Welcome to Virtual Singapore!
by admin on August 4, 2009
in Howl At The Moon, Singapore, Social Networking, Uncategorized
Virtual Singapore now open in Twinity
Orchard Road
Twinity, the world’s first mirror world, is launching virtual Singapore – Twinity’s first city in Asia – on August 9th. Wanted: Online pioneers from all over the world to come together and bring this metropolis to life!
Singapore, 4 August 2009 – Metaversum, developer of Twinity, the virtual world made of real people and real places, is launching virtual Singapore on August 9th with a big celebration of Singapore’s National Day.
Twinity extends a warm welcome to pioneering virtual Singapore residents from around the world. Prime retail and residential real estate is now available, so claiming your stake in virtual Singapore has never been easier. Explore the city, locate the perfect apartment, and make yourself at home.
Virtual Singapore is also open for business and the commercial opportunities are endless. Set up shop in a premium neighborhood or open a gallery, music venue, bar or restaurant. Show your allegiance to Singapore and welcome Twinizens from other parts of the virtual world to your home city.
Singapore is Twinity’s second international capital to launch after Berlin. Both cities are currently in public beta testing. The first city district of Singapore to open is the area around Orchard Road, where this year’s virtual NDP 09 celebrations will be held.
Virtual Singapore Skyline
Visitors to Orchard Virtual can enjoy a multimedia extravaganza, including livestreams from the real NDP event and integrated multimedia content showcasing the city to the world, plus themed virtual items and special NDP competitions with exciting prizes. A centre stage will host a virtual performance of the NDP 09 theme song by Singapore’s electrifying band Electrico, as well as the NDP pledge moment to be held at 8:22 PM.
Twinity was supported by the multi-agency Interactive Digital Media R&D Programme Office (IDMPO), hosted by the Media Development Authority of Singapore.
Mr Dennis Sng, Programme Director, IDMPO said: “We are excited to see Twinity taking off. This is one of the Co-SpaceTM projects that IDMPO supported last year. With Twinity, Singaporeans will have a whole new experience of National Day celebrations this year. Singaporeans living overseas can also participate in the celebrations through the virtual world.”
Co-SpaceTM is defined as the next generation of the web where physical places coexist with dynamic, real-time virtual environments to provide users with the ability to process and manipulate information seamlessly between both the physical and virtual space.
The virtual world Twinity is currently in public Beta. Register for free membership at www.twinity.com and start exploring the world today.
6 August 2009 - Virtual Singapore presentation
by admin on July 30, 2009
in Hospitality, Uncategorized
The Pacific West Company and Illka Gobius invite you to attend a cocktail networking event, Virtual Thursday, on the 6th of August for a presentation on Virtual Singapore, which launches soon thereafter.
Virtual Thursday is an initiative of Virtual Worlds and includes Twinity, Second Life, HiPiHi, Magma Studios and DreamAxis.
Come along for some drinks and finger food to network with unusual people who engage in Virtual Worlds.
Learn about Virtual Singapore from Jeremy Snyder, EVP of Community and Operations for Metaversum, the company behind Twinity.
An initiative between Metaversum, the company behind Twinity and the National Day Parade committee (NDP), Virtual Singapore is an online virtual world with a realistic representation of Orchard Road.
Discover ways that you can partner in Virtual Singapore, for people all over the world to experience to your product and service before they come and stay with you in Singapore.
This is the future of marketing. Learn more on August 6th at 6.30pm.
There is no need to register, all are welcome to come and it is free of charge.
Young WIT, Debate to shine at WIT*e
by admin on July 26, 2009
in Uncategorized
It will be time for “Young WIT” when three future leaders of the travel and tourism industry take part in panel discussion at the third WIT*e – Inspiration & Mentoring on Thursday, August 27th at the Novotel Clarke Quay.
On the panel will be Desmond Chong, Director, Business Development, Corporate Segments & Solutions, Abacus International, Steven Gong, who leads business development at Wego.com and Marela Lucero, senior Public Relations executive for Visit Britain South-east Asia.
The panel, to be co-moderated by Graham Wilson, vice president-marketing for Accor Asia Pacific, and Andrew Chan, CEO of TMS Asia Pacific, will share the experiences of the trio in their pursuit of their respective careers in travel and tourism.
“We have heard from seniors in the industry in the last two WIT*e and now it’s time to hear from future leaders – why they chose tourism, what has their experience been like and how they have progressed in their career,” said WIT’s producer Yeoh Siew Hoon. “Students and younger members of our industry should pick up good lessons from this panel.”
