July 2010
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TTGmice reporters gather a few new hotels that either opened last year or are due to open this year that are worth a heart’s quiver.
Marriott Hong Kong SkyCity
Opened January 2009
Number of rooms: 658
Location
The hotel sits at the doorsteps of the AsiaWorld-Expo, SkyPier, a golf course and Hong Kong International Airport. Downtown Hong Kong is a 25-minute train ride away.
Meeting facilities
The ballroom, with theatre seating for 540 delegates, and five breakout rooms are housed in a separate building across the driveway to minimise the impact of large MICE groups on other guests.
Meeting facilities are also available in the main building, with five boardrooms attached to a 24-hour business centre.
Other facilities
There are five F&B outlets, an indoor heated pool, gym and spa, while Lantau’s range of outdoor activities, from golf to water skiing, are all within easy reach.
Rates
At HK$349 (US$45) per person for a half-day meeting package, groups get one refreshment break, choice of buffet or Chinese lunch and use of meeting amenities.
Valid for functions held before December 3.
Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Shatin
Opened February 2009
Number of rooms: 567
Location
The hotel’s Shatin address may sound a little remote, but the city’s efficient transportation network puts the city centre and other key points within easy reach.
Meeting facilities
A total of 1,000m2 of meeting space is available at the lobby level, which includes a 430m2 pillarless Regency Ballroom, three breakout rooms or Salons that range from 62m2 to 87m2.
Outdoor terraces attached to the Salons are ideal for cocktails and coffee breaks.
Three smaller meeting rooms are available in the Regency Club executive lounge.
Other facilities
It has a large open-air relaxation area that includes a 25m-long outdoor pool and a tennis court, among others, and a nine-room spa.
Dining choices include a ground-level café with a 10-seat private room, separate lounge and attached outdoor terrace that can all be used for events.
Rates
A residential meeting package, available until August 31, starts from HK$1,380 (US$177) per night.
Upper House, Hong Kong
Opened October 2009
Number of rooms: 117
Location
Once a service apartment, now a new luxury boutique establishment, Upper House calls the Shangri-La and Conrad its neighbours in Pacific Place, one of Hong Kong’s largest mixed-use projects in the central business district.
Meeting facilities
Geared more towards small, high-end meetings, MICE facilities are limited to a private dining room attached to the rooftop Café Gray Deluxe. The room is suitable for meetings of 12 people.
The hotel’s Upper Suite room category and Penthouse units can double up to host meetings of 10 people in the living area.
There is also a conference centre in the Pacific Place complex with nine rooms that can be reconfigured for conferences of 250 pax.
Other facilities
As a conversion project, facilities are limited. There is no pool or spa. Rooms are, however, large. Studio rooms start at 67m2.
Rates
From HK$3,000 (US$384) for a studio room.
Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana, Indonesia
Opening September 2010
Number of rooms: 351
Location
The beachfront resort is located between Kuta and Legian beach, some 20 minutes from the airport by car.
Meeting facilities
The resort has a 350m2 ballroom that can accommodate meetings for up to 300 guests. The ballroom is divisible into three smaller rooms. It also provides a wide range of the latest technology, such as SPOT ME, a gadget used by conference participants for networking, upscale audiovisual systems, wireless technology, LCD projectors and broadband access, as well as full secretarial services.
The hotel also has two meeting facilities ideal for break-out sessions and small meetings of 40 persons each.
Other facilities
The resort has four F&B outlets, a spa and wellness centre, an infinity pool, a pool and a kid’s club.
Rates
A full-board residential meeting package starting from US$156 (single occupancy) is valid for a minimum of 20 people until March 2011.
Grand Aston City Hall Hotel & Residences, Medan, Indonesia
Opened January 2010
Number of rooms: 204
Location
It lies in the heart of Medan, the provincial capital of North Sumatra, just across from the city’s popular Merdeka Walk and 20 minutes from Polonia Airport.
Meeting facilities
The hotel is said to house Sumatra’s only acoustically- engineered ballroom with a capacity of 800 guests in a theatre setting. It features a built-in stage with lighting and sound system. There are four other meeting rooms and an auditorium that seats 120 guests.
The century-old City Hall of Medan, incorporated into the hotel after extensive renovations, is suitable for cocktail receptions and elegant board meetings.
A large outdoor pool terrace may be used for events for up to 400 guests.
Other facilities
There are five F&B outlets including a continental and a Chinese restaurant, a shopping arcade, a health club, a spa and an outdoor pool.
Rates
Room rates for groups range from US$65 to US$95, depending on season and room category.
Hotel Indonesia Kempinski, Jakarta, Indonesia
Opened May 2009
Number of rooms : 289
Location
The hotel sits within the business district, adjacent to the Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, one of Asia’s largest malls. It is 35 minutes from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Meeting facilities
Its largest meeting space is the Kempinski Grand Ballroom, which is 3,000m2 wide and seven metres high. It can take 1,300 people in classroom-style or be split into four sections.
A large elevator enables car loading to the ballroom.
