
Asia Pacific Newsletter December 2008
Come and see the latest addition to our On-Line Seminars - Trinidad & Tobago Have an immediate need to book a meeting or incentive? Want to find the best deals for groups available on short notice worldwide? Find your Dates-On-Sale! with detailed information on available facilities now on www.i-mi.com Extensive detailed presentations of hundreds of countries hotels, destinations, congress centers and DMC's featured in our annual directory, The Workbook, plus lots of other valuable information.

Asia Pacific Newsletter December 2008

I&MI Media Online Seminars

Come and see the latest addition to our On-Line Seminars - Trinidad & Tobago

Have an immediate need to book a meeting or incentive?
Want to find the best deals for groups available on short notice worldwide?

Find your Dates-On-Sale! with detailed information on available facilities now on www.i-mi.com

Extensive detailed presentations of hundreds of countries hotels, destinations, congress centers and DMC's featured in our annual directory, The Workbook, plus lots of other valuable information.

In This Issue	Editors Note
VIETNAM: 5-Star Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi CHINA: Beijing Haidian aloft Open CHINA: Le Méridien Qingdao and Le Meridien Chongqing 2011 TAIWAN: Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Tainan Opens In The Air JAL Flying Osaka/Seoul New Additions to www.i-mi.com CHINA: Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing SINGAPORE: Pan Pacific Singapore SINGAPORE: Suntec Singapore	Japan is on the rise as a conference destination. In 2007, Japan hosted 448 international conferences, up from the 166 international conferences held in Japan during 2006. As India recovers, countries are relaxing their travel advisories. A message from the Government of India’s Ministry of Tourism states that earlier this month the Netherlands Foreign Ministry removed their advice against all non–essential travel by Dutch Citizens to or via Mumbai from 2nd December 2008. The United Kingdom has revised its advisory to British citizens which now says “We no longer advise against all but essential travel to Mumbai” and the United States State Department has also scaled down its advisory and kept it as a Travel Alert. Getting back to business as usual, on 11 December, India welcomed the English Cricket Team to Chennai for a series of cricket matches. Thailand’s convention industry moves ahead with the opening of a new convention center as the Land of a Thousand Smiles dusts off its image. Earlier this month, the RPM International Exhibition & Conference Centre officially opened on Phuket. The 2,500 sqm/26,910 sqft is the largest exhibition facility on the island. The waterfront convention center is located on Phuket’s eastern seaboard overlooking Phang Na Bay. I wish you all the very best for this Holiday Season and all things good in the New Year. Until next year Peace Helena Miele, CITE Editor electronic newsletters The AsiaPacific Incentives & Meetings Expo, AIME 09 takes place in Melbourne, Australia on 17 & 18 February 2009 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. This year’s expo is focusing on building inbound business to Australia with many of the national exhibitors taking larger stands and having a greater presence at the show.
CHINA: Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing
The Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing was opened in 2008 and stands out with its comprehensive facilities and services catering to small, medium and larger size meetings, conferences and social events. The 25-story hotel comprises 545 well designed, spacious and technology-savvy guest rooms and suites combined with a choice of 6 innovative restaurants and bars, two ballrooms, one of which is the largest pillarless Ballrooms in Beijing and 15 break-out rooms in various sizes, with a capacity of 8 – 1,300 guests. Guests can also enjoy the top-of-the-line fitness center, indoor heated swimming pool and roof-top tennis court. Located on the north east corner of Beijing's 3rd Ring Road, the hotel is ideally situated close to the China International Exhibition Centre, the Central Business District, the Olympic Green and world-class shopping. Contact: Mr. Manfred Ng, Resident Manager Email: meetings@cpsunpalace.cn www.i-mi.com: Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing
Fuhua 1st Road, Futian CBD, Shenzhen, China Tel +86 755 8298-9888 Fax +86 755 3322-7777 shenzhen@marcopolohotels.com www.marcopolohotels.com As easy as 1, 2, 3 Tell us what you need and our team will make it happen! Experience the legendary service with a blend of Asian hospitality and Western innovation. With 30 multi-function rooms, including auditorium and Grand Ballroom, Marco Polo Shenzhen is the perfect venue to host any event. Contact us at +86 755 8298-9888 ext. 8830 or shenzhen@marcopolohotels.com
SINGAPORE: Pan Pacific Singapore
Awarded Asia’s Leading Business Hotel for the third consecutive year by World Travel Awards 2008, Pan Pacific Singapore is the hotel of choice with its prime location in Marina Bay with 778 rooms and suites featuring magnificent views of the city and harbor. The hotel is within close proximity to the Central Business District, connected via a covered sky-bridge to Suntec International Exhibition and Convention Centre, adjacent to three shopping malls and within walking distance to major historical, cultural and entertainment areas, including Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The hotel also features 26 meeting and banquet rooms, Executive Business Lounge and planners are attended to by a dedicated Meeting Butler. Other amenities include 6 award-winning restaurants, bar, tennis courts, spa, gymnasium and outdoor swimming pool. Contact: Ms. Tina Farn, Director of Business Development Email: tfarn@panpacific.com www.i-mi.com: Pan Pacific Singapore
