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CHINA Asia Outdoor Tradeshow Nanjing, China | June 2016

JAPAN 3D & Virtual Reality Expo Tokyo, Japan | June 2016

HONG kONG MICE Travel Expo Wan Chai, Hong Kong | June 2016

MAlAySIA Sustainable Development Conference Kuching, Malaysia | July 2016

SINGAPORE Singapore MICE Forum Biz Events Asia is the official Strategic Media Partner of SMF 2016 Singapore | July 28-29, 2016

COVER STORY Paris charms as a luxury travel destination

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Editorial advisory Janet Tan-Collis Damion Breust Selina Chavry Daniel Chua Andrew Chan board mEmbErs President | SACEOS Head of Corporate Global Managing Director Managing Director CEO | ACI HR Solutions CEO | East West Relations Asia Pacific Pacific World AONIA MICE Planners Barclays

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THe Luxury ediTion

Biz evenTs asia uncovers Luxury from Legacy To modernisaTion

Three Tier Pool,

28 JUNE-JULY 2016 TimeLess Luxury THe journey of Luxury TraveL and LifesTyLe requires THe resPecT and undersTanding of iTs Legacy

Words: eL Kwang & ricHard BaKer

Luxury as a well-travelled attitude and its legacy even if an organisation masters its own staff, dates as far back as the roman times. whether there are still communicative responses being it is travel, events or labels, to experience luxury created outside departmental walls, 24/7, that well, one should respect the art of luxury and affect a brand. a classic example will be user- understand the key messages and appreciate the driven feedback social media platforms where talent behind luxury. consumers are given the green light to share their feedback openly regardless of their level of modernisation, coupled with innovation and credibility. technology, has transformed timeless luxury into modern luxury and triggers off memories There are many reasons to invest in brand of excellence in those with a keen eye for strategy from a business perspective. The fine designs. Powerful brands deliver that most basic forms of brand communication are association, attract loyalty and establish a necessary for presenting your company in a deeper respect for luxury legacy. variety of situations from managing complaints to event execution. it should be a priority from modern luxury according to james and Tamara the very beginning and if it is a premium luxury Lohan of renowned luxury travel experience brand, the intricate nature by definition should services, mr & mrs smith, is “not about formal, be deeply rooted and connected to the very stuffy and luxury environment of days gone by; core of its existence. The legacy and story of we look at the personality and character of the each masterpiece needs to be continuously interior design and how friendly the service re-enforced, so in spite of trends, fashion and is. we want to find places that offer a unique global economies changing and developing, experience and a personal touch.” The Lohan’s the word and very meaning of the term luxury knowledge on modern luxury and trends are becomes harder to manage as it becomes featured in the #Knowledge section on page ingrained into our everyday lives. guest editor, 66-67. fay-Linn yeoh highlights the importance of brand management in a competitive world on Brand & dEsign discipLinE page 38 of this article. Today, everyone understands the power of a strong visual identity, a powerful brand or logo despite the trials and tribulations of the asset of a company. some adopt clever taglines business world, luxury can still capture one’s and catch-phrases, or emotional appeals that attention through its emotional appeal and all too often become subsumed under some enduring presence. a good art piece or a other value systems. in today’s decentralised, good design will still stand out and withstand tweeting, on demand and instant gratification critical scrutiny because it carries on years culture, achieving visual coherence can be tough. of craftsmanship and attention to details; a testament to the back breaking blood, sweat and applications and processes are required in tears of collaboration between the apprentice true branding work (an e-newsletter has more and the master. a good design captures the different requirements and opportunities than perfect yet challenging relationship between the a tangible brochure); people far outside any past and the present. we bring you a real-life marketing department have the tools to create experience when we interview the owner of the communication opportunities (and do); and newly opened st. regis Kuala Lumpur, carmen chua on page 36 of this article.

