Pack a Punch at Penang with Conventions & Adventures!

The island packs a punch with bold new developments

Evolving yet well preserved, Penang is reshaping the landscape for business events with large scale developments. Its diverse architecture, multicultural cuisines, rich Peranakan culture and Unesco World Heritage status have long drawn business groups to the island, and new venues are being planned to cater to growing numbers.
One the city’s much anticipated developments is the Subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre (sPICE) scheduled for completion in the second half of 2015. A first of its in Malaysia, the 6,503 sq. m centre will be built partially beneath the ground and will feature a ballroom and a function hall with capacity for 600 banquet tables. sPICE is part of a larger development called Penang People’s Park, which will include a refurbished Penang International Sports Arena – including an Aquatic Centre – and a four – star hotel, along with retail outlets and a spacious parking lot.

Another highlight in Penang’s future offerings is the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre, to be completed in the second half of 2016. The centrepiece of the convention centre is 10,000 sqm column-free multi-purpose hall that can be sub-divided or used as a single space for exhibitions, conventions, corporate events and private functions. It can be entirely converted into a 9000-seat arena for concerts. The venues will complement existing ones, including the Straits Quay Convention Centre. The exhibition hall has approx. 2300 sqm of event space and can accommodate upto 1800 banquet style or 2500 theatre style.

Penang’s hospitality industry has upbeat projections for this year and next, driven by increased tourism campaigns in the key Asian markets such as China, India and Southeast Asia.

Beyond the boardroom

Penang is the second smallest state in Malaysia, yet what it lacks in size it makes up for in attractions like:
Discover George Town: a Unesco World Heritage site with more than two centuries of unique history. The area is laced with rich collection of historic buildings that bear witness to the evolution of Port city. Walking & cycling tours, trishaw rides and treasure hunt activities.

Explore the great outdoors: Nature and hiking tours to Penang National Park and Penang Hill are popular for group activities. For a quicker group adventure, head to the Wet World Wild Adventure park which opened this September. The theme park will include facilities and activities such as rock climbing, a running track, swings and human catapult.

Take a cooking class: Unleash your inner master chef and learn how to cook popular Malaysian dishes and Nyonya cuisine from a local.

Riding the wave of developments in the heritage city, Thailand based Onyx Hospitality Group will soon open a new project under its OZO brand. Set to welcome its first guests in 2016, the 132-room OZO Penang in George Town will provide planner additional options for their business events.

Courtesy: CEI October issue

Singapore unleashes its ‘wild’ side with new “wildlife encounter” offerings

Celebrity Mandira Bedi, together with husband Raj Kaushal and their son, Vir were among the Indian visitors who visited the various wildlife and marine-themed attractions while on a recent holiday to Singapore. Recapping her recent visit, Mandira Bedi said “Singapore has always held a special place in my heart as a fun and enriching holiday destination. However, this recent family holiday to Singapore made me experience the city anew. Getting up close with the animals at the River Safari, Singapore Zoo and the Marine Life Park allowed me to appreciate the wonders of Mother Nature in a fun and lively manner. Apart from dining with the orangutans at Singapore zoo, we also brought home with us many wonderful memories. Some of my favorite moments included having a romantic dinner with my husband, 200 feet above the ground at Sky@57, and zipping around the F1 circuit in a Ferrari. Singapore has truly captivated us and it is definitely a holiday that I have taken home with me.”

Mandira Bedi at the IMC Burst 3 launch event of Singapore Tourism Board

The third phase of Singapore Tourism Board’s marketing campaign invites visitors to “Leave curious, return inspired” with Singapore’s collection of unique wildlife and marine-themed attractions.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) introduces the city’s latest wildlife and marine-themed attractions to the Indian audience. The third phase of STB’s differentiated marketing campaign only for the Indian travelers “Singapore -The Holiday You Take Home With You” will focus on the theme of “wildlife encounters” and throw the spotlight on new offerings such as River Safari, Marine Life Park comprising of S.E.A. Aquarium™, Adventure Cove Waterpark™ and Dolphin Island™. These attractions promise to captivate visitors with their impressive collections of wildlife, marine-life and immersive experiences.

The focus on attractions that offer “wildlife encounters”, evoking curiosity and awe is timely as the year-end holiday season approaches. Many Indian families travelling abroad look for options that allow them to bond through fun-filled, enriching experiences. It is with this in mind that STB’s latest campaign tagline “Leave curious, return inspired” was created.

Mr. Chang Chee Pey, STB’s Executive Director for South Asia, Middle East and Africa, elaborates, “Singapore is a perennial favourite with Indian families with its reputation for offering unique, quality holiday experiences that has something for everyone. Our tagline was thus created to reach out to discerning families looking for unforgettable holiday experiences that will enable them to play, laugh and grow closer together. Returning and new visitors alike will be enchanted by the diversity of our wildlife and marine-themed attractions as well as the compelling story of Singapore’s conservation efforts to preserve the region’s native species. There is also much to experience in Singapore during the year-end holiday season with world-class offerings, the likes of Universal Studios Singapore and Gardens by the Bay; colourful cultural celebrations such as Deepavali and Christmas Light Up at Orchard Road and Singapore River, as well as a wide variety of dining and shopping options that will create cherished memories to bring home.”