Desmond is the most senior on the panel with over 12 years of experience in marketing, product development and business development in Asia and the US. Stevenentered the travel industry in 2006 when he joined Wego.com. He worked for several years in management consulting and consulted on strategic projects for clients in Australia, South Korea and Malaysia. Marela Lucero is responsible for the tourism board’s media relations and PR activities in the region, Marela, the newest entrant, earned her Master’s degree in Mass Communications from Nanyang Technological University in 2008, and she continues to contribute to crisis communications research along with her mentor from NTU.
Kicking off the third WIT*e will be an interview with Kathleen Tan, regional head of commercial for the AirAsia group of four airlines comprising AirAsia, AirAsia X, Indo AirAsia and Thai AirAsia.
The event, which will run from 6-9.30pm, will also feature a debate which will pit WIT’s reigning champion debator Martin Symes, CEO of Wego.com against Frank Trampert, executive vice president-revenue generation at Carlson Hotels Worldwide-Asia. Both will debate on the topic “Corporate Life Sucks: Being A Start-Up is Best” with Symes proposing the motion.
The winner will be decided by audience voting.
“The idea for the third debate came up after what Giovanni Angelini said at the last WIT*e – that we all had a choice in our career, to be a corporate executive or an entrepreneur,” said Siew Hoon. “We thought we would put the idea to a debate.”
WIT*e – Inspiration & Mentoring was launched by WIT as a run-up to the main conference which takes place Oct 20-23 in Singapore, in partnership with ITB Asia.
For details on WIT*e, August 27, go to http://www.webintravel.com/WITe/date.html#3rdwite.
To register, email Illka Gobius at ig@illkagobius.com . Contact Vera Lye for enquiries on +65 9737 7771 or email vera@webintravel.com.
Stand Up Comedy in July
by admin on July 26, 2009
in Uncategorized
Tickets $50. You can book with Emma for $50, or through Sistic for an Early Bird offer of only $40 until 4 days before the show. All tickets thereafter are $50.
Comedy will be on this month on Thursday 30th July, Friday 31st July and Saturday 1st of August.
About the Comedians
David Williams
(www.thecomedians.com.au) - David is regarded as one of Australia’s brightest young stars; he began his career performing in Adelaide’s Comedy Clubs and has gone on to work on all national major media.
David has performed along side some of the world’s best including: Jimeoin, Carl Barron, Stevie Starr, The Amazing Jonathon, Sean Hughes. Judith Lucy, Greg Fleet, Matt King, Shane Bourne, Chris Franklin, Vince Sorrenti, Bruno Lucia, Steady Eddy, Julia Morris, Kitty Flanagan & Modern Problems in Science and was asked to support Michael Buble on his last Australian tour.
David has played the Melbourne International Comedy Festival ever year since 1999 with a new show each year – a testament to his writing ability. He was chosen to perform in The MICF Montreal Show Case and the Australian MICF Road show which tours all around, In 2000 David performed his one man show at The Adelaide Fringe Festival achieving full houses and rave reviews.
“…played the Melbourne International Comedy Festival ever year since 1999 with a new show each year – a testament to his writing ability…”
David is a regular cast member of Impro Sundae (Theatre Sports) at Melbourne’s Comics Lounge.
Awards and Achievements
2002 Nomination - Maurie Awards Comedian of The Year
2001 Nomination - Best Comedy Act Award on Campus – Victorian University’s
1999 Runner Up - National Green Faces Competition - Canberra
1996 Winner – Triple J “Make me Laugh” – National Awards
1996 Finalist – “So you think you’re funny?” – Awards Edinburgh Festival
1996 Advanced Diploma - Acting graduate of the Centre for Performing Arts
Quincy
(The Comedy Club Ltd) - Despite being named after a 1970s medical examiner, and playing at the ill-fated Millennium Dome, Quincy has emerged unscathed to be one of the happiest and boldest new acts in the business.
Highly sought-after as a stand-up, presenter and compere, Quincy hosts his own chat show Q’s Club, and is a regular guest presenter on a host of radio and TV shows.
He has worked with such big names as John Simmit, Angie Le Mar and Jocelyn Gee and is currently working on a TV pilot.
(Chortle) - Quincy is a hugely likeable, warm London comedian, British born of Barbadian parents. This very personal hour is
simple and affecting, which shows him to be a compelling storyteller.
His premise is that nobody bats an eyelid at the term ‘single mum’, but the idea of a young single dad induces gasps of amazement, particularly if he’s not making a mess of raising two young sons.
