This issue covers Cambodia, Raffles, Taj Exotica, Maldives, Kempinski and IFA GPC 2014

3. E d i t
Global DestinationsJuly - Aug 2014 1
Dear Friends
While last issue the focus was on Oman this time we are focusing
Cambodia and its two beautiful cities - Phnom Penh and Siem Reap as well
as the wonderful Raffles properties namely Raffles Hotel Le Royal and
Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor. I was surprised to know that while Raffles
globally has only 10 properties of which two of them are in Cambodia. While
Phnom Penh has a lot of attractions including the Royal Palace it also has a
sad past in Toul Sleng - a genocide museum.
But the biggest attraction for us Indians is the Angkor Archaeological Park,
the worlds largest religious monument (spread across 200 square kilometers),
first a Hindu and subsequently a Buddhist temple complex. Its an UNESCO
World Heritage site and a must visit on any tourists agenda. The most famous
are the Temple of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and the Bayon Temple.
Both the Raffles properties have a grand history and were built in 1929. It
would be an excellent idea to stay at these properties and experience these
wonderful old hotels with all the modern five star facilities.
I had the occasion of staying at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives,
located in one of the largest lagoons of the Maldives. With just 64 luxury
villas some with plunge pools the island is paradise for tourists wishing to
spend some quite time in a pristine location with a butler to pamper you if
required.
The World Airport Awards, the most prestigious accolades for the airport
industry saw Changi Airport in Singapore being voted the World's Best
Airport by air travellers for the second year in a row at the 2014 World
Airport Awards. London Stansted Airport was named winner of the award for
World's Best Airport for Low-Cost Airlines. London's Heathrow Airport was
again selected by customers as having the World's Best Airport Shopping, and
doubled up on their success with Terminal 5 being named the World's Best
Airport Terminal. Hilton Frankfurt Airport was named the Best Airport Hotel
in Europe.
We have also done a photo feature on two high end luxury hotels both from
Kempinski group and based in UAE - Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi and
Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Emirates Palace is
spread across 100 hectares and inspite of such a huge space available the
hotel has just 394 rooms (302 rooms and 92 suites).
In our technology section we have focused on a preview on IFA
Consumers Electronics Unlimited show held annually in Berlin. We had the
pleasure of being invited to the IFA Global Press Conference held at Belek in
Turkey. Top authorities and professionals from the industry presented the
latest trends in the Consumers Electronics world. Some interesting facts like
the most watched content provider in the world is YouTube with 65 hours of
video being uploaded to YouTube every minute of every day. 4.25 billion
videos are viewed every day with the average person that is digitally
connected watching 3.2 hours of content each month.
Chandragupta Amritkar
Editor
chandraguptaa@hotmail.com
Editor - Chandragupta Amritkar, Managing Editor - Chandra Talware, Design - Manoj Durgam
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Global Destinations makes all efforts to ensure that the information published is correct and reliable. However the publication holds no responsibility for
any inadvertent errors, commissions or opinions expressed.

8. I
t was during ATF (ASEAN Tourism Forum), Kuching that I
had the opportunity of interacting with John Neutze, Director
of Sales and Marketing, Raffles Hotel Le Royal and Raffles
Grand Hotel d'Angkor, Cambodia. While I had been to many
countries across the globe Cambodia had eluded me. When I
mentioned the same John was quick enough to invite me to both
his properties in Cambodia and said, “A visit to Angkor Wat is a
must. It’s the largest temple complex in the world. You plan your
trip and we will host you.”
I had to agree with him but I had a tight schedule. I decided to
club the visit to my trip to Hong Kong in April. So instead of tak-
ing a direct flight to Hong Kong from Mumbai, I routed myself
via Bangkok. Since I had to visit two cities in Cambodia - Phnom
Penh and Siem Reap I was on the look out for an airline that had
good connections to both cities from Bangkok. The most conven-
ient airline was Bangkok airways. I got in touch with Passapong
Jirawattanasak Deputy Manager - Regional & International Cor-
porate Communications Department. The airline was kind
enough to fly me down to both cities.
Bangkok Airways is Thailand's first privately owned domestic
airline and operates scheduled services to destinations in Thai-
land, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Maldives,
Burma, India and Singapore. The airline distinguishes itself
from most other airlines with its initiative of providing
comfortable boutique lounges to all passengers (including
economy) at no extra charge. Each lounge has free snacks
as well as hot or cold drinks. Passengers can also enjoy free
internet access. I was able to enjoy the lounges at the air-
port and felt nice that an airline is going out of way to make
the economy passengers also comfortable.
