FOLLOWING a successful run with Asian incentive arrivals, Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) is stepping up efforts to grow MICE business from South-east Asia by employing a new business events manager who will promote the destination through industry tradeshows and familiarisation trips out of his office in Singapore.
Taking on this responsibility is Edward Kwek who will help the tourism bureau grow arrivals from Thailand by five per cent this financial year, said Steven Dixon, TNZ’s regional manager South and South East Asia.
Dixon pointed out that Thailand is a “recognisable market” and business from incentive travels is growing, although numbers are “under-reported”.
To encourage more Thai business event planners choose New Zealand, TNZ will build on its existing relationship with key industry partners, including New Zealand Immigration and airlines to improve visa approval processes for Thai travellers.
Dixon noted that there are currently three preferred agents in Thailand and they enjoy faster visa processing privileges.
Editor’s Note: A correction has been made to this story. The first version had reported that the search for a South-east Asia business events manager was still on. That was a mistake.
HYATT Regency Kinabalu has launched a stylish multifunctional event venue centred around a show kitchen, called The Residence. It can accommodate up to 160 guests, is furnished with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, and complements the newly renovated Tanjung Ria Kitchen restaurant, The Lounge and The Poolside Bar.
The multipurpose layout of The Residence enables event organisers to use the facility for various purposes, ranging from small parties to entertainment dinners for important clients. The venue can also be combined with Tanjung Ria Kitchen restaurant for larger gatherings of up to 300 people.
Bennett Peter, director of sales and marketing at the hotel said the new offering was necessary because “the hotel customer of today needs, demands and expects flexibility and versatility in experiences and service”.
Arifin Darmawan, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, said: “Imagine you have been in a meeting room all day and when it’s time for a coffee break…the doors open and suddenly your meeting room is transformed into a show kitchen with chefs ready to serve you delicacies and beverages… all prepared right in front of you. Now that is a truly memorable meeting.
“The new facility exudes an aura of elegance and relaxation with its contemporary yet classic décor, complemented by natural daylight window panels. With show kitchens and multiple rooms, the focus is on one-on-one guest engagement and personalising the entire hotel experience.”
Peter added: “The launch of The Residence truly solidifies the position of the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu as being the landmark in the heart of downtown Kota Kinabalu for luxurious stays, exciting dining and memorable meetings.”
TTG TRAVEL Awards 2015 culminated last Thursday evening in celebration of 83 top performing travel and tourism companies and individuals in Asia-Pacific.
Eighteen new winners, including Gardens By The Bay for Best Themed Attraction, Etihad Airways for Best Airline – Business Class, The Westin Singapore for Best New City Hotel, and Myanmar for Destination of the Year, emerged across various categories, taking home the signature Hermes trophy for the first time.
Amid strong competition, 16 winning organisations were able to grow from strength to strength, making their remarkable comebacks into the awards. Among them were The Langham Hong Kong for Best City Hotel – Hong Kong and Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre for Best Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Veteran organisations such as Qatar Airways (Best Middle Eastern Airline), Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Best Convention & Exhibition Bureau), Resorts World at Sentosa (Best Integrated Resort) and Singapore Tourism Board (Best BT-MICE City) defended their titles with consecutive wins.
Regal Airport Hotel and Banyan Tree Spa were inducted into the TTG Travel Hall of Fame for having won the same award over l0 years. A virtual Hall of Fame (http://www.ttghof.com) was launched in late September to showcase the accolades and memorabilia of inductees to a global audience.
For the first time, the Awards also honored two industry partners – Jae Pil Sho, editor and publisher of TravelPress Korea and Chower Narula, managing director of World Media – for their lifelong contributions and immense dedication to the travel trade industry and TTG Asia Media.
SHENYANG New World EXPO has appointed Diane Chen its new deputy general manager.
Chen joined the company in June 2012 as director of business development.
Commenting on Chen’s promotion, Shenyang New World EXPO Management chairman, Cliff Wallace, said: “Diane has demonstrated her commitment to China’s exhibition and meeting venue industry and to making EXPO Shenyang the landmark exhibition and meeting venue. Her enthusiastic leadership of pre-opening staff progress and response to and grasp of the industry as well as her superior people and communication skills have been admirable.”
