Asia’s major cities have made quite a splash in the International Congress & Convention Association’s (ICCA) rankings for the number of meetings organised during 2006.
In the city rankings, Asian cities featured quite heavily in 2006, with Singapore taking the lead in the Asia Pacific region with 127 meetings (ranked third worldwide), then Seoul with 85 meetings (ranked seventh worldwide), Beijing with 65 meetings, Kuala Lumpur with 63 meetings (ranked fifteenth worldwide), Hong Kong with 57 meetings, and Bangkok 51 meetings.
According to the report, Malaysia’s meetings industry is one of the fastest growing in the world. Malaysia’s position in the country rankings went from 33rd place with 52 meetings in 2005 to 23rd place with 91 meetings in 2006. A key factor to the increase in Malaysia’s meeting count countrywide was that 2006 marked the first full year of the operation of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
General manager of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Peter Brokenshire reported that 17 of the venue’s conventions were international, representing 30 per cent of the total number of meetings held in Kuala Lumpur.
This year, the ICCA Data researchers have identified 5838 events which took place in 2006, a rise of 523 over 2005, reflecting the strength of the meetings market globally.
The ICCA rankings cover meetings organised by international associations which take place on a regular basis and which rotate between a minimum of three countries. The data represents a snapshot of qualifying events in the ICCA Association Database as sampled on April 10, 2007.
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) has recently entered another stage of the venue’s significant expansion, and are now revising many of the access routes around the centre. Atrium 1 has been closed and work to integrate the expanded space with existing structures began in May. Construction has been underway at the same time as multiple events, but staff at the HKCEC have been doing their best to minimise any inconveniences for clients, who will ultimately benefit from the additional 19,400 square metre space once the expansion is completed in early 2009.
Leveraging on its open-concept animal habitats and lush greenery, the Night Safari in Singapore offers unique packages to the MICE market that combine dining and wildlife appreciation. One popular package is the Gourmet Safari Express, which offers guests a leisurely yet sumptuous meal while enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. Dinner is served onboard a specially-decorated tram which goes around the Night Safari’s 40 hectares of lush secondary forest. While diners savour the four-course meal, they are invited to listen to live commentary and witness the nocturnal wildlife. After dinner, there is the “Creatures of the night” show where visitors can learn more about the natural behaviour of some animals.
Night Safari also offers Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant, an increasingly popular event venue where visitors can opt for an exclusive dining program at the Chief’s Room. Catering for groups of up to 16, the venue offers a cosy and rustic dinner experience, where food is coupled with exciting wildlife appearances.
Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur has significantly expanded its meetings facilities by adding 12 function rooms to a brand new floor of the hotel, The Mezzanine at Level 4. The facility is ideal for events of 10 up to 120 people, or as break-out rooms for larger conferences taking place in existing facilities such as the grand ballroom. After investing RM5.0 million to meet the growing meetings and conventions sector of Kuala Lumpur, Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur now boasts 28 function rooms of varying capacity in its meetings suite. The Mezzanine’s refurbishment program started in August 2006 and was launched in January 2007.
Imagine holding an all-women event in a man-free destination. Well, soon you may be able to. After Iran revealed plans to create an exclusive resort only for female tourists, China has announced that it’s expecting to launch a “women only” town in the next three to five years. It is said that the Iran project will be constructed in the islands of Arezou and its facilities will be staffed by women only. Men will not be allowed in the resort. The proposed women only town in China will not be entirely men-free, as it will adhere to a concept of “women come first, then men.” It’s hoped that the project, which will be located in the Longshuihu village in the Shuangqiao district of Chongqing, will attract interest from international investors.
Singapore’s two newly-announced integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa will add to the city’s already extensive MICE offerings when they are launched in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
Marina Bay Sands, overlooking Marina Bay, will provide 2500 hotel rooms and luxury suites, and more than 110,000 square metres in meeting and exhibition spaces. The resort will also be home to a range of leisure products including two world-class 2000 seat theatres, an art and science museum, plus retail outlets and dining venues, including a floating pavilion on Marina Bay. Public spaces will include an ice-skating rink, casino and indoor canals.
Resorts World at Sentosa will be located on Sentosa Island, offering groups a range of venue options including a Universal Studios theme park set over seven precincts for events and functions. It will also house the island’s major entertainment facilities including three public amphitheatres and a permanent show ‘Le Vie’ which will be developed by the creative team behind Cirque du Soleil.
A wise choice for meetings, incentives and conferences, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo offers a venue set against the world’s oldest rainforest, endless pristine white beaches, unique flora and fauna, and a skyline of mountains.
Known for its diverse and colourful potpourri of cultures, Sabah presents an array of theme dinners and events to suit all styles and flavours, be it a grand setting, wild adventure or simply natural.
Sprawling world-class luxury resorts and five-star business hotels offer services comparable to the world’s finest. Choose from grand ballrooms that can easily accommodate up to 2000 people or a concert hall seating 5000. Extensive state-of-the-art communication facilities and amenities at these conventions and meetings centres offer stress-free planning environments for conference organisers.
From audio-visual equipment to award-winning service excellence, team-building to themed functions, rest assured you can look forward to a successful event that others talk about.
Fresh seafood to local fruits, delegates are definitely in for a treat. Sabah’s palate includes authentic Asian flavours from Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Japanese and a host of other international cuisine.
Sabah’s growing popularity as an incentive and meeting destination is also due to its people. More than 30 ethnic groups live harmoniously there, offering a glimpse of a unique cultural tapestry. Renowned for their charming hospitality, Sabahans’ warm nature contributes much to a memorable incentive and meeting experience.
Plus you need not worry about getting to Sabah. The State enjoys good air-links with major cities in the Asia Pacific. Direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, Brunei, Hong Kong, Taipei, Kaoshiung, Manila, Cebu, Tokyo, Seoul and Sydney make the destination easily accessible.
Gomantong Caves
Located inside Gomantong Hill in a Sabah Parks forest reserve, Sandakan, the Gomantong Caves are an intricate cave system frequented by many different birds, including swallows, crested serpent eagles, kingfishers, and Asian fairy bluebirds. Every evening, over two million resident bats spiral out for their evening feed.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
The nearest group of islands to Kota Kinabalu city, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is the island hoppers’ haven. It’s made up of five islands – Manukan, Mamutik, Gaya, Sapi and Sulug. The islands are great spots for a variety of water sports, or just lazing about in the sun.
Sandakan Ranau Death March
This six-day trek developed by Tham Yau Kong, Sabah’s leading trekking expert, and Lynette Silver, an Australian investigative historian, takes groups across the most scenic and challenging part of the Sandakan Ranau Death March original track. The trek is based on the 1945 incident when the Japanese marched more than 1000 weak and starving Australian and British prisoners of war across the uninhabited, jungle-clad mountains of British North Borneo (now Sabah).
Poring Hot Spring
Situated in the lowlands, 40 kilometres north-east of the Kinabalu Park HQ, the Poring Hot Spring is known for its therapeutic and soothing baths that contains sulphuric minerals which have been known to take away aches in muscles. The bath is favoured by those who have just returned from the arduous climb of nearby Mount Kinabalu.
<< Top
|
