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It is I&MI Media's pleasure to bring this collection of hotels and DMC's that have recently been added to our website and will be a part of our annual directory,
The Workbook, in the 2008 edition.
INDIA: Taj Gateway Hotel Vijayawada
INDONESIA: The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place
THAILAND: The Lions Are Coming - IMPACT in Bangkok
CHINA: Millennium Harbourview Hotel Xiamen
Aviation History – Singapore Air's First A380 Commercial Flight to Europe
Global Traveler magazine readers named Malaysia "Best International Tourism Destination of 2007" at an awards ceremony held in New York City in January. Malaysia's favorable exchange rates, many cultures, political and social stability, many attractions and activities, the land's natural beauty and most of all Malaysia's wonderful people make it a very welcoming destination for all MICE programs. For information on beautiful Malaysia, go to the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board at http://www.tourism.gov.my/corporate/about_us.asp.
The French, German, Italian and Spanish language versions of the “oneworld” website www.oneworld.com now includes translations of all the key content given in the international English and the Japanese versions. Furthermore, the site now features an upgraded tool for planning around-the-world trips and real-time arrival and departures information for all flights operated by all the grouping's member airlines.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts received 'Best International Hotel Group' award at the Travel Weekly China Industry Awards 2007 held in December. In addition to the group award, the Sheraton Sanya Resort received the 'Best MICE Facility and Service Hotel' and The Westin Beijing Financial Street received 'Best Business Hotel' and 'Hotel Chef of the Year.'
At the same awards program, the Hilton Beijing was named "Best Five Star Hotel" with a special award for "Best Executive/Club Floor in China." Last month, the Hilton Beijing received 'Best Hotel in Beijing' by US-based Global Finance magazine.
Best
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces opened a new Gateway hotel, its business brand, in Vijayawada, India. Vijayawada is known as the financial capital of Andhra Pradesh and is the third largest city in that area after Hyderabad and Vishakapatnam.
The Taj Gateway Hotel Vijayawada features the largest guest rooms and pillar-less banquet hall in the city. All 108 guest rooms and suites are outfitted with LCD TVs and separate showers and there is Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the property. The 16,000 sqft/1,486 sqm. of event space includes the Grand Central banquet hall, which can accommodate 550 delegates theater style and can be divided into three rooms; the Forum I, II and III meeting rooms accommodate smaller meetings; the Deck is an open air banquet venue and the Summit is a roof top banquet hall situated poolside. There is also a 24-hour business center.
Dining options include JADE, the city's first Chinese restaurant and STIR an all day restaurant serving a multi-cuisine menu featuring Indian and Continental cuisines. There is also the G Bar, the hotel lounge and the Sugar & Spice bake show and deli. For recreation, hotel has a health club and a roof top swimming pool.
The Taj Gateway Hotel Vijayawada is located in the central business district only 25 minutes from the domestic airport and 15 minutes from the railway station.
E-mail: gateway.vijayawada@tajhotels.com
Website: http://www.tajhotels.com
The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta Pacific Place opened last November in Jakarta's financial district. The property, situated on top of the Pacific Place Mall, boasts the largest ballroom in Jakarta. With 62 guest rooms and suites and 139 residences made up of one, two and three bedroom apartments, the hotel is a cross between a boutique hotel and meetings hotel.
The Pacific Place's large guest rooms are equipped with 46 inch flat screen TVs, laptop size safe deposit boxes, floor to ceiling windows, walk-in closets, flat screen TVs in the bathroom, separate bathtub and shower and Bvlgari bath amenities. The Ritz-Carlton club floor offers frequent light meals, dedicated concierge service and private elevator accessibility.
Meeting and event space is comprised of the 3,600 sqm/38,754 sqft ballroom with its 3,800 sqm/40,907 sqft pre-function area; 11 meeting rooms, executive boardrooms, business center, business reference library, state-of-the-art electrical, lighting and sound systems and high-speed Internet connection. Conference Butlers and Technology Butler are available to assist planners.
For dining, The Pacific Restaurant Lounge is open all day and the lounge features entertainment, afternoon tea, and a selection of cigars and cocktails. The fitness center and spa, located on the eight floor includes seven treatment rooms, two relaxation rooms and a fully equipped fitness center. The spa's signature treatment the "Mystical Aromatic Massage" incorporates traditional Indonesian massage, deep Swedish massage, Shiatsu and passive stretching. There is also an outdoor swimming pool and tennis and basketball courts.
Website: http://www.ritzcarlton.com
The Lions Club will bring over 20,000 delegates to Bangkok later this year for its 91st Annual Lions Clubs International Convention and many of the convention's events will take place at the IMPACT Muang Thong Thani Arena, exhibition and convention center located in north Bangkok. In describing IMPACT, CDM, a noted Thai DMC (www.cdmthailand.com) declared that few venues could boast the extensive facilities and sheer size as the IMPACT.