Chen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and a Master Degree in Business Strategy Management. She has a certificate in International Business and Operations Management, and is a member of the International Association of Venue Managers.
Shenyang New World EXPO, slated to open in spring of 2017, is part of a massive multi-use complex in the Chinese city’s Hunhe River and adjacent to the city’s Golden Corridor which runs through the central business district.
It is almost impossible to miss the towering development that has emerged in the heart of Singapore’s convention hub. Not only is it visually stunning on the outside, the South Beach hotel which opened its doors on September 3 as part of a preview phase is artistic, stylish and lively on the inside.
That’s no surprise, considering the big names behind the hotel’s design: Philippe Starck, Foster + Partners and Aedas.
All 654 guestrooms and suites are large and well furnished with Philippe Starck’s quirky yet functional furniture pieces. We love the secure ladies-only floor with rooms that come with splashes of pink and feminine touches. Female travellers will appreciate the extensive range of toiletries and female butler service.
The South Beach emphasises on imaginative social spaces, and the result is plenty of chic locations that allow hotel guests to connect with friends and business partners, or simply relax alone.
The two sky gardens on level 18 are a gem, offering a eclectic mix of designer couches, armchairs and stools for one to sit on and admire the breathtaking cityscape. Two infinity swimming pools and a gym complete the suite of facilities on this level.
The dining outlets are attractions themselves, each boasting a unique interior and character. The boldly named ADHD (All Day Hotel Dining) feeds guests all day in an elegant space, while Laugh excites with colourful prints and mishmash furniture. Both can support private events.
The hotel is part of the South Beach mixed-use development which incorporates heritage sites – three army blocks and the well-known Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Club – along with two new tower blocks. The 34-storey office tower is home to tenants such as Facebook and Expedia, while the second tower houses the hotel and the 190-apartment South Beach Residences, which will only be ready by 2Q2016.
There’s also a Court Martial Bar, set in one of the army blocks, and it draws on its court house history to serve concept drinks.
The second 1,200m2 army block – South Beach Quarter – will be home to four new F&B concepts by lifestyle group Massive Collection. These include Vanity, a cocktail bar; Vatos Urban Tacos, a Korean-Mexican restaurant; The Armoury, a gastropub with a wide range of craft beers and boutique wines; and a nightclub.
The South Beach’s grand ballroom, housed in the final army block, will cater to events such as corporate functions and weddings when completed.
The heritage mansion finally opens, adding a touch of old-school glamour and inventive cuisine to Bangkok’s dining scene. By Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
Dating back to 1880, the neocolonial villa standing at the Sathorn and Narathiwat junction was first owned by a wealthy businessman, before becoming a hotel in the 1920s and transforming into the Russian Embassy from 1948-1999, before falling into disuse until its newest reincarnation.
After three years of painstaking restoration, the 19th-century mansion – complete with ornate ceilings and green-louvred windows – is today, The House of Sathorn, W Bangkok’s newest dining destination.
MICE application
The House of Sathorn is bigger than it looks from the outside, comprising four buildings reconfigured as a versatile space that can cater to events of various types, from fancy dinners to boardroom meetings to exclusive functions.
The 99m2 Conservatory, nestled at the back of the mansion, is ideal for both meetings and cocktail functions of up to 120 pax with its extended outdoor area. The venue can be hired for functions from 200,000 baht (US$5,500) and up to 350,000 baht for the entire day.
On the second floor reside Loft 1 and 2 – still under renovation when TTGmice visited – which are function rooms featuring four hospitality suites suitable for private dinners and parties.
The Dining Room, with just 40 seats and an open kitchen, makes an intimate spot for business lunches or post-work drinks.
For groups with the budget, the entire house can be booked for 1 million baht, which will include F&B, décor and event organising services from W Bangkok. The buyout of the whole venue will include the use of the 70-seat Courtyard.
