Corralejo, Spain
10. Fortaleza, Brazil

BEST Western International (BWI) has opened a new hotel this week in Buriram, becoming the first international hotel group to launch in Thailand’s north-eastern city.

Best Western Royal Buriram Hotel in the centre of the city offers 79 rooms featuring amenities such as complimentary Wi-Fi, 32-inch LCD televisions with international satellite channels, minibars and room service.

Facilities include an all-day dining restaurant serving both Asian and international cuisines and an outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers.

Fast-growing Buriram is the gateway to attractions including the Angkor-style temples of Phanom Rung Historical Park.

BWI is also present in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Khao Lak.

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) and Indonesian property developer Duta Anggada Realty have signed an agreement to develop Holiday Inn & Suites Jakarta Gajah Mada, scheduled for opening in 2015.

Located in Jalan Gajah Mada in north Jakarta, the 447-room property is a mixed-use development that will not only feature hotel rooms, but also serviced apartments for guests who want to book extended stays at the hotel.

The property opposite the LTC Glodok Mall is a short drive from Jakarta’s central business district and easily accessible from Jakarta International Airport.

Based in Jakarta, Duta Anggada Realty is under Duta Anggada Group, a group of companies with more than 40 years of experience in the residential, office and retail sector.

IHG COO for South-east Asia and resorts, Clarence Tan, said: “Indonesia has seen very strong economic progress and industry trends have really fuelled the demand for our Holiday Inn brand.

“The property will be our first in Indonesia to answer the increasing demand for travel in Jakarta, especially (from) those who now need to stay for longer each time they visit.”

Currently in South-east Asia, Indonesia is where IHG has the largest development pipeline, with over 20 hotels slated to open in the next few years, including six Holiday Inn and more than 10 Holiday Inn Express hotels to cater to the country’s growing midscale market.

THE Lion City will get a touch of pizazz next year when the inaugural Singapore International Jazz Festival (Sing Jazz) kicks off at Marina Bay Sands (MBS).

Slated to run from February 27 to March 2, Sing Jazz will feature a stellar line-up of jazz and R&B artistes including Jamie Cullum, Natalie Cole, James Morrison, India Arie, Incognito, Gregory Porter, Allen Stone and Dirty Loops, alongside regional and local jazz players.

The festival is organised by Orbis Festival Productions in collaboration with MBS and counterpart festival, Java International Jazz Festival (Java Jazz).

Sing Jazz will also host clinics led by festival artists and facilitate exchanges between local talent and Java Jazz.

Java Festival Production founder and chairman, Peter Gontha, commented: “Java Jazz already attracts well over 100,000 attendees each year to Indonesia. Together with Sing Jazz, we intend to make South-east Asia the world’s premiere jazz destination.”

“Our distinctive offerings enable us to showcase international and regional jazz at its very best, albeit with a uniquely Asian vibe.”

Tickets for Sing Jazz are already on sale, with prices starting from S$78 (US$62) for a one-day general admission for adults.

Elsewhere in the region, the Hua Hin Jazz Festival has declared it will make a comeback to the beaches of Hua Hin, Thailand in June 2014 (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 13, 2013).

QANTAS yesterday announced it had signed a codeshare agreement with China Southern Airlines and is exploring other possible areas of cooperation with the China-based carrier.

The terms of the deal will allow Qantas customers to book China Southern services from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Guangzhou and four more onward destinations in China namely Xiamen, Kunming, Fuzhou and Urumqi. China Southern commenced a daily Airbus A380 service between Sydney and Guangzhou in October.

China Southern passengers can also reserve seats on 10 different Qantas routes in Australia and to New Zealand. The new codeshare services will be available for booking and travel in early 2014.

In addition, both airlines are looking into partnering up in other areas, including pilot training assistance from Qantas.

Qantas already has existing commercial relationships with China Eastern Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways.

Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas Group, said: “Partnership is key to our strategy in Asia and we’re very pleased to now have China Southern as one of our codeshare partners in the world’s fastest growing aviation market.”

“This is great news for the increasing number of Qantas customers travelling to China for business and leisure because it simplifies their journey and opens up new destinations.”

A sixth of Qantas’ revenue now comes from Asia, he said.

SINGAPORE-based Ariva Hotels & Serviced Apartments has opened the doors of its latest property, the colonial-inspired M Boutique Hotel by Ariva.

The 93-room boutique property in Ipoh, the capital of Perak, blends classic shophouse architecture and the hotel’s industrial exterior with contemporary art and furniture design.

Facilities in the hotel include a gym with the latest fitness equipment, the Signature Old Town White Coffee Café, meeting and event spaces for up to 70 guests, and the soon-to-open Myth Eatery & Bar that will serve contemporary fare prepared with ingredients from local sustainable sources.

Ariva Hotels & Serviced Apartments is a management company set up in Singapore in 2009. It currently has 5,000 units in its portfolio across cities such as Bali, Bangkok, Beijing, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuching, Medan, Penang, Qingdao, Semarang, Singapore, Tianjin and Yangon.