The Habitat Penang Hill, a 10-minute stroll from the top station of Penang Hill, opened in January. The owner and management company, Flagstaff Holdings, invested RM32 million (US$7.8 million) to transform this four-hectare site into a new tourism product for Penang. Works included refurbishing a stable that can take events with up to 60 people inside or 80 in the briefing area, building a tree-tops walk, and installing zip lines along a 1.6km nature trail. These are surrounded by a 130 million-year-old rainforest which is gazetted and protected since 1911.

Concept This eco-tourism attraction puts an interesting spin on nature trails by placing many educational and interpretive signage on the rainforest’s flora and fauna and supports it with a complimentary guided tour led by an in-house naturalist who gives participants a peek into the various species of birds, insects, small creatures and plant life that thrive there. Participants may even spot a ratufa bicolour squirrel.

The latest attraction is the Curtis Crest Treetop Walk which opened in August. There are multiple viewing platforms and participants can walk along the Canopy Walk bridges that span approximately 230m in length. While the Canopy Walk offers spectacular views across the Straits of Malacca to Kedah State, it is the views from Curtis Crest that will take one’s breathe away. The latter is the highest viewing platform in Penang and promises spectacular 360-degree views of Penang. On a clear day, the islands of Langkawi can be sighted in the distance.

MICE application The Habitat Penang Hill makes a good pre/post tour option for groups attending conferences and meetings in town, as it is only a 20-minute drive from George Town to Bukit Bendera station where visitors will then take a five to eight-minute funicular train ride.

The nature trail is mostly shaded and the pathway is wheelchair friendly even during wet weather, thanks to the use of a pervious concrete material known as LaFarge hydro-media.

MICE groups will have more to do from this month on, with the launch of Canopy Discovery Tour which is perfect for teambuilding. Participants have to conquer low and high ropes and climb trees.

Service I was impressed with the naturalist guide’s depth of knowledge. Time flew past even though the nature walk was a slow tour with many stops.

This eight-year-old property recently underwent its first major renovations to a tune of RM35 million (US$8.5 million). Works completed in February 2016 and the result is an ultra chic property with good hardware and software.

Rooms Before renovations, the walls of guestrooms were painted but bare. Today, they sport a beautiful wallpaper and have wood panellings. Furniture has also been upgraded for greater comfort. For example, the work chair is a back-friendly Herman Miller designer piece.

My executive suite on the topmost floor on level 18 granted me bird’s-eye view of Gurney Drive and the sea beyond, plus spectacular sunrise in the mornings.

Environmentally conscious guests will appreciate the provision of Appelles bath products, which are paraben free, against animal testing and use biodegradable packaging.

MICE facilities Meeting spaces are all located on the first and second floors. After renovations, five new function spaces were added on level one, bringing the total number of function rooms in the hotel to 11. I like how all function rooms came with large windows to let in natural light.

Planners who require more break-out rooms for their event can supplement their needs with five function rooms at sister property G Hotel Kelawai, which is within walking distance. A buggy service is provided to shuttle guests between the two hotels.

The main ballroom at G Hotel Gurney can seat 500 people for a banquet and be divided into two for smaller gatherings. This venue’s investment in quality Bose sound systems has resulted in crisp, clear sounds during an event hosted here.

Other facilities A dedicated private check-in counter can be arranged for group check-in.

There are three stylish dining areas, a 24 hour gym, an infinity pool, a spa, a hair salon, a business centre and an executive lounge that offers exclusive guests breakfast service and evening cocktails from 18.00 to 20.00 daily.

Opened on the first level of Studio City in January this year, the 278.7m² Pacha Macau is the first mega Ibizan-style nightclub in the region.

Concept Originating from the beach town of Sitges, Portugal in 1967, the Pacha brand has evolved with changing trends and brought new ideas to the nightlife scene over the years.

As the first North American-operated nightclub and the largest single-space nightclub in Macau, Pacha Macau is designed for up to 2,500 people, with a 92.9m² dance floor, four KTV VIP Suites and an outdoor patio. DJ and dancer performances are available upon request.

MICE application For out-of-the-box meetings, event planners can use Pacha as a general session space for up to 450 people with four separate private breakout rooms each with capacity for 25.

It is also suitable for after-event parties, casual dinners or even catered barbecue events in fine weather.

Private parties and cocktails for about 850 or buffet dinners for about 380 with live entertainment and themed parties can be catered for.

For corporate buyout, Pacha has a minimum charge of HK$50,000 (US$6,444) or more depending on group size and requirements, and this can be achieved with F&B consumption.