F&B concept
The House on Sathorn may be old school in its architecture but its cuisine is anything but. Turkish chef Fatih Tutak delivers his distinctive Asian-inspired dishes with aplomb, putting tremendous creativity and fun into the dining experience at The Dining Room.
Dishes like Early Morning at Tsukiji Market, a rectangular block of blue-fin tuna served with puréed avocado and fresh wasabi on the side; and Indian Accent, three layers of cauliflower – puréed, pan-fried with curry and dehydrated – plus a dash of yoghurt; are a nod to chef Tutak’s globetrotting experiences.
Hunting, inspired by his hunting trip in Germany, is the most visually stunning dish, where a chargrilled duck breast is served with ‘blood’ splatters of pomegranate sauce and burnt onion ‘gunpowder’.
Pier 9 steals the show for me, however. The giant river prawn, which hailed from Ayutthaya, is sweet and succulent, and when savoured with the pumpkin puree delivered a delightful mouthful.
The fun continues with desserts. With the use of liquid nitrogen and fine Okinawan sugar, Take Me Home to Silom elevates the humble Thai streetside grilled banana into a gastronomic treat, ending my meal on a high note.
Service
The service was immaculate, and the waiter serving my table was engaging, spoke perfect English and well trained in his F&B knowledge.
Contacts
The House on Sathorn
106 North Sathorn Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok
Tel (66) 2 344 4000
Email thehouseofsathorn@whotels.com
Website www.thehouseonsathorn.com
Opening hours
The Dining Room: lunch 12.00-14.30, dinner 18.00-22.30
Luxury cruise operator Bhaya Classic has unveiled a refurbished fleet after five months of upgrading works since May 2015.
All four Bhaya Classic boats, which boast traditional Vietnamese designs, have undergone a major makeover with the interior design of all cabins completely changed, featuring new wooden floors, panels, room decorations and bedding.
In May 2015, Bhaya Classic introduced a new Premium Balcony Cabin option in three new boats (V, VI and VII) to offer passengers a more comfortable and private cruising experience in Halong Bay.
Launched in 2007, Bhaya Classic now boasts a fleet of seven ships with 93 cabins in total.
The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa, known as a resort with sustainable practices and winner of the Association of South East Asian Nations Tourism Association (ASEANTA) award for the Best Conservation Effort in ASEAN, has introduced more green practices this year.
An aquaponic system was introduced in the treatment pond, and an unused heating tank room was converted into an oyster mushroom farm. Vegetables are grown along pathways to create the ambience of an edible garden.
Resort owner, Anthony Wong, said: “We have seen a growing trend among Asian and European MICE delegates desiring healthy eating, and we try to supplement the resort’s restaurant with organic food grown at the resort.”
It is also fitting that the resort was the venue chosen for the ASEAN Sustainable Green or Eco-Hotel Course organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia from September 7-9. It was attended by 30 delegates, comprising ASEAN National Tourism Organisations and hoteliers.
Wong wanted to show the delegates that going green need not be expensive. He said: “It has a lot to do with design and operations. Sustainable hotel practices (are) necessary to reduce climate change.”
Ria Bintan Golf Club welcomes 30 corporate golf groups annually
With Bintan’s stretches of sandy beaches, plethora of quality resorts and four championship golf courses, it is little wonder that the Indonesian destination is recognised as a paradise for golfers.
Bintan Resorts International’s director of marketing, Asad Shiraz, said: “Bintan’s accessibility from Singapore and its award-winning golf courses come together to strengthen our position in providing avid golfers with the perfect golf game and scenic views.”
Besides drawing leisure golfers, the destination is actively looking to attract major golfing events and corporate groups that desire a game on the greens in between meetings.
Shiraz noted that the golf clubs in Bintan offer corporate golf packages that come with event management support.
In fact, most of the golf course here are built with function rooms and venues that can host private gatherings.
Bintan Lagoon Resort, for example, has 470 guestroom, two 18-hole golf courses and an impressive selection of event spaces. Last year it launched a three-storey conference centre that houses a column-free hall for up to 1,300 guests in a standing cocktail setup, a foyer on the ground floor for 500 pax, and an outdoor roof terrace for accommodate 200 guests.