His own upbringing with two loving but undemonstrative parents – including a stern father with an Old Testament certainty of a child’s innate guilt – is in contrast with his efforts to raise his own children, where he is not only the footballing dad, but also makes the packed lunches, lays out school uniforms and is the recipient of his younger son’s confidences and easy affection.
A seasoned club pro, Quincy talks about exploring his feminine side, but doesn’t actually lay it out. Instead he plays with some rotten old clichés about gossipy women at the school gates and the predatory single mum who spots him for potential father figure for her own brood. Although this piece is about his dual role, much of the stronger material comes from his experiences of being a son and what his expectations of his parents mean.
The strengths of this piece lie with the heartfelt story and Quincy’s ability to weave a spell. At key points in the narration you can hear a pin drop.
Because he feels the onus of being a comic with a tale to tell, he lards it with quips of variable quality. The very best spring from his personal experiences, but there’s enough weaker guff that he doesn’t need to do. He should have the courage of his convictions and explore and explain his own feelings without undercutting the more poignant moments with lines that aren’t worthy of him.
So early in its run, it is obvious that there is tons more to be extracted from his experience.
Reviewed by: Julia Chamberlain (Chortle)
Every Tuesday - Trivia Nights
by admin on July 26, 2009
in Uncategorized
Howl At The Moon is relaunching their Trivia Nights on Tuesday, 28 July.
The new format will be strictly limited to questions regarding Entertainment - Music, Television, Movies etc. Expect to have tunes and lyrics twisted inside out and be asked to identify them, see a young actors face on our big screen and guess who they are as adults, hear the theme to a well known television series and figure out which show it goes with.
Bring your friends. We will have awesome prizes that involve our entertainment theme - movie tickets, tickets to shows and concerts, comedy tickets. We will even have spot prizes that could perhaps see you win free drinks or take a spin at the wheel.
The Howl At The Moon band will be taking charge of the show so you can be sure to be entertained.
If you think you know all about music and entertainment, come on down to Howl At The Moon, near Emerald Hill, next Tuesday by 7.30pm. See you there for Happy hour prices til 10pm (1 for 1 on bottled beers and house pour spirits).
To book your table, make a reservation with Emma on 9873-0695 or email emma@howlatthemoon.com.sg.
HSMAI aims to establish Sydney Chapter
by admin on July 26, 2009
in Uncategorized
Friends of HSMAI (Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International) enjoyed a great night on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at the Sydney Harbour Marriott with the launch of the association in Australia. Over 55 Sydney sales and marketing professionals from within the hospitality and tourism industries joined together to enjoy the drinks and hors d’oeuvres, sponsored by the Sydney Harbour Marriott, to hear more about HSMAI in the Asia Pacific Region.
“HSMAI provides all sales and marketing professional with education, career development and networking opportunities” said Bernadette Dennis, MD of HSMAI Asia Pacific, during her presentation.
“With the current economic climate, it is even more important to make sure that we keep current on trends and innovations in the industry and membership to the only global professional organisation for sales and marketing provides this opportunity. HSMAI has numerous online communications with podcasts and webinars, series of reviews and industry white papers, plus seminars, workshops and conferences, which are all available to members in the Asia Pacific Region”.
Jennifer Brown of the Sydney Harbour Marriott, the venue sponsor
During the past few years, HSMAI Asia Pacific chapters have been established in Singapore and Hong Kong. The proposal is to establish a chapter in Sydney by the end of 2009 and this will require a membership platform of 25 HSMAI members in Sydney. During the launch evening there were many “expressions of interest” and a meeting will be scheduled for all interested parties within the month.
The Sydney Harbour Marriott provided a wonderful venue for the evening and Ms Dennis especially thanked Ms. Jennifer Brown, General Manager of the hotel for her support and commitment to HSMAI Asia Pacific.
The HSMAI event will be followed by a meeting on Thursday, August 6, 2009 to decide next steps with the development of a chapter of HSMAI Asia Pacific in Sydney. The location is The Marque Hotel Sydney, Cnr of George and Quay Streets, Railway Square, Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone 61 2 9212 2544. The meeting commences at 5:30 PM and interested parties are welcome to attend.
Look who’s coming to WIT 2009
by admin on July 26, 2009
in Uncategorized
From CEO’s of multi-national and regional businesses, to start ups, to those on the fringes of the industry and those who are hands on involved in the everyday business of marketing travel or hospitality services, you will meet them at WIT-Web In Travel 2009.
