Tag: Events

Singapore – Last November 3, APAC industry leaders gathered in an industry discussion that talked about the future of event marketing as brands and marketers prepare for 2023. Conducted by MARKETECH APAC, in partnership with events platform Hubilo, ‘What’s NEXT 2023: Events in Asia Pacific’ roped in industry leaders from Dentsu Creative India, Generali Philippines, and South China Morning Post. 

The events industry was one of the worst hit during the pandemic, and now that things are gradually getting back to normal, it’s crucial to take a look at how events have evolved and the new trends that have emerged as it rises from a prolonged halt. 

Kicking off the webinar was a panel discussion graced by Amit Wadhwa, CEO of Dentsu Creative India; Milca Javier, head of marketing at Generali Philippines; and Razlan Manjaji, director of global events at South China Morning Post. Moderated by Sophie Ahmed, SVP for market strategy at Hubilo, the group of leaders talked about the importance and strategy of leveraging event-led communities. Furthermore, the panel touched on the best event engagement strategies that brands can employ. 

Meanwhile, Ahmed who’s had 20 years of industry experience in events and marketing, further shared her insights into strategising events through a fireside chat with MARKETECH APAC’s Regional Editor Shaina Teope. 

In the conversation, Ahmed shed light on the burgeoning strategy called ‘365 Community’, and discussed how said marketing direction can be monetised and give way for greater personalisation by brands. 

The webinar drew marketing professionals hailing from the industries of media, airlines, financial services, retail, and hospitality, amongst others. Attendees come from the markets of Singapore, Australia, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Furthermore, those who took part represented brands such as ByteDance, CIMB, Crimson Hotel, Foodpanda Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines, MetroMart, Netflix, and Tickled media. 

Teope commented, “We can’t just expect the growth of events to be a one-way, straightforward path. Just because it was the in-person format that we left behind, does not mean we’re simply going back to how it was. Events have been forever changed and this is what this industry discussion is for – to get us back on track and open our eyes to newer innovations and strategies.” 

Register HERE to get your on-demand access to the webinar. 

Singapore – Events, following the height of the pandemic, are now putting a premium on the hybrid setup. Brands and marketers alike are utilising both the genuine tangibility of physical events and the widespread accessibility of digital events. For marketers, using a hybrid event model allows them to hit ‘two birds with one stone’ in terms of reaching out to their target audiences. 

There is a greater need for both brands and marketers to be equipped with the latest strategies and methodologies to effectively use their hybrid events for the success of their brand marketing.

With these in mind, MARKETECH APAC, the digital media for the marketing and advertising industry in APAC, and in partnership with Hubilo, is taking the lead to explore what makes events a commercial success: event-led communities and 365 communities. Happening on November 3, 2022, 2 PM (Singapore Time), the webinar ‘What’s NEXT 2023: Events in Asia Pacific’ aims to equip event planners and marketers with the latest trends and insights on how organisations can build engaging and sustainable events.

Through this event, MARKETECH APAC has gathered industry leaders to deep dive into the ecosystem of successful event planning for brands. Joining the discussion are Amit Wadhwa, chief executive officer at Dentsu Creative India; Milca Javier, head of marketing at Generali Philippines; Sophie Ahmed, senior vice president for market strategy at Hubilo; and Razlan Manjaji, director of global events at South China Morning Post.

The panellists will be sharing their views and insights on how brands and marketers create event-led communities, and test membership models, with engaging content. In addition, they will discuss what 365 communities are and how to build them to personalise events.

“Events have been the hardest hit when the pandemic struck, and just because things are now going back to normal, we can’t expect the event marketing landscape to be just the same when it was in its ideal shape. This industry event with Hubilo is so important because we’re not only going to revisit brands’ current event strategies, but we’re now revamping our playbooks to be future-ready as we unravel the impact of the collision of physical and virtual engagements,” commented Shaina Teope, MARKETECH APAC’s regional editor. 

Meanwhile, Sophie Ahmed, SVP for market strategy at Hubilo, commented, “With the digitization of events, marketers now have access to new ways to build their brand, to generate leads, to funnel these leads, to get closer to their prospects and customers and to gain deeper insight into the behaviours of their market. Events now, more than ever, can be used to drive pipelines, achieve greater insight and analytics and ultimately create more value for the customer. I’m really excited for this session where we will be covering all of this and more.”

The webinar, ‘What’s NEXT 2023: Events in Asia Pacific’, will be held on November 3, 2022, 2:00 pm SGT. Secure your spot at the webinar HERE.