On arrival at the Phnom Penh airport, being a VIP pas-
senger of the airline and the first to step out, I had my visa
processed in a few minutes (USD 20 1 photo). Indians get
visa on arrival for 30 days at both Phnom Penh and Siem
Reap International Airports. Incase you want you can apply
for e-Visa.
The vehicle from Raffles picked me up from the airport.
Fortunately there was not much traffic and we reached the
hotel in 30 minutes. Raffles Hotel Le Royal looked quite grand as
we entered the porch. The lobby was equally imposing and the
size caught my attention. Noemie Payumo, Manager, Marketing
Communications, Raffles Hotel Le Royal & Raffles Grand Hotel
d’Angkor was there to receive me and after a brief chat she took
me to my room.
Over a wonderful vegetarian lunch at Restaurant Le Royal that
serves Royal Cambodian cuisine and modern French cuisine,
Noemie Payumo explained the long history of the hotel. Built in
1929 the hotel had only 55 rooms. Over the years the hotel
changed names several times before regaining a new lease of life
when in 1996 Raffles International Limited decided to renovate
it. All bungalows surrounding the hotel were demolished and
replaced by three new, more substantial wings. The main building
was left intact and completely refurbished. The guestrooms,
lobby, bar, private rooms and ballroom were again refurbished in
2011. The hotel now boasts a total of 185 guestrooms and suites
- 102 State Rooms, 3+ Landmark Rooms, 12 Executive Suites, 10
Colonials Suites, 4 Personality Suites, 5 Landmark Suites, 2
brand new Balcony Suites, 1 Le Royal Suite. The hotel even
today has an artistic statement of Khmer, Art Deco and French
P u r e I n s p i r a t i o n
Global Destinations July - Aug 20146
Mesmerizing Cambodia
Using the twin Raffles hotels located in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap as a base Chandragupta Amritkar
relished both the Cambodian hospitality and the beautiful palaces and temples.

9. style – giving the guest all modern facilities as well as the old
authentic experience. I was fortunate to be allotted a room in the
old wing. My room was equally impressive – a suite with a beau-
tiful bathtub.
The hotel located in beautiful tropical grounds several locations
where one can relish a variety of food and drink. Apart from
Restaurant Le Royal theres the Caf/ Monivong an all day dining
– buffet or a la carte restaurant where I had breakfast – a well
spread one. The restaurant serves International and AsianGCam-
bodia themes and cuisine. The Elephant Bar where I had a long
chat with John (before going to dinner with him) serves original
cocktails and a wide selection of premium spirits with some
savoury snacks. The bar has truly a colonial atmosphere with
wicker chairs and ceiling painted with elephants, a snooker table,
a piano etc.
The Raffles Spa has a fully equipped gymnasium, sauna,
Jacuzzi, steam and massage rooms. They also have a 25m lap
pool and family fun pool located in the centre of the hotel. MICE
is one of the highlights of the hotel with a Royal Ballroom that
can accommodate 440 persons making it an ideal setting for an
International conference or even a wedding. Apart from this they
have five more meeting areas catering from 15 to 150 people.
The next day I had the pleasure of meeting Pieter van der
Hoeven, M, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh who really
takes pride in the hotel he is looking after. “The hotel has seen 85
successful years hosting who is who of the global world. Since its
inception there have been many famous guests who have stayed
and this is mostly because of certain discretion. I don’t think
Jackie Kennedy, President Barack Obama, Prime Minster Abe
from Japan, matinee idol Charlie Chaplin or Christine Legard
from the IMF would mind me telling you they stayed. But more
important are the guests that we welcome every day. Each is treat-
ed as a VIP and become part of the Raffles Cambodia story. Ours
is the only hotel in Phnom Penh to provide a full 24-hour Butler
Service – for all guests staying in the heritage building,” said
Pieter. Adding further on his keenness to take care of each guest
Pieter said, “My father was a hotelier so I grew up in the business,
it is in my blood and a wonderful lifestyle choice that has allowed
me to work in Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, Australia and
even spend some time in Hawaii.”
Phnom Penh is beautiful and there’s a lot to see. My friend
Meng Phala, Managing Director, Kambuja Voyages was kind
enough to arrange for my local sightseeing with a guide at both
the cities.
Raffles is located in the heart of Phnom Penh within easy
access to most city's attractions. My guide first took me to the
National Museum. It showcases one of the finest examples of
Khmer architecture. The museum houses sculptural, ceramics,
bronzes, and ethnographic objects. The Museum’s collection
includes over 14,000 items, from prehistoric times to periods
before, during, and after the Khmer Empire, which at its height
stretched from Thailand, across present-day Cambodia, to south-
ern Vietnam. Its collection of important Buddhist and Hindu
sculpture is an attraction.