The conference centre comes in addition to eight existing meeting rooms, the largest being able to accommodate 400 pax in a theatre setting.
Having all event and recreational facilities under one roof makes its easy for delegates to shuttle from their rooms to meetings and onwards to the golf course for a game, remarked a spokesperson with Bintan Lagoon Resort.
“With us being the largest MICE facility here, we see high demand from both local and international clients,” added the spokesperson.
The resort recently hosted a meeting that included a full day of golf for its 100 participants.
Also popular among corporate groups is Ria Bintan Golf Club, which boasts a 27-hole championship course set amid lush landscapes and natural surroundings.
Harris Farouk Abdullah, resort operations manager, Ria Bintan, told TTGmice that some 30 corporate golf groups head to the resort annually.
“Corporate demand is positive,” said Harris, adding that greater growth could be expected with the progressive closure of golf clubs in Singapore.
Michael Chiay, senior director, meetings & events, Asia Pacific with Carlson Wagonlit Travel, said: “Bintan is very popular with golfers from Japan and South Korea, as golf is a popular sport (with people from) these countries. It does well as a golfing destination because of its lower costs in comparison with Singapore and because courses are generally open to the public.”
So popular is Bintan for golf that bookings must be made way in advance, noted Chermaine Tan, FCm Travel Solutions’ senior MICE planner.
Meanwhile, Bintan’s golf draws are evolving with the ongoing upgrading works at the Laguna Bintan Golf Club within Banyan Tree Bintan. While the course is being reduced to a nine-hole facility, it will boast a “world-class five-star” golfing experience once it reopens next May.
The 64-villa Banyan Tree Bintan also supports corporate events with a venue that overlooks the island’s sandy shores. This space is perfect for business powwows involving 32 delegates.
Iskandar Malaysia in Johor is leveraging its 15 internationally rated golf courses to attract local and international companies to hold their events in the southern state and include golf in their itinerary.
The golf courses in Iskandar Malaysia range from easy ones for leisure seekers to those that are more challenging and suitable for tournaments.
Many of them bear the design hallmarks of golf legends like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer (the 18-hole championship golf course at Legends Golf & Country Resort), Max Wexler and Akira Mamiya (the 54-hole championship course at Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort), Robert Trent Jones Jr (the 36-hole championship course at Pulai Springs Resort), and Ross Watson (who applied the Risk Reward design principle to the 18-hole international standard golf course at Horizon Hills Golf & Country Resort).
Come 2016, two new championship golf courses will open in Desaru, namely Els Club Desaru Coast and Els Club Desaru Valley, fuelling further interest in Johor as a golfer’s paradise.
But rather than see the new additions as a competitor, Joyce Yap, assistant director of sales and marketing at Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort in Pasir Gudang, Johor, opined that both golf courses will complement existing ones. Her reasoning: “The brand will attract golfers to Johor, and other courses will also benefit as golfers love to move around and play on different courses.”
In late 2014, the Iskandar Malaysia Destination Marketing work group saw the immense opportunity to incorporate golf as a sector to complement the Family Fun Holiday promotion theme.
Co-chairman of the work group, Mohammad Rosly Md Selamat, explained: “A plan was drawn up and golf tourism was marketed to both domestic and foreign associations and companies based in Johor, the Klang Valley and Singapore as an add-on to MICE activities in Johor.”
Members of the work group comprise representatives from Iskandar Malaysia Development Authority, Johor Tourism, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Association of Hotels and representatives from major golf clubs in Iskandar Malaysia.
Said Rosly, “The Family Fun Destination would be a perfect fit for your corporate event jigsaw – the children enjoying our LEGOland Malaysia resort, the wife indulging in retail therapy at the Johor Premium Outlets and spa after, while the head of household making pars and birdies at our golf courses.
“We presented this formula to local DMCs in Sabah and Sarawak and received positive feedback from companies. They are keen to venture to Iskandar Malaysia for meetings or company events and combine their stay with a family holiday.
