Northstar

Editor's Note Contents The right mix Editor's Note The right mix At a time where the lines that define the characteristics of a meeting space or convention venue have clearly blurred with the adoption of incentives or leisure activities into a business travel agenda, meetings organisers may be faced with a "planners' block" when it comes to choosing venues that are flexible enough to accommodate both, if not more, than the usual requirements. Pillar-less hall? That's no rocket science and ought to be a given. Outdoors? Yes, most certainly make that an option, please. Above and beyond these choices, when it comes to answering a demand that is catapulted by the fast and vast consumption of trends, what are the right ingredients? Is Asia ready to handle the level of intake for such tangible and intangible services, as well as the fast rate of change that welcomes the next wave of what's trending? This issue, we look at the trend in Thailand, specifically in Phuket which has seen the shift towards that new level of multitasking and getting that right balance between work and play. We also talk to the MAPTO's chairman, on Mandurah just 45 minutes from Perth in Western Australia and we get the scoop on what goes into the setting up of a new organisation aimed at boosting the dynamism of a region that already has a lot to offer. Cruise remains strong, particularly in here in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. Find out more on the venues available on board the SuperStar Virgo that can be an ideal setting for your next meeting. Events Melissa Tizi | Editor, Events Asia melissa.tizi@contineomedia.com Front page photo credit: Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel July 2013 Never lose your luggage 2 Thanks to Airbus, we may actually stop fussing over lost luggage. And it makes sense to invest in such technology, since this very issue, has cost the aviation industry nearly US$3 billion a year. Aside from the US$3 billion that the industry had to endure to solve the case of the missing luggage, on the passengers' end, opportunity costs need to be accounted for, which in turn reflect passengers' satisfaction, brand loyalty and simply, the customers' flying experience with the carrier. It is the ultimate dream of every airline passenger, that their bag that will never be lost. According to Airbus, one of the major reasons for luggage being lost is when the paper tags carrying the bar code are ripped off as cases are shunted along conveyor belts to the aircraft. The aircraft manufacturer has come up with a clever technology that uses electronic tags where once checked in, passengers need to only hold their smart phones over the tag, which automatically updates with a unique barcode containing their flight details and an easy-to-see view of their bag's destination. Next month, The British Airways and Design Works bag tag will be trialled, doing away with the paper tags. What do you think of this new technology? Click on this video to learn more about the new luggage tagging system. Events 2 News Choice venue for Asia's aviation conference Travel brilliantly Philippine Airlines' growth strategy 3 3 3 Feature Bleasurable Phuket Outdoor meetings with a cause 4 6 People An interview with Jeroen Meijer An interview with Clive Nelthorpe New VP for brand strategy at TripAdvisor Donaghy is AIPC's new president Hoffman to head Expedia Affiliate Network 7 8 9 9 9 Business Holiday Inn Express debuts in Singapore Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts expands into Azerbaijan MyCEB looks into China 10 10 10 Cruise The watermark of today's meetings scene 12 TRAVEL & MEETINGS GROUP (ASIA) Publisher (Asia) Amantha Chia • amantha.chia@contineomedia.com (65) 6521 9752 EDITORIAL Editor (Asia) Melissa Tizi • melissa.tizi@contineomedia.com (65) 6521 9741 Contributing Writer Kelvin Ong • travelweekly@contineomedia.com SALES & MARKETING Account Manager Kevin Ng • kevin.ng@contineomedia.com (65) 6521 9742 Marketing Manager Laura Low • laura.low@contineomedia.com (65) 6521 9754 Marketing Executive Rainy Lau • rainy.lau@contineomedia.com (65) 6521 9745 Ad Admin Assistant Rena Koh • rena.koh@contineomedia.com (65) 6521 9780 TRAVEL & MEETINGS GROUP (CHINA) Publisher Susan Li • susan.li@contineomedia.com (8610) 8532 3611 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief (China) Cindy Cui • cindy.cui@contineomedia.com (8610) 8532 3611 Editor (China) Wang Xinsheng • xinsheng.wang@contineomedia.com (8610) 8532 3611 Regional Reporter (Beijing) Sarah Qiu • sarah.qiu@contineomedia.com (8610) 8532 3611 Regional Reporter (Shanghai) LiLy Bai • lily.bai@contineomedia.com (8621) 5179 8362 Regional Reporter (Guangzhou) Yippy Chen • yippy.chen@contineomedia.com (86) 159 1315 8031 SALES & MARKETING Associate Publisher Jane Zhang • jing.zhang@contineomedia.com (8621) 5179 8360 Sales Manager Joyce Le • joyce.le@contineomedia.com (8610) 8532 3611 Marketing Manager Kevin Wang • kevin.wang@contineomedia.com (8610) 8532 3611 Marketing Assistant (Beijing) Laura Lv • laura.lv@contineomedia.com (8610) 8532 3611 Marketing Assistant (Shanghai) Vita Lu • vita.lu@contineomedia.com (8621) 5179 8360 PUBLISHING SUPPORT Editorial Production Manager Pauline Goh • pauline.goh@contineomedia.com Design Manager Honess Ho • honess.ho@contineomedia.com Graphic Designer Elsie Chin • elsie.chin@contineomedia.com Circulation Executive Levi Cheng • levi.cheng@contineomedia.com Web Developer Roger Tan • roger.tan@contineomedia.com Web Operations Executive Franco Sevilleja • franco@contineomedia.com FINANCE Finance Manager (Asia) Allan Low • allan.low@contineomedia.com Finance Manager (Beijing) Lisa Lu • lisa.lu@contineomedia.com Finance Executive (Beijing) Carol Xue • carol.xu@contineomedia.com CONTINEO MEDIA PTE LTD CEO Raymond Wong • raymond.wong@contineomedia.com MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES GERMANY / AUSTRIA / SWITZERLAND | MediaPraxis • rosteck@t-online.de T: 49 40 5005 3912 KOREA | iClick Korea • kshong2000@nate.com T: 82 70 8880 1745 MIDDLE EAST | BSA Consultants • stephen@bsacmena.com T: 9714 228 7708 NORTH AMERICA | Huson Media • francesco.lascari@husonmedia.com T: 1 212 268 3344 TRAVEL & MEETINGS GROUP, CONTINEO MEDIA PTE LTD SINGAPORE 67 Ubi Avenue 1, #06-06 StarHub Green, North Wing Singapore 408942 • TEL: +65-6521 9777 | FAX: +65-6521 9788 BEIJING Room 024, Building 8, Qijiayuan Diplomatic Compound, No.9 Jianguomenwai Street, Chaoyang District 100600, China • TEL: +8610-85323611 | FAX: +8610-85325293 SHANGHAI Room 2553, The Headquarters Building, No.168 Central XiZang Road, Shanghai 200001, China • Tel: +8621-5179 8360 | Fax: +8621-5179 8360 Events Asia is published 12 times a year by Contineo Media Pte Ltd, located at 67 Ubi Avenue 1 #06-06 StarHub Green, North Wing Singapore 408942. All rights reserved. Please address all subscription mail to the above address, or Fax +65 6521 9766. Volume 3, Number 7

• Cover