The standard entertainment package includes DJ and dancer hire as well as audiovisual systems, while optional hire of emcees and live bands can be arranged upon request.

The El Cielo outdoor lounge connected to Pacha is ideal for networking events in its six cabanas with approximately 120 seats. Cocktail tables can also be made available. The venue is connected to the pool area of Studio City, which clients can choose to integrate into their events.

Planet J is the city’s first theme park emphasising a live-action-role-play theme. Located at Sands Cotai Central, it offers an indoor venue filled with action and fun for groups of up to 2,000 people.

Concept Designed to feature eight zones and over 200 game installations, the  9,290m² park breaks free from traditional theme park concepts. Visitors embark on a live-action challange as they take an electronic “Magic Scroll” connecting to all games. Based on levels of challenge, they are tasked with rescuing the magic kingdom using their intelligence and skills. To enhance the experience and stimulate the senses, sound effects, special lighting, and theatrical smoke and fog effects are deployed.

MICE application Event planners may leverage this unique venue to organise teambuilding challenges and private parties. For instance, team challenges are set with team tasks based on over 100 existing quests at various levels of difficulty. This fosters team spirit, with the solving of each quest requiring 20-30 minutes of cooperative action. Game searching (observation, search and find), battle (motion control fight against evil creatures), characters (story-telling, interactive) to physical (physical interactive, instant reaction).

The venue is also suitable for corporate buyout for events such as private parties and award ceremonies. Rental hire can be calculated based on an hourly basis.

The park offers custom programmes on a case-by-case basis with discounts and gifts included. 

Optional components can be arranged for, such as a welcome by mascot, photo ops, or even dancing with cosplayers. There is also a bazaar set-up sporting a mini flea market concept offering snack food, handicraft and street performances.

Service Cosplayers and staff stroll around the site, greeting guests and readily offering immediate assistance and advice. MICE planners are advised to book three months in advance.

Opened in June, Discovery Primea Hotel and Residences’ Flame Restaurant is fast creating a name for good food and ambience, thanks to the tandem of David Pardo de Ayala, the hotel’s general manager who is also an award-winning chef and executive chef Luis Chikiamco who was trained and had worked in France.

Concept Flame offers unforgettable dining experiences by serving modern European food with Asian flavours.

Located on the 16^th floor of the hotel and enclosed in glass, the restaurant offers a sweeping view of Makati skyline and is therefore best experienced at night.

A marble-top open kitchen surrounds the restaurant and there’s an area called The Hub, akin to a bar for those who enjoy meeting and conversing with other diners.

Being a foie gras fanatic, I find the pan-seared delicacy creamy and up to my standards. After all, it came from the French Rougie duck, one of the best in the world.

The appetizer quezo de bola and hamon (edam cheese and ham) – traditional Christmas fares on Filipino tables – was served with great panache and with twists such as cheese foam and asparagus. It’s comforting and surprising, transporting me back to Christmas at home.

MICE application Flame can be hired entirely for events with up to 80 pax, and offers two private rooms that can each can seat 20 guests.

Event planners may order off the menu or work with the chef to design one that reflects both Flame’s cuisine and guest preferences. Rates vary depending on the day of the week; lunch or dinner; duration of event.

The Henry Manila isn’t your typical cookie-cutter hotel, and therein lies its charm. It occupies several stately post-World War II houses in a spacious tree-lined compound in the heart of Manila which have been repurposed into a comfortable accommodation that evokes nostalgia and old world charm.

Rooms While all 34 spacious suites sport modern vintage design, each has a unique interior. Community sustainability considerations were taken in decorating and furnishing the rooms – non-profit, urban poor, women’s groups and the like provide many of the furnishings, linens, curtains, rugs, napkin dispenser and trash can (made from recycled paper) and toiletries. Coffee and snacks supplied are made in the Philippines.

MICE facilities The entire hotel can be reserved for a group of up to 100 people. Old world, Spanish era or Old Manila theme come naturally with the ambience. The huge garden can be spruced up for al fresco events such as a themed dinner with music, theater and other forms of entertainment. The gated compound offers privacy and exclusivity.

Planners can also choose to use The Library meeting room.

Other facilities There is a small restaurant in the hotel that can provide catering for group events and small garden pool. Wi-Fi connection is available in all rooms, and a shuttle service is provided to nearby malls.

Hotel guests can browse and shop in the showroom of furniture and interior designer Eric Paras, the atelier of couturier Jojie Lloren, and Albert Avellana’s art gallery, which are all in the building.