Five-star resort Indigo Pearl in Phuket has introduced Green Season Meetings, a unique art-themed interpretation of business events that removes delegates from the boardroom and immerses them in lush tropical landscapes and settings.

Green Season Meetings gives delegates the chance to hold their meetings in an exclusive and tailored setting such as going barefooted in the “boardroom” and discussing business ideas with their toes in the sand.

“It’s about leaving the business clothes at home and picking up a paint brush in a tropical paradise, which will appeal to many executives and MICE planners looking for a refreshing change of direction,” said Chris Oakes, general manager of Indigo Pearl.

Delegates are also offered interesting teambuilding exercises such as Thai boxing lessons, cooking competition and mixology classes.

The Green Season Meetings package is priced at 1,350 baht (US$38.70) net per day for the half-day package and 1,550 baht net per day for a full day, with a minimum of 15 pax.

US-based Lanyon, which specialises in cloud-based software for managing business events and travel programmes, has released an enhanced version of its Smart Events Cloud.

The solution, which helps business event planners through the entire lifecycle of their events, now offers a new navigation and user interface that simplifies the meeting and event process into logically ordered key components.

The attendee management module for meetings and events is also completely redesigned, making it easier for the user to plan, design and manage tasks such as theme builder, registration and reporting.

Event theme are also now configurable and business event planners can choose from an existing library of themes or edit a template to create a customised version. A preview feature is also available.

David Bonnette, CEO of Lanyon, said in a press statement: “We have put a particular focus on the user experience for meeting planners, and designed tools to be easy to use and mobile friendly. This is vital as we help companies consolidate their programmes and drive adoption around the globe.”

Additionally, with the increased usage of mobile devices, Lanyon has released a new mobile app, Lanyon Mobile, which aims to improve attendee experience and deepen engagement between the organiser and attendee.

The existing Mount Faber cable car line has been extended to offer a fun new way to get on Sentosa island.

The new Sentosa Line, now part of the Singapore Cable Car Sky Network, is one of several infrastructural enhancements that Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) has embarked on to improve connectivity and accessibility on the island.

“It (the new cable car ride) offers a serene ride over our beautiful island, while also greatly improving access between Merlion Plaza, Mount Imbiah and Siloso Point,” said Mike Barclay, CEO of SDC. “We expect it will become the preferred mode of transport for our guests wishing to access the western tip of Siloso Beach, as well as the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Hotel, Underwater World Singapore and Fort Siloso,” he added.

Guests who wish to ride on both lines are able to buy a Cable Car Sky Pass with an option to top up for unlimited rides. Overseas guests will enjoy a bonus as the new Sentosa Line will be included in the new Standard Sky Pass with no increase from the current price of S$29 (US$21.20).

Luxury hotel, The Reverie Saigon, opens this month in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, bringing with it 286 guestrooms and 15 function venues that are all beautifully furnished to invoke memories of resplendent palaces and chateaus.

Occupying the 27^th to 39^th floors of Times Square, the property offers clear city views and places guests within a five-minute walking distance from Lam Son Square, City Hall and the Notre Dame Cathedral, while the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City and Reunification Palace are within a kilometre away.

Guestrooms’ interior draws on the design genius of four leading Italian furniture designers – Provasi, Colombostile, Giorgetti and Visionnaire – and all feature walls of textured Italian silk, luxury bed linen, and delicate chandeliers and lamps. These rooms are also said to be the city’s largest, with regular rooms ranging from 43-53m² in size and suites from 63-313m².

There are 15 versatile venues for corporate meetings and private events, including the La Scala Grand Ballroom, an ornate room with Swarovski crystal chandeliers and walls lined with silk and onyx. Premium drinks, crystal glassware, carefully chosen scents and top-of-the-line stationery are part of every meeting at The Reverie Saigon.

F&B options include The Royal Pavilion, serving Chinese cuisine; R&J, offering Italian cuisine; Café Cardinal, serving French cuisine; and The Long@Times Square café and bar.

Other facilities include a gym, swimming pool, outdoor jacuzzis, steam rooms, saunas and a spa.

Also located within Times Square is The Reverie Residence with 89 one- and two-bedroom full-service apartments.

Luxury boutique hotel The Club, which drew much attention from travellers and the design community with its bold black and white interior when it first opened in 2010 in Singapore’s heritage enclave, has completed an extensive renovation to give it refreshed guestrooms and new dining destinations.

Located on Ann Siang Hill in a colonial building built in the 1900s, The Club’s guestrooms now feature soothing earth tones, eclectic art accessories and bespoke furniture. Its popular B28 underground whisky bar is now joined by a lounge café and bar, a champagne yard, a rooftop bar and the second restaurant by The Disgruntled Chef.

Open for private event hire are Tiger’s Milk and The Champagne Yard.

Tiger’s Milk on level four is said to be the first Peruvian themed rooftop bar in Singapore. It is able to accommodate private gatherings of 110 guests, and charms with a Parilla grill area.

The Champagne Yard on the ground floor makes a splendid venue for celebrations and high-level networking functions, with space for 24 guests, cocktail style. It offers an extensive selection of premium champagnes and wines. – Karen Yue