The Medina Grand Darwin Waterfront and Vibe Hotel Darwin are opening next month. Both properties are close to the new Darwin convention center.

The Medina Grand is situated on Darwin’s waterfront with seafront promenades, boutiques, waterside restaurants, the beach and boating right outside the hotel. The property features 121 guest rooms and apartments. Conference facilities include four function rooms with the largest room accommodating 100 attendees theater style. Additional facilities include a gym and swimming pool.

The Vibe Hotel Darwin is located on the fringe of Darwin’s Central Business District, also close to the waterfront promenades, boutiques and restaurants. The property features 120 guest rooms, four function rooms accommodating from 10 - 100 attendees, gym and swimming pool.
Both properties offer experienced events staff to assist planners and are equipped with complete audio-visual technology and facilities.

Medina Grand Email: conferences@medina.com.au
Vibe Hotel Darwin Email: vhdw@vibehotels.com.au
Medina Grand Website: www.medina.com.au
Vibe Hotel Darwin Website: www.vibehotels.com.au

The Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC) opens in July 2009 in Queensland, Australia. Situated in the midst of tropical gardens, the Centre will feature a flexible layout plan that includes two plenary halls, a 1,090-seat theater, a 100-seat studio space, bars, breakout rooms, extensive backstage facilities and outdoor event space making it perfect for conferences, exhibitions, seminars, banquets and theatrical productions. The plenary halls accommodate 1,000 delegates for a banquet or seat 1,800 delegates theater style. The MECC is outfitted with the latest audio-visual technology and world standard acoustic systems.

Website: www.mackayecc.com.au

The 5-Star Le Méridien Shimei Bay Beach Resort & Spa has opened on China’s Hainan Island. The 275 guest room property includes 25 villas with private balconies overlooking the sea or the mountains, and sits on three miles of white sandy beach.

State-of-the-art meeting facilities include six function rooms and the largest room; the Grand Ballroom, is 552 sqm/5,942 sqft. The hotel’s event staff is on-hand to assist planners. Three restaurants and three lounges including Breakers, which features a signature breakfast menu created by famed chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten are on the property. For relaxation, the Spa offers six spa villas with individual dipping pools, steam rooms and cabanas, as well as luxury suites, massage rooms, a hair salon, Spa boutique and Spa bistro.

Website: www.starwood.com

Waldorf Astoria Hotels is going to open a property on the Bund in Shanghai. The Bund is a historic waterfront landmark with 52 historic buildings that was built in the early 1900’s. The 266-room Waldorf Astoria will be located in building No. 2 on the Bund, which once housed an infamous Shanghai Gentlemen’s Club in the 1920’s. This building will be connected by a courtyard to a new-build modern tower that is located behind the Bund on Sichuan Road.

The Waldorf Shanghai will feature extensive banqueting and meeting facilities, four restaurants, two bars, a patisserie and a lobby lounge. For unwinding, a swimming pool, health club and spa will provide the perfect atmosphere to rest, rejuvenate and relax in luxury
The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai is scheduled to open in 2011.

Website: www.waldorfastoriacollection.com

The 4-Star Atria Hotel in Bangalore, India is refurbishing guest rooms, adding a health club and spa and upgrading service levels so that it will be on a par with 5-Star properties. The hotel’s upgrade project is scheduled for completion at end of this year.

The Atria is a popular business hotel located in the heart of the city on Palace Road, and features 168 guest rooms.

Meeting facilities comprise six event rooms and two boardrooms. The largest event space seats 550 delegates. Dining and beverage venues include Tijouri, an authentic Hindustani restaurant; Silk Road, an Asian restaurant serving Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian and Thai cuisines; 1498 A.D. restaurant, serving breakfast and lunch buffets and a la carte dinner and the Aqua Bar.
The Atria is 45-minutes from the airport and 10-minutes from the Railway station.

Email: rooms@atriahotel.com
Website: www.atriahotel.com

Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort is located in northern Thailand in an area known for mountain scenery, Buddhist shrines and the remains of ancient settlements. This unique resort features 159 guest rooms. This is an ideal setting for an incentive travel program focusing on nature and culture lovers. Local excursions include boating to the region’s hill-tribe villages, hiking along Chiang Rai’s jungle trails and trekking with elephants.
The resort offers 1,250 sqm/13,455 sqft of event space that includes a reception area, ballroom, four meeting rooms, a ceremonial sala, pool deck, riverside terrace and lawn. Additional facilities include fine dining restaurants, a luxurious spa, a state-of-the-art gym and a three-tiered, outdoor swimming pool.
Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort is 10-minutes from Chiang Rai International Airport and five minutes from the town center.

Website:  www.lemeridien.com

Air China launched four additional routes between Mainland China and Taipai, Taiwan. The new routes fly from Tianjin, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Chongqing on Mainland. China, to Taipai. All the routes fly direct to Taipei. They do not fly via Hong Kong or detour over Hong Kong airspace thereby making flying between the Mainland and Taiwan quicker and more convenient for travelers. The new routes to Taipai are in addition to the Beijing/Taipai and Shanghai/Taipai services, which were launched in July 2008 after an historic agreement was signed between officials from Mainland China and Taiwan.
The routes represent the closer ties between the two regions and open up business, cultural and travel opportunities.

Website: www.airchina.com