Play into the sunset at The Empire Hotel and Country Club
“We will make it easy for MICE planners to organise golf tournaments in Iskandar Malaysia.”
Rosly, who is also senior vice president, Economic & Investment at Iskandar Regional Development Authority, added that the destination is facing fierce competition from golf courses in Indonesia and Thailand, while Batam and Bintan are favourite playgrounds for event organisers in Singapore.
He stressed: “We need to edge in and get a piece of the cake.”
Jef Kong, general manager at Le Grandeur Palm Resort in Senai which offers three golf courses, agreed. He opined: “We need to make Johor easily accessible to Singaporeans. Congestion at the Causeway and the RM20 (US$5.25) vehicle entry permit fee imposed from October 2, on Singapore registered cars entering Malaysia via the Causeway in Johor Baru and Second Link Expressway in Gelang Patah is not helping. Batam and Bintan are perceived as more affordable destinations compared with Malaysia and with more night activities.”
Kong is also seeing a shrinking market of golfers.He said: “The younger generation don’t treat golf as seriously and find the game time consuming. An 18-hole course takes about four hours to complete. While it is still a popular game in Japan and South Korea, you see many corporate golfers are middle-aged.”
Thus, he finds it timely that the work group has been formed, because collectively the group can come out with new ideas to promote golf as an affordable and healthy sport.
Yap Sook Ling, managing director at Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel, added: “We are hopeful that with specialists among them (in the work group), they will have a strategy to attract the right audience. Perhaps they could do roadshows overseas to target companies and agents that specialise in golf (programmes).”
Thailand enjoys the hallowed status as the region’s leading golf destination on both the leisure and business travel fronts, however, specialists say more could be done by the national convention bureau and Tourism Authority of Thailand to market the sport to international source markets.
While the country has more than 250 courses and hosts a number of marquee annual events, including Queens Cup, Thailand Open, Thailand Classic and Honda LPGA Golf Championships, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau currently has no dedicated programme promoting golf to the MICE market.
“We promote golf as one of the incentive programmes that business travellers can experience in Thailand, along with spas, shopping or CSR (corporate social responsibility),” said Parichat Svetasreni, director of marketing and corporate image at TCEB, adding that the key source markets for combining MICE and golf are Japan, Singapore and Malaysia.
“Normally when (MICE) groups come to Thailand, they have their own organiser create the programme for pre- and post-tours which (could) include (golf).”
Currently TAT handles most of the golf destination marketing though the bureau played a supporting role in the Honda LPGA, from February 26 to March 1, which attracted a range of corporate meeting groups from the auto, finance and insurance sectors.
“Thailand is by far the largest and most popular golf destination in Asia,” remarked Mark Siegel, managing director of Golfasian. “It is among the three best in the world, only surpassed by the UK (British Isles) and Spain in popularity. It offers excellent quality, accessibility, variety, weather, and affordability – all the ingredients of a top golf destination.”
MICE currently accounts for about 10 per cent of Golfasian’s business in Thailand with the key source markets being domestic and regional countries. While Hua Hin is Thailand’s top golfing destination – it also picked up best gold destination 2014 from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators – most of the traffic is leisure. Corporate groups tend to opt for Bangkok and Phuket which are more accessible by air.
“Courses which lend themselves well to MICE groups are Thai Country Club and Royal Gems Golf City in Bangkok and Laguna Phuket Golf Club in Phuket,” he noted. “In Bangkok, courses with adjoining hotels are not popular for MICE groups as they tend to cater to local golfers and do not have the quality that the best courses and branded hotels can offer for businesses. In Phuket, Laguna has the entire infrastructure to host corporate meetings and incentive groups – so this works out perfectly for businesses.”
Stacey Walton, golf club manager and director at Banyan Thailand Hua Hin, feels that smaller MICE groups can easily add an 18-hole game with an award dinner to their itinerary in Hua Hin. “Hua Hin does not have extensive indoor meeting facilities and the MICE sector is seasonal as most of the resorts here are occupied with allotments from November to April by wholesalers,” he said.
