Set to open in mid-July 2025, the new 275-room InterContinental Halong Bay has hit the ground running to establish itself as a destination for corporate events and meetings in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We are currently at the ramp up period, and our target markets for meetings and incentives are predominantly Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. We are also seeing keen interest from India, and are working with IHG to fast track the opening of the hotel in these markets,” said Bastien Pucheu, area director of commercial, IHG BIM Estate Vietnam, IHG Hotels & Resorts, told TTGmice when interviewed at IMEX Frankfurt 2025.
Although the hotel is not open yet, Pucheu has already seen a “fair bit of interest” from corporates as this is the “first luxury branded hotel to operate in the area”.
The Grand Ballroom will be the InterContinental Halong Bay’s largest event space, accommodating up to 1,050 guests in theatre-style, which can be split into three smaller spaces when required. There are four additional meeting rooms, as well as outdoor options, including a manicured garden with a capacity of 330 people, and a terrace accommodating up to 390 for receptions.
“We could also potentially cover the 130m-long pool in front of the 24 three-bedroom villas, and organise private buyouts of that section for groups of up to 70 pax,” he elaborated.
To kick things off, Pucheu indicated that the property is targeting groups of around “100 to 200 corporates”, with future plans to “grow from there”. Property buyouts are also welcome.
Several incentive itineraries – developed with local partners – are already in the works, including a day cruise in Halong Bay, or a visit to floating villages specific to the area. He also assured event planners that they already have local partners, who are “well aware of the needs of corporate planners”, onboard.
The hotel’s other facilities include three outdoor pools, alongside six F&B venues. For example, Roku & Sky Bar will be located on the resort’s rooftop, while Yulong Mansion is a two-storey venue that will offer a modern Cantonese dining experience. There is also the Del Mar beach club, which groups can book for private events.
When queried about Vietnam’s untapped positioning as a business events destination in Asia-Pacific, Pucheu opined: “I believe Vietnam has huge potential when it comes to meeting and events, but people don’t know about it yet. The food and level of service is fantastic, and there is lots of new infrastructure coming online.
“With the development of this property in Halong Bay, an absolutely iconic destination, it will definitely help raise the country’s profile on the global MICE stage.”
He was most recently cluster operations general manager for Conrad Singapore Orchard and Conrad Centennial Singapore. He also served as general manager at Regent Singapore, where he led the hotel through a brand transition and achieved record food and beverage results.
Robinson’s career includes leadership roles with Westin and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, where he gained operational and strategic experience in markets such as Egypt, the Caribbean, and the US.
