Singapore Chamber of Commerce Vietnam’s Post

Southeast Asia has long been a crossroads of the world, where trade has stimulated cultural exchange. Merchants and other travellers have connected the region to China, India, the Middle East, and Europe. Many of these people settled in Southeast Asia and intermarried into local communities, creating vibrant hybrid cultures which today are widely referred to as Peranakan. Peranakan has meant different things at different times. The basic term is Malay language, the lingua franca of maritime Southeast Asia since the 15th century. With the root word anak (child), peranakan is an adjective meaning “born of”, and can also be applied to place, ethnicity, or other factors. For example, one could be Peranakan Singapura, meaning “Singapore-born”. The term peranakan suggests someone who is locally born but has heritage from somewhere else — a mixture of cultures. Today, peranakan has taken on the status of cultural identity and refers to a range of mixed heritage communities. Their unifying trait is the melding of ancestral cultures — Chinese, Indian, Arab, European, and others — with the indigenous cultures of the Malay-Indonesian archipelago. Many names exist to refer to a dizzying array of cross-cultural combinations, including Chinese Peranakans, Chetti Melakans or Peranakan Indians, as well as Jawi and Arab Peranakans.

Jaya Singh, Managing Director of Mondelēz International, platinum sponsor of TFWA Asia Pacific Conference and sponsor of TFWA Asia Pacific Lounge, highlights the importance of collaboration and innovation ahead of this year’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference. “TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference provides an invaluable platform for the industry stakeholders to come together and discuss innovative ways to progress the channel to new heights. While each edition of the event is unique, this year holds particular significance as it commemorates the institution's 40th anniversary. For four decades, TFWA has spearheaded, unified, and transformed the industry. I have no doubt that their leadership and expertise will be reflected in the exhibition line-up and agenda. “From our side, Mondelēz World Travel Retail (WTR) is excited to be back in Asia. Just one year later and a lot has changed within the region, spending and travel patterns are constantly evolving, encouraging us to continuously find new and creative ways to engage with the traveling consumer. I look forward to meeting with industry peers to discuss learnings and insights to drive the channel - and more specifically the confectionery category - forward. “TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference provides a laser-focused assessment of the Asian region, with insight, analysis, and different perspectives. As a platinum partner, Mondelēz WTR supports the efforts and initiatives driven by the event to foster conversation in order to progress the channel. “Mondelēz WTR has always been committed to constantly innovating, not for the sake of growing own market share, but for the greater good of the confectionery category. This approach continues to be our key focus for 2024, as we spotlight our premiumization and gifting strategy through Toblerone Pralines. These two sectors are constantly being developed by Mondelēz WTR as we seek to delight travellers with new and exciting products and projects. “At the heart of any TFWA initiative lies the power of partnership. This occasion brings together people from different industries, at various levels, from around the world with one common goal – advancing the channel to deliver an even greater retail experience for travellers. “Mondelēz WTR’s participation is dedicated to collaboration and innovation. We are particularly looking forward to outlining some of the key focuses for 2024, including the global roll out of Toblerone Pralines and Cadbury’s 200th anniversary celebration. As we embrace an exciting year ahead, we remain committed to driving accelerated conversion and increasing penetration through our three strategic pillars: A Winning Portfolio, Elevating Awareness and Delivering Unique Experiences." #TFWAAPEC #SeeYouInSingapore #Exhibition #Conference

Learn more about our work in Singapore in this great video. Plus, tips on must-visit places during next month's #Rotary24 Convention!

🌟 Hotel New York, Vlora was visited by representatives of the General Directorate of Industrial Property. 🏢 In this informative meeting, in addition to the challenges and problems encountered by the tourism sector this year, the importance of trademark registration and the advantages that benefit entities that register industrial property objects were discussed. 📜💡 The meetings aim to provide guidance to businesses on how to register and the rights arising from this process. This registration helps protect against imitation and ensures fair competition in the free market, creating more protected and competitive businesses. 🛡️💪

More cosmopolitan than you think BRATISLAVA – MTLG Destination Update 2024 Five great reasons to organise an event in Bratislava: 1. Excellent location and accessibility Bratislava enjoys a favourable position, close to Vienna and Budapest. Thanks to Vienna Airport and improving train and bus connections, it is easily accessible. With a growing number of travellers opting to discover the city, accessibility is a competitive advantage. 2. Where modern meets traditional The interplay of classic Austro-Hungarian buildings and modern skyscrapers, all flanked by the mighty Danube, provides a memorable visual image. Event organisers can take advantage of the scenic setting from Bratislava Castle or the numerous hotel halls with a view. 3. Hub of innovation Several global corporations have found their home in Bratislava. The world-leading ESET company, specialising in cybersecurity, was born in the Slovakian capital in 1992. Oh, did we mention the world’s first flying car came to life here? 4. Flourishing gastronomical scene Our gut feeling tells us the Michelin Guide will come to Slovakia soon. A slew of innovative young chefs have been revolutionising authentic Slovakian cuisine. To boot, winemakers have started cooperating with restaurateurs to pair the best local dishes with superb wines that have been overlooked. Umami! 5. Festival city Bratislava hosts an impressive number of festivals headlined by global superstars. Such events help put Bratislava on the map and foster multiplicative effects for the country. In addition to festivals, the city is becoming a popular incentive destination. Read full story at KONGRES MAGAZINE #bratislava #easy #accessible #modern #meeting #destination #hub #innovation #events #eventprofs #meetingsindustry