As a result the property relies on its own sales and marketing team to drive MICE business. “Much more could be done (by TCEB and TAT to promote golf as a MICE activity),” he opined.
GIRL POWER
It isn’t just the gentlemen who are playing the links these days. Australian travel specialist, SHE Travels, has a division that is dedicated to arranging ladies-only golf incentive trips.
Offered in partnership with Rhonda Norman, a travel and incentive programme designer, SHE Golfs takes participants to Queenstown, New Zealand where they will learn all about the game from professionals.
The seven-day/six-night incentive experience includes stays at the five-star Millbrook Resort, voted Best Golf Hotel at the World Golf Awards, and the luxurious Hotel St Moritz Queenstown, overlooking Lake Wakatipu to The Remarkables mountain range, as well as three games of golf, daily golf training sessions with professional supervision (maximum of six per group), golf club hire, golf carts, a two-hour spa treatment, yoga classes, meals, transfers, and more.
Visit www.shetravels.net.au for details.
Play the links at some of Asia’s best
GREAT FOR GOLFERS:
It is located on the outskirts of Thailand’s oldest seaside resort town, just over a two-hour drive from Bangkok, and framed by the Tenasserim Hills which form the natural border with Myanmar to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east. The property feature an 18-hole championship course designed by Thailand’s leading golf architect, Pirapon Namatra, and boasts a total distance of 7,361 yards. The signature 15th hole offers ocean views of Singtoh Island and the course includes a practice range and two large practice greens with bunkers.
GREAT FOR MEETINGS:
Banyan Thailand Hua Hin comprises an all-villa resort and specialist meeting facilities that can cater for groups of 10 to 250 pax. The Conference Suites feature the Koh Tao and Koh Singtoh function rooms which have more than 150m2 of combined space and include state-of-the-art audiovisual and video conferencing equipment along with high speed Internet, whiteboards and flip charts. The resort also has a pub, restaurant, clubhouse, spa and fitness suite.
RECENT EVENTS:
Banyan Thailand Hua Hin arranges six to eight golf tournaments a year such as the Mercedes Cup, the BMW national golf finals and the Hyatt Open, many of which attract incentive groups. The events draw about 140 players each and there is little non-golf activity.
Sentosa Golf Club, main clubhouse
GREAT FOR GOLFERS:
The club, regarded as one of the best golf destinations in Asia, is home to two magnificent championship 18-hole par 72 golf courses – Serapong and Tanjong. Located on Sentosa island, both courses possess fairways lined with lush greenery and scenic coastline views of either the Singapore harbour or South China Sea.
GREAT FOR MEETINGS:
There are meeting rooms that can accommodate an intimate gathering of 10 people or up to 450 people for a standing cocktail party in the Grand Salon. The Grand Salon, the largest venue available, can be split into three smaller spaces. It is outfitted with five projectors and screens, and comes with an outdoor foyer ideal for cocktails or coffee breaks.
Sentosa Golf Club is also home to two celebrated restaurants, Kaiseki Sushi and Il Lido. Chefs at the club are able to customise menus for private groups.
RECENT EVENTS:
Undisclosed
Le Grandeur Palm Resort, Johor is said to have the only link course in Malaysia
GREAT FOR GOLFERS:
There are three courses to play in, and each offer a different level of difficulty. Allamanda is designed as a resort course, featuring breathtaking scenery of water features, daunting sand bunkers and carefully-manicured Tifdwarf greens hidden among verdant landscaping. Cempaka championship course demands full concentration, measuring 7,156 yards from the pro tees. A more open course, the Melati is carpeted with expansive Tifdwarf greens complimented by neat Serangoon fairways. It plays as a links course with a first-tee only start and is the longest of the three courses at 7,205 yards from the back tees.
GREAT FOR MEETINGS:
Within the club is the Golfers Terrace, an eatery that serves international cuisine. For residential meetings, the four-star Le Grandeur Resort next door offers 330 rooms, Perkasa Ballroom which has room for 350 people, 10 meeting rooms and four F&B outlets.
