Prevue November/December 2015 - (Page 34)

Asia & The Pacific Bespoke experiences and off-the-beaten-track destinations [ON LOCATION] BARBARA SCOFIDIO I t's no coincidence that Site held its 2015 Global Conference in India in October. Asia-Pacific holds tremendous appeal for the incentive market, where companies are always looking for the next hot destination and the newest luxury product. And in both categories, this region of the world delivers, whether through a private island takeover of the Great Barrier Reef's Lizard Island or a custom suit experience with a Vietnamese tailor. AUSTRALIA Ideal for the most discriminating incentive groups and accessible only by plane, Lizard Island Resort in the Great Barrier Reef just reopened after a year-long, $50 million renovation. The resort's 40 elegant rooms and suites were renovated, a wine and cheese room was added and the Salt Water Restaurant now includes an open air kitchen that allows groups to view the chefs and the sweeping ocean views simultaneously. . In North Queensland, The Feathered Nest is a luxury ecoresort with one- and two-bedroom retreats featuring Aboriginal art, as well as their own infinity pools and gourmet kitchens. Owner Gordon Lockie is a registered breeder of the cockatoos and has his own collection in residence. Boutique hotels are opening throughout Sydney, with the 62-room Old Clare, part of the 34 | prevue magazine Singapore-based Unlisted Collection, in two protected historic downtown buildings in the redeveloped Kensington Street district. It has three restaurants and a meeting room that accommodates 16. The Langham Hotel Sydney, which reopened last December, has it all when it comes to location. Situated in central Kent Street, it's less than a mile from the Opera House. No space was left untouched in its $30 million renovation. The lobby exudes elegance, with floors of Calacatta marble a large central reception desk of gold leaf crackled porcelain. Its Palm Court restaurant now offers an exclusive afternoon tea experience-a Langham tradition. Coming in 2017 is the 35-story, 600-room Sofitel Sydney, which will be a centerpiece of the $2.5 billion Darling Harbour redevelopment and located adjacent to the International Convention Centre, opening in December of 2016. Also located here, The Four Points by Sheraton, Sydney, is in the midst of a huge $200 million transformation, to be completed in June of 2016, that will include new convention facilities with 23 meeting rooms and two large ballrooms. Planners looking for a creative, off-the-beaten track venue in Sydney for their next special event need go no further than the Sydney Unique Venues Association, a collection of 60 venues with an online database that's searchable by group size and type

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue November/December 2015

Planner’s Pick: Salt Lake City
Bureau Buzz: Birmingham
Fresh Meets: Melia Hotels International
Good Business: Community Outreach at ASAE
Sea Shores: Crystal Cruises
Ode to Inspiration
ASIA & THE PACIFIC
AMERICA’S SOUTHEAST
SWEDEN
On Location: South Korea
On Location: Istanbul
USVI
LOS ANGELES
On Location: Panama
On Location: Scottsdale
Checkout: Kalahari Resort & Convention Center

Prevue November/December 2015