SINGAPORE: Suntec Singapore
Suntec Singapore is a world-class venue located at the heart of Asia's most integrated meetings, conventions and exhibitions hub. With 100,000 sqm/1,076,500 sqft of versatile floor space over six levels, this award-winning venue with top-notch facilities and service is designed to cater to a diverse range of events, both large and small. A dedicated Client Services Team is at your service to assist in making your event a success. A fully integrated convention city, Suntec Singapore offers direct access to 5,200 hotel rooms, 1,000 retail outlets, 300 restaurants, 6 museums and a world-class performing arts center, Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, all within a 15-minute walk. In addition, it is conveniently located adjacent to the Central Business District with Changi International Airport only 20 minutes away. Contact: Mr. Ong Wee Min, Director Sales & Client Services Email: sales@suntecsingapore.com www.i-mi.com: Suntec Singapore
VIETNAM: 5-Star Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts recently opened its second property in Vietnam. The 154-room Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi, located on Ly Thuong Kiet, is next door to IBM headquarters and around the corner from Quan Su temple. Meeting facilities consist of two meeting rooms, each divisible into two rooms, making a total of four meeting rooms. The largest room accommodates 100 attendees theater style. The hotel also features an all-day restaurant and lobby lounge with a casual dining menu and wine cellar, gym and wellness studio, Jacuzzi and treatment rooms. The Hanoi Opera House, Old Quarter shopping district, embassies and central train station are all within a five-minute taxi drive. Mövenpick’s first property in Vietnam, the Mövenpick Saigon, opened in July 2008. Website: www.movenpick.com
CHINA: Beijing Haidian aloft Open
Starwood’s *aloft* brand opened a new property in China. The *aloft* Beijing Haidian made its debut in November and features 186 high-tech guest rooms and suites. Each guest room is outfitted with a one-stop connectivity device for multiple electronics that is linked to a 42” flat-panel, HDTV-ready television. Guest rooms, created for comfort as well technology, feature *aloft’s signature bed, spa shower and bath amenities by Bliss. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access is provided throughout the hotel. The communal lobby’s open layout and amenities make it an inviting place to socialize. For events, six meeting rooms* with a total space of 3,656 sqm/39,353 sqft are equipped with the latest AV technology. The hotel also has a fitness center. Website: http://alofthotels.com/haidian
CHINA: Le Méridien Qingdao and Le Méridien Chongqing 2011
Le Méridien will open two new properties in China; the Le Méridien Qingdao and Le Meridien Chongqing. Both properties are scheduled to open in 2011 and both will be part of mixed-use developments with commercial, retail and residential space. Le Méridien Chongqing will be located in Nan’an Nanping Business District of Chongqing. The hotel will feature 345 guest rooms and suites, 2,137 sqm/23,000 sqft of meeting space, five restaurants and bars, health club, indoor heated swimming pool, spa, and retail shop. Le Méridien Qingdao is located in Shi Bei District of Qingdao, Shandong Province, the new Central Business District of Qingdao. The hotel will feature 330 guest rooms and suites, 2,694 sqm/29,000 sqft of meeting space, four restaurants and bars, business center, health club, indoor heated swimming pool, spa and retail shop. Website: www.lemeridien.com
TAIWAN: Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Tainan Opens
The Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, opened on November 22nd. The 5-Star, 38 story hotel features 336 guest rooms and suites including 51 Horizon Club guest rooms and suites with such extras as private meeting facilities, check-in and club lounge. Multi-functional meeting and banqueting venues include the 1,075 sqm/11,572 sqft pillar-free Far Eastern Grand Ballroom, four function rooms and a circular auditorium. Dining options include Café at Far Eastern, an all-day dining restaurant with an open kitchen within a 14-story atrium; Foo Num Court, features a 360-degree panoramic view of Tainan city and the Lobby Lounge and Mezzanine Bar. There is a health club, spa and heart-shaped outdoor pool. The Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel is located in downtown Tainan, adjacent to the Tainan Main Train Station and close to many of the city’s historical and cultural treasures. E-mail: reservations.sltn@shangri-la.com Website: www.shangri-la.com
In The Air
JAL Flying Osaka/Seoul
Japan Airlines (JAL) inaugurates service between Osaka, Japan and Seoul, Korea on 10th January 2009. The daily service will operate between Kansai International Airport in Osaka and Gimpo International Airport in Seoul. Equipment to be used on the route will be a Boeing 767 aircraft. JAL also began a code share on this route with Korean Air (KAL) on 1st December. Websites: Japan Airlines www.jal.com Korean Air www.koreanair.com

