INBOX
Keep up to date with the latest news and views of interest to busy PAs.
Chinese bosses check out Cairns’ MICE potential
CAIRNS A group of high-powered Chinese
business executives has checked out the MICE potential of Australia’s tropical north. Director of Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Rosie Douglas says the rapidly growing Chinese outbound conference and incentive market sees Australia as a desirable destination, with the decision makers from seven large companies keen to send their groups to Australia, particularly Cairns. “The level of buzz Cairns has created in the Chinese holiday market is attracting the attention of the corporate sector.” Her comments are backed up by
Business Events Australia boss Penny Lion. “Research has shown that the Chinese business events market is attracted to destinations that offer safety, value for money, natural scenery and
innovative team-building activities in unique landscapes. For these reasons, Cairns is in a strong position to capitalise on the Chinese market. “Another key take-out from the
research is the importance of building relationships with event planners, associations, travel agencies and corporate end users in China.”
Hackers hitting hotel guests NEW YORK Hackers are now targeting
travellers using hotel internet connections, warns the Internet Crime Complaint Centre, which is affiliated to the FBI. In its Global Security Report for 2012,
security company Trustwave found that hotel internet connections were easy targets for hackers because security was often lax. “Recent analysis from the FBI and
other government agencies shows that malicious actors are targeting travellers abroad through pop-up windows while they are establishing an internet connec- tion in their hotel rooms,” says the ICCC. Because hotels were often franchises using the same system, even in different
countries, one connection could be hacked and followed through on all the other sites. Making the situation worse was that
Trustwave found that one of the most common passwords used was “password1” because it met the security requirements of many systems. Once in the hotel’s system, the hackers upload malware that appears as a common software update when the guest logs on. Other franchises such as coffee chains
and restaurants with public WiFi connections are also easy targets, and the FBI says travellers should protect their computers by uploading software updates when they are back in their office.
Seoul sets sights on meetings With a new CEO/president in
SEOUL
Sung-Real Lee, Seoul Tourist Organisa- tion aims to ramp up its competitiveness in the international meetings industry. One of Lee’s key tasks will be to help
expand the accommodation infrastruc- ture in the Korean capital. Speaking at
12 ISSUE THREE 2012 |
WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.ASIA
IN BRIEF BANGKOK Just opened, Riva Surya Bangkok is a
68-room boutique hotel by Chao Phraya River, close to historical sites. It is within walking distance of Khao San Road entertainment district and the city centre is reached by river boat. There are four room categories, all featuring working spaces with the latest technology and complimentary WiFi internet access.
AUCKLAND Accor has opened its second luxury
hotel in New Zealand, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour. The occasion was marked with a traditional Sabrage champagne ceremony – removing the cork by sword. The hotel’s 172 bedrooms and suites all have private balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows and over- sized bathrooms with separate rain showers.
DANANG Accor has three new properties planned
for Danang following the opening of its first economy hotel in Vietnam, the Ibis Saigon South. Opening this year is the rebranded Pullman Danang Beach Resort, to be followed by Danang French Village Ba Na Hills next year and Ba Na Hills Member of the Mgallery Collection in 2014.
NEW YORK Asian airlines figure prominently in the
top 10 listings of the Skytrax World Airline Awards. Qatar Airways was top, followed by Asiana Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and ANA All Nippon Airways. Thai Airways International came in ninth, followed by Malaysia Airlines and Garuda Indonesia.
SINGAPORE To mark the 125th anniversary of Raffles
Hotel Singapore in September, Jaeger-LeCoultre is issuing a limited-edition classic Reverso watch while Billecart- Salmon has bottled an exclusive 125th Anniversary Brut Réserve Champagne, to be available at the hotel and its sister properties in Cambodia, China, Paris and Seychelles. There will be a year of celebrations.
INCHEON Convensia Convention Centre in Incheon
has become the first LEED-certified exhibition venue in Asia and the first building in Korea of more than 1000sq.m. to achieve this certification of sustainable design. Nine projects in Songdo IBD have set firsts in both Korea and Asia including Sheraton Incheon and the SF International Business Square office complex.
DANANG In a private bay by rainforest-covered
the opening of the third annual Seoul MICE Forum, he said the meetings industry was a key service industry. Lee has worked in the private sector
for more than 30 years, serving as the head of key finance and project develop- ment divisions in the Hyundai Group.
mountain slopes on Son Tra Peninsula, the new Inter- Continental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort has 197 guest rooms, suites and beachfront villas overloooking South China Sea. La Masion 1888, the resort’s signa- ture restaurant, will be run by the first three-star Michelin chef in Vietnam, Michel Roux.
a daily Hong Kong-Singapore service in October. HONG KONG/SINGAPORE
United Airlines introduces
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56