Manila, Philippines – Preview.ph, the local fashion magazine under digital lifestyle network Summit Media, has honoured fifty local personalities that are considered ‘movers and shakers’ of the Filipino local fashion scene.

Among the awardees who attended the event were celebrities Marian Rivera, Catriona Gray, James Reid, Kylie Verzosa, Vice Ganda, Michelle Dy, and Pia Wurtzbach

The recognitions were announced during Preview.ph’s latest event ‘#PreviewBall2022’ in a bid to usher into a new era of fashion and art defined by inclusivity, diversity, and creativity.

https://youtu.be/82IsDNxFWxg
Preview.ph brand manifesto

Marj Ramos-Clemente, editor-in-chief at Preview.ph, said, “We’re constantly pressured by the society to fit a certain mold. We’re expected to adhere by such standards if we wish to be accepted. Admittedly, even the fashion world tends to feel intimidating or alienating sometimes. But fashion should be for everyone.”

She further explains that for a brand like them that reaches younger audiences, they need to be aware that conveying the message of kindness and inclusivity to their audience is no longer just a privilege but rather a responsibility.

Preview.ph’s launch of first-ever video magazine cover, featuring Filipina actress Belle Mariano

“[Fashion] is not supposed to make you feel small, or make you feel like you don’t belong. It should do the exact opposite. In this often cruel world, fashion should be your friend. Fashion should help you celebrate your uniqueness and individuality,” Ramos-Clemente said.

She added, “It’s okay to just be yourself and own all those little quirks and nuances. It’s okay to create your own destiny and not follow the path that everyone else seemingly set up for you.”

Preview.ph also released its first-ever video magazine cover featuring Filipina actress Belle Mariano, and takes viewers on a behind the scenes look of conceptualising the magazine cover itself. The new video magazine cover format will also be advertised across social media platforms and digital billboards.

Hong Kong – Online event service provider Vootprint has launched its new technology suite to support the global B2B event industry in accelerating digitalisation. The technology suite comprised of SaaS Virtual Event Builder, ‘Expo GENie’ data analytics console, and GlobalExpo-Net (GEN) B2B event portal.

The new solutions each cater to different needs and address various pain points in the digital transformation of B2B events. It adopts a build-host-analyse (BHA) model, blending the competencies of SaaS Virtual Event Builder (build), GlobalExpo-Net (host), and ‘Expo GENie’ (analyse) into a customisable solution. 

In addition, the suite truly caters for the individual needs of virtual event organisers, solving stakeholders’ pain points such as inexperience in building online events, lack of technical, in-house support, and incompetencies in data integration and analytics. The BHA ecosystem also facilitates event organisers to design data-driven, sustainable event strategies and solutions for materialising digital transformation.

Dr. Jacky Ting, Vootprint’s chief digital officer, said, “We integrate Big Data, Al and SaaS into Vootprint’s technology suite for creating holistic virtual event experience, providing cutting-edge marketing technology support, and offering a seamless access to the metaverse.”

Powered by a proprietary SaaS solution, the technology suite now allows organisers to customise their events from a dozen of exhibition features and modules. The business matching feature, which is powered by AI, requires no additional technical knowledge to set up. With just 10 minutes, organisers can effortlessly build a virtual event that supports 3D scenes and enables metaverse connection. Compatible with the majority of live streaming and online conferencing solutions, the suite also supports game and reward functions for enhancing user interaction and engagement. 

Meanwhile, through ‘Expo GENie’, event organisers will be able to access big data of their B2B events and receive automated, real-time data analytics to make better decisions and optimise the event experience. Based on individual users’ profiles, event interests and preferences, event participants can receive regular B2B industry updates and personalised suggestions from the one-stop GlobalExpo-Net event information portal.

Vootprint said it is now setting its sights on developing new features for embracing the immense market opportunities of Web3 and metaverse.

Malaysia – V-Cube Malaysia (VMY), a renowned business communication provider in Malaysia specialising in virtual secure annual general meetings (AGM), e-voting, conferences and learning management systems (LMS); has entered into a partnership agreement with live, virtual, and hybrid events platform Hubilo. 

Under the said partnership, VMY will leverage Hubilo’s capabilities to digitally transform their secure meetings offerings in Malaysia. VMY will tap into Hubilo’s full suite of interactive, live, virtual, and hybrid conference engagement tools and immersive experiences, bundled with VMY’s local expertise in project management and on-the-ground support services.