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Guest Editor Richard Baker explains his principle on luxury design

A career as a hotel expert allows me to be responsible and accountable. We take responsibility for our chosen careers and mine is no different. By affording myself early on the opportunity to travel and to be immersed in cultural awareness, I exemplified in the field of Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (FF&E) and sourcing, by selecting the world’s finest fabrics, silks and woven materials.

Through years of travel I have learnt how to respect heritage and the cultural integrity originated from a deep and grounded level. To understand the processes and the time-honoured traditions of application, the ability to create is to strive and to lead in performance excellence, though always watched over by a careful eye. To me, this “Luxury to me is time. Time careful eye is the quintessential element of what it means to have timeless luxury, and I say luxury is indeed looking for me to fully interpret yet safeguard its deep-rooted to allow me to experience connection. Timeless luxury is “always watched over by a careful eye”. places, time to take in a destination, and time to spend Sometimes the difference between a good trip and an amazing one comes down to one thing: the hotel. Nothing stirs up as much debate in the Scope Identity Office as time with loved ones.” the places we are most passionate about and most likely to recommend to others. As specialists in advising and consulting with hotel owners, our expertise has witnessed it Fay-linn yeoh all. At the glimpse of an eye whilst inhaling my first breath I can sense the emotion and Guest Editor of Biz Events Asia and the integrity of the space while comprehending and reading the relationship between Director, Brand Management Asia Pacific history and heritage – what belongs and what doesn’t. I have learnt that there are no St Regis, The Luxury Collection right and wrong answers. However, there are fundamental principles that must be Food & Beverage Marketing, followed and executed to achieve unparalleled experiences. Starwood Hotels and Resorts

My own discipline and relationship with design relates to the “less is more” Bauhaus Movement from 1919-1933 and is inspired by the unity of form and function, and the very idea that design is in service of the community; a belief in the perfection and efficiency of rudimentary design with maximum spatial logic. Design for me is a confident process: invest in what you adore, and be accountable for your own design principles, but always watch over the process with a careful and masterful eye.

30 JUNE-JULY 2016 of cHoice and THe uLTimaTe Luxury in care LifesTyLe and TraveL is

The desire to have the freedom to “switch Having cHoices wiTHouT off” is priceless. so much so, city dwellers are “investing” in it, financially and negLecTing duTy of care. spiritually. Luxury to anna nash, director Words: eL Kwang & gina sin of Public relations for is “intangible and a personal choice in finding one’s escape, moment and peace.” it is also the want to have a personal choice that brought on the “bleisure” travel trend where employees are extending their work trips into personal days at a destination for in-depth exploration and experience. The introduction of popular website airbnb encourages travellers to have local experiences by staying and exploring in less touristy neighbourhoods while staying in a home away from home environment.

Bertrand saillets, general manager of fcm Travel solutions singapore explained to Biz events asia that the company has relaunched Travel club due to the increase in “bleisure” travellers. Travel swimming Pool, club is a membership-based service where customers can create their holiday experiences with the assistance of fcm Travel solutions’ passionate travel consultants. The club promises fast responses (within 24 hours) and value for money themed experiences like city breaks, bleisure, beach escapes, active and wellness holidays off the beaten track.

el Kwang of Biz events asia experienced airbnb for the first time when visiting frankfurt and Paris. although the cost of accommodation is one third of hotels within the same vicinity, there are certainly some factors that may not be appealing to time-poor travellers especially for business travellers:

• c oordination. more time needed to coordinate with the hosts for logistics like picking up of keys, apartment orientation. early or late flight arrivals will be a challenge. • i mmediate assistance. if one needs assistance, it is much faster getting help when staying at hotels. • a ccessibility. some apartments do not come with lifts. so, prepare to sweat it out if one is a heavy traveller lugging it up an apartment on level 5. getting a taxi may be a challenge if one

Picnic grove, amanpulo

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does not know how to book taxis in a foreign language or use uber services. • s ense of security. especially when returning late and if one is not familiar with the location. • r eliability. only get a real sense of it on arrival unlike a hotel with strong brand standards. some travellers experienced last minute cancellation by the host and the whole booking and sourcing process begins again. a tough challenge during peak seasons of the destinations. duty of care conference

of course, there are attractive conditions staying with airbnb which include affordability where meals can be prepared in the apartment, living spaces where group travellers gather and a real sense of home away from home. for example, the apartment Kwang rented in frankfurt came with portable wi-fi and mobile charging gadgets and a nespresso machine, the latter fulfilling the need of coffee drinkers. Loyalty follows once holiday home rental brands like onefinestay, Homeaway and airbnb services have established a real sense of trust with customers.

