Daily News & Opinion

Tomorrow, the ribbon will be cut to Pullman Nadi Bay Resort & Spa, a new multi-million-dollar destination situated on the corner of Wailoaloa Beach in Nadi Bay. The resort offers 236 rooms and suites featuring balconies or patios, and 12 direct-beachfront suites. In terms of event spaces, there’s the Soqoni Ballroom, which can cater for 500 theatre-style and features contemporary Fijian art; the Wailoa Boardroom, which is ideal for small meetings and has state-of-the-art AV equipment and WiFi, and a slew of adaptable dining facilities.

Frasers Hospitality, a member of Frasers Property Group, has officially opened the doors of Fraser Residence Orchard, Singapore, a property designed to accommodate the needs of business and leisure travellers. Situated in the heart of Singapore, the fully-furnished residences range from studio deluxe apartments to four-bedroom apartments, with onsite facilities including outdoor pools, a gym and a sky garden. Guests will be close to the Orchard MRT station, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Clarke Quay and the Botanic Gardens.

Ahead of its 2019 instalment, luxury travel business exchange Luxperience has announced its pre-and-post familiarisation tours for international buyers. Global buyers will be given the opportunity to sample food and wine unique to NSW, walk the Scenic Rim of Southern Queensland’s Hinterland and enjoy yoga on the beach in Byron Bay. Some of the products featuring on the itineraries include Lizard Island, Spicers Retreats, Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley and El Questro Homestead in the Kimberley.

IBTM China has announced that registration is open for its hosted buyer programme. Approximately 400 Hosted Buyers are expected to attend the event, half of which will be new to IBTM China. Based on exhibitor demand, the group of buyers will include 20 per cent international buyers; 20 per cent from the Asia Pacific region – including second and third tier mainland China cities; 60 per cent will be agency buyers; 30 per cent corporate buyers and 10 per cent association buyers.

As a result of the recent Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s (TCEB) roadshows held across Sydney and Melbourne, more than 4000 business event travellers are expected to attend events in Thailand over the next four years. The roadshows saw 64 buyers representing PCOs, meeting planners, event managers and EAs partake in more than 270 business conversations with 14 Thai suppliers. Thailand recently announced a campaign which provides site visit support for meeting and incentive organisers of events with upwards of 80 guests.

The second Australian hotel under IHG’s upscale voco brand has officially opened its doors: voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley. The 70-room property is set on 70 acres of rolling countryside, and embodies the voco brand’s bold characteristics, with bright yellow accents and onsite beehives smattered throughout the building. voco Kirkton Park also boasts two world-class dining experiences: the Locavore Dining and Epoche Lounge and Bar, which provides lunch and dinner, and The Conservatory, which offers a high tea experience overlooking the rose garden.

The third annual Get Global trade show, set to take place this July at the ICC Sydney, has announced two of its headline speakers: trainer and author Michelle Bridges and co-founder of Four Pillars Gin Matt Jones. The speakers will both provide a fresh perspective to meeting and event professionals, with Michelle’s talk focusing on finding a work-life balance while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and Matt’s on growing a business and developing a successful brand.

Langkawi-situated The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort has amped up its culinary game with the appointment of two new leaders: Quinn Pu and Stefano Micocci, who will take up the posts of director of food and beverage and executive chef respectively. Quinn is a Chinese national with more than 15 years’ experience, including at The Ritz-Carlton in Jiuzhaigou, China. Stefano hails from Italy and boasts 20 years’ experience across his home country, the Middle East and Malaysia.