In This Issue

Editors Note

VIETNAM: 5-Star Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi

CHINA: Beijing Haidian aloft Open

CHINA: Le Méridien Qingdao and Le Meridien Chongqing 2011

TAIWAN: Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Tainan Opens

In The Air

JAL Flying Osaka/Seoul

New Additions to www.i-mi.com

CHINA: Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing

SINGAPORE: Pan Pacific Singapore

SINGAPORE: Suntec Singapore

Japan is on the rise as a conference destination. In 2007, Japan hosted 448 international conferences, up from the 166 international conferences held in Japan during 2006.

As India recovers, countries are relaxing their travel advisories. A message from the Government of India’s Ministry of Tourism states that earlier this month the Netherlands Foreign Ministry removed their advice against all non–essential travel by Dutch Citizens to or via Mumbai from 2nd December 2008. The United Kingdom has revised its advisory to British citizens which now says “We no longer advise against all but essential travel to Mumbai” and the United States State Department has also scaled down its advisory and kept it as a Travel Alert. Getting back to business as usual, on 11 December, India welcomed the English Cricket Team to Chennai for a series of cricket matches.

Thailand’s convention industry moves ahead with the opening of a new convention center as the Land of a Thousand Smiles dusts off its image. Earlier this month, the RPM International Exhibition & Conference Centre officially opened on Phuket. The 2,500 sqm/26,910 sqft is the largest exhibition facility on the island. The waterfront convention center is located on Phuket’s eastern seaboard overlooking Phang Na Bay.

I wish you all the very best for this Holiday Season and all things good in the New Year.

Until next year
Peace

Helena Miele, CITE
Editor electronic newsletters

The AsiaPacific Incentives & Meetings Expo, AIME 09 takes place in Melbourne, Australia on 17 & 18 February 2009 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. This year’s expo is focusing on building inbound business to Australia with many of the national exhibitors taking larger stands and having a greater presence at the show.

CHINA: Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing

The Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing was opened in 2008 and stands out with its comprehensive facilities and services catering to small, medium and larger size meetings, conferences and social events.

The 25-story hotel comprises 545 well designed, spacious and technology-savvy guest rooms and suites combined with a choice of 6 innovative restaurants and bars, two ballrooms, one of which is the largest pillarless Ballrooms in Beijing and 15 break-out rooms in various sizes, with a capacity of 8 – 1,300 guests.

Guests can also enjoy the top-of-the-line fitness center, indoor heated swimming pool and roof-top tennis court. Located on the north east corner of Beijing's 3rd Ring Road, the hotel is ideally situated close to the China International Exhibition Centre, the Central Business District, the Olympic Green and world-class shopping.

Contact: Mr. Manfred Ng, Resident Manager

Email: meetings@cpsunpalace.cn

www.i-mi.com: Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing

Fuhua 1st Road, Futian CBD, Shenzhen, China
Tel +86 755 8298-9888
Fax +86 755 3322-7777
shenzhen@marcopolohotels.com

www.marcopolohotels.com

As easy as 1, 2, 3

Tell us what you need and our team will make it happen!

Experience the legendary service with a blend of Asian hospitality and
Western innovation.
With 30 multi-function rooms, including auditorium and Grand Ballroom,
Marco Polo Shenzhen is the perfect venue to host any event.

or shenzhen@marcopolohotels.com

SINGAPORE: Pan Pacific Singapore

Awarded Asia’s Leading Business Hotel for the third consecutive year by World Travel Awards 2008, Pan Pacific Singapore is the hotel of choice with its prime location in Marina Bay with 778 rooms and suites featuring magnificent views of the city and harbor. The hotel is within close proximity to the Central Business District, connected via a covered sky-bridge to Suntec International Exhibition and Convention Centre, adjacent to three shopping malls and within walking distance to major historical, cultural and entertainment areas, including Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The hotel also features 26 meeting and banquet rooms, Executive Business Lounge and planners are attended to by a dedicated Meeting Butler. Other amenities include 6 award-winning restaurants, bar, tennis courts, spa, gymnasium and outdoor swimming pool.