From here we proceeded to Wat Phnom a Buddhist temple that
was built in 1373, and stands 27 metres (88.5 ft) above the
ground. It is the tallest religious structure in the city. Its walking
distance from Raffles. The interior has a central altar complex
with a large bronze seated Buddha surrounded by other statues,
flowers, candles and items of devotion and worship. The walls
are covered with murals, especially of Jataka stories of the Bud-
dha's earlier reincarnations before his enlightenment. The south-
west corner of the vihar and stupa, is a small shrine dedicated to
Lady Penh.
In the afternoon we went to the impressive Royal Palace. Built
in 1866 and covering an area of 174,870 square metres, it serves
as the royal residence of the king of Cambodia. Its amazing and
worth the visit. The complex is divided into four main com-
pounds, on the south side is the Silver Pagoda, to the north side is
the Khemarin Palace and the central compound contains the
Throne Hall and to the west is the private sector or the Inner
Court. Theres also the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, stupas and
mural paintings. Inside the Silver Pagoda (which draws its name
from the 5,000 silver tiles that pave its floor) are hundreds of gifts
given to Cambodian king, including a solid-gold Buddha encrust-
ed with 9,584 diamonds weighing 90 kilograms.
For those who love shopping there are three main markets and
I was able to visit two of them - Olympic Market near the
Olympic Stadium which features mostly wholesale goods and the
Russian Market that has a large selection of souvenirs, curios,
antiques, carvings, Buddha statues, handicrafts, silks, fabrics,
DVDs, inexpensive electronic goods, Jewellery and gemstones
(but be aware of fakes). The third is the Night Market located on
the riverfront.
While Phnom Penh has a lot of attractions it also has a sad past.
My guide took me to Toul Sleng - a genocide museum (and
P u r e I n s p i r a t i o n
Global DestinationsJuly - Aug 2014 7

10. brought back memories of my visit to Dachau concentration
camp near Munich). The site, a former high school, was used as
the notorious Security Prison by the Khmer Rouge regime from
its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979. Tuol Sleng means
"Hill of the Poisonous Trees" was only one of at least 150 execu-
tion centers in the country and as many as 20,000 prisoners there
were later killed. From 1975 to 1979, an estimated 17,000 people
were imprisoned at Tuol Sleng and were repeatedly tortured and
coerced into naming family members and close associates, who
were in turn arrested, tortured and killed. Medical experiments
were performed on certain prisoners. Inmates were sliced open
and had organs removed with no anaesthetic. Many Indians and
Pakistanis were also imprisoned.
The buildings at Tuol Sleng are preserved as they were left
when the Khmer Rouge were driven out in 1979. The regime kept
extensive records, including thousands of photographs. Several
rooms of the museum are now lined, floor to ceiling, with black
and white photographs of some of the estimated 17,000 prisoners
who passed through the prison. The site has four main buildings
- Building A, B, C, and D. Building A holds the large cells in
which the bodies of the last victims were discovered. Building B
holds galleries of photographs. Building C holds the rooms sub-
divided into small cells for prisoners. Building D holds other
memorabilia including instruments of torture.
After a two nights stay I took the morning Bangkok Airways
flight to Siem Reap. As expected on arrival the hotels driver was
there to receive me and in 15 minutes we reached the hotel. On
the way I at least saw 20 Vhotels, which gave me a fair idea on
the number of tourists visiting this city for the Angkor Temples.
Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor is huge. Set amongst 15 acres of
serene grounds overlooking the Royal gardens it’s close to the
Old Market. Like Raffles Hotel Le Royal this hotel also has a
wonderful past. Originally opened in 1932 as Grand Hotel it was
the only luxury accommodation to tourists visiting Angkor Wat.
After an extensive restoration it was reopened in 1997 as Raffles.
As you enter the hotel on the left hand side is a very old lift -
the Original Birdcage Elevator. I had the pleasure of using it a
couple of times. The lobby overlooking
the largest swimming pool in Cambodia
is beautiful and tempting. As I waited
for my room to get ready, the staff
offered me nice cold coconut water.
Again I was provided with a nice suite
over looking the pool.
Divided into 2 wings, the hotel is
interconnected by art deco black-and-
white tiled hallways to the guestrooms
and restaurants in either direction. Each
of the 119 guestrooms and suites are
tastefully done reflecting the architec-
tural theme of the period. The hotel also
has 2 luxurious Two-Bedroom illas
(318sqm), which are the biggest in Siem
Reap.