Enriching Wildlife Encounters Await

Indian families have, over the years, enjoyed delightful visits and re-visits to the award-winning Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo (which this year, celebrates its 40th birthday). They could now look forward to River Safari, Asia’s first and only river themed wildlife park. Home to over 5,000 animals, including 42 rare and endangered species that includes Singapore’s giant pandas, Kai Kai and Jia Jia, as well as the manatees, the River Safari is one of the world’s largest collections of river-dwelling wildlife as well as world’s largest freshwater aquarium exhibit.

A large part of the park is designed to profile freshwater habitats from iconic rivers of the world such as the Amazon, Mekong, Ganges and River Nile. River Safari will take visitors on a journey to discover the unique aquatic and terrestrial animals from eight river habitats as well as the cultures that surround these rivers. Visitors can stroll through freshwater galleries, enter walk-through exhibits and soon be able to embark on a boat ride to learn about the fascinating flora and fauna of river habitats.

Isabel Cheng, Chief Marketing Officer, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, said, “India is a very important market for Wildlife Reserves Singapore and in the past year, Indian tourist arrivals make up one of the biggest groups visiting Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, and Singapore Zoo. This year, we are pleased to welcome them to Singapore’s newest attraction River Safari, Asia’s first and only river-themed wildlife park that provides an immersive experience into the world of rivers and the unique wildlife found in freshwater habitats. Together, our four parks offer the ultimate wildlife experience for visitors to Singapore.”

Fans of the sea can also come face to face with manta rays, sharks, moray eels, iridescent jellyfish and much more at S.E.A. Aquarium™ at Marine Life Park, where the world’s largest oceanarium will keep visitors hypnotized with its dazzling array of graceful sea creatures. Over at the newly launched Dolphin IslandTM, interactive encounters with the friendly Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins await while the Adventure Cove WaterparkTM allows visitors to snorkel with 20,000 underwater species at the Rainbow Reef and feed the rays at the Ray Bay.

For customized and memorable family holiday in Singapore, log on to http://www.yoursingapore.com and search for “Singapore – The Holiday You Take Home With You”.

In Prague, it is the journey, not the destination which is important…

I landed up watching a Bollywood movie “Prague” which has nothing to mention about as it was dark and depressing but beauty of Prague captivated me. I ended up watching the entire movie. The city moved me…I wanted to know more, explore more, share more…and here I am. I loved the city even in darkness. What to say of brighness?

So Why Prague? Prague, the Czech Republic’s capital and largest city, is known for its rich history and medieval architecture. The city is set on Vltava river, the beauty of which is said to have inspired artists and musicians like Mozart, who completed and first performed the Opera Don Giovanni here. Prague’s historic centre, which includes the Old town square and Prague Castle, are Unesco World Heritage sites. Prague enjoys easy air and train connections through out Europe, making it favourite destination of tourists and MICE travellers.

What should you visit when touring the capital? That is surely the most difficult question that visitors can ask themselves. Which of the hundreds of monuments in Prague should not be missed? You could wander here for a week, a month or even your whole life and you would still keep finding some enchanting new corners and views of the city with its inimitable genius loci. But everybody goes to see the monumental complex of Prague Castle, which is the largest castle in the world and has been the seat of Czech rulers since time immemorial. You must also make sure to take a romantic walk over Charles Bridge with its unique gallery of Baroque statues, both ends of which are guarded by beautiful Gothic towers. You will find the beating heart of the historical city on the Old Town Square with its 600 year old technical miracle in the form of the astronomical clock, standing in the shadow of the twin towers of the Týn Church. But there is no need to carefully plan other individual stop-off points in Prague. This is to say that here more than anywhere else it does hold true that it is the journey, not the destination which is important. All you have to do is walk.

But Prague is not merely a historical gem. It is also a vibrant and pulsating European city, whose endlessly long list of superb theatres, museums, galleries and clubs help to make up the unique character of this city of a hundred spires. In combination with the world famous Czech beer and gastronomic delicacies, it is no wonder that it is one of the most visited cities in the world.

When you walk through the capital city of the Czech Republic, don’t rush. Stop for a while and take a careful look around you. You would be hard put to find such symphony of beauty and elegance anywhere else in the world. Thanks to its magnificence, Prague has provided inspiration for the most eminent of personalities for centuries and has earned nicknames such as the “Golden City” or “Mother of Cities”. Nowadays, entranced tourists from all corners of the planet walk through its lanes, palaces and gardens, writing the next chapter in the story of the most beautiful historical city in the world.