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Adelaide Joins Global Destination Sustainability Index

Adelaide has become the fourth Australian city to join the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index), a performance improvement programme, that measures, benchmarks, and enhances the sustainability strategies, action plans, and initiatives of over 100 destination management organisations, municipal authorities, and their tourism and event supply chains.

Currently, three Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) and a further eight in the Asia Pacific region are part of the GDS-Index.

Business Events Adelaide will coordinate Adelaide's response to the assessment criteria, the Adelaide Convention Centre, its member venues and stakeholders within local and state government.

Business Events Adelaide's CEO, Damien Kitto, said being assessed alongside other destinations will help build an understanding of Adelaide's relative strengths and weaknesses. "We are aware that sustainability issues are becoming an increasingly important consideration for business event organisers and delegates.

"Business event delegates visiting Adelaide often refer to our green, walkable city-in-a- park, so whilst we feel this is an advantage over other destinations, talking about it is no longer enough. We need to demonstrate practices that reduce the impact on our planet, especially in a country like Australia, with delegates conscious of the carbon footprint associated with their travel."

Kitto added that working with a recognised global authority like GDS-Movement would help Adelaide to develop action plans to build a solid sustainability profile. "It is good for business, but more importantly, it is the right thing to do for the future," he said, "and we look forward to working with our members, strategic partners and stakeholders in positioning Adelaide as a clean destination of choice."

GDS-Movement's CEO and founder, Guy Bigwood, said: "We're thrilled to welcome another Australian city to the GDS-Index community. Research underscores the growing importance of sustainable travel for today's travellers, making it imperative for destinations to take proactive steps. The GDS-Index data reveals a positive trend: cities that join the Index consistently enhance their sustainability strategies, improve their practices and drive impact. We are excited to work with Adelaide on this important journey."

The evaluation process for the 2024 GDS-Index has commenced, with the top 40 global destinations announced in October.

WeRoad Launches Global Platform For International Adventure Seekers

WeRoad, the trailblazing travel company reinventing group adventures for Millennials, today announced the launch of its new global platform, WeRoad.Com, and a new line of itineraries specifically designed for those wishing to make new international friends. This expansion marks an exciting chapter in WeRoad's mission to create the world's greatest community of travellers passionate about discovering new destinations and making lifelong connections across borders.

Since 2017, WeRoad has been shaking up the travel industry across Europe, amassing a dedicated social following of over 2.5 million people who crave authentic, socially-driven experiences. With the introduction of WeRoad.Com, the company is extending its reach, offering a fresh line of itineraries for international groups.

Andrea D'Amico, CEO of WeRoad, commented: "We've seen the magic that happens when travellers from the same country come together to explore the world. Now, we're taking that concept to the next level by inviting adventurers from all corners of the globe to join our vibrant community and create unforgettable memories with new friends from different cultures."

The WeRoad.Com trips, led by the company's rapidly growing network of 2,500+ travel coordinators from across Europe, will be conducted in English and are open to travellers from anywhere in the world. While the platform welcomes global explorers, initial marketing efforts will focus on untapped European markets such as Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Poland.

Fabio Bin, Co-founder and CMO of WeRoad explained: "Our goal is to build the most inclusive and diverse community of travellers out there. We're excited to break down borders and connect people from all backgrounds through their shared love of adventure."

WeRoad's country-specific offerings in Italy, Spain, the UK, France, and Germany will continue to thrive, providing unique experiences for those seeking to bond with fellow travellers from their own country. However, the introduction of WeRoad.Com signifies the brand's commitment to fostering a truly global community.

The launch of the new platform coincides with WeRoad's acquisition of the coveted WeRoad.Com domain, a six-year testament to the company's growth and determination. "Securing this domain was an adventure in itself," recalled Fabio Bin. "From sending our coordinators to Japan to meet with the domain's owner, to hiring a private detective and navigating international bureaucracy, we left no stone unturned. But we knew it was essential for realising our vision of bringing people together from every corner of the world."

With over 100,000 travellers having already discovered more than 300 itineraries, WeRoad's future looks brighter than ever. As the company continues to expand, it remains dedicated to its core mission of helping Millennials create meaningful connections and life-changing experiences through travel.