WIT is a conference like no other. People are returning for the fifth year in a row because they enjoy it so much. If you need to meet face to face with the people that matter in Asia, this is your one chance this year to do so.
Be prepared to interact with speakers, panellists and the irrepressible producer cum Master of Ceremonies, Yeoh Siew Hoon, as you debate, share ideas, send questions by SMS, as to what works and what doesn’t in the business of marketing travel and hospitality online.
“Tough Love” is the theme, apt for the year. It addresses Tough times. Tough love. A new reality. A time where everything must be challenged. No more, this is how it used to be. More of, this is how it is and will be. A time for opportunities, smart ideas and real solutions.
The ever popular “Audience with the CEO’s” returns featuring Michael Issenberg, Chairman & COO, Accor Asia Pacific, Ho Kwon Ping, Executive Chairman, Banyan Tree Holdings, Hans Lerch, Vice Chairman, Hotelplan, Switzerland, Nigel Roberts, President, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore among others.
Our staunch supporter, Ram Badrinathan, General Manager-Asia, PhoCusWright Inc returns for his fifth year at WIT to deliver the second keynote session, “A Web Without Walls”, closely followed by Timothy Hughes, Blogger, BOOT – The Business of Online Travel, who will dissect the online travel landscape and shares his ideas on what works, what doesn’t and what could work in future in his keynote “The Web Dissected”.
CEOs of Low Cost Carriers, who are doing tremendously well in South-east Asia, will be led in a discussion on “What’s ahead on the horizon for the battered aviation sector?” by Gordon Locke, Vice President, Airline Marketing & Strategy, Sabre Airline Solutions & Sabre Travel Network.
Japan, with the first-time appearance of Rakuten Travel, the wholly-owned subsidiary of a company that many say could become bigger than Amazon, and China, represented by successful entrepreneur Wu Hai, CEO of Orange Hotel Group, are represented in sessions that will look closely at the impact that technology has had on the travel and hospitality industries in those countries.
Michael Peschardt, the host of the British television programme Peschardt’s People will tell us “Peschardt’s Perspective on Travel & The Media”.
Search, Social Media, Reviews are addressed. We debate issues of content and price. We examine how to turn tough love from customers into profits. We look at matters of business events and the financial impact of this on our sectors.
You can’t afford to not to be at WIT 2009, certain to be one of the most talked about conferences in Asia. You can view our programme, speaker biographies and register now for early bird rates at www.webintravel.com. ITB Asia delegates enjoy a 20% off WIT delegate fees.
HSMAI ventures into Australia
by admin on June 17, 2009
in Hospitality
Bernadette Dennis, Managing Director of HSMAI Asia Pacific
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Asia Pacific will conduct their first event in Australia in Sydney on July 1, 2009. The Managing Director of HSMAI Asia Pacific, Ms Bernadette Dennis, will host the cocktail event. Any hospitality sales and marketing managers who may be interested in learning more about the association are welcome to attend the free of charge cocktail event, which will be held between 6.30pm and 8pm at the Sydney Harbour Marriott.
“HSMAI is a global organisation of sales and marketing professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry,” commented Ms Dennis. “We already have more than half the number of members we need to establish a chapter in Australia, so this event represents our commitment to those members and to growing our presence in the Australian market”.
With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry while operating as a leading voice for both hospitality sales and marketing management disciplines.
HSMAI Members have exclusive access to tremendous resources through the HSMAI web site. The website has targeted information on current trends, news and updates.
Bi-monthly bulletins with the latest information on global events are distributed to members, along with ongoing industry research reports and publications.
HSMAI provides exceptional educational programmes, with globally recognized certification, peer interactive sessions and webinars as well as chapter networking meeting and an annual conference.
HSMAI’s mission is to be the leading source for sales and marketing information, knowledge, education, business development and networking for professionals in tourism, travel and hospitality.
To learn more about HSMAI, Hospitality Sales and Marketing professionals are welcome to attend a complimentary cocktail event on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at the Sydney Harbour Marriott, 30 Pitt Street, between 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Pre-registration is required and those interested may email HSMAI’s Secretariat at hsmai@verve.com.sg.
SAVE THE DATE!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Sydney Harbour Marriott
30 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
REGISTER
hsmai@verve.com.sg
HSMAI Membership:
DOWNLOAD THE HSMAI ASIA PACIFIC FACT SHEET
LEARN MORE ABOUT MEMBERSHIP, MULTIPLE MEMBERSHIP AND CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP
Stand Up Comedy in June - Howl At The Moon
by admin on June 17, 2009
in Uncategorized
Stand Up Comedy in June
Tickets $50. You can book with Howl for $50, or through Sistic for an Early Bird offer of only $40 until 4 days before the show. All tickets thereafter are $50.