The hotel’s Bali Room is an oval space spanning 1,000m2 wide and eight metres high. It can accommodate 1,000 people for a cocktail.
The hotel has nine other meeting rooms.
Other facilities
The hotel has eight F&B outlets, a rooftop pool and spa, and a fitness centre.
Rates
From US$190 per night for single occupancy in a deluxe room, groups will get complimentary usage of a meeting room, daily breakfast, lunch or dinner, and a coffee break. A minimum of 10 delegates staying at least two nights is required. Valid till December 24.
Grand Hyatt Macau
Opened end-2009
Number of rooms: 416
Location
Located in Cotai on the banks of Pearl River, the hotel is part of the City of Dreams urban resort.
Meeting facilities
The entire second level of the hotel is dedicated to meeting and function facilities spread over 8,990m2 of space. It includes two pillarless ballrooms and eight meeting rooms.
The grand ballroom can accommodate 2,000 people theatre-style and is divisible into four soundproof sections.
The Sãlao do Teatro ballroom showcases a unique open kitchen concept with natural daylight.
All meeting facilities come with built-in advanced audiovisual equipment.
Other facilities
The hotel offers a selection of dining experiences, including a theatrical show kitchen at mezza9 Macau, a 15-room spa, a heated outdoor lap pool, private poolside cabanas, a 24-hour gym, and a business centre, among others.
Rates
Full-day meeting packages start from HK$600 (US$77) per person, while room rates start from HK$1,300, excluding taxes.
L’Arc New World Hotel Macau
Opened September 2009
Number of rooms: 301
Location
The L’Arc Macau complex includes a European-style five-star hotel, a casino, serviced apartments and dining outlets.
It sits in the heart of Macau, a 20-minute drive from the Macau International Airport and five minutes from the Macau–Hong Kong Ferry Terminal. The city’s World Heritage sites, restaurants and nightlife are a stroll away.
Meeting facilities
The hotel has a single event space of more than 450m2 that provides two flexible configurations for planners.
In its biggest formation, the ballroom can hold 400 people for cocktail. The space can be divided into two with a 200-guest capacity each.
The space has a good-sized reception area, 3.5-metre high ceilings and is pillar-free.
Other facilities
F&B options are spread across the lobby, first and fourth floors.
The hotel also has a business centre where meeting rooms are available for groups of six to eight with secretarial support.
Rates
From HK$1,300 (US$166) for a deluxe room, inclusive of breakfast and Internet access.
Four Points by Sheraton Kuching, Malaysia
Opened June 2009
Number of rooms: 435
Location
The hotel is five kilometres south of the city centre and two kilometres from Kuching International Airport. The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching is a 10-minute drive away.
Meeting facilities
There are three ballrooms, two function rooms and four meeting rooms, all offering high-speed Internet access and latest audiovisual equipment.
The three ballrooms can be opened up to accommodate groups of up to 2,400 in a theatre setting or 1,200 in a roundtable setting. An adjoining VIP holding room with an ensuite restroom is an added feature.
The function room can be used as two separate spaces or combined to accommodate 320 people in theatre-style.
The four meeting rooms can accommodate groups of 40 to 200 people.
Other facilities
There are three F&B outlets, a 24-hour business centre and a 24-hour fully-equipped gym.
Free shuttle services to and from the airport and the city centre are available.
Rates
From RM250 (US$73) to RM300.
Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside, Malaysia
Opened March 2009
Number of rooms: 282
Location
Being away from Kuala Lumpur city centre affords the property a certain tranquility, and it is a mere 25-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Alamanda Shopping Centre, the only shopping mall in Putrajaya, is 10 minutes away, while the city centre is a 90-minute drive away.
It is also adjacent to Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
Meeting facilities
The hotel has 21 function rooms, a ballroom that can sit up to 700 guests in a theatre setting and a 250-seat lakefront open-air amphitheatre.
The hotel also offers a variety of teambuilding activities and plentiful outdoor spaces good for creative events.
Other facilities
It has five F&B outlets, a spa, a pool, a fitness centre, a karaoke facility, a Nintendo Wii game room, a kids’ club and watersports activities.
Rates
From RM250 (US$73).
Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
Opened January 2010
Number of rooms: 1,350 in the first phase of opening, and another 500 in 2011
Location
The property sits on the leisure island of Sentosa.
Meeting facilities
Singapore’s first Hard Rock Hotel has 26 meeting rooms and a 7,300-seat Compass Ballroom, said to be one of Asia’s biggest column-free ballroom.
Resorts World Sentosa has also various restaurants throughout that have private rooms or may be booked entirely for events.
Various spaces within Universal Studios Singapore theme park are open for corporate event bookings too.
Other facilities
When fully opened, the integrated resort will have six hotels, over 60 F&B outlets, Universal Studios Singapore theme park, Marine Life Park, Maritime Xperiential Museum, Equarius Water Park and ESPA spa complex.
Voyage de la Vie, the resort’s resident rock circus performance, is staged at the 1,600-seat Festive Grand theatre.