Exciting insights from the latest assembly of the Hotel Association! Horwath HTL Budapest is thrilled to share key takeaways: Hospitality Performance: The industry is bouncing back stronger, with a notable rise in guest nights and revenues outpacing inflation. Budapest alone saw an 18% increase in guest nights this year. Innovative Developments: Projects like Bahart’s fleet expansion and new projects are set to bolster Hungary's allure as a leading tourist destination. Resilience and Recovery: These figures not only represent a recovery but a potential surpassing of pre-pandemic heights. A testament to the resilience and innovation within our sector. Strategic Investments: The ongoing investments in flagship projects and infrastructure, like the expansion of air routes to major Chinese cities, position Hungary competitively on the global stage. Championing Hospitality: The engagement with international forums and the push for regulatory reforms underscore the proactive approach to securing a sustainable and competitive future for Hungarian hospitality. Let’s keep the momentum going! 💼 #HorwathHTLBudapest #Hospitality #TourismTrends

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to catch up with an old friend in Macau 🇲🇴 Alan Wong and I worked together on a few projects and have stayed connected over the years. Unable to catch up during the Covid lockdown (even though he was just a short distance away in Hong Kong 🇭🇰) - we make time to get together every time we are in the same city. Alan was giving a lecture at the #VMU presented by #UFI that a few of my colleagues attended. Post the training Alan proactively set up a #LinkedIn group that would allow the team to share experiences and in the process help promote the MICE industry and our destination #Macau It’s been interesting to see how members on the group engage, share and learn. Alan and I both believe in the power of LinkedIn for many reasons and always question why some regions are so much more proactive than others. We understand our community and industry in China 🇨🇳 are unable to use the platform as we do - we may not have the volume of users compared to #India However when we look at Macau 🇲🇴 and Hong Kong 🇭🇰 vs Singapore 🇸🇬 , I believe our industry and community could do so much better in Macau and HK. The 100k follower question I guess is why don’t we support and promote each other. I use #Singapore as an example but it could be #Thailand , the #UAE or any other country that uses this platform to profile the #MICE industry. They support, share and engage with their colleagues and industry partners. If we want to compete at a global level, we have to start promoting and profiling destination and industry. I work for an Organization that employs 20k team members- let’s say 20% of them are active users of the platform and support our brand - we can easily start to expand our reach. The same could be said for Sands China Wynn Palace MGM MACAU Melco Resorts & Entertainment SJM Resorts - together we have the critical mass to help promote the destination. Promoting our City, Products and Uniqueness can’t only be the responsibility of #MGTO and #IPIM and other government departments - it’s has to be a community of like minded industry professionals. Let’s help position our industry globally together! #supporteachother #mice #liveevents #icca #ufi #sandschina #galaxymacau #melcoresorts #sjm #mgmchina #mgto #ipim #macau #hongkong #gba

Planning an event at The Slate? Here are some tips from our event experts Lalida Khanthong and David Barrett

🌟 HoSkar Night 2024 Shines in Phnom Penh! 🌟 Phnom Penh recently hosted the spectacular HoSkar Night, bringing together nearly 300 developers, hoteliers, and real estate professionals. Here are the top highlights from this landmark event: 1️⃣ Networking Extravaganza: 🏢✨ Nearly 300 industry leaders connected, fostering invaluable relationships and exploring new opportunities via the WeHub network. 2️⃣ Insightful Discussions: 🧠💼 Experts dived into critical topics like conflict resolution, resort development, and strategic operator selection, enhancing our understanding of market dynamics. 3️⃣ Mauro Gasparotti’s Presentation: 🎤📊 Mauro Gasparotti from Savills Hotels delivered a powerful presentation, providing deep insights and guiding discussions on industry trends and challenges. 4️⃣ CIR Media Partnership: 📰🌐 Collaborating with Cambodia Investment Review boosted the event’s visibility, showcasing Cambodia’s thriving hospitality and real estate sectors to a broader audience. 5️⃣ Future Regional Events: 🌏📅 Exciting plans for similar events in Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Hanoi, and Bangkok to further regional collaboration and growth. Read the full article in the comments below 💬⬇️

The 2nd Commercial Strategy Conference organized by HSMAI Korea is scheduled for the 28th of June. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the latest hospitality trends to drive booking volumes and increase customer satisfaction and maximize revenues. Please share this announcement with your network in Korea now as the Early Bird is expiring by the end of this week. #revenuemanagement #hospitality #revenueoptimization