Hotel Providence Paris Those who prefer hotels could take the advice of james and Tamara Lohan of mr & mrs smith: “don’t pay for facilities you won’t have time to use - especially if healthier workforce and significant you’re on a fleeting business trip.” cost savings.

However, business travellers and a duty of care conference organised corporate travel management by international sos – the world’s companies are more concerned about leading medical and travel security travellers’ safety as they have duty of assistance company – at suntec care obligations. singapore convention & exhibition centre attracted over 140 human duTy of carE resource and risk management in corporate travel, the bigger the executives for an exchange of company, the more complex the thoughts, trends and industry “Luxury is intangible business trips, hence the more practices. and a personal choice imperative it is to have a proper risk in finding one’s escape, mitigation system in place. staying duty of care refers to the moral moment and peace.” alert in the ever-changing landscape and legal obligations of employers of globalisation, political instability and to act prudently to avoid the risk of anna nash fear of terrorism in places previously reasonable foreseeable injury or director of Public relations thought safe, is more important today exposures leading to ill health to aman resorts than ever before. a good risk mitigation their employees working, posted on policy reduces the rate of work-related international assignments or working accidents and absenteeism, increases in remote areas of their home productivity and knowledge (prevention country. is better than cure) resulting in a

32 JUNE-JULY 2016 james and Tamara Lohan at Ham yard Hotel London

dr gan siok Lin, executive director, this luxury. The attitude and mindset wsH institute, at a panel discussion for the enjoyment of downtime advised that to properly implement a determines its real value. one can be “don’t pay for facilities risk mitigation structure or system, a in the most luxurious destination and you won’t have time company needs to have a strong wish staying at the finest hotel. However, if to use – especially if culture. a strong management needs one chooses not to live in the moment, to be supportive, lead by example, and one will not only miss out the finer you’re on a fleeting communicate simply and clearly the details, but may end up leaving the business trip.” policy to all its employees and partners. break feeling less rested. with a proper understanding of the policy implementation, employees must also play their part in adhering to it. according to the international organization for standardization (iso), over 6,300 people around the globe die each year from work-related accidents or diseases. occupational injuries and diseases for both employers and the wider economy can become a burden, with staff absence, early retirements and insurance premiums on the rise. a new standard currently being developed by iso will help organisations reduce this burden by providing a framework to improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks and create better and safer working conditions. Known as iso 45001 occupational health and safety management systems – requirements, this new standardisation is slated to be published in october 2016. it will also address many, if not all, legal requirements in this area. in our hands To have the luxury of freedom of choice, one has to be responsible for one’s own welfare. in addition, it is crucial to be in The waterhouse at south Bund Bund junior the right frame of mind when enjoying

33 JUNE-JULY 2016 soul sanctuary biz events asia spent an afternoon with aman resorts when they were in town recently to meet its key clients anD meDia to announce its 31st property anD more. WorDs: gina sin

walking up to the beautifully restored bungalow that is lewin terrace in singapore’s fort canning park, one would understand why the aman resorts held its networking event there: luxurious, historical, cosy and welcoming. while speaking with ian white, general manager at amanjiwo, we found out about a property so compelling we just had to share.