Rates
Full-day meeting packages start from S$95 (US$67) per person, excluding taxes.
Grand Park Orchard, Singapore
Opening July 2010
Number of rooms: 308
Location
Formerly known as Park Hotel Orchard, the hotel sits in the heart of Orchard Road and is walking distance to Orchard and Somerset MRT train stations, which connect commuters to the business districts of City Hall and Raffles Place two and three stops away.
Meeting facilities
Two meeting rooms are located on level four, allowing delegates same floor access to the main lobby, business centre and F&B outlets.
They are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and may be combined to accommodate 150 pax for a cocktail reception, 60 pax for a U-shape layout and 54 pax for a boardroom meeting.
On their own, Orchard I can accommodate 50 pax for a cocktail reception, while Orchard II can take 40.
Other facilities
It has a large premium retail space called Knightsbridge, an outdoor pool that provides space for cocktail events, a gym, a spa and three F&B outlets.
Rates
From S$350 (US$250) per room night.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Opened April 27 for phase one
Number of rooms: 1,000 rooms in the first phase, out of over 2,500 rooms
Location
The hotel is located along the Marina Bay waterfront, close to the future Marina Bay Financial Centre and the existing financial hub of Raffles Place. The airport is 15 minutes away by car.
Meeting facilities
The Sands Expo and Convention Center is able to accommodate up to 2,000 exhibition booths and 250 meeting rooms for up to 45,000 delegates. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate 6,600 people for a banquet.
MBS has also two theatres that can accommodate 4,000 people altogether and a museum that is good for opening ceremonies, keynote addresses and cocktail parties.
Other facilities
MBS has a casino, a shopping mall, the impressive Sands Sky Park that sits 200 metres above the ground on top of three hotel towers, and the 10,000-seat Event Plaza along the Marina Bay waterfront.
Rates
From S$82 (US$58) per person for a half-day seminar package including lunch.
Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, Thailand
Opened July 2009
Number of rooms: 555
Location
It fronts a 230 metre stretch on Wong Amat Beach, less than two hours by car from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Pattaya’s entertainment hub is 20 minutes away while nearby attractions and islands are about 10 minutes to an hour away by car or speedboat.
Meeting facilities
The 1,000m2 Mirage Grand Ballroom is the resort’s largest venue, which can hold up to 1,200 people theatre-style and be split into three sections.
There are five smaller meeting rooms, for 70 to 90 people classroom-style, a 10-seater boardroom and a variety of outdoor spaces.
The venue is well-equipped with audiovisual and meeting equipment and Internet access.
Other facilities
The resort has an extensive water park and offers water sports and recreational activities such as windsurfing, kayaking and boating.
There is a fitness centre, a spa and eight F&B outlets.
Rates
Full-day meeting packages cost between 1,100 baht (US$33) and 1,800 baht per person, including coffee breaks, lunch and use of meeting equipment.
Holiday Inn Pattaya, Thailand
Opened October 2009
Number of rooms: 367
Location
Sitting on the up-and-coming corner of North Pattaya, where a number of new international-standard hotels and restaurants are located, the hotel is less than two hours by car from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and about 20 minutes to the city centre in South Pattaya.
Meeting facilities
The dedicated MICE floor on level four comprises a 612m2 Grand Ballroom for up to 950 people, cocktail-style, and is divisible into two smaller rooms for 60 to 300 people. Receptions and coffee breaks can be held at the foyer.
The facility is equipped with Wi-Fi Internet connection and comprehensive audiovisual and meeting equipment. The outdoor backyard lawn can be used for a 700-person cocktail.
Other facilities
There are five F&B outlets, including all-day dining Café G, Flow deli-shop, Terrazzo Italian restaurant and Havana and Splash bars, a fitness centre, an outdoor pool and a business centre.
Rates
From April 1 to October 31, the hotel is offering meeting packages ranging from 950 baht (US$29) per person for half a day to 1,050 baht for a full day.
Pullman Aisawan Pattaya, Thailand
Opened January 2010
Number of rooms: 353
Location
The beachfront hotel is tucked away in one of Pattaya’s most sophisticated neighbourhoods.
Meeting facilities
As part of the 200 million baht (US$6 million) renovation to rebrand the former Aisawan Resort and Spa, the hotel has renovated its Infinity Ballroom that can take up to 600 people, and added two newly built rooms, each good for 40 to 140 people.
A hotel wing has also been converted to house 11 breakout rooms and boardrooms, each for 15 to 42 people.
The poolside and beachfront can each host a 100-pax and a 500-pax function, respectively.
Other facilities
The Aisawan Beach Club offers an all-in-one dining facility while the hotel has a lobby lounge, a fitness centre, three pools and a spa.
Rates
Up till October 31, the hotel is offering a meeting package for 3,200 baht (US$98) per person on twin-sharing basis with breakfast, a full-day meeting with two coffee breaks, lunch, Internet access, etc. Minimum booking of 10 rooms is required.
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