Lunch was wonderful at Café
d'Angkor and Indians will love this
hotel as it has some authentic Indian
dishes. Please go through the menu. The Restaurant Le Grand
showcases Royal Khmer cuisine and Western fine dining. Le
Grand can be divided into three private rooms, with a collection
of 13th century ceramics and sculptures inspired by the Bayon
temple. The Wine Cellar is impressive and has one of the finest
wine selections in Asia. The other locations to enjoy your food
and drink are Elephant Bar, Poolside Terrace, The Conservatory.
I was informed by ohn not to miss the Apsara Terrace a must
to experience in Cambodia. Located in the hotel premises one can
enjoy a majestic performance with Cambodian dances and Khmer
martial art over a delightful selection of pan-Asian barbeque cui-
sine. This venue is very popular J for parties, barbecues and pre-
dinner cocktails.
For guests the hotel provides complimentary evening activities
which include wine tasting, cocktail tasting, and local culture
themed activities with Khmer Lotus flower and Palm Tree etc.
There’s complimentary WiFi throughout hotel and computer
stations on each guest floor with internet connection (a well
thought gesture). I also pampered myself at Amrita Spa which has
a selection of massage and treatments.
P u r e I n s p i r a t i o n
Global Destinations July - Aug 20148

12. You do have two wonderful properties in Cambodia. But
Raffles globally has only 10 properties. How did Cambodia
get two of them?
The two properties are perfect fit for the Raffles brand and very
complementary in the SE Asian region with the flagship Raffles
Singapore. There are measured growth plans to ensure brand
integrity with hotels opening in 2014 in Jakarta and 2015 in Istan-
bul.
Maintaining such old properties must be quite a task. How
do you go about managing it?
Since the hotels were completely renovated and became Raf-
fles in 1997 a rigorous maintenance schedule is kept to ensure we
maintain the history of the building but give guests the modern
services and facilities that they expect. For instance we are cur-
rently upgrading the internet and redesigning the iconic Elephant
Bar.
A lot of hotel brands are currently emphasizing green prac-
tices. What about your hotels?
This is an important focus for the hotels and some more obvi-
ous examples include energy saving light bulbs, recycling. But of
equal relevance in a developing country like Cambodia is our
support of local community and education projects that give the
less privileged a chance to improve their lives. It is about sustain-
ability not just the environment.
Well said. How do you distinguish your property from the
rest in your city?
The history of our two hotels automatically differentiates our
hotels from any in each city having welcomed guests for over 80
years. Cambodians have a very genuine and natural approach to
service and our guests soon feel very much like Raffles is their
home and they have become part of the ongoing history of the
hotels. Many of our colleagues have been with the hotel since
1997 as have many or our repeating guests so we really are a res-
idence for many repeating well healed travelers.
How much of a role does technology play in the hospitality
business and in particular your properties?
Guests require more instant technology – when they are plan-
ning their trip they require more information and interaction with
us. We provide this through most social media and even offering
service to pre-book additional personalized services before they
arrive at the hotels.
As guests are becoming more and more health and fitness
conscious what steps is your group taking for a better well-
ness and fitness experience?
Both hotels provide an oasis in the middle of the bustle of the
cities that automatically provides a sense of wellness to the soul
after a busy day where all senses can be overloaded. For each
hotel this is centred around the iconic swimming pools, the gym
and spa. A variety of treatments are available for body and soul.
In the restaurants healthy light options are available. Our hotels
are perfectly located in each city to take a stroll to the city mar-
kets or landmarks.
What is the potential for MICE?
MICE business is generally driven by good air capacity and
over the past few years both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh have
added air service and now have connections with most major
Asian cities within 4 hours of Cambodia that give easy connec-
tions to the world beyond. Both cities offer excellent experiences
for the MICE groups with innovative events such as temple and
museum dinners
Indian market is in demand globally thanks to the increase
in spending power. Any specific plans to target the India
market?
Our hotels already attract some business from India – mostly
leisure FIT. I think with such landmark hotels in India the market
is atuned to staying at a hotel that has a story to tell. In Siem
Reap, we have also welcomed some Indian weddings in the past
few years which I think has more potential. The temples of the
area provide such a different dramatic backdrop for such a cere-
mony
On the F&B front vegetarian dishes are very important. Do
your restaurants cater to this segment?
Yes, we do have a special vegetarian menu in all outlets. Plus
with the personalized service we provide the restaurants are will-
ing to cater for specific tastes and needs
What are the key priorities for the next five years?
We will strive to continue to offer a part of history to travelers
to Cambodia while remaining relevant with the needs of the trav-
eler over the next 5 years. We want to continue to play a role in
bettering the lives of our colleagues, our communities and Cam-
bodia as a whole.