ChArM of with the colossal ninth-century buddhist sanctuary and unesco world heritage site, , as its neighbour, amanjiwo (meaning “peaceful soul”) is an unexpected resort located in amanjiwo suites yogyakarta, indonesia. fashioned entirely in the form of a pillared temple area. limestone walls, domed (some as a rehabilitation for the mind, body from coral-beige limestone known thatched) roofs, high ceiling, terrazzo and soul, the surrounding dramatic locally as paras yogya, the resort is set flooring, traditional glass paintings and landscape is ideal for trekking the within an amphitheatre of lush palms antique batik pillows are just some of steep flanks of mount merapi or into and rice fields. the elements that make up the rooms. the lush menoreh hills, replete with because of the materials used to villages, clove plantations and rice its 36 suites and rooms laid out in build the resort, white shared that it fields. being one of indonesia’s richest two crescents around the central required no extensive refurbishments and most diverse artistic regions, the rotunda is a juxtaposing complement to the property, which almost mirrors surrounding rural villages host frequent to borobudur – one of the world’s the beautifully time-weathered hindu celebrations, with music largest buddhist monument and one temples on the Dieng plateau dated and spirited dancing, while centuries- of the many religious sites in the from the seventh to eighth century. old architectural and sculptural masterpieces adorn the surrounding hindu and buddhist temples.

we human beings with our short lifespan“ are nothing but a fleeting traveller at a moment in time.

this ambitious project

will continue to recount and nourish the next generation with“ hopes and expectations for the future. amanjiwo main building

58 JUNE-JULY 2016 “this is the soul of aman. it is like welcoming guests to the home of a dear friend. the ability to anticipate needs without the guest having to repeat a request. most people have heard about it however we continue to keep it exclusive as it is very special.”

AnnA nAsh Director of public relations aman resorts

nAMe An AMAn resort slated to launch in 2017, aman’s fourth property in shanghai, on a long journey, via a fleet of flat-bed trucks, to shanghai china, will comprise a village of historic dwellings surrounded where they would later be resurrected. by a sacred camphor forest. bellied in close proximity to downtown shanghai, the resort and its surroundings will vladislav Doronin, chairman of aman, said, “every aman has comprise of daring engineering feats with roots that began a story to tell and this one is no exception. this project and from a philanthropic endeavour spanning hundreds of the many challenges it presented were unimaginable, but we kilometres along the country’s eastern reaches. overcame them not only to defy the test of time, but to push the boundaries of traditional hospitality. this resort, a legacy the story begins in jiangxi, the mountainous, cultural heartland to the past, stands proud as an archive for future generations. of eastern china, approximately 800 kilometres southwest of i am especially grateful to ma Dadong, the mastermind behind shanghai. the construction of a reservoir in the province in the this unique restoration project and whose foresight and early 2000s threatened the area’s historical villages and ancient determination have made it possible to preserve the magnificent camphor trees which had stood for almost two millennia since history of china for generations to come.” the Qin dynasty, the first dynasty of imperial china. ma Dadong, the lionhearted entrepreneur behind this ambitious in a bid to preserve the region’s vanishing past, this project rescue and restoration project, and a native of jiangxi, said, “we entailed over a decade of disassembling, relocation and human beings with our short lifespan are nothing but a fleeting restoration of more than 30 villages (including 50 chosen ming traveller at a moment in time. as a guardian of the past, i and Qing dynasty houses and 10,000 ancient camphor trees) by realised the only way to protect and celebrate our history was by a rescue team of botanists, engineers, architects and master instilling a new life and purpose into these ancient homes, and craftsmen who battled through years of trials and tribulations. to allow the sacred trees that surround them, to be animated these include flash floods that overturned trucks and shattered with renewed spirit. much like the ornate stone carvings and the the temporary bridges constructed to access remote villages. stories they hold, this ambitious project will continue to recount and nourish the next generation with hopes and expectations for as houses were dismantled piece by piece, they revealed the future.” ancient building techniques used in their construction, ornate carvings and elaborate stone reliefs that depicted family the new aman in shanghai has yet to be officially named, histories dating back to more than 2,000 years. these, and and the group welcomes suggestions to name this historical other architectural elements, joined the rescued camphor trees destination.

garden pool suite

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