On Wednesday, June 5 2024, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (ICCS) hosted its first forum "Implementing Sustainability in SEA Hospitality Sector" at the National Design Centre, Singapore.
The forum kicked off with welcome speeches by ICCS President Gionata Bosco, H.E. Dante Brandi, Ambassador of Italy to Singapore and Ms. Dong Limin, Director of Tourism Human Capital & Sustainability, Singapore Tourism Board.
Following this, the first panel on "Sustainable Built Environment towards Net Zero" was conducted by Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer at City Developments Limited, Giovanni Cossu, the Head of Sustainability at CapitaLand Development and Jacopo Reale, the Head of Architecture at Pininfarina Architects and moderated by Alberto Martinelli, MDSA, Bank Julius Baer and President of the Singapore Italia Business Council.
This was followed by panel 2 on "Sustainable Development, Architecture and Design", conducted by Jean Soh, the Head of Business Development at VIMAR Asia Pacific, Luca Tarsetti the APAC Regional Director for iGuzzini and Melvin Tan, President of Singapore Institute of Architects.
Panel 3 featured speakers Keat Ong, Founder of Keat Ong Design and President of Asia Pacific Space Designers Association, Ed Ong of Barovier & Toso, and Olivier Lopion from The Oval Partnership and moderator Luigi Mazzaglia, the CEO of Vireo Srl discussing "Preserving Heritage in the Hospitality Sector", leading to an insightful conversation.
The final panel on "Efficiency Management, the Role of Technology in the Hospitality Sector" featured Luca Rollino, the CEO of Xori Group, Gianluca Ferretti, the Managing Director of APAC at Comelit and moderator Tan Phay Ping, the Managing Director of Building System and Diagnostics.
The forum concluded with a Sustainability Awards Ceremony where Luigi Mazzaglia, CEO of Vireo Srl awarded Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Sofitel Singapore City Centre, Swissotel the Stamford, Fairmont Singapore, Resorts World Singapore, and Mandai-Singapore Zoological Gardens with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council certificate.
The evening capped off with a session of cocktails and networking which saw the participants mingling and discussing the forum highlights and how these conversations may impact the hospitality industry in Singapore.