P u r e I n s p i r a t i o n
Global Destinations July - Aug 201410
“In Siem Reap, we have also welcomed some Indian wed-
dings in the past few years”
To get an insight into the twin properties we spoke
with Pieter van der Hoeven, GM and John
Neutze, DoSM. Excerpts
Pieter van der Hoeven John Neutze

13. M
y guide arrived in the morning at around 9 am and we
proceeded to the temple complex. The guide said many
prefer to go early in the morning before it comes to hot.
On reaching the place, the guide asked me to buy a day’s pass.
They are on sale at the front gate for 1-day (USD20), 3-day
(USD40), or 7-day (USD60) durations. He informed me that he
and the driver don’t require a pass as Cambodians can enter for
free. Also the pass includes complimentary use of rest rooms in
the complex.
Many tourists use tour buses or private cars. But quite a few
even prefer a healthier, environment friendlier and economical
option - bicycles (USD1 per day). If you are keen on Khmer
architecture then you must reserve at least 3 days for the trip. It is
a good idea to take a lot of water with you though around every
temple in Angkor park you can buy some food and drinks (it's
more expensive in the Park).
The most famous are the Temple of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom
and the Bayon Temple. While early Angkor temples were built as
Hindu temples, Jayavarman VII converted to Mahayana Bud-
dhism c. 1200 and built a new capital city of Angkor Thom
including Bayon, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and many more as Bud-
dhist structures. However, his successor Jayavarman VIII
returned to Hinduism and embarked on an equally massive spree
of destruction, systematically defacing Buddhist images.
Bayon's plan can be divided into three levels — the first two
are bas-reliefs and the uppermost consists of the central sanctu-
ary. The outer gallery depicts scenes from everyday life and his-
torical events, while the second inner gallery depicts mythical fig-
ures and stories. In total, there are more than 1km of bas-reliefs
to be viewed in the Bayon. Located to the northwest of the
Bayon, the Baphuon is one of the largest and grandest structures
in Angkor. Built into the western face of the Baphuon is a giant
reclining Buddha, added in the 16th century after the region con-
verted from Hinduism to Buddhism. Other sites of interest
include The Elephant Terrace and The Terrace of the Leper King.
Ta Prohm is best known as the temple where trees have been
left intertwined with the stonework, much as it was uncovered
from the jungle. A few scenes from Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider
were shot here. It’s a popular place to click photos.
Angkor Wat, an architectural masterpiece, is as imposing as
Pyramids and as impressive as our Taj Mahal. Angkor Wat,
means "Temple City" or "City of Temples" in Khmer. Breaking
from the Shaivism tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was
instead dedicated to Vishnu. The temple is at the top of the high
classical style of Khmer architecture which got major influence
from Kalinga architectural style.
Angkor Wat was built in the first half of the 12th century and
took 30 years to construct. It is the largest monument of the
Angkor group and the best preserved. From a distance Angkor
Wat appears to be a colossal mass of stone on one level with a
long causeway leading to the center but close up it is a series of
elevated towers, covered galleries, chambers, porches and court-
yards on different levels linked by stairways. The height of
Angkor Wat from the ground to the top of the central tower is
greater than it might appear: 213 meters (699 feet). You will find
thousands of Apsaras (celestial dancers) on the walls of the tem-
ple offering endless
visual and spiritual
enchantment.
The uppermost
level of Angkor
Wat, require climbs
up very steep stair-
cases and are best
avoided if you suf-
fer from vertigo or
are not fully confi-
dent of being able to keep your footing.
P u r e I n s p i r a t i o n
Global DestinationsJuly - Aug 2014 11
Angkor Wat
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the worlds largest religious monument (spread across 200 square
kilometers), first a Hindu and subsequently a Buddhist temple complex - Angkor Archaeological Park
is a must visit on any tourists agenda.

14. M I C E
Global Destinations July - Aug 201412
International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA),
the leader in the international association meetings sector recent-
ly released the 2013 Top 20 Rankings for countries and cities.
ICCA’s in-house research team has concluded that during 2013,
535 more events took place than a year previously. Thus ICCA is
reporting another year of continued strength in the international
association meetings market. With 11,685 regularly occurring
association events in 2013 that rotate between at least three coun-
tries identified by ICCA members the year was quite good.
2013 top 10 countries: Some small changes
The top 10 country ranking is made up of the same countries as
last year, but some countries switched places. The U.S.A., Ger-
many and Spain remain respectively 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The gap
between U.S.A. and Germany has become significantly smaller
though; from a difference of 184 meetings in 2012 to 107 in 2013.
France and United Kingdom have switched places: France is now
4th and United Kingdom 5th. Italy remains 6th. Japan climbs one
place to number 7 and China-P.R. climbs two places to number 8,
at the cost of Brazil, dropping from 7th to 9th place, and The
Netherlands, dropping one place to number 10.