Contact: Ms. Tina Farn, Director of Business Development

Email: tfarn@panpacific.com

www.i-mi.com: Pan Pacific Singapore

SINGAPORE: Suntec Singapore

Suntec Singapore is a world-class venue located at the heart of Asia's most integrated meetings, conventions and exhibitions hub.

With 100,000 sqm/1,076,500 sqft of versatile floor space over six levels, this award-winning venue with top-notch facilities and service is designed to cater to a diverse range of events, both large and small. A dedicated Client Services Team is at your service to assist in making your event a success.

A fully integrated convention city, Suntec Singapore offers direct access to 5,200 hotel rooms, 1,000 retail outlets, 300 restaurants, 6 museums and a world-class performing arts center, Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, all within a 15-minute walk. In addition, it is conveniently located adjacent to the Central Business District with Changi International Airport only 20 minutes away.

Contact: Mr. Ong Wee Min, Director Sales & Client Services

Email: sales@suntecsingapore.com

www.i-mi.com: Suntec Singapore

VIETNAM: 5-Star Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts recently opened its second property in Vietnam. The 154-room Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi, located on Ly Thuong Kiet, is next door to IBM headquarters and around the corner from Quan Su temple. Meeting facilities consist of two meeting rooms, each divisible into two rooms, making a total of four meeting rooms. The largest room accommodates 100 attendees theater style. The hotel also features an all-day restaurant and lobby lounge with a casual dining menu and wine cellar, gym and wellness studio, Jacuzzi and treatment rooms. The Hanoi Opera House, Old Quarter shopping district, embassies and central train station are all within a five-minute taxi drive.
Mövenpick’s first property in Vietnam, the Mövenpick Saigon, opened in July 2008.
Website: www.movenpick.com

CHINA: Beijing Haidian aloft Open

Starwood’s aloft brand opened a new property in China. The aloft Beijing Haidian made its debut in November and features 186 high-tech guest rooms and suites. Each guest room is outfitted with a one-stop connectivity device for multiple electronics that is linked to a 42” flat-panel, HDTV-ready television. Guest rooms, created for comfort as well technology, feature aloft’s signature bed, spa shower and bath amenities by Bliss. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access is provided throughout the hotel. The communal lobby’s open layout and amenities make it an inviting place to socialize. For events, six meeting rooms with a total space of 3,656 sqm/39,353 sqft are equipped with the latest AV technology. The hotel also has a fitness center.
Website: http://alofthotels.com/haidian

CHINA: Le Méridien Qingdao and Le Méridien Chongqing 2011

Le Méridien will open two new properties in China; the Le Méridien Qingdao and Le Meridien Chongqing. Both properties are scheduled to open in 2011 and both will be part of mixed-use developments with commercial, retail and residential space.
Le Méridien Chongqing will be located in Nan’an Nanping Business District of Chongqing. The hotel will feature 345 guest rooms and suites, 2,137 sqm/23,000 sqft of meeting space, five restaurants and bars, health club, indoor heated swimming pool, spa, and retail shop.

Le Méridien Qingdao is located in Shi Bei District of Qingdao, Shandong Province, the new Central Business District of Qingdao. The hotel will feature 330 guest rooms and suites, 2,694 sqm/29,000 sqft of meeting space, four restaurants and bars, business center, health club, indoor heated swimming pool, spa and retail shop.
Website: www.lemeridien.com

TAIWAN: Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Tainan Opens

The Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, opened on November 22nd. The 5-Star, 38 story hotel features 336 guest rooms and suites including 51 Horizon Club guest rooms and suites with such extras as private meeting facilities, check-in and club lounge.

Multi-functional meeting and banqueting venues include the 1,075 sqm/11,572 sqft pillar-free Far Eastern Grand Ballroom, four function rooms and a circular auditorium.

Dining options include Café at Far Eastern, an all-day dining restaurant with an open kitchen within a 14-story atrium; Foo Num Court, features a 360-degree panoramic view of Tainan city and the Lobby Lounge and Mezzanine Bar. There is a health club, spa and heart-shaped outdoor pool.

The Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel is located in downtown Tainan, adjacent to the Tainan Main Train Station and close to many of the city’s historical and cultural treasures.

E-mail: reservations.sltn@shangri-la.com
Website: www.shangri-la.com

In The Air

JAL Flying Osaka/Seoul

Japan Airlines (JAL) inaugurates service between Osaka, Japan and Seoul, Korea on 10th January 2009. The daily service will operate between Kansai International Airport in Osaka and Gimpo International Airport in Seoul. Equipment to be used on the route will be a Boeing 767 aircraft.

JAL also began a code share on this route with Korean Air (KAL) on 1st December.

Websites: Japan Airlines www.jal.com
Korean Air www.koreanair.com