Global consultancy firm GainingEdge will establish a permanent presence in the Americas with the signing of a new deal with InterVISTAS Consulting.

The new partnership will providing convention and tourism related consulting services in North and South America and results in the opening of a new GainingEdge office in Vancouver, BC, Canada that will operate as GainingEdge Americas.

“We are supporting clients in every part of the world, however, we realized that without a permanent office in the Americas our opportunities to engage there would be limited.” GainingEdge chief executive Gary Grimmer said.

Brisbane has won a further six new events, expected to inject $20 million into the city’s economy over the next four years.

The bid wins come on top of a strong September quarter which saw Brisbane secure 16 conferences worth $30 million.

 The October wins led by the Brisbane Marketing Convention Bureau include the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) National Conference 2014, theAnnual Congress of the Association of the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia (ATCSA) 2017 and the Conference of the International Bone & Mineral Society 2017

The EduTECH National Congress & Exhibition will also come to Brisbane in 2014, 2015 and 2016 under a joint bid between Brisbane Marketing and the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

New South Wales golfing destination Riverside Oaks is now being represented by Tourism Portfolio, following a major redevelopment.

Earlier this month, the property unveiled 36 new “first-class” rooms including six luxury suites to complement its range of meeting and conference facilities.

In addition, on December 5 it will open a new signature fine-dining restaurant, and the first nine holes on a new Bob Harrison-designed golf course, Bungool. When the ‘second nine’ is officially revealed in March 2014, Riverside Oaks will become Sydney’s only 36-hole championship golf resort.

“The combination of luxury accommodation, fine dining, sophisticated conference facilities, championship courses and unique wilderness creates another memorable meeting and conference option just a short distance from Sydney,” Tourism Portfolio managing director Donna Kessler said.

Darren Kerr has departed creative communications agency Imagination to return to Hong Kong-based FACTOR 168.

The creative events company provides regional expertise on behalf of other agencies and corporate clients based within the US, UK and Australia who are looking at delivering experiential programs across Asia.

“With a carefully curated client portfolio, we are well positioned to better address our clients key strategic communication objectives, on budget and on time, through the creation of memorable brand experiences – regardless of complexity and scale,” Kerr said. “Our shareholders are our clients and that’s who we answer to and collaborate with.”

Anantara Hotels Resorts & Spas has opened its 25th property and its first resort in Cambodia – Anantara Angkor Resort & Spa.

The property features 39 rooms and suites, with the suites including a private library which can convert into a meeting space.

It is located within a five minute drive from Siem Reap International Airport an can also be reached by land from Thailand, Laos or Vietnam as well as via the Mekong River. 

A new deal will see members of Etihad’s frequent flyer program earn 500 miles for eligible stays at any of Preferred Hotel Group’s 650 member hotels in 85 countries.

In addition, Etihad Guest members can earn 1000 miles at more than 120 participating hotels worldwide when they present their card at time of hotel check-in.

The hotel group has 149 properties located in 43 cities served by the airline.

Etihad Guest is the 17th airline loyalty program to join Preferred Hotel Group’s Frequent Flyer program list.

Far East Hospitality has opened its Peranakan-inspired Village Hotel Katong in Singapore.

The 229-room hotel is the latest addition to the hospitality firm’s growing portfolio of hotels and serviced residences, and reflects the strong Peranakan heritage of the surrounding Katong and Joo Chiat district..