2013 top 10 cities: Paris new number one
Vienna, which has been the number one city in the ICCA rank-
ings each year since 2005, has lost its 1st place to Paris, which
was 2nd last year and previously shared 1st place with Vienna in
2008. Madrid, 4th in 2012 is now 2nd and Vienna 3rd. Barcelona
climbs one place to 4th and Berlin moves from 3rd to 5th place.
Singapore remains 6th and London fell from a shared 6th place to
7th. Istanbul climbs one place to 8th and Lisbon and Seoul, both
newcomers in the top 10, share 9th place.
ICCA CEO Martin Sirk: “It shouldn’t be surprising that our
2013 figures have demonstrated the strength of the international
association meetings sector, since the overall picture for our
industry is significantly better than has been the case for quite
some time. But it should be remembered that this is a sector that
has shown significant growth in every single year since the finan-
cial crisis hit the world economy in 2008. The international asso-
ciation meetings sector is a solid, reliable performer, in good
times and bad, and the longer term trends are the most critically
important factors when preparing strategic plans and investment
decisions. I am convinced that every serious meetings destina-
tion, internationally ambitious venue, and forward-thinking meet-
ings management company should include international associa-
tions in their marketing and development strategies.”
About ICCA
ICCA represents the main spe-
cialists in organising, transport-
ing, and accommodating interna-
tional meetings and events, and
comprises almost 1,000 member
companies and organisations in
over 90 countries worldwide.
ICCA specialises in the interna-
tional association meetings sec-
tor, offering unrivalled data,
communication channels, and
business development opportu-
nities. It was founded in 1963 by
a group of travel agents to
exchange information on inter-
national congresses and conven-
tions. Headquartered in Amster-
dam, the Netherlands, the ICCA
is a not-for-profit trade organisa-
tion whose primary purpose is to
be the global community for the
meetings industry, enabling its
members to generate and main-
tain significant competitive
advantage.
ICCA: Maximum Events in U.S.A., Germany and Spain
Rank Country #Meetings Rank City #Meetings
1 U.S.A. 829 1 Paris 204
2 Germany 722 2 Madrid 186
3 Spain 562 3 Vienna 182
4 France 527 4 Barcelona 179
5 United Kingdom 525 5 Berlin 178
6 Italy 447 6 Singapore 175
7 Japan 342 7 London 166
8 China-P.R. 340 8 Istanbul 146
9 Brazil 315 9 Lisbon 125
10 Netherlands 302 10 Seoul 125
11 Canada 290 11 Prague 121
12 Republic of Korea 260 12 Amsterdam 120
13 Portugal 249 13 Dublin 114
14 Austria 244 14 Buenos Aires 113
15 Sweden 238 15 Brussels 111
16 Australia 231 16 Copenhagen 109
17 Argentina 223 17 Budapest 106
18 Turkey 221 18 Beijing 105
19 Belgium 214 19 Rome 99
20 Switzerland 205 20 Bangkok 93
Stockholm 93
Sydney, NSW 93
ICCA country and city ranking measured by number of meetings organised in 2013

15. How to contact us
Karlsruher Messe- und Kongress-GmbH | Festplatz 9 | 76137 Karlsruhe
fon +49 721 3720-0 | fax +49 721 3720-2116
info@kmkg.de | www.messe-karlsruhe.de | contact: Regina Feiner
How to find us
- easy to travel to - by rail, roads and air
- direct access to nearby motorways: A 5, A 8, A 65
- only 1 hour from Frankfurt airport - direct rail link
- approx. 3 hours from Paris on the TGV (high speed train)
- excellent local transportation infrastructure, Messe-Express
(shuttle service) from the main station to the Karlsruhe Trade Fair Center
Capacities
Trade Fair Center
- award-winning architecture, premium quality materials
- 3 halls, each measuring 12.500 sq. m plus the 12.500 sq. m dm-arena
- an atrium with events hall measuring 1.800 sq. m
- an atrium with garden atmosphere for events
- an open-air exhibition area totalling 10.000 sq. m
- a conference centre accommodating approx. 2.000 guests
Convention Center
- 4 event venues/halls, 28 rooms, space for approx. 13.000 seated guests
- 20.000 sq. m exhibition area in the halls and foyers
- 10.000 sq. m open-air area for exhibitions and events
- 1.000 underground parking spaces
- attractive location in the city centre
Europahalle
- Room for 9.000 guests, seated or standing,
or 5.097 guests seated in rows in the inner area and seating galleries
- 4.400 sq. m usable area
- best conditions for any kind of sporting events and entertainment
Support from A to Z
- exhibitor services
- visitor/participant services
- event organiser services
- travel services
- KMK-TV - Germany´s first trade fair TV channel
Hotel recommendations
Best Western Queens, Novotel, Radisson SAS,
Renaissance, Ringhotel Residenz, Schlosshotel
Everything.