The center originally opened in 1988 for the Asian Games and over the years has expanded and developed into a colossal event space with multiple structures and the ability to host a myriad of events from exhibitions, meetings and conferences, conventions to sporting and entertainment events.
The center is equipped with state-of-the-art integrated facilities with over 140,000 sqm/1,507,100 sqft of floor space. Facilities include 4 large multi-purpose buildings; IMPACT Arena, IMPACT Exhibition Centre, IMPACT Convention Centre and IMPACT Challenger Hall, that feature 13 exhibition and convention halls, 1 arena hall, 2 large ballrooms and 34 breakout rooms. The venue also offers 6 restaurants, 21 international dining outlets, 6 outdoor and 2 indoor parking areas, capable of holding over 15,000 vehicles.
Getting to IMPACT from the city center is no problem. In addition to already established transportation is the new IMPACT Link city shuttle bus service launched last year. Luxury mini-buses with the IMPACT Mooing Thong Thani logo depart every 30 minutes from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm from the Mo Chit Sky Train for the 30-minute ride to IMPACT.
E-Mail: info@impact.co.th
Website: http://www.impact.co.th
The Millennium Harbourview Hotel Xiamen, formerly the Crowne Plaza Harbourview Hotel Xiamen, opened in January. The property is near the city center commercial district and only a few minutes walk to the ferry to Gulangyu Island. Its location, prime for MICE programs, is easily accessible to major tourist attraction like the Nanputuo Temple, Botanic Garden and the HuLi Shan Fortress.
The hotel's 352 guest rooms feature work desks and high-speed Internet access. Event facilities include 8 function rooms accommodating from 12 to 450 attendees. All event space is outfitted with wired and wireless broadband, built-in LCD screens and projection screen and projectors.
F&B venues include 4 restaurants and 2 bars. Recreational facilities include a swimming pool, sauna & steam bath and gymnasium.
The Millennium Harbourview is twenty minutes from the Xiamen International Airport and the Xiamen International Exhibition Centre.
Website: http://www.millenniumhotels.com
Email: reservation@millenniumxiamen.com
will make aviation history when the A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft, makes it first commercial flight from Singapore to London on 18 March 2008. Singapore Airlines is the first airline to fly the A380 and London is the airline's second A380 destination after its launch flight from Singapore to Sydney last October.
This flight is the first ever A380 commercial service to Europe. The flight, SQ 308, departs Singapore's Changi Airport on Tuesday, 18 March 2008, at 09:00 hrs and arrives London Heathrow at 15:05 hrs. On the same day, A380 flight SQ 319 returns to Singapore departing London Heathrow at 18:55hrs, arriving back into Changi at 15:35hrs on Wednesday, 19 March 2008.
The Singapore Airlines A380 seats 471 passengers and is configured in three classes of service; 12 in luxurious Singapore Airlines Suites, 60 in Business Class configured in a 1-2-1 layout on the upper deck, and 399 in Economy Class.
Singapore Air currently has two A380s in service, a further 17 on firm order and options on six more.
Website: http://www.singaporeair.com
Now that the restriction on flights between Hong Kong and all Japanese cites, with the exception of Tokyo, has been lifted, Hong Kong Express Airways will launch service to Okinawa, Japan in April. Mr. Ronnie Choi, President of Hong Kong Express Airways said, "The new air services arrangement which allows all Hong Kong carriers to operate to Japan without capacity restriction is very much welcomed. Operating scheduled services to additional destinations in Japan is not only a tremendous plus for travelers but will affirm our position and status as a truly regional player in a market which we firmly believe has strong growth potential."
In addition to the new Okinawa service, Hong Kong Express Airways plans to introduce scheduled services to another three cities in Japan. Pending approval, Hong Kong Express will add service to Nagoya, Kagoshima and Okayama later this year.
Website: http://www.hongkongexpress.com
AIME 2008, the 16th Annual Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo is setting a new benchmark for exhibitions in Australia and around the world. Its green initiative, AIME Climate Neutral, brings environmental issues front and center to all aspects of this trade show. AIME Climate Neutral is a joint venture of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), RTE and Climate Friendly(TM), an Australian organization committed to providing real climate change solutions. The program is supported by the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC), the venue for AIME.
AIME's Climate Neutral initiatives include:
In addition, renewable energy will neutralize AIME's carbon footprint. Climate Friendly(TM) is providing GreenPower energy from a wind farm in South Australia and carbon credits were purchased from a Kyoto compliant wind farm in China.
Sandra Chipchase, Chief Executive Officer, MCVB, said, "We are encouraging the meetings and incentive industries to support a range of changes that will help AIME to minimize any negative impact on the environment".
Website: http://www.aime.com.au
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