The travel scaleup is on track for European leadership in millennial group adventure travel by 2025, with its core markets (Italy and Spain) doubling in size, and its UK, France, and Germany operations experiencing sixfold growth. Headquartered in Milan, WeRoad has 150 full-time team members, in addition to its ever expanding community of travel coordinators.

Singapore Gunning For Spot As World's Best Mice Events Destination: STB

SINGAPORE - With business events booming in the Republic, Singapore wants to be the world's best destination for Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) events, and one where such events can leave a legacy of a positive and lasting impact.

The Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) global campaign to position the Republic as the "World's Best Mice City" was first announced in end-March and reiterated at the inaugural edition of The Meetings Show Asia Pacific on April 17 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands.

The trade show, which is being expanded beyond Britain for the first time since 2013, is expecting to welcome over 1,000 Mice industry professionals over two days.

Mr Poh Chi Chuan, executive director for exhibitions and conferences at STB, said "business is booming" in the Mice space, where many locally-held business and travel events have already outperformed pre-pandemic numbers.

In February, the Singapore Airshow - which returned to its full-scale form after six years - attracted almost 60,000 trade attendees. This eclipsed the previous record set in 2018 by 10 per cent.

Similarly in March, the 18th edition of the Asia Pacific Maritime conference saw its highest attendance yet, with over 15,700 attendees.

"One of key reasons is that it's no longer about pent-up demand," Mr Poh told The Straits Times on the sidelines of the conference. "Asia has a lot more growth potential compared to other regions and shows that are embedded (here) and are relevant to Asia are beginning to see the positive overflow coming from the market potential."

"We're in a very good place and we're really optimistic that demand, in general, is very strong."

He added that STB's new campaign is an open call for like-minded industry partners to work with with them and drive up the value proposition of their events, making them "both more relevant and a catalyst for good."

"And you can do it here in Singapore," Mr Poh said.

To empower businesses, the tourism board is developing a "legacy toolkit" which will contain a clear framework for planning, executing and measuring legacy outcomes or impact of an event. The toolkit, which will also include case studies and information on the support that STB offers, will be launched by June 2024.

Mr Poh cited the example of recent events like Asia Tech x Singapore and the formation of the Singapore-based AI Verify Foundation in 2023, which brought together over 60 global tech players, including Google and Microsoft, to tackle pressing issues in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The foundation will develop AI standards and best practices, and create a neutral platform for collaboration on governing AI.

"The impact of such events is not just on Singapore, but for the wider tech community," said Mr Poh.

He added that it meets a growing demand from industry members and associations who "want to be involved in an event where it can lead to positive change".

Singapore's push for top Mice destination will not only centre on large-scale events but a "balanced diet" of events of all scales, he said.

The campaign is also the first of six global campaigns that will be rolled out by STB, and include those positioning Singapore as a family playground, and a culinary capital.

These campaigns will draw on a $300 million tourism development fund first announced by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in March 2024, aimed at helping to develop and market new products and experiences, and support local businesses in developing new intellectual properties.

The global Mice industry is estimated to register an annual growth of 7.2 per cent from 2023 to 2032, to surpass US$1.7 trillion (S$2.3 million) by 2032, according to Precedence Research in a report released in 2023.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the Mice industry is set to expand at an even higher annual growth rate of 7.4 per cent over the same period, accounting for almost half of global market share by 2032.

Singapore's tourism sector has also continued to post strong recovery, driven by global flight connectivity and capacity, and the implementation of the mutual 30 day visa-free travel between China and Singapore, noted STB deputy chief executive, Mr Yap Chin Siang.

In March, international visitor arrivals reached 1.48 million - or 95 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

Business travel continues to be a driver for this growth, such as with the expansion of The Meetings Show to Asia for the first time.

Mr David Blansfield, executive vice-president and group publisher of Northstar - organiser of the conference - said its Asia edition will return next April, and be the anchor event for Northstar Travel Group in future.

"When planning a meeting, you want the best for your stakeholders - the best hotels, the best venues, the best infrastructure, the best commitment to service at all levels," said Mr Blansfield.

"We wanted the best for the Meetings Show Asia Pacific, and that's why we brought it to Singapore."

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