Out of the ordinary.
Open new doors. Savour success. Experience inspiration. Stage trade
fairs, conventions and events in Karlsruhe and everything fits together.
More than you would expect. In three world-class locations for events,
with plenty of room for creativity . For your latest innovation. And your
ideas. Welcome to Karlsruhe Messe- und Kongress-GmbH.

18. While at Raffles,
why not visit Siem Reap & Phnom Penh?
Legendary service since 1887
Our reputation travels

24. A w a r d s
Global Destinations July - Aug 201422
T
he World Airport Awards, the most prestigious accolades
for the airport industry saw Changi Airport in Singapore
being voted the World's Best Airport by air travellers for
the second year in a row at the 2014 World Airport Awards, held
at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Barcelona, Spain.
The awards are voted by customers in the largest, annual glob-
al airport customer satisfaction survey. The survey and awards
process is totally independent and guaranteed free of any airport
influence or interference in final results.
The World Airport Awards are based on 12.85 million customer
nominations across 110 nationalities of air travellers, and includ-
ed 410 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates customer satis-
faction across 39 key performance indicators for airport service
and product - from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, securi-
ty and immigration, through to departure at the gate.
Changi Airport enjoyed double success at the Awards, also
receiving the award as Best Airport for Leisure Amenities. The
vast array of leisure and entertainment facilities are a unique,
stand-out feature for Changi Airport, and underline the dedication
of airport to ensure maximum levels of passenger satisfaction.
"Winning this prestigious award for the second year in a row,
Changi Airport Singapore is showing itself to be much more than
an airport," said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax. "Changi Air-
port offers a travel experience in itself and continues to develop
its quality standards to be named the world's favourite airport
again. Changi Airport is a well-known leader and innovator for
the airport industry and genuinely delights and surprises trav-
ellers who are lucky enough to enjoy the airport facilities. Chan-
gi Airport demonstrates how to make the airport experience an
enjoyable part of the journey that is so important in today's fast-
moving world."
Mr Lee Seow Hiang, Chief Executive Officer of Changi Air-
port Group said, "We are honoured to be named Skytrax World
Best Airport for the second consecutive year. We appreciate the
support given to us by travellers from around the world. This
recognition is great motivation for us and spurs us to continue to
aim higher. At Changi Airport, we remain steadfast in anticipat-
ing the needs of our customers, which is the cornerstone of the
Changi Experience. We share this honour with our airport com-
munity, for their unyielding commitment to service excellence
and with our passengers, for their vote of confidence."
London Stansted Airport was named winner of the award for
World's Best Airport for Low-Cost Airlines. Stansted’s Managing
Director, Andrew Harrison, said: "It’s a fantastic achievement and
a very proud moment for everyone at Stansted to be voted the
world’s best airport for low-cost airlines for the fourth year in a
row. The airport has been at the heart of low-cost travel revolu-
tion for the last 15 years and this award demonstrates we are still
the undisputed world leader at serving this growing and vibrant
airline sector. Stansted has returned to growth over the past year
as more and more passengers recognise that the airport is the best
way to get to and from Europe. The good news for passengers is
that Stansted has plenty of room to grow, and with a major invest-
ment project underway to transform our terminal, this really is an
exciting time for the airport."
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
celebrated by winning the Best Regional Airport North
America for the 4th year in a row. "The World Airport
Awards are another global recognition of something we
see every day at CVG – hard-working professionals
coming to work to serve our passengers with high quali-
ty customer service and a positive traveling experience,"
said Bill Robinson, chairman of the Kenton County Air-
port Board. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
Airport CEO, Candace McGraw: "Receiving this presti-
gious recognition four years in a row provides us with a
proven track record of excellence."
London's Heathrow Airport was again selected by cus-
tomers as having the World's Best Airport Shopping, and doubled
up on their success with Terminal 5 being named the World's Best
Airport Terminal. Heathrow Airport Commercial Director, Mr
Fidel Lopez said: "We’re delighted to be recognised so consis-
tently for our range of shops and restaurants and for T5. T5has set
a fantastic benchmark for us at Heathrow and we are looking for-
WORLD AIRPORT AWARDS 2014
Changi Airport
Regal Airport Hong Kong

32. 7 f4 " etail and Technology, said, “Dollowing stagnation in 2013
there will be a return to growth on the global consumer electron-
ics markets in 201 (M1 %) and 2015 (M5 %). This is due to the
improving world economic situation as well as to an increase in
sales in the TV and PC sectors. This growth will mainly come
from the K iddle East and Africa and outh America. The emerg-
ing markets of Asia. Europe will only make a minor contribution
to growth, while the markets in Lorth America and the developed
nations of Asia will experience declines.”