Comedy will be on this month on Thursday 25th, Friday 26th and Saturday 27th of June. Details about the show are coming soon. Please check back.
Brendhan Lovegrove - NZ
Arguably the most dangerously talented standup comedian in New Zealand!
His wits are razor sharp from 4 years on the UK Pro Comedy circuit where he is now a regular headliner and host.
His manic physical presence combined with a sureness of delivery, and material that can be described as verging on the psychotic side of human nature, has delighted audiences throughout New Zealand.
Brendhan has now appeared on numerous local television programmes including all 8 series of Pulp Comedy TV, the last series of which he hosted.
His awards include ‘Best Male Comedian’ in both the 2006 and 2008 NZ Comedy Guild Awards, and also the 2006 ‘Fred Award” at the Oddfellows NZ International Comedy Festival.
What the Critics said…….
‘Terrifyingly good.’ - NZ HERALD
‘hilarious and always compulsive viewing.’ - THE DOMINION
‘Slick as hell with superb audience rapport…brilliantly twisted.’ - THE SCOTSMAN
Dave Eastgate - Oz
Dave returns to Howl At The Moon this month. He was hilarious last month and really got the crowd rolling. He has a knack of appealing to all nationalities simply by tapping into the funny of what it is to be human and Australian.
Dave Eastgate is truly versatile, with 10 years of professional experience in film, theatre, television, stand-up comedy, live stunts shows, bands, musical theatre, Shakespeare, street performance, education, improvisation and even theme-park characters.
As well as a four year stint performing at Universal Studios Japan in Japanese, David has performed his unique brand of musical-comedy around the world in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
As a stand-up comedian, David placed 2nd in the 2006 National Green Faces Competition in Canberra, and was featured at the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Showcase.
David has since begun headlining shows in Brisbane but his personal highlights would be supporting Arj Barker and Stephen K Amos, sharing the stage and his guitar with Lano and Woodley on a live broadcast for ABC radio and making the third round in Japan’s biggest comedy competition, the M-1 Grand Prix.
Film credits include the new Chris Nyst feature, “Crooked Business”, where he plays a blundering news agent as well as a number of short films and TV commercials.
Sage Advice for Wannabe Hoteliers
by admin on June 6, 2009
in CNI, Hospitality, Singapore
General Managers and Hotel Owners who met for a recent Operations Career Track Advisory Board Meeting hosted by the Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management (CNI) had sage advice for the Masters of Management in Hospitality (MMH) students - Be passionate, with strong people skills in order to succeed in the hospitality industry.
Bobby Horrigan, Vice President and General Manager Operations Hotels, Discovery Suites, Philippines, opened the session up by telling the students that to survive in this industry they must have the right attitude. “Be an entertainer,” Horrigan encouraged. “Make it seem like it is a
party every day”. Horrigan added, “Furthermore, to be a good hotelier you have to have the characteristics of a General, to be able to enforce discipline and yet to be a good brother/sister, or parent to mentor your staff”.
Ian Wilson, General Manager of the Fairmont, Singapore and Regional Vice President Asia for Fairmont Hotels, joined the hospitality industry in Banff, Canada. He challenged the students, “How do you maintain and find your passion?”
Wilson made the comment that people these days are fixated on a cool career. He said that what was more important is to ask oneself, “What do I like the most, what do I like the least, and how do people describe me”. If you answer these questions honestly, the right direction will become obvious when faced with choices along your career path. He remarked that often the way people describe themselves is not related to the career ambitions they have. He urged the students to choose what they are best at, to consider what their natural talents are, and to determine what naturally motivates them. In Wilson’s opinion, “If you know what you are passionate about, and how it plays to your strengths, remuneration and position will come in time, as will success.
Liv Gussing, General Manager, Aman Resorts, Bali, shared her personal experiences in the industry with the students. Her key advice, however, was for the women in the group, “Women should align their own goals and values with that of the organization they work for. For instance, if you plan to have children, is it acceptable to have a child in your arms as you greet guests? Gussing, herself has been fortunate to work with a company that allows her flexibility as a mother and as the General Manager of the hotel.
Students were given the opportunity to lunch with a mentor and later in the afternoon a “speed dating” session occurred where small groups of students were able to move from mentor to mentor and converse with the mentors.