RECENT EVENTS:
Maybank’s Southern Region Golf Tournament for 100 golfers. The event in May sought to raise funds for an orphanage and providing networking opportunities for its officers, clients and vendors.
The Els Club Teluk Datai gives off a big easy vibe
GREAT FOR GOLFERS:
Besides being lauded for its stellar service, the upscale club’s 18-hole par 72 championship golf course weaves through a 10 million-year-old rainforest towards the emerald green Andaman Sea. Designed by South African professional golfer Ernie Els and his team from Els Design, the course reflects Els’ personal taste and inspiration gathered by the natural surroundings of Teluk Datai. Shot-gun plays for up to 100 players can be arranged here.
GREAT FOR MEETINGS:
Private functions can be hosted on the event lawn or the meeting room which can accommodate a 10-pax board meeting. There are two F&B outlets, Ernie’s Lounge & Bar and Hornbill Cafe, which can seat up to 80 people, as well as a driving range and a tennis court which can double up for teambuilding activities.
RECENT EVENTS:
The Rotary Club of Langkawi held a fund-raising game in April for 73 golfers and 110 diners at the post-game barbeque dinner.
Local investment holding company, Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels, hosted 20 clients to a round of golf in June.Played in a friendly competition format, the event also served as an opportunity for all to network.
Danang Golf Club will co-host the Accor Vietnam Masters
GREAT FOR GOLFERS:
This Greg Norman-designed course weaves through natural sand banks close to My Khe beach. Considered one of Vietnam’s best, it is a true links course similar to classic golf courses in Scotland, Ireland, England and the Melbourne sand belt in Australia. It is a challenge for top players from the back tees but not intimidating for high handicap golfers when played from the front. The club says the greens are the fastest in Vietnam. The 16thhole, right on the beach and playing towards the Cham Islands in the distance, is regarded as the signature hole for golf in and near Danang.
GREAT FOR MEETINGS:
The club has a restaurant, rooftop terrace, two bars and a café. It also boasts two function rooms. The smaller room can seat 10 people for a seminar while the larger space seats 50-pax theatre-style or up to 180 for a cocktail party and features an outside terrace. An under-road pathway connects the club to Ocean Villas, an all-villa resort with 110 units ranging from one- to five-bedroom villas and a dune villa. Other facilities include a beach club, restaurant, spa and tennis courts.
RECENT EVENTS:
Danang Golf Club has hosted numerous corporate events involving golf and after-golf F&B services for clients including banks, financial services and motor vehicle companies. The club is one two courses that will co-host the Accor Vietnam Masters amateur tournament in September.
The stately club house at Mission Hills Haikou
GREAT FOR GOLFERS:
Membership is not required so Mission Hills Haikou is open to all golf lovers who can play in the largest collection of publicly accessible golf courses in the world.
Only 15 minutes from Haikou Meilan International Airport, the 10 diverse and acclaimed tournament courses by Schmidt-Curley Design, each incorporating the native lava rock formations, are suitable for a range of playing abilities.
The courses offer a challenge for golfing enthusiasts while the less experienced can enjoy some of the most beautiful landscapes to play on in the Asia-Pacific region. The island’s temperate tropical climate is another plus.
GREAT FOR MEETINGS:
Mission Hills Haikou is constructing an energy-efficient and low-emission Town Center, which will feature Mission Hills Lan Kwai Fong Haikou, Mission Hills Huayi Brothers Feng Xiaogang Movie-themed Town, a duty-free shop, and luxury hotels bearing brands like The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance and Hard Rock brands.
The destination itself is a draw for corporate event. Hainan is known as Asia’s sport and lifestyle capital. Apart from world-class golf courses, there are family-friendly facilities for leisure, sports, recreation, entertainment, dining, accommodation, conference, and shopping, as well as the world’s largest mineral springs and spa facilities.
RECENT EVENTS:
BMW, Volvo, Audi and Bank of China have hosted golf tournaments at Mission Hills Haikou. Recent tournaments included an industry association celebration for 230 people, a friendly golf tournament for 100 senior management MBA students, and an invitational tournament for more than 80 car owners organised by an famous international motor car company.