Dato’ Loh Yuen Tuck, CEO of V-Cube Malaysia, shared that while the pandemic situation remains unpredictable despite plans for opening up borders, for many event organisers, planning a successful event must continue regardless. 

“Organisers can, therefore, use hybrid formats to combine the best of both worlds while ensuring engagement remains paramount. Business continuity and immersive user experience [are] assured through a digital platform like Hubilo that is easy to use and super-rich in engagement tools.”

Meanwhile, Greg Volm, SVP of sales & success at Hubilo, commented, “As Hubilo continues to expand its global footprint, we see Malaysia as another important and exciting opportunity for further growth in the virtual and hybrid event space in Asia Pacific. We are thrilled to be partnering with a leading domestic player like VMY to deliver innovative, immersive, and engaging events on our platform, and build stronger communities with this partnership.”

Hubilo is no stranger to Malaysia’s events scene; most notably amongst its roster of clients is the MDEC Malaysia Tech Conference 2021, which featured local and international industry speakers to share about the 4IR-driven digital economy.

Singapore – TikTok has announced the third edition of its TikTok Music Night which is a post-Valentine’s Day celebration in Asia – ”Love Edition” – to be streamed live on the TikTok app in February 18 at 7:30 p.m. SGT. 

TikTok Music Night Asia “Love Edition” will feature some of the top romantic artists in the region, such as MICappella from Singapore, Ariel Tsai from Taiwan, Layla Sania from Malaysia as well as Filipino performer Route 83, and Indonesia’s Afgan, among many others. 

Through the event, TikTok aims to promote creativity and bring joy to the public. The first live stream stage was in October 2020 and has expanded well beyond Korea to other countries across Southeast Asia, including Singapore. Recent editions featured internationally acclaimed artists, such as Pentatonix, Lauv, and Conan Gray, among others.

Aside from the local up-and-coming artists from Asia, the “Love Edition” will also feature guest performances from international artists such as Pink Sweat$ performing ‘At My Worst’ followed by Max, whose hit romantic song ‘Blueberry Eyes’ featured Suga of BTS. Local Singapore artists, such as Benjamin Kheng ft. J.Sheon and EstelleFly will also perform in the live stream event.

Here are the following Asian artists on the upcoming Music Night:

● MICappella, Singapore

● 蔡佩軒 Ariel Tsai, Taiwan

● 鄭心慈 Kelly Cheng, Taiwan

● cinnamons × evening cinema, Japan

● ALEXA, Korea

● MOMMY SON (Feat. Wonstein, Chanjuicy), Korea

● Layla Sania, Malaysia

● NOAH & Shakira Jasmine, Indonesia

● Afgan, Indonesia

● Route 83, Philippines

● Alisson Shore, Philippines

● Violette Wautier, Thailand

● Earth Patravee, Thailand

● CARA, Vietnam

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – How many times have you wished to get your favorite celebrities for a personal message? Probably too many, and probably one that remains unfulfilled. 

Regional event hiring platform Effro has just launched a new service arm Gueststar, which allows costumers to commission a media personality to produce unique video content for personal use. 

The company behind the new platform, Effro, provides a talent and services database, which helps event organizers easily find needed talents and services, such as emcees, performers, videographers, and appropriate venues, among others. With its new and one-of-a-kind service, consumers need not grapple to accomplish an often ‘special’ gift for special occasions – a personal video from a favorite celebrity. 

From birthday messages to wedding proposals, and from jokes to pep talk, costumers are able to engage their favorite local stars in Malaysia and Singapore.

Gueststar is a unique platform that aims to bring your favorite stars closer to you. Through digital means, time and space are no longer deterrents in creating a beautiful experience for your loved ones. With Gueststar, the distance between you and your favorite stars is brought closer

Adam Tan, Founder, Gueststar

Through the Gueststar platform, costumers can submit a request to the star of their choice and include pointers for the video’s content. Within 7 days of a submitted request, which is subject to approval, a video ranging from 20 seconds to 2 minutes will be produced and delivered.

On its celebrity roster, 50 stars are available on request. Singapore stars include Allan Wu, Andie Chen, Gurmit Singh, and Jason Godfrey among others; while for Malaysia stars, Gueststar has Adeline Tsen, Aishah, Atilia Haron, and Dina Nadzir, among others.

Clients can also request for special characters such as Batman and Cinderella, impersonators for Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift, and also magician Andrew Lee, who is a past finalist on Asia’s Got Talent and Britain Got Talent.

The costs of engagement range from RM30 to RM3500. While videos are produced mainly in English, users can request for other languages such as Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin. 

Gueststar is now available for customers.