He further added that by 2015 that every second smartphone
sold globally will be done in emerging Asia. In 200W, the total
digital world spending was 5WW(billion euros), by 2012, total
spend increased to ä83 (bn euros) driven by smart phones, smart
TV and sales from the S" IC countries, defined then as emerging
markets. 2013 saw close to no growth with sales at ä8q (euros)
with reduced growth from emerging markets, but by 2015 the
total global spend on digital products will increase to 835 (billion
euros) driven by improved global economic prosperity and
stronger PC and TV upgrade cycles.
" emarkably, of the 835 bn euros of digital goods expected to
be sold by 2015, the smartphone will be responsible for almost
half of those sales up from 18% in 2011. Another way of looking
at that is of the two billion core Internet devices expected to be
sold, 1.2 billion will be smart phones.
4 laus F +hrl, Reputy Chairman of the VEI Household Appli-
ancesZ“In 2013 the markets for domestic appliances expanded by
between one and more than five per cent, according to continent.
This process will continue in 201 . The markets with the greatest
expansion are those of Lorth America (’ 5%), followed by Gatin
America, Asia, Eastern Europe, the K iddle East and Africa
(between 1 and 5%). mall domestic appliances are also register-
ing growth in almost all regions, at rates of between one and, at
the maximum, more than 15 per cent.”
S H (Sosch and iemens HausgerOte) unveiled its Home Con-
nect app, which it states is the “first solution in the world” allow-
ing a variety of household appliance brands to be controlled
through one app. Pro ect leader Rr Claudia HOpp presented the
app at the IDA 7 PC.
The presentation was titled as B9 ne App Dor j ouB. F ith the
title one can understand Home Connect is All in 9 ne app that can
replace all other apps which consumers install on their smart-
phones to make their home appliances work smarter. “It enables
the remote operation and monitoring of different brands of con-
nected household appliances. In addition to this, the Home Con-
nect app can be used to access extra offerings that complement
appliances, such as, for example, an extensive collection of
recipes and other services.”
It is no doubt a great idea, instead of installing different apps on
your smartphone that takes lot of memory and makes your smart-
phone works slower, why not installed a single app that can
replace all those apps. The idea is same like as BAutomationB,
instead of hiring 10 employees , why not develop a robot or a
software which can replace those 10 employees and works
smarter and faster. Home Connect is somewhat an Automation
app that will replace all other applications.
Home Connect is conceived as an open platform that will con-
tinually develop to offer an increasing range of services, S H fur-
ther stated. In early 2015, the app will be made available for
Android phones and iPhones, and from autumn 2015 additional
connected appliances from brand families will be put on the mar-
ket, while late 2015 will see a further rollout of Home Connect.
To end it would be perfect to …uote Vestelüs CE9 Turan Erdo-
gans, a leading Turkish appliance and display maker who spoke
extremely well at the event, “F e spent so much in technology to
make perfectly flat GER PanelsN now we have to make them
curved.”
T e c h n o l o g y
Global Destinations July - Aug 201430
IFA presented research on where consumer electronics
sales are heading in 2014 around the world
• For small domestic appliances which include juicers
and vacuum cleaners, previously considered luxuries in
developing countries are looking at an increased aver-
age sales value of seven per cent. Asia is expected to
more than double their sales from last year.
• Digital camera and PC sales will continue to drop
globally while a 50 per cent increase on smart phones
and tablets is expected. Two billion personal Internet
capable devices will be sold in 2014 globally, with more
than half in smartphone format.
• TVs will still dominate in all sizes with a surprising sta-
tistic – the average global TV viewing time per day is
three hours and 55 minutes.
• Consumer sales are looking most promising in Asia,
representing 60 per cent of the world’s population, and
new found wealth will buy innovative electronic con-
sumer goods.
• Europe has 10 times more eco-friendly, environmen-
tally designed products than North America.
• The next big thing in the coming years will be smart
wearable devices though they still have a long way to
go.
• The most watched content provider in the world is
YouTube. 65 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube
every minute of every day. 4.25 billion videos are
viewed every day with the average person that is digi-
tally connected watching 3.2 hours of content each
month.
• Facebook has 1.28 billion active accounts of which a
billion are active on a mobile device. So, with 7.2 billion
people living on earth 1 out of 5 are on Facebook and
80 percent are so on a mobile device.