Bintan Lagoon Golf Club is supported by a convention centre
GREAT FOR GOLFERS:
As the only resort in Bintan that offers two 18-hole championship courses, designed by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Ian Baker-Finch. One of the courses is set against a stunning backdrop of the South China Sea while the other is marked by natural topography with an undulating landscape for seasoned golfers.
GREAT FOR MEETINGS:
This 470-room resort charms with its manicured gardens and a private beach that stretches nearly 1.5km. Besides its suite of meetings rooms within the resort and even more in its new three-storey convention centre, the resort features a variety of outdoor locations that corporates can utilise for teambuilding activities or dinners. It is possible to even host delegates under the stars for a dinner right at the water’s edge.
RECENT EVENTS:
Undisclosed
GREAT FOR GOLFERS:
Nestled amid a verdant landscape and adjacent to picturesque Yang Zonghai Lake, Spring City is Kunming’s eco-golf sanctuary, less than an hour’s drive from the Kunming Airport, and 40 minutes’ drive from Kunming city.Located 1,770m above sea level and surrounded by natural hot springs, Spring City is a world-class integrated holiday resort with more than 400 luxury rooms and award-winning 18-hole championship golf courses including the Mountain Course designed by Jack Nicklaus and the Lake Course by Robert Trent Jones Jr.The courses offer golfers of every level games filled with challenges and enjoyment. The magnificent 18-hole Lake Course is set on the banks of the Yang Zonghai Lake and is world renowned for its narrow fairways, crisscrossing trenches, strong winds, terraced greens and breathtaking lake views.
GREAT FOR MEETINGS:
The Clubhouse at Spring City has myriad facilities including an expansive lobby, a lobby bar, VIP dining rooms, spa, tennis courts, a boardroom, a multipurpose function hall, an outdoor terrace as well as a recreation centre with a karaoke room, mahjong room and gym.
Spring City features a variety of dining experiences offering some of the finest culinary selections from around the world. Guests can look forward to discovering the savoury tastes of local Chinese cuisine, or indulge in a variety of eastern and western fares at its restaurant.
RECENT EVENTS:
Spring City’s Mountain Course is designed by Jack Nicklaus
An exclusive customer golf event by a telecommunications company in June. Some 50 people were in attendance and they stayed three nights at the resort. The event included three rounds of golf, a welcome dinner and a prize presentation dinner.
Starwood’s The Grand Mansion, A Luxury Collection Hotel in Nanjing, China has introduced four new cultural programmes for its guests.
The two programmes to watch for are Tracing the Ming Guo Architecture and Experience of Oriental Metropolitan.
Guests will get to indulge in a Ming Guo-style lunch for two along with transportation within Nanjing to up to four Ming Guo architectural sites with the first package. The latter package will invite guests to enjoy an Oriental Metropolitan cuisine for two with complimentary access to the museum, which is located close to the hotel.
Both packages include one-night accommodation, daily breakfast for two, complimentary Internet and Wi-Fi, and complimentary soft drinks from the mini bar. Following each stay, guests will also receive a copy of Under The Phoenix Tree, a book on Nanjing Republican-era architecture, or Nanjing – Live Misty in the Six Dynasties.
Alvaro Rautenberg, general manager of The Grand Mansion, said: “The opening of The Grand Mansion has piqued the interests of discerning travellers who are looking for authentic excursions in China.”
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
Michael Chiay, senior director, meetings & events, Asia Pacific with Carlson Wagonlit Travel, said: “Bintan is very popular with golfers from Japan and South Korea, as golf is a popular sport (with people from) these countries. It does well as a golfing destination because of its lower costs in comparison with Singapore and because courses are generally open to the public.”
In late 2014, the Iskandar Malaysia Destination Marketing work group saw the immense opportunity to incorporate golf as a sector to complement the Family Fun Holiday promotion theme.
Thailand enjoys the hallowed status as the region’s leading golf destination on both the leisure and business travel fronts, however, specialists say more could be done by the national convention bureau and Tourism Authority of Thailand to market the sport to international source markets.
GIRL POWER
